Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Fated Pair
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“Fine. You use it.”
“I... want to get stronger.”
“I want to get as strong as you. How can I do that?”
Those were the words Gerot had said to Kang Geohan that day, after they’d wiped out the goblin horde and he was about to return Viper.
Kang Geohan scowled deeply.
“Bribes don’t work on me. They’re a hassle.”
What was he supposed to do with that? Teach him how to get stronger? Using Viper as a bribe? After all their bad blood?
No way he’d accept it.
Gerot bit his lip hard at the firm rejection and spoke up.
“It’s not a bribe. We’re on the same team now anyway... That’s why I’m saying this. If you get stronger, the whole team does. That weapon suits you better than me.”
“Team? Since when did you start thinking like that... Whatever you’re hoping for, give it up. There’s nothing for you to get from me.”
“...You don’t have to give it. I just want you to think of us as a team from now on. I’m not asking for anything.”
Not asking for anything?
Kang Geohan’s eyes grew icy cold.
Was that for real?
“We’ll see... Even if I consider you a teammate, I’m not sure you can handle it. But whatever, if you’re giving it, I’ll take it. Come grab it back whenever you want.”
Kang Geohan cut the conversation short, climbed back into the cockpit, and sealed the hatch. He retracted the Viper he’d held out. Gerot watched but said nothing.
* * *
“You five are one team. From now on, you move like you share a single life.”
That’s what Saxen Silver said when they arrived at the front-line outpost.
Behind him loomed a fortress outpost encircled by six-meter-thick walls, scarred with craters and cracks from battle, reeking of a foul, metallic stench.
As Kang Geohan’s group arrived, the three Black Knights guarding the outpost saluted Saxen Silver and gave their report.
“This outpost is surrounded by uncharted territory to the northeast and west. Blizzards rage to the east, a volcanic zone lies west, and lizardmen infest the northern swamps. Our mission was to scout the surrounding uncharted lands and secure routes forward, but... Lizardmen have been attacking daily for the past month, so we’ve been too busy defending the outpost to do any scouting.”
Too busy defending. The patched-up walls and pervasive blood stench proved it.
“And one more thing... The higher-ups seem to underestimate the danger here, but the lizardmen in this area... they’re strangely strong.”
“Strangely strong?”
“Yes. Physically tougher, but... sometimes we wonder if we’re fighting well-trained knights or monsters.”
“That bad?”
“That bad. You’ll have to see it for yourselves.”
“Hmm... Got it. Good work. Head back and rest.”
“Yes, sir! Salute!”
After handing over command and sending off the Black Knights, Saxen Silver turned back to Kang Geohan’s group.
“Understand? This is the front line. Even seasoned Black Knights couldn’t advance a step and had to focus solely on outpost defense. You’re just White scraps, and now you’re here. Even with me, a Silver Knight, and Rafal, a Black Knight, if you don’t do your part, we’re done for.”
So.
Saxen continued.
“What you need is a five-man intermediate tactical formation. Fail to master it, and we have no future. We’ll either fail the mission and get pushed back or face total annihilation.”
Intermediate tactics.
That’s why he’d obtained kingdom armory gear not permitted for Whites.
What could it be?
Saxen Silver explained.
“The core of intermediate tactics is trust. Make each other believe. No matter how skilled you are individually, without complete trust, this tactic won’t work. Alright, training starts now.”
Trust.
At the word, Kang Geohan glanced at his comrades. Helena, Loen, and Harkrux exchanged looks. And... they met Gerot’s eyes too.
Awkward expressions all around.
“Hmph.”
Gerot snorted.
* * *
Trust. Kang Geohan quickly understood why Saxen Silver emphasized it so much.
Boom!
-Argh! Ugh!
Loen White’s Giant slammed roughly into the ground. Her shrill scream echoed through the comms.
-S-Sorry!
Harkrux apologized. Loen replied brightly.
-Ow! I’m fine! Totally okay! Let’s try again! Ack!
But despite her upbeat tone, repeated failures had wrecked her balance; she staggered trying to stand and groaned.
Saxen Silver spoke sternly.
-Focus. Chain actions become blades that harm allies the instant your timing slips even slightly.
Chain action.
That was the heart of intermediate tactics.
The method was simple.
Shove a charging ally Giant to make it accelerate faster, or support a retreating ally’s back to disperse the impact.
But in practice, it was brutally difficult and dangerous.
With armor, Giants exceeded 25 tons easily. One pushing another’s back?
The slightest mismatch, and it ended like Loen just now—tumbling into enemy hands like chum.
That’s why trust mattered.
The moment doubt crept in—“Will that guy push me right?”—the sync failed.
The only solution: grueling practice. Repeat until they trusted completely.
“No time! Get up! We need to nail the basics of ‘push’ today! You planning to train here forever instead of doing the mission?”
Loen jumped up at Saxen Silver’s bellow. She synced with Harkrux again, but once more, a roar and she rolled across the ground.
-...Shall we try? Sir Kang Geohan White?
Helena asked tensely, watching Loen’s failures. Kang Geohan nodded heavily.
“Yeah. Let’s give it a shot.”
Hoo...
He took a deep breath. Helena piloted her Giant behind him.
-Here I go...!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Boom!
Helena’s Giant charged full speed and shoved Kang Geohan’s back.
‘Crazy...!’
He nearly cursed aloud.
Kang Geohan felt exactly why Loen had flopped so badly. The slam of impact. Everything sudden and intense.
Like squatting with a barbell on your back, sweating buckets, when someone slams heavy plates on both ends?
Dizzying. Perilous.
The forward acceleration crushed him like gravity, choking his breath.
But...
‘Raaah!’
Kang Geohan unleashed his full-mirror ability and squeezed out demonic power.
Matching the unexpected force, he surged mana instantly, thrusting his Giant’s leg forward.
Whoosh-!
Boom!
Over 25 tons, the thigh soared. It flew 15 meters in a breath, leaving a heavy footprint.
-Wow! It worked! We flew! So cool! Harkrux! Let’s go again!
-Y-You okay?
-Yeah! Hurts but it’s fun! Fighting with friends like this! Awesome!!
Loen’s excited voice buzzed over comms.
-Wh-What? Did it work?
Helena sounded stunned.
But Saxen Silver’s verdict was cold.
“Failure. Kang Geohan just forced it to match Helena. Are you insane, Helena? You think you can just shove hard without syncing breaths? Trying to kill him?”
-S-Sorry!
“Tch. Again.”
Repetitive training continued.
Helena and Kang Geohan paired, Harkrux and Loen paired, while partnerless Gerot watched for a while.
“Stop! Harkrux, switch with Gerot. Helena, switch with Harkrux and rest!”
Gerot took Harkrux’s place, and Loen frowned.
-Gerot! Do it right! If you mess up, I get hurt!
She’d laughed off being flung dozens of times by Harkrux, but now she was sharp before they even started.
-...Don’t worry. I won’t harm the team.
-Hmph! Since when do you care about the team? You ditched us at the training camp to run solo.
-Ugh... That was...
-Whatever. Don’t expect some selfish jerk to excel at team tactics. Just average it out. No showboating—sync properly.
-...
Loen unleashed a barrage, pent-up grudges spilling out.
Given Gerot’s usual temper, a clash wouldn’t surprise, but oddly, he stayed silent.
Then training began.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Gerot’s full-speed Giant slammed into Loen’s back. She leaned forward in sync,
Whoosh-!
And her Giant flew. Boom! It landed 25 meters away, heavy footprint.
-Wh-What...? Success...?
She’d failed dozens of tries with Harkrux, but nailed it first go.
Saxen Silver hummed approvingly for the first time.
“Hmm... Interesting. Do it again.”
-...
-...
Loen said nothing this time. Neither did Gerot. He charged, shoved her back, and she flew again.
Thud!
27 meters.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Saxen Silver’s applause echoed.
“Perfect chemistry! Happens sometimes. Riders who sync without training. Lucky to find this here.”
-Y-Yeah? Chemistry? Me? With him?
Loen protested in panic, but Saxen Silver just called Helena.
“Helena. Pair with Gerot now!”
-Yes!
Crash!
Disastrous. Helena’s Giant tumbled rolls. Saxen Silver nodded as expected.
“Now Harkrux!”
-Yes!
Thud! Crunch!
Same result.
“Kang Geohan next?”
Kang Geohan stood before Gerot, slightly tense.
-Here goes.
At Gerot’s comm, he tensed his demonic power.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Rough steps, strong back-push.
But unlike with Helena or Harkrux.
‘Somehow... the rhythm matches!’
Not perfect, but way better than their total misses.
Whoosh-!
Thigh flew. Thud! Footprint at 20 meters.
Saxen Silver nodded.
“As expected. Gerot syncs best with Loen. Decent with Kang Geohan, but... that’s his skill carrying it. Loen’s was flawless without that. Hah... Rarely see chemistry this good.”
-N-No, I mean, chemistry...
Loen stammered, desperate to argue, but the massive truth wall crushed her weakly.
“Get along. Pairs with this sync are rare. Must be a bond from past lives.”
-Y-Yeah? Besties...? Past lives?
Loen’s bewildered voice echoed off the front-line outpost walls.