Chapter 19
Chapter 19
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Episode 6: On a Moonlit Night (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In the end, the situation fizzled out without any real resolution.
Pointing fingers would lead to an endless argument, and by the knights' code, either the vice commander had to die or the insolent bastard who ran his mouth did—but the count's family wouldn't just let that slide.
Even if Lee Han wanted to go all out, as someone who had just taken up the instructor position, there were lines he had to toe.
Caught in that awkward limbo, the incident wrapped up before anyone knew it.
Still, with nothing actually resolved.
And there was one person deeply displeased by this half-assed outcome.
None other than.
"—You really made a spectacle of yourself."
Isis set down the newspaper and lightly moistened her throat with a chilled beverage.
A picture-perfect pose.
Anyone might think she was posing for a photoshoot, but this was just her everyday routine.
A woman whose daily life was a photoshoot.
Yet those who knew her well would catch the faint flicker of displeasure beneath that flawless poise.
"...Don't give me too much grief. I already got chewed out by the headmaster."
Sitting across from her, the man turned his head slightly and offered what wasn't quite an excuse—an excuse nonetheless.
Lee Han, dominating the front page of today's paper, downed his drink as his gut churned.
"Heh heh, Sir Lee Han's legend grows."
"Yeah, so cool!"
Meanwhile, oblivious to Lee Han's inner turmoil, Albert and Leira gawked at the photo in the paper, eyes sparkling—and his bitter smile only stretched wider.
This world was like a medieval setup, yet weirdly advanced in spots.
Cameras were one such example.
'When the hell did they snap this?'
Damn barbaric medieval journalists treating portrait rights like a joke.
...Makes me wanna smash 'em all.
[Shocking Incident: Violence Erupts at the Royal Academy?!]
[Is the Count's Family Turning Against the Royals?]
[A Message from the Forsaken Lion to the White Silver Lion—?]
Riiip!
"You seeing this crap?"
Half the articles trashed Lee Han, dragging his name through the mud.
Some were too vile to repeat.
Scared to touch the count directly, they'd settled for smearing him instead.
...Buncha clowns.
"Heh heh, if Sir Lee Han's reputation were better known, this wouldn't have happened. A pity, that."
"I didn't exactly try to suppress it. They just misunderstood on their own and ignored the facts. What can you do?"
"Fair point."
Some might find it odd.
Lee Han was a commoner, sure. But he was still a war veteran who had risen to knighthood from the ranks.
Above all, personally selected by that Baltar Grace.
That alone made him a prodigy not to be trifled with.
Yet journalists—not just them, but everyone—treated him like a pushover. Total bullshit.
Unfortunately, people didn't know about Lee Han's "accomplishments."
The reason?
"They don't believe it. Most deny Sir Lee Han's very existence."
Shockingly, this kingdom refused to accept what he'd done.
Denial was more accurate.
War veteran?
Just some lucky grunt who survived.
Handpicked by Baltar Grace?
The royals blocked that info from spreading.
Why?
Simple.
The higher-ups didn't want another "second" Baltar.
No more uncontrolled superhumans, thank you very much.
His extraordinary prowess stayed under wraps for the same reason.
Sure, drunks or jokers sometimes blabbed about it, but...
—"Beat knights without Fighting Technique? Bullshit."
—"Fallen noble? Lost kingdom's heir? Nah, just a commoner. Must've cheated his way in."
—"Took down elite knights? Haha, great bard fodder. Sell it to a minstrel."
No matter how much it spread, no one bought it.
Think about it.
A nobody with no noble blood or Fighting Technique, strong enough to fight Aura Users? Absurd.
That's why hardly anyone believed the tales.
Rumors got dismissed as nonsense, burying his reputation.
If he'd craved fame and clawed for it like an ambitious knight, things might differ.
He could challenge sword clans to duels in public spectacles, prove it like a joust or tourney.
But.
'Why the hell would I bother?'
Lee Han had no interest in being a sideshow or chasing fame and power.
His goal? Power so absolute no one could mess with him.
Spending time on reputation was less efficient than grinding to get truly strong.
Of course, this was just his philosophy—not one to impose on others.
...Well, that's why.
"What a shitty worldview."
"We call that romance."
"Does romance pay the bills?"
"...Ugh."
Some couldn't wrap their heads around it.
Unintentionally the butt of the joke, Lee Han gave a wry smile, while Isis furrowed her brow in disapproval.
He knew he'd caused a major stir.
Irritated at the time, he'd gone bigger than intended.
Still.
"If I hadn't done that, they'd see me as total easy prey. And probing your surveillance targets gets harder if I'm a pushover."
"......"
"I'll own going overboard, though. So quit being mad already."
Lee Han made an effort to soothe Isis.
He wouldn't usually bother, but she was the client, after all.
...Plus, he'd brought 2% pure Ambrosia.
Even that didn't melt her mood easily.
'Hang on, I'm the one getting trashed—why's this lady so pissed?'
As he sensed something off, she thumped her chest in frustration.
"You think I'm mad about that?"
"...Huh?"
Her voice snapped cold.
Lee Han blinked at the non sequitur.
"I'm furious for two reasons. First, some mere count's second son dared insult my sworn brother. Second, the filthy press branding him a brute without checking facts disgusts me! Viler than plague—!"
"...Yeah."
Pure noble rhetoric. Awkward for a commoner listener, but flattering since she defended him.
What's with big sis today?
"Hmph. When my people get slandered, it stains me too. Ignoring it shames the royals! How could I not rage?"
"...Oh, got it."
Figured. Not mad about me—mad her prestige took a hit.
...Yeah, that tracks.
Lee Han shook his head knowingly and offered corrections.
"Two fixes to what you said, sis. One: Nobody knows we're tight. Two: I'm not your guy. You're not getting trashed, so chill. You're scaring me."
"...Insolent brat."
"Where you gonna find humbler than me?"
"......"
"Quit glaring."
If looks could kill, he'd be dead dozens of times over.
That intense, murderous stare.
How long did it last?
Suddenly, she said,
"What do you want done with the count?"
"...?"
"Say the word. I can kill him. Or strip his title. Name it."
"...What kinda clown talk is that?"
"No joke."
Icy frost radiated from her eyes.
"You're handling my 'request.' Early noise like this won't do. I'm displeased and want it settled fast."
"......"
Her displeasure demanded swift resolution.
Power, might, honor, authority—she stood at their pinnacle, making it possible.
If Lee Han asked now, it'd happen.
He could've swung the cursed sword.
Thus.
"Drink some water and snap out of it. Your eyes are flipped."
"...Not in the mood."
"Me neither. Seriously: just sit tight. Don't meddle and disrupt the ecosystem."
"...You calling me a nuisance?"
"Yep."
"...Cheeky bastard."
Her fury oddly ebbed at his firm blade of a response.
This insolent sworn brother...!
"You said to leave it all to me, right? Done deal. Feud with the count's family? Fine, we're feuding. They pick a fight again? Fight back. Too much? Run. Simple."
"...You?"
"I'll dodge around wiping out their ops, sure."
"......"
"Why the look?"
"...Declaring to wipe a royalist house in front of me? How could I not be stunned?"
"Oh, that guy's royalist? Figures—knight houses usually are."
He recalled the count from yesterday: a knight of decent skill.
"...You didn't even know that?"
"Didn't care. Anyway, my stance is clear. Just chill."
"...Sigh."
Talking to him always left Isis feeling reined in.
Sworn brother effect? Or was she oddly soft on him?
Either way.
'What an entertaining guy.'
A breath of fresh air in her boredom.
Isis smirked, secretly pleased by his independence.
"—Fine. So brazenly put, I won't interfere. I'll stay out of it."
But.
"If you see enemies, cut their throats clean. This big sis never spares foes. Show some killer instinct as my brother."
"We call that tyranny."
"The king's path is tyranny."
"...Always thought you were the riskiest."
"Hoho, music to my ears."
Thwack.
She smacked his head with her fan again, and in an instant.
Shhhrk.
"See you next time."
Like snow melting in sunlight, Isis vanished.
Only the puddle soaking the floor proved she'd been there.
"...No black hole boss here."
"I'll clean it up~!"
"...Maid, just stay put—that's helping."
"Nya?"
"......Just clean it."
"Yessir!!"
Explaining to an airhead was a chore.
How'd I know? ...Wish I didn't. Got it hanging with her.
"...Butler doesn't vanish like that?"
"Heh heh, why waste magic's mystery on an old codger like me?"
"Not that you don't need it?"
"Heh heh."
...Knew it.
Lee Han shook his head, watching the maid slip while mopping and the butler melt into shadows stealthily.
Politically incorrect, but the more he saw.
If I'm unorthodox, they're demonic cult. Demonic cult.
The royals: more freakish than his lab-rat self, human experiments and all.