"Haa— haa—"
White breath scattered into the frigid air.
"Damn, it's freezing."
A grumble came from up ahead.
Seo Woo-jin wholeheartedly agreed.
The cold beyond the Massive Guardians was on another level from anything he'd ever felt.
It was the kind of chill that seeped straight into his bones.
"How much farther?"
Seo Woo-jin asked, pulling his collar tight.
"Not much longer."
"You said that an hour ago, you know."
She'd said it two hours ago, three hours ago too.
Seo Woo-jin shot Ailin a glare, but this time, no response came.
'Damn it.'
A curse slipped out on its own.
Even the northern-born soldiers were shivering.
So how must it be for him?
He didn't have any special abilities like the other heroes or knights, which made it all the harder.
Just making it to camp was this exhausting—how was he supposed to handle the subjugation ahead?
His vision darkened at the thought.
'I should've just run.'
He shouldn't have overthought it. He should've at least tried.
But regrets now wouldn't change a thing.
All he could do was stick close to Ailin and pray he survived until the subjugation ended.
"It feels especially harsh this year."
One of the knights behind him spoke in a grim tone.
"Definitely colder than last year."
"Another omen of the Demon King's descent?"
"The records do mention unusual weather as one sign..."
Seo Woo-jin sensed deep unease in their conversation.
'Even they're on edge.'
To him, knights were superhumans incarnate.
Even Ailin beside him had a slender build that could've landed her in a K-pop group back on Earth.
But her power?
A hundred Seo Woo-jins charging at once wouldn't even ruffle her collar.
'Then how strong are the heroes?'
This was a world teeming with beings stronger than her.
There were dozens of Massive Guardians alone, and Ban Slaine was in a league of his own.
Yet even they couldn't defeat the Demon King and had to call for aid from another world.
The heroes were the ones who could grow strong enough to slay him.
Maybe the summoned heroes' potential was far greater than he'd imagined.
'And mine too.'
Right now, he was just a level 1 nobody, but at level 5, he'd match a low-rank knight.
What if he hit level 10, 20, 30?
'Maybe I could reach Ban Slaine's level.'
He couldn't be sure, but he'd definitely surpass Testron.
'When that happens, I'll pay back every humiliation...'
Lost in such distracting thoughts to fend off the cold, he suddenly heard—
"Halt!"
A sharp warning rang out from the front.
Ailin grabbed Seo Woo-jin's shoulder, stopping him, and swiftly drew her sword.
"Battle stations!"
Another shout followed.
Stunned by the abrupt turn, Seo Woo-jin quickly grasped what was happening.
"Draw your swords and prepare."
Monsters.
They'd appeared at the front.
He felt his hands trembling.
A month since arriving in this world, monsters had still felt like tales from another realm.
Even hearing he'd join the subjugation had only stirred vague dread.
But now, with battle imminent...
'Scary.'
Still, he couldn't just stand there. Trembling, he drew his sword.
Shring—
It was a standard-issue blade, no different from the soldiers', but that sharp rasp made his hairs stand on end.
"It's a Draycas!"
"Defensive formation!"
Ailin's face hardened.
They were still far from the subjugation zone.
She'd told him they were almost there, but they hadn't even reached halfway.
Position-wise, this was just the outskirts.
Running into a Draycas here?
This was anything but normal.
Kroooaaar—!
The Draycas—a top northern predator—roared.
Just one, but tension etched Ailin's features.
"I-is it strong?"
Seo Woo-jin asked heavily, having heard the roar.
"It's a dragonkin. One of the strongest monsters even in the north. It rules entire territories, so we shouldn't encounter one here..."
Mid-sentence, Ailin glanced at Seo Woo-jin.
His face was stiff.
Eyes darting without focus.
Hands shaking with fear.
He was trying to play it cool, but raw terror hung over him.
Left like this, panic could hit any second.
"No need to worry. It's a powerful monster, sure, but the subjugation force can handle it with ease."
The Massive Guardian soldiers were elites.
Survivors of yearly monster battles—it was expected.
And the knights were far stronger.
United, their knight order wielded unimaginable might.
Plus, Ban Slaine was here.
He'd been formidable before, but after his enlightenment and physical reconstruction...
Honestly, one Draycas was no concern.
"Really?"
"Of course."
Ailin nodded.
Did her words comfort him?
Fortunately, Seo Woo-jin calmed a bit.
But the real issue was just beginning.
Turning back to the front, Ailin's expression grew grave.
One Draycas was no problem.
There'd be casualties, but they could hunt it.
The problem was one appearing at the outskirts.
This subjugation felt dangerously off.
Still, she hid it from Seo Woo-jin.
'Subjugations are always risky.'
Countless soldiers died yearly; even knights fell occasionally.
Saying not to worry was nearly a lie.
Of course, Ailin would protect him with everything she had.
D-rank or not, he was still a hero.
With proper growth, he'd enter superhuman realms.
Heroes always did.
'Or is it pride?'
The hundred heroes scattered across the continent, growing with full national support.
If Seo Woo-jin died on a monster subjugation?
It'd be an utter disgrace for Zion.
That's why Ban Slaine ordered Ailin to stick by him through it all.
Young as she was, she could protect one like him easily.
"...Tch."
Then—
Scanning ahead, Ailin frowned and clicked her tongue.
"Stay behind me."
At her grave warning, Seo Woo-jin moved without hesitation.
Moments later...
Kroooaaar—!
A wounded beast's cry echoed.
"Isn't that closer than before?"
It sure was.
As if drawing nearer.
Seo Woo-jin wore a 'no way' look, but alas, 'no way' moments always bite.
"It's coming."
Kwaaaang—!
A massive boom, and front-line soldiers flew skyward.
Thudding down with blood raining like a storm, staining the white ground red.
'Insane...'
Seo Woo-jin froze in place.
First time seeing people die before his eyes.
Their bodies shredded, spraying blood.
For someone from ordinary life in Korea, it was too surreal.
The Draycas that pulverized them charged straight toward him.
'T-that's a monster?'
It resembled a lizard.
Save for its near-10-meter size and the hundreds of vicious spines on its back and head.
Seeing those red eyes oozing murderous intent, Seo Woo-jin turned to flee.
'I'm dead!'
No joke—he wouldn't last a second against it.
Shredded beyond recognition, like those soldiers.
No time for thought; he had to run.
But Ailin moved faster than his panic.
She shot toward the Draycas like an arrow.
"W-wait!"
Stunned, Seo Woo-jin gaped.
That thing was a literal monster.
No matter how strong Ailin was, she couldn't win.
She knew it best.
Yet she charged to protect him.
"Damn it!"
Without thinking, Seo Woo-jin whirled and chased after her.
'Crazy! Crazy idiot!'
He could just run.
No one expected a level 1 hero to fight a Draycas.
No blame would come.
He knew that well.
But...
He couldn't abandon Ailin and flee alone.
'She's not even a friend.'
'Way stronger than me.'
'Honestly don't even like her that much.'
In that instant, thoughts flashed through his mind.
Yet he couldn't bear watching someone he knew die before him.
Creeeang—!
Ailin's sword clashed with the Draycas.
Her blade looked like a toothpick against its massive bulk.
He expected her to fly like the soldiers.
But astonishingly, she stood firm, feet planted solidly.
The Draycas's charge halted.
That was her limit.
"Keok—!"
Unable to withstand the impact, blood spurted from her mouth and nose.
"Ailin!"
Shocked, Seo Woo-jin swung his sword clumsily to draw its attention.
His head couldn't comprehend it, but he had to do something or she'd die.
Thankfully, it turned from her to him.
"Come at me, you lizard bastard!"
His quivering voice provoked it perfectly.
With a snort, the Draycas charged him.
Like a small building barreling in.
Seo Woo-jin trembled like a leaf but didn't dodge.
He stared it down, gripping his sword tighter.
'Will it work?'
It had neutralized Ailin in one clash.
A graze from it would kill him.
All he had was this puny issue sword.
Weaker-looking than one of its teeth.
A level 1 with zero skills blocking a Draycas? Zero chance.
'Still gotta try!'
The Draycas closed in instantly.
Up close, it was far more ferocious than any lizard.
Hundreds of razor teeth, four eyes dripping bloodlust.
Seeing it so near, Seo Woo-jin nearly pissed himself.
'I'm dead.'
'Immeasurable,' 'Demon King'—all bullshit.
No surviving this.
Until the Draycas locked eyes with him and froze in place.
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