Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: The Tiresome Hammering Sounds
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The next day.
The Kingdom Train Mimire reached its final stop. The Eastern Border Fortress.
Clang-
Clang clang!
The Eastern Border Fortress stood on a vast plain, surrounded by towering walls.
If the preliminary training camp had evoked the image of a shipyard in scale and appearance, the Eastern Border Fortress brought to mind a massive port one might see in Busan.
Crane arms jutted up haphazardly along the endlessly stretching high walls.
Gigants and Gigant parts hung from the cranes, being moved into place, attached, or tested while dangling in place.
Kclang!
Clang!
The sounds of forging, assembling, and testing never let up—no hammer strikes, no ceaseless hiss of escaping steam.
Psssh!
That scenery and noise stirred something in Davis.
“Ugh…… Something feels so familiar…… My chest is tightening up.”
Among the group, only Kang Geohan could understand Davis’s reaction.
“……Yeah. It reminds me of Baron Burjoji’s territory.”
Baron Burjoji’s forge factory had been just like this—filled with hammer strikes and the hiss of steam.
For Davis, who had slaved away there like a dog his whole life as a serf convict, it was only natural that trauma would come flooding back.
“The tiresome hammering sounds……”
Davis shook his head, his face pale.
The train station was chaos. Cranes rushed in to unload the newly assigned Gigants, while hundreds of knights and soldiers disembarked, scrambling to find their units amid the pandemonium.
“You lot, follow me. I’ll brief you on the Eastern Border before reporting in.”
Zaksen Silver led the group up to the nearest wall.
From atop the wall, an open plain stretched out.
It looked safe and abundant all the way to the horizon.
Thanks to the Eastern Border Fortress’s presence, monster subjugations had been ongoing steadily.
But if you lifted your gaze toward the horizon, you could make out the hazy unexplored lands.
Relentless lightning flashes, flames dyeing the sky red, steam clouding the heavens—every manner of anomaly painted the horizon in vivid colors.
“As you can see, the Eastern Border Fortress is surrounded by unexplored lands. We’ve been steadily reclaiming them, but huge swaths remain untouched. If you’re assigned here, don’t expect to sleep soundly with limbs sprawled. This is a place where you fight every other day.”
Zaksen Silver extended a finger, pointing to one spot on the horizon.
It was a place where a faint blue sea glimmered dimly.
“And the fiercest battles rage right there, in the Sea Maze region. We started reclaiming it three years ago.”
Rafal Black voiced his doubt.
“A sea…… maze?”
“Yeah. It’s a massive lake as vast as an ocean, briny water and all. The unique part? Shallow land stretches out beneath the surface in a complex maze-like pattern.”
Loen White let out an “Ah” of realization.
“So you’re saying we can walk across the sea along narrow paths?”
Zaksen Silver nodded.
“Exactly. Makes it strategically vital. Controlling that area is like seizing a natural fortress. Plus, the region’s resource deposits are enormous. That’s turned it into a battleground between our kingdom and Rogot Kingdom. In that zone, Rogot and Linekar are clashing at near full-scale war levels every day. It’s only gotten worse lately.”
Kang Geohan craned his neck, staring intently at the distant sea shimmering faintly beyond the horizon.
*‘That’s where I’m headed.’*
Hadn’t he resolved to exploit the conflict with Rogot Kingdom to rapidly build his skills and merits?
That was his destination, right there.
“Of course, you won’t be assigned there. Only official Silver and Gold Gigant Riders go to the front lines. You’ll stay in the rear, guarding the fortress, sweeping monster villages, and reclaiming minor nearby unexplored zones.”
Zaksen Silver met each member’s eyes as he spoke.
“But…… even that won’t be easy. You might be thrilled to be in a reclamation unit…… but this is a place where of every three who come, one quits unable to endure, another gets transferred out injured or with mental issues, and only the last survives, tears streaming and piss-soaked.”
*I wonder how you’ll fare.*
A cold smile tugged at Zaksen Silver’s lips, then faded.
* * *
With the regional commander absent on urgent business, Kang Geohan and the group’s enlistment was handled perfunctorily.
Once registration wrapped up, Zaksen Silver led them straight to the Gigant hangar.
“This is the Eastern Border Fortress’s Gigant hangar. The kingdom’s advanced trainers, Cyclops units, are here too—the ones you’ll be using.”
The hangar was vast, divided into multiple sections. In the one they entered following Zaksen Silver, twenty identical Gigants stood in a neat row.
“Huuuuh…… haaah……”
Loen White inhaled deeply, as if savoring the moment.
The air was thick with oil and steel scents filling the high-ceilinged hangar. Kang Geohan, too, had come to feel his heart race at these smells, like returning home.
The advanced trainer Cyclops was the Gigant assigned to Linekar Kingdom’s reserve riders—Whites and Blacks. Mainstays like Yotun went to official Silvers and above.
Despite the “trainer” label, Cyclops was an excellent machine.
Nothing like the worn-out secondhand units from preliminary camp—these were true combat Gigants capable of full offensive operations.
“Whoa…… Finally getting to pilot a Cyclops.”
Even Rafal Black was moved. He’d ridden a different advanced trainer back at preliminary camp.
The imported Keires, an older model praised for performance, but riders agreed it lagged half a step behind Cyclops.
“They say Cyclops has outstanding performance…… Guess I’ll find out.”
Height: 9.5 meters.
Shoulder width: 4.5 meters.
Chest-to-back thickness: 3.5 meters.
Weight: 20 tons.
Immense size and weight.
The armor plates gleamed, joints poised as if ready to move at any second.
The group swallowed dryly, swept up in the atmosphere.
Zaksen Silver’s earlier warnings were forgotten. All that remained was the thrill that their true journey to becoming real Gigant Riders had begun, electrifying their brains.
“Alright, resources are all about the same anyway. Pick any that catches your eye.”
At Zaksen Silver’s words, the group exchanged glances, then bolted forward.
Even if they were similar, the human heart didn’t work that way.
*Maybe there’s one fatefully linked to me, just a bit better than the rest?*
As everyone rushed around inspecting, tapping, and checking the Cyclops units, Kang Geohan activated his full-body mirror ability and instantly selected the one best matched to him.
Helena cried out in a sharp voice upon seeing it.
“Eek! Sir Kang Geohan White! You picked already?!”
Rafal Black bit his lip slightly.
“That guy…… He did the same at camp…… Experiencing it firsthand is seriously frustrating.”
Ignoring the others, Kang Geohan simply declared joyfully.
“This one it is!”
A Cyclops with majestic armor and brutal shoulders.
Gazing up at his new Gigant, Kang Geohan murmured.
“Your name is Femoral.”
Femoral Muscle. The quadriceps. Thigh muscle.
* * *
The schedule marched on relentlessly, like a marathon with no breaks.
Upon arriving at the Eastern Border Fortress, they got briefed, assigned Gigants, then unpacked at the barracks.
Then immediate assembly. Time to test-pilot their freshly assigned machines and select, load armaments.
“Use your imagination to the fullest. Consider the Gigant’s power, range of motion, and speed—what combat style can you realize? Master your own style to survive long as a Gigant Rider. For the next week, your only task is selecting and loading weapons.”
A full week’s time underscored how crucial armament choice was.
At preliminary camp, they’d taken whatever basic weapons were handed out for training. But now, as Whites entering combat, they needed to settle on main weapons and build expertise.
Rafal Black, having been through this long ago, casually selected, loaded, and tested his needs. The others piloted their Gigants, gripping each weapon carefully, deliberating.
“Oh, and if you’ve brought personal weapons or parts, load or upgrade them now. Skilled techs will handle it right away. But…… you got any?”
At Zaksen Silver’s question, Rafal Black shot his hand up first.
“I have attachments issued or acquired before. Can I get mods started now?”
“Yeah, of course. Anyone else?”
Next was Gerot.
“I have a main weapon spear add-slot and one weapon.”
“Good. Mount ’em.”
“Yep!”
Zaksen Silver figured as much. Rafal Black was a veteran over four years as an official rider—multiple mods to his Gigant were expected.
Gerot White’s records plainly noted “son of wealthy commoner.” That meant rich kid, and no family would send their boy to the front empty-handed.
But then, unexpectedly, another hand shot up.
Kang Geohan.
“……Kang Geohan? What you got?”
“Yes! I do.”
Kang Geohan beamed. Happier than when he’d received top-grade supplements in his past life.
*‘See? Always take the good stuff first.’*
On the Kingdom Train, Lanis Kane had handed over SPU parts as apology for his rudeness.
Kang Geohan pulled a gold gear the size of two palms from his bag.
Zaksen Silver’s eyes widened at the sight.
“SPU parts? That pricey stuff……?”
A mere serf convict showing up with expensive custom parts—it stunned him.
“Just got lucky.”
Kang Geohan grinned innocently and turned to the technicians.
Techs patrolling the hangar had gathered, craning their necks.
Their gleaming eyes suggested each hoped to claim the upgrade job.
*‘Techs love handling new parts, huh…… Looks like it. But who to trust?’*
All unfamiliar faces—choosing was daunting.
Just hand it to anyone?
Then, his eyes met someone familiar.
“Engineer Ren……!”
Ren Engineer was waving. Kang Geohan rushed over with the SPU part.
“Wow, techs must have packed schedules too. You arrived with us today and you’re not even resting.”
“Ah, actually off till day after tomorrow. But…… how could I rest? With Cyclops units here……!”
Ren Engineer’s eyes sparkled. Kang Geohan felt he could entrust his Gigant to her.
“Here! Upgrade this, please!”
“You got it! Hand it over!”
Ren Engineer snatched the part eagerly.
The other techs muttered, *“Tch, they know each other?”* but spotting her badge, grumbled, *“Oh, Kingdom Workshop tech…… Wait, why’s a bigshot like that here……?” “Hey, watch your mouth.”* and dispersed.
Amid the fuss, Ren Engineer moved deftly.
“What’s this one’s name? Named it yet?”
“Femoral.”
“Femoral…… Nice. Femoral. Upgrade starting now.”
With a solemn face, she operated the crane to expose Femoral’s chest armor.
Assembled a platform, stood close to the white cylinder below the cockpit on the left.
Donned night-vision goggles, stared piercingly at the fine circuits etched on it.
Then shifted to the gear-shaped part from Kang Geohan, scrutinizing it just as intensely.
“Alright. Got it.”
Nodding, Ren Engineer applied various magitech compounds atop it, then began hammering.
Clang-
Claaang-!
The marvel: mere hammer strikes, yet the cylindrical SPU split open like a gutted fish, gradually revealing intricate internal gears.
Ren Engineer explained in an excited tone.
“God’s metal, Miranium! React it right with magitech compounds, and you can freely alter its size, shape, properties……!”
Clang clang! Hammer, inspect, hammer, inspect—the strikes flowed like music, with unique rhythm and pitch.
The internal gears shifted positions and forms bit by bit; the SPU responded, flaring bright then dimming softly, over and over.
The process dragged on, yet watching felt like a performance—never dull.
Then, the hammer sounds crescendoed toward climax.
Clang! Clang! Claaang! Clang!
Light intensified; at its peak, *click!* Ren Engineer slotted the gear perfectly among the others.
Flaaash!
Blinding flash. *Click-clack!* Gears meshing, turning.
They looked alive.
Even Gigant novice Kang Geohan could tell: assembly complete.
Like hearing *“Enhancement: Great Success!”* from somewhere.
Suddenly, Davis, who’d watched alongside, murmured.
“The hammer sounds…… so beautiful……”
“Huh? The hammers? You said they were tiresome earlier……”
“No. This is different. Ah, to work in a place like this……”
Davis’s eyes sparkled.
Davis, former foreman at Baron Burjoji’s circuit steel forge.
He’d opened his eyes to hammering utterly unlike his lifelong toil.
Kang Geohan witnessed Uncle Davis’s eyes blaze with passion for the first time in his life.
With the upgrade of the advanced trainer Cyclops, Femoral, one more person set his sights a step higher.