Ch.26EP.8 – The Knight Has Acquired an Assistant (2)

# Squire is a notorious custom.

Why notorious?

Simple. Because it’s a custom of unfathomable unreasonableness.

It started as a title given to disciples taken in by free knights, but in this day and age, who would become a disciple of a free knight?

They’re called free knights, but they’re nothing more than thugs and criminals.

However, naive boys from rural villages are easily deceived by free knights promising to take them as disciples.

And so begins a life of slavery in all but name.

Cleaning, laundry, cooking are just the basics.

They must earn money for the knight’s entertainment, and sometimes even take out high-interest loans for the knight’s “maintenance of dignity.”

All in the squire’s name, of course.

This is why most squires end up as debtors.

Naturally, most flee before becoming debtors, but some cannot escape.

Free knights are still knights after all, and being thugs, they have no qualms about killing people.

That’s why the free knight system was abolished.

There are no villains quite like these villains.

Yet strangely, the squire system was never abolished.

According to the nobles, it was the free knights who were at fault, not the knights from prestigious houses.

…What bullshit.

The knights from prestigious houses I’ve seen, and the squires they keep, treated worse than servants…

No, I’ve seen them treated like slaves countless times.

That’s why whenever I met some ignorant lamb hoping to become a squire, I gladly taught them:

‘It’s not what you think it is.’

But.

‘What does it mean when someone who knows all this still wants to become a squire?’

Option 1: He’s insane.

Option 2: He’s a pervert who enjoys pain and suffering.

Option 3: Or both.

…Hmm, difficult.

A difficult question indeed.

So.

“…Where should I hit you?”

“Pardon?”

“Where should I hit you to fix you? Think seriously and tell me. Since I seem to have broken you, I’ll gladly repair you.”

“……”

Crack, crack.

Ihan loosely clenched his fist, preparing to hit either the back or front of the guy’s head.

If hitting him with the lectern yesterday was the problem, he could try a different approach.

He threw the lectern with a curve ball, so maybe this time he should throw a slider?

Though their relationship was antagonistic, this guy was still part of the Swordsmanship Department.

Even as a nominal instructor, didn’t he have a duty to set this student’s mind straight?

‘If it doesn’t work, so be it.’

As Ihan was casually looking around for a suitable rock, the guy still kneeling:

“Th-that’s not it, sir. I-I think there’s a misunderstanding. I’m not crazy!”

“You’re not crazy but you’re doing this? …Isn’t that more problematic?”

“W-well…”

Seeming to realize his explanation sounded rather pathetic, Damian was at a loss for words.

Then.

“I-I think I misspoke.”

In his haste, he had mentioned becoming a squire without explaining the circumstances, so he couldn’t complain about this treatment.

Humbly acknowledging this, Damian added further explanation.

“My father, I mean, the head of my house ordered me to serve Lord Rihan.”

“…?”

…Why?

Ihan tilted his head questioningly.

I heard many stories.

From how the Count changed overnight, to how the knights who raised their voices against the Count and the Count’s eldest son now lived on thin ice.

Also, how the elders had stepped in to restore discipline in the family.

How the youngest son who tarnished the Count’s prestige was finally removed from the family register.

And how if he wanted to return to the family, he needed to first seek forgiveness from a certain knight.

Well, after hearing many stories, the conclusion was:

“If you want forgiveness, either cut off that insolent tongue of yours, or bring me the head of the knight who attacked me. I’ll forgive you then.”

“……”

“You can choose either one.”

“……”

“Don’t like it? Then forget it. Just get out. Just looking at your face makes me sick.”

Ihan spat out contempt and mockery without mercy.

As if he knew the other couldn’t do it anyway.

…Then.

“I-I’ll cut it.”

“…Cut what?”

“I-I’ll cut my tongue. W-will you take me as your squire then?”

“……”

“I’ll take your silence as agreement.”

Swish.

Suddenly, Damian pulled out scissors from inside his clothes, though it wasn’t clear when he had prepared them.

They were quite sharp scissors, and with them, he immediately…!

Thwack!

“Kuhek!”

“Cutting it off recklessly like that could kill you from blood loss. Are you trying to make me a murderer?”

“Kuhek! Urgh!”

Damian, whose face had been kicked, struggled to get up despite the pain.

But Ihan continued without showing any remorse.

“Tsk, don’t they teach you such obvious things in your family?”

“…Who would teach something like that?”

Damian answered with a slurred pronunciation.

Blood had pooled in his mouth, as his tongue was slightly cut.

Ihan tossed him a low-grade potion he carried for emergencies.

“C-can I drink it?”

Damian caught the bottle reflexively, and Ihan nodded in response to his question.

“…Thank you.”

Of course, being a low-grade potion, it wouldn’t heal his tongue immediately.

But it would serve as first aid, and since he had learned martial arts, he would recover on his own within a week.

Looking at him:

“If you were trying to evoke sympathy, I would have separated your head from your body even if it meant fighting the Count. I would have thought you were mocking me again.”

“…Yes.”

In other words, he saved him because he believed Damian was sincerely trying to cut his tongue.

“Why do you carry scissors?”

“I thought you would demand some kind of payment from me. I was prepared to lose a finger or an ear.”

“You want to do this that badly?”

“As long as I can return to my family, it doesn’t matter.”

“…I see.”

“Yes.”

…An amusing fellow.

Before, he thought he was just a thug who only knew how to run his mouth, but he had quite some guts.

Not a type he disliked.

However,

‘That doesn’t mean I like this bastard.’

It’s difficult to view someone you’ve disliked positively again.

Besides, this guy isn’t sincerely seeking forgiveness; he’s just going this far to maintain his noble status.

So there’s still no reason to view him favorably.

But I don’t despise him either.

Even in some rural village, there are people who engage in power struggles for the insignificant position of village chief.

Or old men who hang themselves after losing the position of village chief, despite having plenty of money and wanting for nothing.

It must mean that losing power was more painful than anything else.

That’s why power is a frightening thing, and at the same time, a person like himself.

‘Should not get close to it.’

Ihan looked down at him steadily, and Damian’s pupils were trembling incessantly.

He was still in a state of tension.

To him:

“You can just go. I’ll forgive you without you having to be a squire or serve me.”

“……”

“…Well done. If you had taken my words literally, I would have gone to the Count. To tell him never to forgive you.”

“…Yes.”

Seeing how particularly pale his complexion had become, it seemed he had been tempted.

But fortunately, he had suppressed the temptation just in case.

The thought of “just in case” had saved him.

While finding Damian amusing again, Ihan didn’t raise the corners of his mouth, but instead held up three fingers.

“Three years. Serve me for three years. Whether inside or outside the academy, I’ll call you when I need you.”

“W-won’t you accept me as a squire?”

“I’m not in a position to take disciples. Instead, I’ll take you as an ‘assistant.’ That should satisfy you, right? You wouldn’t like becoming my squire anyway.”

“…I won’t deny that.”

“I like your honesty. -Follow me, assistant. Classes start today.”

“Understood, sir!”

“Not ‘sir’ but ‘instructor.’ I’ll only call you assistant, not by your name, for three years.”

“…Ugh.”

“Answer.”

“…Yes, instructor.”

“Good to see you understand.”

Ihan turned around, and Damian, who had finally managed to secure a lifeline, sighed deeply with a tearful expression.

Thinking:

‘…Ah, I wish I could go back to the entrance ceremony.’

I want to beat myself from back then to a pulp.

Damian Pollet, no, now the man who had become Ihan’s assistant, felt his eyes growing increasingly moist.

Feeling that his future already looked bleak.

And sure enough:

“Bring water and towels for 80 people. Also bring any other necessary items you can think of.”

“Th-the money…”

“Use my name to get support from the academy. Or solve it with your own money.”

“……”

“Any complaints?”

“…None, damn it.”

“That’s one word too many, assistant.”

“…Sob.”

Damian finally broke down in tears.

* * *

…Some students were momentarily confused seeing Damian, but their interest soon faded.

Half of the students roughly figured out what was going on, and the other half simply didn’t care.

They were busy enough with their own affairs.

Ihan liked these selfish students.

It meant he didn’t have to give unnecessary explanations.

While casually checking the students’ faces, Ihan nodded.

‘Every one of them has the look of someone who won’t listen.’

Someone once said that physiognomy is a science.

This was something Ihan agreed with.

Just look at their faces; they exuded the same aura as the worst soldiers he’d seen in the military.

Their faces showed a determination to never obey orders willingly.

‘They probably don’t like me.’

I understand.

Even I would have certain thoughts about an instructor who was demoted from the Order of Knights and caused trouble at the entrance ceremony.

It’s natural they don’t like me.

…But.

“Before introducing myself and greeting you, I have a proposal for the students.”

-…?

“Any student who doubts the instructor’s abilities, draw your weapon now. I’ll face you all, and by the way.”

-……

“If any student defeats me, I’ll give you the opportunity to receive teachings from Baltar Grace. This is a pledge I certify in the name of the Silver Lion.”

Clang!

“Excellent.”

The next moment, half of the students drew their weapons without hesitation and directed their energy toward Ihan.

“Hmph.”

─Yes, but.

Just as they don’t like him, why would he like those who dislike him?

Most importantly, he has absolutely no intention of spending time getting to know these guys.

Rather:

‘Good to have so many dolls.’

He was only filled with the desire to use them.

This morning. He was pleased to confirm there were many “dolls” to replace the training dummy that had unfortunately met its end.

Each one looked sturdier than the rag dolls he had made himself.

Ihan was delighted.