Chapter 223: The Knight Broods over His Defeat (2)

The very next day, the Academy was filled with conversation and discussion regarding the incident that happened throughout the Southern Continent.

“All the temples collapsed, at the same time too… It feels like I’m dreaming.”

“Right? Fortunately, I heard that the terrorists were already caught. Pfft, I can’t believe that they’re just commoners.”

“It’s scary. How could they do such a heinous thing!”

“You couldn’t say that so decisively. After all, they were all victims. It was all one big act of revenge…”

“What? You believe that rumor?”

“I mean, I can’t not believe that. Do you think the temple only wronged one or two people?”

“You!?”

The news of the Great Temple, as well as the other temples getting attacked and burned down spread widely just a day after the attack.

Its spread was so fast that it was unbelievable.

The way the newspapers reported the incident felt like they had known that this incident would happen and had been preparing for it for a while. After all, they managed to list out everything that was related to it—from the circumstances and reason behind the incident, as well as the motive for the terror attack. Of course, the temple’s corruption was also written for everybody’s eyes to feast on.

Due to that, some people exclaimed, ‘This is just a plot against the temple! A conspiracy!’, although there were many who went, ‘This is all true? Ha! I knew it!’.

It wasn’t only commoners who had suffered from the temple’s brutality. Among the nobles and knights, there were also those who had been abused by the priests just because they were poor. Hence why there were plenty of nobles who were aware of the truth of the circumstances or content of the incidents reported in the newspaper.

Even if they didn’t, with their money and free time, it wasn’t hard for them to determine the truth of the articles—they only needed to pay the guilds a visit to double check.

However…

“I challenge you to a duel! How dare you insult the Light!!”

“You are the one who should face the truth! There’s plenty of evidence already, you ignorant fool! The temple is merely an organization that spreads the Light of Brilliance’s teachings, not the Light itself! Moreover, this incident proved they have lost their qualifications as representatives of God!!”

“You bastard-!!”

In the South, especially in Pendragon, more than 80% of the people were followers of the Light of Brilliance, so there were more than plenty of people who got angry whenever they heard someone insulting the temple. They even went as far as throwing gloves to those guys because they genuinely thought that the temple’s sins didn’t warrant such insults.

That wasn’t all. Those who presented the truth and said that the Light of Brilliance and the temple weren’t the same also threw their gloves to those angry people.

These differences in religious views, ideologies, and positions made fights break out all over the Academy. Moreover, this didn’t only happen to the cadets, but also the faculty members like instructors and professors.

Although, to be exact…

“You noble bastards! You are only acting like this because you aren’t the victim! You rotten thing!”

“Whose side are you taking right now?!”

“What are you saying? Did I say something wrong?”

“!?”

Such a thing happened all over the kingdom.

However, there were plenty of faces where such discussions, conflicts, and fights barely occurred, and one of them was:

“…”

[…]

The Academy’s Swordsmanship Department.

“C-Can anyone ask the instructor what’s on his mind?”

“…You’re asking who to do what?”

“The instructor looked upset. Kunta feel anyone who talk to him will die. Just leave him alone.”

“…You’re smart, Kunta.”

“But, Kunta always smart?”

“…”

Well, the truth was, the cadets of the Swordsmanship Department were forced to not discuss the incident.

Funnily enough, there were some cadets who wanted to talk about it, but seeing how their respected teacher was sitting in a very peculiar position while maintaining silence, they kept their mouths shut.

They didn’t know what was going on, but one thing for sure was that he looked really, really upset. Perhaps if they were to open their mouths recklessly, their limbs would be torn apart by him. Hence why they chose the wise option of silencing themselves and diligently practicing their swordsmanship.

In other words, while conflicts broke out throughout the kingdom due to the incident, the hot blooded youths of the Swordsmanship Department maintained a forced peace due to fear.

Proving the saying, peace would only come either from brute force or fear, to be true.

Meanwhile, the person who personally reminded them of this unwise teaching was…

“…”

Sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed.

At that moment…

“Haaa…”

A certain lady who seemed the weakest, but actually had the greatest courage among the 80 cadets approached him.

“M-Master…”

Levy Jeanne d’Arc stepped forward and called out to their instructor.

“What’s wrong?”

However, his answer came a beat late. His voice was unusually subdued, maybe because there were a lot of things going on in his mind.

If it was any other people, they might not have the courage to speak to him again due to the pressure he exuded, but Levy was anything but an ordinary girl.

“…Are you troubled by something?”

“…”

“C-Can I help you with it, Master? I mean, isn’t it painful to bear your trouble all by yourself?”

“…”

“A-Although I doubt that I can give you any advice, I want to share your worries, Master.”

“…”

In an instant, the man who had assumed a meditation pose opened his closed eyes. Then, the corner of his mouth…

“Pfft!”

“D-Don’t laugh! I-I know it sounds funny, but…”

A twisted smile formed.

This reaction of his made Levy feel extremely embarrassed. She was afraid that she might have said something out of the line.

But…

“You’re right. Worries are something that I have to share with someone.”

“…Yes?”

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I think I know what to do now.”

“M-Master?”

Levy looked up at him cautiously, and when he turned his gaze towards her,

“I’m going out. Continue the class with self-learning. Also, leave the rest of the work to Assistant Number 1. Understood?”

“…Y-Yes!”

Levy was able to reply with a bright and vigorous answer. Seeing him finally smiling again, she couldn’t help but feel happy. After all, this was the usual appearance of her master, who could always make her feel more secure than anyone else.

Before long, he disappeared, leaving Levy to look at his back with a warm smile.

“Instructor, today, you have a—huh? Where did he go?”

“He said he has something to do.”

“Something to do?! Hell yes he does! He has a meeting to attend!!”

“Mhm, he told me to ask you to handle the rest of the work, Assistant Damien.”

“…”

“That’s all. I’m off, I need to start my training.”

“…”

Then, Levy went to find a place to pick up her wooden sword.

Like she said, she was thinking of training hard.

I have to be of help to my master!

She was still weak, but she wanted to be able to support his back someday.

Even so, her strong will wasn’t like any other, and anyone would agree that she was as strong as a giant tree.

“Ahh! That damned bastard!! Just once! Let me hit him just once, please-!!”

At that moment, she heard the sad cry of the assistant, who’d be working overtime today. Still swinging her sword, she cheered for him inwardly, but that was all.

After all, she couldn’t let anything get in her way of getting stronger.

Lee Han went straight ahead.

Whoosh-!

With his steps no longer burdened by hesitation, no one could stop him—not that they could, especially after they sensed the spirit he was radiating.

Before he knew it, his steps had gotten faster and his surroundings changed quickly. Before he knew it, he…

Thud-!

“Sir Totle?”

“Long time no see.”

“What business do you have here…?”

“Screw that. I’m going in.”

“Huh?”

“Work hard.”

“Ah…”

According to the rules, the guard—the captain of the guard of the Royal Knight Order who was on duty—had to stop Lee Han from entering. After all, he was temporarily banned from entering the Royal Knight Order due to the brawl that had occurred another day.

However, both the captain and the other guards could only watch him go in.

“Whew!”

He took a deep breath and passed through the royal palace gate in an instant, arriving at his original workplace. The Third Order of the Order of Silver Lion.

As always, there were countless knights stationed there, and the moment they saw Lee Han, they immediately focused their gazes on him.

“What is that guy doing here?”

“???”

“Eek!”

He wasn’t the Rider of Pestilence, but the knights were scared shit when they saw him. Especially those who had been through a lot because of him. However, it was not just them. The new knights who had never seen him before were also trying to avoid his gaze.

Normally, they’d have glared at him trying to pick a fight with him, or he’d have heard them whispering, but they were strangely quiet right now.

Lee Han didn’t feel the need to break this atmosphere either, after all, his close friends, Yord and Jake, weren’t even here at the moment.

“-Heh, are you feeling homesick? Why did you come to see me when I didn’t even call you?”

At that moment, a middle-aged man appeared behind Lee Han. His body looked light as he swayed. At first glance, he looked like he had a weak body that could barely swing a staff, but in truth, no one on this continent would take the middle-aged man lightly.

After all…

“Did I say that I came to see, old man? Aren’t you being too narcissistic?”

“You said that, but you’re exuding such a fierce spirit. Control it a bit. Can’t you see how scared everyone is?”

“…”

“Hehe, you haven’t changed at all, you still won’t listen to me.”

He was none other than Baltar Grace.

The best knight, an idol recognized by the entire continent, a superhuman, a one-man army, an Aura User, and the object of countless fears and respect.

“…Well, it’s just as you said, old man. I came here because I had something to ask you.”

“What’s with your spirit, then?”

“Well, I need to hear some answers today, but I also want to relieve my pent-up feelings.”

“What a cocky bastard.”

“My bad, I’ll apologize later. But I can’t help it. I think I’ll have a qi backlash if I keep holding these feelings back.”

“What’s that?”

“Uh… It means I’m going crazy.”

“I see… Hehehe, it seems like you are quite troubled.”

Baltar let out a wry smile at Lee Han. It was such a kind smile that would make people think that he’d give him some pocket money after, but instead of that, he…

“Just like the old saying, a cure to crazy mad dogs is the whip.”

Thump-!

Fed him a light punch.

It was a really light-looking punch and it seemed like he was just hitting him normally.

Boom-!

However, the result that the punch created was by no means light.

Crumble-!

“R-Run away!”

“T-This is crazy!”

Lee Han’s body flew away. Like a windmill, it spun dozens of times per second.

Boom-!

Only after hitting the wall did his body stop.

In the meantime, Baltar who had done something so absurd that it seemed physically impossible snickered.

“Seems like you really wanted to come to your senses. You got hit on purpose.”

“…Huh?”

That stupid reaction came from God knows who.

In the next moment…

Crumble-!

…The wall was destroyed and a loud cracking sound covered the whole place.

Cough-!

The knights instinctively stepped back.

Step-!

Step-!

The sight of ‘it’, walking out with its eyes shining menacingly while breaking down the wall was reminiscent of a wild beast…

To be exact, an unbelievably ferocious, crazy beast that was impossible to control.

And that beats…

“I’m going to give my all today.”

Crackle-!

Let out those words in human language and exuded something that seemed like a tangible spirit made of Combat Power from all over his body.

Seeing this, Baltar…

“When did you not give it your all when fighting me?”

Just waved his hand.

Gesturing to him that he could come at him anytime.

At that moment, the beast, who looked so relaxed, laughed fiercely.

As if it was thinking that coming here was the right thing to do.

Boom-!

Then, the beast that could even break down a castle wall rushed toward the superhuman.