Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: The One Who Experienced War
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Thud. Thud. Thud.
Dozens of people, led by Kang Geohan, marched into the physical training hall.
The diligent knights who had been hard at work exercising since early morning glanced curiously at the sudden influx of people.
"What's that about? Why are they all crowding in?"
"Ah... those are the guys from the eastern border fortress...."
"Oh! The war heroes?"
"They held off Logot for three months with guerrilla warfare despite being massively outnumbered, right?"
"His Majesty the King shouted, 'These are our true heroes!'"
Whispers spread, starting with the knights who were quick on the news.
Envious gazes followed.
It was only natural. Knights were warriors. These were the very men who had returned from battling Logot, the kingdom's fiercest enemy.
Everyone was curious, their eyes inevitably drawn to them.
Then, one boy stepped forward from the group.
"Whoa! If it isn't—"
He was a young noble with flashy blond hair.
Click-clack.
His shoes rang out crisply as he strode straight toward Kang Geohan.
"Kang Geohan White Knight! Right?"
"Ah...."
Kang Geohan recognized him immediately.
He could never forget.
Lanis Kane, the young master of Baron Kane's house—the one who had utterly crushed him in that Train Presser contest.
He even remembered the records clearly.
'I hit 1.03 percent. That young master did 2.31 percent. With room to spare... He completely dominated me. And he was only seventeen.'
The man who had first made him feel the wall of nobility.
Kang Geohan snapped a salute.
"Sir! It's an honor to meet you again, Young Master Kane."
"Ah, uh, yeah. Good to see you. Feels like fate, huh? We keep running into each other on the kingdom train."
Lanis Kane returned the salute casually and clapped Kang Geohan on the shoulder.
Lanis Kane's friends approached from behind and greeted Kang Geohan.
"Good to meet you."
"Didn't expect to see you again."
One young lady and one young master—the noble children who had been with Lanis Kane last time. Kang Geohan saluted them as well.
"Yeah, yeah. We didn't even introduce ourselves back then. I'm Carol Regnum. Nice to meet you! Kang Geohan White Knight."
"I'm Oji Selzman. Good to see you again, Kang Geohan White Knight."
"Thank you for the warm welcome. But... I'm Kang Geohan Black now."
"What?"
His surname had changed. He was a Black Knight now.
At those words,
The three noble children’s eyes widened in unison.
Lanis Kane spoke in disbelief.
"You just became a White Knight back then, didn't you?"
"Yes. That's right—I had just been promoted to White Knight at the time."
Carol Regnum, the red-haired young lady, cut in.
"But now you're Black? That make any sense?"
Oji Selzman, the young master, rubbed his chin and let out a low hum.
"Has there ever been a promotion that fast in kingdom history?"
Kulran Black stepped in politely and smoothly.
"Pardon the interruption. I'm Master Knight Kulran Black. I believe I can answer the young masters' and lady's questions."
Even as the three noble children's gazes converged on him, Kulran Black continued smoothly.
"Kang Geohan Black Knight earned distinguished merits in this war. And that's not all. After his promotion to Black Knight, he piloted a Yoton—a machine reserved for Silver Knights. It was a wartime measure, but he outperformed even the Silver Knights themselves. So, our guess is that after his audience with His Majesty the King, he'll be officially promoted to Silver."
Pride filled Kulran's voice,
And the young masters and lady gaped in shock.
Black Knight was surprising enough, but Silver?
Lanis Kane's eyes especially gleamed.
"So... he piloted a Yoton?"
"Yes, that's correct."
Lanis Kane bit his lip.
He had never piloted a Yoton-class Giant himself.
'Dad always says it's not time for me to handle a mainline unit yet....'
The commoner knight he had beaten so easily was already piloting a mainline unit like the Yoton... and receiving acclaim he hadn't even heard of.
There was no way he could accept it easily.
"I'll crush him again this time...!"
Then I'll pilot a Yoton too. I'll declare it to Father for sure!
With that resolve, Lanis Kane began on the Train Presser.
Boom!
The air in the room sank toward the floor.
Lanis Kane shouldered more and more of the train's power, enduring the pressure.
[1.75%]
[2.31%]
In an instant, he matched his old record.
'I haven't been slacking either.'
Lanis Kane grimaced and squeezed out even more mana.
[2.58%]
[2.77%]
[2.91%]
[2.99%]
Lanis Kane's face flushed beet red, as if it might burst. And finally!
[3.07%]
He shattered the wall at 3 percent.
By a full 0.07 percent!
"Arrrgh!"
Lanis Kane roared in triumph as he shook off the pressure bearing down on his shoulders.
Done! I won!
He was certain. Five months ago, Kang Geohan had barely hit 1.03 percent. No matter how much he'd grown, there was no way he could break 3 percent.
Lanis Kane yanked off his sweat-soaked shirt, baring his abs, and flung open the door.
Carol Regnum would probably scold him for being undignified again, but with his male hormones surging, he couldn't care less about such trivialities.
All that mattered was unleashing the wild joy of victory.
But,
"...What?"
It was silent. Despite breaking the 3 percent barrier, no one was paying him any attention.
Carol Regnum, whom he'd expected to chide him for his lack of decorum, simply stood there with her mouth agape, staring at the door Kang Geohan had entered.
'He's still in there...?'
Click-clack.
He walked toward Kang Geohan's door. Then— He froze in place.
"No way...."
The number above the door was unreal.
[3.66%]
Easily surpassing Lanis Kane's record.
'This can't be happening.'
A surge of rage struck his chest. A commoner knight outperforming him?
What kind of fortune had he stumbled on in the war...? If I'd just been there...!
But the number kept climbing higher. Faster than before.
[4.28%]
Casually piercing 4 percent.
[5.74%]
Then surpassing 5 percent,
[7.23%]
Hitting 7 percent in one go,
[8.89%]
Slowing only after reaching 8 percent,
[9.17%]
Finally stopping after breaking 9 percent.
Lanis Kane blinked. His mind went blank, white as snow.
It felt like a dream. What was that number? Was it real?
If he'd lost by a slim margin, he'd be furious. If it was just 1 percent, he'd grit his teeth and vow to win next time.
But what was this?
9 percent? More than triple the difference?
Handling nearly 10 percent of this massive train's power all by himself?
The gap was so vast that no thoughts came at all. He just stood there, mouth hanging open like everyone else.
Hiss!
Steam vented fiercely from the door crack.
People hurriedly backed away to avoid the scalding vapor.
Thud!
The door opened, and Kang Geohan emerged, veins bulging all over his body.
Steam poured from every orifice—eyes, nose, mouth, ears—nosebleed dripping steadily.
With each step he took, the onlookers retreated a step.
The faint-hearted trembled in their limbs. It was unavoidable. What Kang Geohan exuded now was pure killing intent.
Piloting a Giant on the battlefield, the similar pressure on his body triggered a conditioned reflex, flashing him back to the front lines.
The frustrations of falling short, the rage from those moments, the thrill of smashing enemies before him.
He was exhilarated, steeped in bloodlust. That's why he'd pushed to the point of a nosebleed.
Snort!
Kang Geohan cleared his bloody nose with a powerful snort, took a towel from Kalts Black, and shook out his hair.
Then, calmly turning to Lanis Kane, he said,
"Looks like I win this time, Young Master."
Lanis Kane's shoulders twitched.
One thing was clear, at least.
'This is the aura of someone who's walked the line between life and death... How brutal is war to change a man like this...?'
Looking at Kang Geohan, utterly transformed in mere five months, Lanis Kane nodded.
"Y-Yeah. You win. Overwhelmingly...."
Lanis Kane forced down his trembling fingertips and slipped his shirt back on.
Somehow, his demeanor felt humble.