"Push them to the west!"
"Shields!"
The soldiers' desperate shouts shook the battlefield.
"Kill them! Don't let them escape!"
"If you miss even one, be prepared to pay with your lives!"
The centurion commanders spurred on the soldiers, igniting the flames of the battle even more.
"It's going smoothly."
Testeron spoke from behind Van Slaine, who was watching the scene.
"I see."
Even in this perilous northern region, they were effectively holding off the Erath, a particularly menacing monster group.
"Fortunately, there haven't been significant casualties."
"The soldiers are fighting well."
Since that incident, the soldiers fought against monsters in a state of heightened alert.
Thanks to this, the subjugation was showing significant results.
"At this rate, we should be able to finish the extermination and return within a few days."
If it were last year, it would have taken a few more weeks.
However, this year, thanks to the soldiers putting in extra effort, they were on track to achieve their goal much earlier than planned.
"…He's also growing steadily."
The person Testeron referred to was undoubtedly Seo Woojin.
"What's his level now?"
"Level 9. He's expected to reach level 10 soon."
"That's fast."
"It's an unbelievable speed for a D-ranker. Of course, he's putting in a lot of effort."
It hadn't been a month since they started the extermination, yet he was already on the verge of reaching level 10.
The impact of catching Ice Bugs and gaining three levels at once was significant, but even excluding that, his growth speed was remarkable.
"He's not riding the bus like other warriors, but he's not falling behind at all compared to higher-ranked individuals."
Seo Woojin was leveling up solely based on his own skills, without relying on Irene's assistance as before.
"I was worried and kept Irene close by, but…"
There was no need for that in the first place.
After reaching level 5 and acquiring skills, Seo Woojin was no longer the same as before.
Engaging in daily life-and-death battles, he hunted with a focus that seemed indifferent to death.
Although there were a few genuinely dangerous moments, each time he overcame the crisis by leveling up.
"Now, we can consider him to have the skills of a high-ranking knight."
He had surpassed Irene, who was a low-ranking knight, a long time ago.
At level 5, he had already acquired enough skill to be on par with her.
Currently, Seo Woojin's level is 9.
Now, he was capable of comparing himself to high-ranking knights.
"Oh, he has already reached that level?"
Van Slaine's eyes slightly widened.
"Of course, he still can't match me."
Not Yet.
But once he reaches level 10 and chooses a profession?
At that time, he could truly surpass himself.
"I'm looking forward to it."
Van Slaine's voice was slightly excited.
It wasn't just because Seo Woojin had become strong quickly.
"If D-rank 'Swordsman' was your affinity, then you'll probably get that profession?"
"Unless there is a big change, it seems that way."
"Good, good."
Although 'Swordsman' is a low rank, it is a profession specialized in swords, as the name suggests.
Once the profession is decided, even a little understanding of swords will increase.
Van Slaine had decided that when the time came, he would personally teach Seo Woojin.
"When the abilities of a Hero and my swordsmanship are combined, it should be quite impressive."
The words he said to Seo Woojin on the hill.
"I will make you the most powerful Hero among a hundred Heroes."
It was not a joke.
"So, hurry up and level up."
The more a Hero levels up, the stronger they become.
Van Slaine wanted to experience that firsthand.
* * *
"It feels kind of cool."
Seo Woojin shivered slightly.
Despite leveling up and gaining some resistance to the cold, he suddenly felt a chill.
Smirking as he pierced through Erath's back with his sword, he tilted his head.
'Is it because of my mood?'
Seo Woojin casually withdrew a deep black sword from Erath's skull.
"It looks like you've become quite familiar with that sword."
"Ah, Irene."
Seo Woojin nodded as he noticed Irene, who had approached without him realizing.
"It doesn't feel that heavy now."
The black sword he received as a congratulatory gift from Van Slaine was heavier than he expected. He thought he could use it around level 5, but it was only at level 7 that he could wield it in combat.
"You've become quite strong now."
Irene stared at Seo Woojin with deep-set eyes.
However, there was no sign of jealousy as before.
It wasn't just a matter of not showing it; she genuinely seemed not to feel that way anymore.
"There is still a long way to go."
Seo Woojin scratched his cheek and avoided eye contact.
'Yeah, I still have a long way to go.'
His strength was absurdly weak to repay his life debt.
"That's true. It is said that the Hero of the empire is already close to level 20."
An SSS-class Hero.
He, who had the job aptitude of 'Sword God', got the job just like his aptitude.
With the endless support of the Empire, he was growing at an insane speed.
Compared to him, Seo Woojin's growth rate is no different from that of a slug.
'Still, I don't think I'll lose.'
There were many stories circulating about the 'Sword God'.
Some said he manifested an aura at level 10, and others claimed his physique was reconstructed at level 15.
All these stories were unbelievable, but no one considered them exaggerations, at least not in Sion.
"Were you level 7 when you manifested the aura?"
Once he reached the level where he could freely wield the black sword, Seo Woojin easily manifested the aura.
The shock at that time swept through the entire subjugation team.
To put it mildly, even Van Slaine looked at him in astonishment and disbelief.
Having personally witnessed Seo Woojin, there was no reason to doubt the rumors.
"Then what's the point? Can't even beat Testeron."
Testeron has not yet reached the stage of manifesting Aura.
If he could manifest auras in the first place, there was no way he would remain a high-ranking knight.
Nevertheless, Seo Woojin couldn't defeat Testeron.
"Ability and strength are two different things."
What happens if you emit aura and fire skills wildly?
It will not be able to hit even a single target.
Testeron's strength could not be defined simply as the height of his abilities.
"Lord Testeron has experienced far more battles than Mr. Woojin can imagine."
During the recent subjugation period, Seo Woojin also fought many battles.
But compared to Testeron, who risked his life in battles on the front lines every year, it was like child's play.
"That's probably why you insisted on becoming stronger through direct combat, not on a bus.'
It was already a known fact.
"If Mr. Woojin had taken the bus… I probably wouldn't have won either."
He would have leveled up much faster than now.
It would have been comparable to the Empire's Sword Saint.
But then what would he do?
Even against Irene, a lower-ranked knight, he would have been easily defeated.
Just a big child in appearance.
To the eyes of knights, warriors who took the bus were only that much.
"With your current abilities, you can probably defeat that so-called Sword Saint."
"…Do you think so?"
"It's my Lord's words, so it's certain."
If Van Slaine said so, it could be believed.
"Well, I hope so. Anyway, it seems like I won't be leveling up today either."
After reaching level 9, a week had passed, but I still couldn't level up.
The extermination speed was unprecedentedly fast, but it was relatively slow because I had to hunt through battles one by one.
"It seems like creatures like Snow Wolf barely give any experience now."
The satisfaction that accumulated with each monster hunt was no longer felt.
Even when capturing a much more dangerous Erath than a Snoul, the leveling speed could only be slow.
"I think I need to find a different approach."
It reminded him of when Van Slaine killed the Ice Bug.
Hunting a hundred Snow Wolf seemed less rewarding than gaining much more experience from a single Ice Bug.
The question wasn't about whether hunting was possible or not; the crucial thing was defeating high-level monsters for rapid growth.
"Don't worry."
"Is there any other way… like Black Flames?"
While speaking, Seo Woojin burned an escaping Erath with black flames and asked.
"Tomorrow, we're going to enter Draconis territory."
"…Draconis?"
When he first encountered it, it was a monster so powerful that it involuntarily brought thoughts of death.
But now?
'With a little help, hunting should be quite possible.'
Seo Woojin made that judgment.
Although he was a monster of a powerful Overlord class, Seo Woojin had also achieved tremendous growth.
"Isn't it dangerous?"
However, Seo Woojin uttered a weak sound.
Just because hunting was possible didn't mean there would be no harm.
What he was worried about now was not himself but the soldiers.
"They are also individuals with thick bones who have been in this place."
If we look at it based on experience alone, most of them were superior to Irene.
Of course, on the first day, there was some unexpected appearance, so there was some damage, but if they were in a properly prepared state, the story would be different.
"Well, that's fortunate."
While Seo Woojin and Irene were carrying out the subjugation, they moved as if they were crazy.
It was to minimize the damage to the soldiers as much as possible.
Swinging the sword one more time meant one more person could survive.
Thanks to that, the damage to the soldiers was greatly reduced.
"Now it seems that the eradication of Erath is over."
The battle that started in the morning was finally concluded by evening.
It took quite a long time, given the large number and the effort to prevent them from escaping.
But in the end, they caught them all.
"Today also ended like this."
Seo Woojin said as he sheathed the black sword.
It was an unusually long day.
Since they had repeated battles from morning to evening, it was not unreasonable to feel that way.
"For tomorrow, we need to take some rest now."
Tomorrow is the day to subjugate Draconis.
When they first met, he was trembling with fear and anxiety…
"But now it's a bit different."
It's not because the level has risen.
Mental Attitude.
What has changed the most since they started the subjugation is that.
Now, the weight of life on my shoulders was too heavy to tremble in front of the monster's death.
"Now, let's clean up the battlefield and take a rest as well."
"That's right. Tomorrow is the last day of subjugation."
Upon Irene's words, Seo Woojin showed a slightly surprised expression.
"Tomorrow is the last day?"
"Yes. The subjugation ended much earlier than planned."
"…I see."
Seo Woojin's expression darkened.
Normally, he should have been delighted as if he could leap, but he couldn't. He was thinking about the families of the deceased soldiers.
"Mr. Woojin"
Irene called Seo Woojin.
Then she spoke with a firm voice.
"Think about that day later. For now, focus on resting. And only think about the Draconis subjugation that will take place tomorrow."
Seo Woojin nodded at Irene's words.
"I will."
Now was the time to concentrate on the subjugation.