Future Knight [EN]: Chapter 12

‘I want to learn it. But if I, an outsider, want to learn, will they allow it? Wouldn’t I just make things difficult for myself by bringing it up?’

He felt pathetic for being so timid.

Knowing his current situation, Kang Chan found it difficult to readily ask Elladion to teach him Elven swordsmanship.

So, Kang Chan slowly started to butter up Elladion, trying to gauge his mood.

Having already fallen deeply for the Elven sword, he didn’t give up. He listened attentively, sometimes letting out flirtatious exclamations, sometimes making regretful expressions, matching Elladion’s rhythm and even resorting to acting, which was not in his nature.

However, perhaps due to the limitations of his exhausted body, Kang Chan couldn’t overcome the overwhelming sleepiness and dozed off.

“Many other races see our Elves as just a race that draws bows or casts spirit magic for long-range support, but in fact, no race in this world possesses a longer, more venerable, and excellent swordsmanship in close combat as much as we Elves. The reason is… hey, are you sleeping?”

“Ah! No, I’m not!”

“How can you fall asleep while listening to such an exciting story?”

“No! I was listening to everything.”

Kang Chan, now fully awake, quickly wiped the drool from his mouth and listened with newly brightened eyes.

Elladion, who had been wearing a displeased expression, once again sang praises of the Elven sword.

Currently, Kang Chan was exhausted to the point of fainting due to the risks from the battle with Keremion, but he endured the encroaching fatigue and listened to Elladion’s explanation until the end.

Thanks to that, Kang Chan began to understand to some extent why Keremion was so strong.

He learned about the mana that makes up this world and the fact that by manipulating that mana, one could become stronger than ordinary humans.

Without having to undergo this damn body modification surgery.

And he also learned that in order to move that mana at will, tremendous effort, talent, and time are required.

“Hmm, is it already this late? You must be tired. Get some rest. I’ll be going now.”

“Are you leaving already? When can I hear the rest of the story?”

Elladion’s eyes shone sharply at Kang Chan’s words.

“Weren’t you bored with my story?”

‘This is my chance! This is the only chance I’ll get.’

Seizing the opportunity, Kang Chan spoke to Elladion with an even more serious expression.

“I was so excited to hear about the grand history of the Elven sword that my hands were sweating. As someone who also wields a sword, I would love to learn it.”

“You want to learn the Elven sword?”

“If you would teach me, of course. But that would be difficult, right? Since I’m not an Elf.”

Kang Chan tried his best to make a regretful expression.

His expressionless facial muscles were not something he could easily move just because he wanted to. Kang Chan felt like his face was cramping.

Whether the heavens knew his sincerity or not, a look of conflict flickered across Elladion’s face.

“Hmm…”

‘This human is at the age when Elves have finished their prime. With such a body, no matter how much he trains, he won’t be able to achieve much… Swordsmanship should be honed steadily for a long time from a young age before the body is fully formed to truly shine. Well, that’s why there are few young Elves who prefer swordsmanship. Anyway, this human is the only one of another race who has been allowed to reside in the Forest Village with Arteon’s permission, so he can’t be called a stranger… Wouldn’t it be okay to show this human a little bit of the great taste of our Elven swordsmanship on this occasion? Who knows? If he later reaches the realm of a master with Elven swordsmanship, the status of the Elven sword might…’

Elladion’s face, having even thought too far ahead, was filled with expressions that were uncharacteristic of an Elf.

In fact, no one among the other races disregarded the Elven sword.

However, what was even more frightening was their bow, so it relatively lost its light.

The terror of the Elven bow, which easily hit targets the size of coins from distances of hundreds of meters, was etched in the minds of the entire continent.

The arrows imbued with their mana rendered any armor and shield useless, so in front of them, heavy armor was nothing more than cumbersome baggage.

Because of the fame of such terrifying Elven bows, the Elven sword was always overshadowed, so Elladion had a desire in his heart to prove to the world that the Elven sword was by no means inferior to the Elven bow.

‘Hmm, I should consult with Arteon first.’

Elladion, who had risen from his seat, opened his mouth towards Kang Chan.

“Ahem! Then come find me again at the training ground early tomorrow morning.”

“Really?”

“It’s not decided yet, so don’t get your hopes up too much and come early tomorrow morning. Then, I’ll be going now. Ahem! Is it going to rain?”

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow! Elder.”

The title Kang Chan used to call Elladion had now changed to the more affectionate “Elder.”

* * *

Sitting in a simple room, Elladion was talking to someone through a crystal ball.

“This is the situation. What does Arteon think?”

-That is absolutely impossible. In particular, the Elven mana cultivation method must never be passed on to other races.

“That is true.”

-Besides, we still know nothing about his purpose other than that he came from another world. Do you understand my meaning?

“Of course.”

-Then, Elladion, I’m sorry, but I have something urgent to attend to.

Elladion bid her farewell with a dark expression.

“I understand. Arteon.”

-May the blessing of the spirits be with Elladion.

“May Arteon also have the peace of the forest.”

After finishing the short conversation with Arteon, Elladion rose from his seat and sighed as he looked out the window.

5. Beyond Reach

“What? You might be learning our Elven swordsmanship from today?”

“He told me to come again today.”

“Hmph! It’s no use going. Our Elves never teach Elven knowledge to other races.”

“I’ll know if I go, right? Then I’ll be going now.”

“……”

Jayna’s heart, looking at Kang Chan moving away, was no different from yesterday’s Kang Chan.

She was going to skip class again today and go hunting with Kang Chan, but she couldn’t help but feel bitter about being betrayed like this.

“Go and beg and cry, see if they teach you…”

Left alone, Jayna burst into tears as she watched Kang Chan’s disappearing figure.

In fact, Jayna, due to her boisterous and eccentric personality, which was unlike that of an Elf, did not get along well with other Elves who had calm temperaments.

Besides, because her concentration was particularly poor, Jayna could not handle a bow well like other Elves, nor did she have any talent for magic.

With a boisterous personality and nothing that she was good at, there was no way she could have friends.

To her, Kang Chan’s appearance was like welcome rain during a drought.

She had made a friend for the first time with whom she could be without pretense.

After that, Jayna did not try to separate from Kang Chan even for a single day.

To Jayna, Kang Chan was like half an apple that could not be separated.

“Idiot…”

Jayna did not even think of wiping away the flowing tears and just kept crying in that spot.

The young Elves began to whisper as Kang Chan appeared again.

Among them, the Elf who showed a particularly sensitive reaction was Keremion, who had been defeated by Kang Chan before.

Perhaps because of the aftereffects of the defeat, he was leaning against a tree, staring blankly at the distant mountains with unfocused eyes.

Then, when Kang Chan suddenly appeared, he emitted a sharp killing intent and stood up like lightning, drawing his wooden sword.

And he pushed other Elves roughly and approached Kang Chan.

“Human! Let’s fight again!”

“I have nothing to do with you.”

“What?”

“I said I have no business with you.”

“Say it again.”

A thick killing intent rose rapidly from Keremion’s entire body, to the point where it would not have been strange if a sword fight had broken out immediately.

However, with just one word from someone, he quietly returned to his spot and became someone who stared at the distant mountains again.

“Stop! Human, follow me.”

“Yes, Elder.”

Keremion watched Kang Chan, who was politely following Elladion, with an unbelievable expression.

‘Why is Elladion following that kind of human bastard?’

Ignoring Keremion’s intensely burning gaze, Kang Chan, who was quietly following Elladion, turned around and looked at Keremion as if he had remembered something he had forgotten.

And Kang Chan extended his clenched fist towards Keremion, raising his middle finger.

It was uncertain whether this Earth’s curse, which Red Mars comrades often used, would work on Keremion.

However, with his current mood, he felt like he had to do this to Keremion to feel satisfied.

A human showing a strange hand gesture towards him.

Keremion showed the same hand gesture that Kang Chan had made to his surrounding comrades, asking them what it was.

Of course, the surrounding Elves, who naturally had no idea, made the same hand gesture and extended it towards the Elves here and there, asking each other if they knew what it was.

Kang Chan unknowingly chuckled at that sight.

“Hehe, don’t tease that child too much.”

Kang Chan quickly turned his head in embarrassment and quietly followed Elladion.

“That child has bad memories of humans, so he gets so excited about you. Don’t worry too much about it.”

At Elladion’s words, Kang Chan carefully continued.

“May I know what the story is?”

“Well, I don’t really want to talk about it, but if you live in this village in the future, you will see that child often, so I will tell you a little bit. Keremion’s sister had something bad happen to her because of humans.”

“I see.”

Something bad, without thinking about it, it was obvious.

He wasn’t even born on this planet, but he had to accept Keremion’s anger because of the misdeeds committed by other races that he didn’t even know well, which was truly unfair.

As they talked about this and that, they crossed a vine bridge and climbed up a fairly tall tree. Then, Elladion spread his arms wide and shouted.

“We’re here! Come inside.”

“This place is?”

“Where else would it be? It’s my house.”

Looking at his house, which was no different from his own dwelling even though he was a somewhat high-ranking Elder, Kang Chan was moved by his simple life.

Not only Elladion but all the Elves he had seen were like that. He could not find any greed or avarice in them. The only excessive thing was their attachment to the forest in which they lived.

“Sit here.”

“Yes, Elder.”

“Well, the reason I brought you here is…”

Elladion, who had paused for a moment, opened his mouth with difficulty.

“I told you yesterday not to have too many expectations, didn’t I?”

“Yes, Elder.”

Kang Chan didn’t want to hear what he was going to say. It was because he could roughly guess what he was going to say.

“I’m sorry about this. It seems it will be difficult for you to learn our Elven sword after all. This is a decision made by the Council of Elders.”

As the words he had most feared came out of Elladion’s mouth, Kang Chan felt all the strength drain from his body.

“I see, that’s how it is.”

“Originally, our Elves do not pass on knowledge to other races. That is our law.”

Kang Chan had heard about that from Jayna.

“Is there no way?”

“I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do about something that has already been decided. Please understand and go back.”

“I really want to learn swordsmanship. I will do anything.”

“I’m sorry. It’s already been decided. I hope you understand.”

Kang Chan begged earnestly several more times, knowing it was impossible, but Elladion stubbornly ignored Kang Chan’s request.

Then, Kang Chan, who had no choice but to turn back home.

His steps were heavy.

Kang Chan couldn’t help but feel so pathetic as he kept looking back with lingering feelings.

‘I really wanted to learn it…’