Future Knight [EN]: Chapter 116

“I had some idea about that myself. You seemed to have too much experience killing people to be just a traveler. Was that all that was bothering you so much?”

Kang Chan was extremely grateful to Elradion for saying it was just that.

He could feel how much Elradion trusted him.

But the real worry wasn’t that.

“Of course not.”

“Then what on earth is it?”

“Well, the truth is, I’m….”

Kang Chan struggled to open his mouth, which felt like it was glued shut.

Elradion grew increasingly anxious at the sight of his disciple.

‘What truth is he hiding that he finds it so difficult to reveal?’

As Elradion worried inwardly, Kang Chan finally spoke.

“T, the truth is… I was a member of a special forces unit belonging to the Earth Federation, and the real reason I came to this planet was to make it part of the Space Federation.”

Upon hearing Kang Chan’s words, Elradion froze like a stone.

Seeing Elradion’s reaction, Kang Chan rose from his seat, knelt before Elradion, and begged for forgiveness.

“I’m sorry, Master.”

“W, what are you saying? You came here to invade this place? Is that the truth?”

“It is….”

“I, I can’t believe it. You’ve been hiding such a fact….”

Elradion stared at the ground with an expression of utter disbelief.

Kang Chan was his first disciple to become a Sword Master… and a proud disciple who had become a Sword Master in the shortest time in history.

But the true identity of that disciple was a vanguard for invaders… it was something he couldn’t comprehend.

“H, how could this happen, how could this happen….”

Too shocked, Elradion repeated the same words, lost in anguish.

If he hadn’t been his disciple, he wouldn’t have been so shocked.

But now it was different.

He was his disciple.

His most prized disciple at that.

Even though he was human and not an elf.

“Master….”

Kang Chan’s heart ached as he saw Elradion in shock and confusion.

It was a truth he had braced himself to reveal, but deep regret washed over him nonetheless.

He might never be able to return to their former master-disciple relationship.

As Kang Chan worried, Elradion spoke with difficulty.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Elradion was at a loss as to how to accept his disciple.

Even though he was a vanguard of the enemy, he couldn’t bring himself to hate him.

Kang Chan conveyed his firm resolve to Elradion, who was so perplexed.

“I apologize for telling you so late. But the fear of telling the truth was too great.”

“I suppose so….”

Kang Chan could feel that Elradion was trying his best to understand him, and Kang Chan told him his future goals.

“But Master, I have now decided to help this world.”

“So, you’re going to give up your identity with them?”

“Yes, Master.”

“…….”

Elradion’s face was full of confusion, and Kang Chan frankly explained to him the reason for his change of heart.

“Are you curious as to why I changed my mind?”

“Yes, I’d like to hear it.”

“Then, do you remember the story of my childhood that I told you before?”

“Of course.”

How could he forget? That terrible story… the inhumane act of using young children of their own race as materials for biological experiments. It was something he could never forget, even if he wanted to.

“That place where I lived is a place that only holds such memories for me.”

“…….”

“I never want to go back to that time. A life where I have to live only as a tool for killing people. If I have to go back there, I will take my own life. And more than anything, I promised the deceased Jeina that I would protect this land.”

“Chan….”

“Master, please give me one more chance. Please….”

Elradion read sincerity in Kang Chan’s eyes.

And he could tell that his words were not lies. It was a kind of unexplainable maturity that only those who had lived a long time could feel.

Elradion decided to give Kang Chan another chance.

Even though Kang Chan had hidden his identity, he knew that the actions he had shown so far were not false.

“Alright, I’ll trust you one more time.”

“Master! Thank you. Thank you so much….”

Kang Chan was so grateful to Elradion for trusting him that he jumped up and bowed deeply to him.

However, as an elf who did not have the custom of bowing, Elradion could not understand Kang Chan’s actions.

He could only tell that he was truly grateful.

After a while, in a slightly calmer atmosphere, Elradion cautiously asked Kang Chan.

“So, when do you think those enemies you speak of will invade this place?”

“They are already here, Master.”

“Wh, what?!”

Elradion was shocked at Kang Chan’s words that the enemy was already here.

“That light that falls over the heads of the allied forces these days, which the people here call the light of destruction, is proof of that. It is a weapon with formidable power called a Graviton Cannon, launched from a warship in space, and it is also mounted on the Red Mars, which I came on.”

Elradion was shocked once again at the mention that the weapon with such tremendous destructive power was also mounted on the Red Mars.

“The spaceship you came on also has a weapon that shoots that light of destruction?”

“Yes, Master.”

In an instant, Elradion’s mind was filled with complex thoughts.

‘Good heavens… that light of destruction was being fired by the enemies.’

“Master, we don’t have much time left. We must end this war as soon as possible and prepare to fight them.”

“Then, is there a way?”

“I am currently devising ways and weapons to counter them with Zikyon.”

“Y, you’re with Lord Zikyon? Then does that mean he also knows about your true identity?”

“Yes, Master.”

At the mention of Zikyon, the doubts that reluctantly remained in Elradion’s heart completely disappeared.

Because the dragon, the ruler of this world, would never join hands with the enemy.

“Then instead of this, let’s go to Arteon together.”

“Yes, Master.”

Kang Chan, who thought that she, the leader of the elves, should also know, followed Elradion without hesitation.

Kang Chan was no longer afraid to tell the truth. Because he had Elradion by his side, who would be a reliable support.

A truly hectic day passed, and Kang Chan returned to the barracks with Elika.

Today was the most tense and nerve-wracking day of Kang Chan’s life.

Because he almost lost those who were so precious to him.

But fortunately, they understood and accepted Kang Chan.

With everything resolved, Kang Chan was now able to be recognized as a comrade, not an enemy.

The next thing to do was to go to the crashed Red Mars and sort out anything that could be used in the battle against them.

Even if the warship was unusable, it was full of everything needed for combat, from personal firearms to small combat ships.

And using the antenna there, he needed to eavesdrop on the enemy’s frequencies in space to find out whether they belonged to the Allied Forces or the Imperial Army.

If they were the Allied Forces, he could use his identity to launch a counterattack.

After a day of tension and worry, he was exhausted.

For him, a soldier, physical work was easier than using his brain.

‘Whew… it was a really tough day.’

Kang Chan momentarily forgot his worries and leaned back on the bed, rubbing his face with both hands as if he were tired.

Then he closed his eyes and rested for a while.

About ten minutes later?

Kang Chan suddenly thought of her again.

The green elf woman who resembled Jeina.

Actually, it was Jeina who came to mind.

She came to mind while he was missing Jeina.

‘Whew, has it been three days since then? How is she doing? Maybe….’

Kang Chan suddenly thought that she might be dead by now.

The prison she was trapped in was in such a harsh environment that it wouldn’t be surprising if she died at any moment.

“…….”

After hesitating for a moment, Kang Chan had no choice but to put on his clothes and head to the prison where she was being held.

Arriving at the prison, Kang Chan stared at them, who were locked up far away, with wide eyes.

Because the number of green elves imprisoned had been drastically reduced to eight.

Moreover, those who remained were lying on the prison floor, barely moving, as if they were dying.

Kang Chan rushed to them and looked for Platina among them.

‘Could it be! Is she dead? Could it be….’

After searching for a long time, Kang Chan let out a sigh of relief without realizing it.

Because Platina was still there.

However, her condition did not look good.

She was unconscious and even having muscle spasms.

It was a typical symptom of heatstroke.

And if she was unconscious, it was a serious condition.

And the dehydration also looked very severe.

This was all the work of the cruel Allied Forces, who were trying to slowly dry them to death in the midsummer heat.

Kang Chan approached her and put his hand through the bars of the prison to touch her forehead.

Then, at Kang Chan’s touch, she regained consciousness and struggled to open her eyes to look at Kang Chan.

And she called his name with her parched mouth.

“K, K, Kang Chan?”

For a moment, Kang Chan really saw her as Jeina.

It was as if he was seeing Jeina, who was dying in his arms that night.

“A, are you okay? Hey, hey! Wake up!”

Kang Chan hurriedly slapped her cheeks, but she never thought of getting up.

“Hey! Damn it! Soldier!”

Kang Chan called out to the guard who was watching from afar. Then the guard heard his voice and immediately ran over.

“Yes! Sir Knight of the Sky! Did you call?”

Kang Chan roughly treated the soldier at the cheesy sound of the Knight of the Sky, and the soldier was startled by the intense murderous aura emanating from Kang Chan and almost peed his pants.

“Hee? Wh, why are you suddenly doing this?”

The soldier unknowingly questioned Kang Chan’s incomprehensible behavior.

“The prisoner is dying! Open the door now!”

The soldier looked at the green elf woman Kang Chan was reaching out to feel her pulse.

Then he spoke in a very unsure tone.

Because the person in front of him was none other than the Sword Master, and he was in a frustrating situation where he had to refuse Kang Chan’s request.

“W, well, Sir Knight of the Sky. I, I’m sorry, but that seems difficult….”

“Why?”

At Kang Chan’s increasingly murderous question, the soldier lowered his head and said.

“Well, actually… it’s been eight days since these guys were left here, and the enemies haven’t reacted at all, so the higher-ups told us to just let them dry up and die. So we haven’t given them water for three days.”