Chapter 232
Chapter 232
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.52 – A Lady's Heart Sways Like the Reeds (1)
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"-Wh-who did you go to meet?"
The boy with gray hair that suited him perfectly asked in bewilderment, and Garand, who wore a puzzled expression in response, showed unexpected kindness despite his fierce appearance. Instead of snapping back curtly, he answered again patiently.
"From what I heard, you went to meet young master Arno's father?"
"……."
"What's wrong, young master? You feeling under the weather or something?"
"N-no, sir. I just wanted to confirm something... Thank you for answering, Mr. Garand."
The boy, Derek, stumbled a bit in his words but quickly recovered without much panic.
"Hm?"
Was it that he sensed a hint of unease in the boy's demeanor?
The former mercenary cadet...
"Quit with the formalities—it creeps me out. Just talk casually with me, like friends."
"Ah, no, that's..."
"What, you discriminating against me 'cause I'm an ex-mercenary? That kinda hurts..."
"N-no!? Absolutely not! I swear...!"
"Hahaha! Just kidding, kidding."
Thwack! Smack!
"M-my back hurts."
"Quit whining—you're built like a tank."
"Ugh..."
Derek swallowed a groan, but he felt grateful toward Garand nonetheless.
He knew Garand was playfully thumping his back on purpose to snap him out of his confusion.
'...He's got a good heart. As expected of the future mercenary captain...'
A man with a Leadership stat of 93 out of 100.
He had aspired to become a knight but grew disillusioned with the nobles during his time at the academy and returned to the mercenary world to found his own company.
On top of that...
'He scouted Kunta and Arno as his vice-captains.'
His combat stats were lower than those two, but his Leadership alone made him extraordinary.
The current king had a Leadership of only 44, after all.
'Ah, but that's not the point right now...'
Analyzing a character named Garand as naturally as if he had some illness—it was no wonder the instructor called him a 'game addict bastard.'
This world was definitely 'reality,' not a game, and yet...
'My head knows it, but my heart hasn't fully accepted it yet.'
Derek gave a wry smile as he recognized his own flaw and chronic habit once more.
He resolved to fix it, but it wasn't easy.
...That said, if he had to make an excuse this time.
'Even the instructor would be pretty shocked if he heard what I have to say. And understandably so...'
──Because a 'character' who should have died long ago was still alive.
'The last head of House Ophen, Iliyad de Ophen.'
The name of a figure who was supposed to be dead according to the game's story.
Though not by choice, Lee Han had met the heads of noble houses quite often.
Some were parents he saw frequently after becoming an instructor, and others he encountered in the royal palace before that.
If there was one thing common among these noble house heads he unwillingly met so often...
'...They have no manners.'
Yes, arrogant.
No, calling them arrogant might even be too polite.
House heads like that lived as if the world revolved around their greatness.
Well, it wasn't incomprehensible.
They firmly believed they were born with noble blue blood, and wearing that crown of leadership made anything less than arrogance seem unnatural.
In truth...
'From experience(?), it's red blood that flows through them...'
Not a story to share in public, so moving on...
The point was that arrogance and rudeness were passive traits for noble house heads, and expecting humanity from them was futile.
In that sense...
"Thanks to Sir Turtle, Arno seems much more upright lately. He had talent, but his personality had rough edges—those have smoothed out thanks to you, so you are truly a benefactor to our house."
"F-Father...?"
"I'm not wrong, so don't make that face. Swordsmanship improves with effort, but a rotten personality is hopeless. I've seen how many wastrels like that have caused astronomical damage to their houses, believe me. So we can never thank you enough, Sir Turtle. You turned my eldest into a proper human being, after all!"
"...I never had a rotten personality."
"Tsk tsk. You don't even realize how rude you were before the academy, you shameless boy."
"……."
Meeting a noble this humble and straightforward was a novelty.
'What a rare breed.'
House Ophen wielded influence rivaling great noble houses, and yet its head, Iliyad, was polite, down-to-earth, and humble despite leading such a mighty family.
Utterly un-noble-like.
"Sir Turtle, if it's not too much trouble, could you spare a moment to chat? Since this is nominally a 'home visit,' I'd love to hear how my son is faring at the academy."
"...I'm fine with that."
"Haha, much obliged."
See? No beating around the bush—he straight-up expressed his gratitude.
'Talking to a noble without getting a headache—it's been ages.'
Not having to decode political jargon felt liberating.
It was eccentric enough to earn him the 'weirdo' label from other nobles, but to Lee Han, it was purely likable.
...Also.
'In another way, he's worthy of respect...'
Lee Han gave him a meaningful look.
Somehow, he felt proud of the man.
Not the kind of assessment a knight should make of a prestigious house head, but it couldn't be helped because...
'—He never let go of the sword.'
Unable to use his legs, yet his palms bore calluses like embedded stones—how could one not respect that?
'This guy...'
He's got romance.
"I've heard Sir Turtle created his own original technique, not based on Fighting Techniques. Founding a school at your age—genius doesn't even begin to cover it."
"Less 'created' and more just starting from an idea anyone could have. Genius is too much praise."
"Haha, humble to a fault. But too much humility can come off as annoying, they say. A bit of confidence now and then wouldn't hurt."
"...No, really, I'm not a genius."
"Heavens! Humility like that borders on poison."
"……."
The two men surprisingly hit it off.
Different in age, status, life paths—everything—but they connected through the topic of swords.
Well, it was mostly Lee Han fielding questions and praise, but he answered each one with an awkward smile.
"Your son has the skills to be a knight right now. The issue is his lack of real combat experience. He shows he's hunted monsters a few times, but he's still clumsy against people."
"Hm, did I raise him too softly?"
"Quite the opposite— you raised him well. What's there to brag about teaching murder?"
"Haha, that eases my mind."
"Anyway, what your son needs now isn't more training—it's real battles. If knighthood is the goal, early graduation might be worth considering, regrettable as that is."
"...I still think staying longer is better. Growing up too fast robs you of youth, and that matters more in the long run, no?"
"Fair point. He's still young."
"Kehkeh, if you're graduating anyway, bring a new bride along. A love marriage would be ideal."
"Don't worry about that. The boy's just got his walls up, but he's popular with the ladies. If he wanted, he could give you grandkids tomorrow."
"Oho!"
"...Instructor? Father?"
An adult specialty.
They ignore the person right in front of them.
Arno, reduced to a forgotten bundle, wore a dumbfounded look as Kunta and Levi patted his back sympathetically.
"Arno—no, young master—don't sweat it. Adults are all like that. Kunta almost became a dad at 12 'cause of tribal traditions. Lucky for him, he ran away for a year and dodged it."
"...Is that supposed to comfort me?"
"More importantly, Master Arno really is popular. Even among the swordsmanship department ladies, a few are planning to play matchmaker next year, I bet?"
"L-ladies!?"
It evoked a sitcom scene, but it was heartwarmingly cozy all the same.
Head maid Elza brought warm herbal tea, the kids chattered happily, and the two men conversed amiably—what could be more touching?
A scene straight out of a fairy tale.
And Lee Han loved this sitcom-slash-fairy-tale peacefulness.
How nice it would be to live like this forever.
...Which is why.
"So, as I was saying. In my view, joining the Red Blood Hawks might broaden his horizons..."
"...House head."
"?"
"Sorry to cut you off, but I'm starting to feel a sense of crisis."
"Pardon?"
"...Your reaction tells me it's real. You're not putting on an act, are you, House head?"
"??"
...Lee Han decided to resolve the injustice of being the only one excluded from this peace.
Not to mention shake off the 'pressure' that had been bearing down on him 'since earlier.'
Iliyad looked taken aback by Lee Han's sudden words, as did everyone else.
They couldn't fathom what he was on about.
With a wry smile at them, Lee Han approached Arno out of the blue once more.
Soon.
"...Could you stop with the pressure, sir? My throat and back are starting to sting."
"I-instructor?"
"Or should I call you 'Lady' instead of sir?"
"……."
"Ah, wait—considering your age, even 'Lady' might be..."
Ziiing-!
Crack! For an instant, cracks appeared on items in the drawing room.
It was just a voice echoing, yet it felt like a high-frequency attack—and for Lee Han, who took the full brunt...
Cough...!
Internal injuries formed.
"Y-yes... sorry, Lady."
Lee Han apologized immediately.
He didn't want to provoke her and make a bad showing.
And perhaps pleased by his quick apology.
The 'lady' disguised as Arno—no, as Iliyad—nodded vigorously in satisfaction at last.
"I'll keep it in mind."
...Duchess Felicia.
Sword Duchess Felicia de Ophen.
She was one of the three Aura Users proudly boasted by Pendragon, alongside Baltar and Albert.