Chapter 154: The Knight Won’t Forgive the Golden Sun (3)

It was as if the main character of the stage had changed.

The mage chick’s presence was simply beyond imagination, to the point that a particular feeling suddenly came to Lee Han’s mind.

Wow, she just arrived and immediately tore up the stage.

Honestly, Lee Han wasn’t interested in the chick’s looks. He admitted that she was pretty, but the thing with him was that, whenever he looked at people, he looked at the shape of their bones and skeleton rather than their faces. He wasn’t interested in things like the outer skin of people’s faces.

While yes, he just felt butterflies in his stomach because of a certain maid, that was a special case. Other than that, he’d never really felt excited for a woman.

This case wasn’t any different than usual, but it didn’t mean that he didn’t feel anything.

Rather…

So this is what people called a walking piece of art, huh?

It was a given that he felt amazed.

Looking at the mage chick was like looking at a beautiful statue or painting. Back in his previous life, people often said that when they saw a statue that was famous for its beauty, they couldn’t help but be amazed and dazed. The appearance and atmosphere that the mage chick gave off right now was similar to such a work of art.

“Female Bear. I’m gonna pretend that I don’t know her.”

“M-Me too…”

Her charm captivated even women. If Lee Han hadn’t seen a Dream Demon before, he’d probably suspect that the mage chick was one.

They said that she’s a half-fairy. Guess her mother’s blood is thicker.

Only he knew that Irene was the biological daughter of Duke Blake, and that the girl had also inherited a strong fairy blood.

Since ancient times, the beauty of fairies had been compared to goddesses and angels, and they always appeared as goddesses of beauty in many myths…

Now I understand why they say that.

He thought he was used to her appearance, but then she actually tried to dress up. This was when he realized why fairies were worshipped by people in the past. He also realized that there was a truth in the saying that a woman’s transformation was like a crime.

The scary thing is that she’s still in the growth stage.

Surprisingly, the chick hadn’t finished growing up yet; she was just starting. Maybe when she was fully grown up, he would understand why people had been praising her so much.

After all, she was already this beautiful now. Who knows what kind of beauty she’d turn into in the future.

He didn’t know who would take her hand in the future, but he hoped that it wouldn’t be him.

I don’t want to be that duke’s son-in-law. Also, more than anything…

Rustle-!

Tingle-!

I don’t want to deal with jealous males.

When he only had a Female Bear by his side, he already received all sorts of stinging gazes. Now that the mage chick hovered towards him, it was natural that gazes filled with jealousy which was on a completely different level than before gathered towards him.

If look could kill, he would have died hundreds of times now.

Hmm…

Now he understood why only the brave could get beautiful women.

Because if they didn’t have the guts, they wouldn’t be able to handle this kind of jealousy.

However, understanding didn’t mean he could tolerate it.

“…Annoying.”

Tsk-!

He clicked his tongue.

It wasn’t like he couldn’t bear to be the target of jealousy, he just felt that the gazes pouring onto him had become extremely bothersome.

After he muttered that single word quietly out of annoyance…

[[…]]

“…Huh?”

Why is it so quiet all of a sudden?

The surroundings suddenly became quiet, so he blinked a few times and looked around. The males, the same group of people who had been glaring at him just a moment ago, had all turned their heads and became as quiet as mice.

Why are they acting like that all of a sudden…?

As he blinked, expressing his doubts,

“…Instructor. You become more not human.”

“What are you talking about?”

Kunta suddenly looked at him with an incredulous look, making Lee Han tilt his head. He just couldn’t figure out why the boy was acting like that.

Meanwhile, the men who had been glaring at him were hit by goosebumps. They could feel that their spines tingled out of nowhere.

D-Did he just use Lion’s Roar?

Gulp…

Lion’s Roar. He told them that it was a way to put spirit into one’s voice, and it was the thing that was able to subdue Arno and Garland at once back during the sparring ceremony on the Swordsmanship Department cadets’ first day at class.

The image of the instructor roaring like a lion right before their eyes was still vivid in their memory. It was such a shocking memory that they felt that they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

However, the Lion’s Roar from that time and the current one was different. The current Lion’s Roar wasn’t a technique where he consciously imbued his spirit on his voice; he did that unconsciously.

In other words, he had unconsciously [threatened] those who expressed their hostility toward him and those who poured their jealous gazes at him. All these people probably…

─Seen an optical illusion where a lion the size of an elephant growled right before their eyes.

Although they didn’t harbor hostility towards the instructor unlike those guys, the trio, who had an excellent ability to read the others’ spirit due to their considerable skills, trembled like people who had been hit by sparks while standing near a campfire.

“I’m going crazy, my body was paralyzed for about 5 seconds.”

“K-Kunta was for 10 seconds…”

“…Is he even a human anymore?”

The three people whose bodies were temporarily paralyzed showed obvious signs of exhaustion on their face. After all, what their instructor just did could no longer be treated as a mere technique.

Because the Lion’s Roar would come out whenever he got angry.

“The instructor has become a beast.”

“That expression is a little…”

“It’s not wrong, but…”

“Calling him a wild animal fits him better.”

“Yeah, that sounds about right— Huh? Young Master Roen? When did you come?”

“Just now. I thought a monster invaded this place when I got here. What happened?”

“…Haha.”

Even though Lionel’s prince had come, their instructor’s presence was so intense that no one even realized that he was here.

Arno swallowed a hollow laugh while Garland just let out an exhausted sigh.

Meanwhile, Kunta…

“AH! Is this that? ‘Beauty and the Beast’?”

The Barbarian unexpectedly mentioned the title of a fairy tale that did not exist in this world, and it was only later that Kunta realized that what he saw was the inspiration for the fairy tale.

Not knowing that this might be a historical moment when the Picturesque Brothers would be replaced by Picturesque Barbarians, Lee Han was simply pleased with the quietness of his surroundings.

It’s a little less annoying now.

The crowds would always turn their gaze away from him whenever they locked eyes with him.

Why would they do that?

“Why are those people like that?”

“I know right?”

Those who were not exposed to his threat simply tilted their heads worriedly. At that moment…

[[~♪.]]

The quiet sound of instruments echoed.

Countless instruments such as violins, cellos, pianos, and brass instruments like euphoniums began to play and blended into wonderful music. It was a performance by students from the Music Department.

“This is one of the reasons why the Academy would hold balls and parties. To show off the skills of the Music and Art Department students. They might just get offers from the nobles if they were to do well here.”

“Really? That’s the first time I hear something like that.”

“Umm, you really left all the work to Assistant Damian, huh, Instructor? Usually, the other teachers would send you a collaboration request and such…”

“…Why doesn’t he tell me that important thing? That incompetent guy.”

“…”

Lee Han blamed the irresponsible assistant for him not knowing such basic things. Showing his shameless confidence, he scolded the assistant.

…If the person in question were there, he would whine and say that it was unfair. After all, he actually had reported everything to him, he just pretended not to hear it.

Unfortunately, the poor assistant had been working the night shift for three days and had to stay home since early in the morning. He couldn’t have imagined the unreasonable scolding that would come his way in the future.

However, since Lee Han could scold him at any time, he decided to deal with something more important first, which was…

Swish-!

“Please take care of me.”

“Y-Yes…”

Showing proper courtesy for the occasion.

As the music began to play, the men and women naturally paired up and danced. It seemed like a situational drama that was set up like a play, but surprisingly…

No, this actually feels like a situational drama, right?

That description was actually accurate. After all, if someone were to think that this ball was just a place to have fun and play, they were gravely mistaken. This ball was an extension of the test for students majoring in the arts, and a trial version for those who would experience the social world in the future.

So, from a third-party perspective, it seemed unnatural, and at the same time, the situation was like a situational drama.

However…

“Is this how you dance?”

“You are doing well, yes, that is how you do it, Bear Number 8.”

“…Chick Number 12, can you stop calling me Bear?”

“Then Baldie Number 8?”

“…Just call me Bear.”

“Hohoho.”

For the commoner cadets or the cadets from lower-class nobles who were new to this kind of place, all of this was a refreshing and enjoyable experience. Moreover, just hanging out with a partner was bound to be a great pleasure and experience.

Well, what’s not fun about school days?

Doesn’t ‘youth’ literally mean laughing and smiling at the sight of a leaf?

Memories and experiences are like an asset…

Suddenly, a story of his previous life acquaintance who went to college comes to Lee Han’s mind. No matter how much time passed, he and that friend would talk about it. They’d laugh, chat, and get angry while reciting their school days over alcohol or coffee.

Talking about those days was enjoyable.

That was why this wasn’t just a ball or a test stage.

For young men and women, this experience would be an unforgettable memory even after 10 or 20 years had passed; romance that could only be obtained in their youths. Even though it might seem like an endlessly awkward situational drama, such romance definitely existed here now.

It was also like that with his disciple who was dancing with him. Wearing an extremely excited expression, she danced, as if this was the happiest moment in her life ever.

“Enjoying it?”

“…Not quite.”

“?”

“I’m just happy.”

“…I see.”

Hearing her words, Lee Han just danced silently. He didn’t push himself too hard, he just danced as best he could so that his disciple could enjoy herself.

Although he was clumsy in many ways, he still wanted to praise himself for being able to dance like this in just four days.

He gave all his thanks to the maid whose honey-colored eyes suited her so well.

…That was why…

…The kids are playing happily, so why are there so many bad guys here?

As an adult, Lee Han couldn’t stand to watch a page of their youth being ruined.

Perhaps just like him, Blackie and the trio had already noticed as well.

Those shady guys…

There were some guys with a temperament that he didn’t want to associate with.

To him who felt so…

-‘Assassins’, instructor.

“…”

-They’re assassins from the Western Continent. They’re people who have undergone quite harsh training. But I never expected the Sultan to bring them along…

“…Hmm.”

You’re more amazing than them, though?

Secret Sound Transmission.

Even though Blackie’s mouth moved, his voice couldn’t be heard by anyone. It was transmitted only to the person he wanted to communicate with.

Seeing Blackie having such a skill left him dumbfounded. He wondered how the boy could even do such a thing.

However, Lee Han put aside his curiosity for a moment.

Instead…

“Female Bear, I have to go and do something for a moment.”

“Pardon?”

“There are a lot of rats here.”

“…”

“I’m sorry for being a bad partner.”

“…Ahaha, please don’t be like that, Master. Rather, it suits you better to take action at such a moment.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

He decided to scold the bad guys who tried to interfere with the kids’ happy moments.

Of course…

I just have to make sure the kids don’t catch on.

Lee Han affectionately let go of the hand he was holding.

At that moment, Levy had a look of regret on her face, but…

“Take care, Master.”

“Thank you.”

She let him go without making much fuss. Then, Lee Han mouthed a message to Blackie even though he couldn’t do that technique to transmit the sound.

-I’ll be back soon, take good care of them.

Then, he raised his fist, basically saying that he wouldn’t let the boy off easy if he failed to do what he ordered him to do.

And Blackie…

-If a suspicious person approaches, I will cut them down right away.

Gave a satisfactory answer.

Whoosh-!

Lee Han’s figure disappeared in an instant as he blended in with the people.

As if he had never been there in the first place.

“…How did he do that?”

Roen asked as he searched for his figure that had already disappeared.

If Lee Han found Blackie’s sound transmission strange, Roen found his movements even more strange.

Seriously…

“No matter how I look at it, you are more unique than me.”

The regressor sincerely said so.