Ch.51EP.15 – The Knight Hosts a Banquet (2)

Originally, it was common sense that a banquet would be held after a preparation period of nearly a week to a fortnight.

Especially for nobles, whose banquets required particularly grand and splendid arrangements due to their extravagant budgets.

Thus, holding one in a single day would normally be impossible, but…

“I wish for a banquet to be held today.”

-That was all.

There was no further objection.

When the princess desires it, what else can be done but to hold one?

After all, even impossible tasks become possible when enough people are sacrificed to the cause.

Hundreds, no, a thousand elite workers were mobilized, and the banquet preparations were completed in just half a day.

The students couldn’t help but marvel.

The garden, which had been empty until before breakfast, had transformed—no, metamorphosed—into an incredibly lavish banquet hall.

It was the result of a thousand people’s blood, sweat, and tears.

“Uh, when did this fountain appear here?”

“Wasn’t this a flower bed? It was just a sandy beach before.”

“Holy crap!? Those are all jewels!”

“…Selling just one of those would cover five years of living expenses.”

The fountain, decorations, orchestra, and mobile kitchen.

Even magical devices that illuminated the dark night sky in real-time.

This was an extravagance beyond extravagance.

…Hmm, or was it? Perhaps money alone couldn’t accomplish something like this.

“The princess is truly amazing.”

“Not just any princess. She’s the Crown Princess, Your Highness.”

“Heh.”

“But why are we all huddled together like this? Why aren’t we somewhere else?”

“What, you want to hang out with those nobles over there? Go ahead if you want.”

“…No, absolutely not.”

Feeling a renewed sense of awe toward power, the fledgling students of the Swordsmanship Department—dubbed the “18-Bears-Arhats” by their instructor—were all clustered together in one spot.

Despite the banquet being held for them, they seemed incredibly uncomfortable.

As they say, caterpillars should only eat pine needles; similarly, for these lifelong commoners, being in the presence of nobles was difficult.

Perhaps they would get used to it later, but for now, it was uncomfortable and nothing but uncomfortable.

Especially…

“Hmm…? Kunta not sure, but Kunta thinks we bears have become a spectacle.”

“It’s not your imagination; we really are a spectacle.”

“Well, we are an unusual combination.”

Farmers, beggars, vagrants, mercenaries, and barbarians.

They couldn’t help but attract attention even if they didn’t want it.

…Not in a positive sense, but in a negative one.

Among those stares were probably not just curiosity but also jealousy.

They must resent these people who had earned the princess’s favor.

Why the resentment?

Because they were commoners.

The lowest class in the kingdom.

Although they were now academy students, where would their social status go?

Just like their seniors before them, no matter how skilled they became, they would always face discrimination based on their birth.

Still…

“Why are you all huddled together like a meerkat colony? Did you commit some crime?”

For someone with overwhelming self-confidence and skill, social status wouldn’t matter.

Like that person.

“Instructor.”

Ihan, their instructor, approached them without caring who was watching, and the nobles and students who had been staring at them like circus animals quickly averted their gaze.

Both nobles and students must have already heard about the entrance ceremony incident.

But even if they hadn’t, the intimidating aura he unconsciously emitted was enough to make even street fighters tremble.

Having actually witnessed him tear apart an angry wild boar with his bare hands in Bulkan, they knew this wasn’t just intimidation.

And this intimidating man gave them a somewhat gentle look as he quickly surveyed them.

“I didn’t plan it, but the entire Swordsmanship Department is gathered here.”

“Roen Dmitri de Lionel and Damian Pollet aren’t here though.”

“Roen said he had something to do and disappeared. Well, he’s always wandering around on his own, so just let him be. And the assistant? He doesn’t have time to enjoy the banquet. He has to write reports.”

“What reports?”

“Reports that need to be submitted to the headmaster.”

“B-but those should be written by you, Instructor…”

“Why me? When I have an assistant?”

“……”

…Come to think of it, the most hardworking and pitiful person among them might be Damian Pollet.

As they were all about to have this rather pointless thought…

“Everyone, good job.”

-……

At this sudden and unexpected remark, all the Swordsmanship Department students blinked.

“When I say good job, I’m not just talking about the bears.”

“Aren’t you going to call us ‘Ung-Nahan’?”

“I could call you teddy bears instead.”

“I-I think ‘bears’ is better.”

“You kids, all brawn and no brains.”

In the relaxed atmosphere created by his silly jokes, he made eye contact with each student carefully.

Not missing a single one.

“First, the chicks.”

“Y-yes?!”

“You’ve worked hard too. It’s good that you always practice jump rope diligently, and it’s good that you don’t slack off. Above all, I know you helped organize the bears’ liberal arts assignments and other lecture assignments. Thank you for your thoroughness and attention to detail.”

“T-that was just…”

As if it was nothing.

They stammered that they had just done what they could, but Ihan firmly…

“Bears, bow your heads 90 degrees right now. These are the kind people who helped with your grades.”

-Ack!

Instinctively following his order, they immediately bowed their heads respectfully.

But it wasn’t just because they were ordered to; their gratitude was sincere because they realized it.

They understood that today’s victory wasn’t possible through their efforts alone.

There had been invisible support and help.

“Mmm-!”

The still-embarrassed girls hid their shyness behind fans.

They had thought these were just haughty noble ladies, but they weren’t bad people after all.

“And you young masters. You did well too. I heard you took care of those who mocked the bears.”

“…I just found it unpleasant that the Swordsmanship Department was being insulted. They are also part of our department, aren’t they?”

“That’s why I’m saying you did well. When I first met you, you seemed like annoying young masters, but now I see you’re good young masters.”

“If you’re going to praise us, please stop calling us ‘young masters’ first.”

“Not yet.”

“Mmm…”

“Ahaha!”

While they groaned, the bears couldn’t hide their surprise.

They hadn’t known that these students had stood up for them.

They were quite touched, and those receiving their gazes turned away shyly.

Camaraderie.

The trust and bond formed by those who struggle together through the steep cliff that is Ihan.

This must be what they mean by becoming close through hardship.

Although they might not openly call each other friends, they had clearly developed something like friendship that transcended social status.

It almost brought tears to their eyes.

“And finally, the bears.”

“……”

As Ihan called to them, they were already prepared to shed tears.

What would he say…

“-I won’t say you did well. Honestly, you won because you were lucky.”

“……”

…Their tears suddenly dried up, and their hearts fluttered for a different reason.

It was a flutter of disappointment.

“Instructor…”

“Don’t be disappointed. You’ve already received plenty of praise from others, right? So at least one person should give you some harsh words.”

“……”

…As expected, he was always unpredictable.

When everyone else was applauding, he scolded them.

However, Ihan was completely serious.

Just like when he addressed the others.

“You won only because the spellcasters were careless. If they had fought carefully and methodically, you would have definitely lost. If the fight had lasted just three minutes longer, your stamina would have been depleted and you would have self-destructed.”

“That’s…”

“Anyone want to refute that?”

“……”

…No one did.

Because it was true.

Just as he said, their limit for fighting at full strength in actual combat was three minutes… no, thinking back carefully, they felt like they were going crazy when the battle passed the two-minute mark.

Using ki and techniques in actual combat was a more arduous and intense experience than they had imagined.

If the mages had been a little more composed…

If they had shown clever tactics from the beginning to restrict their mobility or disperse their firepower, like the minor spells they used at the end?

Then they would have been utterly defeated.

Without even a chance to fight back, in a pathetic manner.

Ihan had precisely pointed this out.

“The opponent was careless, you had two more people than them which created an unexpected advantage, and lastly, luck was on your side. So I can’t praise you. What’s lacking is lacking.”

“Yes…”

They hung their heads.

Just moments ago, they had been dreaming of a rosy future while receiving bouquets from countless people, but when the person who taught them spoke so strictly, the wind was knocked out of their sails.

As he pointed out each flaw, today’s mistakes and the precarious moments flashed through their minds, making them pale.

They couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

However…

“Still, I liked that you didn’t give up.”

-!!?

“You didn’t run away in front of the crowd, you didn’t run away from the fireballs, and even at the end when it seemed like you were going to lose, no one gave up. I would have been satisfied even if you had lost today. At least my ‘disciples’ weren’t cowards who abandoned their comrades, which is a happy thing. So well done. Even if the match was terrible, your spirit definitely deserves praise.”

Thump.

Ihan lightly punched the left chest of each person who had participated in today’s match as he passed by.

Tap.

For Levi Jeanne d’Arc, he showed the thoughtfulness of just lightly touching her head instead of her chest.

“You worked hard. I’ll acknowledge that much.”

-……

They looked at their instructor with wide eyes.

Each touching their chest or head, they felt a warmth rising from deep within.

Yes, their instructor had “acknowledged” them for the first time.

“I’m tapping the heart and head. It’s a mercenary-style encouragement.”

“What kind of encouragement is that?”

“It’s encouragement given to mercenaries who have safely protected their heads and hearts on the battlefield. It’s often given to novice mercenaries.”

“I see.”

It was fitting encouragement from an instructor whose past career was sometimes questionable.

“The rest of you listen too. As I said, ki isn’t some kind of cure-all. So don’t envy what I’ve taught them, and cherish what you have. What you’ve learned is more stable and superior to what they’ve learned.”

Young masters.

The noble students, who had congratulated them but still felt somewhat bitter, flinched at Ihan’s words.

They still harbored regret about not being able to go to Bulkan, and their hearts ached after watching today’s battle.

And the instructor seemed to have already noticed their pain.

“Don’t be disappointed. You’re still young, and you’ll have a long time with me. I’ll train you properly during that time.”

“…When you say it like that, it’s scary, Instructor.”

“You won’t die, you won’t.”

“I don’t know whether to laugh at this or…”

A statement that seemed like a joke but didn’t feel like one at all.

Still, it was comforting to hear, perhaps due to the psychology of immature youth.

“The same goes for you three. Just because you’ve learned both martial arts and ki doesn’t mean you’ll automatically become stronger. Sometimes adding one thing doesn’t make you stronger but rather creates a minus because you end up being neither here nor there. So think of ki as just a training wheel, a means to an end. Don’t place too much significance on it.”

“Are we also subjects of your nagging?”

“You’re my disciples too.”

“……”

“Now the harsh words are over. Everyone enjoy the banquet and have fun. And rest. I’ll give you three days off. You don’t have to attend classes for a while.”

“……”

“I’m not joking, so have a little faith, you lot.”

-Hooray!

Joyful cheers.

However, whether this joy was for receiving a vacation or for the acknowledgment he had given them…

─Perhaps only they knew.

“…These kids.”

As if his words had been a catalyst, they immediately shook off their tension and enjoyed the banquet in their own ways.

And as they dispersed from their meerkat-like huddle, people from other departments gradually approached and began talking to his disciples.

As expected, now that they had dispersed from their hedgehog-like defensive formation into individuals, people seemed to find it easier to approach them.

‘Well, when else would they mingle if not now?’

He understood their feelings.

Banquets often serve as communication channels between departments that don’t usually interact well.

It’s an opportunity for those who want to connect with the Swordsmanship Department.

‘Bear cub, you’re going to have a hard time.’

Levi Jeanne d’Arc, who had gone from Chick #1 to Bear Cub, had captured the attention of many men.

Well, she was quite cute, so it made sense that she was popular.

It wasn’t strange that many were trying to make advances.

Of course…

‘Touch her and you’ll be hospitalized for three months…’

Bears, whether male or female, should not be provoked.

Especially the bears he had trained—they might not be able to tear people in half, but they could certainly fold someone’s waist in half.

Hoping that no one would make inappropriate advances and end up with a folded waist, he…

“Huh? Instructor, where are you going?”

“I have some business to attend to.”

“But the princess will be here soon.”

“That’s exactly why I need to go.”

“??”

“Enjoy yourself, Student Irene. Seems like there are many guys interested in you.”

“Oh, I’m not interested. How could I mingle with kids like that?”

“You’re a kid too.”

“Ah!”

“……”

…What a clumsy possessed girl.

Shaking his head, Ihan left the place, and Irene stared at his retreating figure.

[Arin, what are you looking at? The biceps? Or the back muscles?]

“Do you think I’m a pervert like you? …Ahem, I-I might have looked a little, but it wasn’t intentional or anything.”

[That’s our Arin! You know what’s good, hehe!]

“Oh, really! It’s not like that!”

Irene Windler blushed as she scolded the ghost, and the men who had been approaching her unconsciously backed away.

They had been drawn to her beauty but remembered that a mage’s madness was more dangerous than a poisoned rose, and their lives were too precious.

Having unintentionally repelled the approaching males, the poisoned rose Irene Windler said to the ghost girl:

“It’s just, I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but the instructor’s eyes…”

[His eyes?]

“They seemed to be… smiling.”

[…Huh?]

Isn’t it good if he’s smiling?

The ghost girl tilted her head, but Irene Windler couldn’t exactly explain what felt strange, so she just shrugged.

If she were to explain the strangeness she felt:

‘He looked too happy, which was scary in a way?’

Thinking it was a truly strange thought, she smiled awkwardly.

* * *

Clop! Clop!

A group was moving on horseback through an empty street in the royal capital, heading toward a secretive location.

Whatever their urgency, they moved without hesitation, and at some point, they entered a deeply secluded extraterritorial area of the royal capital.

Parasitic Abyss

A street where the worst of the lower class gathered.

The royal capital had tried to eliminate it several times, but each time, like cockroaches or parasites, they hid well and reappeared after some time, making the Abyss an ineradicable hidden darkness of the royal capital.

It was named the Parasitic District because it parasitized the royal capital like a host, and it was also called the Abyss because once you entered, it was said you could never leave.

Although there was some exaggeration, the danger was real, so only serious criminals would deliberately enter such a place.

Yet here were people on horseback, wearing quite luxurious clothes, voluntarily entering.

It was strange.

None of the criminals in the Abyss stopped them, and it was unusually quiet.

As if today, everyone had unanimously decided not to leave their homes.

“Huff, huff! W-we’ve come this far, that should be enough, right?”

“Yes, we should be safe now.”

“But do we really need to flee so urgently? I feel like we’re overreacting…”

“Don’t be stupid! The princess being there means that crazy Inquisitor is nearby! Someone like him would surely notice our suspiciousness, so how could we stay there? Running away is the answer.”

“Hmm.”

Inquisitor John Ray Albert.

They trembled at the mention of his name.

Even though they had only read about his records in reports, they trembled.

Those records were terrifying just to read.

If their existence had been discovered, he would have come for them immediately, cross in hand.

A superhuman cloaked in terrifying death.

“Phew, but we’re fortunate. Although things didn’t go as planned, we’ve escaped safely.”

“I never thought the Abyss would be helpful…”

“It’s not the Abyss that helped us; it’s the [Organization] that gave us strength, so we must never forget our gratitude-“

“-Organization, huh? Mind if I ask what this organization is called, friends?”

Shudder!

“……”

Tap, tap, light footsteps approaching.

A man walking as if strolling through a park was approaching with a slight smile, and they looked at him with disbelieving eyes.

They couldn’t understand why… why he was here.

But the man smiled as if disappointed.

“Do you think I wouldn’t know where my friends are, Instructor Hans?”

“……”

“Haha, smile, Instructor. Why so serious?”

“…T-Turtle, Sir…”

He, Instructor Hans of the Metallurgy Department, trembled as he uttered the man’s—

Ihan’s surname.

And he…

“Don’t you understand how I found you?”

Ihan playfully tapped the ground.

But unlike his playful gesture, the longsword at his waist looked particularly cold, and…

“Well, it’s not that strange. I just have a good sense of smell.”

Rumble.

“Especially when it comes to spellcasters, I have an exceptional nose, particularly…!”

Rumble.

“─For spellcasters who reek of ‘evil’ like you.”

The hand axe in his hand exuded an ominous ferocity.

To hunt ‘beasts’ who had abandoned their humanity.