Ch.18EP.6 – On a Moonlit Night (1)

Looking at the outcome, the situation ended rather inconclusively.

If we were to assign blame, it would be endless, and according to knightly code, either the vice-captain should die or the one who ran his mouth disrespectfully should die, but the Count’s family wouldn’t just let that happen.

Yet even if Ihan wanted to make a scene deliberately, as someone who had just been appointed as an instructor, he had certain boundaries to maintain.

The incident somehow concluded while everyone was stuck in this impasse.

With nothing actually resolved.

And there was someone who found this ambiguous state extremely displeasing.

None other than.

“You caused quite a spectacular commotion.”

Isis put down the newspaper and moistened her throat with a slightly chilled beverage.

A picture-perfect appearance.

Anyone watching might think she was posing for a photoshoot, but this was simply her daily routine.

She was undeniably a woman whose everyday life resembled a photoshoot.

However, those who knew her well would recognize the slight displeasure hidden within those photogenic gestures.

“…Please don’t scold me too much. I already got scolded by the Dean.”

And sitting across from her, slightly turning his head while offering excuses that weren’t really excuses, was a man.

Ihan, who occupied the front page of today’s newspaper, drank his beverage as if burning inside.

“Hoho, Sir Ihan’s character is showing.”

“Yes, it’s so cool!”

Meanwhile, oblivious to Ihan’s feelings, Albert and Leira kept brightening their eyes while looking at the photo in the newspaper, forcing Ihan’s bitter smile to grow longer.

Anyway, this world is medieval yet strangely has many technologically advanced elements.

Like cameras.

‘When was this taken?’

These barbaric medieval journalists have absolutely no respect for portrait rights.

…Makes me want to smash them all.

* * *

[Shocking Incident: Violent Outbreak at the Royal Academy?!]

[Is the Count’s Family Turning Against the Royal Family?]

[Could This Be a Message from the Abandoned Lion to the Silver Lion-]

Riiip!

“Look at this?”

About half of the newspaper’s content was devoted to criticizing Ihan and tearing him down.

Some of it was too vulgar to even mention.

It seems they agreed to criticize him instead of the Count, fearing the consequences.

…Those bastards.

“Hoho, if Sir Ihan’s reputation had been better known, such things wouldn’t have happened. That’s rather unfortunate.”

“It’s not like I deliberately controlled it. If they misunderstand and don’t believe the information on their own, what can I do?”

“That’s true as well.”

Some might find it strange.

Although Ihan came from common origins, he is ‘nonetheless’ a war veteran and a talented individual who made it into the knighthood despite his humble birth.

Above all, he’s a knight personally selected by ‘the’ Baltar Grace.

This alone should have made him a remarkable talent in a position that couldn’t be casually challenged.

Yet journalists, and not just journalists but others too, treated him with contempt, creating an absolutely absurd situation.

Unfortunately, people are unaware of Ihan’s “achievements.”

The reason being:

“They don’t believe it. Most cases involve denying Sir Ihan’s very existence.”

Surprisingly, this country doesn’t believe in anything Ihan has done.

No, “denial” would be the more accurate expression.

The fact that he’s a war veteran?

He’s just a common soldier who luckily survived the war.

The fact that he was personally selected by Baltar Grace?

The royal upper echelons blocked this information from spreading.

Why?

Simple.

The high-ranking officials don’t want a “second” Baltar to emerge.

They don’t want another superhuman they can’t control.

For these reasons, his extraordinary combat abilities aren’t well-known either.

Of course, sometimes people would boast about Ihan’s exceptional abilities while drunk or as a joke, but surprisingly…

-He defeated knights without learning combat techniques? …What nonsense is this?

-Is he from a fallen noble family? Or perhaps a descendant of a destroyed kingdom? Nothing at all? Just a commoner, you say? Clearly he became a knight through some underhanded means.

-A knight who subdued all knights from prestigious families? Haha, what an amusing story. It would make for entertaining material to sell to a minstrel.

Thus, no matter how much Ihan’s story was publicized, few believed it.

Think about it.

How could someone without noble blood or combat techniques be strong enough to fight against aura users?

This was why extremely few people believed when told about him.

Consequently, rumors about Ihan were dismissed as false, and his reputation naturally faded away.

If Ihan had been a knight desperate for fame and ambitious for success, things might have been different.

For example, even now he could visit renowned swordsmanship families, challenge them to duels, and prove himself in public.

Just as warriors gain fame through jousting and sword tournaments.

However.

‘Why would I do something like that?’

Ihan had no desire to become a spectacle, nor any ambition for fame and power.

If he had any wish, it would be to acquire enough strength that no one could oppress him.

In other words, he felt it more efficient to spend time becoming “the real deal” rather than seeking fame.

Of course, this was just his personal value system, not something to impose on others.

…Well, because of that.

“What a truly wretched value system.”

“…We call this romanticism.”

“Does romanticism put food on your table?”

“…Hmm.”

Some might find it incomprehensible.

Having unintentionally become a “strength-hider,” Ihan smiled bitterly, while Isis frowned in disapproval.

* * *

He was aware that he had caused a major incident.

Perhaps he made it even bigger because he was a bit irritated.

However.

“If I hadn’t done that, they would have looked down on me even more. If I appear weak, it would be difficult to probe the surveillance targets I need to approach.”

“…”

“I admit I went a bit overboard. So please stop being angry.”

Ihan was making an effort to improve Isis’s mood.

He wouldn’t normally go this far, but she was his sponsor after all.

…He even brought 2% pure ambrosia.

Despite his attempts to appease her, she wasn’t easily pacified.

‘Wait, I’m the one being criticized, so why is this lady acting like this?’

As he began to find the situation strange, she struck her chest as if frustrated.

“Do you think I’m angry because of that?”

“…Pardon?”

A suddenly cold tone.

Ihan was bewildered by the unexpected question.

“There are two reasons for my anger. One is that a mere second son of a Count, not even a Count himself, insulted my sworn brother. The other is that I feel contempt for the filthy press that portrays my sworn brother as a dishonorable person without even properly investigating the situation! Lower than the plague-!”

“…Hmm.”

It was an extremely aristocratic way of speaking, and somewhat awkward for someone of common birth to hear, but it wasn’t entirely unpleasant since she was defending him.

What’s gotten into this sister?

“Hmph, when my person is insulted, it means I myself am being insulted. Allowing this would be a humiliation to the royal family! How could I not be angry?”

“…Ah, so that’s what it was?”

I see, she’s not angry because I was insulted, but because her own prestige was diminished.

…That makes more sense.

Ihan nodded once, thinking he should have known, and decided to correct a couple of things.

“Let me correct two things in your statement. First, other people don’t know about our friendship. Second, I’m not ‘your person.’ Anyway, you’re not the one being insulted, so please stop being angry. You’re scaring me.”

“…Impertinent.”

“Where would you find someone as humble as me?”

“…”

“Stop glaring at me.”

If looks could kill, she would have thrown dozens of daggers at him.

That’s how intense and fierce her gaze was.

After some time had passed.

Suddenly, she said:

“What do you want done with the Count?”

“…?”

“If you wish, I’ll have him killed. Or I could strip him of his position. Tell me what you want.”

“…What nonsense are you talking about?”

“This is not nonsense.”

A frost-like chill emanated from her eyes.

“You are fulfilling my ‘request.’ It’s unacceptable for problems to arise so early. I am extremely displeased and wish for this to be resolved quickly.”

“…”

Because she feels displeased, she wants this displeasure resolved quickly.

Power and strength, honor and authority.

Only someone closest to the pinnacle of all these things could make such a statement.

And now, if Ihan were to ask for help, everything would be accomplished.

He has essentially earned the right to wield a demon sword.

Therefore.

“Here, drink some water and come to your senses. Your eyes are rolling back right now.”

“…I’m not in the mood for jokes.”

“Neither am I. So let me be serious. Just stay put. Don’t interfere and disrupt the ecosystem.”

“…Are you saying I’m a hindrance?”

“Yes.”

“…Insolent fellow.”

A firm and sharp response.

She felt her anger dissipating because of such firmness.

This impertinent sworn brother…!

“Didn’t you say you’d leave everything entirely to me? Then that’s the end of it. I’ve made enemies with the Count’s family because of this incident? Then so be it. If they pick a fight again, I’ll fight back, and if it gets too much, I’ll run away, that’s all.”

“…You?”

“Though I’ll probably be destroying everything related to the Count’s family while on the run.”

“…”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…How can I not be astonished when you boldly declare before me that you’ll erase an entire royalist family?”

“Ah, was that gentleman a royalist? Well, I suppose all knightly families are royalists.”

He recalled that the Count he met the previous day was quite an accomplished knight.

“…You didn’t even know that?”

“I wasn’t interested. Anyway, I’ve made my position clear. So just stay put.”

“…Sigh.”

Isis always felt like she was being held back when talking with him.

Was it because she made him her sworn brother, or was she strangely soft on him?

Whatever the case, truly.

‘What an interesting fellow.’

A being who brings unexpected vitality to her monotonous life.

Isis, secretly pleased with his existence beyond her control, smirked and said:

“-Very well. Since you’ve spoken so impertinently, I shall refrain from further interference. I will no longer observe.”

However.

“If you consider someone an enemy, make sure to end them decisively. This sister has never spared an enemy. If you’re my brother, you should show at least that much spirit.”

“We call that the way of domination.”

“The path of a king is indeed the way of domination.”

“…I always think you’re the most dangerous one.”

“Hoho, what a pleasing thing to say.”

Smack.

She hit his head with her fan once more, and at some point.

Swoosh.

“Until next time.”

Like snow melting in sunlight, Isis vanished in an instant.

The only proof she had been there was the puddle soaking the floor.

“…She’s the real mastermind here.”

“I’ll clean it up!”

“…Maid, it would be more helpful if you stayed still.”

“Huh?”

“…Just clean it up.”

“Yes!!”

Making someone with such an innocent mind understand is quite difficult.

How do I know?

…I didn’t want to know. But I found out while interacting with this maid.

“…Does the old man not disappear like that?”

“Hoho, how could an old man like me waste the mysteries of magic?”

“Isn’t it that you don’t need magic?”

“Hoho.”

…Just as I thought.

Ihan shook his head as he watched the maid who was about to cry after slipping while cleaning the puddle, and the butler who disappeared stealthily as if melting into the shadows.

He shouldn’t be saying this, but the more he saw them.

‘If I’m from an evil sect, then these people are from a demonic cult, truly demonic.’

Somehow, the royal family seemed to be filled with more bizarre people than himself, who had undergone human experimentation.