Future Knight

Chapter 116

“I had somewhat guessed that much. You seemed too experienced in killing people to simply be a traveler. Was it just that which made you so serious?”

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

He felt trusted that much.

However, that wasn’t his real concern.

“Of course not.”

“Then what is it?”

“Well, the truth is, I……”

Kang Chan struggled to open his reluctant mouth.

Seeing his disciple’s hesitation made Elradian increasingly uneasy.

‘What kind of truth is he hiding that makes it so difficult for him to reveal?’

While Elradian worried silently, Kang Chan finally spoke.

“To be honest, I am…… a member of the Special Forces of the Earth Federation, and my real purpose on this planet was to make it part of the Space Federation.”

Elradian was momentarily petrified upon hearing Kang Chan’s words.

Seeing Elradian’s reaction, Kang Chan stood up, knelt before him, and pleaded.

“I’m sorry, Master.”

“Wh-What are you saying? Your purpose here was to invade this place? Is that true?”

“Yes…….”

“I, I can’t believe it. You hid such a fact…….”

Elradian looked at the ground, speaking in disbelief.

Kang Chan was his first disciple to become a Sword Master…… and in the shortest time in history, no less. He was a proud disciple.

But the true identity of this disciple was an advance guard of the invaders…… It was unimaginable.

“H-How can this be, how can this be…….”

Elradian, too shocked, repeated the same words, lost in anguish.

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

But this was different.

He was his disciple.

His most proud disciple.

Even if he wasn’t an elf but a human.

“Master…….”

Seeing Elradian in shock and confusion pained Kang Chan deeply.

Although he had revealed the truth with great determination, deep regret washed over him.

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

As Kang Chan worried, Elradian spoke with difficulty.

“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”

Elradian found it extremely difficult to decide how to deal with his disciple.

Though an enemy’s advance guard, he couldn’t bring himself to hate him.

Kang Chan conveyed his firm resolve to the conflicted Elradian.

“I’m sorry for the delay. But I was too afraid to tell the truth.”

“I understand…….”

Kang Chan felt that Elradian was trying his best to understand him, and he conveyed his future intentions to him.

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

“Does that mean you’re giving up your identity?”

“Yes, Master.”

“…….”

Elradian’s face was full of confusion, and Kang Chan honestly revealed the reason he changed his mind.

“Are you curious about why I changed my mind?”

“Yes, I’d like to hear it.”

“Do you remember the story of my childhood I told you before?”

“Of course.”

How could he forget? Such a horrific story…… The inhumane act of using children from one’s own race for human experiments. It was unforgettable.

“The place where I lived is filled with such memories for me.”

“…….”

“I never want to go back to that time. A life where I must live only as a killing tool. If I’m forced to go back to that, I’d rather take my own life. And above all, I promised the late Jaina. That I would protect this land.”

“Chan……”

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

Elradian read the sincerity in Kang Chan’s eyes.

He could see that his words were not lies. It was a wisdom only the aged could feel.

Elradian decided to give Kang Chan another chance.

Although Kang Chan had hidden his true identity, Elradian knew well that the person he had shown so far was not a lie.

“I understand. I’ll trust you once more.”

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

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

However, Elradian, being an elf unfamiliar with such customs, couldn’t understand Kang Chan’s action. He could only perceive that Kang Chan was genuinely thankful.

After a while, in a somewhat calmer atmosphere, Elradian cautiously asked Kang Chan.

“Then, when do you think these enemies you mentioned will invade?”

“They are already here, Master.”

“W-What?”

Elradian was astonished by Kang Chan’s revelation that the enemy had already arrived.

“The light falling over the Allied Forces recently, the one people here call the Light of Destruction, is the evidence. It’s actually a rail gun fired from a spaceship, the same formidable weapon mounted on the Red Mars ship I arrived on.”

Elradian was once again shocked to hear that such a destructive weapon was also equipped on the Red Mars ship.

“You mean the spaceship you came on has that Light of Destruction weapon?”

“Yes, Master.”

Elradian’s mind was momentarily filled with complicated thoughts.

‘My goodness… So the Light of Destruction is fired by the enemies.’

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

“Do you have a plan?”

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

“Z-Zikyon? So, does she also know about your true identity?”

“Yes, Master.”

At the mention of Zikyon, the last lingering doubts in Elradian’s heart disappeared completely. There was no way the dragon, ruler of this world, would ally with the enemy.

“Then let’s not delay and go to see Lady Arteon together.”

“Yes, Master.”

Believing that the leader of the elves should also know, Kang Chan followed Elradian without hesitation.

Kang Chan no longer feared telling the truth. He had Elradian, a strong pillar of support, by his side.

After a truly chaotic day, Kang Chan returned to the barracks with Erika.

For Kang Chan, today was the most nerve-wracking and tense day of his life.

He had almost lost people who were very precious to him.

Fortunately, they understood and accepted him.

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

The next task was to go to the crashed Red Mars ship and gather what could be used in the upcoming battle.

Even if the battleship was unusable, it was filled with all the necessary combat equipment, from personal firearms to small combat vessels.

He also needed to use its antenna to intercept the enemy’s frequencies in space and determine if they were from the Allied Forces or the Imperial Army.

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

Having spent the whole day in tension and worry, he was utterly exhausted.

For a soldier like him, physical tasks were more comfortable than using his brain.

‘Phew… What a tough day.’

Kang Chan briefly forgot his worries and leaned against the bed, rubbing his tired face with both hands.

Then he closed his eyes for a moment to rest.

About ten minutes later?

Suddenly, he thought of her again.

The green elf woman who resembled Jaina.

In fact, it wasn’t her but Jaina who came to mind.

Thinking of Jaina made him think of her.

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

The thought suddenly crossed Kang Chan’s mind that she might be dead by now.

The prison where she was held was harsh enough that it wouldn’t be surprising if she died at any moment.

“…….”

After hesitating for a moment, Kang Chan reluctantly dressed and headed to the prison where she was held.

Upon arriving, Kang Chan’s eyes widened as he saw the inmates from a distance.

The number of green elves in the prison had drastically reduced to eight.

Even those remaining seemed close to death, lying on the floor with barely any movement.

Kang Chan hurriedly approached them, searching for Platina among them.

‘No way! She can’t be dead, right? No way….’

After a while, Kang Chan unknowingly let out a sigh of relief.

Platina was still there.

However, her condition didn’t look good.

She was unconscious, with muscle spasms.

It was a typical symptom of heatstroke.
That she had lost consciousness indicated that her condition was severe.

Additionally, her dehydration appeared to be extremely serious.

It was all the cruel work of the Allied Forces, who intended to slowly dry them to death under the blazing midsummer sun.

Kang Chan approached her, reaching his hand through the bars to touch her forehead.

At his touch, she regained consciousness and weakly opened her eyes to look at him.

With her parched lips, she called his name.

“K-K-Kang Chan?”

For a moment, Kang Chan really saw Jaina in her.

It felt like watching Jaina that night, as she lay dying in his arms.

“A-Are you okay? Hey, hey! Get a hold of yourself!”

Kang Chan urgently slapped her cheeks, but she showed no sign of getting up.

“Hey! Damn it! Soldier!”

Kang Chan called out to the guard watching from afar. Hearing his voice, the guard immediately ran over.

“Yes, Sky Knight! Did you call for me?”

“Cut the crap and open this door right now!”

Kang Chan’s rough handling of the soldier, due to the pretentious title “Sky Knight,” almost made the soldier wet his pants from the sheer killing intent emanating from Kang Chan.

“Wh-What? Why so suddenly?”

The soldier, unable to understand Kang Chan’s actions, reflexively asked.

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

The soldier looked at the green elf woman whose pulse Kang Chan was checking.

He then spoke in a very unsure tone.

This was because he was facing none other than a Sword Master, and it was a regrettable situation where he had to refuse Kang Chan’s request.

“S-Sky Knight, I-I’m sorry, but that would be difficult….”

“Why?”

Under Kang Chan’s increasingly murderous gaze, the soldier lowered his head and spoke.

“Well, actually… It’s been eight days since they were left here, and since there’s been no response from the enemy, the higher-ups ordered us to just let them dry to death. So we haven’t given them any water for the past three days.”