"What I need the most?"
"Yes, whatever that may be."
"Will the nobles offer me that?"
"Yes."
Yoojung's reply held firm confidence. However, for Sunhyuk, it was somewhat of a laughable response.
"What you are worrying about will never happen."
"Don't take my words lightly. If you were to receive one of their gifts unknowingly, you'll soon be trapped within their hands. So do not be too confident."
As if he was ignoring her advice, it appeared that she was a tad bit upset, but it wasn't like her being upset would change his answer.
"There will never be such a thing."
"How are you so sure?"
Sunhyuk asked in a low tone in reply to her question.
"Do they have the ability to send me back to my original world?"
"That's…"
"Or can they make all the events that I've done as if it never happened in the first place?"
"But Sunhyuk-shi, they might have something that you might want unknow…"
He cut her off before she was able to finish speaking.
"Yoojung-shi. A war is quite a frightening conflict isn't it?"
From suddenly mentioning it, she quietly listened.
"Not knowing when you might die, and whether it'll be the last moment of your life. For a normal person like me, it was an extremely scary situation. But…"
'After nearly dying, and killing others to live. That is truly the most frightening thing.'
"After feeling that, I was able to realize what I want very clearly."
However, after all that, he couldn't be any more clear on what exactly he wanted the most.
"What is that?"
Yoojung asked cautiously, which Sunhyuk replied.
"I want to eat Kimchi stew. I want to eat pork belly with a glass of soju. I want to go to an internet cafe and play the latest games, and lie on the sofa the whole day while watching TV."
With so much death in front of his eyes, he desired the daily routines of his normal life or at least the comforts of enjoyment from the other world too much… which now seemed an unobtainable pipe dream.
"If not that, if possible, I want to live a peaceful life."
A peaceful life, and if he could obtain a Dragon in addition, it would be perfect. However, he knew that both of his demands couldn't be met by the nobles.
"You are really unusual."
"I'm just a normal person."
"No. Amongst the Advanced Strangers, there are none who are not satisfied with their current livelihoods in this world. You can live the kind of life in this world that you could only see in movies back in the other world."
"I want to live a long life in peace. I've already been promised an overwhelming award, so I have nothing more that I could want."
"Well, you did want to live around the people you've been with since the start."
Now, Yoojung was finally convinced as her face became lighter.
"Just like you claimed, the nobles will never be able to give you what you desire."
She showed a relieved expression before finally smiling.
"But still, be careful not to be swept away in such troublesome matters. We're just shrimps in a battle of whales, and even though we may be Advanced, we're nothing but ants ready to be stepped down on and killed by those with real power, so be advised."
As if she had truly come to warn him of the nobles, she rose from her seat.
"Thank you for your concern."
Expressing his thanks to her, she hesitated at the front of door as if she had something she wanted to add.
"Do you have more to say?"
"I'm not sure about the kimchi stew, but I can treat you to some pork belly. It's not like there are no pigs in this world."
"Ah…"
From those unexpected words, Sunhyuk's eyes opened widely.
"It's not like we forget the other world completely as well. So, do not misunderstand us."
Though she was somewhat free from the influence of dominance when she first arrived, while they were conversing, she was slowly being restored to her original state.
"Is that so? Then let me know."
Rather than crossing the line, he gave a sufficient reply. Then, as if stupefied by his response, she sneered once more before disappearing through the passage.
"I do appreciate it, but it's somewhat burdensome."
He was thankful to her for coming out of her way to warn him, but seeing a perfectly fine lady like her be toyed around by his dominance, not feeling too well about it, he sighed in the end.
Then, after some time, he heard knocking again.
'Ah. Who is it this time.'
In a castle where he knew no one, it hasn't been that long and he already had garnerd two guests. With an irritated face, he opened the door.
"I am Asha Trail, Royal Guard of the Royal Knights."
"Ah- um. Hello."
It was a stern, firm face without emotions as the lady announced that she was a Knight from the Royal Guards. With this unexpected visit, they exchanged greetings. But after inspecting him from top to bottom, the Royal Guard Asha asked.
"May I take a look around the room for a moment?"
"Yes. Go ahead."
Though she had disturbed him while he was resting, but this castle was possessed by the Royal Family. There was no reason for him to stop her from looking around the room.
"Then excuse me."
Receiving his permission, Asha and then another lady covered in a robe entered the room and began investigating.
In that time span, Sunhyuk looked out the door. All the Knights were flaunting identical, gold armors like Asha.
"What's with this situation?"
"Ah, nothing much, but there's something that we must confirm."
Asking with a puzzled look, she replied to him in an obnoxious tone. Then, the woman with a robe waved the room with her hand before frowning.
"Are you an Elementalist by any chance?"
From the abrupt question of the Magician, surprised; he shook his head.
"Strange. There was definitely a Spirit that was here…"
After rustling around the room, it seemed that they had discovered the trances of Atiya. After quickling thinking of a reply, he let them know that Yoojung had visited here.
"They are traces of Miss Ahn Yoojung. Well, it was quite impossible to think wind Spirits would be so common. I was just asking to confirm."
"But what are you guys really doing?"
With this unexpected visit and now being treated like a suspect, he started to feel displeased.
"There's nothing wrong here."
"No threatening magical traces here."
After searching through the whole room, Asha returned to the room, which the Magician replied to. Sunhyuk became increasingly annoyed that they were talking to each other as if he didn't exist, thus expressing his frustration.
"Has an item disappeared? So are you trying to catch a thief? If not, then what the hell are you doing now?"
"Excuse me. I was just being faithful to my mission, so please understand."
"What the hell is that mission…"
Sunhyuk was about to inquire before becoming agitated at the situation. He recalled that Asha had revealed herself as a Royal Guard of the Royal Knights. What else would a squad of that name do?
It was clear that she was a person of the Royal Family, and an influential figure for that matter.
While he was trying to prove out his estimation, he began to notice a girl approach him from afar through the line of Knights.
"Ah…"
It was the Princess who was wearing a lighter attire, but still dressed in a pure white dress.
"Do not find fault with them. All of this is due to my negligence of not informing you prior to this late visit at night."
Belatedly discovering the Princess, he hurriedly kneeled down to one knee.
"24th Regiment of the Heavy Cavalry, 3rd Squad Kim…"
"This is not an official place, so please refrain from excessive courtesy."
"I am quite sorry that I have intruded your rest from such a long journey."
She was still a Princess that spoke in a solemn, old-fashioned tone. However, this time, Sunhyuk was not deceived by her cute face. He just wanted to know the purpose of this sudden visit.
"I am honored."
After sensing the look of the Knights behind her, he reflexively answered. Maybe since he was using a formal tone that came out of those historical Korean drama, she blushed. However, thankfully, it wasn't the wrong response as the man who gave him that look showed a satisfied expression.
"To see you up this close, I am more and more impressed. I can tell that you are really talented individual with strength and robustness inside and out."
It was ridiculous to hear how such words could be spoken from a girl that was only about ten. Sunhyuk quickly bowed his head to hide his distorted expression, and was having a really difficult time suppressing his laughter.
"Yes. Do you like name of Drake Knight? Though it has not been officially recognized yet, but it is the title that I have named in regards to your abilities and achievements."
'So it was you!'
Momentarily, it felt like his legs and hands disappeared as he wanted to scream out and complain. Now he finally knew who had named him that immature title.
It was immature since it was named by a young child.
"I am thankful."
However, on the outside, all he can do was thank her. It was because the overwhelming pressure of the middle-aged Knight behind her was suffocating him. He could feel the crushing killing intent that could kill him with a single blow.
A complete monster.
Though he had fought hundreds of Sastane Cavalry, it was a kind of pressure that pales in comparison to that one man. Cold sweat continued to run down his spine as his whole body hardened. It was certain that he was one of the 'Superhumans' that Yoojung had mentioned.
"Though I tried to set up a ball to relieve your disappointment, but seeing that there are some sediments in your heart, I have directly come forth."
To be honest, it was because he was unaccustomed to such a grand parade and that embarrassing title, but the Princess seemed to think that his disappointment arose from him being assigned as a Basic Rank.
"That is not so. If I was not assigned to the 24th Regiment, I would not have met such comrades, and I would not be who I am right now."
He was wondering what use there was in speaking such words to a young child, but Sunhyuk changed his perspective from a young child to that of a Princess. Fortunately, she grasped his words quickly, and soon complimented him with a satisfied face.
"A rare character."
The Princess, finally relieved, rose from her seat. Then, with a short farewell, she disappeared.
To see her disappear as quickly as she appeared, Asha approached him and spoke.
"Regarding the visit of the Princess…"
"There is no one I can speak of this to."
After replying, Asha left the room.
"Ah. I'm going crazy."
"How was he in your view, Sir Reinhart?"
After leaving the room, the Princess spoke to the man behind her.
"It has been quite a long time since a young man was able to endure me with his head up."
Surprisingly, the man's answer was overly friendly but the contents were quite distressing for the Princess.
"If one were to look at him through mere ability, he would barely be a Knight. However, he's a someone with potential."
"That means…"
"Raise him well and keep him by your side."
From Reinhart's advice, the Princess nodded.
"Hopefully there will be a reward with this."
Then, she asked Asha and the Magician in turn for their opinions.
"At least he's not as blind as the other Strangers."
It was a strict evaluation, without much praise, but that was enough for the Princess to have a satisfied smile.
"I don't trust him at all."
It was the Magician who was solely negative towards the evaluation of Sunhyuk.
"You have doubts and have no faith, so I knew you would say that."
Reinhard chuckled and the female Magician was surprised, before replying seriously.
"It's not that. That person. He's hiding something."
"Tell me what it is."
Then, she began to explain what she had discovered while inside his room.
"There was definitely the scent of a Spirit. Though he mentioned that an Elementalist had visited his room, but it was a completely different feeling. It was as if he was unaware of the scent that was emanating from his body. From that, it's either that he is in possession of an object that is related to Spirits or he is an Elementalist himself and not a Dragon Rider."
"He's not an Elementalist, but a Dragon Rider."
"That's why it's so suspicious. To emanate a scent of a Spirit even though he's not an Elementalist."
As if there was some truth to those words, the Princess nodded.
"So what do you think I should do with him?"
From her question, Reinhart, Asha, and the Magician exchanged glances before harmoniously answering.
"Keep him by your side and monitor him."
After briefly pondering that harmonious answer, she spoke.
"Since tomorrow is the return ceremony, so I should keep him by my side and watch."
"That means?"
"There is no sweeter time to reveal a person's true nature than tomorrow's party. Riches, power, and even sex. If we keep him at a close distance, we will know what kind of person he truly is."
Unsuitable to her appearance of a small child was a solemn and firm voice.
"Assign an escort to him for tomorrow's party."
"I will do as you command! I will do my very best to ensure that nothing goes wrong."
From the Princess's declaration, the Royal Guards answered without hesitation.
TL Afterword:
Calvis: Basically, Sunhyuk was a frog in a well. I doubt he'll get the normal life he wishes (nor would we want him to have one LOL)
-shi and -nim is a formal reference to the person (usually ends as an added suffix to a name).
PR Afterword:
T0ngan: hmm -the games that nobles play are indeed fraught with dangers & hidden agendas…
Borderline Masochist: N/A
Translator: Calvis
Editor: T0ngan/Borderline Masochist