Ch.328EP.69 – The Knight Cheers for the Youth(8)

…Roen, he had once been married to a woman named Judia, something others didn’t know about the future.

Did he marry her out of love?

That’s hard to say.

What’s clear is that he was mentally overwhelmed at the time, and something was a bit off about him.

It was as if he had been enchanted when he married her.

…And only later did he discover the truth.

Not only had she manipulated him, but she was an assassin from the temple who had approached him to destroy his comrades!

It was enough to make his teeth grind and his blood boil.

The fact that she had manipulated even his emotions was infuriating enough, but she was also a woman who had tried to destroy his comrades.

…That’s why he couldn’t forget his grudge.

Even though it hadn’t happened yet, knowing that woman was a seed of evil meant he absolutely couldn’t let it slide.

So he had no choice but to burn with anger….

“You black bastard, you must be loaded. I never imagined this building would be yours.”

“……”

…He was completely dumbfounded. At this moment, he couldn’t find words to speak, and even his anger was forgotten.

What is that?

“Well, don’t get too angry. Hmm, I-I don’t know why, but I know you have some grudge against that person, but I’m working right now.”

“……”

“Could you please react somehow? It feels awkward like I’m talking to myself…”

“…Instructor.”

“Finally, a reaction.”

“……”

“…Silent again, this guy.”

Judging by his grumbling tone, he was definitely the instructor he knew.

But the thing is…

“Are you really the instructor?”

…That “form” was something he could never imagine belonging to the instructor.

There stood a ‘handsome young man.’

Roen rarely described others as handsome, but this young man was truly remarkably good-looking.

Not only that, but the atmosphere he exuded was both cheerful and refreshing, giving off a comfortable charm.

Roen was bewildered to find himself praising someone else’s appearance so highly.

Since when had he been so interested in appearances? Seriously.

‘I suppose it must be looks that even I can’t help but admire.’

Even someone like himself, who had little interest in appearances, couldn’t help but feel admiration and curiosity, and Roen was simply dumbfounded.

“D-did you use some kind of transformation artifact?”

Jack suddenly asked the question on behalf of his stunned self, and the man countered with his own question.

“There are artifacts like that?”

“I-I’ve never heard of one either, but seeing your current appearance makes me think there might be…”

“I’d like to have such a convenient artifact too. But no. I didn’t use any artifact, I just compressed my muscles and bones.”

“?”

“You saw it earlier, right? Like this…”

Crack!

“I compress my body. Well, you guys will be able to do it too with enough effort. You learned how to use your body from me, right? It’s along the same lines.”

“……”

“Say something, you guys. It feels like I’m talking to myself.”

“……”

…Wouldn’t it be more surprising if they could respond?

His arm suddenly bulged, revealing a “part” of the instructor they knew, and seeing this only made them more confused and dumbfounded.

Should one say their minds couldn’t keep up with this skill that was more amazing than any circus act?

No, even a circus couldn’t compare.

“B-but, Instructor.”

“Yes?”

“I-if you just compressed your body, does that mean you originally looked like that?”

“Ah, this face? Well, it’s kind of my younger self. At least until seven years ago, I looked like a bookworm too. But after I started exercising properly, I moved away from that skinny appearance.”

“……”

“Why are you reacting like that?”

“…Just amazed in many ways.”

“??”

“Haha….”

Once again, Jack was expressing what he felt, and Roen found himself shaking his head as he realized he had momentarily forgotten his grudge against Judia Pierre.

This person is really-.

“…Always on a different wavelength.”

A person who always seemed to be from a different genre.

Just when he thought nothing could surprise him anymore, his master kept creating new surprises, and Roen couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

…It was an absurdity that could extinguish even his burning grudge in an instant.

* * *

[-A New Flower Has Appeared in High Society]

News of the royal capital’s social gathering, held for the first time in nearly five years, was like an all-you-can-eat buffet for newspaper companies.

Just following the various incidents and rumors in high society provided endless material for articles.

Not only nobles but also those who admired the glamour of upper society bought and read newspapers, making it a festival of sorts for newspaper companies.

And among these stories, the best-selling news was undoubtedly…

“‘Who will be the flower of the royal capital’s social scene, held after six years?’ Ha! Wouldn’t it be Lady Windler? They say her beauty rivals that of a fairy.”

“Come now, my friend. It’s common sense that rumors are exaggerated! A fairy, really…!”

“Is that so?”

“Levi Jeanne d’Arc, when I saw her at the war game the other day, she was truly spirited and beautiful. I believe she will cause a sensation at this social gathering.”

“What about the lady from House Guinevere? They say her wisdom is like that of a young sage. Since beauty reaches a certain average level once it’s good enough, I think what’s truly important is a person’s wisdom.”

“What nonsense!”

-[The Flower of High Society]

In other words, who would be chosen as the most beautiful lady at this debut—this was undoubtedly the best-selling news.

Some criticized it as obscene, but beauty inevitably stimulated human desire, and discussing it was quite an interesting topic.

Especially since this debut was being held in the royal capital after six years, countless young ladies were gathering from across the southern region. This topic was attracting even more attention, and the women who had received significant attention last year were naturally the focus.

The magician Irene Windler with fairy-like beauty.

The female swordswoman Levi Jeanne d’Arc, pitiful yet possessing a knight’s nobility.

The young scholar Karin Alencia de Guinevere, said to already have the intelligence of a sage in her eyes.

Interestingly, they were all young women currently enrolled at the Academy.

Of course, there were many other noble ladies attracting attention, but none had shown such remarkable talent and achievements as these three.

Looking at the women previously called the flowers of high society, they were all known not only for their beauty but also for their extraordinary talents. In that sense, it was natural that attention would focus on the aforementioned young ladies.

…However, recently, there was a flower rapidly gaining attention and threatening the position of those three.

She had appeared at various tea parties and banquets over the past ten days, and in that short time, she had captivated people’s souls with her extraordinary charm.

Her name was…

“Is that woman Judia Pierre de Lohengrin?”

“Did Count Lohengrin have a daughter? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“Beautiful, truly beautiful…”

“But hasn’t Lohengrin’s reputation been poor lately?”

“Hmm, what could this mean?”

The great noble house of Lohengrin, which had recently suffered consecutive setbacks and was under surveillance.

People’s attention was focused on the hidden lady of Lohengrin who had emerged into the world, and they did not hesitate to admire her charm.

…Well.

‘If this lie is discovered, I might end up on the guillotine.’

It was all a lie.

Drip.

Judia Pierre, the fake lady disguised as a Lohengrin noble, barely concealed the cold sweat soaking her back as she walked across the stage.

…A precarious stage where one misstep would lead to a dark abyss.

Meanwhile, regardless of whether she was nervous, they were having a conversation on the terrace at the highest level of the party venue.

“You probably already know, but I heard those cult members have started sniffing around again.”

This was Ihan’s statement, and to this,

“I’m aware. The Brass Knights, one of the three main pillars that make up the Blood Crusaders, I hear.”

“As expected, you know.”

“There’s no one who wouldn’t know that. Well, I know they’re hiding themselves using strange methods.”

Roen’s indifferent response.

He seemed uninterested since it was information he already knew.

Ihan scratched his cheek with an embarrassed expression, as if he had expected this reaction.

“Did I speak unnecessarily?”

“Not at all. Thanks to you, I’ve learned a lot.”

“Huh?”

“First, that you’re also pursuing the Brass Knights and haven’t found them yet. And the one who asked you to find the Brass Knights is likely the temple, specifically Pope Raphael.”

“Wow.”

“No need to be surprised. It’s obvious just from seeing you accompany that detestable woman… I mean, Judia Pierre. Seeing that bat-like… I mean, that terrible person there, I can roughly guess what’s happening.”

“…That’s the most toned-down description you could come up with, right?”

“Anyway, you’re working hard. It must be difficult being with that terrible thing, but what I don’t understand is why she’s using the name [Lohengrin]. Did you perhaps make a deal with Lohengrin?”

Lohengrin.

A great noble house of Pendragon, famous for pledging loyalty to the temple rather than the kingdom for generations.

However, recently, they had been embroiled in controversy with the appearance of holy knights who had defected to become anti-magic, and evidence that the current Holy Knight Commander, Erhin de Lohengrin, had attempted to attack the Academy.

Normally, they would have been completely wiped out, but the fact that they survived and persevered despite the previous disaster showed the formidable resilience of a great noble house.

But now, Judia Pierre, who was not even a member of Lohengrin, had appeared in high society using the Lohengrin name.

This raised the possibility that there might be an agreement with Lohengrin, suggesting some kind of political deal…

“No, there’s nothing like that.”

“?”

“She’s just using it on her own. I wanted to provoke them a bit.”

“……”

“What?”

“…Nothing.”

You’re probably the only person who would provoke a great noble house for such a reason.

Though he thought this inwardly, Roen didn’t express it and instead murmured the name Lohengrin.

“…Are you perhaps suspecting Lohengrin?”

Roen voiced the conclusion he had suddenly reached, and the man,

“It’s really nice talking with a smart guy like you because I can save words.”

He simply smiled, and that was answer enough.

And this meant,

‘Lohengrin… Hmm, I might get to see a great noble house fall in my generation.’

It was a signal that storm clouds were gathering over the already declining great noble house.

…How intriguing.