CH 50

After many conversations and events, their long march was finally over as Sunhyuk and the 24th Regiment soon arrived at the garrison.

"Ah, home is always the best."

Lying down on soft cushions of the high-quality beds which the Capital had generously provided, there was no end to the comforts that it furnished. However, if there was something wrong, it was because of the cheap bedrock that tens of soldiers had used, and that repulsive-smelling blanket. However, despite all that, Sunhyuk was able to finally relax.

"I'm never going to even think about going to the capital again. Tch!" "Damn, those people in the capital are more devious bastards than those Noctanes!"

One remembered the uproar that happened in that tavern, and another remembered the amount of stress that they had in dealing with that formal ball. There were various reasons, but what was clear was that the road to the Capital was a memorable one.

"You bastards! Shake off the dirt before coming in!"

After belatedly entering and coughing from the dust cloud, Clarke yelled. However, the men did not even bother getting up from their beds, as if they had reunited with their long lost lovers in a decade. Hugging their pillows tightly, they didn't even consider standing up.

As such, they barely crawled out of their beds at around evening meal. They threw down their old coats that they wore during the travel from the Royal family, and took out their new coats of the Drake Cavalry.

They were dark blue coats, which was one shade darker than the ones allowed for the border cavalry, and even had the replaced the number 24 on their shoulders with the Drake emblem.

"Let's go."

The appearance of the men were rather clean, as the cavalrymen all left their barracks as if they had made a promise with Clarke about it already.

The usual cranky men were marching like elite cavalry with a sense of honor as if they were heading into their final battle. However, after wearing their uniforms and spending so much time, all they did was take a walk around the garrison once.

"Ohoh! Drake Cavalry!" "The Sastane Slayer!" "It seems they have new uniforms?"

The passing soldiers cheered when they saw them, and even admired them at some point. The cavalrymen rose their heads up in a proudful manner, and sneakily overheard their conversations, being on alert to the surrounding conversations. Then, bearing an even more arrogant look, they circled the garrison once more.

"Did you see? How those foot soldiers had their eyes opened so wide?" "Mmm. Damn, this feeling is the best!"

It was certain that the reason why they had done this was to boast about their new uniforms surprising. Even then, they decided to circle the garrison without any reason whatsoever. If not, there was no reason for them to be delving into excitement over the reactions of the other soldiers.

After they talked excitedly for a while, they carefully took off their coats and hung them on the side of the camp. Then, as if they were still missing something, they proudly stared at their coats for a long time…

*****

However, the joy of returning didn't even last past a day. After being officially recognized with a squad name, that excitement ended the next day.

"Ah. I'm bored." "I'm being bored to death."

Their cavalry name had become Drake, and they had even received the title of Semi-knights, but nothing had changed in their normal lives. They were still part of the cavalry of the 24th Regiment, and the daily routines of their garrison was unbearably constant. Perhaps, it could be said that they had a much better time at the capital.

However, there was a reason why it had suddenly became busy, and that was due to Kim Sunhyuk.

"Leaving again?" "Yes."

Seeing him quietly leave, the cavalrymen all shook their heads.

"Take it easy. No matter how much a monster it is, don't annoy it too much." "I'm not even being a nuisance." "Bastard. If you had done that to the Widow Maker, she would have already ran away. How could someone called a Rider not cherish their partner?" "Yeah. With this much, he went through a lot, so give him some time."

The cavalry who didn't know the situation scolded him for bothering the Drake so much. Whether it was because the Drake had now become the symbol of the Drake Cavalry, or that it was truly pitiful, Sunhyuk had nothing to retort back. What they knew was that Sunhyuk's actions were almost breaching the point of animal cruelty.

Tremble.

The Goldrake who took a late nap, discovering his owner, trembled. Seeing this, he had nothing to say back to his comrades, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Let's go. Before we do anything, let's go grab you a nice meal."

With the Goldrake's obedience being at 100, even after hesitating, it lowered its back for him.

"Huh? Sunhyuk." "It's been a while, Jungtae Hyung."

While he was leaving the garrison, he saw a familiar face and slowed down, which happened to be Kang Jungtae.

"I heard that you returned, but now I finally see your face."

The last time he had seen him, was when he had just returned after the repercussions of that first battle, but it seemed that his face had fully recovered quite a lot since then. His tone of voice was so calm that he couldn't help but wonder if this was the same Kang Jungtae that he had spoken to last time.

"Yes. I was quite busy so I didn't have time to come see you. I'm sorry." "No, it's nothing. You must be busy. Ah, am I allowed to talk like this? I heard you received a title, and that you were knighted as well."

It was quite unfamiliar with this sudden attitude of not being looked down as inferior anymore.

"It's okay. It's just us so." "I'm glad you're talking like this."

Then the conversation ended like that. After a brief catch up from their longtime reunion, they had nothing further to say, so they just quietly stayed there for a while. At first, they relied on each other and were quite friendly, but it was troubling for him that their relationship had come to such a change in a few months.

"Hyung. I'll be going." "Sure. See you again. Also, your Drake is quite cool."

It was quite an empty statement without words as Sunhyuk turned his head over.

"Sunhyuk."

But it was then that Jungtae grabbed ahold of him once more.

"Don't you want to return? Don't you miss our world?!"

Such a bitter taste. After facing that reality, rather than overcoming the present and looking on into the future, Kang Jungtae had rather regressed back to the past. He couldn't help but pity his sense of grievance; for that peaceful life against this cold reality. But that was all. He couldn't no longer sympathize, or feel the same like him anymore.

Unlike them, he will not look back.

"Sunhyuk! You're a noble now! Help us! You have that strength now!"

The completely dejected Kang Jungtae collapsed on the ground and cried, but Sunhyuk regrettably began to leave.

"Get us out of this hellish place!"

*****

Due to his meeting with Kang Jungtae, Sunhyuk was not feeling necessarily well. After the Goldrake had finished it's meal, it had slowly walked over, but he was still in a dumbfounded state.

"Ah? You've finished? Let's go then."

After belatedly discovering the Goldrake, he rode on top of it.

"Today, let's just run."

Today, Sunhyuk wanted to forget everything and just ride. Thus, without making any further stops, he just sat on top of the Goldrake and wasted the time away riding through the plains.

"Whew. It seems I've truly become a Rider. I'm starting to destress just from this."

After running for quite a while, his complicated mind was slowly clearing. So this was why people went for drives. Riding absentmindedly was much more effective than he had thought.

"Hmm?"

But the problem was that he was too careless. He had thought that the vicinity of the garrison was quite complicated, but the rugged hills and plains in front of him was a place that he had never seen before.

"You, where exactly did you go?"

He grabbed his reins, but it ignored its words. It was the first time that the Goldrake had so blatantly ignored his orders after its obedience had reached a hundred.

"Hey! Are you angry because you've been bothered too much? I'll be gentler next time…"

He tried to settle it down and also comfort it, however the Goldrake didn't stop his forward momentum towards the hills.

"What is this…?"

It was a familiar feeling that made his whole body itchy. It was like the first day where he had first discovered the wind attribute. However, it wasn't the wind attribute. Unlike that soft, clear, light feeling from the wind attribute, he had a strange feeling which was heavier and suppressing.

"Earth attribute?"

There could be no other reason. It was Earth or wind, since those were the only two auras he possessed, and it was clearly not wind.

Kereeeeeeeung.

As if it was replying to its thoughts, the Goldrake lowly cried.

"Are you saying that you felt the aura and came all the way here?"

This time, the Goldrake did not show any response. Rather, it quickly hastened its speed towards the top of the hills.

Then, the Drake suddenly fell flat on the ground. His body leapt into the air, nearly being crushed by that large body.

"Oh my, you're really…"

After making his master fall onto the ground, he looked at the Drake with an astounded face, but then a sudden message was heard in his head.

[Earth vein has been discovered.] [The Earth vapor of the Earth vein is a natural location that provides excellent nutrients for the Drake.] [The attribute dominance that was in a bottleneck has been broken and is accelerating once again.]

[Attribute (Earth) increased by 1.] [Attribute (Earth) increased by 1.] [Attribute (Earth) increased by 1.]

What did it mean by an Earth vapor and an Earth vein. While he was trying to organize his thoughts, his attribute dominance had risen to 30 at a single breath.

[Attribute (Earth) increased by 1.] [Attribute (Earth) increased by 1.]

However, the messages did not stop there, as it continued to rise and soon arrive at 40. And once it hit 40, the growth stopped like a lie.

[Earth Attribute dominance has increased from 22 to 40 at once.] [Due to the increase in Earth Attribute dominance, you can call for the aura of the attribute.] [The attribute will now apply to certain weapons.] [Now you can can activate the attribute's aura into weapons. Your armor has become firmer.]

As his message was reaching its end, the Goldrake who was rubbing its body on the ground suddenly rose.

The Drake then suddenly rose from his spot with a burp, causing the surprised Sunhyuk to quickly open his Status Window.

He had wondered just in case, but it seemed that the Drake was certainly feeling full. He had finally discovered the solution of the food situation for the monster who would feel hungry even after eating a large cow.

What useless actions. Not even knowing that Earth veins were its natural food supply, he kept feeding it such things, so no wonder it never felt truly full. After belatedly realizing this, he frowned. Burp.

Not knowing his thoughts, the Goldrake happily continued to burp.

TL Afterword:

Calvis: LOL, even I thought that he just had a large appetite.

Editor Afterword: T0ngan: Does this mean that Goldrake is a natural born gold mine scanner? OUR 50th CHAPTER!!! Borderline Masochist:  N/A

Translator: Calvis Editor:  T0ngan/Borderline Masochist