Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Dispatch
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Four days had passed.
The upgrade to Femoral was complete.
A Giant Heart soaked in goblin oil with a faint pink hue was visible.
The gears turning slowly amid the white glow never got old, no matter how many times he looked.
Kang Geohan stood rooted to the spot, taking in every detail—from laying shock-absorbing material over the tub containing the Giant Heart, to covering it with reinforced steel plating, and finally reassembling the open chest armor.
Engineer Ren spoke up.
"The Giant Heart's durability is nothing to worry about. The tub holding the goblin oil is elastic and won't break. We added reinforced steel plating on top for extra defense. In terms of toughness, it's even sturdier than before the modifications."
"Thank you."
"Its performance is outstanding. We boosted cooling efficiency by 50 percent. Even using the Giant Set in overclock mode, it should hold up for ten minutes without issue."
"Thank you."
He truly meant it.
Those were the only words coming out of Kang Geohan's mouth.
He had seen it himself—the liquid cooling system. It was truly beautiful. He was itching to hop into the Giant right away.
Engineer Ren smiled faintly.
"Have you picked out your gear?"
"Ah, yes. I've got everything I need. They said the Giant Set already exceeds the authorized level. My comrades finished selecting their equipment this morning."
"Then it's time for the real thing."
"The real thing."
A smile crept across Kang Geohan's face as he said it. The upgraded Femoral, the new Giant Set! He couldn't wait to feel them in action.
"But be careful."
"Careful?"
"Yes. You're heading to the front lines, right?"
"Is it that dangerous?"
"I'm not sure myself. But the technicians are buzzing about White going to the front lines."
"Good."
"Pardon?"
Kang Geohan just grinned without replying.
He had joined the Eastern Pioneers for rapid growth and quick promotions from the start.
The tougher the missions on the front lines, the faster he'd achieve his goals.
Engineer Ren shook her head as if she couldn't talk him out of it.
"Don't get hurt. I can fix it no matter how badly the Giant gets smashed."
"No worries."
"When do you depart?"
"Tomorrow."
She nodded and turned to leave.
Just then, a technician burst into the workshop shouting.
"Departure! It's finally time!"
"Oh, are they doing the send-off ceremony?"
It was the day of the major dispatch to the Sea Labyrinth region, after days of hectic preparations.
Kang Geohan and Engineer Ren exchanged glances and rushed outside. The sight of countless Giants gathered together was a rare spectacle.
Giant enthusiasts like Ren and Kang Geohan wouldn't miss it for the world.
"Ah, there you are? Hurry! Hurry! It's insane!"
Up on the fortress walls, crowds had already gathered.
In the throng, Roën White spotted Kang Geohan and waved frantically, jumping up and down.
Roën was with the rest of Kang Geohan's group, led by Saksen Silver.
Engineer Ren and Kang Geohan pushed through the crowd to join them.
"Wow!"
The moment they stood there, an exclamation escaped their throats.
Below the towering walls stood 67 Giants in formation. Nearly every Silver Knight and Gold Knight from the eastern border had been mobilized.
There were 55 units of Yotun, the kingdom's mainstay at 10.5 meters tall, along with 8 of the top-tier Nephilim at 11 meters. Even four custom models, dubbed "heaven beyond heaven," were in the mix.
Seeing those behemoths rumble and shift filled his chest with excitement.
"See that? Totally crazy, right? The drive systems are at least top-grade Super Sonic, and Hyper Sonic—there's even conspiracy theories it's made by the Celestials—is everywhere! They've got two or more special weapons each... and look at that armor coating. Insane! They wouldn't even show us stuff like that, saying it was too much, but it's just lying around over there!"
The veterans' impressive gear was tickling the hearts of the rookie rider candidates.
"But... what are those next to the Giants? Are there Giants that small?"
As Kang Geohan admired the Giants, his eyes caught bipedal giants of various sizes, 3 to 6 meters tall.
Unlike the Giants covered in armor plating and pipes, these were bizarre contraptions of rock and glowing-hot iron plating, spewing boiling steam, lined up by the hundreds.
"Huh? You didn't know? Those are golems."
Roën White explained.
Engineer Ren, standing nearby, elaborated.
"Golems. Familiars created by mages. They seal spirits or ghosts inside to move on their own without riders. They support Giant combat or handle civil engineering tasks."
"Whoa..."
Kang Geohan let out a sigh of admiration. His mind painted a grand picture of Giants leading the charge, followed by these lesser but still massive golems.
Helena turned to Kang Geohan, lost in thought.
"Take a good look. Stand out or reach a certain level, and you might get a golem as a reward. It's far off for us now... but aim high, right? Those knights in the custom units probably own dozens each."
Dozens of golems. The words hit Kang Geohan like a thud in the chest.
What would it feel like to command dozens of massive giants?
Golems that run and halt at his command. Raw military power and authority—the driving force behind Raniakea itself!
It would be like having a cozy haven in this chaotic, dangerous world.
A small world of his own within the world.
Nobility. Golems. Fiefdoms.
The future he desired was taking sharper shape in Kang Geohan's heart.
"Shh! Quiet! Quiet! The commander is coming!"
Someone shouted. "Shh! Shh!" spread swiftly through the crowd, and the noisy walls fell silent in an instant.
A woman in her late twenties, black hair tied back tightly, leaped onto the shoulder of the largest, most ornate Giant.
An inexplicable pressure made her movements seem like slow motion. Sunlight glinted off her cheek.
"Soldiers! We march! The largest battle in the history of our Linekal Kingdom awaits us!"
Using mana to amplify her voice, it boomed across the walls.
Helena whispered low.
"Count Kali Stehold. The legendary hero who slew fifteen ogres single-handedly without a Giant. One of the kingdom's top knights."
The group's eyes widened in unison.
"Fifteen ogres? Alone?"
It didn't make sense. Everyone knew what ogres were like. Kang Geohan especially knew their specs well.
Magic power at 15,000 pins, strength over 9,000—monsters that could handle a thousand men alone.
Even Kaltz had risked his life just to scratch one's leg. And she took down fifteen solo?
But Helena's tone was firm.
"As far as I know, it's undisputed fact. At the pinnacle of the kingdom, that's apparently possible."
Kang Geohan swallowed hard and activated his Inbody window.
[Kali Stehold]
Height: 173cm
Weight: 48kg
Willpower: 2,437/2,437
Strength: 240/240
Mana: 1,912/1,912
Fat Mass: 2.81kg
Muscle Mass (Skeletal): 17.34kg
Magic Power: 18,332 pins
Ridiculous stats indeed. Was she human or monster?
But...
'Still, fifteen ogres, not just one...?'
Ogres had insane strength beyond their magic power. Surely some exaggeration? Then it hit him.
'Ah, magic transformation...!'
Noble houses had their secret techniques, right?
So she could convert that already absurd 1,912 mana and balloon it even further.
A technique letting a human body slay fifteen ogres.
'A real monster...'
That was the moment he realized how monstrous a count-level noble could be.
While Kang Geohan was lost in thought, Count Kali Stehold continued her dispatch speech.
"This battle will be etched in history! How do you wish to be recorded?"
"As victors!"
Cheers rippled across the walls like waves.
Count Kali Stehold smiled in satisfaction.
"Yes! Victors we shall be! We will win on the front lines and return, so the rear guard—defend this land with your lives until we do!"
"Yes! Understood!"
"Good! March!"
Rumble!
The ground shook. Dozens of Giants and hundreds of golems stepped forward in unison.
Sleipnir transport vehicles carrying knights and soldiers revved to life, wheels turning.
The fortress's main forces marched toward the hazy Sea Labyrinth region on the distant horizon.
'Incredible...!'
The majestic scene initially set hearts racing.
'Ah, they're gone...'
But once the expedition moved far off, it left a hollow feeling.
From the walls with fluttering banners, the eastern border fortress looked empty and lifeless without the Giants, knights, and soldiers.
Kang Geohan's smile faded, his face hardening.
"This battle... it feels like it'll be no ordinary fight."
Reality sank in anew.
A massive scale meant massive risks.
An uncertain future weighed heavy on his chest.
Kaltz, standing beside him, responded.
"Yeah. We'd better keep our wits about us."
If, by some chance, that huge force lost? Logot Kingdom's troops would sweep in unchecked, plunging the eastern border into endless war. Endless rout might await Kang Geohan.
'I need to get stronger fast. To not get swept away helplessly in this massive tide...'
As his comrades realized the same, faces grim with their own thoughts, Saksen Silver tapped his sword hilt.
"Why's everyone freezing up? Worry about yourselves. Wash up and hit the sack early tonight. Tomorrow we rise at dawn for the front lines—hell itself."
The front lines with main forces gone... ugh, gives me chills. Saksen Silver muttered as he turned and descended the walls first.
Front lines. Hell.
The words hit far heavier now.
Tap.
Engineer Ren patted Kang Geohan's shoulder. She met his eyes and said goodbye once more.
"Take care."
Kang Geohan puffed out his chest.
"Yes. You too, Ren. Next time, I'll bring back heaps of amazing spoils."
"You bet! I'll research ways to upgrade Femoral at a steal."
Engineer Ren waved as she left.
Kang Geohan watched her go, then turned his gaze to the distant horizon where the expedition had vanished.
Whoosh!
Wind blew, shaking the banners on the walls.
A hot gust carrying the scent of iron and oil.