Future Knight

Chapter 59

“Hey! Are you okay?”

“Ugh… I’m fine, I’m fine.”

Kang Chan staggered and struggled to get up.

The tavern owner watched him with a worried look.

At that moment, Zikyon lifted the struggling Kang Chan with the power of words and placed him back in his seat, causing Chelsea and Bruno’s eyes to widen as big as beer mugs.

It wasn’t just the two of them; everyone in the tavern turned their attention to them.

However, Zikyon paid no attention to them at all. She put her arm around Kang Chan’s shoulder and said,

“Hey, where are you going alone? I’m coming with you.”

“Why are you going there? I’m going alone.”

“If I say I’m going, then I’m going! How can I just watch my friend go to die? You bastard!”

“I can’t live without her anyway…”

Thud!

When Kang Chan collapsed backward in tears again, Zikyon sighed, chugged her beer in one go, and began to expel the alcohol from her body.

A cloud of alcohol puffed out around her, filling the tavern with a strong smell of alcohol.

Chelsea and Bruno, watching this unbelievable scene, could only blink in astonishment.

Zikyon, who had sobered up in an instant, asked Chelsea, who was still bewildered,

“How much?”

“Wh-what?”

“I asked how much for the drinks.”

Chelsea snapped back to reality and hurriedly read the bill.

“Uh, well, let’s see… 30,000 cc of beer, three smoked ducks, two platters of assorted smoked sausages, and a fruit salad, for a total of 16 silver 30 sesil.”

Zikyon, who didn’t carry small change like silver, tossed a gold coin to her and said,

“Keep the change. Hey, get up! It’s time to go.”

Zikyon, in her female form, lifted the male Kang Chan and carried him out of the tavern, with everyone’s eyes following them until they disappeared outside.

Only after they were completely out of sight did everyone start to murmur.

Chelsea, holding the gold coin in her hand, shook her head in disbelief, wondering if this was a dream or reality.

### 18. The Mark of Graduation

Kang Chan, who had drunk until the early hours, was carried back to his room by Zikyon, completely wasted.

In his room, Arteon and Cracksion had been waiting for Zikyon, staying up all night with their eyes wide open.

When Zikyon finally arrived, carrying Kang Chan, they both bowed their heads in respect.

“We greet the great one.”

“What brings you both here at this late hour?”

“We heard the great one had arrived, so we waited to pay our respects.”

“Is that so?”

Zikyon nodded, pleased.

“Arteon, you must have had a hard time all this while.”

“No, Zikyon.”

Zikyon, leaving the gloomy Arteon behind, turned her gaze to Cracksion.

“It’s been a long time for you too.”

“Ah, yes, Lady Zikyon.”

“I really like the lair you gave me earlier. Thank you.”

“Do you? I’m very pleased to hear that you like it.”

Cracksion doubted his ears upon hearing the dragon’s gratitude.

Dragons had always treated dwarves like mere servants and had never acknowledged their efforts.

Leaving the bewildered Cracksion behind, Zikyon carefully laid the carried Kang Chan on the bed and covered him with a blanket.

Arteon and Cracksion could hardly believe their eyes at Zikyon’s tender actions.

The dragon before them had been notorious as the ruthless G. Zikyon, known among dragons for her cruelty.

Yet, the sight before them now was nothing short of shocking.

Zikyon appeared exceptionally gentle.

And it was all for a mere human.

Sensing their stares, Zikyon turned to them and asked.

“Why are you both looking at me like that?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“If you’ve finished your greetings, you can leave now. I’m going to sleep.”

Zikyon’s next actions stunned Arteon and Cracksion even further.

Zikyon discarded her delicate clothes and lay next to Kang Chan in her underwear.

Seeing this, the two were speechless until Zikyon raised her voice.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you leaving? I’m turning off the lights.”

“Oh, yes! Have a pleasant night.”

Arteon elbowed Cracksion in the ribs after his flustered remark.

“What are you saying?”

“Oh no!”

“Well then, Lady Zikyon, good night.” As Arteon and Cracksion hurriedly left the room, Zikyon extinguished the light spell she had cast.

Darkness filled the room, and only their soft breathing could be heard in the quiet darkness.

Outside the room, Cracksion whispered as quietly as he could.

“Aren’t they supposed to be friends?”

“That’s what I thought… Lady Zikyon did say she and Kang Chan were friends.”

“Then are they in a romantic relationship?”

Cracksion cautiously asked, to which Arteon shook her head.

“No way, a dragon wouldn’t… How could a dragon date a human? Especially an Ancient-class dragon…”

“Then how do you explain what we just saw?”

Arteon let out a long sigh.

Suddenly, as if struck by an idea, she clapped her hands together.

“Maybe! Are they in that kind of relationship?”

“What kind of relationship?”

Arteon blushed as if the words were too embarrassing to say.

“That… you know, the trend in human society these days.”

Cracksion, being straightforward, impatiently pressed Arteon for an explanation.

“What is it that makes you hesitate so much?”

“Have you heard of, um, ‘enjoy’?”
“En… enjoy?”

Cracksion raised an eyebrow and tilted his head at the unfamiliar word, prompting Arteon to explain, her face flushing with embarrassment.

“You know… a relationship that’s purely physical, without any romantic intentions…”

Arteon blushed deeply after speaking, while Cracksion’s expression turned stern and rugged.

“What, what kind of disgraceful behavior is that! Doing something even animals wouldn’t do! Such despicable creatures!”

“Shh! Quiet! Lady Zikyon might hear you.”

“Oops!”

Cracksion quickly clamped his mouth shut and cautiously looked around.

Arteon spoke again.

“Since Lady Zikyon, who usually stayed in a male form, suddenly appeared as a female, I wondered. But still, it seems impossible that Dragon Lady Zikyon would have a romantic relationship with Human Kang Chan, right?”

“That’s right. No matter what, she’s a dragon. And the age difference… it’s enormous.”

“Then it must be true, an ‘enjoy’ relationship.”

“That’s disgusting…”

“We should be careful how we treat Kang Chan and Lady Zikyon from now on.”

Due to Arteon and Cracksion’s misunderstanding, Kang Chan was now considered to be in an ‘enjoy’ relationship with Zikyon.

—

The next day.

Kang Chan woke up well past lunchtime, groaning as he held his head.

“Ugh… my head.”

Having drunk beer on an empty stomach, unaware of its lingering effects, it was no wonder his head hurt.

“What happened yesterday?”

Unable to recall anything from the previous day, Kang Chan tried to remember how he ended up in this room.

While pondering, he felt something soft and warm against his arm, causing him to frown in confusion.

“Huh? What’s this?”

Kang Chan lifted the blanket to check his arm.

He found Zikyon in her underwear, holding his arm. Startled, he jumped up.

“What the! Who are you?”

As he yelled and pulled his arm away from Zikyon, she opened her eyes groggily.

“Oh? You’re awake?”

“Why are you sleeping here?”

“What’s the big deal? We’re friends.”

Zikyon replied, still half-asleep, burying her face into the pillow.

“Hey! That’s not it! No matter how close friends are, they don’t sleep together like this!”

“Ah, I don’t care… wake me up when it’s time to eat.”

Zikyon grabbed the blanket from Kang Chan and turned over, going back to sleep.

Kang Chan, feeling both exasperated and pained by his hangover, held his head.

“Ugh.”

Reluctantly, he got out of bed, washed his face quickly, and headed to the dining room to find something to settle his queasy stomach.

The kitchen staff spotted Kang Chan and hurriedly ran out to greet him.

“Mr. Kang Chan, you’re up?”

When the unfamiliar dwarf kitchen staff suddenly ran out to greet him warmly, Kang Chan gave him a puzzled look.

‘What’s this?’

“I was informed that you drank a lot yesterday. I’ve prepared a meal for both you and Lady Zikyon, so I’ll bring it to your room right away.”

Kang Chan was startled by the offer to bring the meal to the room.

This was because Zikyon was sprawled out in her underwear in the room. If anyone saw that, it would surely lead to misunderstandings about their relationship.

“No! I’ll take it myself.”

“Oh! Will you? Alright. Please wait a moment.”

After a while, the kitchen staff brought out a beautiful tray with aromatic soup, soft bread, a salad with tomatoes and figs good for hangovers, and a cheese gratin topped with plenty of cheese.

“It seems too much for you to carry by yourself. Let us take it for you.”

“No! I can manage alone. Thank you.”

Practically snatching the enormous tray, which was as wide as both his arms, Kang Chan painstakingly carried it to the room.

Opening the door and stepping inside, he was greeted by the strong smell of alcohol.

‘Goodness, how much did I drink for the room to reek like this?’

Shaking his head, Kang Chan set the meal on the table and woke Zikyon.

“Hey! Time to eat!”

“Hmm? Food? Okay, ugh… haah!”

At the mention of food, Zikyon stretched out her arms and legs while lying down.

Then, still in her revealing underwear, she got up from the bed and walked sluggishly toward Kang Chan.

Seeing this, Kang Chan, who was eating a piece of bread, spat it out in shock and raised his voice.

“Hey! You should be wearing clothes!”

“It’s bothersome. I’ll put them on after eating…”

“Aren’t you going to get dressed? I won’t eat with you otherwise.”

“Ugh, we’re friends. Just eat.”

“Even friends should maintain some decency! Or else, change back into your male form.”

“Hmph! Why should I?”

While they were bickering, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Kang Chan flinched.

“Wh-who is it?”

“It’s Erika. May I come in?”

“No! Just a moment!”

Panicked, Kang Chan frantically signaled Zikyon to get dressed. Annoyed, Zikyon started putting on her discarded clothes.

After confirming that Zikyon was fully dressed and eating again, Kang Chan finally called out to Erika.

“You can come in now.”

The door opened, and Erika cautiously stepped inside.

“Oh, you haven’t eaten yet?”

“I just woke up.”

“Oh? Who is this?”

Erika asked in a tone mixed with worry and caution upon seeing the strikingly beautiful woman eating quietly next to Kang Chan.

Even as an elf, she found the woman extraordinarily beautiful.

“This is my friend, Zikyon. Say hello.”

Erika tilted her head at Kang Chan’s introduction of Zikyon.

‘Zikyon? That name sounds familiar…’

“Hello, I’m Erika. Nice to meet you.”

Zikyon responded to Erika’s greeting with a curt nod and a cold expression, leaving Erika a bit flustered. Sensing the awkwardness, Kang Chan quickly intervened.

“What brings you here?”

“Well, Master Elradian asked me to wake you and bring you to him if you weren’t up yet.”

“Master?”

“Yes.”

Since Elradian had officially declared Kang Chan his disciple, Kang Chan could now confidently call Elradian his master.