Future Knight [EN]: Chapter 14

They also sparred from time to time.

Of course, Jaina, still a novice with the sword, was no match for Kang Chan, who had even given Keremion a hard time.

However, Kang Chan taught Jaina the practical techniques he had ingrained in his body, and he didn’t realize how quickly time was passing as he enjoyed teaching her.

“No, Jaina. You can’t just stand there like that.”

“Why? I’m doing what I learned.”

“Yes, the movements are correct. But if you stand there so stiffly, you’ll get hurt in a real fight.”

In a flash, Kang Chan strongly struck down Jaina’s wooden sword, used his shoulder to push her off balance, lifted her foot with his right hand, and knocked Jaina backward.

Then, he pressed her right hand, still holding the wooden sword, with his knee and held a wooden dagger to her neck.

“See, you’re dead.”

Jaina froze, unable to follow his sharp and fierce movements.

“Jaina, are you okay?”

“Uh-huh… I’m okay. But I was a little scared just now.”

“What I can teach Jaina now are just practical tricks like this that can be used in real combat. So, don’t focus too much on the tricks I teach you yet, and just practice the basic movements. Just keep in mind that these techniques exist. Then it will be very helpful later in sparring or real combat with other elves.”

“Okay! I understand.”

“Shall we continue then?”

“Sure, come at me.”

A smile spread across Kang Chan’s face at Jaina’s cute pose, beckoning him with her sword.

“You’ll get hurt if you mess around.”

“Heehee!”

After that, they swung their swords diligently until they were soaked with sweat. Then, they collapsed on a rock, catching their breath and looking up at the sky.

A clear and refreshing sky, as if their chests were opening up, filled their eyes.

“Uncle.”

“What?”

“Have you ever killed anyone?”

Kang Chan flinched for a moment at Jaina’s sudden question.

“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

“No, it’s just that sometimes when you’re holding a sword, I feel really scared. Um, it’s like bloodlust? Whenever I feel that, I suddenly think about it.”

Kang Chan was silent.

He was filled with regret, realizing he appeared so frightening in the eyes of a pure and innocent girl, that he was too immersed in the practical aspects of combat.

But he didn’t want to lie to Jaina.

Because then he felt like he would become a truly bad person.

“Yes, I have killed people before.”

Kang Chan got up silently and walked towards the well, pouring a bucket of water over his head.

Then, he vigorously shook his body, scattering the water droplets everywhere.

Jaina, watching his actions, somehow perceived them as sad.

It seemed as if he was struggling to wash away the sins he had committed, like scattering water droplets.

“I shouldn’t have said that. I’m such an idiot.”

She was filled with belated regret.

* * *

Eladion was taking a day off and planned to relax at home.

Reading old books with his favorite pomegranate tea.

However, his mind was not at ease, unlike his plans.

It was because of that human who stood like a stone statue in front of his house.

A human who came to him every morning without fail, kneeling and seeking guidance.

It had already been half a year since he had started this extreme behavior.

Having to deliberately ignore him every day for half a year was a great ordeal for Eladion as well.

“Tsk tsk… Why are humans so persistent, even when they know it’s impossible?”

That day, as always, the human came to him in the morning and knelt. Time passed, morning turned into lunchtime, but he remained in the same spot.

Eladion, who was eating lunch alone, couldn’t stand it any longer and got up from his seat.

He felt that if he forced the food down his throat like this, there would be serious consequences.

How could he not worry when a human was kneeling silently under the scorching sun from morning until lunchtime in front of his door?

He opened the front door and said to Kang Chan.

“Sir, why are you tormenting me like this?”

Kang Chan was sweating profusely under the hot sun, his mouth tightly shut.

Remembering the time when he had sat all day under the scorching summer sun on his day off and had been carried away on a stretcher after collapsing from heatstroke, Eladion’s heart felt heavy.

“Sir, are you really going to do this? Please answer me.”

“Plea… Please give me guidance…”

Hearing his hoarse voice, Eladion became anxious.

He was worried that Kang Chan might collapse again due to dehydration.

“I really can’t take this anymore because of you. Come inside for now.”

Hearing Eladion’s unbelievable invitation, Kang Chan sharply raised his head and tried to get up, but his legs, stiff from kneeling, caused him to fall forward.

“Sir! Are you okay?”

Eladion quickly ran out and supported him.

“I’m, I’m okay.”

“It’s a relief if you’re okay.”

Kang Chan, supported by Eladion, entered the house and sat on a chair, taking a breath while drinking a glass of cool water that Eladion gave him.

“You’re really stubborn.”

“……”

At his words, Kang Chan only gave a bitter smile without saying a word.

“Why are you so obsessed with swordsmanship? Tell me the reason.”

After hesitating for a long time, Kang Chan finally opened his mouth.

“I want to become stronger.”

“Just that?”

Everyone dreams of becoming stronger.

But Kang Chan seemed to have a story behind why he wanted to become stronger, so Eladion asked again in a firm tone.

After hesitating for a while, Kang Chan slowly opened his mouth.

“What you said before, Elder, made me like this.”

Kang Chan suddenly brought up something he had said, which made Eladion curious.

He wondered what he had said that led to such extreme behavior.

“What did I say to you?”

“You said that anyone can surpass their limits with swordsmanship, depending on their effort.”

“Yes, I definitely said that to you. But what meaning did that give you that makes you act like this?”

With a somber expression, Kang Chan said,

“Before, you asked me if anyone had touched my body. You were right. The reason I am several times stronger, more agile, and have better healing abilities than ordinary people is because I underwent several surgeries to enhance my body since I was young.”

“Surgeries to enhance your body? What is that?”

“It is a surgery that surgically alters the body, replacing some of the muscles, bones, and organs with artificial ones to make the body stronger.”

Eladion’s face was filled with surprise at Kang Chan’s shocking confession.

“Are you serious?”

Kang Chan slowly nodded, thinking there was nothing more to hide, and began to honestly tell Eladion about his past.

He spoke of his painful past, being abandoned by his parents as a baby, sold to a special facility, and growing up undergoing numerous physical modification experiments.

He had never told anyone about his story before.

It was probably because he had lived without a reason or time to tell it.

He told his painful past to someone for the first time, and Eladion’s face, gradually learning about his past, looked dazed as if he couldn’t believe it.

He had wandered all over the continent in the name of training, seeing and hearing countless atrocities, but Kang Chan’s childhood story was so horrific that it was unbelievable.

‘To think that they would use their own kind, even infants, as experimental subjects! This human has lived such a cruel life. To think he would have such a terrible past.’

He couldn’t even imagine his past.

Kang Chan calmed his excited heart and said,

“That’s why I want to become as strong as Keremion or you with my own strength. I believe that becoming stronger through one’s own will and effort, rather than their cruel and narrow-minded methods, is true strength. So please give me a chance.”

Eladion, surprised by his burning will, smiled softly.

He knew that this mysterious stranger, though shady, was genuine in his desire to become stronger.

It had already been two and a half years since he came here.

Although he had lost consciousness for one of those years, he had also learned that the alien from another world, who had been close to Jeina for the past year and a half, was cold but had a good nature.

And there was a deep connection, as he had rescued him from the monster.

But no matter what, he couldn’t go against the decision of the Council of Elders.

‘Ugh, what should I do?’

Eladion had wanted to teach him swordsmanship from the beginning, but he had no choice but to turn away from him because of Arteon’s opposition.

However, he had been deeply moved by the sincerity he had shown over the past six months.

Which elf would kneel and beg to learn swordsmanship from him?

Which elf would want to be taught by him to the point of collapsing from exhaustion under the scorching sun?

They would rather choose an easier bow or spirit magic than swordsmanship, which is difficult to learn and requires a long time to master.

Knowing the elves well, how could Eladion not find Kang Chan, who was so enthusiastic about learning his swordsmanship, endearing?

He was lost in thought, looking out the window at the sky for a moment.

It was only a few minutes, but it felt like hours to Kang Chan.

Then, Eladion finally seemed to have made up his mind and slowly turned his gaze to Kang Chan.

“Do you really need to learn swordsmanship?”

“Yes! I really want to learn.”

Eladion shook his head and said again,

“No, that’s not what I mean. I mean, why do you, who use a dagger, need to learn the sword of an elf who uses a rapier?”

Kang Chan didn’t understand his words for a moment, but he soon realized what he meant.

“Then?”

“Elves have been handed down various ways of handling weapons since ancient times. Among them is the Fairy Dagger Technique…….”

“The Dagger Technique?”

Eladion seemed to be trailing off, as if there was a story behind it, but Kang Chan was even happier that it was a swordsmanship related to the dagger, the weapon he was most familiar with.

But that joy was only temporary, and a question arose in Kang Chan’s mind.

He wondered why the Fairy Sword was not allowed, but the Fairy Dagger Technique was.

‘Is he trying to teach me something random?’

Kang Chan carefully asked Eladion in a slightly anxious voice.

“Eladion, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“I want to know why I can’t learn the Fairy Sword, but I can learn the Fairy Dagger.”

At Kang Chan’s question, Eladion paused again for a moment before opening his mouth.

“Hmm, the truth is, I can’t teach you the Fairy Dagger either. Even though no one wants to learn it, the secret techniques passed down from ancient times are still secret techniques.”

Kang Chan’s expression was filled with disappointment at Eladion, who suddenly changed his mind as if nothing had happened.

“…….”

Kang Chan couldn’t understand Eladion’s true feelings, who changed his words as if flipping his palm.

“What I want to teach you is not the Fairy Dagger. It’s a different swordsmanship derived from the Fairy Dagger.”

“A derived swordsmanship?”

“That’s right. This swordsmanship is very excellent and original, but it has become impossible to even see among our elves, a tragic swordsmanship.”

Kang Chan paid attention again to the words that learning it was forbidden.

‘Is there something wrong with it? Why don’t I trust him…….’

Kang Chan was getting more and more anxious, but Eladion brought him an old book to show him.

“What is this?”

“This is the dagger technique I would recommend to you. Would you like to take a look?”

Eladion handed him an old book with a very serious expression, and Kang Chan took the book with trembling hands and read the title.