She Thought a Dagger Could Kill Jin-Woo, But Her Foolish Plan Backfires!

Summary

Sung Jin-Woo faces endless threats no matter his rank, but cosmic-level enemies are no match for his determination.
Esil Radiru’s tactical prowess poses a challenge for Jin-Woo, but her motives are influenced by an external force.
Encounter with Jin-Woo leads Esil to abandon hostilities, changing her objectives and benefiting her clan in Solo Leveling.

In an unforgiving and perilous universe, the protagonist of ‘Solo Leveling’, Sung Jin-Woo, is fortunate to possess the strength needed to confront those with malicious agendas. Be it targeting his life or his cherished loved ones, many appear intent on silencing him and thwarting his ascension to power. Among these adversaries, one character from ‘Solo Leveling’ underestimates Jin-Woo severely, believing they can eliminate him with a seemingly insignificant dagger. Who is this individual, and what motivates them to harbor animosity towards Jin-Woo?

Through numerous perilous encounters, whether Sung Jin-Woo is a lowly E-rank or a powerful S-rank hunter, the greater his power, the more formidable his adversaries become. Rank is irrelevant in this battle, as long as Jin-Woo stands for humanity, he’ll continue to draw relentless attacks. However, when it comes to cosmic-level threats, demons, and magical beasts, Jin-Woo is determined not to back down without a fierce and valiant struggle.

Esil Radiru’s Foolish Attempt To Kill Jin-Woo

The Demon Noble Thinks She Can End Jin-Woo

First Anime Appearance:	Season 2, episode 8
First Webtoon Appearance:	Chapter 81
First Novel Appearance:	Chapter 101

In the tale of “Return to the Demon Castle”, Sung Jin-Woo meets the demon noble, Esil Radiru, on level 80. It’s later revealed that it was Esil and her demon knights who had been attacking Jin-Woo’s shadows in the instance dungeon. This is why his shadows couldn’t recover fast enough. Esil has the intellect to bypass Jin-Woo’s top-tier shadows and instead purposefully targets the weaker ones, such as the high orc teams, to eliminate them. This strategic approach makes Esil a challenging adversary and a clever tactician.

Given the circumstances, it falls on Jin-Woo to take action and face off against Esil and her companions directly. Owing to his extraordinary powers as a monster, he is at an advantage, swiftly overpowering the trio of demon knights. Left standing alone with Esil, Jin-Woo gains insight into the emotions of monsters; he observes that even fear can affect them, as Esil shakes beneath her armor.

“You attacked my soldiers and now you’re asking for forgiveness?”—Sung Jin-Woo to Esil Radiru

As Jin-Woo neared the end of his fight with Esil, the demon noble begged for mercy. She admitted her wrongdoings, stating they were a grievous mistake. Meanwhile, Jin-Woo wrestled with the idea of killing Esil due to her human-like features. His hesitation opened an opportunity for Esil to act imprudently, pulling out what seemed like a dagger in an attempt to strike him down. However, Tusk intervened at that moment and cast the Hymn of Protection upon Jin-Woo, saving him from Esil’s attack. Indeed, even without Tusk’s protection, Jin-Woo wasn’t frail enough to succumb to such a reckless attempt.

Why Did Esil Attack Jin-Woo?

There’s a Voice Inside Her Head

After Esil’s unsuccessful attempt on Jin-Woo’s life, she confesses that she hears a voice in her mind guiding her actions. Unlike Baruka, who communicated to Jin-Woo about his own internal voices commanding him to massacre humans, Esil’s voice only instructs her to safeguard the place they live from intruders such as Jin-Woo, who indiscriminately kill demons like ants. This disclosure sheds light on Esil’s motives, implying that she might be under the control of a mysterious entity or force, possibly the system itself.

“What do you think you’re doing?”—Sung Jin-Woo to Esil Radiru

To put it another way, Jin-Woo is like the guardian of the entrance to the dungeon for beings such as Esil. Esil carries out her obligation to her kind by safeguarding her realm from threats. This concept intrigues Jin-Woo, prompting him to converse more with Esil about it. She discloses that she first heard a voice when she regained consciousness in the dungeon. Previously, Esil’s kind lived in the demon world and were preparing for a major war; however, they suddenly found themselves ensnared within the instance dungeon.

Esil Ends Up Joining Jin-Woo’s Party

Jin-Woo and Esil’s First Time Using the Party System

In the saga of the Demon Castle, Esil left an indelible mark through her character. Her endearing looks and winning personality drew fans towards her and Jin-Woo, fueled by their evident connection. Essentially, she emerged as a possible love interest for them, despite having a limited presence in the initial series.

Above all, Esil played an instrumental role in assisting Jin-Woo in overcoming the trial of clearing the dungeon. Beyond guiding him throughout the journey, she endured being in a party system despite not accruing experience points or leveling up due to Jin-Woo’s restrictions. Despite failing to completely win his trust, her perseverance paid off when Jin-Woo developed affection for her, ultimately saving her clan from his destructive onslaught.

By the story’s conclusion, Jin-Woo’s immense power alters Esil’s intentions much like he redefines the world with his strength in “Solo Leveling.” Upon discovering Jin-Woo’s might, Esil experiences a shift, abandoning her hostile strategies and realizing that resistance is futile. However, despite Esil’s unsuccessful attempt on Jin-Woo’s life, their meeting proves to be serendipitous, benefiting not only Esil but also the Radiru clan.

2025-04-27 16:11