Dragon Poor Chapter 23

"You don't have to glare at Frederik like that. I have accompanied the 24th Regiment in battle several times. I do agree that they are a reliable cavalry, but I know better than anyone else that they could not fight and attain victory against the Sastanes head to head."

Seeing his appearance, it seems that the overwhelmingly superior achievements in the battlefield had caught the General's suspicions.

"If you are concerned about the interest of the Royal Family, then I want you to be frank with me and say so. I also do not want to see individuals such as yourself withdrawn from the front lines. It's already hectic enough as it is with all the activities which are happening around the borders."

Sunhyuk sighed, before recollecting his thoughts. In the end, his secret had leaked out to another person, but nothing had changed. Is it because he also wishes to share in the glory of these accomplishments? Besides, other than himself, there would be no disadvantage to having a few people share in the achievements from that battle.

"I ask of you to please keep my promise."

Of course, all that he wanted right now was to keep this a secret. Staring straight at Frederik, the General then added.

"What a straightforward friend. There has never been a Rider who demanded something from me this boldly before."
"With this friend being a Stranger, and also having been enclosed in the garrison all this time, he does not really know the riches of the world."
"No. No. I'm not trying to fault him. A soldier who stands on the forefront should have at least some ambition. Maybe it's due to the fact that all of the useful talents were all swept away from the borders, but I was starting to become a little frustrated anyways."

Seeing the Commander and Captain leisurely evaluating him, Sunhyuk quickly rolled his head. Roughly estimating things, it seems that the Commander was disappointed with the current talent he was assigned with. If he could talk it out well, he could probably receive more compensation including the promise he was given from the Captain.

"I heard that you had a deal with the Captain. I was thinking of proposing another suggestion."

After the Captain and the Commander were talking about young people nowadays, he belatedly spoke his condition.

"Can you take care of the remaining Sastanes? Are you able to do it?"

Whether it was a possibility or not, it was something that he must do. Despite knowing the notoriety of the Sastanes, he wasn't sure if a victory was enough to immediately settle his relationship with the Royal Family.

"Is there anything that you want from me, Commander?"

However, he was reluctant to receive the proposition of the Commander as well. So, he decided to inquire on his opponent's intention.

"Victory. The name of the Sastanes erased. That is what I want."

He was so surprised to have been given a simple answer that his eyes became round, as the Commander chuckled.

"It's not strange for a soldier to want victory. And I do not need any more honor or accomplishments anymore. I have kept my position for over a decade, so I've had my fill and  already enjoyed it. So, I will let all of this glory be taken by you."
"What I want is only practical things."

He had already made a contract with Captain Frederick. To assign all of the glory and honor of victory in the Captain's name instead of himself, in exchange for the goods and profits arising from it. In the process, he could stockpile wealth and riches so that he could prepare for other hardships and debt in the future. But the Commander stated that he should even take the glory as well. That was why he was forced to shake his head.

"I have already heard of the contents from that friend, however, a true soldier shouldn't snatch the accomplishments of his subordinate. If I had not known, then maybe, but since I'm aware of it, I will never allow such an undertaking to happen before I die."

However, unlike the first time they met, the Commander was quite firm and stern.

"Ugh."

With a sickening look aimed towards the Captain, the Commander continued.

"All that my friend needs is a bit of fame and achievement for his promotion. Just that much, I can handle things on my own. Besides, I desire my valuable friend to rise into an Advanced Knight not through taking the accomplishments of his subordinate."

It was a plausible fact, and also held reprimand against Frederik.

"As such, I was thinking of reporting your accomplishments as it is. The fact that you charged against the Sastanes and broke the backs of dozens, killing countless enemies. It is indeed a very rare display. With such a result, you should be able to be receive the title of Knight Bachelor at the very least."
"However, if so, then the Royal Family…" (PR: )

He must avoid the attention of the Royal Family. It would be bizarre to pledge loyalty as a foreigner, and he also had much less desire to devote his service and loyalty to the Royal Family of this unfamiliar Kingdom, which was not of his own world.

"Do not worry. By the time this war is over, you will be able to repay all of your debt to the Royal Family, as long as you erase the name of the Sastanes. If you wish, you can work as an officer debt-free in the military as well. In any case, the situation will be completely different from now."

Sunhyuk sighed again once more. It was because he was able to belatedly grasp the message the Commander was implying.

Just because there is no desire doesn't mean there is no greed. He was saying this purely because he did not want to lose the most competent soldier dispatched to the borders.

"Of course, that is if you are able to completely erase the name of the Sastane like I have suggested, but I'm confident that you can achieve it. With this much ability, there's a reason why that strict friend over there was trying to have you under his name."

With such an intriguing argument entering his ears, he had unawaringly been swept into the plans of the Commander. Knowing the truth, he had decided to listen to the conditions and contents he needed to learn.

"So what do I receive if I do this?"

The Commander left his seat first. It was due to him that many soldiers were not able to enjoy themselves properly. This was the ideal appearance of a superior, and if Sunhyuk were to have been born of this world, then he might have honestly wanted to pursue becoming a true Commander. However, he had been forcefully summoned to this place from the other world and was labelled as a Stranger, so it would be quite a nuisance, and a bother for him to deal with soldiers such as himself.

"Well, I still obtain everything I wanted…"

With the subject of the transaction changing to a Commander, who was several military positions higher, he was able to garner many benefits. Although the honor, which he did not desire, would eventually come under his name, there was no reason to unceremoniously refuse the benefits when the tide was already flowing this way.
Whether he would be officially a Rider, or knighted as a Knight Bachelor, the results will not change.

"You've been talking to the Commander for a very long time. What did you guys talk about to drag out such a long conversation?"

When he returned to his seat, the cavalrymen rushed over and curiously asked. Seeing their reddened cheeks, it seems they were quite drunk already.

Certainly, these people were not normal.

In the other the world, you would have to keep eating and drinking if the Captain orders you to, but it was admirable seeing their tolerance of alcohol.

"It's just that, after these accomplishments, I might receive the title of Knight Bachelor. If so, then I will be higher than the Sergeant. What to do?"

To make a joke like this, the cavalry began to chuckle.

"That's not possible. You little child."

Asking why they were so confident in saying that, Jonathan replied.

"Do you think it's possible to maintain, and purchase an expensive military horse like that if you were a commoner?"
"Th, then…"
"If it's the Knight Bachelor title, then we already are that. You stupid idiot."

The cavalrymen giggled at his grim face. They may all be at the lowest tip of the rank, but they just did not have the typical stances and appearances and successions of a noble.

"Impossible."

When the image of nobles being graceful and dignified had completely collapsed in his mind, he cried out, causing the cavalrymen to pat his back and and clap.

"What's so strange of us having been from noble families?"

Hansen, whose front teeth were missing, asked as he stumbled out front, causing Sunhyuk to subconsciously protest.

"Hansen is the strangest!"

He soon rose from the drinking place. Though they drank quite a bit, the soldiers did not forget that they were at a fortress near the border, so there was none who were fully drunk.
Among them, Sunhyuk wasn't even able to drink a single glass, due to being monitored by his comrades after that previous outburst, and was completely sober.

"Damn, they won't even let me have a single sip."

However, he had nothing to say because of his sins.

"Those guys are already asleep."

He shook his head and closed his eyes, seeing the burly men snoring and falling into sleep relatively quickly.

But, sleep did not come. It may have been because he excessively utilized his strength on his first day, but he was able to sleep oblivious to the world around him then, but luck did not shine down on him that night.

"Ugh…"

Closing his eyes, those frightening, clear images of the battlefield shrouded his memories. And so, he suffered under the immense resentment of that devilish battlefield, as it clung onto him like a lion.

I'm sorry. However, that is also one of the rules of this world.

Despite apologizing for his guilt, it didn't reach the scattered souls who were already dead. Thus, he struggled and resisted the nightmares that plagued his mind.

As long as he was resolute in surviving using whatever means necessary, it was a burden he knew he had to carry on with. Thus, biting his lips, he endured the night.

The moment dawn broke, the cavalrymen disorderly rose from their seats and began preparing their horses and equipment. Sunhyuk, who had spent the whole night awake, also followed them to the stables. Due to forcibly pushing the horses through rigorous stretch of galloping, they were fatigued for quite a while, but whether it was person or horse, it seemed that they were finally able to recover their vitality and exhaustion.

"Snow White. Did you sleep well?"
"Crazy bastard. The Widow Maker probably won't even recognize that name."

The cavalrymen retorted as they saw him stroking the pure, white horse. It seems that even they were very antagonistic to that name. Seeing that the mare did not reply to her ridiculous name, he had no choice but to call her Stella once again.

"Even so, the guys at Mengsk are working too hard. They've already took care of all our horses in that short time span already."

Confirming that the horses' conditions were good, they left the stables.

"Where are you going?"
"Just trust your Hyung and come along."

Hansen's tone of voice was somewhat excited.

"If you follow obediently, I'll bring you to a nice place."

Seeing that familiar appearance to when they went for an outing the first time, Sunhyuk couldn't believe it at first. But, it really was true.

"Seriously, but it's daylight?!"
"Bastard! For a soldier, there's no daylight! If you're awake, then it's daylight!"

Unlike the garrison of the 24th Regiment, there were several bars located around the fortress, and amongst them, there was a suspicious one.

"I heard you claimed great achievements this time?"

At that time, a very cute but grateful voice was heard, but Sunhyuk wondered why his chest was fluttering.

"Hey, it's been a while, but you've become even prettier. My Emma."
"And you've become even uglier, Hansen. You've come back dropping your teeth here and there it seems."

Emma, with her long brown hair tied up, modestly fired remarks at Hansen, as she shook her hand. Then suddenly, she made eye contact with Sunhyuk, causing him to become unable to maintain such a gaze.

"It's a face I haven't seen before."

It seems that she has survived and endured within this area, where women are uncommon. She had a robe that completely wrapped around her body, and unlike when he saw Eunse, he felt a different feeling pounding his heart.

"He's our youngest, so take care of him. Before he came here, he was in a place where women were hard to come by. If possible, maybe our Emma will help embracing…. Ahhhk!"

After crossing the line with that joke, a yelp soon followed. With a heavy wooden tray, she was hitting the back of Hansen's head as he quieted down. Then, the woman called Emma silently approached him and and spoke.

"Black hair… Stranger?"

TL Afterword: 

Calvis:  Yes, that damn Captain won't take all his credit now. Frederik is too cunning and sly. Sadly, Commander knows him best.

TL Notice: N/A

PR Afterword:

Sai101: Surprising twist of the fates there for MC.

BM: Why do I get the suspicious feeling that his nightmares will only get worse, he will start to date that woman, and that woman will die a painful death worse than ten thousand needles slowly poking holes into each and every one of your orifices.

Translator: Calvis
Proofreader: Sai101,Borderline Masochist

Chapter end