Chapter 48: Berserker…? (3)

The cadets were struck with embarrassment.

Why?

Because…

“This lady is able to sense your great spirits. She is looking forward to your wonderful battle that even fairies will admire.”

THE crown princess, the frontrunner in the succession race to the throne, was ‘encouraging’ them. If anything, it would be strange if they were able to keep their composure.

They could barely even believe that this was real.

“However, getting yourself hurt just because you want to fight a wonderful battle isn’t right, so please take care of yourself. After all, every one of you are talented people who will support the kingdom in the future.”

Ah…

However, their embarrassment was short-lived. Those who looked up at her blushed and bowed their heads without saying a word.

It could be said that it was an instinctive reaction, because…

S-Someone like that really exists, huh…?

Her beauty—no, even the word beauty seemed to be a disparaging word for her, as her beauty was something that transcended humanity, like an angel descending down to earth, a noble presence that must never be tarnished.

Those who came from the back alleys felt disrespectful to even try to make eye contact with her.

That was why the cadets didn’t dare to raise their heads and instead just closed their eyes while blushing.

And they also found a new goal.

Ah! Today, we will definitely win! And bring forth glory to that person—!

They swore inwardly as their hearts were boiling with excitement.

Regardless of whether they were warriors or mages, all of them made the same resolution. Hence, both sides added another reason to why they must win the War Game today.

Not only were they determined to win because of the mage or warrior pride, but also for the glory to meet the angel, or rather, the princess.

The men’s eyes flared up like a blaze.

“Those guys fell down like a gnoll being kicked in the side.”

Meanwhile, Lee Han, who was watching the spectacle, clicked his tongue.

Since ancient times, in a martial arts world like in the Sword Mountain Sword Forest novel, or rather, in the royal road, there were three things that one must be most careful of.

An old man, a child, and a beauty.

Those were three things that could make someone easily let their guard down, and among them, there was nothing more dangerous than the presence of a beauty.

Especially…

Get bewitched by a nine-tailed fox, then there’s no hope for you.

Lee Han glanced at the princess who was sitting in the VIP area while looking down at him. This was the first time he had seen her in a while, but she still gave him a creepy and ominous feeling.

It was like the primal instinct of some sort.

He could clearly tell that something ominous would happen the moment he involved himself with her.

Ugh…

As the princess kept staring at him in the eyes, Lee Han let out a groan, shuddering.

You irreverent guy, if you’re within my reach, this lady swears, she will punish you severely!

Tak-!

Isis frowned as she fiddled with the fan in her hand.

In any case, she was that one arrogant friend in Lee Han’s eyes.

The Colosseum, where the war game would be taking place, was like a miniature battlefield. Well, it was called a miniature, but it was still a huge place, probably as big as two football fields connected together.

They filled it with artificial forests and rocks, which was reminiscent of a terrarium. War Game was said to be a game for the nobles to enjoy, this was already an established fact, and these meticulous attention into details just drove the point in even further, showing how far they were willing to take it to enjoy the game.

While it was hard for any average person to understand rich people’s psychology, one thing was clear:  the matches that were held in the huge terrarium weren’t attractive only to the nobles, but also to the commoners.

The Colosseum was open to all the citizens as well as the cadets, and they cheered loudly from the stands.

[Waaaaaaaaaaa!]

Their enthusiasm was high, which was understandable since just like in the Middle Age, this world had a severe lack of entertainment. That was why this kind of game was a valuable stimulus for them. In terms of popularity, this game was no less popular than American football in the United States.

And, out of all the people…

“…Hmm.”

“Am I shaking?”

“Y-You are shaking like crazy… W-Well, me too…”

The cadets were especially giddy. Approximately thousands of people were watching them right now. Interest, anticipation, excitement—variety of emotions washed over the cadets, making their shoulders and necks heavy.

Ironically, the only reason why they could bear the weight of such attention was because of the harsh and unreasonable environment they had experienced in Vulcan.

“I can’t believe that hellish time really ended up helping us in times like this…”

“I know right?”

“Ahaha…”

Nevertheless, it was the truth that the scale of their first battle was a little too big. Maybe it was because the princess—the king’s descendant, the future great queen who they’d serve once they were knighted in the future—came all the way here to watch them.

She boasted a beauty that was second to none in the kingdom. Everyone, from nobles to commoners—all the people in the kingdom admired her, and her presence only served to rile up people’s enthusiasm even more and in turn, they’d pay attention to the match even more.

Everyone, whether they were commoners or nobles, would try to dig out every single detail to find out the value that the cadets had since their next ruler paid attention to them. In other words, while the princess’ visit was a glorious occasion to the cadets, at the same time, it raised the stakes even further and consequentially, it raised their tension as well.

In that situation…

“This is not the time to be like this, brothers! We have to come up with a strategy!”

“…”

While all the men were trembling, one admirable girl managed to keep her calm.

“Huh? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…Are you really going to participate, Miss Fault? It’s not too late to back down now.”

“Please speak comfortably with me, Brother. And as I said yesterday, I have no intention of running away.”

“Hmm…”

The men found it hard to talk with her—since she was a noble and all—even back when she was still nothing but a weak young lady. Though, at this point—after they had gone through thick and thin together for a month with her, gaining a sense of camaraderie with her—they could, at the very least, say what they wanted to say to her.

But at the same time, it was because of that sense of camaraderie that they felt a little uneasy about the girl—Levy Fault—participation in the War Game. Before she was a noble, they regarded her as a woman who was much smaller than them, and they’d feel guilty to death if she were to get hurt under their watch.

However, the girl’s eyes were unwavering.

“Brothers, though I am weak, I have learned everything I can, so fear not! I don’t come here with ordinary determination!”

“Hmm.”

Her words made them remember. After hanging out with her for a month, they were more than aware of how strong this girl was—not physically, but mentally. While they might be physically stronger than her now, they couldn’t be so sure that it would always be the case. After all, the girl’s tenacity was something that even Young Master Roen admired.

“We will win. I will prove my worth as a person, and you, my brothers, will prove your worth as my senior disciples!”

“…Okay!”

Men were sometimes a naive bunch. They’d risk their lives for the sake of a beautiful woman, and just a few cheers by others would get them riled up.

In this situation, when a noble girl politely referred to them as ‘Brother’ and cheered them on?

The effect for that was crystal clear.

“She’s quite a charmer, isn’t she?”

Of course, the effect wasn’t as strong as what Lee Han’s older sister could produce. While Isis’ charm could be rated as nine, Levy Fault’s charm was only two at best.

But, even with that, she knew how to make men’s blood boil.

Lee Han let out a smile, satisfied with the growth of the girl who could no longer be called a chick.

Fortunately for the cadets, the king didn’t come to watch the War Game.

Everyone was so scared out of their wits after hearing the possibility that the king would come, that was why when the news about him not actually coming were spread, everyone treated it as a blessing.

Meanwhile, Lee Han already predicted this outcome, since he knew that there was a high probability that Isis would take action. With both Galahad and Lionel coming, if the king also came to visit, everything would just turn into a mess.

Because the army will also come if the king is here.

Several division-sized forces would move in unison, and that would prompt all the nobles to come as well.

There was no way that they’d dare to stay still when the king was coming to visit the Colosseum.

If that were to happen, this festival (War Game) would no longer belong to the students but to those with power. It would also make the Academy deviate from its purpose; to remain neutral in the face of all the political factions.

In that sense, accepting Isis as the king’s representative was the limit for the Academy.

“It’s good that both the duke and the archduke are hiding their identities.”

“I-Instructor, don’t you think it’s a little too much to mention them so carelessly?”

“Why? I’m not their subject. Besides, those guys are in hiding, they won’t come out just because they heard I talk shit about them. If they want to hide their identities, then they should just watch quietly and leave afterwards.”

“…Sometimes, I feel like you have multiple lives, Instructor.”

“What? Jealous?”

“No, not at all.”

“Heh.”

The duke and the archduke.

No one, including Lee Han, the cadets, or even the faculty members, knew where they were right now. Actually, only a very small number of people knew that they were in the colosseum to begin with.

The princess was the only one who made an official announcement that she’d come to watch the game, while the two rulers hadn’t made a sound at all. It was safe to assume that it was just a hearsay and they didn’t intend to come at all.

Did that mean the information Leila brought was wrong?

Oh, those guys are really here.

Of course not, and Lee Han knew that. If it was anyone other than her who gave him that information, he woulda brushed it aside as nonsense, though. Now that he knew that those rulers were here, he could see—no, feel something.

Why are those fuckers being so fierce?

There was a different kind of spirit that mixed with the cadets and the regular onlookers. The owner of those spirits hid it well, but it still wasn’t enough to avoid his senses.

And the moment he felt their spirit, he had a gut feeling.

They aren’t any weaker than me. Every single one of them are not.

Their strength was enormous. In particular, he sensed two people who were especially powerful. While they were quite a distance away from him, their presence irritated him. On top of it, there was another guy who openly notified him of his presence.

In fact, Lee Han could feel that he was glaring at the back of his head.

This motherfucker…

Ha!

Of course, Lee Han knew who it was. That guy. The arrogant guy who got into a fistfight with him before; the duke’s knight.

He was clearly provoking him.

Crack-!

Because of that, he felt like coming over to his seat right away and dragged him to have another match with him to prove who was the winner of their previous bout. After all, it wasn’t just the cadets who had improved over the past month. While he was teaching them, he was also working harder than them to develop his body and techniques. He was confident that he wouldn’t lose out on the technical front like before, so he was itching to fight that guy right away.

“…Huu.”

However, Lee Han suppressed his boiling blood. At least for ‘today’ he knew he had to endure. Because for today, he was not the main character. As this was the day for him to check how much the sprouts he raised, the potted plants, have grown.

Even if there was someone who provoked him by showing off his presence arrogantly, he had to hold himself back.

Just wait and see what will happen next time.

Lee Han swore that next time this happened, he wouldn’t be as patient as he was today.

He then turned his gaze to the disciples he had raised, making a plan for what would happen the next time they met.

…One thing that Lee Han had to know though…

Just as he had sensed and observed the others…

“Woah, there’s someone interesting here, big brother.”

There were those who did the same to him.

In particular, two black-haired men were showing their interest in him.

“What do you mean?”

“I meant what I said. That guy’s good. Not sure if I’d win if I were to fight him.”

“…That’s your evaluation of him?”

“Yes. Also, that guy over there is good too. The duke raised quite the monster it seems.”

“…”

“Tsk, tsk, and here I thought those ‘three monsters’ were my only opponents. Guess I should reflect on myself a bit.”

“…I see. And here I thought they were already completely corrupted. It seems like their power is still tremendous, huh?”

Of course, the black-haired men didn’t come all the way to the capital to watch this ridiculous farce of a game that everyone had been hyped up for. They also didn’t have any shallow thoughts of trying to check on the royal family. There was only one reason why they were here, and it was none other than…

“Is this the sight you wanted to see, Roen…?”

To see the arrogant ‘descendant’ who ran away from home. They didn’t have any interest in seeing this talent show. After all, compared to life in the north, any kind of fighting here was nothing more than a farce.

And yet there were two people in this place that even the champion of the north couldn’t confidently say that he would win a fight with them.

One of them was raising the warriors who were currently on the stage.

This…

“…Maybe we would be able to see it.”

“What are you talking about, brother?”

“The reason why, one of my blood who deserved to be called a lion, my son, came all the way here.”

“Hoo.”

“Maybe we will be able to see it.”

“That sounds fun, hehe.”

Not knowing that the War Game had unintentionally attracted various kinds of expectations, the bell rang.

It was the bell that announced the start of the War Game.