After the appointment ceremony, Yoon Si-woo quietly looked at his hand inside the waiting tent.
Just before the ceremony began, he had been trembling, but now that the actual event was underway, his hands were unexpectedly steady.
If there was a reason for this, it must have been because of what he had seen earlier.
Recalling the scene he witnessed during the ceremony, Yoon Si-woo smiled subtly, only to snap back to attention at the voice of someone who had just stepped into the tent.
“Great job with the ceremony. You seemed pretty nervous during the rehearsal, but you did well without a hitch during the real deal, huh? You’re strong in the field,” they teased.
“Oh, Captain Martina.”
He realized it was Martina, who had assisted with the ceremony.
Yoon Si-woo greeted her warmly but thought to himself that he wasn’t exactly strong in practical situations.
Before the ceremony started, he had been quite nervous from the pressure and anticipation.
Yet, the reason he managed to stay calm was probably due to the encouragement he received during the event.
As he recalled that moment, a smile naturally formed on his face.
It was a strange feeling.
Despite the crowd, he had been able to find Scarlet in an instant.
And even though he had been so tense, the moment he saw her mouth form the words “You can do it,” his trembling had stopped remarkably.
She was someone who, in many ways, challenged him the most, yet at the same time, was the source of his greatest strength.
As long as she smiled at him, he felt he could easily overcome the expectations of others and the burdens of responsibility.
Was there really anyone else as special as her?
While he was lost in such thoughts, Martina wrapped her arm around his head and mumbled,
“Thanks to you, I get to have these experiences? I never thought I’d have to manage such a ridiculous production in my life… How does it feel to have our youngest captain bossing me around?”
“Haha…”
Martina was jokingly teasing him while holding him in a headlock.
Struggling for words in response, Yoon Si-woo just smiled sheepishly.
Though it did feel a bit like he was bossing her around, it wasn’t intentional; he had simply asked for her cooperation because it was necessary.
Of course, he genuinely felt thankful for Martina, who came to help without any complaints.
“Wow, it’s hard to believe you’re the captain now. It feels like just yesterday you joined us as a new recruit…”
“Right? I never thought it would turn out this way…”
“Feels strange, doesn’t it? I thought if you became captain, you’d definitely be with us.”
“Is that so? Still, I lost the lottery and got dragged here, didn’t I? Captain Natalia said that last time.”
“Hey! That’s true, but still, how could I not have favored you!”
Seeing Martina defensively raise her voice as if feeling guilty, Yoon Si-woo couldn’t help but chuckle.
Even though she had made it sound like a complaint, he knew it wasn’t sincere.
He knew best how much she cared for her subordinates because he had worked under her.
Besides, she had often listened to his unreasonable requests too.
Martina was someone he respected and was very thankful to.
If nothing special had happened, he might have continued working under her and eventually succeeded her position.
While he was pondering such thoughts, Martina suddenly spoke up with a peculiar expression on her face.
“Anyway, not because of that… you know, because of your parents…”
“Ah…”
Yoon Si-woo’s expression naturally hardened at her words.
He realized the meaning behind what she was saying.
“The reckless guy who killed your parents, the one tainted by rage, falls under our jurisdiction. That’s why I thought you would want to stay with us to avenge them. Well, if that had been the case, I would have slapped you.”
Martina was one of the few who knew what had happened to his parents.
Because of that, she had thought he would stay with the 4th unit to protect the northern front.
It wasn’t an incorrect assumption.
He had at one point thought he would like to avenge his parents if possible.
But more important than revenge was something he had now.
Just as he was about to say that…
“Ah…”
He heard a sigh from somewhere, followed by something dropping to the ground.
“…Scarlet?”
Turning towards the source of the sound, he saw Scarlet standing there with a shocked expression.
In that moment, Yoon Si-woo immediately understood.
Scarlet had heard what Martina just said, and he could only imagine the thoughts running through her mind.
He was about to reassure her.
That the words just spoken shouldn’t bother her.
That he was okay, and that she had no fault in this.
However, before those words could leave his mouth…
“…I’m sorry.”
With a distressed look, Scarlet offered a quick apology and turned to run away.
Martina, witnessing this, murmured in surprise.
“Um… did I just mess up?”
“…It’s not your fault, so don’t worry about it.”
He shook his head at her.
It was true that Scarlet had heard hurtful words because of what Martina said, but it wasn’t her wrongdoing.
No one was at fault here.
Only unfortunate circumstances had resulted in pain for someone.
Thus, he was about to rush after Scarlet.
To prevent her from blaming herself for something she didn’t do.
To stop her from hurting herself any further.
“Yoon Si-woo? We need to get going for the next appointment, are you ready?”
However, just as he was about to chase after Scarlet, he stopped upon hearing Sylvia’s voice.
He felt the gazes of those around him.
Eyes filled with expectations.
It seemed to tell him he could no longer act recklessly like before.
Yoon Si-woo couldn’t help but frown.
It was a ridiculous situation.
He had made a choice in favor of Scarlet, yet that very choice was now binding him from going to her aid.
He wondered for a moment what made him make such a choice.
But the conflict was brief.
“What… happened?”
“…It’s nothing. Let’s depart.”
If he chased after Scarlet now, he would break his promise to her to prioritize others rather than herself.
She valued promises highly.
If he went after her, she would surely be disappointed.
So Yoon Si-woo suppressed his impulse and, with a hardened expression, followed Sylvia’s lead.
Only the wilted bouquet that had fallen to the ground remained behind, forlornly bidding farewell to his departing steps.
*
At the very front line of the western boundary area, maintained by the 2nd unit of Astrafe.
This was the site of humanity’s greatest battleground, where the legendary hero Aegis had defeated the Witch of Gluttony, and its magical remnants had made the appearance of lesser demonic beasts quite active.
When Yoon Si-woo arrived, he quietly surveyed his surroundings.
He was clearly there to take over from the former captain, but no one appeared to be in charge.
While he was scanning the area, a nearby member approached him.
“Ah… you must be the new captain who’s been appointed today?”
“Yes, I’m here for the handover. Where’s the captain?”
“Haha… we tried to reason with him, but he wouldn’t listen at all. Please hold on for a moment. Ah, there he comes.”
Following the member’s indication, Yoon Si-woo looked in the direction he was pointing.
There stood a muscular man, his hair graying with age, who looked too formidable to be an old man, crushing lesser demonic beasts as if proving the years he had lived.
Critics always loved to talk about heroes.
Most often, their debates revolved around who was the strongest hero.
Usually, there were varying opinions on the subject.
Some would mention “The One Who Follows the Sound,” Leon Lionel, while others would bring up “The Grand Mage of Elements,” Martina Ivanova.
However, there was one subject about which opinions rarely diverged.
Who was the most reliable hero?
On that subject, people of the present age would likely conjure the same name.
The captain of the 2nd unit, “The Unwearied,” Telos Dolos.
His fighting style was simple.
With the blessed body inherited from the Dolos bloodline, he crushed and pulverized the lesser demonic beasts.
Neither the claws nor the fangs of the beasts could leave a single scratch on his body.
While it wasn’t as swift as Leon, as flashy as Martina, or as efficient as Natalia, he was equally respected and trusted by all.
This was because he had held the captain’s position of the 2nd unit for over half a century.
And fittingly to his title, he had never once left his post during those years.
He believed that taking down even just one more lesser demonic beast, even during his leave time, was a greater service to humanity.
That was why his unwavering dedication earned Yoon Si-woo’s deep respect as he observed him dispatching the lesser demonic beasts through the years.
For him, tackling the lesser demonic beasts was as routine as a day’s work.
Finally coming face-to-face with Telos, who was now rising from his labors, emitting steam from his entire body, Yoon Si-woo heard him speak as he looked down at him.
“You’re the one who said you’d come today.”
“Yes! I am Yoon Si-woo, the new captain of the 2nd unit!”
“New captain, huh…”
Telos muttered as he observed Yoon Si-woo, who was swallowing hard under the pressure of his low voice.
“Prove yourself.”
It was a short command.
At those few words, Yoon Si-woo was taken aback.
Prove himself? Prove what?
Feeling puzzled, he was met with Telos’ continued statement.
“The lesser demonic beasts here are relentless. Their regenerative abilities are strong, and if you don’t kill them for sure, they’ll recover quickly and charge again. Others have recommended you, so you can’t be incompetent, but I need to see for myself. Prove to me that you can handle it as well as I do. If you can’t, I’ll send you back.”
“Captain?!”
Was this unplanned? One of the members standing nearby exclaimed in shock.
It was understandable.
After all, this was all being broadcast live.
They were supposed to be recording the handover scene between the longest-serving captain and the youngest newly appointed captain, but an unexpected conflict arose.
Even the people filming in the back didn’t seem able to hide their surprise.
But Yoon Si-woo didn’t mind.
The call to prove himself was a test of his dedication.
While it sounded somewhat like bullying, possibly bruising his pride, Yoon Si-woo nodded without hesitation.
After all, the man before him was certainly someone deserving of respect.
“Alright.”
“Wait, hold on!!!”
As he responded and leapt beyond the barrier where the lesser demonic beasts still lingered, a startled shout echoed from behind.
It must have appeared reckless to others who viewed it that way; they were probably worried about it turning into a broadcasting mishap.
However, showing that such concerns were unnecessary, Yoon Si-woo quietly murmured to himself as he summoned a massive greatsword from the air.
The Holy Sword of the Guardian, traditionally used for deploying protective barriers.
“Opening the Holy Sword.”
With those words, the massive greatsword scattered into fragments in the air before coming back together.
What emerged was the true form of the Holy Sword.
A splendid set of white armor.
The moment it landed on the ground, Yoon Si-woo, fully clad in armor, looked the part of a white knight.
From a distance, the claws of the lesser demonic beasts lunged at the white knight.
But even as those attacks grazed past, and no matter how the swarm of beasts clawed and bit, the holy light around the knight remained unblemished.
Realizing their attacks had no effect, the lesser demonic beasts paid dearly for their mistake.
With a rustle, the bodies of the lesser demonic beasts were sliced in half.
However, among them, a few beasts were bubbling with foam, attempting to regenerate despite having been sliced apart.
This was the unique regenerative ability possessed by the beasts of gluttony.
They belonged to that category of lesser demonic beasts which were bothersome opponents due to their quick recovery from most wounds.
Yet, this was just what Yoon Si-woo had hoped for; he muttered inside the armor as he coldly glared at the demonic beasts.
He needed a target to relieve the stress that had accumulated from what had just happened.
The sword became airborne and flew toward the body of those lesser demonic beasts that were regenerating.
Before the butchered bodies could regenerate into a new form…
Again, and again, and again.
Having deliberately refrained from silencing them, the beasts continued trying to regenerate, but the frequency of incoming attacks far exceeded their attempts to heal.
As a result, the beasts were reduced to an uncountable number of bloody bits scattered on the ground.
Even after pouring out his emotions during the battle, Yoon Si-woo still felt not fully relieved.
At last, he drew the brilliant golden Holy Sword and swung it at the approaching horde of lesser demonic beasts.
A wave of light surged, leaving behind a landscape completely cleared of any demonic beasts.
As he returned to those watching from behind the barrier, he turned towards Telos, who was watching him intently.
“Is this proof enough?”
In response, Telos chuckled, seemingly satisfied.
“That’s more than enough. I’ll count on you to watch my back.”
*
“Wow, that was amazing! The incredible display that Yoon Si-woo just showed! Receiving the acknowledgment of the former captain, Telos, marks a clear generational shift!”
Through the broadcast, a woman holding a microphone exclaimed excitedly.
As Yoon Si-woo watched the scene for a moment, he noticed the woman, blushing upon making eye contact, approaching with a camera and offering the microphone.
With a delighted expression, the woman asked,
“Um… Mr. Yoon Si-woo? If it’s not too much trouble, could I possibly get a quick interview?”
Feeling a bit fatigued, Yoon Si-woo briefly considered declining, but then thought of Scarlet, who had wandered off somewhere.
She might be at home, and if so…
Glancing at the camera that was filming him, Yoon Si-woo nodded his head and murmured,
“Alright, just for a moment. But could I send a quick text before the interview?”
“Oh! Really?! Of course!”
Having received permission, Yoon Si-woo carefully took out his mobile phone.
He ensured the background was a photo of himself and Scarlet, taken at the zoo, so others wouldn’t see it.
Then he sent a short text to her, referring to the photo he just viewed.
[Tune in to the TV].
Because he had something he wanted to tell her immediately.
After putting his phone away and nodding, the woman immediately fired off a question.
“Then, Mr. Yoon Si-woo, you’ve become the youngest captain. Can you share your thoughts on this?”
“Thoughts, huh…”
Taking a deep breath, Yoon Si-woo cautiously opened his mouth.
“My parents passed away fighting against the lesser demonic beasts.”
Expressions of pity filled the faces of those who heard this.
However, that’s not what he wanted to say, so Yoon Si-woo continued.
“I know many will assume that I’ve become a hero to avenge my parents. But that’s not why I became a hero. I became a hero to protect.”
He spoke directly to the camera.
“For the sake of protecting what is precious, I have become a hero.”
In truth, the words were meant for Scarlet, who might be watching through the screen beyond the camera.
“It’s not that my parents weren’t precious. But to me, what matters now is far more important than my parents who have passed away. I became a hero to protect that, to ensure I never lose it again.”
He wanted to convey that Scarlet, who was alive now, was far more precious than his parents, who had passed away.
“I stand here now to protect you.”
He declared that he stood there to protect her.
“So please don’t despair over difficult matters and just smile.”
He asked for her to smile, to be happy.
“I wanted to say this.”
He simply wanted to convey these words.
Would they reach her?
He hoped they would.
With that fervent wish, Yoon Si-woo smiled lightly.
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