Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.16 – The Knight Hates Exams (4)
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In wuxia novels, the Demonic Cult and the North Sea Ice Palace are two factions that show up all the time.
If you've dabbled in martial arts tales back in your school days, you'd know—these two are ridiculously powerful.
Strong enough to be called the mightiest single faction over and over again.
And the reason folks from the North Sea Ice Palace or the Demonic Cult often top the charts as the strongest solo powers? It's because every individual warrior under them is a beast.
Living in brutal environments, fighting nonstop every single day—it's only natural they'd get strong.
In that sense, the people of Lionel were this world's North Sea Ice Palace and Demonic Cult rolled into one.
How could they not be powerful, carving out territory in blizzards and icy mountains while battling vicious eastern monsters day in and day out?
On top of that, these fierce warriors from such harsh lands had loyally served the winged lion bloodline generation after generation, swearing absolute obedience—and that's how they built a kingdom-scale territory and military might.
In truth, they held the kingdom's most formidable army and the largest swath of land.
The only faction where worship of strength and absolute loyalty to the royals coexisted perfectly.
Lee Han hadn't called them the North Sea Demonic Cult for nothing.
'In modern terms, they're like the guys who fully developed all of Siberia... and then pushed one step further.'
With that kind of power, Lionel was a force even Pendragon struggled to handle.
The ancient oath bound them to the kingdom as founding nobles; otherwise, they could declare independence anytime.
And it's said that half of Lionel's staggering military strength came from a single knight order.
The mightiest in the north, made up solely of those who carried Lionel's blood or the era's fiercest northern brutes.
The Black Iron Lion Knights.
Like the White Silver Lions, they were one of the only orders permitted to bear the lion emblem in the kingdom.
But the world ranked the black-iron-clad lions higher than the white-silver ones.
It's only natural to fear the beast ruling the black wilderness more than the tame one in a cage.
"You with the Black Iron Lion Knights or whatever?"
"Maximus Iron de Lionel, vice-commander of the Black Iron Lion Knights. Call me Max. And what might your name be?"
"You already know."
"I want to hear it straight from a warrior's mouth."
"...Lee Han. Lee Han Turtle."
"Ri Han, got it!"
"It's Lee Han, you bastard."
It had been a while since he'd heard that name game.
They were definitely doing it on purpose.
Or maybe...
"More importantly, Ra Han! Fight me! A duel to the death!"
"...This bastard."
Maybe he was just a battle-crazed lunatic who didn't care about names.
Suddenly rechristened from Lee Han to Ra Han, he furrowed his brow.
This guy wasn't one for talking.
Was he some battle maniac?
'That's why Dad said not to hang with northerners.'
Baltar had warned him.
'Even if you fight, don't fight northerners. They're not scary, but getting tangled up with them doesn't do wonders for your life.'
Spot on.
That's why you don't ignore what grown-ups say.
But he felt wronged.
It wasn't like he'd sought this out—the guy had barged in on his own.
How was he supposed to avoid getting involved?
"Ugh, my luck."
He'd spilled blood recently and wanted a break for a while.
"—Don't regret it."
Whoosh!
Lee Han drew the dagger that had been lying nearby.
Compared to the massive greataxe his opponent wielded, it looked like a toy.
Anyone would think, What the hell can he do with that?
But Max, with the enemy right in front of him, didn't underestimate Lee Han for a second.
On the contrary...
'Nice! It's chilling—straight-up electrifying!'
He was thrilled, if anything.
His eyes hadn't lied.
As savage as any northern man, with a presence more like a massive beast than a human.
Max was delighted.
Who would've thought the peaceful capital hid a brute worthy of his [deeds]?
'If I crush this guy, my soul will edge closer to Avalon!'
Max ramped up his aura, and Lee Han's grew chillingly sharp in response.
Convinced his foe was no ordinary madman, Lee Han dropped any thoughts of half-measures.
This wouldn't be a light spar—a fight for survival.
Just as Lee Han and Maximus were about to clash...
Crack!
"Guh!?"
"You thunderbolt-headed fool. I told you to behave. When did I say you could stir up trouble?"
"...B-Big bro."
"No manners on you."
Thwack, smack!
"S-Stop! Enough, big bro! It h-hurts!"
"I'm hitting you so it hurts. Should I hit lighter to make it feel good?"
"Guhhh!"
...They both had to pull back their auras for a moment.
Maximus, built like a gorilla despite his size, cowered before a man much smaller than him, taking the beating.
Instilled terror, perhaps.
Or like a dog fully submitting after a pecking order shake-up.
Either way, it wasn't a pretty sight—downright savage.
But Lee Han...
'...What the hell is that guy?'
Even the urge to mock the pathetic gorilla vanished as he instinctively stepped back.
He put distance between them right away, tensing his calves and toes to bolt at any second.
Preparing Divine Arrow Flight.
Not for attack, but to flee this place—which was embarrassing enough.
But victory or defeat mattered little to Lee Han.
[Survival.]
That was his core life principle.
No matter if someone called him a coward, he wanted to live long and happy. Against an unwinnable foe, running trumped pride every time.
Charging in was for suckers.
"No need for that. I have no intention of killing you."
"...Then get that ice pick away from my throat."
"Ah, right. Sorry. It wasn't on purpose."
"...Hah."
Lee Han let out a hollow laugh.
Drip.
When had it happened?
A drop of blood fell from his side and the nape of his neck.
As if a honed ice pick had pierced his skin.
And not just anyone—it sliced through his tough, bulletproof-like flesh like tofu.
He'd nearly died.
But get this?
The man truly had zero intent to kill, or Lee Han wouldn't be breathing.
'Hah, with a monster like that around, what the hell are people calling me a monster for?'
Lee Han felt it now.
The real monsters were things like that.
Magnus Julian de Lionel.
The great king of the north stood before him.
...The building felt even more oppressively silent now.
Normally, guards or instructors might pass through, or cadets sneak in—but not today.
Not figuratively—one ant, and you'd believe it.
And Lee Han thought he knew why no one approached this space.
With that around, instinct kept them away.
[━━.]
"Calm down and go inside. No matter how much you want to test him, you can't threaten him."
[━━.]
"Sigh, I'll offer plenty of tribute later. Now go in."
[━━.]
"I promise."
Magnus—the grand duke—was talking to... something in the empty air.
Anyone else would've thought he was crazy.
But Lee Han didn't.
He'd been threatened by that something, after all.
'It's there. A massive creature.'
Lee Han focused every sense, staring at the empty space Magnus eyed.
And then, suddenly...
[━━?]
Flinch!!
Lee Han finally locked eyes with it—no...
'A lion?'
With the beast.
It was instinct, a gut hit.
Behind Magnus loomed a beast the size of an elephant, sporting a lush mane.
Four legs, claws thicker than his waist, fangs absurdly huge.
Like a saber-toothed tiger, but closer to a lion.
How could he be sure?
'I've been jabbed by it.'
Once you've felt it, you know.
It matched the presence of a lion he'd met at the zoo in his past life.
And then it hit him.
'That's the [Mystic Being]?'
The continent's enigmas.
Remnants from an age when mystic races, fairies, and 'gods' thrived.
Hence called Mysteries.
'Some worship gods in animal form, huh...'
Lee Han recalled the info Jake had given him yesterday—one line flashing in his mind.
[-The lords of House Lionel have harbored a Mystery for generations. Its power rivals an Aura User, one of the kingdom's pillars alongside Galahad's demon sword.]
...Back then, he'd thought it was a joke.
How strong could a Mystery or demon sword be?
No way it matched an Aura User.
But not now.
This moment, he was certain.
'Damn, who wins between that and Uncle Baltar? No clue.'
Baltar Grace.
The superman's power had no visible ceiling, just like this.
Now he got it.
How this kingdom, surrounded by enemies, had endured for centuries.
'Even without Aura Users, monsters like that hold the line.'
An aircraft carrier of reliability.
Truly...
'Lucky bastards.'
Screw reliability—he just wished they'd lose interest in him.
"—Young knight, I apologize again. My brother was rude to you."
Magnus offered a sincere apology to Lee Han, a mere regular knight, despite his own lofty status.
Seemed he wasn't hung up on authority.
Maximus protested.
"Big bro, how is a warrior's duel rude? Take it back!"
"Quiet!"
[Roar!!]
"Aaaack!"
Maximus flipped out, scolded by his revered brother and the house's 'guardian deity.'
To outsiders, he'd look like he was flailing for no reason—but Lionel blood saw it.
The massive 'black lion' flicking Maximus's forehead.
Maximus couldn't even resist.
Who could stand against that?
"Grrrr..."
Humiliated, Maximus stayed down.
Finally satisfied, Magnus turned back to the knight.
"...This wasn't my intent. I just wanted a moment to talk with you."
"M-Me, sir?"
"Yes."
"......"
"Relax. The [Black King] doesn't harm people easily. He just can't gauge his strength and loves pranks. That's why you felt threatened."
"...Not reassuring at all."
Meaning if that lion 'pranked' him again, he'd feel death knocking once more.
All he wanted was to run.
"Ho, that reaction... You're seeing the Black King? Astonishing."
"......"
...Caught.
They'd tested him by revealing the lion, and he'd bitten.
Lee Han hesitated, but instead of agonizing...
"...I don't see it. Just feel its presence."
He answered honestly.
No point hiding from this guy anyway.
Magnus gave an admiring look to the wryly smiling Lee Han.
"Impressive. To sense the Black King without our blood, no magic or Mystery... Intriguing."
"...Can you stop being intrigued?"
"Honestly, I'm holding back the urge to test you more."
"......"
Damn...
Lee Han muttered under his breath, head throbbing.
Exams were for cadets, weren't they...?
'Why am I the one being tested?'
[Grumble.]
Judged by an elephant-sized lion, no less—Lee Han pulled a face.
But still.
"Sigh! So, what did you want to talk about?"
"Ho? Not shaking anymore."
"They say enter a tiger's den with a clear head and live. If it's dangerous, I run. What's there to fear?"
"...I see why the Black King took a liking to you."
[Grr!]
Definitely an entertaining young man.
His dimwitted little brother froze like a mouse before a cat whenever he met the Black King.
Yet this first-timer stared straight ahead and said his piece.
Had to be intriguing.
"Haha, I thought the capital had no talents left since the old king passed. Guess not."
"Huh?"
"Talking to myself. Anyway, you asked why I wanted to meet you?"
"...Yes."
"Nothing much. Just wanted a chat. The Black King wished it."
"That's it...?"
"Even if it seems trivial, the Black King's favor is reason enough."
Warriors who earned the Black King's 'affection' gained fame regardless of their wishes.
And those marked by the Black King so far...
'How will this young one etch his name in history?'
By forging legendary feats.
That's why he wanted to meet.
To gauge the young man's potential.
The meeting alone held meaning.
Some might call it pointless, but the fulfilled are often idle and curious.
No—curiosity drives the idle life forward.
Thus...
"...Ever thought of heading north with me?"
"?"
"If you do, I could even marry you to my daughter."
"......"
Magnus was the type for wild offers without batting an eye.
...To Lee Han, though, it was just an unwelcome scout.