âAre we really doing this?â
The newcomer seemed to be asking if they could keep up. Clark laughed with a dumbfounded expression after hearing his question.
âHe couldnât possibly be hiding that much power.â
Clark had experience charging into battle with arrogant knights and being led by senior riders. Never once did he feel overwhelmed by their abilities. If nothing else, he was confident that they, the heavy cavalry, were the best on horseback.
The foreigner currently charging in the vanguard was not focused on destructive power at the expense of speed like the knights, but at the same time, he didnât only focus on speed like the light cavalry. He was fast but steady, exemplifying the ideals of the heavy cavalry.
If that had been it, however, Clarkâs pride would not have been so completely shattered. The newcomerâs charge had more to it.
It was this unknown factor that widened the gap between the foreigner and the riders in the rear. How could he be so fast?
Clark thought Kim Seon-Hyeok had reached his top speed, but he effortlessly broke past his limits and continued to accelerate.
Was the Widowmaker that great of a horse?
Clark shook his head in response to his own question. No matter how fast a horse was, it couldnât possibly run like that while fully equipped and carrying an armored rider. The foreignerâs charge was clearly abnormal.
Clark gritted his teeth and spurred his horse on. At this rate, the second line would end up lagging far behind. He and the other riders didnât want such a shameful spectacle to be associated with them, so they desperately charged forward.
However, they had reached their limit.
They couldnât keep up with that monster of a newcomer. It was unreasonable to keep up this pace. One mistake could mean catastrophic injuries for the entire unit, and not just a failed charge.
Clarkâs pride was hurt, but he needed to make a decision. Just as he was about to give the signal, something unexpected happened.
The tremendous pressure from the front seemed to suddenly dissipate, and the gale winds disappeared as though it had all been a lie. With that, the foreigner further increased his speed.
The world behind the foreigner clutching his spear was completely distorted. He was even tearing apart the wind blowing from the front. At that moment, Kim Seon-Hyeok became the shield that blocked the wind and the massive spear that would pierce the enemy ranks.
âThatâs ridiculous!â
The spear tore through the air as Clark blurted out those words.
âWhoa, whoa. Settle down. Good girl.â
With a satisfied expression, Kim Seon-Hyeok calmed down Stella, who was breathing roughly as if feeling the effects of the charge. He looked back to the area his spear had passed through.
The training dummies, hastily set in preparation for training, were completely destroyed, and the hard earth was marred by a hideous mark.
These were the traces left behind by the dragon riderâs special skill, Wind Piercing.
Clark approached and commented as Kim Seon-Hyeok marveled over his handiwork.
He couldnât identify the emotions contained in the muffled voice coming from under Clarkâs helmet. However, his shock was unmistakable.
âYou did tell me to go all out.â
Kim Seon-Hyeokâs heart pounded at the realization that this was the first time he had demonstrated the true abilities of a dragon rider to others, and he was filled with pride.
The dayâs training ended immediately. Clark led the cavalry to a village near the border.
The riders would normally be excited at the prospect of spending a night outside their garrison, but on that day, they were silent.
âAigoo. Weâre honored to have such valued guestsâŠâ
Frightened by the subdued atmosphere, the village chief came out to greet them, but nobody paid him any attention. They were still in shock over the foreignerâs display of strength.
âWow, how long has it been since we had a drink?â
Only the new recruits were talking excitedly. However, the rest of the riders were not the type to worry about anything for a long time. As expected of a poor village, the food and alcohol provided by the chief wasnât particularly great, but it was sufficient to lift the atmosphere.
Hansen slammed down on the table and rose after gulping down an entire bottle.
âWho the hell are you? Are all the foreigners like that? Normally?â
Hansen was musclebrained and anything but eloquent even when sober. His question now was hardly intelligible.
However, the jumbled question was representative of the complicated emotions felt by the cavalry.
âYou bastard. Weâve been riding horses ever since we were born. So who the hell are you!â
Hansenâs feelings of futility and deprivation were evident in his screams. His comments contained antipathy towards the foreigners, who were able to easily improve and become stronger.
âThe vanguard is the most dangerous position, but itâs also the most glorious.â
Jonasson spoke up in Hansenâs place.
âItâs an important task â to lead the riders from the front and be the first to charge into the enemy ranks.â
It was the most valued position because it was the most dangerous, and it was the pride of the heavy cavalry. However, their pride had been shattered today by the unimaginable charge of the newcomer. Everything they considered to be important became meaningless in front of this display of strength.
Putting your life on the line? What a joke. Intense training, military discipline, etc. â it was all useless against that kind of power.
They all felt this way, and it wasnât solely directed at this foreigner. To some extent, the common people all rejected these superhuman beings, whether they became knights or mages.
âWe trained our entire lives for that one honor. But watching you, it made all of our efforts until now seem meaninglessâŠâ
At that moment, the newcomer jumped up from his seat and shouted.
âYou piece of shit. Do you think Iâm here because I want to be? You told me to show off my strength, so why are you complaining now?â
The ridersâ eyes grew wide upon seeing the foreigner be emotional for the first time.
âSo what? Youâve been training on horseback since you were born? You think I was just handed these abilities? I havenât had a single day without bloodstains or blisters since Iâve been here. I trained like my life depended on it even while you all slept!â
The others could sense the foreignerâs feelings of victimization as he cursed at them with a red face.
âThatâs nothingâŠâ
âOh, shut up and listen. Have you ever thought about my situation? Why was I dragged here and made to do this shit? Did any of you even wonder what my life was like before this?â
The riders shut their mouths when they heard the foreigner bring up the other world.
âEffort? Effort? Okay. You think I havenât tried? But all the things I worked for in the other world are useless here. Do you know how it feels to lose everything and start from the beginning?â
None of them had ever considered that the foreigners in this world used to be common people in their own world. They simply treated them as individuals who lucked into their skills and classes, and thus were able to live comfortably.
âFuck off. You can have it all if youâre so jealous. Just leave me alone.â
The foreignerâs voice died down.
âThat bastardâs drunk.â
Jonasson muttered at the sight of the newcomer, who collapsed onto the table and remained motionless.
âAh, why did I say that to someone whoâs drunk.â
Even as he uttered those words, Jonassonâs expression remained complicated. His eyes, previously filled with animosity, had softened, and his earlier feelings of futility and deprivation were gone.
The foreigner, who had seemingly collapsed, suddenly jumped up again.
âCome at me. I was a fucking sergeant in the Korean army!â
Jonasson was hit by the newcomerâs fist before he had time to react.
âLetâs all die here today!â
The foreignerâs eyes were completely crazed.
Kim Seon-Hyeok groaned in pain. Used to the higher quality alcohol from the other world, he had a huge hangover from the crude, stronger drinks here.
However, he couldnât afford to roll around in pain. His face paled as he remembered the events of the previous day. He recalled the harsh words he said while drunk, but everything after that was blank. Kim Seon-Hyeok couldnât help but be nervous.
âYou, you son of a bitchâŠ.â
At that moment, Jonasson opened the door and came in. His face was a complete mess, with splotches of black and blue.
âDonât ever drink again.â
After being quickly briefed on the previous dayâs events, Kim Seon-Hyeok immediately went to the hall where Clark and the other riders had gathered and bowed his head. He couldnât look at their faces, which were all tinged red, blue, and yellow like autumn leaves.
âWhat are you doing? You drank so much yesterday â you need to take care of that hangover.â
Surprisingly, the gazes of the riders werenât particularly fierce. Clark smirked as Kim Seon-Hyeok confusedly approached and sat down at the table.
âSeems like you have a pretty nice jab?â
Kim Seon-Hyeok apologized again, not able to look at Clarkâs swollen face, but the captain simply waved his hand.
âHey, shit happens when guys drink together.â
It seemed as though they didnât have lingering emotions from the previous nightâs events. Kim Seon-Hyeok belatedly realized this and sighed in relief, and Hansen wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
âHey. Let us know if youâre having a hard time.â
Hansen was missing his front teeth.
âThank you for your hospitality.â
The village chief was particularly awkward around Kim Seon-Hyeok. After all, he was the one who acted like a rabid dog in the previous nightâs brawl.
âOh, and this is for breaking some things while I was drunkâŠâ
âAigoo! Thereâs no need! Itâs understandable. Things can happen when men drink. You really donât need toâŠâ
Dozens of giant riders had attempted to restrain Kim Seon-Hyeok the night before, and they were all beaten into a pulp. Having witnessed this, the chief couldnât carelessly respond to the polite-faced foreigner speaking to him now.
âMake sure nobody hears about the events from yesterday.â
In addition, the chief had already received plenty of compensation from the leader of the group. The man had asked him to keep quiet about the previous dayâs brawl â or rather, the one-sided beating â and the chief had given his word.
âDonât worry about it. Weâre just fortunate that such valiant men are guarding our borders.â
Kim Seon-Hyeok tilted his head at the chiefâs words.
Oh, I guess people in this world are tolerant of what people do while drunk?
Having reached his own conclusion, he said his farewells to the chief and returned to the cavalryâs quarters.
âYouâll take the vanguard in the future, Seon-Hyeok.â
Kim Seon-Hyeokâs eyes widened at Clarkâs declaration.