Chapter 30
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Desperate Crisis (2)
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Mard and the four trainees led Roin to a secluded spot.
Though Mard had warned him directly to follow.
He couldnt understand Roins behavior.
Hes actually following us obediently just because I told him to.
Roin was known as someone even the instructors couldnt control.
He did whatever he wanted.
Especially if anything interfered with his hair or skin care, his eyes would change in an instant.
For such a Roin to meekly obey Mards words.
Its convenient for us anyway. Whatever.
It was strange, but who cared.
Better this way.
They couldnt give Roin a proper thrashing where lots of people came and went.
In the Loud Swordsmanship Academy, besides the ban on romance, there was one other absolutely forbidden act.
Violence.
Outside of training, missions, or self-defense, violence was strictly prohibited.
No matter that it was for Jerkas sake, Mards actions were blatantly against the rules.
Thats why hed kept it secret from Jerka too.
The back of the school, where few people passed.
And at night, it was even less likely to be seen.
Mard stopped walking.
He slowly turned around.
At the same time, Mard couldnt hide his bewilderment.
Despite being surrounded by men several years his senior, Roin showed no sign of tension.
He was even yawning.
Youre yawning in this situation?
At Mards remark, Roin replied.
Im sleepy. What do you want me to do.
.
To Roin, this situation didnt feel like a crisis at all.
A single pimple on his face had been a far greater threat.
Mards expression hardened.
You still havent figured out why you were dragged here.
Before he could finish, Roin cut him off.
Cut the chatter and just come at me already. Youre pissed because Im getting more attention than Jerka. Thats why you dragged me out here, right?
Pissed? Dont talk nonsense. Have you ever once thought that your achievements at the Goddesss Lake were all thanks to Lord Jerka?
Roin shrugged at the question.
As if.
At those words, Mard and his crews faces turned fierce.
Its because Im that good. Why should I thank Jerka?
You just dont get it.
Mard gave a signal to the other trainees.
They each drew practice swords and gripped them tightly.
From the junior knight course onward, unlike apprentice days, they were issued weapons to carry at all times.
For safety, though, they had to be practice weapons, not real ones.
Even practice weapons didnt matter much.
They were nearly as heavy as the real thing.
A solid hit could be fatal.
Just before they charged.
Roin clenched his fist first.
At the sight, the other trainees flinched.
Just from lightly balling his fist, they instinctively shrugged their shoulders.
An immense presence from his small frame.
An oppressive pressure that choked the breath from them.
Thats when Mard shouted.
Dont chicken out! Hes just a first-year nobody! Rush him without fear!
His yell bolstered the others courage.
But Roin didnt see it as courage.
Recklessness.
The guy on the right swung his sword at Roin first.
Hed trained long at the academy, so the strike was fairly sharp.
But facing Roin was his misfortune.
Roin caught the swinging sword barehanded.
With a slight squeeze, the practice sword shattered with a crunch!
Gasp!
Before they could react, Roin moved first.
Violence was strictly forbidden at the academy.
But self-defense is fine.
They had threatened him first.
The moment Roins fist sank into the mans gut.
He doubled over retching and collapsed.
One strike was all it took.
I was already pissed about this pimple and wondering how to blow off steam.
Roin curled one corner of his mouth up.
That smile was eerily...
Thanks. For being my punching bags.
Like a devils.
Mard witnessed the scene unfolding before him in real time.
It felt like a dream.
The four junior knights whod joined Mard to give Roin a lesson.
They were top performers in the school.
Yet they fell one by one to Roins strikes without swinging their swords properly.
Roin hadnt even drawn his sword.
Just his bare hands.
This was the bare minimum mercy Roin could show them.
Getting punched hurts less than a sword, right?
Mard didnt answer Roins question easily.
He couldnt.
His body wouldnt respond.
Roin couldve dropped Mard in an instant if he wanted.
But he left him be out of curiosity.
Did Jerka order this?
Mard denied it outright.
It was my plan. Lord Jerka...
If he knew, hed have yelled at you never to do something like this. Right?
.
Knowing Jerkas personality, Roin figured he would.
What Jerka wanted was to surpass Roin openly, on equal terms.
To beat him with pure skillthat was Jerkas desire.
The Tayla family has always been straightforward like that.
Kern Tayla too.
Roin admired that one trait of the Tayla family, at least.
So he wanted to drive the point home to Mard.
Every time you pull crap like this, youre the one shaming Jerka. Remember that.
With that, Roin flicked Mards forehead.
Snap!!!!!!!!!
With a crisp sound, Mards body toppled backward.
One flick and he was out cold.
Trouble.
Roin stared at the finger hed used, muttering to himself.
Whys my strength keeps getting stronger?
Hed felt this sensation at the Goddesss Lake too.
A mystery.
When Mard opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was the familiar ceiling.
Coming to, he realized he was back in his room.
Why am I...
Then.
A familiar voice came from right beside him.
Youre awake.
L-Lord Jerka!
Mard jolted in shock.
Seeing Jerkas hardened expression, he flinched again.
I heard everything from Roin.
His voice was calmly sunken.
Mard shrank like a criminal.
Im sorry, Lord Jerka. I have no excuse, even ten mouths wouldnt help. Forgive me.
This wasnt the way Jerka wanted things.
It went against the Tayla familys principles.
Mard was no different from defying the familys code.
This couldnt be swept under the rug.
Go apologize to Roin.
Y-Yes...?
He never expected to be told to apologize. Mards pupils shook.
But Jerkas demeanor remained firm.
What? Cant do it?
This was Jerkas punishment for Mard.
Whether to accept it or not.
That wasnt Mards call.
It was Jerkas.
Go apologize. Thats an order.
Mard dropped to one knee.
He bowed his head and replied.
I shall obey.
Roin was in an exceptionally good mood today.
Two pieces of great news.
First.
The pimple traces were completely gone.
Hed been so worried about scarring.
Now he could finally relax.
And second.
Here.
Remina, back from an outing, handed Roin an item.
A sheet mask set.
This the one you mentioned?
Yeah. How much?
Its fine. Its a gift from me, just take it.
Remina had received much help from Roin since apprentice knight days.
Without him, she wouldnt have passed the exam right away.
This sheet mask set was her small token of gratitude.
Thanks. Ill put it to good use.
Taking the set, Roin pulled one out and offered it to Remina.
Wanna try one?
Nah, Im not into that stuff.
Give it a shot. Might suit you more than you think.
.
Under the beauty evangelist Roins persuasion, Remina reluctantly accepted.
Remina headed to her room with the sheet mask in hand.
Seeing the set filling her hands, a smile crept onto Roins lips.
Tonight, facial massage, then a mask, then bed.
His skincare plan fell neatly into place.
As he moved toward his room.
Mard poked his head out.
A bandage wrapped around his head, showing the flicks aftermath.
Roin smirked at him.
What, back for another beating?
.
Mard didnt react to the taunt.
He clicked his tongue briefly, then finally spoke.
...Sorry.
The sudden apology.
Roin instantly knew why Mard was here.
Jerka told you to apologize, huh.
.
For Mard, this was a huge blow to his pride.
Yet hed come to apologize first.
Out of loyalty to Jerka.
Roin didnt want to bother with it.
He just wanted to get back to his room and test the new sheet mask.
Fine, apology accepted. Now scram. Im busy.
The sheet mask mattered more than Mards apology.
And so the incident wrapped up.
But.
Crunch.
Clenching his fist, Mard quietly ground his teeth.
His grudge remained.
After the kingdom territory mission, new missions were assigned to the trainees.
Barton gathered them and explained.
Pick one of the 15 missions. Difficulty and team size vary, so choose wisely.
Trainees preferred certain conditions.
Medium difficulty, team of five to seven.
Just right.
No matter which we clear, the eval scores the same, so...
Might as well take it easy, right?
Obviously.
That was the common trainee opinion.
The most avoided: very hard difficulty, team of two.
Mission 1, Oup Escort, fit that perfectly.
Trainees were determined to dodge number 1 at all costs.
Alright, starting with 1. Any takers?
At Bartons question, one hand shot up first.
Roin Leyden.
Ill take Mission 1.