Chapter 323
Chapter 323
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.69 – The Knight Cheers on the Youths (2)
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While the first-year rookies were being put through the wringer by those wicked instructors, the newly promoted second-years had a different experience.
"Wow, this place has really changed."
"It feels wider and sturdier."
"It seemed totally empty the day before..."
The tunnel their instructor had dug.
This was the tunnel connecting from the academy all the way to the mountains behind the instructor's house, dozens of kilometers away.
It had been impressive enough last year, but now the space was much wider, enough to serve not just as a tunnel but as a shelter for around a thousand people if used right.
That made it all the more astonishing.
The fact that one single person had built such a massive tunnel.
"Sure, it's impressive, but with some time and effort, anyone of you could polish it up like this. If you work at it, what can't a person do?"
"Uh, no, this isn't something you can just effort your way into, is it?"
"Save the flattery."
"It's not flattery..."
Lee Han looked at the cadets with renewed curiosity.
'They're all here?'
Of course, he'd heard they'd all passed last year's promotion exam, but honestly, he'd expected some of them to skip out.
Especially since in other departments, most of the noble cadets who made it to second year just notified everyone they weren't coming, but here...
"Why'd you all show up?"
A perfect 100% attendance rate. Lee Han tilted his head, wondering why his own department's kids were so diligent.
"Shouldn't nobles act like nobles? Boycott classes, hit the casino, throw parties, get into some mischief...?"
"I-Instructor, we can hear you muttering under your breath loud and clear."
"Hm, money troubles at home?"
"Our families are all fine. And Instructor, that's noble-bashing."
"Then why are you all showing up so diligently?"
"...Even though we're earnestly seeking instruction by attending class, you're the only educator who'd call that diligence a flaw."
The noble cadets wore exasperated expressions, and Lee Han just shrugged.
"Whatever. If you think you won't show up later, just tell me ahead of time. Don't ghost without a word. I might worry enough to storm your family estates."
"...We'll be sure to let you know. I don't want to be the one who sees my house fall in my generation."
"Such exaggeration. That's nobles for you."
"...Please stop with the noble hate, seriously."
With that, he teased his long-lost students to kick off the reunion on a warm note, then...
"-But honestly, there's nothing left for me to teach you."
"???"
...declared he was done with lessons out of nowhere.
Of course, Lee Han wasn't saying this out of laziness.
Literally.
"I've already taught you everything worth teaching."
There was nothing left to teach right now.
Lee Han had taught the cadets the basics of aura.
His unique training method and body reinforcement technique, distinct from Fighting Technique.
Well, only the commoner cadets and a few others had taken it seriously, but even the rest had gotten personalized stamina and strength training suited to them, and...
"You can all deploy Indestructible now, right?"
"Y-Yes. It's not as tough as the bear cubs', though..."
"To what extent?"
"Well, partial reinforcement only. No way we can do full-body like you, Instructor."
At Lee Han's question about their homework progress, they nodded while also showing some frustration.
Indestructible.
An essential technique among Lee Han's skills for anyone who'd learned aura.
It might seem tricky for Fighting Technique users, but since he'd taught it to his knight order comrade Jake and junior Yord Decker, and they used it well, it was clear that with the right knack, it wasn't hard.
Though as Jake had put it.
-You can't replicate all my techniques, right?
-No way. At best, one or two? That's the limit for recreating with Fighting Technique. Push further, and you lose its strengths—might even throw your body balance off.
In the end, Fighting Technique was a demonic art.
Translating Jake's words simply: forcing Shaolin martial arts with demonic arts could risk qi deviation.
The secret to keeping both strengths was mastering aura and Fighting Technique to similar levels simultaneously, but as far as Lee Han knew, fewer than five had that talent—and sadly, none of his cadets.
Even so.
"Practice it well. Master that, and you're in good shape."
Being able to use even one or two was something.
Lee Han's optimistic words drew dry laughs from the cadets.
"'Good shape' doesn't even begin to cover it."
They called it basic, but those who'd learned it knew.
It was easy to pick up, but mastering it was hellishly difficult.
Deployment was simple, but it required intense focus—about fifteen minutes prep the first time. Any lapse, and it collapsed.
Plus, stamina drained in real-time; three minutes felt like ten laps around the field at full sprint. Push too hard, and you'd wake up sore all over, barely able to walk.
'Insane technique.'
Simple, yet devoured resources.
And Lee Han, who could deploy it as naturally as breathing and keep it up all day if he wanted? Didn't seem human.
Even the bear cubs, grinding away solely at aura, griped about the same issues.
'If I skip potions the next day, I'm done for. Hurts every time I use it.'
'Is the Instructor's body that huge just for Indestructible?'
'How do you even move while using it? My body just freezes...'
They were still stuck at Indestructible.
Or more precisely, only able to use Indestructible.
'How the hell do you use Divine Arrow Flight? Turn your whole body into an arrow and shoot forward—what does that even mean?'
'What's Hundred-Step Divine Fist? Won't my arm shatter first?'
'Where's the 'easy' in any of this?'
Every technique Lee Han openly taught demanded insane stamina, strength, and fundamentals.
Without monstrous basics, even using them was tough—deploying them, a nightmare.
Thus.
"That's why there's nothing more to teach. I fed you plenty, and you haven't digested it yet—what else am I supposed to give? You're in the mastery phase now. At the very least... Hmm, our brave barbarian here, going forward."
"Kunta?"
"Yeah, tense your neck and forehead."
"?"
Bam!
...In an instant, Kunta's back bent like a bow.
Physically speaking.
A flick to the forehead.
The lightest tap bent Kunta's body, and Lee Han replicated bullet force with it.
"Ow, that hurts..."
"You've mastered it well. Indestructible's your best, as expected."
But Kunta, taking the hit, just grimaced—otherwise fine.
A normal person would've cracked their skull, but Kunta's forehead was spotless, no bruise.
"Reach this level, and then I'll teach the next one."
"......"
"No response?"
"...My future just went pitch black."
"?"
"Sigh..."
The group fell silent before the dawning grim reality, their second-year excitement crushed before it began.
'Such whiners.'
Lee Han smirked, knowing exactly what their reactions meant.
Sure, he got why they were complaining.
But to him, it sounded like exaggeration because...
'They're way better than before.'
Definite solid growth pace.
Might feel slow now with individual differences, but steady progress was clear.
'Just greedy.'
Honestly, wanting to reach his level? Shameless.
All his techniques, from aura onward, were custom-made for his body.
They had to adapt them to theirs or find knacks—that easy, and it'd be unfair.
In that light, their pace was decent, and Lee Han resolved to drill them hard this year too.
'Stamina's up from first-years, so... Thousand-li march, three times?'
Had the cadets overheard, they'd freak—but oblivious to the bleak future ahead, one chick sidled up to Lee Han.
"Instructor..."
"What's up, Chick 12."
"...So, when do we graduate from being chicks?"
"Pheasant? Pigeon or egret?"
"W-We have swans too—do you have to stick to those?"
"S-Swan?"
"...Just curse me out. Don't make that face."
"No. I'm just amazed you're calling yourself a swan. Pretty thick-skinned, Lilina Boer."
"Then just curse... ...Oh? Instructor, you know my name?"
"...Shouldn't I?"
"W-Well, saying it like that leaves me speechless..."
Chick 12—no, Lilina Boer—looked at her instructor with fresh eyes.
'...Every time, he seems so sloppy and training-obsessed, but he's actually meticulous and diligent.'
Doesn't read, doesn't work—just trains all day, right? But he's the most dedicated.
He'd memorized every name and house here by choice.
No need to, but he did—for those he considered his people, he wasn't indifferent.
'Great teacher.'
Noble ladies' tutors were usually etiquette masters or society matrons, but for Lilina and the chicks, it was this man.
Not just exercise—he taught how to live in the world.
Thus.
"I knew it had to be you, Instructor."
"Huh?"
"Instructor, please..."
She held out a diamond necklace.
"...be my chaperone?"
"......"
Lee Han blinked at his student handing over the sudden necklace.
Not hesitation or fluster.
'What's that?'
He genuinely didn't get what it meant.
...Wondering if it was some new dessert name.