Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.36 – The Knight Hates Love Triangles (1)
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...He wasn't particularly interested in knowing, but somehow Lee Han had ended up with an information broker who was as knowledgeable as any regressor. Thanks to that, he unwillingly learned about Blackie's love life... or rather, his divorce story.
"Judia Pierre is, by setting, one of the orphans saved by Cardinal Raphael during a pilgrimage. She entered the temple to repay the favor, but through one thing and another, she became a heresy inquisitor, and through yet more twists and turns, she even started disguising herself as a man."
"I'm really curious about those 'twists and turns'..."
"I-I'd love to tell you, but... unfortunately, I don't know the details either. I only know the basic setup..."
"......"
"I-I hate game spoilers, so I just did what the planning team asked for and didn't get into the fine details..."
"...Sometimes you seem useful, but then totally useless?"
"That's too harsh..."
But Lee Han wasn't one to accept excuses, and he mercilessly pressed on, making him put on a pitiful face.
"...Whatever. So how did those two end up getting married?"
"Ah, I do know that."
"......You only know the weird stuff."
"...A-Anyway."
Derek proceeded to spill what he knew.
"A-As a heresy inquisitor of the temple, Judia Pierre infiltrates the revolutionary army—you know, the one led by Young Master Roan—as a spy. True to her role, she extracts information and delivers it to the temple. Then her new mission is to seduce Young Master Roan and 'eliminate' him."
"Eliminate?"
"From the temple's perspective, the revolutionary leader Young Master Roan must have been a real thorn in their side. And since ancient times, the honey trap has been a classic tactic—and one of the most effective. So..."
"......He fell for the seduction?"
As far as Lee Han knew, Blackie didn't seem like the type to fall for something like that...
"Hmm, it wasn't easy, but through one thing and another..."
"So what are those 'twists and turns'?"
"...Right?"
"......"
"D-Don't look at me like that."
"Damn these twists and turns."
"A-Anyway, after that...!"
Tae-chang glanced at him cautiously and continued with what he knew about Judia Pierre's story, while Lee Han seemed to listen half-heartedly but stayed focused.
"Of course, there were various reasons why Young Master Roan fell for the seduction, and right before the wedding, her identity as a spy is revealed, leading to her pathetic exit. In short, she's a villain who appears in the very late game. The reason she's called one of the Three Great Villainesses is because, in the story, she's the one who caused Young Master Roan the most damage."
"Hmm."
"...The grudge must be immense. Among her crimes are sowing discord and disrupting intelligence, causing astronomical damage to the revolutionaries. More than that, several knights precious to Young Master Roan died because of Judia Pierre."
"Sounds like justified revenge."
"B-But in the end, that's all in the 'future,' not the current timeline, right? Getting that furious over something that hasn't happened yet feels a bit unreasonable..."
"......You're saying something awfully arrogant there."
"Huh?"
Lee Han asked the bewildered man, who didn't realize what was wrong with his own words.
What if...
"-Even if that girl Karin died, could you say the same?"
"......"
"It might be a dilemma like you say. It's just the future, something that hasn't happened now. But people aren't that rational, just like how scary your face looks right now."
"?"
"Look in a mirror, you idiot. Your face looks really menacing."
"......"
As Lee Han said, Derek touched his face belatedly and was shocked at himself.
...It was astonishingly rigid.
'Ah, so that's it.'
Derek admitted he had been arrogant, and he could understand why Roan was giving that bloodthirsty glare to a girl who was still so young.
'Forgiveness' was reckless advice that others shouldn't casually offer.
'Still, it's good he quickly owns up to his mistakes.'
Tae-chang wasn't a bad guy showing such careless words and actions. He just had a tendency to view the world optimistically, which was the problem. Well, such innocent remarks sometimes escalated into big fights.
'He only acts like that in front of me. He wouldn't with others.'
To begin with, Tae-chang's communication skills were so poor he could barely talk to anyone else. He spoke properly only in front of him; with others...
'He's like a vibrating massager.'
He probably wouldn't make slip-ups in front of others.
'...Come to think of it, what a pitiful guy.'
Didn't that mean he didn't even have friends he could talk to? That was really...
'Ah, right, he has a girlfriend.'
And a smart, pretty one at that.
'......Not pitiful at all.'
Lee Han's stomach suddenly hurt. Along with the realization that others' happiness could look so unpleasant. But he had to put aside this frustrating feeling for now, because...
"Seeing the temple's hunting dogs like this is amusing."
"......"
"Ah, come to think of it, 'hunting dogs' is too generous for you lot. Since you can switch owners whenever you want. Disgusting rats."
"......"
"Ignoring me completely, huh."
"...I don't know why you're picking a fight with me out of nowhere, little lion. I don't recall earning your grudge."
"......" "If you have a problem, come at me. Of course, only with the knight's permission."
"...We'll cross swords someday."
"Oh? Looking forward to it."
"......"
Grit!
"......Your teeth are gonna grind down."
What to do with these guys? The always cool-headed Blackie was now picking fights with veins bulging on his forehead, while Red calmly took it. Seeing them like this...
"What a mess."
It was a vivid reminder of how terrifying the form of a once happy couple that ended badly could be. * * * ...To cut to the chase, Lee Han rejected Roan's proposal. Why? Nothing special.
"People aren't objects, Blackie. And they're not really slaves."
"From what I just saw, their situation is worse than slaves."
"They're interns?"
"...What the hell is an intern?"
"It's a thing. Lower status than a teaching assistant. Anyway, they're under me right now, but that doesn't mean I own them. I have to use them well and send them back later."
"...Are you really treating them like people?"
"Stop nitpicking. If you need her that badly, persuade her yourself and take her. I won't stop you there."
"......"
"If you want to spar, just say so. I'll allow it anytime."
"...Tempting, but I'll pass. ...Still, I need some time to cool off too. I'll be away for a few days."
"Skipping class openly?"
Fortunately, Red—no, Judia Pierre's survival was secured for the moment, and Lee Han clicked his tongue. Complicated... 'That old man asked me to keep an eye on her, Tae-chang says to be careful because she's a villainess, and Blackie wants to kill her...' For Lee Han, it was a real headache. 'Sigh, what the hell is up with her...' He glanced at her.
"......"
Even when scolded by the assistant instructor with no regard for the aftermath, or when everyone was suffering from deploying the harsh sacrificial barrier, she just quietly did her job. If the other inquisitors were obeying Lee Han because pain made them compliant, she simply followed because she had lost. No real will could be felt. It evoked the image of a doll in the viewer, making one wonder if she even had emotions. 'A villainess and an inquisitor... Doesn't fit.' Lee Han recalled. The moment of defeat, when she unhesitatingly pointed the gun at her own head to shoot without mercy. A mechanical demeanor devoid of any will to live or noble cause. 'Hmm, to do villainous deeds, don't you need at least some level of emotion?' He knew. The aura of malice or grand ideals that people with ill intent or convictions exuded. But Judia showed no such malice or ideals. So, his one-line evaluation of Judia Pierre was...
"...She's an odd one."
Unable to be a villain or a hero, just fundamentally alien. That was Lee Han's assessment of her.
"...What do you think?"
"Hmm, she does seem a bit off. Her aura is different, I guess? At first I thought it was divine power, but it's not that either."
"Yeah? Is that so."
"Yes!"
"Hmm... But, chick."
"Y-Yes?"
"...Why are you still here in the second semester?"
"......"
"Why bother?"
"Uh, b-because I want to take Instructor's class?"
"......"
"C-Can't you say something? Hehe."
"Is spellcasting such a leisurely job?"
Lee Han poked the cheeks of the magic girl—no, Irene Windler—who was retaking his swordsmanship department class in the second semester. Her soft cheeks yielded with each poke, showing an embarrassed flush, and Lee Han sighed. There were plenty of other classes, and if she wanted credits, she could take those, so it wasn't hard to guess why she was re-enrolling in his class specifically. Thus... 'Her affection feels burdensome...' Lee Han's head spun as he mentally grasped why the chick-like magic girl was sticking to the swordsmanship department like gum. No matter how much he wanted a relationship, he didn't want one with a girl saddled with this annoying setup. 'Possessed, a spellcaster. Plus young and immature, and a spellcaster. Above all...' ......A spellcaster. For Lee Han, there were too many reasons to reject the girl's affection, making it feel heavy.
"Sigh, what did I do wrong...?"
"Huh?"
"Whatever. Go take another class. You still have time to change."
"N-No! I-I want to do swordsmanship department too!"
"The top student in magic department?"
"C-Can't I be an honorary swordsmanship cadet?"
"...Think that'll fly?"
"Eek..."
The chick's shoulders slumped as she made a sad face. Seeing that made his resolve waver. Even if it was just the first semester, they had spent time together, building some bond. '...Should I just let her stay?' His heart softened a bit, and while her body was healthier than in the first semester, seeing how frail she still was made him pity her. He considered accepting, but...
"...Ah, right, Instructor. That sleazy old man said to give you this."
"??"
"I-I didn't want to deliver it, but he insisted... ...Sorry."
"......"
"I-It'll be okay, right? Hehe."
"Don't laugh, you."
"Ow!"
The girl flew back from the finger poke laced with emotion, but he wasn't worried. With telekinesis, she wouldn't fall. So what he needed to worry about more than the girl was...
"I really should have kicked him out sooner." ...His own situation, perhaps, as Lee Han let out a groan. A pattern depicting lake ripples. Just stationery paper, yet extravagantly dusted with gem powder that shimmered mysteriously. Only one family in the kingdom could use such patterns and gems like ink. 'One more reason not to get involved...' Galahad. Lee Han's head throbbed as he looked at the invitation from the current head of the ducal house.