If the wind attribute were to have lightened the body, then the Earth attribute made the body firmer and heavier. It was incompatible to the attribute that he had used so far, so it was a stretch to try and apply it in practice immediately. In order to properly utilize this strength, he probably needed a lot of time and effort.
After that day, Sunhyuk began to look for Earth veins. However, asides from the vein that he had discovered on that hill, he could not find a place that had such overflowing richness anywhere. It seems that his first day was quite a lucky coincidence.
"Ha. It's sleeping again."
Once their search for Earth veins were over, Goldrake soon lied down with its belly on the ground full of satisfaction. Despite being so joyful, he would sometimes wake up in worry and stare at Goldrake before sleeping again.
Maybe it was due to the minimal movement, but the Goldrake who would usually yearn for food due to hunger maintained satisfaction for about a week.
As a result, Sunhyuk was able to enjoy his freedom and relieve himself from the pressure of hunting.
Sunhyuk immediately withdrew Stella from the stables, and rode out on the plains after a long time. It did not take long for the wagging body of the Drake to soon adapt to the rugged rush of the horse. Its gait was awkward only temporarily.
"Hmm. Stella is definitely more comfortable to ride on than Goldy."
It wasn't even a comparison of comforts, considering what he felt on the horse's smooth gallop in comparison to the straightforward charge of Goldrake, causing his butt to jump up and down. It was also a burdensome matter that he had fully become a Rider, after trying to attempt charging on top of Goldrake's back.
As a result, he could feel a different sensation from what he felt; when charging on the Goldrake in comparison to Stella. Just like how he was familiar with training in with all kinds of weapons with a high intensity.
"Hiya!"
Thrusting the spear out, he lifted out his shield before slicing the air with the sword down. His amazing, flexible movements, after Sunhyuk had sweated for quite a while, he soon demounted from Stella.
"Sunhyuk."
It was at this time that Clarke came and broached him.
"It seems that you've been training after a long while."
"Yes. Since I did ride her originally, I am much more used to her."
"Well, just by looking at it, I can tell that it'll be a difficult task to thrust the spear on top of that Drake."
After a brief, small conversation, Clarke spoke about the purpose of his visit.
"The Colonel is looking for you."
"Ah, the Colonel and not the Captain?"
If nothing else, the conversation will probably be business-related, so Sunhyuk began to become curious at the Colonel's summons.
"Go on. Though he told you to come when it's comfortable for you, but I think it's best if you go earlier."
Even if he had not said it, I was going to visit him out of curiosity anyways. Then, soon parting away from Clarke, he immediately headed for the Colonel's office.
"I have come to the Colonel's office for business."
"Oho. You've come early. Come in."
After knocking at the door and stating his purpose, the Colonel whose voice he was able to distinguish welcomed him.
"I heard that you were looking for me…"
"I had something to say to you, and also wanted to give my regards, so I called for you."
The Colonel soon rose from his seat and sat Sunhyuk down in the guest table in front of him. Even with that stressful action, he did not stop and even brought a warm drink for him to drink out of hospitality.
"Yes. Since you desired it, I had decided to leave it be and watch; however, how long can a Viscount use a tent with everyone else? If you want, I can prepare another tent for you.
Now he finally knew why the attitude of the Colonel was like this. He had forgotten, but he was now a noble, and it was the Colonel who had even stepped forward and passed him an estate to keep him by his side. If his attitude was like before, that itself would be strange.
"Thank you."
It wasn't easy to use the lodge along with his other comrades with their large bodies. The reason why he had not requested for a separate tent was because he might be misunderstood by Captain Frederick for doing so, but since the Colonel had offered first, he would accept this proposition.
"Okay. Is there anything else that's uncomfortable?"
"Yes. Thanks to Colonel, I am spending my time here very well."
After that, the Colonel continued to ask if there was nothing uncomfortable, or anything else that he wanted.
"If anything else, if I could have some snacks…"
"Well, you can't eat rice forever."
If it were before, he might not have asked, but after rising to the title of Viscount, recalling back to his days as a Sergeant, he asked for this and that, and the Colonel accepted all of his requests.
"Okay. If there's anything that's uncomfortable, come find me and speak to me. The reason why I called you here was."
When he was about to sip the drink that the Colonel had prepared, he had finally brought out the purpose of this call.
"The Commander wants to see you for a bit. Do you know if it's because of the promise you had with him before, or do you know something else?"
"Ah…"
He had forgotten. Since he was riding Goldrake and exploring everywhere, after the colonel spoke, he remembered the promise he made with the Commander.
'As the Supreme Commander of the Border Defense of the Western Front for the Kingdom of Ardenburg, I, Bittenfeld Roen Mengsk will assign the Stranger: Kim Sunhyuk. A portion of my fief permanently as a concession. This is a sanctioned right, guaranteed by the Royal Family in reference to an agreement signed with the Mengsk Family, and a legitimate condition that no one can object to.'
In exchange for the condition that he would not leave the kingdom, the Commander had promised that he would give a part of his estate. Not only that, he had also received a title of nobility as well.
To now remember that important promise, Sunhyuk slowly realized his surprising ignorance.
"It seems that you remembered something."
"The Commander did promise to me that he would give me a fief."
Since there was really no point in hiding this matter, he answered truthfully, causing the Colonel to answer excitedly.
"Ohoh! A fief you say! You've become a true noble."
Even with the same title, it seems that there was a stark difference between having an estate and not having one. Although the Colonel also had a title of nobility above Sunhyuk's, but he said that he was basically close to being a delegate of the the Border Defense of the Western Front.
"This, this. I'm worried if I had done something hateful to you."
And thus after he had spoke this promise of receiving the fief, his attitude changed considerably. Now, he even had admiration in his voice, causing Sunhyuk to feel very unfamiliar with him.
"If it's such good news, go ahead immediately. You must go and accept it even a day sooner to become a true noble, isn't that right?"
The Colonel quickly finished the papers, and thanks to him, Sunhyuk was now able to leave the garrison for Mengsk Fortress whenever he wanted.
"What did the Colonel say?"
"Well, he probably was friendly to him. He's not as excessive as that Ahjussi Captain, but he does treat those with a bit of background well."
Once he entered the tent, his comrades scarily surrounded him and inquired. Sunhyuk then quietly put out the snacks out in front before they proceeded any further.
"Ohoh. Looks like my mouth will be in for a treat. Nice! So this is how much you can gain from uplifting one of your people."
There was a saying that there were no humble soldier in front of snacks, as the Riders rubbed their hands in glee. However, before they started, Sunhyuk brought out the paper and shook it.
"What's this?"
"Huh? What. This… The Colonel's stamp is on it."
Then after briefly staring at the shaking paper, soon their eyes became wide open.
"You, surely not…"
Sunhyuk, watching their faces, vaunted himself one step higher.
"Yes. Paid leave. The duration is one month, and it doesn't matter where I go, even to the restricted zones in the Western Front. But, I can only take exactly three people."
"Me!"
"Me! Me! Me!"
As if he had produced a miracle, the men quickly clung onto him.
"Who do I take with me…"
From his words, the excited men quickly began to state their reasons of why they had to leave. There were some that approached him and massaged his shoulders, and also others that tried to share stories that weren't really sympathizing.
In the end, he had decided on leaving with Hansen, Jonathan, and Jackson. Since Clarke was currently in charge of the new recruits, he could not go together with him. As a result, he had selected the new recruit in Jackson who was well-behaved. Since he couldn't bring Clarke with him, it was better to bring a recruit that was comfortable to order around.
"Ah, I will do my very best full of loyalty!"
Jackson was extremely moved by the display of comradery and emotion after learning that he would be able to go on a leave along with his admirable seniors. Seeing his somewhat nervous salute, Sunhyuk replied instead with a chuckle.
"Loyalty is something that's reserved for the Royal Family, you just do well on what you're ordered to do."
From Jackson's exclamation, Hansen and Jonathan replied before stacking up luggage on top of his back.
"Huh? It was said that they hadn't made spare clothes, and so they had stated that you should wear it sparingly."
"Idiot. Why do you think the Colonel had given three passes of a paid leave which is a rarity by itself. It's an escort. In other words, until we arrive at Mengsk Fortress and finish the mission, we three are basically your guards."
"Do you think we'd just fall down? We do have a title at least."
Listening to it, their words did have some logic. Sunhyuk was now not a normal Rider, but a noble with a rank, which was why the Colonel had come out and had even provided him escorts, which was somewhat problematic due to his high hospitality.
"Didn't you just want to wear that?"
However, he admitted that he was still puzzled by their obsession over their uniforms.
"Ah. I just have a regular uniform…"
"What's so important about uniform. It's the person. Don't concern yourself with such useless matters."
It wasn't something that Hansen should say after wearing his new uniform, but since no one was going to go back and get him an original one, the rest just laughed.
Sunhyuk, who was about to head for Mengsk Fortress, met an unexpected complication. If he were to ride Stella, there was the problem with the beast and its hunger, so he tried to bring Goldrake, but he wouldn't wake up.
"Wake upppppppppp!"
No matter how much he tried, the Goldrake would blink a few times before showing no hint of getting up.
He had initially wondered if there was a problem, but hearing its louds snores, it wasn't that either. As a result, he had decided to wait several days before the Goldrake hungered once more.
And on the fourth day, the Goldrake who would be sleeping all day rose up.
"Huh?"
However, the vicinity around the Goldrake became a complete disaster.
"Waaaaah! What is this."
"Holy shit.
Hansen and Jonathan who were now just waiting for them to depart from the garrison were flabbergasted when they saw all of these scales.
"Could it be…"
From that, Sunhyuk went over and picked up one of the coated scales . And then, his eyes were eye open.
"It's shedding?"
Whenever the Goldrake had made a mess around it's area with the shedding of the old scales, it was a symbol of growth. Realizing the truth, he turned around and as if it was proud of its growth, there stood the Goldrake with its head up high and mighty.
Clank.
Then, the armor that the Princess had so carefully arranged to match for the Drake soon fell onto the ground. As a result, the Goldrake looked firmer and stronger than before.
"You, you've grown."
Kereeeeeeung.
It made a low growl. It wasn't just the sunshine that made the scales of the Goldrake glow like complete gold.
The Goldrake had become larger, and slightly stronger. It had become larger so that he could now look down on a horse above it, and the strength of its hind legs were much more powerful as well. Of course, its speed was faster, and now it wasn't lacking as much in a full sprint in comparison to the horses.
"You cutie. How nice of you to grow by yourself."
Sunhyuk showed an affectionate face after thinking that the Earth vein had something to do with the Goldrake's growth. However, if there was a problem, it was that as large as its frame was, the trembling was several times more intense on top of it.
However, that did not stop their daily routines. As planned, he woke Goldrake up, and with Hansen, Jonathan and Jackson with their horses, they departed together.
"First, we will go to the Fortress and finish our business, and we will play after."
As if they had already knew about the whole situation, Hansen and Jonathan did not show expressions of surprise or opinion. Jackson however, didn't have the right to say his opinion in the beginning, so they soon immediately headed out for Mengsk Fortress.
"You're much later than I thought. I had assumed you would come immediately."
"There was a complication along the way."
The Commander welcomed him as if he was waiting, and soon spoke his purpose for calling him in a straightforward manner.
"The fief I can give to you is one of these three places. You can choose yourself."
The Commander, with a detailed map of the Western Front, soon pointed into several places. However, all that was there on the map was symbols of a river, or a mountain, so he could not decide from seeing this in the start.
Then, the Commander agreed to have guides accompany him and allow him to directly see the fiefs before his selection. Sunhyuk, who also thought that it was best to look in person, accepted the Commander's offer.
"That's that…"
Then, after finishing speaking the purpose of his call, stared at him before asking.
"Now that you are a noble and a Knight, isn't it slowly about time for you to have a vassals?"
TL Afterword:
Calvis: I think Yoojung will apply for this position first lol!
Editor Afterword:
T0ngan: Wow! The building of a fief begins.. $$$ on the mountain for his fiefdom..
Translator: Calvis
Editor: T0ngan