Chapter 208
Chapter 208
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.47 – Knights' Night Prowl (1)
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"-Dad, I'm off to work."
"Dad, you're leaving already?"
"Aw, but you said you'd play with us today."
"Tch..."
At an age when they wanted nothing more than to play, the children grumbled softly, and the man now called "Dad" scratched his cheek awkwardly, looking troubled.
He felt sorry for them.
Lately, he'd been so busy he hadn't paid enough attention to his kids.
Along the way.
"You little rascals, Dad's not going out to play—he's going to work! You gonna keep whining?"
Timely reinforcements arrived, and the children's complaints were quelled.
"Honey..."
"You need to be firmer with them. Hey! Listen to Dad!... Like that."
"I just feel bad for the kids..."
"Aw, you can play with them next time. Oh, right. The streets have been unsafe lately, so be careful. I read in the paper that the royals and the temple are at it again."
"...Got it, got it."
"One answer's enough! Now hurry up and head to work!"
"...Alright."
Listening to his wife's mix of encouragement and nagging, the man gave a wry smile as he set off for work.
For his reliable backup—his lovely angel—and the three little angels sent by the heavens.
A ordinary man called by many names: Dad, husband, breadwinner.
Yes, this everyday family man, the kind you see anywhere, stepped out into the world today with diligent steps, just like always.
Sure, his day at work would be grueling and tough, but he could endure it.
Because the man...
...
...was a dad.
"-You said you scratched up that girl? The redhead was impressed. Said you did a real number on her."
"Pardon?"
"Hayes Roche. You said you went to see her."
"Oh, that?"
Haha...
Derek laughed awkwardly.
Thinking back now, he and the other two had done something pretty over the top.
-Hmm...
-That's weird?
-Strange, indeed.
- ...What the hell is wrong with these lunatics...
Them—that is, Derek, along with Irene and Roan—had, without any prior agreement, coincidentally all gone to visit Hayes, who was well-known in society as a temple spy or heretic.
Unlike the day before, she was utterly wrecked, snarling in a dark room with bared teeth.
Like a beast.
Even after enduring torture and interrogation from Inquisitor Pierre, her spirit remained unbroken, radiating a ferocious aura rivaling any vicious demon as she gnashed her teeth—a sight that would make even a burly man recoil in fear.
But they...
-Is she always like this?
- ...She's definitely not this kind of person...
-Where did it all go wrong?
...couldn't have cared less if she was a beast or rabid.
-How dare you scum—do you even know who I am!!
Her savage menace had zero effect on them.
Instead, they tilted their heads like they were appraising a rare zoo animal, all sharing the common trait of scrutinizing Hayes Roche—sizing her up, observing her.
Once their observation wrapped up.
-Haaa...
They all sighed in unison, visibly disappointed.
As if they'd expected a panda but got a guy in a panda suit—eyes full of letdown.
Finally.
- ...Yeah, she's not the one.
-Aaaaaah!!
Hayes Roche—whether from stress or rage—veins bulging in her eyes, screamed and rolled them back in her head.
They'd achieved what even the inquisitor's brutal torments couldn't, but the three just cocked their heads indifferently as she wailed like a banshee.
...It had happened exactly half a day ago.
"-You hear things fast."
"The redhead was impressed."
"Ahem..."
Taechang cleared his throat awkwardly, and Lee Han shrugged.
He hadn't meant it as a jab, but it must've stung Taechang's conscience.
Lee Han smirked, then changed the subject.
"So why'd you come alone? Weren't they with you?"
"...Oh, the two? They were both busy. Young Lord Roan headed to the Lionel estate, and Lady Irene was pretty much dragged back to the Galahad mansion against her will? Since she was nearly harmed directly, His Grace the Duke seems to be keeping a close eye on her."
"......Still using honorifics? Weren't you guys getting close?"
They'd fought side by side in the magic tower, so why were they still so distant?
"W-well, what can I do...? We cooperated with Young Lord Roan, but that's all it was—no real friendship. And with Lady Irene, it's just awkward."
"No camaraderie?"
"Never developed."
"...That's something to brag about."
"B-before that, we uncovered Hayes Roche's true identity. Real name's Susan. Eight years ago, she was chased out of some mountain village."
"Changing the subject..."
Lee Han considered teasing Taechang more for the obvious pivot but gave in to the intriguing info and pressed on.
"Chased out of her hometown?"
"Yeah. She was the village chief's daughter, but apparently a real bully. The villagers suffered a lot. After the chief died of old age, they banded together and drove her out."
The inquisitor's special truth serum was no joke.
The incident was fresh, yet her background check was already complete.
"Not long after, she held a grudge against the villagers who expelled her, burned the place down, and fled. She was caught by soldiers soon after for arson, but vanished en route to the tunnels..."
"The radicals kidnapped her?"
"Pretty much."
The rest was predictable.
Besides Susan, countless others had been abducted. They were injected with duke and dream demon factors from who-knows-where. Among the survivors, one was Susan.
"We suspect she underwent brainwashing. The content: 'I'm special, destined to become this kingdom's princess and saintess'—something like that."
"...So that's how Susan became Hayes Roche?"
"Her forged identity was spectacular. Without the instructor, we wouldn't have known she was a temple plant. If their plan had gone through, imagine the chaos she'd wreak on the kingdom..."
Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine.
Taechang muttered dramatically, and Lee Han chided him for exaggerating.
"Overkill."
"No exaggeration or flattery—just facts. The instructor stopped the Pendragon rift. Though it dragged you into this mess..."
"......"
"...You hate it that much?"
"Wouldn't you? Now I'm set up to be a clown."
Tsk!
Lee Han clicked his tongue sharply.
The day before—after hearing about the indulgence from old man Raphael—Lee Han felt utterly screwed.
The moment they said the temple would promote him, a wave of revulsion hit.
And for good reason.
"I was finally living quietly..."
Why do celebrities always say it?
They want money but no spotlight...
Lee Han had zero desire to be famous—he was an introvert, after all.
So, with the temple about to shatter his quiet life, the displeasure was inevitable. As for whoever orchestrated this...
"I'd like to see that bastard's face..."
He ground his teeth.
"...You think the instructor sees this as some 'individual's' doing? Not the organization?"
"Those incompetent god-peddlers couldn't scheme this cleverly."
"......"
"There has to be one. A brain calling the shots for those fools."
Undoubtedly clever and tenacious.
"Like Jeong Do-jeon, or maybe Han Myeong-hoe?"
"...What's the difference?"
"One's an ideologue revolutionary aiming to topple the nation; the other's an ambitious snake who'd bite the king for power."
"......You rate 'em high."
"Have to. Can't read their next move."
"......"
"Not even a gut feeling. No holds barred."
Not one for long plotting, but improvisation.
Flipping the board before anyone could react.
Thus.
"Maybe I should improvise a flip too?"
"How?"
"Simple. Not with anything fancy, but..."
"-Just checking, but you're not thinking something like, 'Bust up the temple on the indulgence day and bail to another country!' are you?"
"......"
Blink. Blink.
"......You're gonna drive me insane."
Facing that innocent—no, beastly—gaze screaming 'Why not?', Lee Han's assistant instructor Damian Pollet felt his blood pressure spike.
Typical of this guy.
"...Sigh. Instructor, an indulgence isn't just some get-out-of-jail-free card. It's symbolic. Using it for real brings divine retribution. For real."
"Oh?"
"It's a [holy relic], made from saints' remains or artifacts. Receiving one is pure honor—no one's ever actually used one."
"They made it to be used."
"Even so, you can't! It's a holy relic!! Holding it wards off curses, spells, magic. They even call it a 'spare life.' You really wanna use it?"
"Yeah."
"...Can you think before answering?"
"......I did. Seems fine to use."
"Five seconds! Five!!"
As usual, toying with Damian Pollet turned him into a berserker, whom Lee Han subdued with a hammer rampage.
It took a full minute longer than usual—proof of Damian's growth.
"D-damn it...!"
Unable to land a single hit, Damian was furious despite his gains.
Panting and fuming on the floor, he suddenly said.
"...Instructor, I know you pretty well now. Or rather, you've forced me to."
"?"
"I know. You feel little attachment to Pendragon. Lately, with my classmates around, you've warmed up a bit, but you'd ditch us and vanish like the wind anytime. That's you."
"Pretty perceptive."
"Damn it, surviving under you honed that!"
"Hmm."
"Anyway, what I'm saying is this: You can bail whenever, but my classmates and others need you. Use that thick skull to actually deliberate before deciding, damn it!"
"...Advice or complaining?"
"I'm hating myself for saying this—cut me some slack, crap!"
"......"
This guy's nuts too...
Shaking his head with a tsk, Lee Han turned lightly and headed inside.
...However.
"...Kid's grown up."
...A smile played on his lips.
Pride in the boy's development.
'I ain't leaving, you punk.'
Unlike before, he'd grown attached.
But even if he didn't want to go, the world kept pushing him.
So...
Creeeak.
...Maybe it was time for a bold move of his own?
Swish.
Lee Han pulled a black mask from the depths of his dresser drawer.
One he'd sworn never to touch again...
"Just this once."
Clasping the black mask reverently in both hands, Lee Han prayed.
Not to any god, but instead.
"Fairy of Spring, grant me 'righteous theft' just this once."
Praying to the spring fairy he'd somewhat bonded with, Lee Han donned the mask.
Skills learned gotta be used sometime.