Chapter 202
Chapter 202
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP. 45: The Knight Rides Autumn (7)
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"This is the first time I've seen your face in person."
"...Y-Yes, I suppose it is."
"Don't be so tense. I have no intention of harming you just because I've seen Little Timid's face."
"Um, by Little Timid, do you mean Derek, perhaps?"
"You catch on quick."
"Hehe, it's such a perfect nickname. I think I'll start calling him that from now on."
"......"
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"No reason. I just thought Little Timid had found his soulmate. You even have the same talent for rubbing it in."
"!!"
"It's fine in front of me, but tone down the lovey-dovey act around others. Honestly, it's annoying."
"Y-Yes......"
A reaction straight out of a fresh-faced girl.
She'd been so bold in front of a crowd of 30,000, but talk of her boyfriend brought out an age-appropriate response.
'I thought he was the one wrapped around her finger, but it turns out she's even more smitten.'
Watching her cheeks flush bright red, Lee Han couldn't shake the feeling that she might actually like that Taechang guy even more. It was a relief he wasn't here right now.
If he were...
...he might've gotten a knuckle sandwich?
They said jealousy blinded men and made them ugly, but Lee Han figured he'd just be honest about it.
It was less stressful that way.
At that moment,
"Now I get it. That's why Lady Irene Windler, Lady Levi, and the swordsmanship trio suddenly joined the student council. You pulled some strings, didn't you, Instructor?"
She nodded as if she'd finally pieced together the events of the past few days, her eyes reminiscent of mysterious amethysts.
As if her analysis was complete.
She murmured to herself, sorting through the situation.
"Lady Irene Windler isn't the type to enjoy the spotlight. The same goes for Lady Levi and the trio. So it struck me as odd when they all knocked on the student council's door out of nowhere. But if you had a hand in it, everything clicks... Hmm, is something big going down during this exam?"
Speculation.
"Like that monster terror incident during the midterms...? Ah! I see! It wasn't terrorism—it was suspicious people targeting something in the academy! Sending the trio, who are strong in combat, means they're doubling as bodyguards!"
Comprehension.
"So, what those suspicious people are after... it could be Lady Irene Windler, Lady Levi, or even me? It's a bit embarrassing to say it myself, but there aren't many in the academy with a higher price on their head than us. Sigh, with so little info, it's hard to be sure."
Assessment.
"What can I do to help?"
"......"
......It all came out in a rush, leaving no room for Lee Han to explain.
He just listened to her deductions, and by the end, he was dumbfounded.
"You figured it all out without me saying a word. What are you, Holmes?"
"...Who's that?"
"A famous detective who solves unsolvable cases from his armchair."
"Oh my, I'd love to meet someone like that! But first things first—tell me the plan. How are we proceeding?"
"...No other questions?"
"Solving the problem comes before questions, doesn't it? We need to be efficient."
"......"
"Why the stare?"
"Nothing. Just thinking there are a lot of geniuses out there."
"?"
...That Taechang guy's in for it.
Lee Han was certain.
To enroll in the Royal Academy, one had to pass five exams in total.
The first was written.
The second was talent verification.
The third was practical.
The fourth was the first interview.
The final fifth was the second interview.
Most of the riffraff were weeded out in the written exam, but the talent verification—assessing unique abilities like mysteries—offered a chance to recover even if you'd bombed the written test, if the academy saw potential worth cultivating.
Of course, entrants via talent alone numbered fewer than fifty in the academy's long history, and in reality, failing the written exam meant failing for most.
And now, thirty minutes after the written exam ended.
"Th-This can't be! There's no way I failed!"
"Do you know how much money my father gave you? H-How dare you fail me!"
"You damn bastards...!"
About half had been cut.
Failed examinees were causing a ruckus here and there, only for proctors and guards to swoop in and subdue them with practiced ease. It was an annual spectacle, leaving the proctors with expressions more jaded than familiar.
"Kunta's head hurts. Was this test made to let us pass?"
"Anyone who studied properly could've answered. We even gave level-appropriate problems for each hoped-for department. Failing means they slacked off, so they deserved to drop out."
"You're lucky you got in on talent, Kunta."
"Kunta is barbarian, so Kunta happy!"
The mystery race that poured everything into combat ability grinned happily, spared such tests—but even so, Kunta had aced the practical and interview.
It wasn't widely known, but he'd entered as the 'third seat' right behind top students Roan Dimitri de Lionel and Irene Windler.
...Though he couldn't care less about his ranking.
"Is the swordsmanship practical a spar like last year?"
"Doubt it. They said the exam changes every year."
"Hmm, what did Instructor prepare?"
"Kunta thinks Instructor did nothing. Assistants prepped all night."
"......"
They nodded in agreement.
Fair enough—their instructor was diligent elsewhere, but paperwork? Not so much.
Especially dumping everything on his assistant, Damian Pollet, seemed a hobby...
"Poor assistant."
"Worse, he's got two more years of it."
"I'd start as a rookie merc before ever being an assistant."
The trio started to silently mourn Damian Pollet, zombie-like from exhaustion.
If not for the stern yet gentle girl's voice interrupting.
"Stop slacking and get to work, Mr. Arno, Mr. Kunta, Mr. Garand."
"Bearcub's here?"
"Yes, just finished most of the first exam. It's tougher than I thought."
Levi Jeanne d'Arc.
She looked worn out from patrolling as acting proctor.
Physically fine, but mentally drained.
Supervising 30,000 people? Of course it was exhausting.
...Yet Levi ranked high in stamina and willpower even among swordsmanship cadets.
Her being this tired from proctoring felt off. Clearly, extra 'chores' had piled up—and sure enough.
"Found any suspicious ones?"
"About twenty?"
"That's a lot. I only got twelve."
"Impressive you spotted that many while proctoring."
"Agreed. What a remarkable young lady."
"Y-You're all too kind..."
Levi blushed, embarrassed yet pleased.
Unfamiliar with praise, but happy for it.
"B-But the temple's ruthless. Scheming in the academy like this? Unforgivable."
Her shy demeanor vanished, replaced by quiet fury.
Levi rarely badmouthed anyone specifically, but now she couldn't hold back.
And rightly so—with incidents plaguing the kingdom, the temple's petty crimes to consolidate power amid a crisis that demanded unity? Enough to enrage her.
"...Lady Levi doesn't seem fond of the temple?"
"Why would I be?"
She looked the pious type outwardly, but her resentment ran deep. As they blinked in surprise,
"Prayed to the gods as a kid, got nothing. Haven't since. Though lately, I pray to the instructor instead."
"......"
They'd stepped on a landmine.
Feeling guilty for dredging up dark memories, but Levi brushed it off.
Simply,
"Let's do our best to root out the bad guys. At least keep the innocent examinees safe."
She was giving her all to do just that.
"R-Right..."
"Kunta will try hard."
"Sigh, no peace."
An aura that naturally earned trust and led others.
Even those with heroic talents bowed before the extraordinary gift from the heavens.
Meanwhile, as Levi's group rounded up temple spies—or potential ones—Irene Windler had,
"-Ah, found it."
Successfully spotted her target.
"That's... the duke's 'real daughter'?"
"Yes! See?"
"......"
"What do you think? Obvious, right?"
"...Yeah, she looks like him."
"Told you!"
The rookie buzzed with excitement, but Lee Han got it completely.
'She really does.'
Like Duke Galahad.
Irene Windler handed him the telescope, but Lee Han could've seen the distant woman's features clearly without it.
Unlike Irene's long straight hair, hers was a bob—and rare golden blonde at that.
Pandragons had nobles with all hair colors, but silver and gold were uncommon; pure gold like hers? Only the rookie in the academy.
Yet this woman had it.
Maybe because it was so rare—examinees and proctors alike stole glances, their lip-reading clear:
'Wow, she's gorgeous.'
'A beauty...'
'Still not as good as that senior earlier...'
'Yeah, fair.'
...Men.
"Instructor?"
"...Nothing."
"??"
Lee Han clamped his mouth shut, staring intently at the woman.
'...Eyes like that guy's, vibe too.'
Side by side, you'd swear she resembled the rookie more.
But instinctively, Lee Han knew.
'Why does she feel so... artificial?'
The looks matched.
Vibe, presence—even scent had similarities to the duke.
'But something's off.'
Awkward.
She resembled him, but didn't feel like his daughter.
His own bias?
'No.'
Like staring at an uncannily crafted, uncanny-valley doll.
Doll—artificial. That was it.
Lee Han concluded.
She's
'A fake.'
And one
─with a dream demon attached.
The moment he finally understood how the magic tower and cult fanatics planned to get Duke Galahad's demon sword.