Chapter 5
Chapter 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: It's Not Too Late Yet
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Following the instructions passed on through the steward yesterday, as Kang Geohan headed to one corner of the baron's estate, he spotted knights dressed in clothes made from monster hides, with long swords on their left sides and pistols on their right.
The moment he saw them, Kang Geohan was awestruck.
'Whoa... Are those people? Or beasts?'
Their builds were sleek, but every breath made their muscles swell and recede with a fluid grace that resembled a cheetah or leopard more than a human.
While Kang Geohan observed their muscles, their eyes lingered on his knight's uniform.
One of them spoke up.
"You the one who passed the candidate test this time?"
Kang Geohan didn't yet know the etiquette between knights well, but he straightened his posture appropriately and replied.
"Yes. I'm Kang Geohan Yellow."
"Heh... Yellow, huh. Still green as can be."
Commoner knights received surnames based on their rank.
From the lowest: Yellow, Green, Blue, Red, White, Black, Silver, Gold. A ridiculous system where the surname changed with accumulated merits and recognized skill.
'Even though commoner knights are quasi-nobles, it means they don't truly receive the respect and reverence due to nobles.'
Surnames and family names were the foundation and essence of nobility.
The fact that those changed based on skill and contributions was proof that commoner knights were treated more like useful tools than true nobles.
Among them, Kang Geohan held the lowest rank of all: Yellow.
'Still, that's something.'
Kang Geohan harbored no complaints. Truthfully, he had no grand ambitions. As long as he could live like a human, work out, and sculpt his body beautifully, he'd be happy.
'A Yellow-surnamed knight still gets two squires, two rooms, a living room in a personal house, and a salary.'
That alone was a more luxurious life than on Earth.
In this world, with its highly advanced mechanical engineering despite its backward social systems, he could easily set up training facilities at home and work out to his heart's content.
'And on top of that, there's this unknown concept called demonic essence.'
Cultivating demonic essence was sure to offer a different kind of thrill from building muscle.
Just thinking about it made his mouth water again.
'Ah, I can't wait to start proper rider training.'
How grueling and fun would those trainings be?
How much stronger could he get? How much more could he change?
With such anticipation making his heart race, trivialities like being a commoner knight—at the very bottom as a Yellow—didn't matter at all.
From here on, his path seemed filled only with challenges and growth.
But the seasoned knights saw through even his ambitions and burst into raucous laughter.
"Haha. Hey, look at how tensed up his shoulders are."
"Ah, that phase is the best. Feels like you're gonna become a Gigant Rider any second, like you're gonna grow by leaps and bounds."
"Yeah. They don't even know the real hell starts now."
"Hey, hey. It's not too late. Go kill yourself quick."
Faced with a fresh Gigant Rider candidate on the cusp of a bright beginning, the senior knights' attitudes were remarkably pessimistic.
Kang Geohan responded to their teasing with an awkward smile and subtly checked their Inbody windows. He was shocked.
'Whoa... Impressive.'
Even the weakest among them had 2,087 pindem of demonic essence and 217 points of mana, while the strongest had about 3,103 pindem of demonic essence and 337 points of mana.
An insane level, thousands of times his own by simple math.
'They're highly skilled... and they talk like they know what I'm about to go through?'
They weren't ordinary knights.
Putting two and two together, Kang Geohan asked,
"By any chance, are you knights Gigant Riders?"
But what followed was an awkward silence.
The answer came a moment later.
"My surname's Red. Red. Official Gigant candidates get White and Black. Get what that means?"
"Kid. Do you know how hard it is to become a Gigant Rider? Even passing the candidate test, nine out of ten drop out in the selection exam and end up as regular knights. Like us."
"You're the same. This is temporary. Temporary. Fail the official selection exam, and it's off to the Knight Academy, not the Gigant Rider Academy."
"Just think of it as heading to the Knight Academy. Makes it easier."
"Frankly, that selection exam doesn't seem made for humans to pass."
"Especially for serf-born ones."
Whether Kang Geohan had poked a sore spot, the knights began lamenting.
From their stories, it became clear they too had once been rider candidates like him, lifting the demonic essence stones.
Kang Geohan asked,
"But there's another selection exam?"
"Yeah. Yeah, that's the real one. Lasts three months... Argh, why am I even telling you this. Brings back trauma. Ask your handler."
"Ah, where is he?"
The knights pointed behind them.
"Head straight in. You'll see some smug bastard with his shirt off."
Kang Geohan politely bowed to the knights and passed them, heading inside.
He crossed a garden adorned with flowers and trees.
Hiss!
Sizzle!
Clang clang!
Occasionally, steam burst fiercely from the baron's forge. Rather than jarring, the sound contrasted with the garden scenery, accentuating its beauty.
Even after a lifetime working at the baron's forge, he'd never imagined such a pleasant garden lay behind it.
And then,
"Hup...! Haaaah!"
In one corner of the garden where fountains sprayed, a shirtless man was lifting demonic essence stones.
Kang Geohan had nearly passed out lifting an egg-sized demonic essence stone, but this man ceaselessly hoisted a massive watermelon-sized one overhead and slammed it down repeatedly.
With each lift, sweat flew from his black hair.
Kang Geohan was entranced.
First, by his sheer power.
Then, by his muscles.
'No way...!'
That wasn't a human body.
Even overlooking the perfect bilateral symmetry, muscles bulged in places where anatomy said they shouldn't exist.
Was it grotesque to look at?
Far from it. Including beasts, Kang Geohan had never seen such awe-inspiring musculature on any living creature.
'Bit disappointing it's not bigger... but the shape is absolutely perfect!'
Was this the power of demonic essence too?
Kang Geohan quickly checked the man's Inbody window.
And once more, he faced incomprehensible stats.
[Kalts Black]
Height: 183cm
Weight: 78kg
Willpower: 977/987
Strength: 170/172
Mana: 608/608
Fat Mass: 2.47kg
Muscle Mass (Skeletal): 23.12kg
Demonic Essence: 5,873 pindem
'Body fat in the 3% range?'
But it didn't look that way to the eye.
At that leanness, the face should be sunken, looking a decade older.
Yet the man before him had rosy cheeks and the vibrant glow of a handsome youth.
'Muscle ratio doesn't make sense either. Someone with that much power, and muscle mass is only 30% of body weight?'
78kg body weight, 23.12kg muscle.
Visually, it looked at least 40%...
Compared to Kang Geohan himself—a total anchovy—it was only a 3kg difference.
No matter how you sliced it, illogical numbers.
Only one thing could explain this mystery.
'5,873 pindem!'
Overwhelming demonic essence! Twice that of the knights he'd just met.
'An incredible expert...!'
Come to think of it, there was another eye-catching detail.
The name on the Inbody window.
[Kalts Black]
'The Black surname is definitely for official rider candidates, right...?'
Kang Geohan swallowed hard.
'A capable senior.'
He suddenly felt fondness for his handler knight.
* * *
But Kalts Black showed no interest in Kang Geohan.
"You?"
That was all he said upon spotting Kang Geohan amid his training.
"Let's go."
Kalts grabbed his clothes, dressed, and headed for the main estate. No greetings, not even an introduction.
His demeanor held no warmth whatsoever.
Kang Geohan was a bit taken aback but didn't show it, while Uncle Davis anxiously glanced around as he followed.
The three went to pay respects to Burjoji Baron.
Until then, Kalts—who had only led silently with lips sealed—gave the baron only curt, essential words.
"We thank you for your service to the kingdom, Baron. We shall now take the candidate to the selection training camp."
After exchanging brief pleasantries with Kalts, the baron turned to Kang Geohan.
An enigmatic smile played on his lips.
"I see. This must be Sir Kang Geohan Yellow's first time seeing the world beyond the zone?"
"Yes, it is."
Following what he'd learned at his knighting yesterday, Kang Geohan thrust out his chest in parade rest and replied.
Seeing this, the baron's smile deepened.
"You'll be in for quite a shock, then. Take good care of him."
"I shall fulfill my duties."
Kalts's response essentially meant he'd only handle what was within his remit. The baron chuckled.
"Haha. With a handler this rigid, it'll be rough on the mind? Sir Kang Geohan Yellow. Let me give you some serious advice."
The baron grinned mischievously.
"Even if you piss yourself, don't be too embarrassed. That's just how it is."
Said like a joke, but it carried weight.
'Meaning the world outside the zone is that unforgiving?'
Nineteen years in this world called Laniakea, yet as an ignorant serf, he knew too little about it.
He'd heard tales from adults of terrifying monsters and bizarre natural phenomena beyond the zones... but like all such stories, truth from exaggeration was impossible to discern.
Kang Geohan replied,
"Yes. Still, I'll try not to piss myself if possible."
At that, the baron chuckled and handed over a single sword.
The magic sword Serpent.
It was what the baron had promised to the one who lifted the demonic essence stone.
"Not the absolute best, but plenty good for a temporary candidate. It's enchanted to make the blade tougher and sharper. Take it."
"Thank you."
Watching Kang Geohan accept the sword and belt it on, the baron smiled contentedly and waved.
"If you ever become a Gigant Rider, swing by again. I'll throw a grand feast. Off you go."
Kalts gave a curt nod and left the baron's room.
Kang Geohan hurried close behind.
* * *
Outside the baron's estate, Kalts said,
"If there's anyone left to say goodbye to, do it now."
Kang Geohan glanced around and called to the tensely standing Davis.
"Uncle."
"Yes?"
Davis, minding Kalts's gaze, replied politely.
"Anyone you want to say goodbye to?"
"No. Not really."
He was a capable foreman, but not a beloved one.
"You sure? You're leaving the place you've lived your whole life."
At that, Davis glanced back.
Memories flashed of grueling labor: 15 hours a day, sometimes 18.
A surge of emotion welled up, but Davis kept his face neutral.
"Feels refreshing. And you, Sir Knight?"
"Ah, I'm excited. Super excited."
Kang Geohan smiled, gazing ahead.
A world different from Earth.
The otherworldly Laniakea. A second life awaited him there.
Davis looked fondly at Kang Geohan's profile and whispered,
"But when did you come up with the name Kang Geohan?"
"Just popped into my head. Why? Weird?"
"No. Sounds a bit unfamiliar, but strong and good."
"Heh heh, gotta get strong."
Kang Geohan met Davis's eyes briefly, then turned away and said,
"Sir Knight. I'm ready. But Sir Knight."
"What?"
"We'll be together from now on, but I don't know your name, so I'm not sure how to address you."
Kang Geohan knew from the Inbody window it was Kalts Black, but he hadn't heard it from the man himself.
"Won't be seeing each other long-term. Just call me Sir Knight."
But Kalts refused to give his name, turning away coldly.
"Let's move."
Creeeak—
The driver opened the door to the semi-automated carriage.