Ch.364EP.76 – The Knight Leaves the Stage (5)

…He did not head home.

Instead, he bought a few sheets of paper, scribbled on them, sealed them, and left a request through the guild.

“Please send these.”

“Certainly, Sir Ihan!”

“I’m not a knight anymore, just call me Ihan.”

“How could I possibly address you so casually, sir!”

“Why are you so passionate about this?”

“Haha, it’s a request from Sir Ihan, isn’t it? Of course I should do this. …But are you really leaving the kingdom like this?”

“I’m being exiled, after all.”

“…Truly foolish humans.”

Simon clicked his tongue in contempt.

As if disgusted by the nobles’ stupidity.

“Don’t be like that. Why not join the guild association instead?”

“Are you scouting me?”

“I could even give up my position for you.”

“Stop it. I’m not as smart as you. That position shines because of clever people like you. So I’ll politely decline your offer.”

“Sir Ihan…”

“Enough, don’t act like we’re parting forever. If fate allows, we’ll meet again someday.”

“……”

“Take care. See you next time.”

“…I’ll make absolutely sure your letters are delivered.”

Most of the letters he left were addressed to those he had connections with.

The butcher’s knife.

Hans Junior, the fruit merchant.

Anna, the bakery owner.

And to countless other acquaintances he had made.

It would be proper etiquette to meet each of them face to face, but given the circumstances, it was more appropriate for him not to visit them.

What if his acquaintances were misunderstood because he visited them?

‘If I go see them, they might get targeted by those strange people.’

So leaving letters expressing his gratitude and apologies was the answer.

However…

“It’s not a school holiday, is it?”

Even though his situation had come to this, Ihan hadn’t forgotten that there were still people he needed to meet in person, not just through letters.

[Pendragon Royal Academy.]

That was Ihan’s next destination.

* * *

…Naturally, the academy wasn’t in a particularly stable situation either.

First of all.

“Another leave of absence?”

“Many students have withdrawn completely.”

“I heard many instructors and professors have taken leave or resigned as well…”

“…That’s right.”

“Are you planning to leave too?”

“……”

“…I see.”

Who suffered the most from King Edmund’s betrayal?

No, beyond suffering, who would feel the greatest psychological shock and sense of betrayal?

None other than.

“Thank you for everything, Chancellor.”

“Hmm.”

The faculty and students of the Royal Academy.

They had been exposed to danger multiple times and had to endure disasters that could have easily killed them.

Particularly, according to recent revelations from the guild and others, during last year’s War Game, a group of “illegal mages” had stolen the faces of academy faculty members, which could have resulted in hundreds of students being harmed by these illegal mages.

…Ironically, it was “that knight” who had identified and eliminated these illegal mages beforehand.

Anyway, this caused the academy to feel a great sense of betrayal.

The students and faculty were trembling at the fact that the king had tried to kill them.

So they left the academy.

Because they couldn’t forgive the royal family that had insulted their loyalty and honor.

As a result, the academy was empty despite not being officially closed.

It was still vast and magnificent, but without people, it seemed to have a desolate atmosphere.

“……”

Rustle.

In that desolate academy, there was still someone keeping their post as always in the only place where lights were on.

The Chancellor.

“Haaa…”

Chancellor Allen of the Royal Academy.

He was none other than the former chancellor of the kingdom and the former head of House Guinevere.

He sighed, pressing his brow with a face that seemed to have aged ten years.

Even his beloved books weren’t holding his attention today.

It wasn’t because of the secretary who had just expressed their intention to resign.

Just…

“I’m tired.”

Somehow he felt drained.

“……”

Allen just wanted to surrender to this silence and perhaps get some sleep.

That was his intention, but…

Knock knock.

“Aren’t you lonely being by yourself?”

“…Huh.”

His head turned at the unexpected voice.

The face of the troublemaker who had been consistently causing problems today, no, throughout the past year appeared, and Allen unconsciously sighed as he responded.

“It’s good for reading when it’s quiet.”

“I see.”

“…That was a joke. Don’t take it seriously.”

“Ah, was it?”

But familiarity breeds affection, doesn’t it?

Just having a face-to-face conversation like this made him feel somewhat glad.

“Have you been well?”

“…Do I look well?”

“Hmm, no.”

“…You’re quite honest.”

“I hear that often.”

“That’s not a compliment.”

“Haha, I know.”

“……”

Allen looked at him with a slightly annoyed gaze.

As if that smirk was irritating.

“Sigh, so why are you here?”

“I came to submit my resignation.”

“…Resignation, is it.”

Allen’s eyes twitched at such a statement.

He had heard that word too many times lately.

But…

“To be precise, I heard an exile order will be issued. I’m losing my job forcibly.”

“Hmm, I see.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“…Normally there would be several procedures required, but given those circumstances, it can’t be helped.”

Allen had no right to stop him.

Nor should he.

“Haha, thank you.”

“…You seem too happy about it.”

“Well, I can’t exactly be sad about it either.”

“……”

“Then.”

He seemed to really intend to just take care of his business and leave, lightly bowing his head and about to exit his office, when suddenly Allen.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Pardon?”

…was apologizing.

He had only said “good work” to other faculty members, but strangely, he wanted to apologize to him.

To apologize on behalf of those fools?

No. Allen wasn’t altruistic enough to apologize on behalf of such people.

So this apology was…

“There’s no one in this world without circumstances, but he wasn’t originally like that. When he was young, he had passion and a sense of justice. But… he was crushed by the weight, by the weight…”

It was an apology on behalf of an “old friend” with whom he had shared a connection and youth.

“…Ah.”

He belatedly realized the meaning of Allen’s apology and made a subtle expression.

As if he hadn’t expected to receive an apology here.

“You said ‘friend,’ right?”

“I did.”

“…You’re quite meddlesome. Apologizing for what your friend did.”

“That fellow won’t apologize.”

Because his friend had changed too much.

“Hmph, don’t worry, I don’t need an apology from that man either.”

“Is that so…”

“Yes, that’s how it is. Besides…”

“?”

“I don’t care about his circumstances at all. I just didn’t like him, and I hit him because he messed with our kids.”

“……”

“So you don’t need to apologize, Chancellor. I raised my fist for my own satisfaction.”

At his firm and unwavering words, showing not a hint of regret, Allen’s brow relaxed for the first time.

It was arrogant, but somehow didn’t sound arrogant at all…

“…Your life won’t be smooth sailing either.”

“Chancellor, you should be more selective about your friends. No, you should know when to cut ties, seriously.”

Allen looked momentarily dumbfounded at his advice that sounded like nagging, but soon snorted.

As if this was the first time in his life he’d received such advice.

Still.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Allen said he wouldn’t ignore his words.

Without a hint of deception.

* * *

Despite everyone choosing to take leave or withdraw, there were two rare departments that still remained at the academy.

One was the Magic Department.

As they were spellcasters who followed their own path anyway, they didn’t care whether the king had betrayed them or not and continued to protect their domain.

And the other department was…

“Spears, swords, and guns?”

“Yes, we were told to gather anything that could be used as a weapon.”

“Hmm, you did well. However, for guns, we’re short on gunpowder and bullets.”

“Ah, regarding that, someone has promised to provide support.”

“That’s good news!”

The Swordsmanship Department.

To be precise, none of the second-year students, except for the first-years, had withdrawn or taken leave.

As if waiting for something, and preparing for something.

At a glance…

“…Are you guys preparing for war?”

“Ah! It’s the instructor!”

“Instructor!”

“So you finally escaped.”

“Who escaped? More importantly, what are you all doing?”

A scene that made it hard to tell if this was the Swordsmanship Department or the War Department.

Ihan looked incredulously at them as they were stacking numerous bladed weapons in the secret passage he had personally created in the academy, using it as a storage area.

Wondering what on earth they were doing.

“It’s nothing special. Lord Roen just warned us. He said ‘the situation is accelerating faster than he knew, so preparation is necessary.’ I don’t quite understand what he meant, but he told us to prepare like this, so we’re doing our best.”

“…What.”

“And I also agreed with stockpiling weapons. I feel like we might need them.”

“……”

…Are they trying to start a revolution or something?

Ihan was starting to feel dizzy looking at his disciples who seemed to be preparing for a revolution even though he had never taught them anything like that.

But that was only momentary.

“By the way, Master.”

“?”

“…Is it true that an exile order has been issued?”

“……”

“Master?”

“…Gomsoon.”

“Yes?”

“…Let’s take a deep breath together first, shall we?”

“……”

“Where are you going with that sword?”

“Nowhere, just…”

“……”

…He was starting to find his disciple’s devoted love both burdensome and frightening.