Future Knight [EN]: Chapter 10

퓨쳐나이트 10

In that silence, Keremion spoke first.

“I didn’t want to use mana on you since you can’t handle it, but I’ll acknowledge your skills and use mana from now on.”

“Mana? I don’t know what that is, but do as you please. I don’t care what you use.”

“You don’t know mana? Then I’ll teach you. This is what mana is! Taat!”

As Keremion slowly gathered mana and released it throughout his body, a blue wave rippled around him, and his movements, rushing towards Kang Chan, were completely different from before.

‘No, his movements have increased several times in an instant! Did that guy also modify his body? This won’t do!’

-Applying combat mode level 4.

As Keremion began to actively use mana, his movements were incomparable to his previous ones, and feeling uneasy, Kang Chan haphazardly raised his combat mode by one level.

The pain he would receive later was not so important to Kang Chan now.

Thanks to this, Kang Chan was able to easily parry his attack.

The ensuing exchange between them was enough to surprise the elves once again.

It was because of the unbelievable strength and agility of the human, who deflected Keremion’s sword, which was seriously using mana, without any difficulty.

Elradion, the best swordsman of the Elven race, was able to discern the numerous experiences and genius ingrained in Kang Chan’s agile movements.

‘Judging by his appearance, that human is not very old, but those seasoned movements ingrained in each movement, you can’t learn that through general sparring. At least, it’s the skill of someone who has experienced countless life-and-death struggles. What on earth did that guy do before coming here?’

Elradion realized the human he had been watching was a veteran swordsman who had mastered both innate dagger handling skills and practical sense.

However, compared to that, the dagger technique he used was extremely crude.

There were no unnecessary movements, and although it was highly lethal, it was too bare, almost skeletal.

It was just like a general exercise, only emphasizing movements, with no depth at all.

In a word, it was like an empty can, the inside was completely visible.

It was by no means comparable to the elven swordsmanship he had learned.

He thought that Keremion was just panicking because he lacked practical experience, but if they fought with the same experience, Keremion would have won 100 out of 100 times.

However, he did not know Kang Chan’s hidden ability.

His ability to 순간적으로 강해질 수 있는 수십 배로 말이다 [to become dozens of times stronger in an instant].

While Elradion was thinking about this and that while watching their fight.

Keremion and Kang Chan were really fighting tooth and nail.

Already, the clothes they were wearing had become rags, and they were soaked in sweat and covered in dirt from the clinging dust.

Keremion aimed to find Kang Chan’s weakness with lightning-fast stabs.

However, the daggers in Kang Chan’s hands defended flexibly like flowing water, so Keremion’s stabs were simply neutralized in front of Kang Chan’s daggers every time.

The movements were without a single unnecessary flourish and accurate like a ruler’s measurement.

Kang Chan’s 이어지는 [successive] attacks always 날아들었다 [flew in] from an 예측 불가의 궤도 [unpredictable trajectory].

Every time, Keremion had to feel a chill down his spine.

This time, as Keremion 내지르다 [thrust] a stab, Kang Chan waited and simply 걷어 내고선 [swept away] the sharp stab to the left and quickly 회전시켰다 [rotated] his body before Keremion’s 길게 뻗은 [long extended] wooden sword could be 회수 [recovered].

Kang Chan, who 붙어 [stuck to] the right side of Keremion in that way, 내질렀다 [thrust] a dagger from his 사각 [blind spot].

Surprised by his 예기치 못한 [unexpected] close combat, Keremion 급히 앞구르기를 [quickly did a forward roll] with the 유연함 [flexibility] and 민첩함 [agility] unique to elves to 피해 [avoid] his dagger.

However, perhaps because he could not 완전히 피해 [completely avoid], the wooden sword 스치며 [grazed] his cheek, and a few drops of blood 튀었다 [splattered].

Even in such a 순간적인 위기 상황 [momentary crisis situation], Keremion did not forget to 반격 [counterattack].

As he 구르면서 [rolled] forward, he 내지르다 [thrust] his sword towards Kang Chan’s 옆구리 [side].

However, Kang Chan’s 회심의 일격 [confident strike] was also 막혀 [blocked] by a dagger and 또다시 간단히 무력화되어 버렸고 [again simply neutralized], Kang Chan, who 흘려버린 [deflected] his 반격 간단히 [counterattack simply], 날렸다 [launched] a 뒤돌려 차기 [back kick] with all his might towards his 등 [back].

퍼억! [Thwack!]

“쿠엑!” [Gack!]

Keremion, who was 가격당한 [struck] on the 등 [back] by Kang Chan’s 강력한 뒤돌려 차기 [powerful back kick], became a 비참한 신세 [miserable state], 구르기를 [rolling] again with a 단말마의 비명 [death throes scream] and becoming 흙투성이 [covered in dirt].

침음성이 터져 나왔다 [A groan burst out] from the mouths of Elradion and his disciples who were 바라보던 [watching] such a 모습 [scene].

“저, 저런! 발을 쓰다니!” [Oh, no! Using feet!]

“비겁한 인간 놈!” [Cowardly human bastard!]

It seemed that they considered it very 비겁하다 [cowardly] for a swordsman to use his feet.

Well, it is each person’s freedom whether to use their feet or not in a 생사가 오가는 혈투 [life-and-death struggle].

However, using feet in such a 정당한 대련 [fair duel] was, from their point of view, no different from 던지는 행위 눈에 흙을 [throwing dirt in the eyes – cheating].

“으으, 감히 발을 쓰다니 [How dare you use your feet] in a 신성한 대련 [sacred duel]! As expected, you humans are 비열해 [despicable]. 절대로 용서치 않겠다! [I will never forgive you!]”

울분이 터져 나왔다 [Resentment burst out] from the mouth of Keremion, who was 쓰러져 비참하게 [lying miserably] in a 자세 오체투지 [prostrate position], covered in 먼지 [dust].

And a 은은한 푸른빛 감돌다 싶더니 [subtle blue light seemed to swirl], and his body 쇄도했다 [rushed] towards Kang Chan with 움직임 [movement] that could not even be compared to before.

“Keremion! 오러 소드는 안 된다! [Aura Sword is not allowed!]”

Before Elradion’s 외침 [shout] could even end, Keremion’s wooden sword was already 날아갔다 [flying] towards the human with a 죽일 듯한 기세 [murderous intent].

Kang Chan had a strong 의구심 [suspicion] that the elf in front of him might really be a 강화 처리 된 자 [enhanced being], due to Keremion’s 움직임 [movement] that had 순식간에 빨라진 몇 배나 again like himself.

However, Keremion 더는 주지 않았다 [no longer gave] Kang Chan any time to think.

This is because his 샤벨 [saber], which had 날아든 지척에 [flown close] in an instant, 쇄도하였다 [rushed] with the 기세 [force] to make Kang Chan’s 전신 [whole body] a 벌집 [honeycomb] by 갈라지며 [splitting] into dozens.

Kang Chan’s 눈앞이 깜깜해졌다 [vision darkened] as he saw Keremion’s 샤벨 [saber], which 남기는 잔영 [left afterimages] that was even difficult to 따라가기 [follow] with his 강화된 동체 시력 [enhanced dynamic visual acuity].

‘빠름이라니 정도의 검이 수십 개로 보일 순식간에! [So fast that dozens of swords seem to appear in an instant!]’

His 움직임 [movement] now was 터무니없이 빨랐다 [absurdly fast] to the point that he could not 피할 수 [avoid] even with his combat mode level 4.

Kang Chan 필사적으로 몸을 놀려 봤지만 [desperately tried to move his body] to 피하려고 [avoid], but it was 역부족 [insufficient], and it was 허사 [in vain] even if he tried to 막아 [block] with a wooden sword.

The wooden sword he 휘두른 [swung] and Kang Chan’s wooden sword 부딪치자마자 [collided], and the wooden sword 잘려 나가고 말았던 허무하게 것이었다 [was cut off in vain].

말 그대로 목검이 목검을 자른 것이었다 [Literally, a wooden sword cut a wooden sword].

‘뭐지? 목검이 목검을 자르다니! [What? A wooden sword cutting a wooden sword!]’

Kang Chan 더는 생각할 겨를도 없이 [without any time to think] 던져 버리고 [threw away] 케레미온에게 잘린 단검을 [the dagger cut by Keremion] 몸을 뒤로 빼려 했다 [tried to pull his body back].

However, that was just 마음만일 뿐 [only in his mind].

Keremion’s 샤벨 무참히도 관통하고야 말았다 [saber mercilessly pierced] 강찬의 어깨를 [Kang Chan’s shoulder].

푸욱! [Thwack!]

“크아악!” [Kuaaak!]

His 검은 추호의 망설임도 없이 무정할 뿐이었다 [sword was merciless without any hesitation].

“저, 저런!” [Oh, no!]

He 믿어 의심치는 않았다 [had no doubt] that his 제자가 이기리라 [disciple would win].

However, Elradion, who did not think that he would 이기리라 [win] in this way, 변해 버린 [changed] 대번에 흙빛으로 낯빛이 [his complexion to an earthy color] because of the 대련 [duel] that had 순식간에 유혈 사태로 번져 [quickly turned into a bloody affair].

It would be a 정말 큰일 [really big deal] if the human died like that.

This is because Keremion’s 오러 소드는 아니었지만 [Aura Sword was not], 오러 소드는 아직 완성된 [Aura Sword was not yet complete], but its 예리함 [sharpness] was 결코 부족함이 없었기 치기에 반 토막 한낱 육신 따윈 to [never lacked the sharpness to cut a mere body in half].

찰나 인간의 몸이 괴이한 반응이 시작되었다 [In an instant, the human’s body began to react strangely] 부르르 떨리며 [trembling], Elradion, who 일어선 자리를 박차고 [kicked off from his seat], 달려가려던 찰나 [was about to run], 서둘러 둘을 때어 놓기 위해 [to quickly separate the two].

눈떠 버린 것이었다 [It had awakened] 그의 진정한 전투 본능이 [his true fighting instinct] 그동안 잠들어 있던 [that had been sleeping] 그만 극심한 고통에 [due to the extreme pain].

-현시점으로 모든 고통으로부터 신경 접속 해제 [Neural connection disconnected from all pain as of now].

-적에 대한 위협도 상향조정 [Threat level against the enemy adjusted upwards]. OK.

-전투 모드 5단계 적용 [Combat mode level 5 applied]. 0K.

-전투 개시 [Combat start].

멈추자 함께 멈췄다 [As it stopped, it stopped together] 그의 몸에 미세한 떨림이 [the subtle trembling in his body], 신음도 함께 멈췄다 [the groan also stopped together] 그의 고통에 찬 [his painful] 그리고 [and].

변해 있었다 [Had changed] 무표정으로 [expressionless] 거짓말처럼 [like a lie] 자신이 고통스러워했었느냐는 듯이 [as if he had been in pain] 언제 표정은 [when the expression] 치켜든 고개를 강찬의 [Kang Chan’s raised head] 그리고 [and].

느낌 이질적인 달라진 상대방에 [Feeling of strangeness in the changed opponent].

‘뭐지? [What is it?]’

부여잡았다 케레미온의 샤벨을 맨손으로 [Kang Chan grabbed Keremion’s saber with his bare hands] 강찬은 잠시 당황하는 사이 케레미온이 [while Keremion was momentarily flustered].

터져 나왔다 출혈이 대량에 함께 [Bleeding burst out in large quantities] 연기와 살이 타들어 가는 [smoke and flesh burning] 강찬의 손에선 [from Kang Chan’s hand] 푸르스름한 기운에 의해 [by the bluish energy] 어린 목검에 그러자 [then the young wooden sword].

날렸다 올려 차기를 담긴 거력이 향해 얼굴을 케레미온의 채로 샤벨을 잡은 아랑곳하지 않고, 전혀 강찬은 하지만 [However, Kang Chan, completely unconcerned, launched an upward kick with great force towards Keremion’s face while still holding the saber].

케레미온 조롱기 가득한 비웃음을 날리던 바라보며 인간을 [Keremion, looking at the human with a mocking sneer] 몸부림치던 고통에 꿰뚫려 어깨를 자신에 샤벨에 [writhing in pain from the saber piercing his shoulder].

변해 버렸다 무표정하게 전혀 느끼지 않는 듯 고통을 인간은 순식간에 한데 [The human changed to expressionless, as if not feeling any pain at all in an instant].

빠졌다 당혹감에 그는 그러자 [He fell into bewilderment then].

붙잡았다 아무렇지도 않게 목검을 [He grabbed the wooden sword without a care] 자신의 날카로워진 더욱 면도날보다 깃들어 마나가 겁도 없이 인간이 또한 그런 [Also, the human fearlessly grabbed his wooden sword, which had become sharper than a razor and imbued with mana].

흘러나왔지만 붓 물 터지듯 피가 그의 손에서는 당연히 [Of course, blood flowed from his hands like a burst dam].

날렸다 올려 차기를 날카로운 향해 안면을 자신의 아랑곳하지 않고, 전혀 출혈에도 터져 나오는 그는 [He launched a sharp upward kick towards his face, completely unconcerned, even with the bleeding bursting out].

짓이었다 소용없는 피하려 했지만 올려 차기를 숙여 고개를 다급히 놀랄 겨를도 없이 케레미온은 [Keremion had no time to be surprised, he hurriedly lowered his head to avoid the upward kick, but it was useless].

빨랐다 월등히 생각보다 그의 발차기 속도는 인간의 [The speed of the human’s kick was overwhelmingly faster than expected].

거대한 것이었다 턱없이 담긴 힘은 발차기에 인간의 [The power contained in the human’s kick was ridiculously huge] 뒤통수를 거침없이 가격해 버린 자신의 [unhesitatingly struck the back of his head] 포물선을 그리며 [drawing a parabola].

쿠웅! [Kooong!]

울려 퍼졌다 장내에 온 타격음이 묵직한 [The heavy impact sound echoed throughout the area] 정도라고 할 수 없을 발차기에 맞은 [hit by a kick that could not be said to be just heavy] 도저히 소리가 [the sound was impossible to describe].

뻗어 버리고 말았다 대자로 위에 대지 뒤 1회전을 공중 빠르게 방향으로 가해진 힘이 법칙에 작용 힘의 의해 그대로 케레미온은 얻어맞은 정통으로 뒤통수를 발차기에 그의 그리고 [And Keremion stretched out in a large letter on the ground after a quick mid-air rotation due to the force applied in the direction, acting on the law of force, and his head was directly hit by the kick].

벌어졌다 듯 빠질 턱은 청년들의 엘프 수십 명의 지켜보던 멀뚱히 모습을 그 [The jaws of dozens of young elves who were watching the scene dropped as if they would fall off].

누군가 엘프가 싸우던 인간과 저 지금 [Someone, an elf, is fighting that human now].

케레미온이 당할 자가 없다는 동년배 중에는 기재 중의 기재이며 최고의 마을 이 아닌가 [Isn’t Keremion the best of the best among his peers, and the best in the village, whom no one can beat]?

보게 된 것이다 모습을 하는 공중제비를 팔자에도 없는 발길질 한 방에 인간의 겨우 케레미온이 그런 [Keremion, of all people, was doing somersaults he wasn’t destined to do with just one kick from a human].

말이다 인간에게 조롱하던 한껏 그가 그것도 [That too, the one who was mocking the human to the fullest].

“둘 다 그만해! [Both of you stop!]”

가로막았다 강찬의 앞을 재차 공격을 가하려는 케레미온을 언제 다가왔는지 엘라디온이 [Elradion, who had come at some point, blocked Kang Chan from trying to attack Keremion again].

터져 나왔다 탄성이 놀라움에 입에서 엘라디온의 장딴지로 자신의 킥을 싸커볼 막아선 덕에 그 [Thanks to Elradion blocking his soccer ball kick with his calf, an exclamation of surprise burst from Elradion’s mouth].

퍼엉! [Puh-wung!]

퍼졌다 울려 장내에 소리가 치는 포대 가죽 [The sound of hitting leather spread and echoed throughout the area].

아니었다 받은 것은 타격을 큰 그리 육체적으로 엘라디온은 감싼 채로 마나로 다리를 [Elradion did not receive a great physical impact, as he had wrapped his leg in mana].

놀라게 했다 그를 사실이 담겼다는 괴력이 엄청난 정도로 움푹 밀려 들어가게 땅속으로 발치를 자신의 발차기에 인간의 못하는 다루지 마나도 한낮 [The fact that the human’s kick contained tremendous power to the extent that his feet were pushed deep into the ground to a great extent surprised him, even though he could not handle mana].

아무리 육체를 인간의 오우거의 버금가는 위력이라니, 단련한다고 한들 이 정도의 파워 업은 절대로 불가능하다. 마나를 다루지 않고서는 말이야, 하지만 이 인간은 일절의 마나의 흐름도 느껴지지 않으니, 외계인이라서 그런 것인가? 아니면 혹시 키메라?’ [No matter how much you train the human body, it is absolutely impossible to power up to this level, which is comparable to an ogre. Without handling mana, that is, but this human does not feel any flow of mana at all, is it because he is an alien? Or maybe a chimera?]

가득했다 당혹감이 얼굴에는 정신을 차린 나서야 가격하고 장딴지를 엘라디온의 죄 없는 지나갔고, 스치고 머릿속을 엘라디온의 생각이 수많은 시간 동안 찰나의 [Bewilderment filled his face, and after regaining his senses, Elradion’s innocent calf was struck, and numerous thoughts flashed through Elradion’s mind in an instant].

“헛! 죄송합니다. [Heut! I’m sorry.]”

“죽일 생각이었나 케레미온을, 자네? [Were you going to kill Keremion, you?]”

“네? [Yes?]”

“아니었을 걸세 사람이 아마 이 세상 그는 맞았다면 케레미온이 기절한 발차기를 위력에 정도의 그 [He probably wouldn’t be in this world if Keremion had been hit by that kick with that much power].”

발견했다 케레미온을 기절해 있는 거품을 하얀 뻗어 대자로 바닥에 그때야 강찬은 말에 엘라디온의 [Only then did Kang Chan, at Elradion’s words, find Keremion passed out on the floor, stretched out in a large letter with white foam].

“저, 저자가 왜? [Why is that guy?]”

“만들지 않았나 자네가 이렇게 [Didn’t you make him like this?]”

“말입니까 제가? [Are you talking about me?]”

“만들었겠나 내가 만들었지 자네가 그럼? [Then would I have made it, you made it?]”

“…….”

있었는데 종종 있었던 강찬이었다 흩어져 어지럽게 사방에 시체들이 적군의 찢긴 갈기갈기 어김없이 나면 차리고 정신을 뒤 그, 몇 번 분노로 이성을 잃었던 적이 전투 중에 간혹 [There were often times when Kang Chan had lost his mind in anger during battle, after which he would invariably come to his senses and find the corpses of his enemies torn to shreds scattered all around].

“아프지 않나 그 상처, 그렇고 그건? [Doesn’t that wound hurt, and that?]”

찌푸렸다 눈살을 엘라디온은 본 강찬을 서 있는 꿋꿋하게 아무렇지 않게 [Elradion frowned as he saw Kang Chan standing firm and unconcerned].

있었기 때문이었다 흐르고 줄줄 피가 목검에서 케레미온의 박혀 그대로 어깨에 [It was because blood was flowing from Keremion’s wooden sword, which was still stuck in his shoulder].

튀어나와 뼈까지 그런지 놔서 비틀어 이리저리 케레미온이 거기다 [Moreover, Keremion had twisted it this way and that, perhaps even breaking the bone].

‘정말 일 나겠군 않으면 치료하지 서둘러 고통일 것인데 남을 기절하고 정도면 저, 않을까 고통스러워 어찌 입고 상처를 저런 [Something really bad will happen if I don’t treat him quickly, he must be in so much pain that he passed out, how can he wear such a wound without feeling pain].’

“이야기하세나 나서 치료하고 상처부터 어깨에 자네 일단 [Let’s talk after you treat your shoulder wound first].”

바라봤다 빤히 목검을 박혀 어깨에 자신의 강찬은 말에 엘라디온의 [Kang Chan stared blankly at the wooden sword stuck in his shoulder at Elradion’s words].

있었다 잊고 까맣게 사실조차 있다는 박혀 목검이 어깨에 자신의 없었기에 감각이 아무런 지금 그는 차단된 신경이 모든 고통으로부터 [He had completely forgotten the fact that there was a wooden sword stuck in his shoulder because he had no sensation now that his nerves were blocked from all pain].

“이 정도쯤은 괜찮습니다. [This much is okay.]”

시작했다 비틀거리기 느끼면서 옴을 무기력해져 온몸이 점점 출혈로 과도한 그는 말했지만 괜찮다고는 애써 [He started to stagger, feeling his whole body becoming more and more powerless due to excessive bleeding, but he insisted that he was okay].

옮겼다 있는 곳으로 엘프가 치유사 강찬을 서둘러 도움을 제자들의 받아 엘라디온은 부축한 강찬을 그런 [Elradion then supported Kang Chan, receiving help from his disciples, and quickly moved him to where the elf healer was].