The Knight Hates Bean Powder (6)
[──!!]
A slight pause in the brushstroke caused by the roar that sounded like a beast's howl.
Iliad, who had been stopped by the roar, soon realized who was in the direction the roar came from and laughed cheerfully.
It was the place where his mother and the knight were.
“I wonder if he's telling Lee Han-nim some old stories.”
“Another victim has been created. The Prime Minister and Lord Tristan also screamed like that.”
“Indeed. Well, talking with Mother often makes one feel many emotions, ahaha!”
Iliad could roughly guess what had happened there.
He probably told old stories, and Lee Han-nim would be going crazy hearing them.
“...Mother is a different kind of person. Since she has aspects that are quite different from others, it's only natural that she acts that way.”
Tap.
Iliad set down the brush and picked up the teacup Elsa had given him.
“Compared to being different, her way of thinking is rather bizarre.”
“...It's not Mother's fault. She grew up in a bizarre environment from childhood.”
“That's...”
“Mother is just a pitiful person...”
“...”
Iliad knew his mother better than anyone else.
Not just because she was his mother, but because he drew a fairy tale based on her, and to draw the fairy tale, he had investigated her entire past.
Therefore, he knew that Felicia had no choice but to have a 'twisted temperament' different from the criminals.
The parents were indifferent, the adults around her condemned and despised her, and she had to live a life of being neglected.
In the midst of that, the only one who became her friend and guide was a single sword, so it was no wonder her perception was different from others.
“'The knight who doesn't know parental love, loves others, and doesn't know how to be loved by others' – that was definitely a line from volume 2?”
“...Elsa, did you read my book too?”
“I have the entire series. Rather, I don't think there's anyone in the family who doesn't have it?”
“Th-that's embarrassing.”
“Embarrassing? On the contrary, because of this book, the strange and cruel actions your lord showed in the past are being defended. So, congratulations to you, master.”
“Hmph...”
...Yes, this is a secret not known to the public, but among the reasons Iliad drew a fairy tale book based on his mother was not simply wanting to draw a fairy tale based on real life, but because he wanted to protect his mother.
'There were many dishonorable acts in Mother's past that couldn't be praised.'
She lived a neglected life, and her life was filled with regrets, even if it was an exaggeration.
But why is there a name 'The Evil Ghost of the Battlefield' among Mother's nicknames?
No matter how much it was during war, it was a cruel nickname for the behavior she committed without restraint, which deserved criticism.
Therefore, even Iliad knew that it was only natural for Mother to be criticized because of these past actions, but nevertheless, he wanted to tell the world.
Mother was certainly cruel, but that was just a misfortune that occurred because she couldn't learn the obvious things like 'kindness', 'love', 'benevolence' from the 'inferior adults' around her.
It was never because Mother had no honor or nobility that she did such things...
“Some people hate my fairy tales because of this glorification. They say that kids these days call them anti-fans when they see that. Ugh, I wonder if they'll hit me with a stick later.”
“If you say so, I'll make sure to remove them all.”
“...I can't say anything wrong.”
Criticism was something he was ready to accept.
Honestly, he didn't expect much popularity when releasing the fairy tale, but it turned out to be an enormous success unexpectedly.
So, Iliad didn't get worked up whether the fairy tale was praised or criticized.
He just let it be and quietly moved on to the next work, preparing for the new work.
“More than that, Mother seems to really like Lee Han-nim. She's been taking care of him since he visited only a month ago, and she's telling old stories herself. Hmm, is it because she's similar to herself?”
“Similar? Do you mean the knight is similar to your lord?”
“Mother and Lee Han-nim have quite a few similarities. There are some slightly unusual aspects, being strict with herself, and ... not having much talent.”
“??”
Elsa tilted her head, but Iliad didn't add any explanation.
It was something that wouldn't be noticed unless one had the eyes to see someone's talent like Iliad.
'I felt it from the first day, but he really resembles Mother a lot.'
He knew by watching her posture and how she swung the sword a few times.
Ah, this person's talent is just ordinary.
Common talent.
There would probably be many like him overflowing among Offen's disciples.
But there is one thing.
The knight Lee Han has one special thing different from these common disciples.
Not just...
'Someone who doesn't know how to give up, like Mother.'
Just from seeing the training of the body, one can tell.
It would be the result of training that grinds the bones and tears the flesh.
It couldn't be anything but the result of a single-minded devotion poured into one thing with effort equal to the eons.
It couldn't be a cultivator as respectable as Mother.
Also, when looking at the attitude towards combat...
'I wonder if he might have rolled in a harsh organizational environment in the past, an assassination squad or mercenary group? Or maybe both. Moreover, he might have experienced a fierce battlefield. His combat ability and reaction were exactly like those of war returnees. Hmm, is he a former soldier?'
Iliad succeeded in roughly guessing his hidden past just by watching the spar between Lee Han and Mother, which was simple.
It's not difficult.
Because one can know quite a lot through a person's hardened flesh and posture, etc.
...Only extremely few people can do it.
'Unlike innate talent, a person with excellent creativity and imagination. Just looking at the techniques he uses shows traces of carefully using his strong body to the extreme.'
A sad talent comparable to Mother, but if there's one better point than Mother, it's the fresh idea and the challenge desire without hesitation towards new paths, isn't it?
'However, such challenge desire is normally something one can't have, it's a special case.'
Just remembering what he heard from Arno, many of the techniques he uses were techniques created in a state of giving one's life.
A madman's way of life with no attachment to life.
So, when he first visited, I thought he was a huge weirdo, but unexpectedly, he was a normal person, which surprised me a bit?
So, a bit curious.
What exactly is...
'What is the reason he can live by giving his life so much?'
Not a madman, but what allows that,
'Not someone who has lived two lives, the boldness that one can't do otherwise.'
...Hah!
“I also have a job-related disease. My imagination is too much.”
“Master?”
“Elsa, bring me more tea. My throat suddenly dried up.”
“Understood.”
“Thank you.”
Iliad decided to stop the unnecessary thoughts and take a short break.
He seemed to have accumulated fatigue recently from releasing a new work after a long hiatus.
'Or rather...'
...Is it because of suddenly recalling the past?
The voice of Lee Han-nim, who is still raging outside and scolding Mother, is faintly heard.
It's not very clear, but probably it's a spanking.
'Like how their comrades and friends did to Mother.'
However, even if he hears such spanking,
'Mother won't change.'
She was originally like that.
It might be a waste of time to try to stop him even now, but thinking about Mother being scolded...
'A bit satisfying.'
Should I call it vicarious satisfaction?
Originally, watching him do the scolding that I should have done myself, I feel nothing but satisfaction.
“Huh, I am quite an unfilial son.”
Iliad didn't hate Mother, but since he couldn't deny a bit of 'disappointment', the situation of Mother being scolded was somewhat satisfying.
“...Ah, it's over.”
So, the sound of his booming scolding from outside ending and the presence fading was a bit disappointing.
It felt like it had ended like this.
“I also... am a... incompetent guy...”
Iliad's consciousness was gradually fading to the point where his slight hoarseness was no longer noticeable.
In front of the suffocating aura that was invading his consciousness, Iliad couldn't resist and closed his eyes.
...Without any resistance.
*
*
*
Bang!
“It doesn't work, it doesn't...”
Lee Han was venting his anger towards a large rock as if his temper was properly out.
Every time, the rock would shatter in a way that was unbelievable for its size, but after Lee Han crushed the rock into sand-like pieces, he finally calmed down and breathed heavily.
“Damn...”
Honestly, he didn't intend to get this worked up.
After all, it's someone else's business, and interfering in someone else's family affairs is the most overstepping thing.
However, the reason he was angry was not that.
“Why are they making such a big deal out of something that could be solved with 'one word'...”
He was convinced that the tragedy of those people in the past was truly a minor incident that could be easily resolved, so his frustration reached its peak.
It was truly minor; if just a little conversation or sword skill had given 'one word', such tragedies wouldn't have happened.
But that monster doesn't know that.
...That said, one can't just blame the monster.
“The real problem is that that monster auntie is also a victim...”
A victim of domestic abuse, an alien human with no normal values formed.
Yet, because of that alien temperament, the human who became an Aura User is so absurd and sad that one can't say anything to blame.
And more decisively, the reason he couldn't vent his anger at that monster was probably...
“Tsk, why is he so similar...”
Because his life and hers were similar, it was even more maddening.
Her life was a projection of the past era, and there were parts that matched with the life after reincarnation.
For Lee Han, having someone who lived such a life similar to him was maddening yet saddening.
Because he knew how lonely and hard that kind of life was.
Also, like what,
'Will my future be like that?'
Because he was too similar, the fear that if he had children, he might become like that.
He knew it was excessive thinking, but he couldn't help feeling this anxiety because it was so similar.
'No, let's try to think the opposite.'
Rather, he should be grateful for having a mirror.
He wasn't giving a firm resolve that he shouldn't become like that.
Lee Han tried to recognize the situation in a positive direction and gradually control his emotions.
Booom!
“What? Are you comforting me?”
Booom, booom.
“...Even the bees are sympathizing with me.”
Lee Han laughed dryly while feeling the bees he had become friends with in a few days patting his shoulders as if stroking him.
“Haa, well, thank you.”
Since he knew these bees had no bad intentions, Lee Han nodded his head.
Good kids.
At first they showed hostility, but once they got close, they acted like puppies with affection.
Actually, it was correct that they were chubbier and had fluffy fur than usual bees, cute too.
“...Did you like the potion I gave?”
Lee Han tilted his head, wondering if the potion he gave was to his liking, while stroking the bees.
“Ma-master! Save me!”
“?”
“Why is the Tiger-Wolf Bee here!?”
“...What are you doing, you?”
Facing the gray-haired status window he hadn't seen in a while, Lee Han tilted his head.
The guy surrounded by bees, being threatened, was scared and raising both hands in surrender.
“Why are you doing that to the bees?”
“T-tiger-wolf bee? How can it be just a bee! It's the strongest honeybee in the world that can defeat ogres if it wants to!”
“These cute guys?”
Lee Han blinked and made eye contact with the biggest one among the bees.
Booom?
The bee was tilting its body as if imitating him, and somehow it seemed to have tiger patterns engraved, unlike normal bee honey.
However, even that appearance.
“Cute?”
“Because I see myself as a master stronger than me!”
“...So that's how it was?”
Somehow.
“So you give honey every day.”
Lee Han scratched his cheek at the fact that he had gotten a farmhand who gives honey instead of a friend.
It felt like he was being blackmailed for nothing.
However, that guilt was in vain.
Booom!
The bees were just rubbing against his cheek.