Chapter 198: The Knight Rides the Autumn (4)

All the cadets were deeply moved.

“The second semester is finally over…”

“I’m surprised we’re still attending the Academy.”

“Same…”

It’s been almost a year since the first-year started attending the Pendragon Royal Academy. Many of them dropped out because they couldn’t endure the tough Academy schedule for the past year, or were expelled due to poor grades. Most of the commoners—around 50% of them—had already left. Actually, even some of the nobles had left, around 30% of them.

However, as far as the Academy was concerned, even if there were only a hundred cadets out of a thousand that graduated, they’d still fulfill their role as the cradle of great talents well.

Teaching the cadets aside, the real role of the Academy was to pick the best out of them all through competition and trials. So far, they had been carrying out that role well. By now, only the raw and unpolished materials were left as they had filtered the dregs by the sieve; they were the surviving first-years who’d advance to the second-years.

And now, since there were many who got filtered, it meant they had to fill the place up again.

“Huh? Who are they?”

“Outsiders?”

“How did—Ah, right! It’s already that time of the year!”

At the time when the beautifully-shaped clouds floated under the clear autumn sky, the Academy’s entrance exam was about to begin.

“Hoaahm.”

Lee Han covered his mouth and yawned.

He was struggling with boredom.

[-This process of selecting new students this time isn’t simply about accepting new students. It’s also an important process to select the leaders who will lead the kingdom in the future. So I earnestly hope that you all approach it with a firm resolve! Furthermore!]

…It was due to this speech that had already been repeated more than ten times.

Then again, it would be strange if he didn’t get bored after hearing the same thing again and again. In fact, some people in the conference room were nodding off or just shivering from boredom, although none of them fell asleep.

After all, they never know what kind of situation they would end up in if they dared to sleep in front of the dean, the former prime minister.

So, it was only natural that they did their best to focus and stay awake.

Well, in Lee Han’s case…

“…Look over there, Sir Totle is meditating.”

“No way.”

“It looks like he’s floating in the air…”

“Nah, you’re just seeing things. How can someone look so relaxed after meditating for three hours?”

“Y-You think so?”

He used this boring time to train, so it became less boring somewhat.

Although, there were quite a few people who had a good eye for detail here, so they noticed that he was secretly maintaining a meditative posture, but…

Well, they can notice for all they care, I couldn’t care less.

He didn’t cause any damage, he didn’t make anyone uncomfortable with his sweat, and it wasn’t like he didn’t listen to the dean’s words either.

New cadets, huh? Things are going to get more complicated than expected.

When he heard that the Academy would recruit new cadets soon, he began to feel uneasy. It was understandable, after all, right now was a dangerous time when the power-crazy temple fuckers were targetting the students.

And yet, the Academy announced that they’d be recruiting new blood.

It was as if…

Are they trying to present the cadets to the temple on a silver platter? Seriously, what are they thinking?

What he should do right now was to talk to the dean and tell him to stop recruiting new cadets, but…

…I don’t think it will work.

Though Lee Han wasn’t interested in the Academy’s events, he was confident that he knew the basic principles of how the world worked. That was why he knew that he shouldn’t try to stop events like the [entrance exam].

The entrance exam was one of the most important events in the royal capital. Just like how the Academy opened its door to outsiders during the midterm the other day, this entrance exam was also to be open to the public.

In other words, it meant that everyone, whether they were lower-class or noble, would be able to visit the Academy and enjoy all the facilities it had.

Considering that this world was pretty much set in the Middle Ages, where entertainment was overwhelmingly lacking, it would be no surprise if he were to be stoned for trying to stop a big event like this.

Hence why the dean probably had to make the entrance exam happen no matter what, or else he’d risk hurting his own reputation.

…Lee Han did hear that the higher-ups were trying to take a more careful approach this time considering the monster terror attack that occurred during the midterms, but to those who were desperate to have fun, that attack was already a thing of the past.

Also, he heard that the royal family and each noble family would send knights on the day of the entrance exam, so at the very least, they had prepared some safety measures.

“…No matter which world, people are still willing to go to such lengths for entertainment.”

Lee Han gave out his admiration at the thought that they were sending their knights to places where people went out to have fun.

At that moment…

[Oh, and also, Instructor Lee Han.]

“?”

Lee Han looked up, taken aback by the sudden call.

“Did you call me, Dean?”

[Oh, it’s nothing. I couldn’t tell you because you were on vacation and couldn’t attend the last meeting, but you are one of the examiners in charge of the entrance exam.]

“…Me?”

[Yes. You can refuse, of course, but I would really like you to do it if possible.]

“…”

[Naturally, there will be a bonus.]

“Hmm.”

[The amount will be 15%, no, 30%.]

“…Oho.”

[Hehe, I’m glad you are taking it in a positive light.]

The dean let out a kind smile as he said so.

“Kind my foot! That was his sly smile! Why did you let yourself be fooled by him and put yourself into a predicament?!”

The slave—no, Damien Paulet,  grabbed the back of his neck, saying he was going crazy.

“Do you know how much work an examiner has to do?! Not only does he have to guide the students who want to enter the Academy, he also has to grade them. Later, when the exams are over and the scores are released, do you know how many parents will complain about it and rush to you!? Avalons above! It’s scary just thinking about it!! Instructor, you should turn it down right now!”

He fervently advised Lee Han to turn down the job, and his reasoning was solid. Just as he said, a bunch of annoying things would come with the job.

However…

“Is that something you’d need to be angry about? It seems like a lot of work, but it doesn’t seem difficult at all, does it?”

No, actually, it sounds difficult, but like, it isn’t impossible to do.

This guy should know it too, so why is he so mad?

To that question…

“Yes, it’s not impossible to do, but you’re going to dump everything on me, aren’t you?!”

“Of course.”

“…At least hesitate a little before answering. Do you even have a conscience…?”

“Well, I’m bad at lying.”

“Fuck!”

Indeed, the reason why the guy was angry wasn’t because he was worried about Lee Han, but because of a whole different reason.

His own workload would increase.

“I’m already having a hard time because all the interns are gone! Why are you doing this to me!?”

“I already told you that I couldn’t help it. Also, don’t worry, they’re gonna come back later.”

“That’s not the problem, you damn idiot!!”

“…But, there’s still one guy left, isn’t there?”

Swish-!

In the direction where Lee Han was pointing, there was a woman.

“…”

Judia Pierre, the only survivor(?) among the interns.

However, when Damien looked at her…

“She’s the most useless one among them all!! She can’t even do paperwork!!”

It only made him angrier.

No matter how pretty a worker was, if they were incompetent, they’d only be a source of a headache. That was what Judia was to Damien.

“…Wouldn’t she become better at her work if you try teaching her harder?”

“!!?”

Damien’s body froze. Those words were like the most absurd thing he had ever heard in his life, comparable to the likes of, ‘If there’s no bread, why don’t you eat cake?’.

Soon, his face turned red, and…

“Die, you damn monster!”

He took a hammer out of his pocket and rebelled.

Indeed. The guy hid a hammer instead of a sword.

“How refreshing.”

Bam-!

“Euughhhh!”

Of course, Lee Han easily blocked Damien who was running at him.

Though it seemed like he was dealing with a child’s tantrums, there was nothing childish in Damien Paulet’s movements at all. His movements were quick and unpredictable, comparable to that of a skilled knight’s.

“One blow! One proper blow…!”

So, why did he carry a hammer instead of a sword?

Because he wanted to hit the ‘monster’ at least once.

After all, a sword is useless against that monster…!

Whoosh-!

Even when he was buried by the paperwords, Damien never slacked off on his training, and Lee Han thought that as long as he had a goal, his hammer would become more powerful and faster.

At this point, he had become a master of the hammer. It wouldn’t be strange if he achieved a resonance with the hammer soon.

However…

“Your movement is still awkward. The habit formed from your effort in learning the sword still remains.”

“!!?”

There was no way that he’d be able to land a single blow on Lee Han with the Hammer Technique that he had only practiced for two months.

“This is ridiculous, damn it…”

Whoosh!

Damien felt the presence of the palm hitting the back of his head and laughed in vain.

…What a shitty life I have…!

“His skills improved, but why the fuck did he get crazier?”

Lee Han shrugged his shoulders as he watched the passed out guy. His technique was still quite clumsy, but his power was impressive. Even the trio might get hurt if they let their guard down in front of him.

“Anyway, this is why people need to have goals. He became so strong because he wanted to hit me that badly.”

“…”

“Amazing, isn’t it?”

“…My common sense doesn’t allow me to understand that sentiment.”

“It’s because you’re an emotionless fuck.”

“No, I don’t think that’s the case.”

Pierre, the woman who was talking with him, thought that these two had a really strange relationship.

Just where did such peculiar people come from?

At the same time though, she felt sorry for the young cadet, Damien Paulet, who was caught by the monster’s clutches.

However…

-Hey, you should think carefully about why I didn’t hand you over. Keep this in mind. I didn’t let you off easy because you were pretty, but because you were relatively cooperative. If you try to touch my children, even if it’s just a little, I’ll make you regret being alive. Be sure to remember it well!

…She herself was in a really pitiful situation, so she didn’t have the luxury of sympathizing with anyone.

I guess I should learn how to do paperwork a little harder.

The best she could do was to seriously learn how to do the paperwork that she had been neglecting until now.

The reason why Lee Han didn’t hand over the dual personality heretic inquisitor wasn’t due to sympathy, or because he wanted to save Raphael’s face. It was because she was ‘cooperative’, just like he told her.

If the others were potential traitors, she’d hesitate to betray him because of Raphael.

In other words, he kept her alive because she was useful, and when that usefulness wore off…

I could hand her over to Blackie.

He’ll give me quite a price for her, right?

Knowing the guy, he’d be more than willing to spend money, no matter how much, to tear the double-faced girl apart.

If I ever need some quick cash, l’ll hand her over.

For now, he decided to keep her, thinking that he’d get good retirement funds from her. Just like gold bars, if he kept her for a long time, her value would only increase.

As he continued with such pointless thoughts…

“Instructor….”

“?”

“Um, can I consult you about something…?”

“…Of course you can, but… Why did you come out from that place…?”

“Hehehe, because this is a good place to take a picture of you! It’s cozy and comfy here~”

“…”

…That’s not what I’m talking about.

Seeing the Mage Chick emerge from the pond, like a ninja from a cartoon, Lee Han was left speechless.

…As expected of a magic freak, she’s not normal either.