Chapter 286
Chapter 286
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.62 – What is the Justification for a Knight to Fight? (8)
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The military camp, once shrouded only in a grim and dreary atmosphere, suddenly became bustling in an instant.
No, it went beyond bustling—it overflowed with vitality and energy. The hardened men dulled by society had vanished, replaced by a crowd of humans with eyes moist like sentimental poets.
What the knights, soldiers, and servants with teary eyes had in common was that they were all clutching letters in their hands, reading them dozens of times or cherishing them close to their chests.
Many were sniffling and choking back sobs, but no one teased them for it.
Why? Because their own eyes were red-rimmed too.
They looked like they'd burst into heartfelt tears at the slightest touch.
And the culprit behind this wave of emotion nodded as if he'd expected exactly this.
'Letters from family or lovers are the best thing for soldiers dispatched far away, no matter the country.'
Try being cut off from the outside world for just a month in boot camp, and the letter you get then sticks in your heart for life.
But not a month—five whole years isolated from the world?
It's no wonder they'd go mad.
They'd miss the family, women, friends they left behind—even people they'd cut ties with.
Lee Han knew this well from his past life's overseas deployments.
'Worth the effort to smuggle it in.'
The artifact backpack enchanted with expansion magic.
Seized from that spellcaster slave—no, professor—it could hold up to 700kg.
Downsides: the weight pressed on your body as is, and it was single-use.
Once emptied...
Psssh.
"It really turns to dust."
The spellcaster had ranted during the seizure, 'Do you know how much it costs to make that, you bastard?! It's precious military supplies!! If it breaks, I'll be dragged to court, you damn—!' But whatever.
'I used it for a good cause. That's what matters.'
The spellcaster might get arrested or punished, but that wasn't Lee Han's problem.
If anything, he'd done a good deed for the dispatched soldiers, so the spellcaster should be thrilled to face trial.
An honorable punishment for a spellcaster.
Since it was for a good cause.
Tap tap.
"Hm? What?"
"Nothing for me?"
"?"
"Ah, my family's in the annex, of course, but I have connections outside too!"
"You?"
"Yes!"
Felix wore an expression brimming with expectation, as if it were natural he'd get a letter too. Lee Han pondered for a moment.
"What was your name again?"
"Felix de Mordred!"
"...Hmm, doesn't seem to be one."
"No way! Nothing from my lover Susanne?! She must have written!"
"...Susanne? The one at the bakery?"
"You know her!"
"Yeah, the patriot with six kids."
"???"
"Her husband's a looker too. Must be soulmates. Their bread's great. Oh, I heard Susanne got weird threats from some psycho before marriage, like 'Have my baby!' Was that you?"
"It was a confession!!"
"......"
"She shed tears as a sign of acceptance!!"
"Th-that was probably tears of fear, not acceptance?"
"!!?"
"...What era do you think you're living in, all by yourself?"
Why was he acting like a savage from the Stone Age?
'No, even Stone Age folk wouldn't be that bad.'
Barbarians raised in jungles their whole lives were more socialized than this guy who'd lived in cities forever.
"...Are all Mordred bloodline like that?"
"Misconception."
"Just that guy's the weirdo."
"Please don't take Felix as the Mordred average. He's the only abnormal one."
"We have mild mania from the eye condition, but not to that level."
"......"
...Ears sharp too.
Lee Han inwardly admired as the young men approached with casual greetings to the soldiers.
'Not bad.'
The oldest seemed mid-20s, and even the teens were impressively trained.
They'd be a hair behind the swordsmanship department's three geniuses in a fight, but that was no small feat.
Those three could beat most knights, so matching them at that age was remarkable.
"They look normal too. Is that guy the only mutant?"
"The biggest mystery of our house. How'd a guy like that come from our bloodline? Damn."
"...Not your son, right?"
"My second son's kid. Second son was frail but smart; his kid's the opposite—too sturdy but brain's off. World's a mess, a mess. Heh."
"......"
A hint of sorrow crept in when he mentioned his frail second son, so Lee Han tactfully didn't ask why he wasn't here.
Instead.
"So, are you here to chew me out?"
"...Hm? What do you mean?"
"Not you, elder. You. Yeah, you. Don't sneak up like that. I let it slide since no hostility, but I might snap."
He decided on productive talk, and brightened at the 'responsible party' finally appearing.
...With a slight warning.
"—As Father said, you're quite the amusing one."
For a moment, the air shimmered like heat haze, and a figure appeared.
A handsome—no, pretty young man in his early 20s.
Calling a guy 'pretty' might irk some, but facing him, it was inevitable.
He'd approached without a sound, scent, or presence—superior even to Orthos's skills.
Yet Lee Han had spotted him because.
"How'd you find me? The ghosts were hiding me."
"It bugged me."
"Hm?"
"Felt a slight dissonance. Hard to explain... but yeah, I knew."
"......"
Like meteorologists predicting weather from humidity, wind, and temperature rises, Lee Han's smell, hearing, and touch were hyper-sensitive to surroundings.
Providing even more data than their tech.
So at least.
"To hide from me, you'd need to mask body odor, heat, heartbeat, breathing. Breathing's basic."
"......"
"What's wrong?"
"...Are you human?"
"...?"
Lee Han gave him a bewildered look at the species doubt right off the bat.
Cain Arnold de Mordred, Margrave.
The current Margrave of Mordred—or former, thanks to Lee Han—he looked eternally young but was mid-40s this year.
Rumors said he was top three in Mordred history, holder of the title 'King of the Frontier.'
Just a count in rank, but leader of a massive force that could claim more.
Yet such a man.
"Thank you. It's been so long since smiles graced their faces."
Bowed his head to a wanderer whose identity he didn't even know fully.
Most politely.
He could've rebuked sharing external news without permission, but his genuine gratitude showed he had qualities of a sage king over a tyrant.
Perhaps that's why?
"...Shouldn't nobles be arrogant, looking down on wanderers like me? Why aren't you noble-like...? You sure you're a great noble?"
"......"
Lee Han eyed him suspiciously.
Was this guy really the famed King of the Frontier?
"...I see your image of nobles is poor."
Cain looked awkward, a bit hurt.
Seemed his first impression was low.
But it wasn't something to feel slighted over...
"Ah, but you do have one noble trait. Leaving a three-year-old alone for five years makes you honorary parents only."
"......I am a sinner."
Cain murmured sadly, staring into space.
Looked like he genuinely wanted to die, knowing his guilt.
"...Pity."
Lee Han would've beaten him regardless of status if he'd been shameless about neglecting the kid.
But he didn't need to; the man already looked broken enough.
Slight depressive symptoms too—left alone, he might self-harm.
"Heh heh, stop tormenting our family head. You know about the 'curse' already, don't you?"
"I do. But knowing and feeling are different. Still, I'm friends with the kid, so I gotta vent for him or I lose face."
"...Close with our granddaughter, eh?"
"Didn't you know everything?"
"Ghosts aren't omnipotent. Only fragments. If all-knowing, this nation would've been Mordred long ago, not Pendragon."
"Isn't that treason?"
"Didn't know? Founder Mordred's last words were 'revolution' and 'treason.' If Pendragon royals fail, revolutionize and normalize the kingdom anytime."
"......"
"Haha, don't look at me like that. Just last words. No obligation."
"...Your eyes say otherwise."
The former family head's gaze resembled revolutionaries Lee Han had seen in photos.
Like he'd overthrow the country at the first chance?
'Bad blood with the royals?'
Lee Han figured there might be bad history between Mordred and the royals, so averted his eyes.
He wouldn't meddle if they fought among themselves.
Instead, his attention went to.
Thud!
"Something's coming?"
"Hm?"
"Pardon?"
As they puzzled over Lee Han's mutter.
"—Proud guardians of Mordred!!! Prepare for battle—!!"
[Wave Incoming!!]
As if he'd never slumped like a depressive, Cain issued a thunderous, charismatic command. At his order.
[The wave is coming!!]
[Boil oil and water!]
[Oo! Oooo!]
Thud thud!
Over 600 troops stomped, shaking the ground.
Lee Han admired their practiced battle readiness, unlike the frantic others. To Garnok calmly sharpening his sword, he asked.
"How many battles exactly?"
"...I remember up to 1,276, but stopped counting after. Not sure."
"......"
"Wave cycle's shorter though. Fought two days ago. Ugh, old age pains."
Garnok grumbled, but finishing his sword, veteran aura bloomed—overwhelming even Lee Han momentarily.
Then,
"Care for a field trip?"
"......"
Lee Han nodded unwittingly at the on-site learning invite.
Rumble rumble rumble!
[[KAAAAA-!]]
30,000 [Evil Spirits] surged like a tsunami.
...Like a white ant horde.