Chapter 97
Chapter 97
Defeated. A complete loss with no room for excuses. "That old man was scary strong." "...
Haha." Derek let out a hollow laugh as he looked at him lying on the bed. Just yesterday, the man had been perfectly fine, and now he was a total wreck sprawled out on the sheets. How shocked Derek had been when he unwrapped the haphazard bandages. No one could count how many stitches he'd put into the tattered flesh. ...
For the record, Derek had done all the sewing himself. The 'Suturing' skill had come in really handy. "Must've been tough treating me." "...
Wouldn't that be the instructor who sewed up raw flesh without any anesthesia? Even Guan Yu didn't go through that." "If I'd scraped down to the bone like that guy, maybe. But I wasn't that bad, right?" "Well, overall, you were way worse off, Instructor." Hah! Derek had wanted to use anesthetic, but the man's [Poison Resistance] trait made it ineffective. Most anesthetics in this world had toxic components, so Derek had no choice but to boldly stitch him up without any—his hands had been shaking the whole time. Fortunately... 'How does he not scream once, seriously.' For nearly seven hours of surgery, he'd endured it all in silence. 'What a guy—no, what a strong guy. Really.' Derek was struck anew by just how ridiculously strong this man was. Not just in raw power. 'He's strong—physically tough, but mentally unbreakable.' It wasn't just because he didn't scream while getting his flesh sewn up. What impressed Derek most was how boldly he'd made that decision—for his own disciple, no less. A girl who was essentially a stranger to him. Could I do the same?'It wasn't just charging in because he hated the future. He went to create a [possibility] where Levi wouldn't get hurt... You could solve it like that?' ...
No. This probably wasn't the right answer. Fighting the marquis's family to secure the girl's happiness didn't make sense in the first place. No matter how insane the devs were, they wouldn't hide an Easter egg that ridiculous. 'I'd rather do the Demon King War again than fight Tristan.' Each Blood Eagle knight was level 5 or higher, at least 6. The vice commander was on par with him at Lv.7. When a hundred of them banded together, their collective power matched Lv.8 or more. And the marquis on top of that... even alone... 'Level 8.5.' Not quite Lv.9, but a monster on the cusp. In truth, no one short of Lv.9 could beat him. Coming back alive from a fight like that was a massive feat in itself. 'Beat the knights, survived the Lv.9-equivalent monster... No doubt about it.' -Lv.8 Hero class. Derek was convinced the man had truly entered the ranks of the world's elite. '...
What an incredible person.' Reaching that level at his age proved just how brutal his life had been. Derek knew it wasn't something you could achieve with just strength or luck alone—that realization filled him with awe. Imagining the effort he'd poured in made his chest swell. Derek was dying to check his stats right then with his skills, and just as he felt a surge of inspiration... "M-Master..." The girl slipped through the door, looking utterly drained compared to yesterday. Levi Polt. She looked ready to burst into tears any second. "Ah..." Derek froze. And understandably so—she'd had no idea. Even though she was at the heart of it all, she'd just been helplessly waiting. But now her advocate had stepped up, faced the marquis's family, and returned. Derek could only imagine the storm of emotions she felt. And sure enough. Tears streamed down her face. Joy, worry, regret, guilt, self-loathing... A whirlwind of feelings left Levi speechless, and the instructor met her gaze with gentle eyes. "Bearcub..." "M-Master, I..." "-Save the crying for later. Go help the maid and bring some food. Lying here all day has me starving." "......" "I went to all this effort, so I believe bringing food won't be too hard." "......" "Hurry." "...
Y-Yes." ......
He might be too emotionally barren to star in a melodrama.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...
No rumors at all?" "Yes, not even whispers." "......
Is that even possible?" "Right?" After devouring way more than ten servings of beef stew and bread made by Leira and Levi, plus three roast chickens from the oven, Lee Han blinked at the info from the timid kid. Not a single word had spread in the capital about his raid on the marquis's estate. 'I went that berserk, and no one knows?' It was embarrassing to admit, but he'd charged in without a thought for consequences. Even if the marquis's mansion was in a secluded forest, how could no one have seen? "Possible if someone tightly controlled the info. But it'd take a massive power player with serious skills... Instructor, know any dukes?" "......
Hmm." He knew a duke, but that one probably hadn't stepped in. 'That big sis really lets me run wild.' Perfect information lockdown. Pulling that off would require mages and hordes of officials, and the only person he knew who could manage it was the silver-haired princess. Lee Han clicked his tongue in admiration. To be king, you need skills like this, huh. "...
Aren't you disappointed? Could've gained fame for beating Tristan if played right." "What kinda nonsense is that?" "W-Well, knights love that glory stuff, right?" The timid kid seemed genuinely bummed it hadn't leaked. Lee Han overheard his mutter: "Man, think of the achievement and fame points—new trait maybe." He laughed it off. Not his gain, yet the kid regretted it like it was. To him, Lee Han said: "Don't need fake glory like that. I lost, after all." "......" "You think I won just 'cause I survived, but I lost for real. Only alive thanks to the marquis and knights' mercy. Don't overthink it." "Hmm..." Lee Han didn't see it as a win. Beating the order worked because they had no intel on him. The marquis could've killed him easily but let him go. No victory vibe—just a beatdown. "S-Still, it's a win, kinda." "Maybe if you only care about results. I like the process too, so... eh, no thrill." "...
You're more strait-laced than I thought, Instructor." "Comes with age, heh." "...
Dunno about that." The kid gave him a knowing look, and as Lee Han was about to scold him for getting cheeky... "...
W-Why? Why go that far?" "......" "Why for someone like me...?" "Asking again? Move on." "I can't! How could you—look at you-!" A near-sobbed shout. Levi was still torn up over his injuries being her fault, face crumpled. Tears plopped from her wide eyes, and Lee Han silently watched. "Timid." "...
Yes. Call if you need me." Good instincts—he bolted out the second Lee Han called. Just the two of them now. "......" "Hic, sob..." A heavy silence thick with hurt. Lee Han wanted to let her calm down quietly, but... "Is it wrong to protect a disciple marching toward misery on her own?" "...!?" A gut feeling said now was the time, so he spoke. Levi froze mid-sob, eyes huge as she looked up. Lee Han met her gaze and continued. "The Levi Polt I know is smart and tough. You endured Vulcan's brutal training, didn't flinch from spellcasters' magic. And you boldly commanded against Noah's horde, earning top honors. Your bravery's known to all eighty in the swordsmanship department—and to me." "W-What're you suddenly..." "But!" "...!" His sharp interruption silenced her. No questions allowed now. "...
So why does a smart, brave girl keep acting foolish? Why pick the dumb options? I just don't get it." "......" "For filial piety? Family? Maybe. You're a 'good girl.' Could accept fate out of duty. But... I just can't understand your parents." "-!!" ...
She froze in shock. Finally realizing it. That Lee Han had figured something out. "Polt family—as you said, it's ruined. Failed trying to rise as knights. But then, doesn't it make sense they'd cling to you, a girl with knight talent? ...
Isn't that weird? That's what hit me." "Ah, ahh..." "If you became a knight, it'd restore the name Polt. So why not? Are they idiots who don't know the world? Discarding you 'cause you're a girl? Hmm, I wouldn't toss aside a kid who works 'blindly' hard like you. Doesn't add up." "M-Master..." "...
What drives you to follow so blindly?" Lee Han pieced it together. Like connecting the hints. Blind effort. Levi Polt's core. A noble lady training swordplay with unyielding resolve. Like desperately proving her worth. What drove her to flail like that? Lee Han pondered. "What's pushing you so hard? And why obey your parents'—no, 'orders'—without a fight like a fool?" "......" "...
If you want, I won't pry further. Bury the suspicion deep. Think of it as old-man nagging and shake it off. Or smack me to vent?" "......" "Fine, if you want—" "...
You're right." "......" "All of it. Your guess... spot on..." "......" She wept silently. A wistful smile on her face. "Master's sharper than he looks..., yeah." Hard to speak through tears, but Lee Han just shrugged. "Got nothing to do with looks. Just thought parents should do right by their kids." "...
Yeah. The natural duty." "No need to say more. Wasn't interrogating." "...
You already did..., though." "Not interrogation—counseling. Gotta know my disciple's story." "......
What's that." Unlike her tears, she smiled brightly. Grateful he treated her the same after uncovering her hidden, hopeless 'truth' so casually... "Hehe, finally busted." Relief washed over her. She'd thought she'd hide it forever. Exposure meant condemnation. But this felt liberating. So the girl—no, the young woman with a mature smile—began her tale. "...
Yes, just like you thought, I..." ─don't have parents. ...
Slowly voicing it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Whoosh! The illegal gambling den was a mess. The guard dogs protecting it had long fallen, and the gambling addicts lay piled outside, arms or legs broken, unconscious. Yet one man remained conscious amid it all. Or rather, he'd been kept that way on purpose? Krunch!
"Ugh, wh-what the hell! Why're you doing this?!"
"......"
"What's your grudge against me?!"
"......"
"Say something..."
"-Shut your mouth. It stinks."
"!!!?"
The blue-haired man was grabbed by the collar and hoisted up. Just from that grip, crushing pressure bore down—he could barely breathe. But the black-haired youth showed no pity, just squeezed. As if the man wasn't worth even basic mercy.
"Reynold Polt, answer my questions straight from now on. Nod if you can't speak. Blink if you can't nod. But if you're even a second late or lie... I'll erase you—and your entire family—from this world!!"
"!!?!!"
Reynold Polt. The current head of the Polt family trembled in terror, shaking his head madly. What a pathetic sight. The kind that might stir pity in some. But to the black-haired youth... ─To Roan, he was a loathsome, repulsive abomination. Grind! Even Roan, ever calm, was openly furious for the first time. Barely restraining the urge to snap the wretch's neck, Roan demanded: "Reynold Polt, 43 years old. Married a commoner, two daughters. That right?"
"!!"
"Yeah? Correct?"
"!!!"
Reynold shook his head frantically. Yes. He had a wife and daughters—yes— "-Wrong. Only one daughter. Why lie?"
"?!!"
"Not two—one. And even if two, why carve a 'Seal of Obedience' on her and give such cruel orders...!!"
"...... Guh... guhh..."
A hidden seal. An ancient forbidden art, like Curse Poison—impossible to remove normally. The kind used on livestock or beasts nowadays: absolute submission. Engraving it on a person was illegal by kingdom law. Unthinkable. But Roan wasn't debating laws now. He was judging...
"You filth! How dare you toy with a person's life-!"
Pity for his comrade—whose life was ruined by this trash, left to a sad existence. That alone fueled Roan's rage, and in response...
🐺 BLACK LION'S ROAR! 🐺