Chapter 224
Chapter 224
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.50 – The Knight Broods Over Defeat (2)
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The next day, the academy buzzed nonstop with conversations and debates over the massive incident that had spread across the south.
"The temples collapsed, and all at once like that... I still feel like I'm dreaming."
"Tell me about it. At least they caught the terrorists, but heh, it's hard to believe they were commoners."
"It's terrifying. How could they commit such an outrage against heaven and earth!"
"...Not everyone sees it that way. After all, weren't they all victims themselves? It almost feels like justified revenge—"
"What? You believe that nonsense!?"
"It's not so unbelievable. The temples' abuses didn't start yesterday."
"You...!?"
The news of the grand temple burning and the attacks on temples near other territories had spread like wildfire within a day of the terrorism.
Unnaturally fast, in fact...
Newspapers had articles ready as if anticipated, with full reports on the background, motives, and details of the attack.
...Along with the temples' dirty secrets.
As a result, some muttered about "incitement! A conspiracy!" and spun conspiracy theories, while others nodded along with "So it's true? Ha, I knew it!"
There was good reason: the temples' victims weren't just commoners.
Even among nobles and knights, the poor had plenty of history with priestly abuses, and many nobles knew the truth behind the newspaper accounts.
Especially the rich, idle nobles who loved digging for truth, or info guilds selling details—verifying the papers wasn't hard.
Thus.
"A duel, you dare insult the Light!"
"You face the facts! The evidence is overwhelming, you ignorant fool! Temples spread the teachings of the Light—they're not the Light itself! This incident stripped them of their claim as God's proxies!!"
"You bastard—!!"
With over eighty percent of Pendragon's southern citizens faithful to the Radiant Light, many raged at temple insults. Even those who acknowledged temple crimes saw no big issue and gladly threw down the gauntlet at detractors.
Others insisted not to conflate the faith with the temples and tossed their gauntlets too.
Clashes erupted academy-wide over religious views, ideologies, and stances—not just cadets, but instructors and professors too.
...Or rather, to correct that.
"Nobles are all the same! They only act like that 'cause they're not the victims, damn them!"
"Whose side are you on, you cur?"
"What, did I say something wrong?"
"!?"
It was chaos fit for the whole kingdom.
...Meanwhile, one rare spot free of debates, conflicts, or fights existed.
"......"
[......]
The academy's swordsmanship department.
"...S-someone say something."
"W-what are we supposed to say?"
"Instructor looks pissed. Talking might get you killed. Just leave him be."
"...Kunta, that's surprisingly smart coming from you?"
"Was Kunta ever smart?"
"......"
A forced no-debate zone?
Amusingly, some swordsmen wanted to chatter about the incident, but their revered instructor sat in an odd pose, silent. No one dared speak.
...One thing was clear: he looked extremely pissed.
Speaking up might mean dismemberment that day, so they wisely chose silence and trained hard.
Unwittingly, amid kingdom-wide quarrels, these hot-blooded youths maintained peace through fear.
Peace truly comes from strength and terror, perhaps.
And the one embodying this wise lesson was.
"......"
Sitting cross-legged, eyes closed.
Then.
"Hoo..."
Among eighty cadets, perhaps the frailest-looking but bravest woman.
"Um, Master..."
Levi Zan Dark took a cautious step forward and addressed their instructor.
"......Why."
His reply came a beat late.
His voice sank unusually low, deep in thought.
Most would lose the nerve under his natural intimidation, but Levi was no ordinary girl.
"...I just thought you might have some big worry."
"......"
"So... yeah, I wanted to talk to you, Master. Bottling it up alone is too— no, really painful, right?"
"......"
"I-I know someone like me can't offer real advice, but I want to share your burdens."
"......"
...For a moment, the meditating man's eyes slowly opened, a twist of a smile on his lips.
"-Ha."
"D-don't laugh! I know it sounds silly..."
A crooked smile formed.
Levi flushed, mortified, fearing she'd overstepped.
But.
"...You're right. Worries are for sharing."
"......Huh?"
"Thanks. You helped me figure out what to do."
"M-Master?"
Levi glanced up cautiously. Meeting her eyes, he said.
"I'll step out briefly. Handle today's class on your own. Thanks. Oh, dump the rest of the paperwork on Assistant No. 1. Got it?"
"Y-yes!"
Levi beamed, replying vigorously.
Overjoyed to see his usual reassuring smile—the most dependable one.
He vanished swiftly. Levi watched his back warmly, a soft smile on her face.
"Instructor, didn't you have a meeting today...? Huh? Where'd he go?"
"He left. Said he had business."
"B-business?! There's a m-meeting!"
"Yeah, he said to pass the rest to Assistant Damian."
"......"
"I'll go train now..."
"........."
She fetched her wooden sword.
To train diligently.
'I have to be useful to Master!'
Her aid still feeble, but someday she'd support his back solidly.
Frail yet resolute as an ancient oak, that was Levi.
"Agh! That damn guy!! Hah, just once! Let me punch him once, please—!!"
Cheered by the doomed assistant's lament, she swung her wooden sword.
To grow stronger.
...Lee Han charged straight ahead.
Whoosh!
No one could block his hesitant-free stride, nor dared approach his aura.
His pace quickened to a run, scenery blurring past.
Whoosh—whoosh, backgrounds whipped by until.
Thud.
"Sir Turtle?"
"Long time."
"What brings you today..."
"Skip it. Let me in."
"P-pardon?"
"Thanks for your service."
"Uh..."
The palace guard captain should've barred Lee Han by protocol.
After yesterday's palace brawl, he was banned temporarily.
Yet captain and guards alike watched him enter dumbfounded.
"Hoo!"
Breath heaving, he passed the gates in a flash—to his old workplace.
White Silver Lion Knights, 3rd Order.
Always teeming with knights, eyes locked on him instantly.
"W-why's that guy here?"
"???"
"Eek!"
Not plague ghosts, but his appearance panicked them—especially those he'd thrashed before.
...Oddly, rookies unfamiliar with him averted eyes too.
Normally, glares or whispers would've followed, yet eerie silence reigned.
No Jake or Yord to break the awkwardness...
Then.
"-Heh, suddenly homesick? Fancy visiting uninvited."
A middle-aged man appeared behind him with fluid grace.
Frail-looking, barely able to swing a cane—yet no knight here...
No one on the continent underestimated him.
For he was.
"Didn't say I came for you, old man. Overinflated ego?"
"Ego? With that murderous aura? Tone it down. Can't you see everyone's terrified?"
"......"
"Heh, still won't listen. Stubborn brat."
Baltar Grace.
Continent's top knight, idol.
One-man army superhuman.
Aura User of fear and reverence.
And Lee Han to this legend.
"...Fine, truth is, like you said, I came to ask you something."
"Trailing that killer intent?"
"Need answers today, and to vent my frustration."
"...Cheeky punk."
"Sorry. But I might go mad otherwise."
"What's that?"
"Means I'm about to lose it."
"That... heh, sounds serious."
Baltar smiled kindly.
So paternal it seemed he'd slip pocket money—yet instead.
"Hm, they say a stick tames mad dogs."
Thwack.
A light knuckle rap.
Seemingly casual flick...
BAM—!!
...But the miracle it wrought was no trifle.
Crashclatter!
"R-run!"
"C-crazy!!"
A man flew.
Spinning like a windmill, dozens of rotations per second—Lee Han's body.
KABOOM!
Only cratering the rampart stopped him.
...Impossible physics aside, Baltar chuckled at the knuckle flick.
"Kid wanted a wake-up call. Took it on purpose."
...Huh?
A dazed reaction from the unseen.
But next instant.
CRRRACKCRACKCRACK!
...The rampart shattered, a massive explosion engulfing the knights.
Flinch!!
Knights recoiled instinctively.
Step, step.
Emerging from rubble, feral eyes blazing murderously—like a beast...
The ultimate savage, uncontrollable mad beast.
And the beast.
"-Today, we go serious."
Crrackle!
Spoke human words while manifesting battle spirit like lightning across his body.
Baltar responded.
"When weren't you serious and got hit?"
Just a finger crook.
Come at me.
His casual poise drew a savage grin from the beast.
Right choice coming here.
KABOOM!!