Chapter 53: The Knight Holds a Banquet (4)

Though the tone of their previous talk was cold, unlike what Roen had imagined, the bloody violence he expected Lee Han to give him was just a light ‘flick in the wrist’.

“My Lord, are you okay?”

“It’s bearable.”

“…My lord…that’s not me, that’s a rock…”

But, just because it was a light flick in the wrist, it didn’t mean that Roen turned out fine. After all, it was still a punishment for his arrogance to give his instructor an order of notice. Though, compared to what the mages had experienced, his punishment really was just a flick in the wrist.

After that, they dragged the mages—who were either on the brink of death or unconscious—into a building nearby that looked like a bar.

Well, the building was locked, but…

Bang-!

“Get the fuck out of here, you rat.”

“Eek—!”

In these lawless streets—the Parasite Abyss—there was no law that bound them. That was why they were free to chase away the man, who pretended to be the bar owner, and took the whole building over by force. After the man left, Lee Han searched through the shelves.

“If you don’t want that bitch to die, pour this into her wound. Don’t bother treating her delicately though.”

“…Yes.”

Lee Han threw a bottle of alcohol at Jack, and the latter caught him. The alcohol wasn’t for consumption, but disinfection—something that wasn’t available in most bars, but since people got hurt all the time in Parasite Abyss, things like this were readily available here.

While Jack moved to preserve the lives of those they could extract information from, Lee Han sat down on one of the old chairs and made himself at home.

“You know, it wasn’t easy to subdue someone without killing them.”

“…But, in my eyes, you dealt with them with ease…”

“I had to rack my brain harder than usual back then.”

“…”

“More than that, young master.”

“…I’m a young master too?”

“What? You want to deny it? Anyway, that isn’t important. Now you owe me one.”

“I know…”

“Good, good. As long as you’re aware of that, it’s enough.”

He could just say that he didn’t owe him anything here, but Roen was too afraid of the consequences if he were to actually say that.

Besides, I used him to achieve my goal like that…

He knew of the mages’ existence, but he wasn’t in the position to take care of them himself because any move he’d make would leave a trace. More specifically, if he were to fight those mages, he’d leave the ‘trace’ of power that the archduke’s family possessed. If that trace were to be found by someone, he’d draw even more attention on top of the already existing one due to his status as the archduke’s successor. That outcome would leave him becoming even more restricted than he already was.

However…

“Honestly, that letter was a gamble. I wasn’t sure that you were aware of them, Instructor.”

“Good for you, then. You hit the jackpot.”

“…I see that you’re holding a deep animosity toward mages, Instructor.”

“What a nice pair of eyes you got there. Yes. They’re one of the pests that I hate the most.”

“…”

…He doesn’t even think of them as people, huh…?

Seeing how a satisfied look appeared on his face as he said those words, his hatred towards the mages was even bigger than he thought. It was as if cutting off a mage’s neck was like his main occupation or something.

“I’m just asking this out of curiosity, but… Do you have any personal grudges against mages, Instructor?”

“Yeah. It’s nothing much though. I was just a slave to their experiments for about ten years.”

“…”

“Nothing much, right?”

“…Uh…”

No matter how insensitive Roen was, he noticed that the instructor wasn’t being sincere when he said those words. In the end, he could only let out a bitter laugh, realizing that he had just just asked an unnecessary question.

“By the way, that guy said he didn’t remember why he was acting up six years ago.”

“…Are you talking about Professor Odwal?”

It feels good to talk with someone so sharp and smart, I don’t need to explain anything, he understands everything on his own.

Lee Han roughly nodded as he was doing maintenance on his axe and other tools.

“Yeah, that dumbass.”

“Umm…”

That was a rude and a harsh evaluation for Odwal Bernard, as he was the youngest professor of the Magic Department and a well-known genius. Then again, the one who had such judgment was Lee Han, someone who had zero interest in the reputation of a magic freak. To him, there were only two kinds of magic freaks; those who should be killed and not.

In that sense…

“That dumb magic freak, he didn’t even know he was being used by someone.”

“So his actions back then were influenced by someone.”

“Six years ago, right before the Entrance Ceremony, that dumbass went to have a drink with Hans—no, the unknown parasite who used Hans’ skin. He didn’t remember anything that happened after that.”

“The cause should be…drugs, or some kind of mental magic. Either way, they’re both illegal.”

“Well, who knows if he was telling the truth or not. He never even apologized to the people he hurt, and he didn’t know why he lashed out like that. Anyway, that guy has a broken conscience. There’s a chance that he just lied about everything.”

“Your evaluation of him is rather harsh.”

“No, I’m just being honest.”

Lee Han snickered and placed the weapons he had polished into his bosom.

At that moment, Jack looked at Lee Han with a surprised expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing, i-it’s just, I didn’t expect you to be so good at maintaining your weapons. I thought you’d be the type who treats weapons like disposable items…”

“Do you want to get hit?”

“…No, thank you.”

“Look here, Average Joe, especially if you’re someone who uses weapons carelessly, listen to my words properly. Don’t ever handle your weapons carelessly or treat them like disposable items. Your weapon could be an important lifeline when it counts. Do you understand, you arrogant assassin?”

“Don’t call me Average Joe… Also, I’m not an assassin…”

“Sure, Average Joe, the former assassin.”

“…Dammit!”

Jack lamented the fact that he couldn’t deny Lee Han’s words.

However, as someone whose past was more glamorous than the poor former assassin, Lee Han just shook his head, dismissing him as someone who was too sensitive about the strangest things. He didn’t point that out though, as he didn’t want to deal with the sensitive emotion of a young man in his 20s who was easily hurt by the most trivial of things.

After he finished maintaining all his weapons and put them on its sheathe, Lee Han turned to face Roen again.

“Hey, Arrogant Young Master Who Has the Audacity to Order His Instructor Around.”

“…Don’t you think that nickname is a little too much?”

“Who cares. Just know that I let you off easy. Anyway, let’s talk about something more productive.”

“Go ahead.”

Roen looked at Lee Han with a firm expression, as if he wasn’t going to avoid any questions that he asked. And he was planning on doing just that; he’d answer what he could answer and try his best to come up with something for what he couldn’t answer.

After doing all the mental calculations in his mind, with confidence, Roen—

“The ‘real’ Hans, Dorothy, Kam, Den, and Alain… Have you looked for them?”

“…”

…Was ready to answer his question, but the question that came was a completely unexpected one.

Though this question was a very normal question considering the circumstances, Roen was left dumbstruck for the first time.

The instructor was talking about those who had their identities and faces stolen by those illegal mages.

He didn’t know how to answer that question.

Or rather, he already knew the answer.

After all, anyone who was caught by the illegal mages was…

“If you haven’t found a body, there’s a 1% chance that they’re still alive. Even if they are dead, we still have to deliver their remains to their family.”

“…”

“You have the strength and the ability to gather information, and there are pests who should know the answer to that question. Get the answer out of them, whether it’s through torture or something, I don’t care.”

“…”

“Can you do it?”

“…It’ll take time, but I’ll definitely find them.”

“Good, that’s enough.”

After saying those words, Lee Han stood up from his seat, as if that was all he had to say.

Without realizing it, Roen—

“Are you not going to ask anything?”

—ended up asking him that instead.

He wondered, why didn’t the instructor try to dig deeper about just anything?

Like how did Roen know about these illegal mages?

Or why was Roen keeping an eye on them to begin with?

Even the most obvious question like, ‘What purpose did Roen have?’…

He never bothered to ask.

Roen found his priority strange.

Instead of asking such things, the instructor was worried about the missing people and told him to look for them.

Why…?

“Roen Dmitri de Lionel.”

“!”

Roen flinched. After all, this was the first time that the Instructor had ever called him by his full name.

He knew that he wasn’t about to get scolded, but he still felt the bottom of his stomach churn for some reason.

Then, his gaze met Lee Han’s, as the latter stared straight at him.

“I don’t know what your goal is, what you’re hiding, why you’re trying to use me, and what schemes you’re plotting. But, I don’t care.”

“…”

“Why? Because I don’t need to know all that. You’re better off not knowing too much. Curiosity and inquisitiveness are like monsters that need to be suppressed at times, especially for a mere wage slave like me.”

“…A mere wage slave…?”

He treated his position as a knight of the Silver Lion and an instructor of the Academy as if it was something insignificant. It wouldn’t be strange if someone were to dismiss his words as a joke, but it was clear that he wasn’t joking.

“To me, everything is the same. A blacksmith, a carpenter, a baker, a gardener, all of them are trying to work hard to live their lives. My occupation as a knight or an instructor at an academy for nobles doesn’t make me different from the rest of them. As such, the lives of others are also ‘equal’ in my eyes.”

“!”

“Roen Dmitri de Lionel. I don’t care what your goals are. However, keep this in mind. Don’t ever break the moral code that humans must follow. If, at one point, you stop caring about the means and the methods to achieve your goals, you’ll end up becoming like those guys.”

As he said that, Lee Han pointed at the illegal mages, whose bodies were scattered on the ground.

Roen’s eyes turned a little more serious as he clenched his teeth.

He couldn’t say the thing that he had in mind. That he was prepared to do anything to achieve his goal, even if it meant that he had to become ‘evil’ like these guys.

That was why, he—

Pow-!

“…?”

“This damned disciple of mine… Stop trying to do everything by yourself. You’re still young, try to rely on adults more. If you don’t want to do that, then at least try relying on your parents. Aren’t they powerful people?”

“…What kind of logic is that?”

“I’m giving you this advice because you’re so young. Ever since ancient times, even the most difficult things for youngsters like you are usually nothing for adults, so try to rely on them more. Oh, of course this doesn’t mean that you should rely on me. I fucking hate things like nobility and people in power so, just don’t.”

“…Ha.”

His advice was really irresponsible, but for some reason, that illogical and unreasonable advice dug into his heart deeply.

Is it because he said it in such a plain and honest manner? Or is it because of his presence?

Roen couldn’t be sure.

But one thing was certain…

“You’re treating me like a child…”

“If you’re in your 20s, you’re still a child.”

“Hmm…”

The instructor felt more ‘grown-up’ than him.

Lee Han lightly patted his head.

It feels…weird…to be treated like a child…

The instructor just left without much care in the world.

And without asking any more questions.

“…Guess I lived long enough to experience something like this…”

Ever since he experienced the ‘miracle of time,’ Roen had a tendency to treat others as if they were younger than him, no matter how old they were. This was because he never considered the possibility that someone had a more intense life than his, even if they were even older than him with his two lives.

And so, he always used to look at others as if they were children.

But today…

I’m the one who’s being treated as a kid instead.

It doesn’t feel so bad though, strangely enough.

“…Jack.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Treat these guys’ wounds and start interrogating them. Make them vomit out all the information they have.”

“To what extent, my lord?”

“Don’t stop until just before they go mad, and don’t kill them until their lifespan ends. They have to suffer for the rest of their lives.”

“I will follow your orders.”

The crimes committed by these three surviving mages were so heinous that it made the other two who died look like saints. The woman loved to kill others for fun, one of the men loved to kill and rape women, while the other loved to kidnap others and torture them.

Hence, he wouldn’t let them have easy deaths.

He swore to make them suffer until their lifespan ended naturally.

“One more thing. Find the whereabouts of the missing people. If they’re alive, we have to save them. But, if they’ve already passed on… We will preserve their remains.”

“…”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…I’m just happy because I finally smelled something ‘human’ coming from you, my lord.”

“Stop saying nonsense.”

“Pfft! Hahaha, yes, yes, it’s just nonsense indeed!”

“…”

After that exchange, Roen went silent. Instead of getting angry because of his subordinate’s insolent words, he felt weird instead because he never realized that he still had these feelings within him.

But still…

Human… huh?

That word, somehow…

Sounds so pleasing to hear…

…It seems I got involved with quite the troublesome guy.

The moment Lee Han found out that there was a regressor in this world, he realized that the future wouldn’t be all sunshine and rainbows.

And today, the ‘Parasite’ came out, as he had predicted.

But, the biggest problem here was…

They’ll keep coming out in the future.

That was more of a certainty than a prediction.

It was clear that the regressor was trying to do something, and there were people he had defined as his [enemy].

This time, even though Lee Han got himself involved in it…

There will be no second time.

He let Roen off easy today with ‘some beating’ because he wasn’t the type of person he particularly hated, but next time, he wouldn’t be so lenient. Disciple or not, he’d definitely excommunicate him at the very least.

Not just a normal excommunication, but a martial-arts-style excommunication.

This kind of thing usually varies depending on the novel, but usually you’d crush their limbs, veins, and remove their dantian, right?

Or maybe I should try that method. What was it? ‘Breaking the bones and twisting the muscles’?

Honestly, that one sounds easier.

…Is it physically possible, though?

While pondering about the viability of the gruesome punishment of ‘separating flesh and bones,’ his feet didn’t stop to walk. With the availability of potions and troll blood, the punishment seemed like a viable one, and he could turn it into a human dismemberment show while he was at it.

At some point…

“Sir! You’re here.”

“…Ah.”

His aimless footsteps stopped.

Huh, did I really walk all the way here?

He had been walking absentmindedly, but surprisingly, the place where he was currently at was his own home; the small cabin with a large yard.

There, Leila Winter, wearing a maid’s outfit and a bright smile, was waiting for him.

“…Why are you here? What about the banquet?”

Didn’t I tell her to have fun at the banquet? Why is she back home already?

Lee Han tilted his head in confusion, meanwhile, Leila just smiled at him.

“I’m here to hang out with Sir knight!”

“?”

“And also, to hang out with the princess!”

…Only then did he realize that the maid wasn’t the only person waiting for him here.

Tap-!

“You’re late.”

“…”

“What a rude host, making his guest wait like this.”

“…Is that something you have to say to someone who just came back from work?”

Lee Han stared at the woman—who appeared accompanied by the sound of heels—with a dumbfounded look.

The woman whose appearance didn’t fit in with this small cabin at all, Isis, approached him with a proud gait.

“…Also, what about the banquet?”

“This lady was the host, her duty was just to host it and leave so the guests could enjoy the party. That’s basic manners.”

“If that’s the case then go back to the castle…”

“This lady also happens to have a younger sibling to take care of here.”

“…”

“Open your eyes.”

“Seriously…”

She’s just doing whatever she pleases again!

“Leila.”

“Yes, Princess!”

“You have to refer to this lady as Your Majesty, not Princess.”

“Hehehe, yes!”

“…Forget it. Bring out the food and wine…and something for you to eat too.”

“Yes!”

The maid quickly served the food that the princess ordered. It seemed like they had been taking care of this particular matter perfectly while he was out.

Lee Han felt like he was being played by the two women, but…

It isn’t like I can say anything…

He wasn’t a tactless guy, these two women waited for him here to welcome him home, in the house where he had always been alone. There really was nothing for him to complain about.

And now they even held a banquet solely for him. The appropriate thing for him to do here was to sit down at the seat they had prepared for him.

“…You can give me the late housewarming gift now, I’ll accept it.”

“This lady’s presence is already a gift in itself, so be grateful.”

“That’s not how this works.”

“…Oh, shut it, you worthless guy.”

Pak-!

Her fan blew fire the moment she said that. After that, the three of them shared a light glass of white wine.

It wasn’t fancy or grand, but…

“Why does this taste so good?”

“This lady took this wine from the royal wine cellar. It was produced in Britain about 50 years ago, one of the only thousands of bottles produced in this world.”

“So it’s a precious wine.”

“It is. But, anybody can get it for just a few hundred gold coins.”

“…Let’s not talk about that and have a drink.”

It was clearly a very comfortable and leisurely banquet.

The quiet banquet of a knight, princess, and maid continued for quite a while, with the starry night as the background.