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Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad-Chapter 86
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The 2nd Corps Headquarters of the Demon King’s Army, the Magic Tower.
This towering structure was visibly massive in terms of building area at first glance.
However, the Magic Tower was more than what met the eye.
Underground.
Below the tower existed a space just as vast as what showed above ground.
In fact, more secret and important research took place underground rather than in the upper levels.
“Kyaaak-!”
“Squeak! Be careful!”
The Chimera Laboratory in the tower’s underground.
Chimeras were Rotark’s most focused area of research.
As the Corps Commander personally directed it, the laboratory’s scale was enormous.
Hundreds of cylinders lined up.
Inside were bizarrely shaped creatures of unknown origin.
They were all artificial life forms – chimeras.
White-coated rats busily ran between these cylinders.
The 2nd Corps Commander Rotark was staring blankly at this scene.
“Rotark… Lord Rotark…!”
Rotark snapped back to reality at the voice.
“What is it?”
“Are you alright? Squeak! You’ve been standing still for 10 minutes.”
“Hmm, I need a break.”
Rotark shook his head and left the laboratory.
This was behavior never seen from him normally.
Usually, he would be consumed by madness, reducing sleep to focus on experiments, but not today.
‘I just can’t concentrate…’
There was no room in Rotark’s mind for chimera research right now.
‘Choi Hyun-seok. When will he return?’
Since first seeing Choi Hyun-seok.
Not for a moment had Choi Hyun-seok left Rotark’s mind.
An experimental subject unlike any he’d seen before.
The sight of him perfectly balancing both demonic energy and magical power within his body was almost beautiful.
He couldn’t wait to cut open the body and examine the inside and conduct various experiments!
That was his only thought.
If he could uncover Choi Hyun-seok’s secrets, it would undoubtedly open new horizons never known before.
He could bring to reality all the dream experiments he’d only imagined for hundreds of years.
That’s why Rotark couldn’t focus on the present.
He wanted to rush to the Black Giant Star and kidnap Choi Hyun-seok right away.
“Squeak! How long will he make me wait?”
Just then, as Rotark was sighing.
The magic communication crystal lit up.
Rotark activated the crystal using his demonic energy.
“What?”
“Lord Rotark. We have a communication from the 3rd Corps Commander. Shall I connect it?”
Rotark’s face wrinkled.
The 3rd Corps Commander must mean Hemis.
‘What does that crazy woman want?’
He had heard about the recent clash between Hemis and the Demon King.
It wasn’t particularly surprising.
There had been signs of this for a long time.
‘Either way, it shouldn’t concern me…’
Rotark didn’t care about power struggles within the Demon King’s Army.
His research and experiments in this Magic Tower were his everything.
Both the Demon King and other Corps Commanders knew about Rotark’s tendencies.
That’s probably why there hadn’t been direct contact.
But suddenly, Hemis contacted him.
What could be the reason?
As he was deep in thought, the communication officer urged him.
“Lord Rotark. What would you like to do? Shall I connect…” Crackle-!
Suddenly the soldier’s words cut off and black sparks flew from the magic crystal.
Then cracks appeared in the crystal and a familiar voice came through.
-Rotark. Are you not taking my calls now?
Somehow, Hemis had forcibly opened the communication channel.
Rotark’s face wrinkled even more.
He continued speaking in as casual a voice as possible.
“No, I was about to connect.”
-Smooth out that frown. It makes me sad to see such an expression when we haven’t talked in so long.
Suddenly, an awkward smile appeared on Rotark’s frozen face.
‘What a monster…’
This magic communication crystal was literally just for communication.
It had no video transmission function.
Yet Hemis not only forced open the communication but seemed to be watching this place directly through the cracks.
He couldn’t even guess what kind of magic she was using.
-Yes, yes. That’s our cute Rotark, smiling like that. Ohoho!
“Squeak! By the way, Lady Hemis. What brings you to contact me suddenly?”
-Come to the Black Giant Star right now.
“Pardon?”
Suddenly telling him to come to the Black Giant Star.
Rotark was a Corps Commander.
He wasn’t some pet that would come and go at command.
Rotark asked again, wondering if it was a joke.
“Are you telling me to come to the Black Giant Star?”
-Why? Don’t want to?
“Well… Shouldn’t I at least know the reason? Squeak!”
-Ohoho! Our Rotark has grown up so much.
Hemis laughed in her characteristic high pitch.
Then, as if she had never laughed, she continued in an ice-cold voice.
-Stop talking and come. Or should I go there instead?
The contrast was so extreme it was hard to believe it was the same person.
Rotark swallowed a sigh.
“I’ll come… Right away…”
-Good. Now that’s our Rotark. Ohoho!
Her voice filled with playfulness again.
-There’s no interference magic field, so you can come directly. You know the coordinates?
“Yes.”
-Then I’ll be waiting~
That was the end.
Crack!
The communication crystal shattered and the connection terminated.
***
‘He really came…?’
Choi Hyun-seok’s mouth gaped open.
The situation was developing so rapidly that he couldn’t understand what was happening.
‘Can this happen between Corps Commanders?’
It was a one-sided notification, an order.
Hemis treated Rotark, a Corps Commander, like a subordinate.
Yet Rotark came obediently.
It hadn’t even been three minutes since the communication.
“It’s been a while, Lady Hemis.”
Rotark bowed his head.
Hemis smirked and waved her hand.
“Oh come on~ It hasn’t been that long. We saw each other at the last regular meeting.”
“Squeak. That’s true.”
Rotark smiled submissively.
The image of the absolute ruler he had shown in front of Choi Hyun-seok was nowhere to be found.
“But why did you call for me?”
Instead of answering, Hemis held out a parchment.
“This is…”
It was the contract that Rotark had given to Choi Hyun-seok.
However, the contents had changed.
Rotark read through it carefully.
-Rotark shall sincerely and fully dedicate himself to treating Choi Hyun-seok.
-Rotark cannot perform any actions harmful to Choi Hyun-seok.
-Without Choi Hyun-seok’s consent, Rotark cannot…
-Rotark shall…
There was no need to read further.
This was simply a slave contract.
Veins bulged on Rotark’s forehead.
He couldn’t understand what this ridiculous thing was about.
He raised his head to look at Hemis.
“Why…”
His voice came out low.
Though he was desperately holding back, he couldn’t help the anger seeping into his voice.
“Why are you protecting a mere human, Lady Hemis?”
“Do I need to explain everything to you?”
“If you won’t give me a reason, I have no reason to comply! Squeak!”
Rotark spat out the words.
‘Tell me to give up on Choi Hyun-seok now?’
Before seeing Choi Hyun-seok, maybe, but now it was absolutely impossible.
Rotark intended to proceed with the experiments no matter what.
Even if it went against Hemis’s wishes.
Then Hemis called out to Rotark.
“Rotark.”
“Yes.”
“Was it 350 years ago?”
“…”
“Who saved you when you were about to die as an unnamed lab rat?”
This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.
350 years ago.
Before Rotark had reached maturity.
Originally, Rotark’s clan was renowned for their researchers.
Among that clan, Rotark, who uniquely had white fur, drew attention in many ways.
Because of this, when Rotark was about to be dissected alive before even fully growing up, it was Hemis who stopped it.
“It was you, Lady Hemis…”
“That’s right. 200 years ago. Who helped you win the Corps Commander selection battle?”
It was also Hemis who made Rotark a Corps Commander.
Despite being relatively weaker in combat compared to other Corps Commanders.
Through Hemis’s schemes, he was able to win the Corps Commander selection battle.
“100 years ago. Who saved you when you were about to die at human hands?”
“…”
“It’s quite interesting. After that, you were confined to the Magic Tower, and I to this Black Giant Star. Of course, yours was by choice while mine was forced.”
After a moment of silence, Rotark spoke.
“I am grateful for those times. However, this…”
“Rotark.”
Hemis cut him off as if she didn’t want to hear it.
Her following voice dripped with cold intensity.
“You seem to be misunderstanding something. This isn’t a request. It’s an order.”
Rotark didn’t back down either.
His voice gradually rose as demonic energy unconsciously leaked out.
“I am a Corps Commander of the Demon King’s Army. Squeak! I only take orders from the Demon King! What you’re doing now is clearly overstepping your authority.”
Hemis was silent for a moment.
Then suddenly her lips twisted into a smile.
Those who had known Hemis for a long time would know.
That her current smile contained deep anger.
“Rotark. Haven’t you heard the rumors?”
“…”
“What will be faster? My head falling before the Demon King, or me slitting your throat?”
It was a clear threat.
Cold sweat ran down Rotark’s back.
‘Has this monster finally gone mad…’
Hemis drove the point home.
“Why can’t you understand what I’m saying?”
“…”
“If you don’t want to die, shut up and do as you’re told.”
This was the limit.
He couldn’t irritate Hemis’s nerves any further.
She wasn’t in her right mind to begin with, but looking at Hemis’s recent behavior, she was literally an uncontrollable madwoman.
She had already driven the 4th Corps Commander Park Hyun-a to the brink of death.
If he resisted here, Hemis might really slit his throat.
Everything gets easier after the first time, after all.
In the end, Rotark had no choice but to surrender.
“I understand…”
“Good. That’s what you should have done from the start. Ohoho!”
Highton’s laughter filled the office.
Soon after, Rotark infused magic into the parchment, and the contract was completed.
Hemis’s lips spread wide and she swallowed the parchment whole.
“I’ll return it when this is over. Then you can tear it up or burn it as you please.”
“Yes…”
As long as the parchment exists, the contract continues forever.
Unless Hemis dies, Rotark has no choice but to follow.
“Good. Rotark.”
“Yes.”
“Now get out.”
“Understood…”
Rotark left the office without another word.
With a ‘poof!’ sound, he disappeared.
He seemed to have used Space Transfer magic, just like when he arrived.
“…”
Silence briefly lingered in the office.
Suddenly, Hemis smirks.
“That went well, didn’t it?”
Choi Hyun-seok desperately moved his frozen facial muscles.
“Yes! As expected of Corps Commander! I’m truly impressed by your wise and bold decision!”
“Is that so? Ohohoho!”
“Yes! It was really the best! Hahahahaha!”
Choi Hyun-seok and Hemis laugh.
Of course, even though he was laughing on the outside, Choi Hyun-seok was about to flip out internally.
‘What exactly has been accomplished!?’
He didn’t expect Hemis to be this coercive.
He also didn’t expect Rotark to oppose so strongly in the first place.
Anyway, he hadn’t anticipated this level of antagonism between the two Corps Commanders.
However, he couldn’t just remain discouraged because unexpected things had happened.
‘It’s too late to turn back. I don’t know why Hemis is helping me to this extent… But since it’s come to this, I’ll make proper use of it.’
He had come too far to go back.
Choi Hyun-seok had jumped into the middle of enemy territory with the monster called Hemis on his back.
If he hesitates here, before being eaten by the enemy, he’ll be eaten by Hemis who’s riding on his back.
He needed to make bold decisions and move before the situation turned worst.
“Corps Commander! I will serve you with lifelong loyalty!”
“Yes, yes. That’s right. Ohohoho!”
***
Rotark returned to the Magic Tower.
His steps toward the laboratory were full of irritation.
“How dare…! How dare they do this to me, Rotark…!”
The demonic energy flowing from Rotark enveloped the entire Magic Tower.
“Cr-crack…!”
“Squeak squeak…!”
The researchers scattered in all directions, trembling in fear.
No one dared approach Rotark.
Rotark kept muttering something in anger.
“Those bastards… Just wait until this is over…”
At that moment.
His face twisted hideously as he let out a roar.
“I’ll tear them to shreds!”
“Until those precious lips beg for mercy! I’ll keep! Keep tearing them apart!”
“After dividing them into thousands, tens of thousands of pieces, I’ll turn them into chimeras and make them crawl under my feet for life!”
That day, it’s said that Rotark’s curses continued until dawn, and thanks to that, every being in the Magic Tower trembled in anxiety and couldn’t sleep.
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Schedule: [4 Chs a week]
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