Future Knight

Chapter 15

“This, this is! What is this?”

“Don’t be too surprised. I felt the same way when I first saw it.”

Kang Chan couldn’t help but be shocked by the title of the book.

**”Thunder and Lightning Dual Swordsmanship”**

It was the worst naming sense imaginable.

No matter how many times he looked at it, the title of the book still seemed ridiculous. Kang Chan began to fear that his concerns were becoming a reality.

Without a word, Kang Chan looked up at Elradian.

“I know exactly what you’re thinking right now. Honestly, you’re worried that I’m just trying to get rid of you by handing over some third-rate swordsmanship, aren’t you?”

Kang Chan answered without hesitation.

“Yes.”

“Ha ha, I like your honesty. But you’re wrong. The book you’re holding is a legacy left by the strongest man in the history of the Arkandor Continent. And….”

After pausing for a moment, Elradian continued in a resigned tone.

“He was my friend.”

Elradian looked out the window, his eyes filled with sadness.

Kang Chan, noticing the past tense in Elradian’s words, suddenly wondered, ‘Could he be dead?’

“So, this strongest man on the continent?”

“He’s dead, in my heart.”

‘In your heart? What does that mean? Is he dead or alive?’

Kang Chan felt a strong urge to ask again, but he didn’t want to provoke Elradian’s sadness any further.

“I have something to ask of you.”

“Yes, sir.”

Elradian pointed to the “Thunder and Lightning Dual Swordsmanship” and said,

“In fact, that swordsmanship is a book that shouldn’t be in our Elf village. It shouldn’t be learned either. That’s why I’m offering it to you, a human. You are not an Elf. But other Elves mustn’t find out that you’re training with it. And if by any chance you get caught, you must never… use my name.”

“….”

Kang Chan felt a strong sense that he was being handed something very dangerous, but he couldn’t back out now.

“Then, what should I do if I get caught?”

“No! Do I have to teach you everything? Just say you found it in the forest.”

Elradian suddenly got angry, causing Kang Chan to flinch.

“Understood. I’m sorry.”

“Now take it and go.”

Kang Chan felt anxious as he was suddenly dismissed. How could he just give him a book and expect him to know what to do?

“Sir, are you seriously just giving me this book?”

“Take it and study it. You have the patience to nag me for half a year but don’t want to make an effort to read one book? Focus on memorizing and understanding the content for now. If you have any questions, come to me secretly in the evening. Now, go. I have to read.”

It was a clear dismissal.

Seeing Elradian’s sharp gaze, Kang Chan realized he had been a great inconvenience to him. When Elradian turned away, Kang Chan bowed deeply and hurried out of Elradian’s house.

Outside Elradian’s house, he bowed again to express his gratitude.

‘I may not be an official disciple, but I’m now receiving teachings from Elradian. I won’t let you down, Master.’

Kang Chan was brimming with confidence. Holding the “Thunder and Lightning Dual Swordsmanship” close to his chest, he walked home with a light step.

—

### 6. Standing Alone

Three days after Kang Chan received the “Thunder and Lightning Dual Swordsmanship” from Elradian.

Elradian summoned Kang Chan.

“Master, did you call for me?”

Since Kang Chan was under Elradian’s tutelage, he addressed him as Master. However, because their relationship was secret, the title was only used when they were alone.

“My disciple, unfortunately, I have bad news for you.”

“What is it?”

No one in the world could receive bad news joyfully. Kang Chan’s face remained expressionless, but he felt a bit tense.

“Originally, Lady Arteon should be the one to tell you, but she is very busy right now, so I’m conveying it instead. The bad news is, you can no longer stay in this village.”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, I don’t mean you’re being exiled. It just means you have to live outside the village.”

“Why so suddenly?”

“You probably know the reason better than anyone else.”

When his teacher referred to them with a meaningful expression, Kang Chan, feeling guilty, couldn’t say anything and just rolled his eyes.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t know about you going hunting every day with young Jaina, enjoying meat, and secretly brewing and drinking alcohol?”

As Elradian listed all the recent activities Kang Chan had done with Jaina, Kang Chan felt like he wanted to hide in a mouse hole.

“This is a measure considering the identity of the young Elves growing up in our village. Indeed, our Elf society may seem quite antiquated compared to other races, but it is the strength that maintains and must uphold our current society. Thus, we do not want our children to be influenced by human culture through you. So please understand our decision to reach such an extreme conclusion.”

It was clear they were worried that Jaina, who spent the most time with Kang Chan, was becoming more human-like.

“I understand. I fully understand, Master.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

“Then, can I decide on my own residence?”

“Feel free to choose wherever you want. We will support you with everything you need.”

Kang Chan thought for a moment, then looked up at Elradian.

“I will follow your instructions, Master.”

Elradian gently patted Kang Chan’s shoulder.

“Thank you. Don’t feel too sad about the relocation. It’s an inevitable and very important matter for us.”

“I’m not sad at all, Master.”

Although he said that, Kang Chan couldn’t hide his disappointment. Seeing Jaina, who clung to his sleeve and refused to let go, made him feel a lump in his throat, as she felt like family.

To someone like him, who was abandoned by his parents as a baby, the concept of family was inconceivable.

The scientists who had always been by his side when he was young saw him merely as a test subject. Later, his comrades, who crossed the line between life and death with him, were all emotionless killing machines.

For him, Jaina was the only person who had ever made him think of the word ‘family.’

“I’ll visit every day. Don’t worry.”

“Really? You’ll come to see me every day?”

“Yes, I promise on the name of the spirits.”

Only by swearing on the name of the spirits, which she had picked up from somewhere, did Kang Chan manage to pry Jaina off. Packing his few belongings, he walked out of the village entrance.

As he walked, Kang Chan thought about the previous night when he told Elradian about the residence he had chosen.
.
* * *

“Have you decided on a place to stay?”

Elradian asked leisurely, sipping on a tart pomegranate juice.

“Yes, Master.”

“Where is it? Having lived a long life, I know all the good and dangerous places around here.”

“I plan to stay in the spaceship I came in.”

“Poof!”

“……”

Red pomegranate juice sprayed out, covering Kang Chan’s face, making him look as if he were drenched in blood.

“Why on earth would you choose that place?”

“To me, it feels like home. Please grant me permission.”

“Well, that place is quite far from here. You’ll be hard-pressed for time to train in the Thunder and Lightning Dual Swordsmanship. How do you plan to manage such a distant location?”

“I will consider it all part of my training and strive diligently.”

“Hmph.”

Elradian looked into Kang Chan’s eyes and saw the firm determination within them.

‘This child’s resolve is unshakeable.’

“I will discuss it with Lady Arteon first, so return to your quarters for now.”

“Yes, Master.”

Elradian, realizing this decision couldn’t be made alone, sent Kang Chan away and quickly informed Arteon through a crystal sphere.

“What should we do about this?”

“I expected it, but I didn’t think he would actually choose that place. For now, let him have his wish. We can’t keep doubting his identity forever, can we? If he harbors ill intentions, he’ll reveal them soon enough.”

“I understand, Lady Arteon.”

“That place is surrounded by multiple layers of barriers I’ve meticulously set up, so he won’t be able to act recklessly. And we have several methods to monitor him. However, there’s a more pressing issue right now, Elradian.”

“What’s the matter?”

Arteon’s expression grew darker as she spoke through the crystal sphere.

“The demands from humans for participation are increasing. They can no longer hold off the Witch’s offspring by themselves.”

“……”

Elradian’s expression darkened, mirroring Arteon’s.

“In a few years, our children will have to leave this forest and join in a war for the survival of our race. Many Elves will likely be injured or killed. The only way for our children to survive the harsh war outside this peaceful forest is to become stronger. Elradian, please train the children to be stronger.”

Elradian’s resolve mirrored Arteon’s. He tried to reassure her with a confident tone.

“I will keep that in mind, Lady Arteon. And when that time comes, I will lead the charge!”

“That’s reassuring. Of course, I won’t stand by idly either.”

Despite her age, Arteon cutely flexed her slender arm, showing her strength.

Elradian couldn’t help but chuckle at her playful gesture.

“When the time comes, we will gather again as we did in the past.”

“Yes, because our enemy is strong.”

“May the spirits bless us.”

“May the peace of the forest be with us.”

* * *

Exhausted from cleaning the Red Mars all day, Kang Chan overslept.

“Huff!”

He jolted awake and looked at the clock. He was nearly an hour late for his meeting with his master.

A curse naturally slipped from his mouth.

“Damn it!”

Kang Chan, starting his training with a tardy arrival, felt like his blood was running cold. He hurriedly rushed to the hangar.

There, his one and only hobby, an air bike, was stored. Given the current situation, the only way to salvage it was to ride the air bike. Showing them something like an air bike, rather than a weapon, shouldn’t cause too much trouble.

‘Good thing I tuned it up yesterday.’

Vrooooom!

With a roaring start, the ion thrusters of the air bike ignited.

Kang Chan shot out of the small hangar and sped towards the Elf village.

What would have taken three hours on foot took only a few minutes on the air bike. He arrived at the secret meeting spot with his master and landed.

“I’m sorry!”

“……”

When Kang Chan dismounted the air bike beside his master, Elradian, looking bewildered, stared intently at the air bike.

“W-What is that?”

Elradian, slightly flustered but extremely curious, gazed at the sleek, streamlined black air bike Kang Chan had ridden. Although their world also had flying objects like enchanted brooms or carpets, those were relics from the long-lost magical era and commanded astronomical prices.