Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.45 – The Knight Rides Autumn (4)
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The cadets felt a special sense of sentiment.
“The second semester is already coming to an end.”
“I’m still amazed we’re actually attending the academy.”
“Same here.”
It had been nearly a full year since the first-year cadets had enrolled at Pendragon Royal Academy.
Over the past year, countless students had either dropped out because they couldn’t handle the grueling academy schedule or been expelled for falling behind in their grades.
Half of the commoners had already left, and even among the nobles, about thirty percent had departed.
Even if a thousand students enrolled, it was considered a cradle of great talents if a mere hundred remained by graduation.
While education was important, the academy’s true role was to sift through competition and trials to select the very best talents—and so far, it had performed that role admirably.
In reality, the survivors were now the raw gems that had been filtered out, so the remaining first-years only needed to advance to their second year.
And with so many leaving, it was time to fill those spots again, wasn’t it?
“Hey, what’s with them?”
“Outsiders?”
“How...? Oh! Come to think of it, it’s already that time of year!”
It was a clear autumn day when beautifully shaped clouds drifted lazily across the sky.
The entrance exam to admit new cadets to the Royal Academy was about to begin.
“Yawn.”
Lee Han covered his mouth as he yawned.
He was yawning from boredom, wriggling in frustration.
[-The process of selecting these new cadets isn’t simply about bringing in fresh faces. It’s a crucial step in choosing the future pillars of the kingdom. So, I earnestly hope everyone approaches it with firm resolve! Also!]
...The speech had already dragged on for more than ten repetitions.
It was the same routine over and over—who wouldn’t find it boring?
In the conference room, some were dozing off with heads nodding, others shivering from tedium, but no one was fully asleep.
No one knew what fate would befall them for sleeping soundly in front of the dean—no, the former prime minister.
It was only natural to stay tense and focused.
Well, for Lee Han, anyway...
“Look over there. Isn’t Sir Turtle in horse stance right now?”
“Nah, no way.”
“He looks like he’s floating in the air though...”
“Must be an illusion. Besides, how could anyone maintain horse stance for three hours and still look so relaxed?”
“Y-Yeah, you’re right?”
He was using even this boring time as training, which made it somewhat less dull.
There were quite a few with sharp eyes.
He was maintaining horse stance—aka the mounted posture—without anyone noticing, yet they spotted it.
‘Even if they notice, no need to worry.’
He wasn’t harming anyone, stinking up the place with sweat, or ignoring the dean’s words.
‘...New cadets, huh. Things might get more complicated than expected.’
Lee Han felt a twinge of unease at the mention of recruiting new cadets.
The temple fanatics obsessed with power were targeting students during this dangerously precarious time.
And now, opening the academy for new cadets at a moment like this?
This was basically...
‘Not like they’re advertising “take them away if you want.”’
Shouldn’t he tell the dean right now to call off the new cadet recruitment?
‘...Probably not.’
Even Lee Han, who had zero interest in academy events, prided himself on understanding how the world worked.
Thus, he knew blocking the academy event called the [Entrance Exam] wasn’t feasible.
The entrance exam was one of the capital’s most important events.
Just as the interior had been open to outsiders for the midterm evaluation the day before, this exam would also be held publicly.
Meaning commoners and nobles alike would flock to the academy to enjoy it.
In a medieval era starved for entertainment, canceling such a massive event would invite a barrage of stones—and rightly so.
For the dean, it was probably non-negotiable, if only to protect his own position.
There were rumors of caution due to the monster terror during the midterm, but to people dying of boredom, that was ancient history.
Word was the royal family and noble houses would send knights on exam day, so security was covered.
“...People take their fun seriously in every world, huh.”
Lee Han was almost in awe of their dedication, mobilizing knights just for entertainment.
At that moment.
[Oh, and Instructor Lee Han.]
“?”
Caught off guard by the sudden callout, Lee Han raised his head.
“Did you need me?”
[Oh, it’s nothing major. You missed the meeting during your vacation, so I couldn’t tell you earlier, but you’re one of the examiners for the entrance exam.]
“...Me?”
[Yes. You can decline, but I’d greatly appreciate it if you could do it.]
“......”
[I’ll give you a bonus.]
“Hm.”
[15% raise—no, 30%.]
“...Oh.”
[Hoho, I’ll take that as a yes.]
The dean smiled kindly.
“-Kindly my ass! That was a sly, raccoon-like grin, and you fell for it—why volunteer for extra suffering?!”
The slave assistant—no, Damian Pollet—grabbed the back of his neck in exasperation.
“Do you know how much work being an examiner entails? It’s not just escorting applicants; you have to score them yourself. And once scores are public, the parents swarm with complaints... Ugh! Just thinking about it is nightmare fuel! Instructor, decline it now!”
Damian advised fervently against it, and it sounded plausible enough.
Sure, it seemed like a hassle, just as he said.
However.
“Is it really worth getting this heated? It looks busy, but not impossibly so?”
It was demanding, but not unreasonably so.
He wasn’t the type to miss something that simple—why the fuss?
To that question.
“It’s not unreasonable. But they’ll dump it all on me!!”
“Obviously.”
“...Hesitate for a second before answering? Don’t reply so fast...”
“I’m bad at lying.”
“Damn it!”
The assistant’s outburst wasn’t out of concern for him—it was something more commendable.
No, it was purely worry over his own workload piling up.
“The interns are all gone, and I’m dying as it is! Why do this to me?!”
“Couldn’t be helped. Don’t worry—the ones who’ll return will come back later.”
“That’s not the point, you damn old man!!”
“...At least one’s still here?”
Smooth.
Lee Han pointed to a woman there.
“......”
Judia Pierre, the sole surviving(?) intern.
But seeing her.
“The most useless one’s left! She sucks at paperwork!”
That only fueled Damian Pollet’s rage.
A bottom-tier worker was just a pretty shell causing burnout for the assistant, no matter how good-looking.
In that sense, Judia Pierre was a burnout inducer.
“...Can’t you just work harder?”
“!!?”
Damian froze like he’d heard “If there’s no bread, let them eat cake” right to his face, then his face flushed red...
“Die, you damn monster!”
The assistant pulled a hammer from his bosom and committed insubordination.
Carrying a hammer instead of a dagger in his chest pocket.
“Creative.”
Thwack!
“Arghhh!”
Lee Han easily blocked the charging man.
It looked like humoring a child’s play, but Damian Pollet’s movements were anything but childish.
They were swift and unpredictable, evoking a seasoned knight.
“Just one hit! One solid hit...!”
Why carry a hammer instead of a sword?
To land even one proper blow on that monster, he’d switched weapons.
Swords were useless against that monster anyway...!
Whoosh!
He hadn’t neglected training amid paperwork, and with a goal in sight, his hammer strikes grew fiercer and faster.
A true hammer master.
He could probably resonate with a Jangdori hammer any moment now.
Thud.
“Still sloppy. You’ve got too many sword habits ingrained.”
“!!?”
Landing a hit on him with only two months of hammer practice was a pipe dream, and Damian Pollet...
“Ridiculous, damn it...”
Whoosh!
Sensing the palm about to smack his occiput, he laughed helplessly.
...What a damn life.
“-This guy’s skills have improved, but why’s he going crazier by the day?”
Lee Han shrugged as he looked at the fainted man.
His hammer work was clumsy, but the power behind it was impressive.
Even the three stooges might get caught off guard.
“This is why people need goals. He’s getting stronger just to smack my head.”
“......”
“Isn’t it admirable?”
“...I can’t comprehend it with my common sense.”
“Your soul’s too dry.”
“I don’t think so.”
Pierre, answering, thought their relationship was truly abnormal.
Where did these weirdos even come from?
Still, she felt pity.
For the young cadet Damian Pollet, caught by such a man.
However.
- Hey, remember why I kept you around. It’s not because you’re pretty; it’s because you’re the most cooperative. And if you touch even one of my kids, I’ll make you regret being alive. I swear it!
...She was in no position to pity others, being quite pitiful herself.
‘I need to learn paperwork seriously.’
Time to properly learn the clerical work she’d half-assed so far.
Lee Han hadn’t spared the dual-personality heretic inquisitor out of pity or because of Raphael.
Literally, because she was the most ‘cooperative.’
While the others were potential traitors, this one would hesitate even under Cardinal Raphael’s watchful eye.
In short, she had utility, so he kept her alive—and when that utility ran dry...
‘Sell her to Blackie for a high price?’
He’d probably pay top dollar.
Blackie was likely the type who’d pay any sum to tear this dual-personality freak apart.
‘If I need quick cash, sell her off.’
For retirement funds later, he decided to stash her for now.
Like aging gold, she’d gain value with time.
As these idle thoughts continued.
“Instructor...”
“?”
“I, um, need to talk about something...”
“I’ll hear you out... Why are you coming out of there?”
“Hehe, it’s great for filming here. So cozy.”
“......”
...Not what he meant.
Lee Han was speechless at the spellcaster chick emerging from the pond like a cartoon ninja.
...As expected of a spellcaster, she wasn’t normal either.