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The Hero Returned After 20 Years - Chapter 58

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[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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Chapter 58: Everyone, step aside.

Inside the room, nestled between the nurses, lay a black-haired girl on a bed.

She resembled her mother, the Sword Emperor, with her stern and unyielding expression—but now, she looked deathly pale, consumed by a curse.

More than her usual stoicism, the pain-stricken fragility of a sick child stood out.

Cold sweat soaked her skin, her face had turned ashen, and her small body writhed in agony.

A tar-like, viscous blackness spread across parts of her skin—the mark of the curse.

A curse so vicious and venomous that it was rarely seen even in the lower realms.

It was a darkness born from malice, meant to kill its victim slowly and painfully.

‘Looks like someone’s really come to hate her.’

It was truly unfortunate for the Sword Emperor and her daughter, but for the man who had faced countless demons as a hero, this was nothing new.

He sympathized with the anguish of the Sword Emperor and the suffering of her child—who had endured this affliction for so long—but he did not fear the curse.

He simply faced it head-on.

It was a coward’s curse, cast by a cowardly mage.

A curse that puffed itself up and lashed out violently whenever a powerful presence came near—just like its feeble creator.

That was the nature of this curse.

Perhaps it had been designed to intensify the girl's pain whenever her mother approached.

But seeing the curse curl inward and bare its fangs in pathetic defiance—he couldn’t even scoff.

He found it pitiful, and more than anything, he felt sorrow that a child had to suffer from such a thing.

And so, he drew his sword.

The holy sword, infused with divine radiance, revealed itself to the world—and the wicked curse began to flicker as if losing its very foundation.

As he poured immense divine power into it, the light grew so intense that it erased all darkness.

Just like this.

“───Calhart.”

When the warrior—no, the saint—swung his sword, it was as if all the light in the world gathered to him.

Bathed in pure, sweeping flames of divinity and brilliant radiance, a woman stood in a daze behind it all.

Namgung Yeon, the Sword Emperor.

The strongest martial artist in the world and a mother, she should’ve stepped in to stop this sudden act—but she couldn’t move.

At first, it was just a delay in judgment.

She had only considered him a promising junior, only now realizing he was a being of transcendent power—and she was momentarily overwhelmed.

Then, captivated by the stunning display before her, she forgot even to blame herself for her slowness.

Something about the sacred, gentle light that now enveloped her daughter felt like a miracle.

She stood half-entranced, watching.

She didn’t believe the man or the dazzling light could possibly harm her child.

It was a reckless assumption—but it was also a mother’s intuition, born of ten years of fierce vigilance.

A primal certainty.

Whoooosh───

A pillar of light manifested and enveloped the area, settling into the girl’s frail body on the bed.

It was a kind of baptism, a purification ritual.

Even true demons could not withstand such a rite—so a mere curse didn’t stand a chance.

Screeech─

The sinister darkness that had dug deep into the girl’s body disintegrated, leaving not even a trace behind.

Her emaciated frame began to regain some health, her complexion visibly improving.

It was a small thing—but a miracle all the same.

When the light finally faded, the girl lay breathing peacefully, her face serene for the first time in years.

And in that moment, Namgung Yeon understood.

She had cursed the heavens for so long—but a miracle had been granted after all.

Yes, this was a miracle.

A miracle she could only be grateful for.

“…Ah.”

Namgung Yeon, the Sword Emperor, sank to her knees and lowered her head deeply before the hero.

It was an expression of pure reverence—like one might show before the statue of a god.

Watching from behind, Emir stood frozen, mouth agape in shock.

This was something far beyond what she’d imagined.

‘What… is even happening?’

With an exhausted expression, she ran a hand down her face.

* * *

There had been a sudden flood of light, and the condition of a girl who had been bedridden for ten years had miraculously improved.

Yet no chaos followed.

“Everyone, leave the room.”

Because the owner of the estate—and employer of everyone present—Namgung Yeon, forbade it.

Any talk of what had just transpired was suppressed.

The very mention of the “Savior” was banned.

Not to diminish or monopolize his honor.

But simply because the Savior himself didn’t seem to desire recognition.

Namgung Yeon ordered everyone out and turned with tearful eyes toward Shin Yuseong, bowing her head.

As one of the strongest figures in the world, she did not offer long-winded speeches.

Thud.

She simply knelt before her benefactor, bowed her head, and with a voice trembling with emotion, cried out:

“Holy one…! This fool Namgung knows not how to repay such grace, but my devotion rises to the heavens! Please, let your will be done.”

An apology for her ignorance, and gratitude for saving her daughter—

All expressed in a single, reverent bow.

She performed a deep ceremonial bow to him, so defenselessly that she wouldn’t dare resist even if he were to behead her on the spot.

“...The grace and kindness you have shown are as vast as the heavens. As such, I, Namgung Yeon, vow to dedicate my life to you until it, too, reaches the heavens.”

Anyone who knew her and saw this would surely have been shocked.

They would deny the sight before them, questioning how the stiff-necked Sword Emperor could abase herself like that to a mere young man—bowing in such a humiliating posture and pledging an indefinite debt of gratitude.

‘…What.’

Emir was already in disbelief.

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[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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She didn’t know everything about the Sword Emperor’s secrets, but as the head of the intelligence bureau, she had heard more than enough rumors.

Why was that person acting this way?

She had known for some time that he was a monster, but to think he even had such abilities…

“Ugh.”

Emir instinctively touched the back of her head as a dizzy sensation overtook her.

Even as a martial master who had reached a high realm, her blood pressure had spiked so dangerously that she nearly collapsed.

Unlike her precarious state, however, Hero Shin Yuseong remained calm and composed.

“No need to swear your life. Please, get up.”

“But…”

“Come now. There’s no need to feel sorry.”

He actually felt a rare sense of satisfaction—as if, for the first time in a long while, he had fulfilled his duty as a hero.

With a clear smile, the hero looked at the woman kneeling before him.

He gently grasped her hands and helped her to her feet, continuing to speak.

“I came as a guest, and you received me. From the position of a passing traveler, I simply saved your daughter because I could. That’s all—so there’s no need to feel indebted.”

“…”

At his truly hero-like words, the goddess of the heavens clapped her hands with delight, while Sword Emperor Namgung Yeon’s face flushed red with emotion.

‘Red?’

Watching from the side, Emir sensed something strange, but didn’t dare interrupt.

And so, the eye contact between Shin Yuseong and Namgung Yeon lingered for quite a while, until her pupils began to tremble with a different emotion.

Because the gaze she met was just too warm.

With a gentle smile, Shin Yuseong patted the back of her hand softly and said,

“You’ve done well. It’s thanks to you staying by your daughter’s side and not giving up that we’ve reached this point. You should take pride in that. Staying with a sick loved one is no easy task.”

At this unexpected commendation from the hero, Namgung Yeon was momentarily speechless, her mouth opening and closing silently.

Though her memories of standing helplessly at her daughter’s side clashed with his words, she did not dare question them.

She simply chose to believe him, moved to the point of bowing her head once more.

As he looked at the once-proud woman of the Central Plains bowing before him, Shin Yuseong gave a small smile and added:

“Well, it’s not a request from the one who cured the curse, but I do have a reason for coming here as a guest. If it's not too much to ask… could you possibly help me with that?”

When the savior himself speaks so, how could she possibly refuse?

Sword Emperor Namgung Yeon trembled slightly, then looked up at the man before her with a resolute expression and nodded.

“If you command me to slay the heretics of the Demon Cult, I will gladly burn my life away to fulfill that order.”

[TL/N: Ik it’s a little confusing but cult members call it divine cult whereas ‘central plains’ calls it demon cult and it’s also called new order/religion by mages/hunters.]

Her face and voice carried such sincerity that it rivaled the zeal of a fanatic.

The hero didn’t doubt her words at all and responded with a quiet smile.

It seemed he had successfully recruited a follower while in foreign lands.

[The goddess claps her hands with joy.]

It was, in every sense, a happy ending.

Except for one place.

* * *

“A reactionary has entered the city.”

At the sacred heart of the Divine Cult.

In the council hall where the Church’s policies were decided, a new issue was raised.

It was related to the recent failure of none other than the Butcher Commander himself.

“He dared come to Xining, of all places?”

Rather than fleeing far away, he had recklessly brought his unguarded head straight into the tiger’s den.

No one in the council was worried—they simply scoffed in disbelief.

That is, until news arrived that the Church's branch in Xining had been wiped out in one fell swoop.

“...Huh?”

“...What?”

* * *

“Okay, that’s ten down.”

Regarding the feat of someone who once destroyed a planet now going around breaking cities like cracking eggs—

“Honestly, one or two days would’ve been enough.”

Compared to the previous job, this one was far too easy.

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[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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Jun 14, 2025
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Chapter 60
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Chapter 59
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Chapter 58
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Chapter 57
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Chapter 56
Jun 3, 2025
Chapter 55
Jun 2, 2025
Chapter 54
Jun 1, 2025
Chapter 53
May 30, 2025
Chapter 52
May 28, 2025
Chapter 51
May 26, 2025
Chapter 50
May 25, 2025
Chapter 49
May 24, 2025
Chapter 48
May 23, 2025
Chapter 47
May 22, 2025
Chapter 46
May 21, 2025
Chapter 45
May 20, 2025
Chapter 44
May 19, 2025
Chapter 43
May 18, 2025
Chapter 42
May 16, 2025
Chapter 41
May 15, 2025
Chapter 40
May 14, 2025
Chapter 39
May 13, 2025
Chapter 38
May 12, 2025
Chapter 37
May 11, 2025
Chapter 36
May 10, 2025
Chapter 35
May 9, 2025
Chapter 34
May 8, 2025
Chapter 33
May 8, 2025
Chapter 32
May 7, 2025
Chapter 31
May 7, 2025
Chapter 30
May 5, 2025
Chapter 29
Apr 29, 2025
Chapter 28
Apr 27, 2025
Chapter 27
Apr 21, 2025
Chapter 26.5: Illustrations
May 15, 2025
Chapter 26
Apr 15, 2025
Chapter 25
Apr 13, 2025
Chapter 24
Apr 11, 2025
Chapter 23
Apr 10, 2025
Chapter 22
Apr 9, 2025
Chapter 21
Apr 8, 2025
Chapter 20
Apr 7, 2025
Chapter 19
Apr 6, 2025
Chapter 18
Apr 5, 2025
Chapter 17
Apr 3, 2025
Chapter 16
Apr 2, 2025
Chapter 15
Apr 1, 2025
Chapter 14
Mar 31, 2025
Chapter 13
Mar 30, 2025
Chapter 12
Mar 26, 2025
Chapter 11
Mar 26, 2025
Chapter 10
Mar 25, 2025
Chapter 9
Mar 25, 2025
Chapter 8
Mar 25, 2025
Chapter 7
Mar 25, 2025
Chapter 6
Mar 25, 2025
Chapter 5
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Chapter 4
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Chapter 3
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Chapter 2
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Chapter 1
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