Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.44 – The Knight Hates Romantasy Events (3)
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"...Just in case, Instructor. If you're thinking of messing with the temple, abandon the idea."
"...?"
"Cut that 'Did you learn mind-reading too?' look. I just predicted it because I've gotten a read on your behavior patterns."
"...Not bad."
"Not bad or whatever, but absolutely do not mess with the temple. Better to catch the real culprit and end it there. Touching the temple will just give you a massive headache."
As if he had already decided that Lee Han was going to storm the temple, Roan even made an earnest face like he was saying, "Exercise some patience."
"I do harbor strong 'regret,' 'displeasure,' 'anger,' 'hatred,' 'contempt,' 'revulsion,' and 'nausea' toward the temple... but that doesn't mean we should attack it."
"...No, wait, what...? You seem to hate the temple even more than I do."
True madness outshone mere pretense, and the intense hatred radiating from Roan looked strikingly similar to Lee Han's own feelings toward mages.
To him, mages were like hideous monsters that needed to be eradicated from the world. Maybe the temple was the same to this guy.
The difference between them was...
'He suppresses his emotions well and tries to act rationally.'
Just like now.
"As you know, Instructor, the temple's status on the Southern Continent is immense. To be precise, it's the authority of the [Radiant Light] that's immense, but the temple priests are known as proxies chosen by the Radiant Light, so their authority is no small thing. Because of this, a huge number of the populace will believe and follow anything the priests say."
"That's common knowledge, right? Who in the South doesn't know that?"
Lee Han shrugged, wondering why he was explaining something so obvious at such length.
Too obvious...
"-And yet you're the one trying to attack the temple?"
"......"
"Instructor, attacking the temple is on a whole different level from striking the Magic Tower. So far, you've been able to raid enemy organizations without repercussions because of a valid justification, overwhelming power, and some mysterious 'backer' whose identity no one knows, right?"
"Y-Yeah?"
"Since you admit it, it's easier to speak freely. Then, presumptuous as it is, let me advise you. Instructor, even if the king himself is your backer, you can't attack the temple. Attacking the temple means turning the 'entire populace' against you."
"......"
"It's also the danger of the power that faith—no, religion—holds."
"...Hmm."
...Lee Han was slightly surprised by two things.
One was that this cold, rude guy was genuinely worried about him and voicing his opinion sincerely.
And the other was...
'This guy's tried something like what I'm planning before, huh?'
He didn't have the skill to read minds from eyes alone, but he had a feeling.
Lee Han cautiously guessed that Roan had done many things in the past—or perhaps the 'future'—and that none of them had gone smoothly...
His eyes held a desolate glint that spoke of countless frustrations and despairs.
'...He definitely said in the future he fought the temple a ton, right?'
Enemies to the death?
Probably an even more horrific hatred than that, he cautiously surmised.
...And because he'd already tried so many things, he was warning him now.
About how disastrous attacking the temple could be.
"...Of course, Instructor, you could single-handedly dismantle the temple no problem. But you can't dismantle the populace's faith and hatred. No matter how well you treat the people, they'll worship and yearn for the , and end up creating second and third temples with their own hands..."
"......"
"So openly attacking the temple is a no-go. It's pointless and would just make you the object of hatred."
"......"
"Also..."
...Whether it was advice, counsel, or just venting, the words kept coming.
Some might get fed up or stressed by the nonstop warnings, but Lee Han felt something entirely different as he listened.
Pity over irritation.
'So much resentment.'
He hadn't realized this guy could talk this much, but it seemed like a lot had built up.
The kid was already showing signs of pent-up rage.
How much had he suffered in silence, really.
'Feels worse than my military days...'
Lee Han cautiously thought that whatever stress he'd endured in his previous life might be nothing compared to this guy's.
'...Poor bastard.'
For the first time, Lee Han thought this guy was truly pitiful and simply listened to his advice in silence.
"...Instructor, why are you looking at me like that?"
But the one on the receiving end felt awkward.
People rarely know how they come across to others, and the pitiful one (Roan) had no idea he looked like a drenched stray dog.
......Lee Han heeded his disciple's advice.
He sometimes acted on impulse, but that didn't make him a fool who let emotions rule everything.
Besides, he had a dutiful disciple going out of his way to advise him. No way he could ignore that.
...Of course, if they really crossed the line, he'd go with "I'll kill you and then flee."
'Seriously need to start thinking about where to emigrate.'
Avoiding conflict with the temple was best, but one had to prepare for the worst.
...Honestly, he was hesitating.
Six months ago, he could've left without a second thought, but now...
'Attachments are a thing.'
In that time, Lee Han had accumulated too many precious things.
His people.
The acquaintances, friends, and disciples he'd bonded with. As long as they were around, Lee Han couldn't easily leave the kingdom anymore, nor casually talk about fleeing like before.
Thus, directly attacking the temple was an extreme measure and the worst option for the current Lee Han, leaving him deep in thought.
And at Lee Han's decision...
"Good thinking! I figured you wouldn't touch the temple either."
The gray-haired Tae-chan expressed his joy.
"You're against attacking the temple too?"
"Yeah. You don't believe in religion, Instructor, so it might not matter to you, but others do. Especially in a harsh world like this, people have no choice but to rely on god. In that sense, religion's power here is absolute. Messing with that...? Ugh, the populace would stone you."
"...You talk like you've seen it happen."
"......Not in person. I saw it 'through a screen.' ...Young Lord Roan getting stoned..."
"......"
"...Want more details?"
"No..."
That was enough.
On the way home.
Tae-chan popped out from behind a tree as if he'd been waiting, but Lee Han wasn't startled by the sudden appearance.
He was used to it, with so many around him popping up like assassins.
However, as he listened to the advice, he noticed a suspicious 'red mark' and tilted his head.
That looks like...
"Hey, what's with your neck?"
"Huh?"
"Looks like bite marks?"
"Oh, this? Well, I hid from Lady Karin that I'm going to the Empire. It's been a month already, but she's still a bit mad, so every time she sees me, she bites my neck and shoulders. Doesn't hurt, but man..."
"......"
"Sigh, did I mess up that bad?"
"...You're worse than a bad joke, you con artist."
"Huh?"
"Shut up and say nothing, you deceiver."
"??"
He widened his eyes innocently, truly seeming clueless about why Lee Han was mad, but that feigned purity only made him more infuriating.
'Masterful deception.'
Maybe that was a talent too.
The talent of pretending to be oblivious.
Lee Han wanted to beat him more than the temple right now, but knew it'd only make him look bad, so he swallowed his frustration.
"...B-But, Instructor, aren't you going to ask Judia Pierre directly? About why she met the temple associate and what they talked about. I feel like you could find out easily..."
Derek asked cautiously.
He'd gotten mad suddenly, but it didn't seem like real anger, so he could ask—and luckily...
"As if that bastard would talk. He's insane. Torture, beatings, threats—he just endures or tries to kill himself. No attachment to life."
"......"
He answered, but the content made Derek's face stiffen.
"No, he has attachment to life, but doesn't value it? Lives like 'if I live, I live; if I die, I die.' ...Infuriating and disgusting."
"......"
Intense displeasure settled on his face.
He utterly loathed how Priest Pierre lived.
"That's why guys hiding behind god's name are so repulsive. They think whatever they do will be forgiven."
"...Like modern terrorist groups."
"They're just lunatics."
"Ugh!"
He'd heard Priest Pierre's circumstances.
Two personalities: [Judia], the dream demon one, and [Pierre], the heretical inquisitor.
The shocking part was that Pierre's personality was created by Judia—who'd suffered as a test subject—to offload her pain and torment so she could sleep.
Thus, Pierre's personality hated Judia and obsessively clung to the temple to affirm his own existence.
...Pitiful beyond words, but with too much blood on his hands to pity unconditionally.
'The dream demon personality is straight-up a villainess.'
A particularly nasty type.
The title "villainess lady" fit her better than anyone.
"S-So, how are you going to handle it?"
"Handle? Solve it like a normal person—with 'talks.'"
"......"
"Hey, what's with the silence?"
"...Nothing."
Derek couldn't bring himself to speak.
Solve it with talks...?
'Impossible for the Instructor, right?'
Of course, the Instructor wasn't that violent.
His looks and usual behavior might lead to misunderstandings, but he was actually kind and reasonable.
The problem was...
"-Lady Irene, will you not serve the Radiant Light? Though you are the adopted daughter of sinful Duke Galahad and have learned the wicked art of magic, if you serve the light, your sins will surely be washed away..."
"-You mad bastard."
─Kwachik!!
...The people around him made him resort to violence.
'All ribs broken? ...Belly didn't burst, so he held back.'
The Instructor's perfect hectopascal kick landed, and an ominous sound echoed from the opponent's side, but Derek knew he'd exercised immense patience and nodded.
Not killing him—truly remarkable restraint.