How To Survive As A Demon King

Chapter 94

Seo Woojin swallowed dry saliva.

No, he tried to swallow, but he couldn’t even move his small muscles as he wanted.

*Cough*

A cough burst out.

It felt like his chest was going to burst.

“Are you still in a state to talk?”

Briani furrowed her brow.

Then, she nodded her head.

‘Well, I guess so. Since I used ‘Heavenly Wings’ at full power, it’s no wonder I’m not in great shape. Even with the strong healing powers of the priests, it’s not like it’s easy to recover.’

It seemed that the priests had already visited.

But even so, his condition was not good…

‘How badly was I injured?’

He vowed not to use ‘Heavenly Wings’ at full power again.

‘That’s only possible if I can survive this situation.’

Seo Woojin gazed at Briani’s heavily sunken eyes.

“There are many things I want to ask, but since you can’t answer, just listen for now.”

Her tone was casual, but her voice was still cold.

“If what I saw that day is true, the energy bound to your sword… was similar to Magi’s.”

It was an indifferent tone, as if he were talking about what he ate for breakfast this morning, but Seo Woojin’s heart sank.

“The demon king’s follower also said the same thing, right? How do you control Magi? That’s what they asked.”

Briani’s gaze swept over his entire body.

Her cold gaze made his body tremble.

It was also painful.

“How is this possible? The hero is able to use Magi? It’s incomprehensible.”

In reality, Briani’s sunken eyes were filled with confusion.

“I’ve thought about it too, but I just can’t understand.”

Her hand rested on Seo Woojin’s forehead.

It felt like she was going to crush his skull.

Seo Woojin’s eyes trembled.

He wanted to say something, but no sound came out of his mouth.

But at that moment,

Briani’s eyes drew a gentle curve.

“So, I decided to just let it go.”

‘Huh?’

Her gaze was soft, as if they had been that way since the beginning.

“Now that I think about it, you are my lifesaver. How can I do something like that to put you in a corner? It’s better to bite my tongue and die instead.”

She laughed, *pfft*.

“So, don’t worry about it. I won’t ask how you use that power or how it’s possible. I won’t pry.”

It was unexpected.

I thought she would grab my collar and interrogate me right away……

“Others won’t know either. If I keep my mouth shut, no one will know. You just focus on recovering.”

Briani got up.

Her red hair brushed against Seo Woojin’s nose.

It hurt, but the relief was much greater.

“Oh, by the way, the knight who was with you was worried sick. When you’re better, please at least give them a thank-you.”

Her eyes, curved like crescent moons, shined brightly as if she knew something.

“I’m leaving. Rest well.”

Briani’s figure disappeared.

It was as if she had never been there from the beginning.

Seo Woojin lay still, gazing at the spot where Briani had stood.

*Drrr*-

The door opened, and Irene, who had gone outside, returned.

She had a bowl of water and a new towel in her hand.

Suddenly, Briani’s words before she left came to mind.

* * *

“I’ve caused you a lot of trouble. It’s all my fault.”

Martes.

The owner of the Heavenly Tower had come to visit.

‘It’s probably just a courtesy call.’

Seo Woojin made a strange expression.

The fact that the Magician, who was like a doll, was asking about his well-being felt unreal.

“If only I could move a little bit…”

Martes checked Seo Woojin’s condition and shook her head.

The most certain way for a hero to recover is to level up.

If Seo Woojin could even just move his fingers, she would have brought a monster to carry him and ride a bus.

But even that was impossible, so she was making a pitiful expression.

‘I feel sad too.’

Riding a bus wasn’t something he particularly liked, but if it could help him recover, there was no reason to refuse.

“Just hold on a little longer. I’ll repay you, so don’t worry.”

Repay?

Did she notice Seo Woojin’s doubts?

Martes answered with a smile.

“Briani is someone I really care about. She’s the only one I can call a friend in this land. Since you saved her, how could I not repay you?”

I didn’t know that.

‘Well, if it’s a favor, I suppose that level of friendship is possible.’

I nodded to myself.

“I’ve already told the Academy about it. So, you just focus on recovering.”

‘The kids will be worried.’

They would think I’m on vacation, but if they suddenly hear that I’ve become a half-dead patient, how shocked would they be?

Especially Lee Ji-ah, who would probably rush over right away, causing a commotion.

“As a reward for your favor, I’ll give you the ‘Summoning Stone’ as soon as you recover. And I’ll think of a few more gifts, so you can look forward to it.”

Just the ‘Summoning Stone’ alone was enough to make me happy, but she’s offering more?

Seo Woojin’s eyes sparkled with joy.

Martes smiled at that sight.

“It will be to your heart’s content. Recover quickly and come find me.”

Seo Woojin thought that as soon as he recovered, he would go to the Sky Tower first.

Even after Martes, who was chatting beside him, left, many people came to visit him.

Briani came several times a day, and even the top-ranked knight, Meigas, visited.

The servants, who were grateful for saving the Grand Duke, also came and went, taking care of his needs, making his life extremely comfortable, except for the fact that he was sick.

A week passed like that.

During that time, Seo Woojin recovered at an astonishing rate.

“It’s really amazing. How did you recover so much in just a week…?”

Briani stared at Seo Woojin, who was slowly walking with a wobbly gait, her eyes wide with wonder.

Even with Irene’s help, it was something close to a miracle.

“I thought you would need at least a month of rest.”

Even the doctors of Mernotain said the same thing.

Because his body was too severely damaged, a month seemed too short.

But Seo Woojin’s evolved body had shortened the time by an overwhelming margin.

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

Gratitude poured out of his words.

It was because he still hadn’t fully recovered.

“This much is possible.”

“What kind of…?”

When Seo Woojin asked, Briani smiled brightly.

“It’s the method Martes taught me.”

Seo Woojin’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

* * *

“Whoa-”

He took a deep breath slowly.

The pain that had felt like it would burst out with every breath disappeared.

He moved his hand, and it moved smoothly without any hindrance.

His magic also flowed strongly, just like before.

“I’ve fully recovered.”

Briani stared at Seo Woojin with an amazed expression.

“I’ve heard stories, but heroes are really amazing.”

Was it because she had seen the scene of leveling up for the first time?

She had a slightly surprised expression.

“Thanks to you, I was able to recover quickly.”

The knights of the Grand Duke’s castle brought in monsters.

Briani directly used her hands to beat the monsters, one by one, and threw them in front of Seo Woojin.

All he had to do was hold ‘Rune Dea’ and struggle to pierce one, two monsters at a time.

Since there were no high-level monsters, he had to kill quite a few of them.

About fifty, perhaps?

The bright light burst out of Seo Woojin’s body, and the words “Level Up” appeared.

It was only natural for his damaged body to recover.

Seo Woojin, who had checked his body from head to toe, finally smiled.

“I’m the one who got the credit. Because I survived thanks to you.”

When Seo Woojin was lying in bed, Briani had kept her promise thoroughly.

She never asked about Magi again, as if she had seen nothing.

I was very grateful for that.

“Anyway, it’s a shame.”

Briani’s face turned gloomy.

“There’s no choice. I have to go to the Sky Tower and return to the Academy.”

“In my opinion, that Academy doesn’t seem to be of much help to you.”

Her words were true.

The Academy’s education was conducted at a uniform level for all heroes, so it wouldn’t be of much help to Seo Woojin and his elite friends.

In fact, if they just put their minds to it, they could leave the Academy and train and grow on their own.

That might even be faster.

But Seo Woojin didn’t leave the Academy.

‘I need to make more allies.’

Heroes who would stand by his side in any situation.

He had to form bonds with them.

‘And being alone is a bit lonely too.’

Many bonds had already been formed.

Honestly, he didn’t want to leave them behind and be alone.

“Well, if that’s your intention, there’s nothing I can do.”

Briani wanted to keep Seo Woojin by her side if possible.

It was only for a day, but they had formed a bond of life and death.

It was hard to part ways so quickly.

But she couldn’t hold on to him, so Briani coolly let Seo Woojin go.

“Oh, and…”

Seo Woojin took off the bracelet.

“I think I should return this.”

It was an item he had received as a reward for granting a favor.

But since Martes had come and taken the Dark Elf away, Seo Woojin couldn’t receive the reward.

‘It’s a shame, but…’

It was too good of an item to just give up.

“What’s between us? I won’t take back what I’ve given. After all, I’m a noble.”

Of course, Briani refused.

Rather, it seemed like she was anxious to give me something more.

“Right now I’m busy because I have to take care of the castle and Mernotain first, but when I get it all sorted out, I’ll come to you with a gift.”

“There’s no need to do that.”

“I said it, didn’t I? I’m a noble. The price of saving my life is not cheap.”

She spoke so strongly that Seo Woojin couldn’t refuse.

Seo Woojin nodded his head, deciding to accept her kindness.

“Are you going back now?”

“It’s already late, so I should go.”

Thinking about the time he had lost his consciousness, it was already over 10 days.

The kids would be worried, so he wanted to go back quickly and let them know he was okay.

“I’ll visit the Academy soon. Take care of yourself until then.”

“Okay, see you then.”

Seo Woojin bid farewell calmly and left the Grand Duke’s castle.

Lumas and Meigus saw him off.

“……I was only going to stay for a day or two, but I ended up staying much longer than I thought.”

“I feel lucky to be alive.”

Considering he had fought Gerald and almost died, it was a truly remarkable thing.

Who knows, the capital of the Empire might have already been turned upside down.

“Let’s not go outside for a while.”

Every time he left the Academy, something happened.

And it was always a big deal, something that could even lead to death.

Hee made a vow to himself not to leave the Academy again, thinking that he had learned her lesson.

Irene chuckled.

She knew that Seo Woojin would repeat the same mistakes again, despite his words.

“Well, I’m off.”

The train arrived.

He took out his golden ticket and boarded the first-class seat.

His short but long journey had come to an end.