Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: If Not This Time, Then Next Time
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That night.
Lanis Kane invited Kang Geohan to join him for drinks.
"Exchanging words with an outstanding knight is one of the great pleasures a noble can enjoy. Won't you grace us with your presence?"
It was a polite and sincere invitation, despite the clear wound to his pride. There was no refusing it.
Of course, Kang Geohan was interested in the free booze, too.
"I've worked up a good sweat, so how about treating you to the finest Steam Grape wine? You know, Steam Grape wine."
Did he ever!
He'd tried it once at the selection training camp.
It was a precious vintage that aided demonic essence recovery and growth.
The finest grade, no less?
For Kang Geohan, who needed to restore his lost demonic essence quickly and push beyond, it was the perfect medicine.
Gulp!
Kang Geohan swallowed the saliva pooling in his mouth and wrapped up his daily workout to the brim. All to maximize the effects of the Steam Grape wine he'd drink that evening.
Time flew by, and evening arrived.
Kang Geohan met the three young masters and lady again at the bar in the center of the Kingdom Train Mimir.
He wore his knight's uniform, now showing a bit of wear, while the three were dressed in crisp, luxurious suits and a gown that gleamed with high-end sheen.
The bar was paneled in dark brown solid wood. Candles flickered everywhere, casting a dim yet warm glow.
The copper bartender tools and crystal glasses sparkled in the swaying light.
Just sitting there felt intoxicating.
But the only thing Kang Geohan craved was the finest Steam Grape wine.
Gulp, gulp.
"Hey. Penidaren is good wine and all, but don't just stick to that. Here, try this."
Lanis Kane offered a glass filled with amber liquor.
"Cold and crisp aroma—it's out of this world."
[Blizzard Whiskey]
Contains 45% alcohol.
Consuming it causes the following effects.
It prevents liver protein breakdown, hindering muscle synthesis. It disrupts sleep, hindering muscle synthesis. It causes dehydration, hindering muscle synthesis.
0L remaining until optimal daily intake.
But Kang Geohan didn't touch it.
Was he about to fall for some brain trick called "taste" with contents that vicious?
"I'm good with this. Mind if I get another bottle?"
"Uh, s-sure."
Ignoring Lanis Kane's sullen glare, Kang Geohan ordered another bottle of the finest Steam Grape wine, Penidaren 186.
But that seemed to stir their competitive spirits.
This time, Carol Regnum pushed a drink his way.
"How about this? It's a knights-only cocktail, only for those with demonic essence. Drink it after essence training, and it's a real rush—super refreshing!"
A pretty crystal glass brimmed with clear liquor.
The drink was transparent, but from certain angles, it shimmered as if blue flames danced beneath the surface.
[Fairy Fire]
Contains trace amounts of pale curse.
Slows demonic essence activity upon consumption. Slightly delays essence synthesis, but eliminates essence channel pain and boosts dopamine release.
0L remaining until optimal daily intake.
Ahh, just looking at it sent shivers down his spine.
Of course it'd feel thrilling and refreshing after essence training! It numbed the agony worse than muscle soreness and flooded him with dopamine!
But what about that slowed essence growth?!
The devil's brew...
These kids, barely 17, chugging something this horrific?
But this wasn't 21st-century Earth, and they outranked Kang Geohan socially.
He politely declined and turned back to the healthy, tasty Penidaren.
[Penidaren 186 (Finest Steam Grape Wine)]
Contains large amounts of purple mystery.
Greatly aids recovery and growth of overworked demonic essence.
2L remaining until optimal daily intake.
'Yeah. This is it!'
And so, as Kang Geohan kept guzzling Penidaren, the young masters and lady ran out of things to say.
Eventually, they lost interest in him and started chatting among themselves.
For a while, it was mindless noble gossip he couldn't follow.
But at some point, their voices dropped, and they turned serious.
"This banquet... they're definitely announcing it, right?"
"They have to. The Pioneering Sword racked up massive merits! And all those repatriated serfs from the Crete Republic? Timing's perfect, situation's ripe, justification's solid! It's gotta happen."
"...So that project they've been talking about forever is finally starting..."
Kang Geohan, sipping Penidaren with laser focus, perked up his ears.
Pioneering Sword. It was Count Kali Stehold's epithet.
What was up with the count? Carol Regnum spoke with fierce resolve.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime shot. We have to seize this chance...!"
Oji Sellsman set down his glass.
"Don't psych yourself out like that. We've prepped plenty—trust yourself and go for it."
Lanis Kane chimed in.
"Hey, hey, why so grave? Just think of it as experience and enjo—"
"Experience my ass! Easy for you to say—it's not your deal."
"That's too much, Lanis Kane. You're the heir to your house; we're just the second and third sons. Different positions, so watch your words."
"Right! You've got your barony locked in, but we'd be untitled nobles like this!"
Untitled nobles.
Nobles without titles.
For example, when the eldest son inherits a barony, the second and third become untitled nobles.
Landless untitled nobles usually became knights or mages, or high officials and technicians to make a living.
Typically, untitled nobles dreamed of one thing: acquiring land and a title.
Here, Lanis Kane was the heir to a barony, while Carol and Oji were destined to be untitled.
Carol Regnum sighed deeply.
"But they're not gonna bail on the announcement now, right? That'd crush us."
"No way. It's certain. The Pioneering Sword's getting promoted to marquis. Why else schedule a 15-day banquet?"
At that, Kang Geohan's eyes widened as he listened quietly.
"The count's becoming a marquis?!"
Oji Sellsman turned to him.
"Yeah. It's a sure thing."
"Exactly! A 15-day banquet? Nothing short of a marquis promotion justifies that!"
What did a 15-day banquet have to do with a marquis promotion? Wait, a 15-day banquet? In wartime?
Disgust flickered across Kang Geohan's face, and Oji Sellsman chuckled.
"Kingdom banquets aren't just eating and drinking. They're refined political tools for major decisions and consensus. Before formal meetings, they soften the mood, gauge opinions under the table."
"Right! A 15-day one means a huge decision. In this climate, only a marquis promotion fits."
So they were buzzing with excitement.
If Count Kali Stehold became a marquis, he'd need a marquisate.
That would kick off development of the vast marquis lands and surrounding satellite territories.
A historic-scale frontier development project, recruiting untitled nobles en masse.
Like Earth's "largest development since Dangun."
"Nail this project, and we get land and titles!"
"Yep. Found our own houses."
"What'd you say your surname was again? Retain? Yeah? Viscount Oji Retain!"
"Why call me out, Baron Carol Million?"
"...I called you viscount, but I'm just baron?"
"Don't take it to heart. I'm just realistic."
"Oh? This young master?"
The tipsy nobles started bickering playfully.
Kang Geohan watched quietly.
Honestly, it stung.
"Frontier development project..."
A golden chance for land and titles. But only for untitled nobles.
Kang Geohan, noble-adjacent but not quite, was out of luck.
'I thought I'd grown a lot...'
Still couldn't sit at their table...
He drained the last of his Penidaren.
The once-sweet wine now tasted bitter.
'Still, better learn how this development thing plays out.'
If not now, then later—he'd find a use for it.
Kang Geohan opened his ears wide, cramming the three nobles' chatter into his head.
He'd come for good booze and essence growth, but it turned out way more useful than expected.
* * *
The Kingdom Train Mimir's journey was smooth.
Perhaps due to the grand banquet they mentioned, nobles and their heirs grew more common as they neared the capital.
Fresh White Knight graduates from the training camp dotted the crowds, too.
Their badges, pinned less than a week ago, gleamed on their chests.
"Aww, so cute. Next batch already?"
Roen White smiled warmly with crescent eyes, eyeing the juniors.
"Cute? You're barely older... Such narcissism."
"What? Narcissism? You, of all people, calling me narcissistic?"
Gerot and Roen bickered as usual.
"Um... Seniors, you're from the Eastern Border Fortress, right?"
Then, a wide-eyed rookie White Knight approached.
Roen beamed welcomingly.
"Yes! Right you are. New White Knight?"
Her voice was sweet and polite.
"Yes, sir! Honored to meet war heroes. If it's not too much trouble..."
Gerot scowled instantly.
"If you think it might be rude, why say it?"
His tone was ice-cold and curt.
"Beat it."
No, rude beyond curt.
The rookie, cowed by their war hero status, mumbled apologies, bowed, and slunk away.
Roen scolded Gerot as a barbarian; Gerot ignored her.
The scene was so funny, Kang Geohan chuckled.
'They never change.'
Roen, friendly to all; Gerot, cold and rude to everyone.
Weird how those two meshed perfectly in battle.
'Newbies, huh...'
A strange feeling hit him.
Five months ago, he'd been a rookie on Mimir. Now it felt ancient; he'd changed so much.
'Can I grow as much in the next five months as I did in the last?'
Another storm of progress?
He hoped so.
No, he had to.
To sit at their table next time.
Stomach twisting again, Kang Geohan raised his voice.
"Hey! Buddy!"
"Huh?"
The dejected rookie turned back.
"War stories, right? Come sit. It's fine."
The rookie's eyes went wide. He glanced at Gerot, who just shut his eyes in annoyance, no real reaction.
Then the newbie bounded over, thrilled.
Kang Geohan Black sat the sparkling-eyed rookie down and spilled war tales: what it was like, survival tips, all the details.
He subtly boasted of his own feats.
"Wow...! For real?"
The rookie's awed reactions each time were pure satisfaction.
A bit embarrassing, like tooting his own horn, but sometimes you just needed it.
To reflect on achievements, soak up some praise.
Especially after cresting one peak and spotting a bigger one ahead.