Chapter 356
Chapter 356
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.75 – The Cogwheel Declares (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
...What the hell is this nonsense?
"This is my fate...."
Lee Han grumbled nonstop.
He felt a hollow emptiness wondering how he'd ended up doing such clownish antics, and it only made him think that anything else would be more productive than this farce.
"S-Sir... over there..."
"......"
"S-Sir Lee Han Turtle. Y-You need to get ready..."
"I know, so quit nagging."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
"...Why do you look so damn pathetic?"
"!?"
"Just kidding."
Lee Han glanced at the attendant assisting him.
This was the servant who had visited his home two days ago and fainted on the spot.
Word was, after coming to, he'd been disrespectful to Lee Han, and the soldiers' testimonies led to him receiving dozens of lashes.
Lee Han could question if that was too harsh, but it was standard punishment.
The royal family was a place where a single needless mistake could cost your life, or even implicate your blood relatives under collective punishment.
Daring to be rude to Lee Han, whom the royals had personally invited, could easily warrant death. Surviving with just a few dozen lashes was downright lucky for the guy.
"I-I'm sorry about that time.... I m-must have lost my mind for a moment...."
"Forget it."
"Th-Then...!"
"You can't scoop up spilled water."
"!!?"
"It's fine. I don't hold grudges."
"R-Really...? Th-Thank you, sir."
"But I'll remember that face of yours forever."
"!!"
"Haha."
Tap tap.
It was oddly amusing how his complexion changed with every poke.
The fun of teasing, perhaps?
'Instructor No. 1 gave off the same vibe.'
To be precise, back in her spoiled princess days.
She'd been modified since then, but at first, Instructor No. 1—none other than that pampered girl—was every bit as fragile as this servant, if not more.
So Lee Han just shrugged it off with this No. 2.
'Nobles' personalities are average like this, anyway.'
The ones he knew were just unusual. Nobles were a race of assholes, weren't they?
That's why seeing this irritating face again didn't rile him up much.
"S-Sir Lee Han, y-you need to enter now. Entering after His Majesty is a grave discourtesy."
"What a hassle...."
"S-Sir, please...!"
"Just because you ask, do I have to listen?"
"I-I'll even cut off my finger..."
"Don't need it."
"......"
"Fine. Don't cry. I hate seeing grown men blubber."
"Th-Thank you! Thank you!!"
The servant was now sniffling with gratitude, and with that, Lee Han stepped into the royal banquet hall.
What...
"—The royal family's strongest knight order! The valiant and honorable knights! The heroic champion of the White Silver Lion Knights, Sir Lee Han Turtle, enters!!"
He froze—
...Hearing that introduction made his feet halt involuntarily.
'Do these guys have no shame?'
More than anything, calling the white cats valiant and honorable left a bad taste, stopping him in his tracks. The servant paled and bowed his head again.
Of course, such grandiose introductions in the banquet hall weren't for everyone.
Only for grand nobles or those of equivalent status.
Sometimes they'd lavish praise on war heroes or esteemed generals as a show of respect, but right now, no matter how you sliced it...
"That's the guy who..."
"The knight who stopped the disaster?"
"He looks strong. But I wonder if he's really that impressive."
"Hmph."
This felt like a deliberate attempt to screw him over.
Most nobles eyed him with suspicion.
Like they were appraising him, or dead set on finding some flaw.
Was this any way to treat the hero who'd averted catastrophe? The atmosphere was downright infuriating.
"It's the instructor!"
"Why's he here? I figured he'd never show up to something like this."
"Right?"
But on the other side, some welcomed him, so he didn't sweat it much.
Ignoring the haters entirely, Lee Han tuned into familiar faces and voices.
'Not just my kids—some acquaintances too.'
There were Tristan, Galahad, Lionel, and folks from Offen and Mordred's camps.
Roan Green and Guinevere the dean had representatives too, and they all locked eyes with him—especially...
"Sir Lee Han."
"It's been a while."
"...A nod would've sufficed. Why come all the way over?"
"How could we not greet Sir Lee Han properly?"
"Exactly."
Offen and Mordred's people even approached first to pay their respects.
Offen's swordmasters and Mordred's retainers.
Respected figures at that, so the nobles badmouthing him flinched.
Arrogant grand nobles approaching a mere knight first? It defied their "common sense."
"The Sword Duke mentioned you should drop by sometime."
"Lady Louise keeps asking when she'll see Sir Turtle again. She even whined to the family head today, haha."
And they seemed chummy too.
Did he hear "Sword Duke" just now? Their imagination?
"...Ahem."
A few who'd been trash-talking him suddenly bowed low and backed away quietly.
They still disliked the knight, but seeing grand nobles respect him sapped their nerve to nitpick.
They bowed instead.
However.
"Don't worry about those fools, Sir Lee Han. Offen will never forgive anyone who speaks ill of our benefactor."
"Mordred may lack central influence, but we're not so weak as to let scum like that slide. We'll handle it."
The two houses clearly wouldn't let anyone who insulted their benefactor off easy.
"N-No, I'm fine, really..."
The man himself was unfazed, yet the houses were more worked up. Lee Han felt awkward but...
'Grand nobles really are something else, huh?'
He was struck anew by how formidable these people were, whom he'd seen as punching bags.
Then—
Boom! Booom! Boooom!
"...Still makes a racket as ever."
Amid the bombastic drums, the military band appeared and struck up their instruments.
A dazzling array of woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings—exotic instruments he'd never seen or heard.
Lee Han asked hopefully,
"Is the entrance always this flashy?"
"...Not usually to this extent."
"It changed after the late king passed."
"......"
Lee Han was speechless at the testimony, but regardless...
"Bearer of the dragon's blessing, great bloodline!"
"Ruler of this land, inheritor of the Knight King's valor, honor, and soul!"
"Lord of the realm where dragons, fairies, and mysteries slumber!"
[[Honorable and great King of Pendragon! Glory be unto you!!]]
Booooom!!
With praises laced in the introduction, "he" made his entrance.
The youngest brother of the war god, who lucked into the throne as Pendragon's new king.
He'd recklessly waged the southern unification war, killing countless subjects and bankrupting the royals—but he'd unified the south, claiming the conqueror title.
Yet despite that, dubbed the worst tyrant, the masses called him "the Greedy Incompetent Lord."
"Edmund Pendragon...."
Edmund Julian de Pendragon.
The current 31st King of Pendragon's full name.
But.
'A tyrant?'
Lee Han just tilted his head watching him.
"—Raise your heads."
At the king's arrival, the bowing nobles lifted their gazes on command, some scrutinizing his visage closely.
'So that's him...'
'...Hmph.'
'......?'
Young nobles, especially debutantes, were seeing the king for the first time in many cases.
Their impressions? None other than...
'Average?'
They knew it was rude, but couldn't help thinking it.
...He looked utterly ordinary.
His silver hair and eyes symbolized royal legitimacy—striking, sure—but nothing else stood out.
The kind of forgettable face you'd pass on the street?
Of course, you shouldn't judge by looks.
One's abilities aren't skin-deep.
But even so...
'I feel nothing?'
No one sensed any presence from him.
No so-called "kingly majesty" or charisma—not even the aura of an average soldier.
Did that make any sense?
This was Pendragon's conqueror king who'd unified the south.
Yet no dignity, no basic presence? Utterly baffling.
And what amplified the doubt...
"Whoa......"
"Her Highness the Crown Princess."
Was the stunning woman seated right beside him.
Crown Princess Isis.
Her beauty alone was intoxicating.
But her eyes brimmed with charisma rivaling it, exuding pressure no one could defy.
Approach enchanted, and your head rolls in seconds.
Trickle...
Gulp!
She made throats dry and nerves taut just by existing. People couldn't help comparing her to the king.
'They're blood, right?'
Some even questioned if Crown Princess Isis was truly King Edmund's daughter.
They differed in looks, aura—everything.
Then.
"—You there. What's your name?"
"?"
"No, not you. The one behind you."
"......?"
Suddenly, the king pointed at someone. The young noble panicked under all eyes but bowed and spoke.
"I-I'm Robert of House Solbenin, Your Majesty!"
"Right. Solbenin, eh? Ah, I remember. A merchant noble house with some history, yes?"
"An honor to be remembered, Your Majesty!!"
Robert Solbenin was bewildered but saw it as fortune.
For nobles, attention meant prestige.
He didn't know the king's intent, but gaining notice was positive...
Clink.
"—Cut out his tongue."
"......Pardon?"
"Didn't hear? Faulty ears too. Cut those off as well."
"......"
"Now you're mute. Unjust? Then don't spout such 'words' recklessly. Heh."
"......"
"Cut already? Why ignore my command?"
"......"
"Goodness."
—They won't obey.
The king's murmur echoed softly, seeking agreement with glances, but no one dared speak.
......The situation was too baffling to grasp.