Chapter 46
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Suspicion (2)
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To prepare the schedule for next week's outdoor training, Barton kept twirling his pen.
Just like the constantly spinning pen, Barton's mind was in a complicated whirl.
It was because of what Lepid had said a few days ago.
In my view, it seems like someone is plotting to assassinate Roin.
They'd even recruited Nut to get rid of Roin?
Honestly, Barton found it hard to fully believe.
It could just be speculation.
There was no hard evidence.
It was difficult to conclude such a collusion based solely on suspicion.
So Barton thought.
I just need to find some evidence.
Barton headed to Oval's office.
At that moment, someone was just stepping out of the office.
A long-haired man.
Acker, was it?
He was meeting with Oval again, behind the instructors' backs.
Acker pulled something out of his pocket and was seen exchanging remote communication with someone in a small voice.
Too far to hear what he's saying.
He tried to get closer.
Approaching targets without making a sound was one of Barton's specialties.
Knights didn't just handle protection duties or monster subjugations.
Infiltrating enemy camps to assassinate generals or key commanders was also part of a knight's job.
Knights had to carry out all sorts of missions.
Despite his large build, Barton closed the distance to Acker with nimble movements.
Just a little more!
The moment he pushed forward greedily,
Captain?
A woman's voice grabbed Barton by the ankle.
Belmin. She was huddled up, watching the moving Barton with a puzzled look.
Barton quickly signaled her to stay quiet.
As a senior knight, Belmin caught on immediately and approached stealthily.
She whispered to Barton as quietly as possible.
What's going on?
That guy Acker is scheming something with the headmaster. I'm trying to find out what.
Huh? Meister Acker?
Yeah. He's right there, conveniently.
Belmin's gaze followed Barton's gesture toward the hallway.
However,
No one's there?
What?
Barton whipped his head back toward the hallway.
It was true.
Just as she said, the hallway was empty.
The time Barton had taken his eyes off to glance at Belmin was only about 5 to 7 seconds at most.
In that short span, he had completely vanished.
He evaded detection from a senior knight like me? That's impossible unless you're a senior knight or senior mage.
Meisters didn't train in combat skills like knights.
Nor did they practice magic like mages.
They were engineers.
They researched, experimented, invented, and created.
As a meister, Acker shouldn't have been able to slip completely out of Barton's watchful eye.
That's why Barton was even more baffled.
Even if Acker had noticed Barton tailing him, vanishing suddenly in an open space with nothing around didn't make sense.
Though tailing Acker had failed.
He's definitely suspicious.
His suspicions toward Acker and Oval only grew thicker.
Iroa and Belb returned to Loud Swordsmanship Academy to visit Roin.
She closely examined the small scratch on Roin's face.
This will heal on its own if left alone.
What about scarring?
Hehe, no need to worry.
Only after hearing it was fine from Iroa did Roin finally relax a bit.
Or you could ask Belb here to cast a healing spell.
Belb. You know healing magic, right?
Belb nodded with a confident expression.
I can do everything except attack spells on others. You want this scratch healed right now?
Yeah. Perfectly, without a scar.
Got it. Skin regeneration magic should do the trick.
Belb moved to place his index finger on Roin's wound.
Before he could, Roin stopped him.
Hold on.
Yes?
Roin said firmly to Belb, who looked suddenly dumbfounded.
Did you wash your hands?
I washed them when I washed my face this morning.
Not good enough. Iroa, give me that.
Iroa immediately understood and pulled out a cotton swab soaked in alcohol.
Disinfect your finger with this first.
No touching Roin's face without disinfecting.
Belb wiped the tip of his finger with the alcohol swab as instructed.
Roin watched the process like a hawk.
Don't wipe half-heartedly. Scrub hard enough to kill every last germ on your fingertip.
A-alright.
To think he'd have to disinfect just to cast one spell.
Still, Belb followed Roin's orders without complaint.
Once disinfection was complete.
He could finally apply the skin regeneration magic.
The slightly parted skin on Roin's face began to knit back together amiably.
Soon enough, the wound vanished completely.
Iroa took a hand mirror from her bag and handed it to Roin.
See for yourself, Lord Roin.
Hmm.
After examining his face from several angles, Roin finally looked satisfied.
As expected from you, Belb. Good job.
Thank you.
Iroa also gave Roin a few medical supplies as a gift.
If you get another scratch on your face like this, disinfect it right away and apply this ointment. No scar worries then.
Thanks.
Who knew when another scratch might mar Roin's precious face.
Better to be extra careful.
In the middle of it, Belb made this suggestion to Roin.
If you wear a helmet like last time, you won't get scratches on your face, right?
Belb thought it was a pretty sensible solution.
Why would I wear that?
Roin immediately shot down Belb's idea.
Hiding this handsome face? Doesn't make sense. Right?
H-ha-ha.
Belb let out an awkward laugh.
Now that he heard it, it did make sense.
By the way, did Helond say anything for me?
Iroa shook her head as she replied.
It's because of that Nut organization, right? He said they've started investigating, but no noteworthy results yet.
Tell him to let me know the instant anything suspicious pops up.
He still didn't know who was targeting him and plotting this.
But once we find the culprit, I'll half-kill the bastard.
He planned to exact thorough revenge for the scratch on his face.
Only one outdoor training remained before the main exam for selecting mid knights.
Roin pondered as he read the notice detailing the training for the cadets.
Spending a night and two days in Screaming Valleythat wasn't part of the training when I went through it.
It was a course added after Roin had graduated from the swordsmanship academy.
Screaming Valley.
It got its name because human screams seemed to echo continuously at night.
Of course, actual screams didn't ring out nonstop.
The wind passing through the valley sounds like screams, that's how it got the name.
Roin had visited Screaming Valley once before.
The echoes sounding just like human screams at night gave it a seriously eerie atmosphere.
Plus, monsters lurked there, making it a dangerous zone with strict civilian access controls.
Safely completing a night and two days there was the main goal of this outdoor training.
They wouldn't be camping solo.
They'd move in teams again this time.
Remina, sitting across from Roin, asked him.
How about bringing Luem again and making a three-man team?
Unlike the apprentice course, the junior course allowed freely swapping team members for each subject.
Roin nodded vigorously at her suggestion.
Not a bad idea.
Since Luem seemed quite skilled, Roin had no complaints about reusing him.
Probably no one else could perform like that against swarming tactical golems.
Even Remina might have panicked, but Luem calmly held his position and protected her and the injured.
That left a strong impression on Roin.
Remina felt the same.
So she had one curiosity.
He seemed really skilled. I don't get why Luem has failed seven times.
Remina couldn't understand it.
But Roin had a hunch.
Wherever people gather, politics is inevitable.
Some cadets bribed instructors with money to get scores higher than their skills warranted.
Roin had seen it happen multiple times.
It probably wasn't much different now.
The headmaster Oval himself had been blinded by money and deployed unsafe tactical golems right away.
If the top was rotten.
The bottom wouldn't be clean.
At least the training captain is upright. Lucky for us.
If someone other than Barton had been training captain, things might have been worse.
Remina, who unlike Roin hadn't fully experienced the ways of the world, let out a small sigh of regret.
Watching her, Roin gave a faint smile.
Don't worry. I'll make sure Luem passes no matter what.
How?
Just stick with me.
That way, they'd ace the team missions at least.
Remina had benefited a lot from doing just that last year.
But there was still one thing that didn't add up.
What's with the sudden change of heart?
Roin usually never cared about anything besides himself.
For such a Roin to suddenly look out for Luem felt strange to Remina.
There was a clear reason.
After graduation, I plan to use him as one of my limbs later.
.
A perfectly Roin-like answer.
Cadets gearing up and leaving the swordsmanship academy for Screaming Valley.
The distance to Screaming Valley was longer than expected.
Even on horseback, it took at least seven days one way.
So this time, they used a group teleportation magic circle to reach the area in one go.
Before the cadets who had teleported via the magic circle stretched the scenery of the Wyot Mountains.
Gasps of admiration escaped their lips at the sight of mountains rising to the clouds.
Once all cadets had arrived, Barton raised his voice.
The Wyot Mountains are crawling with dangerous monsters unknown to the public, so absolutely no solo actions. Even bathroom breaks in teams. Got it!
Yes!
Good. Lead group, move out. Execute!
Execute!
With the resounding response, their final outdoor training began.