Instructor Han Doyun 6

“If one afflicted by a curse is stabbed with this Banshee’s Pox, the curse will be completely dispelled, and the same curse will be inflicted upon the original caster as retribution.”

An effect that would make any curse wielder tremble just from hearing it.

It was one of the supreme items from Enoch’s legacy that the Heroes had retrieved elixirs from.

“Ah, ah…”

Upon hearing the explanation, the Mage Instructor let out a strangled sound.

For anyone else, this would have been a rare item to brandish intimidatingly instead of flaunting nonchalantly. But the one before them was the Apostle Han Doyun himself.

It was unsurprising for him to possess such a treasure.

Meanwhile, the explanation left Toshiko trembling violently as well.

‘If, if that is used…’

Being exposed as the culprit was not the issue.

The curse was potent enough to lead even Rosinante, the Cradle’s top-ranked tank, to his death.

With Toshiko’s frail mage physique, her survival would be utterly impossible.

‘No… I don’t want to die!’

Drenched in terror, Toshiko screamed as if having lost her sanity.

“You, you’re trying to kill me! That person is trying to kill me!! Is an instructor allowed to threaten a student with such an item!? Huh!?”

Toshiko looked around the crowd pleadingly, but no one responded.

Everyone merely clicked their tongues at her unsightly behavior.

As Doyun opened his mouth to speak, the Headmaster intervened.

“As the Mage Instructor stated, there is no evidence that the curse’s perpetrator is the student Toshiko. If you are truly innocent, Banshee’s Pox being used should pose no issue, correct?”

Toshiko finally grasped the situation, her body jolting.

The item’s purpose had never been actual use. She had fallen squarely into a trap.

“B, But… we must consider the unidentified culprit’s human rights too…”

“Hah!”

Someone scoffed in disbelief, causing Toshiko to flinch again.

Doyun muttered indifferently, as if her life meant nothing to him.

“Rosinante’s condition is dire. And this is my only means of treating him.”

In truth, Doyun had ample means to treat Rosinante, but he refrained from elaborating.

“And as an instructor, I have an obligation to protect my students. While regrettable if the culprit dies… saving the victim Rosinante takes obvious priority.”

“Ah, ah…”

“Make your choice.”

He recited the cold verdict.

“Will you face Banshee’s Pox here, or confess and accept punishment?”

The former meant instant death. The latter, execution after a trial.

Appearing to offer mercy, Toshiko truly had no choice.

In the end, only one destination awaited – death.

“…”

Toshiko stared blankly, as if her death sentence had left her catatonic.

An unbelievable, dreadful nightmare. Yet it was reality.

As the instructors approached to apprehend Toshiko and the Mage Instructor, the startled instructor collapsed to the floor.

“Sp, Spare me, please!”

He gazed up at Doyun, pleading desperately.

“Spare me, please! I truly had no idea that serpentine wretch would resort to curses! Please, I beg you, spare me!”

Doyun disregarded the criminal’s pleas, approaching Rosinante instead.

“Spare me, please! Lord Doyun! I was in the wrong, I implore you!!”

As Rosinante lay pinned to the floor, Doyun extended his hand towards him.

“Can you walk?”

“Pardon? Y, Yes…!”

When Rosinante grasped Doyun’s hand, Doyun pulled him up with ease.

Rosinante momentarily marveled at how the diminutive Doyun could so effortlessly hoist his massive frame before nodding, realizing who he was.

‘Apostle Han Doyun…’

Despite being smaller in stature and build, to Rosinante, Doyun’s presence was immensely vast.

Doyun conveyed to the Headmaster.

[I will take Rosinante to the guild house for treatment.]

[Please do. I shall handle the aftermath.]

The same Headmaster who had displayed utmost cruelty during the Thorn incident. With those words, the fates of those two were sealed.

But then,

“Aaaaaahhhh!!”

A dark aura surged from Toshiko’s body, immediately assailing Doyun.

The desperate curse mage’s final act, sacrificing half her lifespan for an ultimate curse.

Many recoiled in shock.

However, the Headmaster, Combat Instructor, and a few others remained calmly steadfast, recalling a similar situation six months prior.

“Die!!”

Soon, the curse reached Doyun.

Pafft…

“…Huh?”

Nothing happened.

This was the supreme spiritual energy of Han Doyun, capable of nullifying even curses from the Dark Lord’s elite assassins.

No matter how much of her lifespan she sacrificed, a mere Apostle could never penetrate his defenses.

“Wh… What…? Why…”

Witnessing a phenomenon incomprehensible to her curse mage sensibilities, Toshiko lost all remaining will to fight.

“You are now caught red-handed.”

After Doyun’s parting words, the instructors came forth to apprehend the two.

“Heh… Heheh…”

The Mage Instructor, having lost his entire life’s work in an instant, broke into hysterical laughter.

His life. Toshiko’s life. Rosinante’s disgrace. It had all come to an end in that moment.

+++

Approximately a week passed.

Toshiko and the instructor’s trials were swiftly carried out.

Once it became known that Rosinante, the victim of terrorism, was a talent scouted by Doyun, no one dared defend the two.

Despite the instructor’s seniority and clout, even his followers chose to abandon him, which could have mitigated his complete dismissal. Everyone unhesitatingly turned their backs, fearing the Cradle’s current top prospect.

Toshiko’s sentence was execution, unsurprisingly.

The Headmaster, wary of potential reversals during her imprisonment, carried out her execution just two days after incarceration.

As for the Mage Instructor, all positions and future benefits were stripped for condoning terrorism, and his heart’s mana was sealed.

Having lost his magic and everyone’s support, only a frail, aged husk remained. His life as an Apostle had ended.

Rosinante had been receiving outpatient treatment, staying at World Tree’s guild house.

Every morning upon waking in an unfamiliar room, he could scarcely believe his current circumstances.

‘Me, in World Tree… on His team…’

He had yet to receive Doyun’s explicit confirmation. But he could sense it.

The instructors contacting him from the Cradle spoke with markedly softened tones. Even those he was not close with contacted him frequently.

And whenever he encountered guild members here, he generally sensed similar emotions:

Envy. Congratulations. Jealousy. Admiration.

Rumors had already spread throughout World Tree about Doyun’s designated tank, prompting many guild members to ingratiate themselves with Rosinante.

‘Not to mention, the Holy Water…’

Rosinante hesitated before pouring himself a fresh bottle of water from the new container by his bedside.

The crystal bottle he had been using contained the notorious expensive Holy Water.

Although promptly cured by Sophie’s purification abilities, Doyun had spared no expense for Rosinante’s care.

Providing Holy Water to one already healed was purely psychological therapy.

To reap only a placebo effect from such extravagant Holy Water – yet to Doyun, it was trivial.

Far more important was Rosinante’s reassurance from drinking Holy Water during his recovery, and the gratitude he would feel.

As Rosinante apprehensively reached for the new Holy Water bottle as usual, a knock sounded.

Tok tok.

“Ah, come in!”

Instead of a nurse or doctor, Doyun entered, causing Rosinante to flinch.

“How is your condition?”

“Yes, well…! I live each day overwhelmed with gratitude!”

Asked about his condition, Rosinante swiftly sat upright, his unfocused eyes wide as he rambled incoherently.

“Don’t worry about grades anymore. They are now meaningless to you. You can recuperate here for a few days under the pretext of outpatient treatment.”

Cradle grades existed for securing favorable guild placements.

For one joining the continent’s premier workplace, World Tree – moreover, Doyun’s highly promising team – grades were far too trivial a concern.

“…Thank you.”

His eyes momentarily moistening, Rosinante bowed deeply to Doyun.

Doyun casually brushed it aside.

“If you’re thankful, then fight the Dark Lord for me.”

“…!”

Rosinante’s eyes widened.

Reaffirming Doyun’s intent to recruit him through those words, Rosinante clenched the blanket tightly, overwhelmed.

However, he soon cast his gaze down despondently.

“Will I… be able?”

Utterly overwhelmed by a mere student, nearly meeting his demise.

Was someone like him even worthy of discussing accompanying this formidable man?

“Why are you…”

He asked in a meek voice unbefitting his stature, his protruding horse eyes quivering.

“There are far more capable tanks on the continent than me…”

“I saw potential in you.”

Even so, Rosinante could not comprehend it.

With his inherently timid nature, he had never considered himself exceptional.

Doyun too sensed this from Rosinante’s expression.

And he was well-versed in handling such individuals.

“If you doubt yourself, then believe in me instead.”

“…!”

“Believe in my eye for selecting you. Believe in my efforts to nurture your growth. Believe in the back you will fight alongside.”

To Doyun, receiving someone’s faith, expectations, and hopes was a given.

Such was the life of one guided by a calling.

And his back was broad enough to bear the weight of those lofty aspirations.

Thus, Doyun could speak matter-of-factly.

“I will lead you, Rosinante. Follow me.”

Spoken so plainly, yet his voice curiously brooked no doubt.

Having finished, Doyun rose and opened the door to the room.

“Attend training sessions starting tomorrow. I will teach you, just like at the Cradle.”

As the door closed, only Rosinante remained in the room.

“…”

For a long while, Rosinante mulled over Doyun’s parting words.

‘…Yes.’

I am the one chosen by Him. No one else – I have been selected as His aide.

Confidence surged within him, a sense of purpose igniting in his heart.

‘I must repay Him.’

The One who had aided and chosen him – he must contribute in turn.

‘I will grow stronger… and fight the Dark Lord for His sake.’

On this very day, the Valorous Centaur Rosinante vowed to gallop for Doyun’s cause.

+++

After his conversation with Rosinante, Doyun stepped out onto the balcony, gazing at the clouds as the wind caressed him.

Rarely indulging unless for special occasions, Doyun lit a cigarette today.

As the flame ignited it, smoke billowed forth.

“Sigh…”

The exhaled smoke lingered densely as if embodying his troubled heart before dispersing.

‘The time has come.’

He had accumulated sufficient points. His reputation had spread across the continent during his time at the Cradle.

The conditions were met.

‘It is time… to seek the Four Fiends.’

The hand gripping the cigarette trembled ever so slightly in trepidation.