Chapter 207: The Knights’ Nightly Activities (1)

“Come home right away after work, okay, Dad?”

“Are you leaving already, Dad…?”

“Dad, you said you’re gonna play with me today!”

“Tsk…”

The children were at the age when they wanted nothing but to play all the time, hence why they were whining like that to their dad. Meanwhile, the man who had been called ‘dad’ by those kids was just scratching his cheek in embarrassment.

He hadn’t been able to pay attention to them due to him being busy in these past few days and he felt sorry for them.

At that moment…

“You silly little ones. Daddy isn’t going to play, he’s going to work. Are you going to keep whining?”

The reinforcement came out at the right time, suppressing the children’s whining.

“Honey…”

“You should be more firm with them. Tell them to listen to Daddy!”

“But, I feel sorry for them…”

“You can always play with them next time. Oh, right, the streets are dangerous these days, so be careful. The newspaper said that the royal family and the temple are fighting again.”

“…Okay, okay.”

“No need to answer me twice! Now, hurry up and go to work!”

“…Okay.”

Listening to his wife’s nagging that was mixed with encouragement, the man let out a bitter smile and went to work for his strong supporters—the lovely angel, and the three baby angels sent to him by God.

He was but an ordinary man who was called by various names—father, husband, and head of household.

Indeed. He was one of the heads of an ordinary household that could be seen anywhere, and he stepped out into the world with diligent steps today.

Of course, the work that would welcome him today would also be tough and difficult, but he felt that he could endure it.

After all, he was a father.

“I heard you guys visited that girl.”

“Huh?”

“Hayes. I heard you guys visited her.”

“Oh, her?”

Ahaha…

Derrick let out a wry laugh.

Now that he thought about it, he and the other two cadets had probably done too much to her.

-Hmm…

-She seems a little strange…?

-She IS strange.

-You crazy guys! What are you doing…

What he meant by the ‘other two cadets’ were Miss Irene and Young Master Roen. For some reason, they went to meet Hayes—who was known to the world as a spy and a heretic—at the same time, even though they hadn’t planned anything beforehand.

As soon as she saw them, she bared her teeth and growled in the dark room where she was confined. Unlike the day before, she looked completely worn out, and behavior was similar to that of an animal’s.

Even though she had been tortured and interrogated by Pierre, her willpower was still strong, and she was still able to bare her teeth with a ferocity that was no less than a beast’s. Even a decent man would be scared and back away because of her.

However, the three of them…

-She’s this kind of person?

-…She definitely wasn’t like this before.

-Where did it all go wrong, I wonder?

…Didn’t even care if she was a wild beast, or a stray that had rabies.

-You! How dare you mock me! Do you know who I am?

Naturally, her fierce demeanor didn’t work on them at all.

On the contrary, they just tilted their heads as if they were evaluating a rare animal in a cage. If there was one thing they had in common, it was that they were staring at Hayes Roche with eyes that seemed like they were evaluating her.

After they finished observing her to some extent…

-Haaa…

They let out sighs of disappointment. It was like when someone was expecting to see a panda when they went into a zoo, but ended up only seeing a person in a panda suit.

And of course…

-…She’s not the one, I think.

– Aaaahhhhh!!

That made Hayes Roche scream at them with bloodshot eyes, who knows if it was due to stress or illness.

Even though the three of them had accomplished what the heretic inquisitor’s severe torture and interrogation couldn’t accomplish, the three of them just tilted their heads in confusion.

…That happened exactly half a day ago.

“News travels quickly to your ears, Instructor.”

“Well, Redhead told me how impressed she was by you guys.”

“A-Ahem…”

Derrick coughed dryly in embarrassment. But Lee Han just shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t mean to nag him about it, but it seemed like his words made him feel guilty.

He then snorted and soon changed the subject.

“But why did you come here alone? I thought the other two would also be here.”

“…Ah, they are occupied right now. Young Master Roen went to Lionel Mansion, and Miss Irene was forcibly dragged to Galahad Mansion. Since she almost got hurt, I think His Excellency the Duke is trying to take care of her.”

“…You’re still using honorifics when talking about them? Didn’t you three become close?”

Aren’t they comrades who fought together at the Magic Tower? Why is their relationship like this?

“W-Well, there’s nothing I can do. I had struck a deal with Young Master Roen, but it’s just a partnership, we aren’t that close. And, my relationship with Miss Irene is a little awkward…”

“Didn’t any camaraderie bloom between you guys?”

“No?”

“Shame.”

“R-Rather than talking about me, let me tell you more about Hayes Roche’s true identity, Instructor. Her real name is Susan, and she was kicked out from a mountain village eight years ago.”

“Changing the subject, aren’t you?”

He wanted to tease the status window guy a bit more before letting him change the subject so abruptly like that, but he decided to move on since the new topic sounded interesting to him.

“She was kicked out of her hometown?”

“Yes. She was the daughter of the village chief, and from what I know, she was well known for her villainous tendencies. Because of her, the villagers suffered considerable damage, so, after the village chief died of old age, they joined forces to kick her out.”

The power of the heretic inquisitor’s special confession poison was powerful indeed. It hadn’t been long since the incident happened, but they already managed to finish the background investigation.

“It was also said that shortly after being kicked out, she set fire to the village in revenge. Not long after, she was caught by soldiers for arson, but later disappeared while on her way to the Tunnel…”

“Was she kidnapped by the extremist then?”

“That’s right.”

After that, the story took on a cliched turn.

In addition to the woman named Susan, there were countless others who were kidnapped by the extremists. They were injected with the duke’s and the Dream Demon’s genes from an unknown source, and Susan was one of the women who beat the side effects and survived.

“It is presumed that she underwent some kind of brainwashing. The brainwashing content was ‘I am a special person, and I will one day become the princess and saintess of this Kingdom’.”

“…So that’s how Susan became Hayes Roche?”

“The way they forged her identity was also quite notable. If you weren’t there, Instructor, no one would’ve known that she was a spy created by the temple and she would’ve infiltrated the Academy without any hitch. If that were to happen… Honestly, I don’t dare to speculate just how much of a mess would’ve happened.”

Just imagining it already made Derrick shiver.

But, Lee Han criticized him, thinking that he was just overreacting.

“You are exaggerating.”

“I’m not exaggerating or flattering you, Instructor. I’m just stating the facts. You’ve prevented a crack from forming in Pendragon. Well, it seems like because of that, you got involved in a troublesome matter rather than getting a reward that you liked…”

“…”

“…Do you hate it that much?”

“Of course I do. I’ve turned into a clown now.”

Tsk!

Lee Han clicked his tongue strongly.

A day ago, when Lee Han heard about the Exemption from Raphael, he felt cheated. The moment he heard that the temple would award him with something, he felt this strong sense of rejection.

It was understandable, after all…

“I was just living quietly…”

He wondered why he never heard celebrities saying that they wanted to live a life where they had a lot of money but didn’t get any attention. Also, he had no desire to become famous like those attention-seekers.

Instead, what he wanted to say was, ‘I’m an introvert!’.

Regardless, his quiet life seemed to be ending due to the temple, and he couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable and disgusted at the guy who planned this whole thing.

“I want to see what kind of guy they are…”

However right now, he could only ground his teeth.

“…Do you think there is an ‘individual’ behind the temple? You don’t think that this is all the temple’s doing alone, Instructor?”

“There is no way those incompetent guys who only do things like selling out God’s name can be this smart.”

“…”

“There is someone behind them for sure. A competent guy who gave out the orders to those incompetent fucks.”

Whoever he is, he must be really fucking smart and persistent.

“He’s probably someone like Jeong Dojeon, or maybe Han Myeonghwi?”

“…What’s the difference between the two?”

“One is a thinker and revolutionary who wants to turn the country upside down, and the other is an ambitious guy who doesn’t hesitate to attack the king for power.”

“You seem to think very highly of that mysterious individual…”

“I have to think highly of that guy. After all, I can’t even read his next move.”

“…”

“Even my gut feeling couldn’t predict what kind of move he would make next. He’s too relentless.”

He must be someone who was used to coming up with impromptu schemes, not someone who thought long and hard about it. Hence why he could overturn the table before Lee Han or the others could even step forward.

Because of that…

“Should I also try to overturn the board?”

“How?”

“It’s easy. What I need to do is…”

“I’m asking just in case, Instructor. You’re not thinking of doing something like ‘destroying all the temple guys on the day you’re awarded, then emigrating to another place’, right?”

“…”

Rustle-! Rustle-! Rustle-!

“…I’m going crazy.”

Lee Han’s assistant, Damien Paulet, felt his blood pressure rise as he met the innocent—or rather beastly, eyes that seemed as if they were asking, ‘Can’t I?’.

That was what this guy was like.

“…Haa, Instructor, an Exemption isn’t something that allows you to commit a crime and be forgiven. It’s just a symbol! If you actually use it, you’ll be punished by the heavens!”

“Really?”

“Exemptions are made from [relics], the remains or relics of Saints or Saintesses. Receiving those Exemptions is nothing more than a form of honor. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that there’s actually no one who used it!”

“Weren’t they made to be used?”

“Still, you aren’t supposed to use them! They’re just relics, relics!! Just having them has the effect of repelling most curses, spells, and magic. People even call them ‘extra life’! Do you still want to use them after knowing that?”

“Yes.”

“…Can’t you think about it a little before you answer?”

“I thought about it.”

“You thought about it for 5 seconds! Five seconds!!”

As usual, Lee Han teased Damien Paulet to the point that he went berserk with his hammer like a berserker. However, just like his other attempts, Lee Han easily subdued him. The only difference was that it took him a minute longer than usual to subdue him, it was a clear proof that Damien’s skills had improved significantly.

“D-Damn it…!”

Although from Damien’s perspective—who hadn’t been able to hit him even once—he didn’t feel like his skills had improved.

While panting and groaning as he was still lying on the floor, he suddenly opened his mouth.

“…I know you quite well, Instructor—No, I guess it would be more accurate to say that I got to know you by force.”

“?”

“I know that you have little sense of belonging to Pendragon. Lately, you’ve grown attached to Pendragon because of my classmates, but even so, I think you still could abandon them and disappear like the wind. No one would be surprised if you actually do that too.”

“Quite the perceptive one, aren’t you?”

“Dammit. I am just trying to survive living under you, Instructor. I need to be perceptive to do that, you know?!”

“Hmm.”

“Phew! Anyway, that’s what I want to say. I know you think you can just leave this kingdom whenever you want, but my classmates and others need you. Please think hard with that strong head and make a decision!”

“…Are you trying to give me advice or just trying to annoy me?”

“I already hate myself for doing this, so just let me off with it, damn it!”

“…”

As expected, this guy’s also not right in the head.

Lee Han shook his head and clicked his tongue. Then, he turned around and walked into the house.

Still…

“Rascal. He has grown so much.”

…A smile bloomed on his face.

He felt a special feeling that could only be felt by someone who had successfully raised someone else.

I don’t want to leave this place either, you punk.

Unlike in the past, he had grown ‘attached’. However, even if he didn’t want to leave, the world kept pushing him in that direction for some reason.

Hence why…

Creak-!

…He decided to do something a little bold.

Swish-!*

Lee Han took out a black mask from a corner of his drawer.

The black mask he had promised himself not to take out ever again.

“Just this one last time… Let me do it, this one last time…”

Holding the black mask in his hands, he prayed devoutly.

Of course he didn’t pray to God.

Instead…

“Spring Fairy, please allow me to be ‘Righteous Thief’ again this one last time.”

After he prayed to the Spring Fairy, who had a little connection to himself, he wore the mask.

Indeed. He decided to use the skills that he had learned.