Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.34 – The Knight Wields the Rod (1)
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Scratch, scratch.
A man was writing on worn parchment.
Even though fountain pens and various ballpoints had become popular lately, he still used a quill made from a bird's feather to write.
Judging by the elegant handwriting and the ink that didn't smudge, one could tell his hand was quite familiar with the quill.
[The 10th angel who follows the light declares he will bear all the sins of this world, so the angel still seeks to save even one more soul at the gates of hell-.]
Pfuk!
"……."
The hand copying the scripture paused for a moment, causing the ink to smear, and the man furrowed his brow.
It was a rare occurrence.
If anyone who knew him well saw it, they would tilt their head in confusion.
They knew he was a man of faint emotional changes.
Thus.
"...Is this the 'affliction' the monks speak of."
He realized his state was not as usual.
His chest churned and surged.
It was the first time. This feeling of such vague unease...
He pondered where this affliction originated from.
Still gripping the quill.
Perhaps an answer would come if he stayed like this...
"-Pierre, prepare yourself."
"……What rude nonsense is this."
After a long while calming the stuffiness in his chest, he glared coldly at his comrade who interrupted his contemplation.
He was displeased that the man had barged in without knocking.
However, the other ignored his displeasure lightly.
"Rude or not, get ready. We'll overwhelm him in one go."
"……."
"If even half the information on that knight is true, his martial prowess is at least on par with a Knight Commander. That's why we need to overwhelm him in one go."
"…The Cardinal said not to cause a commotion."
"He did, so we'll end it quickly without causing one."
"…Were you waiting for the Cardinal to step away?"
"Just a coincidence."
"……."
...He wasn't foolish or stupid enough not to recognize the lie.
Pierre wondered if he really needed to disobey Cardinal Raphael's orders just to work with these people...
"Remember, he's a heretic. Our role is to interrogate heretics who defy the light."
"……."
...Pierre still harbored hesitation.
Was this right?
Was following this man's words truly in line with the will of the light?
As he swallowed countless doubts.
"How long do you think the Cardinal will shelter you? Remember, [secrets] are not eternal."
"……."
"If you understand, move out now."
"…Understood."
He resisted no longer.
No, he couldn't.
The affliction still made him hesitate...
'But I can't afford to lose the chance to serve the light.'
If his secret were exposed, he could no longer remain in the temple.
Thus.
'…It can't be helped.'
He rationalized it to himself that way.
...Knowing it was cowardly, but he-.
* * *
"-Being cowardly or rationalizing isn't bad. Because humans are animals that can't always be brave or clever."
"…That's prejudice..."
A feeble rebellion.
But Lee Han shook his head.
"It's because you haven't seen much of the world yet. Later, when you get the chance, go to a gambling den or back alley. You'll see the depths of humanity."
"……."
"Anyway, what I'm saying is this. Assistant, it's true people can be a bit cowardly and less brave sometimes. But..."
"……."
"'Arrogant', 'noble brat', 'assistant' slacking off and rationalizing is a sin."
"…Damn, those modifiers are a real pain!"
"Hey, watch your language."
Tears blurred Damian's vision.
'Is this fair?'
Just for taking a short nap and pulling a few less weeds, this treatment...?
No, before that-!
"I have the right to rest too! Assistants are people too!!"
He shouted out his injustice and frustration like spitting it up, and Lee Han silently watched such Damian.
"Assistants 'are' people, sure. But you're not just an assistant—you're an 'arrogant noble brat' assistant. So, not quite human, right?"
"!!!?"
"You can't rest. You still have 2 years and 5 months left to toil. If you expect human treatment now, that's on your conscience."
"Please stop with the noble hating already! You crazy bastard!"
Whack!
"Aaack!!"
"Where does a slave—no, assistant—dare talk back to the instructor!"
"…Snaaang."
"This guy's mouth is getting fouler by the day."
"……."
"Wanna cry?"
"……."
"Cry then. It'll feel better after. Feeling better lets you work harder."
"……Kuhuhuk!"
"This little shit...?"
...Lee Han clicked his tongue, having never seen someone try to faint for a break like this.
* * *
The assistant had fainted, and the maid had gone to see her sister, so she probably wouldn't return until evening. A rare time alone.
Though he finally had some leisurely alone time, Lee Han didn't do anything different just because he was by himself.
He spent his routine the same as always: work, training, then eat.
An utterly identical daily life.
"Hm, what to do next semester?"
The only addition was planning for the academy schedule.
Recalling and organizing next semester's lesson content.
He had planned to casually ask the assistant for input, but the guy had been asleep for 30 minutes already.
Probably due to intense mental shock and fatigue.
"Damn punk. These pampered modern kids are the problem, really."
Lee Han frowned in dissatisfaction.
Tremble...
Damian shuddered like he was having a seizure, but Lee Han ignored him and looked at the next semester's lesson plans on the blackboard.
「Chick – Gained some stamina from jump rope. Time to teach basic strength training and light self-defense. Focus on judo throws, eye pokes, groin strikes, etc. (Make sure they can take down one or two thugs before graduation.)」
「Bear Cub – Should have overall stamina by now, so real combat experience is key. Have them fight criminals in 'Parasite Valley' (war on crime vibe?). Build combat experience with cliff training and a week of bare-handed forest survival. Consider adding a 5-day sleepless training too.」
「Young Master – If stamina and strength are decent, similar curriculum to Bear Cubs. But since he learned Fighting Technique, test if he can last 10 sleepless days without food (Drop him on 'Rock Island' in the middle of the sea so he can't run?).」
"…Hm."
Lee Han read the personally noted details carefully.
And wondered if he was being too harsh.
"Still, making them fight criminals might be too much?"
He pondered if it might be better to just have them hunt a few bears or tigers bare-handed.
They were still too young to dirty their hands with filthy bottom-feeder criminals.
"Sigh, I've gone soft."
Lee Han worried he might be raising his first disciples like flowers in a greenhouse.
"-What do you think?"
"…Are you asking me?"
"Who else would I ask?"
"……First, I recommend scrapping that 5-day or 10-day sleepless nonsense. It could end badly if mishandled."
"?"
"…Poor cadets."
The man, a combat priest from the Heresy Inquisition, was horrified.
Drip...
He broke out in cold sweat.
Not because of the brutal plans on the blackboard.
The reason his blood ran cold was.
'…He already knew my presence?'
He had heard.
About the [Art of Concealment] failing...
But he dismissed it as a lie or coincidence.
Such was his faith in [holy arts].
'Normally, one fully assimilates with the surroundings, undetectable even by presence...'
But the moment he confirmed he was truly seen through, he couldn't hide his shock.
Just piercing the holy art meant the knight's senses rivaled wild beasts.
As the combat priest heightened his vigilance even more.
"Quite a crowd, nine... no, eleven including the sniper."
"!?!!"
"You guys are really going all out? Right after old man Raphael leaves? Impressively bold."
"……."
...This knight is dangerous, as expected.
The combat priest gritted his teeth, narrowed his eyes sharply, and assumed a stance.
"Lee Han Turtle of the White Silver Lion Knights. You are suspected of heresy."
"Why me?"
"…You appeared too suddenly and achieved too much."
"??"
"Hoo...!"
The combat priest steadied his breath.
To draw the knight's attention fully to himself.
"…After joining the White Silver Lion with no notable achievements as a mere regular knight, you were suddenly appointed as an academy instructor and began racking up merits. Most of those merits involve [heretics]. Moreover, you were implicated in the tunnel collapse the other day."
A regular knight with no merits suddenly piling them up was suspicious enough, but the circumstances were exquisitely damning.
The temple naturally suspected as much—perhaps this knight Lee Han was tied to heretic forces, colluding to build his record.
A perfectly reasonable inference and suspicion.
"If you wish to clear these suspicions, surrender and allow yourself to be bound. If you cooperate obediently, we promise not to treat you harshly..."
"-I've heard enough of that bullshit for one day, don't you think?"
"!!!"
Kwaduduk!!
...When had he closed the distance?
The combat priest had no time to react to Lee Han's sudden approach before taking a punch.
No, 'taking a punch' was wrong.
It was merely a light tap to the center of his chest...
"Kuh, ku... ugh...! ...Uh……?!"
Breathing became labored, and he doubled over.
Immense pain overwhelmed him, as if his body was tearing apart.
No...
Crack!
Crunch...!
It was actually tearing.
"They call it Severing Muscles and Snapping Tendons. Stay like that for a bit. ...Others will be here soon."
"…!…!!"
The knight's nonchalant verdict. The combat priest shed bloody tears as veins burst in his eyes.
His teeth cracked, on the verge of fainting, but the pain kept him conscious, reduced to trembling and silent screams.
And...
"…Wow, I've been treating you pretty humanely after all."
A certain noble assistant, regaining consciousness in a daze, lay flat on the floor watching the fallen priest's state and realized he'd been receiving VIP(?) treatment.
Watching his instructor stroll casually like on a walk, he thought.
"…Are the Heresy Inquisition guys sane?"
If they were coming, they should've brought the entire Holy Knight Order. Why so few?
Hmm, ah...
'Wanting to get to Avalon early?'
Fair enough, life had been rough lately.
Still.
'Our instructor doesn't kill easily...'
─He'd show them life could become hell.
"…I ended up like this for mouthing off first... tsk tsk."
As a senior who had been the first to challenge the knight, Damian expressed pity with a tongue click.
Knowing full well what fate awaited them.