Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.5 – Instructor Lee Han
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Pandragon Royal Academy.
A place commonly called the Academy.
The hall of learning, an academic sanctuary that teaches the young talents who will lead the kingdom's future. The Academy offers a vast array of subjects.
Not only swordsmanship and magic, but also medicine, statistics, astronomy, metallurgy, and more.
It even teaches bizarre subjects that make you wonder if they really exist. As a result, the Academy offers more than about thirty subjects.
Perhaps even more than that.
However, despite the sheer number of subjects, the quality of the instructors and professors teaching them is never lacking.
It's not called the Royal Academy for nothing.
With the royal name attached, comparing it to any other academy would be an insult.
Thus, the faculty of the Royal Academy consists of exceptionally outstanding individuals.
After all, they must possess unparalleled skill and experience to cultivate the talents who will shape the kingdom's future.
But...
"That's the guy, right?"
"The rumors were true?"
"No way."
"Shouldn't we try to build some rapport?"
"Forget it. He's probably in a bad mood right now."
"Yeah, you're right."
A simple gathering held before the Academy's entrance ceremony for professors and instructors.
It could be called a presentation for the faculty, aimed at simple introductions and getting acquainted with one another.
Even as they mingled and built rapport according to their subjects, they glanced curiously at one man.
Unlike the others who clustered in groups, he sat alone like a proud lone wolf, eating his steak.
They already knew his name and identity.
"Ri Han, was it?"
"White Silver Lion Knights, haha. Live long enough, and you see it all."
"Couldn't agree more."
A few veteran professors murmured his name.
Knight Ri Han.
An active knight dispatched to serve as an Academy instructor.
Of course, it wasn't their first time seeing a knight, but seeing an active-duty one—especially a young one—at the Academy was a novel sight.
What did "young" mean?
It meant the peak, when one's Fighting Technique was at its most robust and vigorous.
The time when vitality surged most dynamically.
Yet becoming an instructor at such a time meant missing out on that dynamic peak.
Thus, people tended to avoid him.
They assumed he inwardly resented being there.
Even if it was a demotion—or rather, a dispatch—it didn't mean he was weak. The professors viewed him as a dangerous element and quietly kept their distance.
Avoiding risk without taking any.
It was the wisdom of life.
Well...
'Who'd think I'm some deadly poison.'
No matter how stealthily they acted, they couldn't escape his eyes. Lee Han smirked.
Humans, really.
'They're playing so cutely.'
It wasn't unpleasant. Better to be feared than ignored.
Gulp.
Another steak vanished into his mouth.
A week prior, the sudden dispatch order to Lee Han had become a major issue within the knight order. Unusually, the knights felt pity for him.
...It might not make sense at first glance.
Teaching the young talents who will shoulder the nation's future—how could that be punishment?
Isn't it an honorable duty? But that's the view of someone who knows only one side.
What are the White Silver Lion Knights?
They are the royal guard.
The pride of protecting the glorious and great royal family is an honor unmatched by anything in this country.
Yet to abandon that glorious duty for an instructor position?
It's not a bad post, but only fitting for retired knights. For a young knight in his prime, it's like a bolt from the blue.
Thus, it's a major punishment.
At a time when one should be honing skills to rise higher, to be stuck teaching greenhorns.
No greater loss.
So it wasn't strange that the knights pitied him, for once.
But for the person involved...
"Ah, going with this setup? To tie up loose ends, you need a trick like this. That auntie's sharp, I'll give her that."
"Impudent fool. Watch your mouth about the Princess."
"You get the gist, old man?"
"Heh, I can guess the rough outline."
"Hmm, salary's normal, right?"
"...That's the reaction I expected, but it'd be nice if you showed even a hint of regret."
They knew he had little attachment to being a knight, but his total indifference was disappointing instead.
If he were passionate about the order, he'd already hold a high position.
"Not even now, no desire to give it a real shot? I can talk to the Princess and get the mission canceled."
Baltar had the authority for that, so he made the offer.
"Nah."
"...At least pretend to think about it for a second."
With things turning out like this, Lee Han had already made up his mind to refuse. Baltar finally clicked his tongue.
And now.
Lee Han was going through coursework and various procedures, even studying things utterly unsuited to him. His head ached quite a bit.
'Better not hold out on me.'
He maintained a calm demeanor, but he wasn't thrilled about being dragged along by Isis.
She must have been certain he'd accept.
However, she needed to steel herself.
If there really was medicine but she pulled some stunt...
'Foster siblings or not, you're done.'
Lee Han was confident.
Confident he could deal with anyone who stabbed him in the back.
Even if it was the nation's heir.
Today's curriculum ended, and upon returning home, he saw three letters waiting.
One was from Jake.
True to his sharp instincts, rather than worry or check-ins, he assumed it was a secret mission tied to the Academy and simply wrote, [Do your best.]
The next was from Yord. From a guy he hadn't seen in ages, it was full of worried misunderstandings like [I'll petition the Captain, so...] and such.
...What's up with this guy?
"Did I hit him too hard last time?"
He hadn't hit his head, though.
Feeling awkward, he checked the last letter. No recipient was listed, and the paper was just blank white.
But catching a faint perfume scent, he knew who sent it. Lee Han filled a decent-sized bowl with water and soaked the paper.
Text emerged.
[Lee Han, my reliable foster little brother. If you've received this letter—]
It began with a dash, filled with lofty phrasing and poetic expressions typical of royalty.
As expected from royals—dull content through and through.
To summarize briefly:
'I'll keep my promise, so you do well too.'
There were cringeworthy lines like [I believe in you] and [I trust your autonomy and judgment], but no real impact.
Some might call such high praise from Isis a three-generations' honor, but to Lee Han, it was just tiresome attention.
Once he skimmed through, the paper dissolved in the water.
Even evidence destruction was thorough.
"Heard Sis is into alchemy and magic. She's good at this stuff."
Lee Han burned the envelope with his Zippo lighter.
Burns real nice.
"...What to start with?"
Entrance ceremony in four days.
That's when he'd meet all the persons of interest.
But Sis hadn't specified how to handle them.
As the letter said, it was all up to his subjective evaluation.
Perhaps accounting for his dislike of orders.
So, he had to act independently. Lee Han pondered his approach and wrote on the blackboard.
A way to organize his train of thought, a habit from his past life as a sergeant.
To systematically tackle utterly unreasonable orders from superiors.
...An ironically acquired habit.
But a good one now.
Perhaps because his thoughts had sorted out.
Lee Han realized his first task.
"First, make them come to me. And whether rofan protagonist or regressor, they all share one trait: endless curiosity."
Curiosity killed the cat.
And true to that, rofan and regressor protagonists couldn't resist—diving headfirst into danger like madmen.
Kidnapped daily, stabbed, thrown into peril—they still couldn't curb their curiosity.
Afflicted with a disease that compels them to act personally.
So...
"Time to roll them?"
Lee Han slyly wrote it under the sections with their two names.
The situation he deemed most revealing of their true nature—and the most hellish.
"Hm. Not bad."
A refreshingly satisfied smile formed naturally.
Passing on the pain he'd endured.
It felt profoundly rewarding.
On the blackboard, the word [Field Training] stood out prominently.