Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.21 – The Knight Teaches (1)
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Any organization inevitably dealt with big and small incidents every year.
No matter how thoroughly managed, human endeavors always had their flaws.
Thus, accidents weren't all that unusual, and how well they handled the aftermath was the true measure of an organization's competence.
In other words, the key was effective cleanup, not getting hung up on the incident itself.
...However, this time was different.
"I hear the royal auditors are coming."
"The Prime Minister—no, the Dean—is usually so cautious, but now that they've got an opening, even the ones who never showed up before are making a fuss."
The royals were rummaging through the academy.
Soldiers were wandering the departments right now, flipping through every document and disrupting operations...
It was only natural for the instructors' dissatisfaction to boil over.
But they weren't blindly cursing the royals.
They knew how serious this matter was and were willing to cooperate.
However...
"I heard the royals already knew there were signs of a terrorist attack?"
"Ha, this is a full-on witch hunt! What did the Dean even do wrong—?!"
"Tell me about it."
Both the royals and the academy were cut from the same cloth, so why was the academy taking all the heat?!
This resentment seeped through the instructors, igniting fury.
"It's like a dog covered in dung scolding one covered in ash."
A sigh that perfectly captured the situation.
In truth, it was a fairly well-known rumor that not just the royals, but everyone had received reports of the terror signs.
One knight had ranted passionately about it, but no one had paid attention.
In a way, it was belated reflection, a situation where everyone was guilty.
But conversely, no one could take the blame now.
If someone did, they'd be straight to the guillotine, and their entire family would follow as dew on the execution grounds.
Thus, neither the royal audit nor the suspicious rumors swirling inside the academy could be trusted right now.
The mudslinging had already begun, and a vicious atmosphere would linger for a while.
"...So, what's the identity of this 'first reporter' anyway?"
"No idea. Nobody has any info."
"Rumor has it he's some burly knight..."
"A burly knight, huh... uh, no way, it couldn't be...?"
"Let's not spout baseless speculation. It'd be rude to him."
"R-right."
The first reporter.
Rumor had it there was someone who had first warned the Dean and princess that a terror attack was coming.
It was a whisper that had reached everyone's ears at some point, and it was natural for people to hunt for and suspect the source.
Questioning the origin of information was just common sense.
...Yet strangely, no details circulated about the actual reporter.
Even though they could have investigated and found them.
The soldiers moving in real-time had heard the rumors but were keeping quiet...
It was peculiar in many ways, but unavoidable.
"Argh, this is driving me crazy. Tracking the informant would solve everything, so why are the higher-ups telling us not to?"
"Tch, why not dig in anyway? Who knows, we might rack up some merits."
"Hey, if you wanna die, die alone. Don't drag others in."
From the royals to the academy's top brass.
No one was to pursue the source of the information—that was the order.
The reason was unknown, but he'd been cleared as not the culprit.
And stern warnings not to dig or cause harm had been issued.
Thus, the investigators busied themselves with busywork, forgoing the easy path to key clues.
They'd agreed not to poke the hornet's nest.
And now, the first reporter—presumed to know all the truths, and who had earned the title of 'academy hero' through this incident—was...
"—He's Soh Sim, the new transfer student joining the swordsmanship department. Treat him well, everyone."
"I-It's not Soh Sim, it's Derek..."
"You want to be called by your name at your rank?"
"...Is this the army or something?"
They were introducing the new face.
In the end, all 80 students in the swordsmanship department aced their semester evaluations.
They'd shown well against the rock troll, but even more valued was their grit and courage facing hundreds of monsters.
Their potential had been recognized.
The current first-years' grades were likely the highest in history.
Some even earned scholarships based on those scores—essentially full coverage for living expenses.
It was a godsend for the always broke bear cubs, freeing them from money worries at the academy.
And it wasn't just them; noble heirs and ladies would receive badges worth more than gold, a chance to elevate their family names.
The rewards for risking their lives in battle had arrived, swelling emotions to the brim.
But none among them arrogantly thought they'd survived due to their own prowess.
"-First off, I'm grateful that not a single one of you died and we're all here safe. You all did well."
They knew it was solely thanks to him that they'd lived.
Lee Han.
The knight hailed for stepping up first in the terror attack, annihilating the beasts, and saving all the spectators and cadets.
Further, the hero credited with saving the capital!
The cadets shot him fresh looks, as if they'd always known it'd come to this.
'Knew he'd make a name for himself.'
'He's amazing, really.'
'...Yesterday, I saw what looked like a mountain of love letters from noble ladies on the instructor's desk... Envious.'
The notoriety about him that had once spread through the academy was long erased.
Now, gazes of admiration and goodwill poured instead of fear and unease.
For those who'd fought alongside, it would be a lie not to envy the greater attention and honors he garnered, but watching their instructor still warmed their chests inexplicably.
And rightly so.
'He blocked that monster alone... Not respecting him would be ridiculous.'
His feats were that extraordinary.
The ancient beast straight out of myth.
Everyone at the academy had seen him battle the troll, massive as a giant.
Had he not held it back to the end, the academy—and the whole capital—would've been doomed.
Thus, he was a hero.
He'd saved countless lives alone, holding off the monsters until reinforcements arrived, embodying noble resolve.
...Only.
"I-Instructor, there's a noble outside wanting to see you. What should I do?"
"Tell them not to interrupt class and buzz off."
"...He's a count."
"Should I go myself then?"
"...If you go, you'll probably lop his head off, right? I'll handle it politely and decline."
The instructor himself seemed utterly unmoved by his deeds.
If anything, he looked annoyed by the unwanted attention.
'Thank goodness for the TA.'
'He's in a foul mood.'
Without Damian skillfully handling the visiting nobles and merchants, disaster would've struck long ago.
"Bunch of idle fools."
"...Still, they didn't come for nothing. Some owe you their lives thanks to you, and others might have family who did."
The cadets offered reasonable excuses to cheer him up, but Lee Han just snorted.
"Do people who know gratitude barge in during class or break into my house? Is that how you express thanks these days? Hilarious."
"......"
"Or am I just out of touch with the times?"
"Ahem."
No words for that.
It was utterly tactless.
"...Just out of curiosity, what did you do to the trespassers?"
"Maybe instead of 'what did you do,' it's better to ask how you 'dealt with' them."
"......"
...Better not ask.
"-May I ask a question?"
After the terror, this was their first class in four days, so curiosities abounded, and questions flew thick.
Kids just couldn't hold back their wonder.
Then, one who'd been consistently quiet spoke up.
"The new transfer student—is he the one who scattered those unusual hidden weapons from the sky the other day?"
"...Hm."
Just when he'd wondered why no one was curious, someone finally showed interest in the newcomer.
Though a bit of a nuisance.
The northern reincarnator fixed intense eyes on the skill-wielding status window holder.
Still remembering the Thousand Blossom Rain that had painted the skies.
"U-Um, I..."
Overwhelmed by the gaze, the man broke into cold sweats.
He'd said blending with others was hardest, and now the most intimidating one was interested—words failed him.
Lee Han decided to help the increasingly distressed transfer student.
He'd scouted him with effort; couldn't let his image tank on day one.
Lee Han warned 'gently'.
"Dark-eyes. Everything else about you is fine, but tone down those intimidating peepers. I could squeeze ink from those black pupils."
"......"
"If my carefully recruited TA candidate bolts because of you, my words won't be a joke anymore, haha."
"...I don't understand how you say 'I'll kill you' so sweetly."
"Kill? When did I say that?"
"That's what my ears heard."
Only then did Dark-eyes—no, Roan—withdraw his gaze.
He had no intention of challenging the knight who'd clashed evenly with the Demon King.
And above all...
"To correct you, I only asked to express gratitude. Thanks to those aerial hidden weapons, there were zero casualties."
The needle-like petals raining from the sky.
When they'd fallen, painting the heavens, hordes of beasts were massacred, and the injured or exhausted miraculously regained strength.
"That day, I was the acting commander in your stead, Instructor. As responsible party, I have a duty to give thanks, so I sought an answer. ...Thus, I say this now: if you were the one who unleashed them, I salute you. On the honor of Lionel, I vow to repay this debt."
The gaze was still intense, but the atmosphere differed from before.
It carried respect toward Soh Sim, genuine thanks, and acknowledgment.
A man couldn't help but feel his chest heat receiving such weighted respect and esteem.
Even Soh Sim flushed and bowed deeply.
He'd essentially revealed himself, but Lee Han wasn't the petty adult to chide a disciple over that.
'Dark-eyes kid sure can spout cringy noble lines.'
Cringy, but sincere words held power.
Especially from him, intensely so.
'Anyway.'
He showed exceptional sides now and then.
Lee Han felt satisfied seeing the atmosphere foster good integration for Soh Sim...
"And Instructor, forgive the impropriety of asking now, but... could I—no, could we learn to bloom flowers with sword aura too?"
Whoosh!
"...Huh?"
At Dark-eyes' second remark, hot attention converged on him.
As if Soh Sim was the appetizer and he the main course.
"...These punks."
Lee Han was flabbergasted.
After all the effort raising them into Lee Han style...
'Switching to Plum Blossom Sword Saint?'
His brow furrowed.
'In the martial world, Shaolin is the pinnacle, but Mount Hua Sect...?'
Anyway.
'Rootless bunch.'
A tiny voice of rebuke cried out from the murim realm in Lee Han's heart.