Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: All My Fortune is on the Line
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Just before the test began.
Davis was shoved this way and that by the crowding spectators until he shrewdly slipped over to where the squires had gathered and took a stand.
Amid a bunch of young, sturdy squires, a man over fifty crept up bashfully, and instantly all eyes turned to him.
"What the hell? That old guy's a squire too?"
"He gonna swing a sword without even armor?"
"His clothes are all ragged, looks like a serf."
"Even for a serf, bringing an old fart like that as a squire? Where's the knight he belongs to? I'm curious now."
"What if he's a bastard?"
"Nah, no way."
"He sure looks it."
Their whispers were blatant enough to hear clearly.
Davis glared around in fury, but all he got back were provoking stares that said, *What're you gonna do about it, old man?* He quietly lowered his eyes.
"That squire over there... he's with the last knight to show up, right?"
"Oh, yeah. That must be him. Tall, but skinny as a rail."
"Pretty face, but doesn't look like he can fight worth a damn."
"Brain's a bit slow too, huh? Only bringing one old guy as a squire."
But.
When the whispers started mocking Kang Geohan instead of him, Davis couldn't hold back anymore.
He snapped his head up and glared at the ones sneering.
"Whoa, whoa, getting mad, are we?"
"What're you gonna do if you are?"
"Hey, old man, eyes down."
"Come on, don't be too harsh. Pretty soon that knight of his will flop out too, and those two can hug and cry their way to regular knight training. Ain't that pitiful?"
"Heh, yeah. They'll hold hands and sob all the way to the barracks."
Davis felt a surge of boiling rage. He raised his voice.
"Hmph! Just watch and see if my knight doesn't pass with flying colors, then talk your trash!"
The air around him turned hostile in an instant at Davis's words.
"That trash talk? You saying that to us?"
"Damn, a yellow's squire—who hasn't even made trainee yet—talking down to the squires of official candidates?"
"Man... We never even dreamed of this back in our day."
"Hey, old man. Keep that head held high, and one day you'll lose it without a bird or beast noticing."
The malice poured out openly.
Tap. Tap.
The squires next to him bulged their eyes and bumped his shoulders. Davis's legs shook, but he didn't let the fire fade from his gaze.
He didn't want to back down from threats like these. And above all, he believed in Kang Geohan Yellow.
*Our Kang Geohan is a knight who slew a goblin in one strike! If you saw Kaltz Black's shocked face...!*
Davis had seen it clearly.
The boy who'd lived his whole life listlessly suddenly shedding it all.
How he'd shaken it off, started exercising, eating properly, lifting the demonic stone, and slaying the goblin—every step of it.
Davis had watched him like his own child his whole life, but seeing that hidden true face in all its grandeur, its awe-inspiring might... How stunned had he been?
That's why he couldn't back down.
"You young punks talk big. If you're so sure, put your money where your mouths are! I'm betting my entire fortune that my knight takes first place."
Jingle!
Davis pulled out the pouch he'd cherished in his bosom.
Not just the money from selling all his belongings before leaving the territory, but every coin he'd skimmed and squirreled away from his half-year shifts.
Five silver coins gleamed white from inside the pouch.
"Oho?"
"What's this? Old man's loaded?"
Squires got different pay, but five silvers was near a month's wages or half for most.
Of course, for a former serf like Davis, it was his life's savings—but for a serf, having saved any was impressive in itself.
The sudden hefty sum piqued the squires' interest.
"Old man. No take-backs once it's out, right?"
"Come on, now that it's out, why not make it a proper bet? Wagers are tradition for entry tests, yeah?"
"Sounds good! I'll bet on that Roen girl taking first. She reeks of educated freefolk."
"Heh, old man. Even for your own knight, betting your life savings on a serf-born?"
"Shh. Quiet, idiot. What if he backs out?"
With practiced ease, a betting pool sprang up in seconds.
Meanwhile, a few burly squires circled behind Davis to block any escape.
Davis gripped his trembling legs and stared at the clearing. More precisely, at Kang Geohan standing at the end of the line.
*Kang Geohan... please...!*
He'd bet everything.
* * *
*Can I pull this off?*
Kang Geohan swallowed hard. Tension crept up his forearms in shivers.
The test was brutal and merciless.
One death.
A nameless boy who'd refused to give up until the end touched the ground foaming at the mouth and passed out. Crunch! Crunch! Bones twisted, blood pooled.
Even knights rushed in to pry open the hatch and drag him out, but it was too late. The boy's corpse was carted off under a white sheet.
The mood sank cold. Icy tension gripped the air.
But the boys and girls gathered here were nothing like the slackers in front of the baron's castle.
They didn't lose heart even seeing a death.
One severe injury.
Three minor.
The challenges continued without fear of wounds. But all failed.
*Grit alone isn't enough.*
That was the test. Grit was baseline—you needed physical, mental, and magical preparation, plus proper technique, to succeed.
But Kang Geohan's worry wasn't just takeoff success. He was looking beyond.
*Raphael White... I want to land one on him.*
Kang Geohan didn't like this setup.
Even succeeding at the tough takeoff brought no thrill of achievement.
Raphael White appeared like a tutorial boss, unreasonably crushing any joy with raw power.
Sure, the training ground needed to humble newbies... but Kang Geohan didn't want to just roll over.
*I've got a second life... and this transcendent demonic power...*
Why submit to oppression worse than in the Korean army?
*In the initiation... how can I land one on this Raphael White?*
He focused so hard chills ran down his arms.
But it wasn't easy.
[Kehuk!]
Just look at Harkrux Yellow, currently piloting the Gigant.
*Roen... her eye for talent is spot on.*
After countless injuries, the second to succeed in takeoff after Kuruld was the red-haired boy Roen called the "real deal": Harkrux.
Harkrux took off in 1 minute 40 seconds—faster than Kuruld.
But no matter how outstanding, against an official candidate like Raphael, it was all the same.
The only edge over Kuruld, who fainted after two hits? Harkrux took four before blacking out.
Two more hits—hardly an improvement.
Kwaaaang—
[Keh....]
In the feed, Harkrux rolled across the ground like a log, eyes rolled back white.
Thud!
The Gigant sprawled flat too.
Kang Geohan clicked his tongue inwardly.
*Common sense: what can a first-time Gigant pilot do?*
Even ignoring stat gaps, experience alone made it impossible.
Just a sandbag.
But Kang Geohan didn't give up.
He didn't know how to pilot a Gigant...
*Like with the goblin.*
That was his first too. First time stabbing a living thing with a sword, across both lives. But he'd done it.
*Peak focus. If I can draw out all my mana at once like then...*
He could definitely land one on Raphael White. Kang Geohan believed it.
"Ooh, scary eyes. Full of resolve, huh?"
Then Roen whispered from beside him.
"But you'll have to yield this time. Today's star is me, got it?"
Roen grinned and pushed up her glasses.
Then nodded toward two in the spectator crowd.
"See them?"
Where Roen pointed were a boy and a girl.
The boy had blond hair slicked back neatly with pomade; the girl had shoulder-length purple bob.
"I got here two hours before you. Heard they put on the best show."
*How much intel did she gather in just two hours...?*
It was astounding now.
Whatever—Roen pointed at the boy.
"Gerot Yellow."
Then the girl.
"And Helena Yellow."
A smile played on Roen's lips.
"Word is Gerot lasted a full minute against that senior. Helena, one-thirty. She even landed an attack. Got blocked clean, sure, but forcing that senior back a step on his first go? Impressive."
Roen smiled meaningfully.
"So my goal's two steps back. Watch close. Be right back."
Kang Geohan recalled Roen's InBody window.
[Roen Yellow]
Height: 158cm
Weight: 43kg
Willpower: 41/43
Strength: 30/30
Mana: 59.7/59.7
Fat Mass: 7.89kg
Muscle Mass (Skeletal): 14.27kg
Demonic Essence: 573 PD
Incredibly strong.
*But...*
Gerot had 67 mana, Helena a whopping 88.
On paper, Roen was clearly inferior.
*Can she overcome the stat gap with skill?*
Kang Geohan watched Roen with anticipation.
Roen was carried off unconscious.
Time to takeoff: 1 minute 20 seconds. Survived initiation: 45 seconds. Blocked and dodged seventeen attacks.
She took one hit in the end, but holding 45 seconds looked like a real fight.
*Good thing Roen's skilled.*
Thanks to her, Kang Geohan simulated his fight with Raphael White more vividly in his head.
And he was certain.
*Once Raphael White's attacks start, no surviving.*
Block or dodge the first? No shaking the follow-ups. Helena pulling off a counter after that made her the monster.
*Can I do it?*
Kang Geohan checked his InBody window.
[Kang Geohan]
Height: 176cm
Weight: 55kg
Willpower: 39/46
Strength: 16/16
Mana: 11/11
Fat Mass: 5.37kg
Muscle Mass (Skeletal): 20.11kg
Demonic Essence: 107 PD
Miraculous growth in mere days.
Roen, lifting demonic stones since 14, had 573 PD—his was insane by comparison.
*Sure, can't keep growing this fast...*
Past 100 PD, demonic growth slowed sharply. Like muscles, higher levels meant slower gains.
*Anyway, what matters is now.*
Fast past growth aside, his demonic essence was a fifth of Roen's. Pitiful next to Gerot or Helena.
*Odds of me doing what they couldn't? Near zero.*
But,
*Fights aren't just numbers.*
By numbers, Gerot or even Helena probably couldn't take a goblin. Similar mana, but weaker strength and will.
Yet Kang Geohan had killed one.
That's fighting. Poke a gap, get lucky, and a four-year-old could hurt an adult.
Kang Geohan didn't quit.
"Last one? Hurry up already."
He sorted his thoughts as Raphael urged.
*No more thinking.*
Ultimate goal: land one on Raphael White. But first: takeoff.
Fail that, and he's no joke—just a punchline.
*Focus on takeoff for now.*
Kang Geohan steeled himself and stood before the Gigant's rope ladder to the cockpit.
The massive Gigant loomed over him.