NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26: (1)
“Draw your swords, everyone except the knights guarding Tarien-nim,” the officer shouted in a commanding tone. “We will enter the center! Clear the path!”
Responding to Tarien’s command, the officer shouted loudly, and most of the knights, excluding a few who were assigned to protect Tarien, drew their swords and advanced toward the front lines.
At this point, Kaiyan, along with the soldiers of the 7th Special Unit, was well aware of their roles. They understood the efficiency of fighting together.
“Charge!”
The soldiers roared in response, their battle cries filling the air.
From the soldiers’ perspective, advancing toward the center might not have been the most favorable option, but their morale was high, and they responded well to the command.
Kaiyan and the soldiers of the 7th Special Unit formed a tight formation around the knights and attempted to push forward through the center.
“He’s not rushing out on his own this time,” Kaiyan thought, noticing Tarien’s more restrained approach. Unlike before, Tarien seemed to be moving cautiously from the center, rather than impulsively charging ahead.
Suddenly, Kaiyan felt a hand on his shoulder, causing him to turn around. It was a Senior knight, wearing a smile reminiscent of a grandfather next door, who invited him to join.
“Hehe, come with me,” the old knight said.
Confused, Kaiyan responded, “…?”
The old knight, with a warm and friendly demeanor, insisted, “You should join me.”
Kaiyan hesitated for a moment before replying, “Uh… Okay, Sir.”
He couldn’t help but think, “Why did it have to be this knight…?” Out of all the skilled knights, it happened to be the one who appeared the most capable.
Kaiyan didn’t feel particularly delighted by the friendly approach from the old knight. Instead, he felt a sense of unease.
“Darn it…” Kaiyan sighed inwardly. He had planned to practice using his aura effectively on the battlefield that day.
However, he realized that it would be risky to use his aura in front of the old knight, who was likely an expert in aura manipulation. Revealing himself as an aura user would be undesirable.
“No matter what happens, I must avoid using aura,” Kaiyan resolved.
In the midst of his thoughts, an Evelyn charged towards him, swinging its massive arms.
“Kuawaaaak!”
Kaiyan swiftly reacted, evading the creature’s attacks aimed at his head and legs. Instinctively, he dodged the strikes and countered with precise movements, successfully avoiding harm.
“Now, is it my turn?” Kaiyan thought, seizing the opportunity.
“Kuawaaaak!”
The Evelyn, not yet defeated, responded with a roar, preparing for another attack.
Timing his move perfectly, Kaiyan swiftly struck with a Penetrating Stab, aiming for the Evelyn’s heart.
“Kweoek!”
Even though the creature’s heart was pierced, the Evelyn, driven by its strong vitality, attempted to grab hold of Kaiyan while its arms trembled.
With a final strike, Kaiyan applied force to his sword, breaking through Evelyn’s tough hide and crushing its heart.
As the creature faltered, its arms flailing weakly, Kaiyan felt the sensation of triumph course through him.
Applause, unexpected on the battlefield, reached Kaiyan’s ears.
“Indeed! You can’t be considered an ordinary soldier! That was an impressive strike!” the old knight exclaimed.
Remaining modest, Kaiyan replied, “…I was lucky.”
Turning around, Kaiyan saw the old knight smiling proudly at him. However, he couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down his spine.
“For some reason… why didn’t he help me?” Kaiyan pondered.
The old knight had been watching the fight between Kaiyan and the Evelyn without drawing his own sword. If the monster had been a more formidable opponent, instead of the Evelyn, what would have happened?
“I might have been tempted to use aura without even realizing it,” Kaiyan thought, realizing the danger of revealing his true abilities.
Both his racing heart and mind, which had been filled with excitement, suddenly cooled down.
“I should remember that the old knight is watching me,” Kaiyan reminded himself.
“Kaiyan, what was your original occupation? A mercenary? Or a soldier?” the old knight inquired with a hint of curiosity.
“Huh? Um…”
Being asked about his occupation as a 15-year-old boy from a small village felt a bit strange.
“It’s alright. Just tell me honestly,” the old knight reassured him.
“I… I wanted to become a farmer. Before that, I didn’t have any other occupation,” Kaiyan answered truthfully.
“Hmm? What did you say?”
“I said I wanted to be a farmer, Sir.”
“….”
The old knight appeared bewildered by Kaiyan’s response as if he had expected something else from a 15-year-old boy.
Kaiyan knew that, in a small village, unless he followed in his father’s footsteps as an administrator, farming was the only way to sustain himself.
“So… when did you start learning to use a sword? Did your parents teach you? Was your father a mercenary, perhaps?” the old knight inquired further.
“No, they didn’t. I learned to use a sword on the battlefield for the first time. Through Uncle Jeff, um… Jeff Kallein over there,” Kaiyan explained.
“I see… Wait a moment! You mean you never used a sword before that?”
“Well, you could say that. Oh! If it’s a spear, I did try using it briefly. They taught me how to use a spear before sending me here, during the training camp.”
“Heh… Hahaha…”
The old knight seemed even more astonished than before, bursting into laughter that seemed hollow and confused.
‘Yes, it’s understandable. I’m still surprised myself.’
It was a natural reaction unless he knew about the player system. Even Kaiyan was amazed by his daily growth.
“So, you are a prodigy…” the old knight murmured.
“Pardon?”
“…Never mind. More importantly, what do you plan to do after the war ends?” the old knight asked, persistently inquiring about Kaiyan’s future plans.
Kaiyan felt uneasy about the old knight’s increasingly probing questions. His curiosity seemed to exceed the bounds of normal interest.
Even though the old knight treated him kindly, Kaiyan didn’t feel the need to reveal too much. After finally acquiring the power he desired, he couldn’t afford to die thoughtlessly.
“I plan to become a mercenary,” Kaiyan replied cautiously.