Future Knight

Chapter 109

—

“Hey! What’s going on? We thought you were dead!”

“What? Me?”

“Yeah, everyone was so sad thinking you were gone!”

“It’s really a relief you made it back alive, Zikyon.”

Zikyon felt unfamiliar with their words, expressing sorrow over her presumed death.

They were genuinely concerned about her real self, not the fake identity she used during her amusements.

In the past, she might have scoffed at them. But now, things were different.

An inexplicable sense of emotion reverberated through her chest.

However, Zikyon hid those feelings and spoke nonchalantly.

“Why would I die, you fools? Did you really think that little of me?”

“Always acting tough despite getting beaten up…” Kang Chan mocked, making Zikyon frown as she grabbed him by the collar.

“Do you want to get beaten up by me too?”

“Hit me.”

“What?”

“I’ll take all the hits today. Because you came back alive.”

Kang Chan was so happy that it wouldn’t hurt even if he got hit. Zikyon pointed at Kang Chan’s foolish expression and said,

“You idiot.”

“But how did you survive that Garipjapo?”

“Garipjapo?”

“The light that hit you. That’s the Garipjapo.”

“Wait, do you know what attacked me?”

Kang Chan slowly nodded.

“So, could it be?”

Kang Chan nodded again and said,

“Someone else from my homeland came here. And they’re heavily armed…”

“No way…”

For the first time in her life, Zikyon felt herself trembling with fear at Kang Chan’s words.

It was a tremendous shock to her.

To be honest, even surviving today felt like an unbelievable experience to her.

For the first time in her life, she had tucked her tail and ran in front of an enemy to save her life.

When the Garipjapo struck her directly, she had already prepared for it. She knew the timing from watching it fall the first time.

So, when she saw the bright star in the sky, she deployed her shield again with full force.

Not just one layer, but six.

With that much, it was a defense so strong that even a meteor falling on her head wouldn’t harm a single hair.

Then the Garipjapo struck her.

She was shocked to see three layers of her shield shatter instantly.

And as the rest began to collapse one by one, she hurriedly attempted spatial teleportation to her lair.

Teleportation to her lair.

It was the fastest teleportation magic in the world.

All dragons, in preparation for emergencies, draw a teleportation response magic circle on the floor of their lair.

Just in case.

Although they feared nothing in the world, such meticulous preparations showed how diligent their species was.

Zikyon, who saved her life through this meticulousness, took a moment to catch her breath, replenished her mana, and then transformed back into human form to return to the battlefield.

She was worried about Kang Chan’s safety.

Fortunately, Kang Chan was safe, and Zikyon could feel relieved that he was alive.

But now she had another concern.

The extraterrestrial invaders trying to set foot in their world.

—

### Kang Chan’s Resolution

It had been a month since the Green Elves retreated.

They had not only abandoned their occupied territories of Arzan and Sempron but had also retreated to Kermel.

Kermel Kingdom was the first kingdom they conquered during their initial continental invasion, serving as the last gateway to their homeland across the sea, Iceland.

The Green Elves, retreating to Kermel, a natural fortress, quickly built a solid defensive line and hastily began constructing ships.

They had used the winter glaciers to cross to this continent, and with the glaciers melted in the summer, they had nowhere to escape without ships.

However, the allied forces couldn’t recklessly attack them and instead established a wide siege, merely observing.

Despite victories in total war, they had missed several opportunities to annihilate the Green Elf army due to the repeated encounters with the destructive light.

This made them cautious.

The power of that light was truly terrifying.

### Duke Sachsen

Duke Sachsen lamented every time they missed capturing the Green Elf army, wondering if it was a cruel joke played by the gods, and he cursed the sky.

For this reason, the allied forces, unable to attack the enemies and only glaring at them without knowing why, grew stronger and stronger.

This was because all the humans on the continent united in support of them.

Reinforcements from various countries continued to pour in, and the first batch of Gigantes from the ever-operational factories of each nation was literally flooding out.

Their forces now approached 1.5 million, and the number of Gigantes exceeded 300.

Nemitz and Green, looking at this vast army, realized there was no longer any hope.

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

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

They managed to survive only thanks to the food brought in by the Dark Elves through underground passages and aid from their homeland across the sea, Iceland.

But with just that, there was no chance of winning against them.

However, fortunately, the enemy only surrounded them without attacking.

It was a situation that could end with just one strong push.

Nemitz and Green knew the reason well. It was because of the mysterious destructive light that helped them.

Thanks to it, they had overcome many crises, but they were equally uneasy because they didn’t know where this destructive light came from or why it was helping them.

* * *

Kang Chan was looking up at the sky again today, thinking about those lurking in space. And he felt something was strange.

The estimated arrival time of his allies was at least 20 years.

However, they had appeared in just five years.

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

‘Who could it be?’

No matter how much he thought, he couldn’t come up with an easy answer.

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

And they came with a powerful warship more formidable than the Red Mars ship.

Knowing this, Kang Chan felt suffocated. He was deeply concerned about this planet falling into their hands.

He loved this planet too much.

The thought of returning to his previous life was unbearable.

In fact, just thinking about it was horrific.

Looking back, that life wasn’t a human life at all.

He was merely a pawn in war.

Therefore, he had to choose.

Would he go back to being the cold, emotionless killing machine, or would he help the people of this planet protect their home?

However, his dilemma didn’t last long.

Kang Chan chose the latter.

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

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

Thinking of them, Kang Chan carefully placed his hand over his chest.

And he made a promise to Jaina.

“Jaina, I promise. I will definitely protect the planet you were on…”

Zikyon, who was eavesdropping on his resolute words from a distance, approached nonchalantly and spoke.

“What are you planning to protect?”

Startled by Zikyon’s sudden voice, Kang Chan slowly looked at her.

It seemed Zikyon had used some method to approach him so closely without his noticing.

“Oh, Zikyon. Why aren’t you asleep?”

“I sleep all day, so how could I sleep at night?”

Her main daily routine was napping, ever since she quit pretending to be a priestess and stayed in the barracks.

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

Zikyon felt that Kang Chan had changed lately.

Even though there were no battles, if it were his usual self, he would have gone on a rampage seeking revenge, but now he seemed indifferent, as if something was off.

“You don’t seem to care much about the Green Elves these days?”

“…”

Of course, he hadn’t forgotten his revenge for Jaina.

But now, there was a more important matter at hand, so he was temporarily postponing it.

He could still exact revenge on them after defending the planet from the invaders.

“What are you brooding over all by yourself?”

“I’m not brooding.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, I can see you worrying. Just spill it.”

Kang Chan hesitated for a moment.

Should he tell Zikyon the real reason he was here?

Eventually, he decided to lay everything bare.

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 after learning his true identity, it couldn’t be helped.

It was his karma to bear.

Kang Chan took a deep breath and looked at Zikyon seriously as he spoke.

“Zikyon, listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

“Why are you suddenly so serious?”

Zikyon looked at Kang Chan with a puzzled expression as he suddenly turned serious.

“We’re true friends, right?”

“Huh? What’s with the sudden deep talk?”

“You do consider me a true friend, don’t you?”

At Kang Chan’s endlessly serious words, Zikyon was momentarily flustered.

“No way? You?”

“I, actually… mph!”

Just as Kang Chan mustered the courage to speak the truth, Zikyon covered his mouth with her fingers.

Shaking her head, she spoke.

“Sorry, but I have to decline a love confession.”

“W-what?”

Kang Chan, who had been extremely tense, felt completely deflated by Zikyon’s unexpected and nonsensical words.

“Hey, it’s not like you need to be so disappointed. Did you like me that much? Huh? Huh?”

Annoyed by Zikyon’s teasing pokes at his side, Kang Chan suddenly stood up and said.

“Stop joking! I’m serious right now!”

When Kang Chan suddenly yelled, Zikyon spoke with a trembling voice.

“Sniff… But there’s no need to shout like that.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to shout.”

“There’s truth in the old saying. They say there can’t be friendship between a man and a woman…”

“Huh?”

“Alright. If that’s how you really feel about me… Let’s start counting from today.”

Shocked by Zikyon’s absurd words, Kang Chan stuttered.

“W-what are you talking about?”

“What do you mean, what am I talking about? I’m giving you what you wanted.”

Frustrated by Zikyon continuously turning the situation into a joke, Kang Chan stood up abruptly, grabbed her shoulders, and spoke.

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

Zikyon once again blocked Kang Chan’s lips with her finger.