Ch.198EP.45 – The Knight Get Autumn Blues (4)

The students felt a unique sense of nostalgia.

“Second semester is already ending.”

“I find it amazing that we’re still attending the academy.”

“Same here.”

It was approaching the time when first-year students had been attending the Pendragon Royal Academy for nearly a year.

During this past year, many had either voluntarily withdrawn, unable to endure the academy’s rigorous schedule, or been expelled due to poor academic performance.

Among commoners, about half had already left, and even among nobles, around 30% had departed.

Even if a thousand students enrolled, having a hundred remaining at graduation would still make it an exceptional cradle of talent.

Beyond just teaching, the academy’s role was to identify the finest talents through competition and trials, and so far, it had been fulfilling this role admirably.

In reality, now that the unrefined gems had been filtered out, the surviving first-years only had to advance to their second year.

And as many had left, didn’t they need to be replaced?

“Huh? Who are those people?”

“Outsiders?”

“How did they… Oh! Come to think of it, it’s already that time of year!”

It was autumn, with beautifully shaped clouds drifting across the clear sky.

The entrance examination to admit new students to the academy was about to begin.

*

*

*

“Yaaawn.”

Ihan covered his mouth as he yawned.

He was yawning from struggling against boredom.

[-The process of selecting new students is not simply about admitting new cadets. It’s a crucial process for selecting the pillars who will lead the kingdom. So I sincerely hope everyone approaches this with firm resolve! Furthermore!]

…A speech that had continued for over ten times already.

It would be strange if anyone wasn’t bored by the same repertoire being repeated. In fact, some in the conference room were nodding off or shuddering from boredom, but no one was completely asleep. After all, no one knew what would happen if they dared to take a nap in front of the Headmaster, or rather, the former Chancellor.

It was only natural to maintain focus with a sense of tension.

Well, for Ihan…

“…Look there, isn’t Lord Turtle in a horse stance right now?”

“No way.”

“He seems to be floating in the air…”

“Must be your imagination. Besides, how could someone maintain a horse stance for three hours and still look so comfortable?”

“I-Is that so?”

He was simply treating this boring time as training, which made it somewhat less tedious.

There were quite a few people with sharp eyes.

They had noticed that he was maintaining a horse stance, trying to do it without anyone noticing.

‘It’s not like I need to be nervous just because they noticed.’

He wasn’t causing any harm, wasn’t creating discomfort with body odor, and he wasn’t ignoring the Headmaster’s speech either.

‘…New students, this might get more complicated than I thought.’

Ihan felt some uneasiness at the mention of recruiting new students.

It was understandable, given that those power-hungry temple people were targeting disciples during this dangerous period.

Yet during such times, they were suddenly opening the academy to recruit new students?

This was like…

‘It’s not like they’re advertising “come and get kidnapped”…’

Should he perhaps speak to the Headmaster now and try to stop the recruitment of new students?

‘…That wouldn’t work, would it?’

Although Ihan generally showed no interest in academy events, he prided himself on understanding how the world worked.

So he knew that he shouldn’t interfere with academy events like the “Entrance Examination.”

The entrance exam was one of the most important events in the royal capital.

Just as they had opened the academy to outsiders for the midterm evaluation the day before, this entrance exam would also be conducted in an open state.

This meant that everyone, whether commoners or nobles, would visit the academy to enjoy the event.

In the medieval era, where entertainment was severely lacking, stopping such a big event would be worthy of being stoned.

The Headmaster probably had to hold the entrance exam no matter what, even for his own safety.

…Although there had been talk about being careful due to the monster terror attack during the midterm evaluation, for people desperate for entertainment, the terror was already ancient history.

From what he’d heard, knight orders from the royal family and noble houses would be dispatched on the day of the entrance exam, so security measures were in place.

“…I guess people are serious about having fun no matter what world it is.”

Ihan found it almost admirable how they were so dedicated to entertainment that they would even mobilize knight orders.

Just then.

[Ah, and Instructor Ihan.]

“?”

Startled by the sudden call, Ihan raised his head.

“Did you call for me?”

[Ah, it’s nothing major. Since you were on vacation during the meeting, I couldn’t tell you, but you’re one of the examiners for the entrance exam.]

“…Me?”

[Yes. You can refuse, but I’d really appreciate it if you could do it,]

“……”

[I’ll pay you a bonus.]

“Hmm.”

[15%, no, 30% increase.]

“…Oh.”

[Hehe, I’ll take that as a positive response.]

The Headmaster smiled benevolently.

* * *

“Benevolent my foot! That was a cunning smile like a raccoon’s, and why did you fall for it and create extra work for yourself!”

The slave instructor, no, Damian Pollet, grabbed the back of his neck in frustration.

“Do you know how much work an examiner has to do? Not only escorting entrance applicants, but also grading them directly. And when the scores are revealed after the exam, parents will come rushing in with complaints… Ugh! It’s terrifying just thinking about it! Instructor, refuse it now while you still can!”

Damian was passionately advising him to refuse the examiner position, and it sounded somewhat convincing.

Indeed, as he said, it seemed like there would be many annoying tasks.

However.

“But is it really worth getting so worked up about? It looks like there’s a lot of work, but it doesn’t seem that difficult?”

It was certainly challenging work, but if asked whether it was unreasonable, it didn’t appear so.

He wasn’t the type to not understand such simple things, so why was Damian acting this way?

To that question.

“It’s not unreasonable. But you’re going to make me do everything!!”

“Of course.”

“…Could you hesitate for even a second before answering? Don’t be so direct…”

“I’m not good at lying.”

“Damn it!”

The reason the assistant was getting heated wasn’t out of concern for Ihan.

He was worried solely about his own workload increasing.

“I’m already dying from all the work since all the interns disappeared! Why are you doing this to me?”

“I couldn’t help it. And don’t worry. Those who are meant to return will come back eventually.”

“That’s not the issue, you hopeless man!!”

“…But there’s still one left, right?”

Swish.

Ihan pointed to where a woman stood.

“……”

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

However, looking at her.

“Only the most useless one is left! She’s terrible at paperwork!”

She only fueled Damian Pollet’s anger.

No matter how pretty an incompetent worker might be, they were just a source of stress for the assistant.

In that sense, Judia Pierre was nothing but a stress inducer.

“…Well, couldn’t you just work a bit harder?”

“!!?”

Like someone who had just heard the infamous statement ‘If there’s no bread, why don’t they eat cake?’ right in front of them, Damian froze, then his face turned red…

“Die, you damn monster!”

The assistant pulled out a hammer from his chest and committed insubordination.

Carrying a hammer rather than a knife in his chest.

“That’s creative.”

Thwack!

“Arghhhh!”

Ihan easily blocked his charge.

It looked like he was dealing with a child’s play, but Damian Pollet’s movements were far from childlike.

Rather, they were quick and versatile enough to remind one of a skilled knight.

“Just one hit! Just one proper hit…!”

Why did he carry a hammer instead of a knife in his chest?

He had changed weapons to land at least one proper hit on that monster.

After all, knives were useless against that monster anyway!

Whoosh!

Even during paperwork, he hadn’t neglected his training, and with a clear goal, his hammer was bound to be more intense and swift.

He was truly a master of the hammer.

It wouldn’t be strange if he achieved resonance with the hammer soon, but.

Thud.

“Still too amateurish. The habits from sword training remain strong.”

“!!?”

Landing a hit on him with hammer techniques learned for just over two months was a distant dream, and Damian Pollet…

“This is ridiculous, damn it…”

Whack!

He laughed emptily as he sensed the palm hitting the back of his head.

What a miserable life.

“Why is this guy getting crazier even though his skills have improved?”

Ihan shrugged as he looked at the unconscious fellow.

Though his hammer handling was amateurish, his power was impressive.

Even the trio might be in trouble if they let their guard down.

“This is why people need goals. He’s getting stronger because he wants to hit the back of my head.”

“……”

“Isn’t that admirable?”

“…I can’t understand it with my common sense.”

“That’s because you lack sensitivity.”

“I don’t think that’s it.”

Pierre, who was responding, thought they truly had an abnormal relationship.

Where could such peculiar people exist?

But she did feel sorry.

For the young student Damian Pollet, who was caught up with such a person.

However.

– Hey, you should think about why I didn’t hand you over. I didn’t keep you around because you’re pretty, but because you’re somewhat cooperative. Remember, if you try to touch any of our kids, I’ll make you regret being alive. Without fail!

…She was in a pitiful situation herself, so she wasn’t in a position to sympathize with others.

‘I should learn paperwork more diligently.’

It seemed like the time had come to seriously learn the paperwork she had been half-heartedly studying.

* * *

The reason Ihan hadn’t handed over the dual-personality Inquisitor wasn’t out of sympathy or because of Raphael.

As he said, it was because she was “cooperative.”

While the others were all potential traitors, this one knew to hesitate, if only out of consideration for Cardinal Raphael.

In other words, she was kept alive because she was useful, and if that usefulness ended…

‘Should I sell her to the Dark King for a high price?’

He would probably pay well.

From what he could guess, the Dark King was someone who would want to tear that dual-personality person to pieces, no matter how much money it cost.

‘I’ll hand her over if I need quick cash.’

He decided to keep her for now, possibly as a retirement fund for later.

Just as gold becomes more valuable with time, perhaps her value would increase if kept for a while.

As he continued with these frivolous thoughts.

“Instructor…”

“?”

“Um, I have something to consult about…”

“I can help, but… why are you emerging from there?”

“Hehe, it’s a good spot for filming. Quite cozy here.”

“……”

…That wasn’t the issue.

Ihan was at a loss for words as he watched the magician chick emerge from the pond like a ninja from a comic.

…As expected of a spellcaster, this one wasn’t normal either.