Sunhyuk did not reply to the existence of the Dragon who had not spoken in such a long time. He just sat on the ground full of dirt, as he suppressed the retch from coming out.
[They had the power and ability to sufficiently kill you and your companions. However, they could not, because they weren't aware of your existence.]
The Dragon was trying to reproach him by saying that it was useless to have such thoughts, but he ended up just despairing. However, even then, Sunhyuk did not reply. It was because he knew very well that the Dragon was not wrong.
[It is the mighty that can be compassionate to the weak, but it is not yet permitted for you to do so.]
He also felt how their victory was close to being lucky.
[There are still those who have a similar presence too what you just encountered not far away, so it is premature to already brood over the price of your actions.]
The sitting Sunhyuk rose from the ground.
The words of the Dragon were not wrong. He had just won one battle, but he was still in the middle of a war. It was too early to think about guilt.
What was important was to survive.
[Survive. Survive even if you roll in the mud and crawl to me. Until then, your compassion will not become of arrogance and ignorance, but of true value.]
The guilt did not disappear. The revolting blood and disgust from the remains of the horses lingered. Nevertheless, this harsh world was telling him to move forward.
"This damned world…"
The moment he accepted reality, the disgust and revolt inside him disappeared. And what replaced those feelings was a desire, and passion for clear survival.
[Do not let them dare to unsheathe their spears and blades due to your presence. That alone is the only way for you to achieve the peace that you bare in mind.]
At the end of the Dragon's monologue, Sunhyuk raised his head. The determined light had restored back into his eyes.
"I do not know such grand things."
His voice was coarse and solemn, causing his voice to sound deep.
"I just wish to survive. I will not die so miserably in this damned world."
It was the moment when his resolution became inscribed into his head.
[It is wise to realistically distinguish actions of what you can, and cannot do. And surely that wind will then truly belong to you.]
For the first time, the voice was gentle.
[If you do not forget your current resolution, then you will surely reach me. When that time comes, you will be a true warrior who is not ashamed of oneself.]
In addition, those words were strangely touching despite that unknown gender of a voice.
"You keep saying companion here and companion there. Are you a female?"
The Dragon did not answer.
"Sunhyuk."
The Dragon then provided a few more remarks before parting goodbye like last time. In the end, I did not hear a reply to the gender question, but Sunhyuk thought that the Dragon was a female for some reason. If his prediction was wrong, and the Dragon was a male, then it's also a creepy thing in itself.
But what mattered right now was not the gender of the Dragon, but that there were definitely similar presences of those Sastanes not too far away.
Then, Clarke finally called for me. However, Sunhyuk, while in the presence of a battlefield full of corpses, just trembled. Though he was barely able to settle himself down, it was hard to face such horrible, appalling scenes, of which he had directly caused with his own hands.
"Yes."
But he could not turn away from reality forever. However much he wanted to.
"Look at this."
Clarke turned the pile of bodies over as he signalled me to come closer.
"Mmm…"
Was he intentionally trying to make him feel troubled? Or is he trying to make Sunhyuk insensitive through the shock of murder? It was not both.
"It appears, that these guys attacked a few villages before encountering the 27th Regiment and then us. You remember this face???"
"Could it be?"
"Yes, it is the Chief from the village where we spent a night during our training."
"Ho, how could they do that to such powerless citizens!"
"Do you think those who were disqualified from the Knight's qualification training would sacrifice mobility for supplies? They are bastards who are accustomed to stealing, and robbing the people of even their own nation. Those bastards wouldn't even treat the people of the enemy country as humans."
Sunhyuk was purely enraged. He was simply an old man who thanked him for protecting the border, despite having destroyed his whole shop. What sin did this old man commit to die like this?
"These are precisely who the Sastanes are, and the way of the Noctane. If we were annihilated or retreated, there will probably be a few more villages which would have become victims to this atrocity."
Clarke shook his hand as he pointed to the ownerless horses. There were countless heads of corpses hanging on the saddles of the horses from the Sastane Cavalry, who had once valiantly and mercilessly galloped through the plains.
"Do you understand? You stopped that disaster."
This concerned face was saying that he committed no sin in killing these people, as if he was handing him a notice saying why he was free from guilt.
"So straighten your shoulders and be proud of yourself. You have protected the villages and our regiment."
It's good to be cowardly and be blamed for it. It did not matter if he was criticized or thought of as cunning. The words which Clarke spoke of were true, and it comforted him.
After seeing color being restored to Sunhyuk's face, he pounded his shoulders.
"Head over to the Captain. That Ahjusshi has been looking for you for quite some time."
"Why is the Captain…?"
"Why not?"
From such a question, Clarke showed an unusual cheerful face on the battlefield.
"Because of your achievements."
Clarke's guess was right. The reason why Captain Frederik had called for him was precisely due to his war achievements.
"It seems you've been hiding your power."
He did not expect to be treated differently in a day. However, his expectations were completely sidetracked.
"Ah, I did not want to inquire too much. I was just curious of the reason."
The Captain no longer oppressed him, nor did he boldly oppose him.
"I just wanted to avoid troublesome matters."
"Nuisances? For instance?"
"I enjoy being in the 24th Regiment, and am really fond of my comrades. I don't really want to go anywhere else."
His answer seemed to please him. The Captain withdrew his caution and showed a gentle face.
"Your comradery is praiseworthy."
All of the Heavy Cavalry had the right to lead a 10-member squadron of their own. However, Frederik had never treated them as an officers before. Well, until now.
"Very good. To have a competent, talented Rider like yourself in our regiment is the blessing and pride of our Kingdom."
With such a sudden change of attitude and demeanor, it would take a while before he could familiarize with it, but Sunhyuk could see the greed and desire beyond. As such, he did not release his caution and doubt for even one moment.
"However, I am deeply saddened because the Royal Family did not want you, as they left you to decay on the borders. Even if they were to not know, if they hear of your achievements in the battlefield, they will definitely summon you."
"That is why I have something to relay."
Anticipating this situation, he had conversed several times with Clarke and the other cavalrymen. In order to separate himself from the Royal family's attention, and settle his debt once and for all, opting to be liberalized, he proposed a deal to the Captain. The Captain, who listened to his proposition, asked carefully.
"Are you really fine with that? It is impressive that you value this more so than honor."
"It does not matter. As long as I can preserve my personal greed and benefits, then that's enough."
"That's realistic, not some personal greed. Unlike me that's full of vanity, your personality is more realistic and stoic."
"Then the promise…"
"I will protect it. Until this war ends, I will sincerely abide to all of your wants."
"Then it's a deal."
From Sunhyuk's words, the Captain chuckled before approaching and extending his hand.
"Then let's do our best proceeding forth."
"Ah, I just realized."
After belatedly realizing this fact, he spoke.
"I think there are more of those Sastanes which have crossed the border."
That light and warm atmosphere became cold instantaneously.
"How do you know?"
"It would be nice if you consider it the abilities given to a Stranger."
There was no better time to use the identity of a Stranger as an excuse. From those words, the Captain did not inquire further.
"It seems there are still enemies left. If possible, pack those of value and we will collect the rest later."
From Frederik's command, the Riders accelerated their pace in organizing and collecting the spoils of horses and weapons from the battlefield. They prioritized in taking the uniquely crafted Sastane bows, and the rest of the items were packed accordingly.
Now he had regained a lot of his composure, but it didn't stop him from looking away at the remains of the corpses, and blood that covered the ground.
"We will prepare, and take the best loot for you. Although the horse and bow will be distributed from above, the rest are finders keepers."
As such, Clarke and the other cavalrymen waved at him, saying there was nothing to worry about.
"Hmm."
After looking at the unfamiliar labor scene in front of him, he opened his Status Window.
[Kim Sunhyuk]
[Level 5]
[Dragon Rider]
[Possessed Attributes]
Wind / Attribute Expertise 80
Wind Fang
Wind Body
Wind Spirit
[Strength 25 / Endurance 24 / Agility 27 / Magic Resistance 34 ]
[Possessed Skills]
<< Dragon Taming >>
<< Dragon Riding >>
<< Charging (Wind) >>
<< Wind Piercing (Wind) >>
<< Attribute Weaponry (Intermediate) >>
<< Advanced Horsemanship >>
Advanced Horsemanship + Charging = Overbearing Charging (Wind)
<< Standard Kingdom Spearmanship (Advanced)(Wind) ←→ Standard Kingdom Mounted Spearmanship Skill (Advanced) (Wind).]
<< Standard Kingdom Swordsmanship (Basic) ←→ Standard Kingdom Mounted Swordsmanship Skill (Basic) (Wind) >>
<< Heavy Armor Maneuvers (30kg) ←→ Heavy Cavalry Maneuvers (75kg) >>
<< Infantry Shield Skill (Intermediate) ←→ Cavalry Shield Skill (Intermediate) >>
<< Advanced Work Skills (Civil Engineering) >>
In that chaos, he thought he had heard a message of how he had leveled up, but to think that it would be true.
"Level 5…"
He had leveled up just like that, and a few other skills, including his spearmanship, had been upgraded. As he thought, the maxim that the best training was actual battles was true.
Opening his eyes, he frowned as he saw the new categories which had been created under Wind Fang of the Attributes page.
"What's Wind Body? Wind Body…"
His initial reaction wasn't that good. However, after setting aside his impression, he relaxed his face as he displayed a satisfied expression.
"Is it that one?"
Despite having that unfriendly status window, which did not have a single line of explanation, he instinctively knew the effects of Wind Body. Through the power of the attribute, it would make one's body lighter, and even buff his other comrades. That was the mighty ability that was contained in the skill called Wind Body.
Though he could now vaguely think of the effects of this skill, using Wind Body would be more comfortable, but that wasn't all.
Wind Spirit.
The power of the newly added attribute was whispering to him. It was telling him, just like the Dragon had said, that there were enemies approaching them from a distance not far out.
TL Afterword:
Calvis: Damn, that level up. And look at all these new attribute skills. Wind Fang, Wind Body, Wind Spirit. Woot. I'd love to have Wind Body though. Maybe it'll help me fly one day :3
TL Note: Okay, I researched AGAIN and will explain the current military situation. So the 24th Regiment is a regiment that has between 1000-3000 people, and the Heavy Cavalry is just a unit (company) of that regiment of around 100 or so cavalrymen. Frederik is the leader of that particular company, so he's only a Captain at best and not a high ranking officer like a Lieutenant Colonel. The Colonel that I mentioned is not just the leader of that regiment, but much more. It's not specified, but Commander would be the most fitting title. And so, I will switch those two terms.
Lieutenant Colonel → Captain
Colonel → Commander
PR Afterword:
Sai101: MC is awesome! Reaction to wanton slaughter & debt free over fame.. Definitely from Earth.
BM: MC is gonna be able to break the sound barrier just by walking soon at this rate
Translator: Calvis
Proofreader: Sai101,Borderline Masochist