Future Knight [EN]: Chapter 109

“You! What happened? I thought you were dead!”

“What? Me?”

“Yes, everyone thought you were dead and was so sad, you know?”

“I’m so glad you’re back, Sir Zekeon.”

“……”

Zekeon felt a strange sensation at their words, that they were sad thinking he was dead.

These people were worried about the real him, not the fake identity he used during the game.

In the past, he might have scoffed at it. But it was different now.

An unknown emotion stirred within his heart.

However, Zekeon hid those feelings and tried to speak calmly.

“Why would I die, you idiots? Is that all you thought of me?”

“After getting beaten to a pulp, you’re still acting tough……”

Zekeon frowned at Kang Chan’s sarcasm and grabbed his collar.

“Then, do you want to get beaten to a pulp by me?”

“Hit me.”

“What?”

“I’ll take it all today. Since you came back alive.”

Kang Chan was so happy that it didn’t even hurt to get hit. Zekeon pointed at Kang Chan with a foolish expression.

“You idiot.”

“Anyway, how did you survive after being hit by that Garipjapo?”

“Garipjapo?”

“That light that struck you. That’s Garipjapo.”

“Are you saying you know what attacked me?”

Kang Chan slowly nodded.

“Then, could it be?”

Kang Chan nodded again and said.

“Someone else from my home came here besides me. With powerful armaments too……”

“Th, that……”

Zekeon could feel himself trembling with fear for the first time in his life at Kang Chan’s words.

It was a huge shock to her.

Honestly, he couldn’t believe that he had narrowly escaped death today.

It was the first time in his life that he had turned tail and ran from an enemy to save his life.

When that Garipjapo that Kang Chan was talking about hit him directly, she was preparing for it in advance. He knew the timing because he had seen the initial descent.

So, when she saw a bright star shining in the sky, she deployed her shields with all her might again.

Not just one layer, but six layers.

It was a solid barrier that wouldn’t even damage a hair on her head, even if a meteorite fell on top of her.

And then, the Garipjapo struck her in an instant.

She was horrified to see three layers of shields shatter in an instant.

And as the rest were about to collapse one by one, she hurriedly attempted a space jump to her Lair.

A space jump to the Lair.

It was a faster-than-light space jump, faster than any other space jump magic in the world.

All dragons, in preparation for emergencies, draw a space jump response magic circle on the floor of their Lair that reacts instantaneously.

Just in case.

They were a race that had nothing to fear in the world, but seeing them so thorough in even such things, one couldn’t help but be disgusted.

Zekeon, who had saved his life with thoroughness, took a breather, replenished his mana, and returned to the battlefield in human form.

Because he was worried about Kang Chan’s safety.

Fortunately, Kang Chan was safe, and Zekeon was relieved that he was alive.

But this time, he had to worry about something else.

Because of the alien invaders who were trying to set foot in the world they ruled.

34. Kang Chan’s Decision

A month had passed since the Green Elves retreated.

They retreated past the Helion Kingdom, abandoning even their occupied territories of Arjan and Sempron, and retreated to Kermel.

The Kermel Kingdom was the kingdom they had occupied during their first continental conquest, and it was the last gateway to their homeland, Iceland, across the sea.

The Green Elf army, which had retreated to that place, built a solid defense in the naturally fortified Kermel Kingdom and hurriedly began building ships.

Because what they used to cross over to this continent was the winter ice, and without a ship in the summer when the ice had melted, there was nowhere else to escape.

However, the Allied Forces could not rashly attack them and were just watching, having built a wide encirclement.

After the victory in the all-out war, there were several opportunities to encircle and annihilate the Green Elf army, but each time they tasted the light of destruction again.

That was the reason that made them shrink back.

Its power was that terrifying.

Each time Duke Sachsen missed the Green Elf army, he lamented it as a trick of God and resented the sky.

For that reason, the Allied Forces, who could only stare at the enemies without attacking them for reasons they didn’t even know, became more and more powerful.

Because the humans of the entire continent united as one and supported them.

The support troops sent from each country never stopped, and the first batch of Gigantes [giant war machines] were literally pouring out of the constantly operating Gigantes factories in each country.

Their forces now numbered nearly 1.5 million, and the number of Gigantes also exceeded 300.

Looking at such a large army, Nemitz and Green realized that there was no more hope.

The enemy’s forces were growing stronger day by day with the full support of the rear, while they were trapped in the Kermel Kingdom and cut off from all external resources.

The Green Elf army now numbered less than 300,000, and all were trembling with hunger and fear.

The only thing that kept them alive was the Dark Elves’ smuggling of food through the underground and the aid from Iceland across the sea.

But that alone was not enough to defeat them.

However, fortunately, the enemies were only encircling them and not attacking.

It was a situation that would end if they pushed hard just once.

Nemitz and Green knew the reason well. It was because of the unknown light of destruction that was helping them.

Thanks to that, they were able to overcome the crisis several times, but they were just as anxious because they didn’t know where the light of destruction came from or why it was helping them.

* * *

Kang Chan was looking up at the sky again today.

Thinking about those who were lurking in space. And he thought something was strange.

The estimated arrival time of Kang Chan’s allies was at least 20 years.

But they appeared in just 5 years.

No matter how he thought about it, it was an incomprehensible speed.

‘Who the hell are they?’

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t easily come up with an answer.

Whether they were enemies or allies. But one thing was certain: there was another Earthling on this planet besides him.

And they were riding a powerful warship with more power than the Red Mars [Kang Chan’s former warship].

Knowing that fact, Kang Chan felt suffocated. He was so worried that this planet would fall into their hands.

He loved this planet so much.

He didn’t even want to imagine going back to the same life as before.

No, it was terrible just to think about it.

Because the life back then was not a human life.

He was just a war consumable.

So, he had to choose.

Would he return to the emotionless killing machine of the past, or would he help the people of this planet protect it?

But his 고민 [worry/anguish] didn’t take long.

Kang Chan chose the latter.

He had no loyalty or duty to those who only used him as a tool of war.

On the contrary, there were precious people here that he had to protect.

Thinking of them, Kang Chan carefully brought his hand to his chest.

And he promised Jeina.

“Jeina, I promise. I will definitely protect this planet where you were……”

Zekeon, who was eavesdropping on his firm words from afar, approached playfully and said.

“What are you going to protect?”

Kang Chan, surprised by Zekeon’s sudden voice, slowly looked at her.

Seeing that Kang Chan hadn’t noticed until she had come so close, it was clear that Zekeon had used some kind of method.

“Ah, Zekeon. What brings you here instead of sleeping?”

“I sleep all day, how can I sleep at night?”

Her main daily routine was napping, as she had given up her role as a priestess and was only staying in the barracks.

“Well, it’s boring these days since there are no battles……”

Zekeon had noticed that Kang Chan had changed recently.

Even if there were no battles, he would normally be raging to take revenge even if he was alone, but the way he just accepted it seemed like something was missing.

“You don’t seem to be very interested in the Green Elves these days?”

“……”

Of course, he couldn’t have forgotten Jeina’s revenge.

But now there was something more important than revenge, so he was putting it on hold for a while.

The revenge he would take on them would not be too late even after protecting this planet from the invaders.

“What are you struggling with all alone?”

“I’m not struggling.”

“You’re kidding me, I can see you’re 고민 [worried]? Just tell me honestly.”

Kang Chan hesitated for a moment.

Whether he should tell Zekeon the real reason he came here.

Soon, he decided to tell her everything.

He didn’t want to lie to his friend anymore, and he desperately needed her help in the future.

Even if she came to despise him when she found out his true identity, it couldn’t be helped.

It was his karma.

Kang Chan took a deep breath and looked at Zekeon with serious eyes and said.

“Zekeon, listen carefully to what I’m going to say.”

“Why, why are you suddenly serious?”

Zekeon looked at Kang Chan, who suddenly became serious, with strange eyes.

“We’re true friends, right?”

“Huh? Why are you suddenly saying something so meaningful?”

“You, you consider me a true friend, right?”

Zekeon was momentarily flustered by Kang Chan’s infinitely serious words.

“Don’t tell me? You?”

“I, actually…… Ugh!”

The moment Kang Chan mustered up the courage to tell the truth, Zekeon blocked Kang Chan’s mouth with his finger.

Then he shook his head and said.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline your love confession.”

“Wh, what?”

Kang Chan, who had been so nervous because of Zekeon’s sudden nonsensical words, slumped down as if his strength had been drained.

“Hey, you don’t have to be so disappointed, do you? Did you like me that much? Huh? Huh?”

Kang Chan, who was suddenly angry at Zekeon’s actions of poking him in the side, 벌떡 일어나 [boltteok ireona – suddenly getting up] and said.

“Stop joking around! I’m serious right now!”

Zekeon said in a tearful voice when Kang Chan suddenly 벌컥 화를 내자 [beolkkeok hwareul naeja – suddenly got angry].

“흑흑흑 [heuk heuk heuk – sobbing sound]…… You don’t have to shout like that.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to shout.”

“As expected, there’s not a single wrong word in the old saying. There can’t be friends between a man and a woman……”

“Huh?”

“Ah, I understand. If you really think of me that way…… start counting the days from today.”

Kang Chan was greatly shocked by Zekeon’s absurd words and even stuttered.

“Yo, you, what are you talking about!”

“What do you mean what am I talking about? I did what you wanted.”

Kang Chan, who was angry because Zekeon kept driving the atmosphere into a playful one, 벌떡 일어나 [boltteok ireona – suddenly getting up] grabbed Zekeon’s shoulders and said.

“Stop joking around and listen to me! The reason I came to this planet is!”

Zekeon blocked Kang Chan’s lips with his finger again.