Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Better Than Dying
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The semi-automatic carriage that Kang Geohan rode in was always sweltering hot.
“Ugh! Grraaah!”
Lifting it with his arms, his chest, his legs, his back muscles—he hoisted the demonic stone in every way imaginable.
“Munch munch.”
Whenever his mana ran dry and he needed a break, he chewed and swallowed the pre-cooked goblin meat.
Monster meat didn’t spoil, so it was perfect for grilling ahead and eating as needed.
Several times a day, he depleted his mana completely.
He ate goblin meat and absorbed dark mana.
Day by day, it was renewed again and again.
Yesterday was different from today, morning from evening.
Kalts Black’s eyes shook as he watched Kang Geohan.
It was because he could feel Kang Geohan’s demonic power expanding in real time.
“Monster…”
“Pardon? What did you say?”
Kang Geohan, who had just finished training and was wiping sweat, asked.
Kalts hurriedly shook his head.
“No. I didn’t say anything.”
“Must’ve misheard… Anyway, Sir Kalts, may I ask you something?”
“What?”
“Once the mission is over, what will you do? Return to your original duties?”
“Original duties?”
“The candidates, I mean. I know White and Black surnames are given to official Gigant Rider candidates… and you have the Black surname, right?”
“…”
Kalts didn’t respond. His face darkened.
‘As I thought… there’s something.’
Kang Geohan had already found it suspicious.
The escort knights he’d met at the barony were all Red surname or lower, yet oddly, only Kalts was Black.
Escorting temporary candidates didn’t seem like a job fit for an official candidate, no matter how he thought about it.
His age also seemed a bit old for a candidate.
‘Probably… not a candidate. Something must have happened.’
But what Kang Geohan hadn’t expected was Kalts’s reaction.
He’d thought Kalts would get angry or ignore him, given the cold attitude so far.
Instead, Kalts let out a deep sigh and began answering properly.
“Ha… Listen well. I’m Black, but I’m not a Rider candidate. I was expelled.”
Kang Geohan’s eyes lit up at the answer.
“Expelled… you mean?”
“Yeah. We were ambushed during a mission.”
“Ambushed…”
“It was a raid by the Logot Kingdom.”
The Logot Kingdom bordered the Linekar Kingdom to the east. As was usual between kingdoms, border skirmishes never ceased. It wasn’t uncommon for Rider candidates to be deployed in real combat.
“That time… I ignored the order to retreat to save a comrade. In the end, I couldn’t save him… and my Gigant was destroyed. Defying orders is a grave crime… I couldn’t avoid expulsion.”
Kalts’s eyes reddened as he spoke calmly. His breathing grew rough.
He tried to remain composed to the end, but his chest burned like he’d swallowed a fireball, making it impossible.
He looked straight at Kang Geohan and spoke. His voice was chilling, like wind from hell.
“So, Sir Kang Geohan Yellow.”
“Yes, sir?”
“I don’t know if this advice will be useful… but never make the same foolish mistake I did. For someone who’s never ridden a Gigant, it might be different, but losing one after riding it… is more miserable than a bird losing its wings. If you become an official candidate… be extra careful not to get expelled like an idiot… This is sincere advice from my experience.”
“Yes… I understand.”
Kalts gritted his teeth, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes. Then he said curtly.
“We arrive tomorrow. Skip mana training and adjust your condition.”
He then shut his mouth like a rock.
Kang Geohan eyed Kalts with a strange gaze.
‘…He really misses the Gigant.’
Then, a ridiculous thought suddenly crossed Kang Geohan’s mind.
So absurd that he felt embarrassed even thinking it, but still exciting.
‘It’s impossible, but… if it happens, it’d be a huge help. In this world with no connections or backing…’
Kang Geohan glanced at Kalts unnecessarily, then resumed lifting the demonic stone.
Meanwhile, the semi-automatic carriage quietly passed through various regions.
It went between endless pouring rain on the plains and thorny vine-covered lands, skirting earthquake-ravaged ground and flame-roiling earth.
The next day.
Uncle Davis whispered, somehow tense.
“Let’s buy new training clothes when we arrive.”
“Huh? These are new.”
“You’ve worn them training nonstop for five days. Lots of freemen come to the Rider training camp. Can’t have you looked down on as a serf from the start. Get two or three sets of training clothes.”
“Got it. But you buy some clean new clothes too, Uncle.”
“I’m good.”
“Hey, as a knight’s squire, looking shabby hurts my reputation too. Squire upkeep pay is decent, so it’s no burden.”
“Hmm… Fine.”
Kang Geohan smiled faintly. Shopping. It reminded him of 21st-century Earth, lifting his mood.
“Ha… Hoo… No need to be nervous.”
“Yes. Right.”
Kang Geohan kept up arm push-ups and strength training during the break, heeding Davis’s encouragement—who was clearly the most nervous.
Since Kalts had ordered no mana training today, he substituted with strength work.
And finally.
The selection training camp came into view.
Clang-! Kang-!
Thud! Boom!
Clank, clank, clank.
Kang Geohan sensed it first with his ears, not his eyes.
‘What’s this…?’
Wiping sweat, he peered out the window. A grand spectacle unfolded over the green meadow.
“The angle’s off there! Pull it tighter!”
“Hands off! Bringing it down!”
“Are you kidding? It’s not straight! Cracks will form! You trying to screw the whole team?!”
Timber and tents. Cogwheels larger than watermills. People walking on steel pipes. Sparks flying, scraping and grinding sounds.
The first impression was a massive factory.
Like an entire city building a giant ship in a dockyard.
Only on second look did it feel like a training camp.
Between tents, cogwheels, and busy workers, jogging soldiers and thudding, colliding Gigants appeared.
‘Those… Gigants!’
To see better, Kang Geohan climbed onto the carriage roof and stuck his head out. Two Gigants stood in the front clearing.
‘Ah…!’
Kang Geohan’s first thoughts upon seeing the Gigants were two.
‘Huge. And alive.’
At least eight meters tall. Comparable to a three-story building.
The massive steel mass breathed, hissing—shhh!—wooo!—steam from between its iron plates.
Awe.
The word struck his eyes and mind.
Rumbling lower and louder than an ogre’s growl, the Gigant moved.
As Kang Geohan lost himself in the majesty of the Gigants up front, the semi-automatic carriage approached and stopped.
Kalts leaped out and said.
“This is Sir Kang Geohan Yellow, selected from Burjoji Barony. Here’s the kingdom examiner’s certificate.”
The Gigant’s chest opened, and a man in his early twenties jumped out, snatching the certificate from Kalts.
After skimming it, the man called out to Kang Geohan.
“Good! Newbie! Stand before me!”
Recalling Nonsan Training Center, Kang Geohan dashed forward and assumed parade rest.
The man smiled in satisfaction.
“Oh, nice form?”
“Doesn’t matter. Guys with nice form pissed themselves at the door and left.”
“Hey, you think he’s better than you or not?”
“No idea!”
“Why not? You punk.”
Hundreds had gathered around the Gigant, surrounding Kang Geohan and the man.
The noisy chatter distracted, but Kang Geohan fixed his gaze on the man who’d called him.
Precisely, on his status window.
[Rafal White]
Height: 175cm
Weight: 71kg
Willpower: 167/167
Strength: 136/136
Mana: 301/301
Fat Mass: 3.13kg
Muscle Mass (Skeletal Muscle Mass): 24.76kg
Demonic Mass: 2,973 pindem
White.
An official Rider candidate.
Early twenties, yet his stats matched the early-thirties Red knights he’d met before. Truly candidate-level talent.
Rafal White extended a hand for a shake.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Rider candidate Rafal White. Depending on you, I could be your senior—or just a passerby.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Good. You’re the thirteenth, the last today. We’ll start the entry test now. One by one, board the Gigant. Wait your turn and board when called.”
Kang Geohan’s eyes widened.
‘Suddenly? Entry test? Never heard of this?’
He glanced at Kalts.
But Kalts, knowing already, nodded calmly.
The onlookers watched with expectant eyes.
‘That’s why he said adjust condition, no mana training…?’
Rafal White clapped and shouted.
“Alright! Form up in single file!”
Rumble.
Twelve boys and girls, mid to late teens, rushed to the clearing center, pushing Kang Geohan into line.
Thus, the sudden test began.
* * *
“Let’s go!”
“Takeoff!”
“How many newbies will takeoff successfully this time?”
Boarding, syncing, and activating a Gigant.
They called it takeoff.
For good reason.
Rafal White said.
“Remember one thing. Don’t lose consciousness. You could get seriously hurt or die.”
He met each boy and girl’s eyes in turn.
“Immense pressure will hit. First, it’ll choke you like suffocating. Then, your body floats, feeling euphoric and hazy. But stay sharp. Tense your gut—hup!—and resist the pressure. Coolly judge your state: can you handle it? Are you losing it? If not, release immediately and abort takeoff. Failing is better than dying.”
Instead of easing tension, his explanation heightened it.
“Don’t fear failing too much. Only the best of the best become Gigant Riders. Most fail. Nothing to be ashamed of, so don’t overreach, die, or become crippled. If you can’t take it, quit easy.”
Rafal White rattled off his piece without giving time to prepare, then declared.
“Test starts now.”