Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.27 – The Knight Doesn't Want to Return to Duty (4)
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"-The Eighth Prince, ah, no, the commander of the First Knight Order was that 'White Lion'.... What a surprise."
The rookie knight who had joined this year blinked in astonishment upon learning this new fact.
As if he could never have dreamed that a royal of all people would be in the knight order.
The man who appeared to be a senior knight nodded in understanding of his feelings.
"Rookies are always shocked, it seems. But it's not that rare. Plenty of royals join knight orders, whether people know it or not. Especially the First Knight Order."
"...The Royalist Faction."
"Exactly. The First Knight Order is made up of Royalist nobles, so to lead them, you need to be royalty or high nobility at least. They say the key positions in the First have always been held by royals down the generations. ...Though it's rare for one to rise all the way to commander."
"He must have incredible skill."
"What, you want to cross swords with him?"
"......Once or twice."
"Hahaha! Honest, at least."
The senior knight burst out laughing at his junior's bold declaration of wanting to face a royal.
It wasn't mockery of the junior's audacity.
On the contrary, that burning competitive spirit was something to praise.
Besides...
'A true expert's audacity isn't audacity at all—it's the expression of confidence. This guy's got what it takes.'
As far as he knew, the junior standing before him was the top talent among this year's recruits.
He never skipped training even for a day, to the point where rumors said few in the Third Knight Order could stand against him, and the seniors were the ones dodging his constant challenges for spars. Who'd believe that?
'Things were noisy enough with spars and training when that other guy was around, and now that he's gone, here's another one just like him.'
Sure enough, oddballs kept popping up without end.
...Though one on that other guy's level was exceptionally rare.
Anyway, while the other senior knights seemed wary of this energetic newbie, he was rooting for him.
He believed a knight ought to have that kind of ferocity.
...Unfortunately, though...
"Sadly, they won't humor you."
"Why not?"
"The First Knight Order just doesn't bother with the Third."
Reality could be harsh at times, and the senior knight had to teach him that things didn't always go as planned.
"Ugh..."
The junior swallowed a groan at his senior's words.
The White Silver Lion Third Knight Order.
Unlike the First and Second, which were filled with high nobles, it was packed with lower nobles or fallen ones.
As a result, the Third was treated like scraps within the order—practically ignored.
Recalling this, the junior's face filled with clear dissatisfaction.
"Haa.... This damn knight order gets under my skin the more I see it. I knew politics couldn't be avoided in the palace, but I didn't expect it to be this vicious. I thought as long as you had skill, you could rise to vice-commander easily back in the day."
"Cocky much? You think becoming vice-commander here is easy? And quit whining. It's not even been half a year since you joined."
"...I have newfound respect for you, Senior. Staying clean in a place like this."
It sounded like flattery, but his words were sincere.
As far as he knew, there were two people in the order who stayed clear of politics, and one was this senior.
Serving as a royal knight made him realize just how hard that was, sparking genuine admiration.
He was a model knight, after all.
"Cut it out. You should reserve your respect for someone worthy. I'm not particularly clean. I just compromise where I have to and do my knightly duties."
Jake Farman, the senior knight receiving this admiring gaze, shook his head at Yord, telling him not to think too highly of him.
"I'm just the remnant of a fallen knight family too insignificant to get tangled in politics. ...Plus, I made the mistake of befriending the wrong person and pissed off the higher-ups, so I've already given up on advancement."
"...Uh."
"Don't look at me like that with pity. At least I didn't waste time on useless stuff, so my skills improved."
"......Your spars with Senior Jake are always fun, that's for sure."
"They always make me break out in a cold sweat."
Jake gave a wry smile.
'If only his status were a bit higher, he'd have risen fast.'
Jake felt it was a shame about Yord's talent.
He was clearly the best among the newbies, yet undervalued just for being in the Third Knight Order.
For once, he had a junior he liked, and he wished the kid could soar higher.
'A guy like this should be the White Silver Lion's representative...'
The young knights representing famed orders.
Knight Tristan's veil or Knight Maximus of Lionel—they were the faces of young knights.
Yet the royal knight order's representative was none other than the Eighth Prince. Jake had observed the prince's skills from afar in the past and thought, 'Decent talent,' but never 'impressive.'
Don't get the wrong idea.
It wasn't prejudice because he was royal.
Just his honest impression.
'To represent a knight order, you need [overwhelming ability].'
Merely talented knights were a dime a dozen.
To lead one, you had to show overwhelming achievements or ability that surpassed the common talents.
But the First Knight Order's commander he'd seen...
The one commonly called the 'White Lion of Pendragon' was far from overwhelming, and though irreverent, Jake could only speculate.
'...Maybe the royals are trying to shore up their shaky legitimacy?'
The current royal family.
The present king lacked legitimate claim.
One might argue what lack of legitimacy a royal could have, but everyone would agree.
'The problem is his brother was too great...'
The late king, called the War God, sadly had no luck with children.
He had two sons, but the eldest died young from illness, and the second, though prodigiously talented, was chosen by the Demon Sword and took the name of Galahad.
Thus, the War God passed without a proper heir, and his sole surviving 'brother' took the throne.
Though it was a prince the War God trusted, it stirred much internal dissent.
'His Majesty isn't incompetent, but still...'
For a mere knight to judge the king's ability was beyond arrogant—blasphemous even—but in the current situation, surely everyone, not just Jake, had sized up the king at least once.
Was he truly fit to succeed the War God?
With such a colossal figure for comparison, the current king's abilities fell short of expectations, and his frequent 'mistakes' led to disasters as backlash...
Thus, the royal family's power and prestige were weaker than ever.
At least the exceptional Crown Princess Isis offered hope for the next generation.
But with the king still hale, her ascension was far off.
In this context, the royals were desperately trying to build prestige and authority through various means.
Jake speculated that the Eighth Prince rising to commander—the first royal to do so—or being hyped as a star player had something to do with the family's circumstances.
So in truth...
'The White Silver Lion's—no, Pendragon's—true knight isn't the Eighth Prince.'
Not Yord either, for now.
He had potential, but he wasn't ripe yet.
Thus, the finest knight on Jake's mind was...
'...He'd say he doesn't need fame or anything, but he's the only one who comes to mind.'
The unique knight who, upon joining, sent every senior to the temple beds, and sparred with Knight Commander Baltar for over three years without ending up crippled.
Lately, even hailed as the Academy's hero...!
'Yeah, only a guy like that can represent Pendragon—.'
"-Hey? What are you doing here?"
"......?"
"Whoa, long time no see."
"L-Lee Han...?"
...Why's this guy here?
Jake blinked in confusion at the sudden appearance of the friend he'd just been thinking of.
He was glad to see him, sure.
It had been a while, as he said.
But despite the gladness...
"Um..., Senior."
"Yeah? Who're you again?"
"Y-Yord Decker. The one you crossed swords with before you transferred... out."
"......Ah! That skilled kid from back then. Long time no see."
"...Thank you for remembering, b-but that..."
Yord reacted with the same bewilderment as Jake.
It was a reunion with a senior he'd wanted to meet, yet he couldn't bring himself to be happy.
And understandably so...
"Wh-what's that?"
Seeing Lee Han dragging a man by the scruff of his neck would make it hard for anyone to stay composed.
To the questions from his old friend and junior, Lee Han scratched the back of his head...
"Just... don't pretend you didn't see."
"......"
"Wouldn't want you getting headaches for sticking your noses in."
"......"
"Ahem."
"...Crazy bastard."
Jake decided to revise his thoughts.
This guy was clearly a walking disaster...
......It might sound like an excuse, but he had his grievances too.
"He came at me like a madman out of nowhere—should I just stand there and take it?"
The one who picked a fight with a guy quietly walking down the street was at fault; how could the responder be?
Lee Han was simply applying medieval romance logic of might makes right, and it seemed perfectly reasonable.
However.
"Fine, I get the reason, but why'd it have to be a royal of all people?!"
"......"
"You think that logic flies with a royal?!"
"...Urgh."
Yeah, even if he wanted to push with raw power, the opponent had too much authority.
It was a royal, and he'd beaten a royal, so he was inevitably at a disadvantage.
If the prince woke up and claimed he was assaulted, half the White Silver Lions would turn against him, and even in trial, he'd be the one condemned to death.
......So.
Poke, poke!
"...Seniors, is this really okay?"
"Don't ask me—ask the troublemaker...!"
"...Senior Lee Han?"
Yord eyed Lee Han suspiciously, but he...
"It's fine. I'll take responsibility. -Bury him."
"......"
Yord Decker.
He never imagined becoming a knight would lead him to a wild hillside, digging a hole—and one this massive—at that. He stared blankly in shock.
And doubts surged anew.
...Is this really right?
"This is a crime, you know..."
"Haa, if my father finds out, he's gonna kill me."
Yord muttered, while Jake clutched his head over his poor choice in friends.
But Lee Han silently dug on, and with three knights shoveling, the massive pit was done in no time.
"Life's what it is. We all return to the dirt in the end. His time just came a bit sooner."
"......"
"Remember this, junior: if you're gonna cause trouble, do it thoroughly."
"...Not a lesson I particularly want to learn."
The junior's incredulous mutter.
But Lee Han decided to brazen it out.
'Burying him is the answer here.'
Missing in action.
The lesser of two evils, not the worst option.
No need to worry.
He wasn't seriously going to kill him, just like the joke he made to Yord.
'Threats only work if you go to extremes.'
Leave the face exposed and starve him for a week, and he'd cooperate nicely (?).
Jake was probably helping because he knew that.
"Alright, time to send him off."
Twitch!
"...?"
"......"
"...Hm."
...Lee Han prodded the silver-haired man with his shovel at the sudden presence he felt, and the man...
Twitch!!
...jerked violently.
Confirming this...
"Hey, you awake?"
"......"
"...Gonna talk after you're buried?"
"...Gulp."
"Three seconds: 3, 2, 1...."
"...I-I'll give you a chance. Apologize now, and I'll keep this quiet."
"......"
"A special opportunity. Right now..."
"Should I start with the arms and legs? Useless anyway."
"—You scum!! How dare you treat Aren de Pendragon like this?! Think I'll yield to such threats?!"
"......"
"Kill me! There's no reason to live with this humiliation!!"
"......"
"Hurry...!"
"...Oh."
Lee Han was impressed.
By the man's spirited defiance?
No.
By something else entirely.
"...I didn't even see the knee drop—when'd you kneel?"
The man had dropped to his knees so fast even Lee Han's eyes couldn't track it, earning a nod of approval.
A royal who survived through schemes, indeed.
'No sense, but survival instinct overflowing.'
Lee Han had fully intended to lop off a limb if he resisted.
Lee Han often mixed jokes with deadly seriousness.