Future Knight

Chapter 36

“You resent me so much because of one woman, tsk tsk. Don’t worry. It’s like the saying, ‘After the rain, the ground hardens.’ I’m saying this as a life senior, not just a friend.”

Even though she tried to comfort him as an elder, Kang Chan’s resentful gaze remained unchanged.

Zikyon shrugged her shoulders again at Kang Chan and turned around to leave.

Since everything would naturally resolve itself once Jaina woke up, Zikyon didn’t want to stay here any longer and attract Kang Chan’s resentment.

“Anyway, once that girl wakes up, your misunderstanding will naturally clear up, so don’t worry too much. I’m going to leave now. Oh, by the way, I waited to tell you this, but I won’t be around for about ten days. There’s a meeting with my kind. See you in ten days.”

When Kang Chan nodded silently, Zikyon teleported back to her lair.

After Zikyon left, Kang Chan, who was now truly alone with Jaina, held her hand tightly and prayed for her safe awakening.

After some time, Jaina opened her eyes and saw Kang Chan, who had fallen asleep while holding her hand.

She gently touched his face and said,

“I’m sorry, I didn’t trust you.”

As Jaina cried and sobbed, Kang Chan woke up abruptly from her cries.

“Why are you crying, Jaina?”

However, Jaina turned her body towards the wall to avoid Kang Chan and couldn’t say anything. Kang Chan gently shook her shoulder and consoled her.

“Are you still upset?”

‘Zikyon, you liar. You said everything would be resolved when she woke up.’

“No, I’m not upset anymore.”

Her nasal voice made Kang Chan’s heart ache even more.

“Then why are you crying? Look at me.”

When Kang Chan pulled Jaina’s shoulder, she slowly turned around, her face covered in tears.

“Our misunderstanding is all cleared up, right? Isn’t it?”

Jaina slowly nodded.

“Then don’t cry.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Jaina sat up, hugged Kang Chan, and started crying even louder.

“It’s okay, I’m fine.”

“But I hit you.”

“It’s okay, you can make up for it in the future.”

Hearing Kang Chan’s words, Jaina flinched for a moment, then looked up at him and slowly closed her eyes. She then offered her cheek to him, as if asking him to hit her back.

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

“Hit me back the same way.”

Hearing her words, Kang Chan felt like laughing but held it in.

What he meant by making up for it was to love him more, but Jaina misunderstood and willingly offered her cheek to be hit, which made him want to laugh.

And then, a playful idea started to form.

“Really? Fine, you know how hard you hit me, right?”

Jaina nodded calmly.

“Then here I go. Clench your teeth.”

Jaina nodded again and clenched her teeth tightly.

“One, two…”

To heighten the tension, Kang Chan took his time, repeatedly placing and removing his palm from her cheek.

Jaina’s eyelids twitched nervously.

“Three!”

When Kang Chan shouted the last count, Jaina clenched her teeth tightly. However, what landed on her cheek was not his palm but his shameless lips.

Smooch!

Jaina, who had been extremely tense, opened her eyes wide in surprise when she felt his lips on her cheek.

“What is this? Stop joking and really hit me.”

“No.”

“Why? I’m the one who did something wrong.”

“How can I hit my lovely girlfriend’s cheek?”

“But…”

Kang Chan hugged Jaina tightly so she couldn’t speak any further. He whispered softly into her ear.

“Just stay by my side and repay me with love for the rest of your life.”

“Oh, oppa.”

With her face blushing, Jaina smiled with happiness and kissed Kang Chan’s lips. Kang Chan, holding Jaina tightly, slowly fell onto the bed.

The room, which had been chilled by the cold northern wind, began to burn with the flames of passion from the two of them.

—

### 12. Rising

On a night when the full moon shone brightly,

Dark Elves with pitch-black skin were moving swiftly through the forest trees.

“Yaro, you lead Team A this way. Yati, you lead Team B that way. Yari, follow me. Our goal is to locate the enemy Gigantes’ position and gather information on their troop assembly. Remember, do not leave any traces. For the honor of the Black Lion family.”

“Yes, Yara.”

When everyone nodded, the Dark Elf called Yara also nodded and shouted softly,

“Scatter!”

At Yara’s command, about twenty Dark Elves disappeared in their assigned directions with incredible agility.

* * *

“Is something troubling you since this morning?”

“Ah! Lord Elradian.”

“You look so gaunt lately, preparing for the war.”

“Ah, yes. I’ve had a lot on my mind. Oh, by the way! Have you noticed anything strange lately?”

“Something strange?”

Arteon spoke while looking at the forest shrouded in morning mist with anxious eyes.

“It’s strange. The forest is very scared of something. But the spirits and guardians don’t know why. What could be causing the forest to tremble in fear like this?”

“Hmm, now that you mention it, there was a report that three elves on night watch went missing last night. Could something have invaded the forest?”

Arteon slowly shook her head.

“That’s impossible. The trees and spirits of the forest would have told us if that were the case. That’s why I’m even more anxious.”

“Could it be the work of the Dark Elves?”

Arteon shook her head again.

“Although the Dark Elves occasionally enter the forest and attack our elves, there’s no reason for the forest to be afraid because of them. After all, they are elves too.”

“Then could it be the Green Elves?”

“They’re struggling to deal with humans and orcs right now. It would be foolish for them to split their forces to attack our elves’ forest, and the Green Witch knows this well.”

Nodding in agreement, Elradian said,

“If that were the case, we would have received intelligence from numerous rangers long before they reached the elves’ forest. So, what could it be?”

“This is ominous, Lord Elradian.”

“I’ll instruct everyone to go on high alert. Get some rest, Lady Arteon.”

“Thank you, Lord Elradian.”

* * *

Slap!

The sound of a slap echoed in the dark cave.

“I told you not to leave any traces.”

“I’m sorry, Lady Yara.”

“You disgrace the honor of our Black Lion family, the greatest assassins among the Dark Elves. Your punishment will depend on the success of this operation. Dismissed!”

“Thank you, Lady Yara.”

The slapped Dark Elf staggered back into the darkness, and Yara picked up a parchment summarizing the intelligence reports, smiling wickedly.

“Those sharp-witted elves must have gone on high alert. Heh, it doesn’t matter. Your doom is already sealed in history. Yati!”

“Yes, Lady Yara!”

“Hurry and deliver the numbers and positions of the Gigantes we discovered through soul magic to Lord Nemitz.”

“Yes, understood.”

The Dark Elf called Yati took the parchment written in fluorescent material and disappeared deeper into the cave.

“When this parchment reaches Lord Nemitz, the operation will take place tomorrow night. Inform the children of our family to be fully prepared.”

“Yes, Lady Yara!”

The remaining Dark Elves also swiftly disappeared into the darkness, leaving Yara alone to look up at the faint light seeping through the cave. Squinting against the brightness, she spoke.

“You vile elves who stole our light, now it’s your turn to lose your light.”

A seemingly endless procession of soldiers marched through the pitch-dark cave.

They seemed to have prepared for this invasion route for a long time, removing any obstructive stalactites and walls, greatly expanding the cave.

“Make way! Messenger coming through!”

Pushing past other Dark Elves roughly, Yati arrived in front of the command center.

“Stop!”

A menacing guardsman with a menacing glare drew his glaive and halted him. Yati, breathing heavily, identified himself.

“Messenger from the Black Lion family’s scouting team. I have urgent information for Lord Nemitz.”

Yati identified himself and sought out Nemitz.

“Show the family seal.”

Yati produced a symbol carved from a basilisk horn from his chest. The guardsman sheathed his glaive and stepped aside.

“Follow the central path, and you’ll see the largest tent. That’s Lord Nemitz’s quarters.”

“Thank you.”

Offering a curt thank you, Yati hurried towards Nemitz’s tent. After being stopped a few more times, he finally managed to deliver the parchment to Nemitz.

Reading the parchment, Nemitz couldn’t contain his laughter and burst into a fit of laughter.

“Hahahahaha!”

Green, standing next to him, grew curious about his sudden laughter.

“Lord Nemitz, why are you laughing?”

Nemitz, still laughing, handed the parchment to Green.

Green, startled, read the parchment written in fluorescent material. As he read, his breathing grew heavier, and he threw the parchment aside, shouting.

“Those swindlers! They tricked me with false information about hundreds of Gigantes, but there are only fifty!”

“Calm down, Lord Green. Isn’t this better? We came prepared to fight hundreds of Gigantes, but there are only fifty. They’ll be an even easier target.”

“I’ll take their lives for deceiving me with false information!”

Grinding his teeth in anger, Green’s eyes glowed with fury. Nemitz stood up and instructed the nearby guardsman.

“Gather all the heads of the families and the staff in the conference room.”

“Yes, Commander!”

As the guardsman rushed out, Nemitz quietly spoke to Green.

“Elves who used to live scattered in small groups in the elf forest are now gathering under Arteon. We should strike before they grow stronger.”

“Indeed.”

“Then we’ll attack tomorrow night.”

“Understood. See you tomorrow evening.”

The two leaders bowed to each other and went their separate ways to prepare for the surprise invasion the next evening.