Chapter 188: The Knight Starts Anew (5)

The cadets might find it hard to believe, but the fight between Lee Han and Lake that they had just witnessed wasn’t a fight where the two knights displayed all of their capabilities. In fact, they were both restraining their strength as much as possible.

After all, they were fighting underground; it was only natural that they’d be careful.

That was why they didn’t use any Combat Techniques or Martial Power; only utilizing their physical ability and skills. And yet, the result they brought still spoke for itself.

The Fairy’s Blessing did live up to its hype.

They were able to show skills comparable to a deputy commander of a knight order (Lv. 5) with their physical ability alone.

“I want to fight you with weapons, but if we do that, the kids will suffocate, so let’s stop here.”

“Next time… I’ll be the one who calls you.”

“So, even you admitted that it was helpful. Seriously, no need to act so stubborn.”

“…Shut up!”

The fight he just had felt so satisfying, and he knew that he wasn’t the only one who felt so. Just like him, Lake too, needed physical and sense adjustments. Thanks to the fight, he’d probably be able to adjust little by little starting from now on.

I think I have 60% adjusted to my new power, but that guy probably reached 80%.

If he were to only consider their senses, Lake was someone Lee Han couldn’t even think of catching up to, so he might be at a disadvantage in the next fight.

Of course…

The more dangerous the fight is, the more I dig it.

After all, the higher his opponent’s skills were, the faster his adjustments would be, so he’d welcome that development with open arms.

And so, he planned to visit Galahad while carrying his sword next time. As he was thinking about that…

“You’ve learned my Combat Technique, no?”

“Huh?”

“That Combat Technique contained Galahad’s teachings as well as my own interpretation of it. Knowing you, I doubt you’d do it, but please don’t teach it to others.”

“…And here I was, wondering what you were trying to say.”

Hearing Lake’s words, Lee Han laughed.

Who is giving advice to whom here…?

“Mind your own business. I should be the one who told you not to teach my techniques to others. At least, get permission from me first before you do. Also, do keep in mind that whoever learns them belongs to 108 Arhats, including you.”

“Knights of Galahad aren’t supposed to hold multiple allegiances…”

For the first time in his life, Lake let out a groan of exasperation.

*  *  *

During their fight with the Tower Master back in the empire a few days ago, Lee Han and Lake shared their understanding about their techniques with each other in order to take down the monster that had lived for over four centuries.

Lake’s fighting technique and Lee Han’s Martial Power…

The situation begged them to give each other everything, and both of them felt a slight sense of omnipotence at that time.

Although Lee Han had jokingly called himself an Energy Transfer Master at that time, in hindsight, him using that technique was truly a crazy act that put their lives at risk.

Normally, one would need to learn a technique for years to gain a complete understanding of it, but they learned a bunch of them in a single breath. If back then they didn’t receive the Fairy’s Blessing, right now, they’d probably suffer from permanent disabilities. That was how reckless their act was.

In Lee Han’s case, he might have suffered from the aftereffects of energy exploding inside his body multiple times, while Lake might have become a vegetable with his whole body twisted into a deformed state.

That was how foolish the thing that they did was.

It was only due to the Fairy’s Blessing that their bodies were healed.

Moreover…

The seeds remain in our bodies.

Even though Lee Han didn’t feel as omnipotent as he did back then, he still remembered the  sensations of Combat Technique that coursed through his body that day. However, if back then, the power that coursed through his body was like a furnace that radiated thousands of degrees of heat, the power inside him now was just like nothing but a tiny spark.

The same held true for Lake.

However, no matter how small the spark was, he would still be able to grow it back up.

Lee Han was confident. He already experienced that sensation once, and since he had a clear picture of how to grow it in his body, he dared to predict that if he gradually learned it, he would be able to display the same power as that day someday.

But…

“I will only use the parts I need, so I will probably throw away half of what you taught me.”

“You blasphemous bastard! How dare you desiccate Galahad’s understanding!”

“Stop talking nonsense. The reason it works great for you is because you learned it from the beginning, and that’s not the case for me. Not only that, I still haven’t even reached the peak of my own technique, I have no time to learn another thing entirely. In the end, whether it’s the Combat Technique or whatever, it’s just training wheels that will help continue walking on my own path. Nothing more, nothing less… You’re also feeling the same, right?”

“…”

No matter how great the Combat Technique was, what Lee Han wanted to see the end of was ultimately the power he’s currently learning.

To perfect his [Martial Arts].

Because…

That’s my dream.

“Arrogant guy.”

Lake furrowed his brow, feeling deeply offended at the fact that Galahad’s understanding was being treated as a training wheel. He genuinely felt that the guy in front of him was a blasphemous bastard.

However, there was a hint of admiration and curiosity in his eyes…

He wanted to know how far the founder of this new martial arts branch could go.

Of course, he had no intention of saying that out loud.

*  *  *

Silence descended upon the place.

The cadets blinked cautiously. They even found it hard to swallow their own saliva.

Yes, the cadets were currently…

‘So that’s the power of the top-level knights.’

‘I know the instructor is strong, but I never thought he’s that strong…’

‘The Knight Who Guards the Lake deserves his reputation! But, why is the instructor still so unknown when he’s that strong…?’

Completely overwhelmed.

The fact that they could remain unharmed after seeing the clash between such powerful forces was amazing in its own way, but at the same time, they felt a little desperate. They had learned how harsh and tall the wall they were trying to reach was.

They had been proud that they had become so strong after training only for half a year, but now that they realized that they were actually just frogs in a well, their pride was shattered.

However, Lee Han did not call them to witness the spar because he wanted to destroy their pride.

“-If guys like us appear as your enemies, how would you deal with them?”

“??”

…Are you kidding me?

That was the first thought that came to the cadets’ mind when their instructor asked them that question while wiping the blood stains on his body.

But…

“Female Bear, answer.”

“T-That…”

He was seriously asking them. To his call, Levy could only let out an awkward smile.

But that only lasted for a moment.

“…If someone as strong as you were to appear as my enemy, I would simply run away.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

She gave out that firm answer.

It definitely was not the kind of answer someone from Pendragon, the Kingdom of Knights, who revered honor and struggle, would give, but Levy prioritized ‘reality’ more than honor and struggle.

“With my current skills, even if I die and come back to life hundreds of times, Istill won’t be able to defeat you. Tactics or tricks, they’re all meaningless in the face of overwhelming power.”

She was one of those who saw the Ghost King directly during the monster terror attack, so she still remembered that moment vividly.

Unless someone was at a level where they could fight such a monster for even a moment, fighting someone like her master was an act more foolish than harming themselves.

However…

“If I were given five hundred skilled troops and ten high-level knights, I think I could hold you off for a while, Master. Even so, it would only be for a short time, probably less than ten minutes?”

“Huh?”

That wasn’t an answer based on pride, but a very realistic calculation. It prompted Lee Han to laugh. It seemed like he had heard a very interesting answer.

“With those troops and knights, you are confident that you can hold me for ten minutes?”

“Yes. If we are all prepared to sacrifice our lives, I think I will be able to buy five more minutes?”

“…”

She answered with a confident look.

Looking at her, Lee Han was curious about what kind of simulation was unfolding in her head.

…She really had the bearing of someone who’d turn into an extraordinary hero, the one who was dubbed as the [Mercenary Queen]. Even the other cadets couldn’t help but admire her confident appearance.

To be able to say such a thing after seeing the spar between the two knights showed her great courage.

Although her answer was that she’d run away, the cadets saw ‘courage’ in her confident posture.

Such was the dignity of a knight.

“Well, what if you’re stuck in a situation where you can’t run, and can’t count on any troops?”

“At that time…”

The other cadets thought that she’d answer, ‘Wouldn’t I just die?’ playfully, but unexpectedly, she…

“I will fight.”

“…”

From that simple answer and her calm, shining blue eyes, they could feel her determination.

“Your teaching has always been like that, Master. You told me that it’s important to put in our best effort in everything and to struggle as hard as we can in any difficult situation.

“To live each day as if it were our last in order to not leave any regrets.

“That’s why I will fight. Because that…”

─is the teaching you gave me.

“…”

That was the end of her firm answer, and for a moment, silence descended again. The other cadets realized that those words weren’t just empty words, but a sincere one.

The reason they thought so was because they remembered the sight of her fighting bravely during the monster terror attack.

There were no cadets who did not believe those words.

After that, the cadets, especially the boys who called themselves knight cadets, blushed. They felt ashamed after seeing the sight of someone who seemed more firm and courageous than them.

Meanwhile, Lee Han just nodded after hearing her words and checking the reactions of the rest of his students.

“As expected of a model student. I like that answer.”

“Hehehe.”

“Still, it’s only worth a B+.”

“Huh?”

“It’s a little short of an A.”

“Hng…”

Levy’s eyes lit up pitifully like a puppy that got rained on, but Lee Han just smiled at her.

*  *  *

…What Lee Han wanted to see from the cadets was their determination and attitude when going into a battle.

To put it in extreme perspective, he wanted to see what they’d do in a situation where there were monsters like Toure and Ghost King roaming around. Of course, it would be best for them to not confront those monsters, but one always had to keep the worst case scenario in mind.

That was why Lee Han showed the cadets how strong he was. He wasn’t trying to brag, he just wanted to show them. He wanted his disciple to know that there might be stronger guys than him who would threaten them in the future.

Even though it was concerning that the kids were losing their spirit when they saw it, at the very least, the spectacle ‘vaccinated’ them.

“…Well, me as well.”

The kids weren’t the only ones who got the vaccination.

He, too, also got a strong vaccination back in the empire.

I overdid it. No, that was extremely reckless of me.

Of course, he didn’t regret fighting the Magic Tower, it was just, in hindsight, his whole plan was extremely reckless. He was just following his emotions, after all, and thanks to that, he almost died.

If something had gone slightly wrong back then, he would have died.

In vain, even.

I should reflect on that.

It wasn’t just the kids who should be criticized, he needed to criticize himself too.

After all, he almost died back then…

“Hehehe, you’re doing really well though, Sir. So don’t blame yourself too much!”

“…”

“Is there something on my face?”

“…Stop reading my mind, Maid.”

“But I can’t read minds?”

“…”

“Hehehe.”

The woman, Leila Winter, hovered around him, offering words of comfort with her innocent smile, Lee Han could only scratch his cheek nervously.

It was not something new, but it seemed like there really was nothing he could hide in front of this maid.

“-But, Sir. I heard you were blessed by a Fairy?”

“…”

“Is that right?”

“T-That….”

…For a moment, Lee Han’s body stiffened and cold sweat poured down.

What is this?

It stings for some reason…

Even though he was facing her usual bright smile, Lee Han felt intimidated for some reason.

W-Why am I like this?

It felt as if he was caught stealing.

Regardless…

I feel nervous…

He wondered what he should say in this situation.

But soon…

Alright, let’s just go out with confidence!

It’s true that I got a blessing from the Fairy anyway.

Besides, it isn’t like she know how I got blessed—

“Miss Irene was crying, telling me that you’ve been kissed by a Fairy…”

“…”

Right… That Chick with a loose mouth was there wasn’t she?

“Hmm…”

“…”

Lee Han felt as if he had become a stone statue, unable to say anything.

Then, silence enveloped the place.

Even though he didn’t have any relationship with her, he felt like he had become a sinner in front of her.

You know, the fact that we aren’t even in a relationship makes it even sadder…

When the gloominess started to envelop his heart…

“Hehehe, why are you acting like that, Sir? I’m not angry!”

“?”

“Sorry for being mean, Sir! But, there was just something I wanted to confirm, and I think I’ve done it!”

“??”

“You see, knights often fall in love with Fairies, but you don’t seem like you’ve fallen for one, Sir.”

“…Huh?”

Lee Han kept letting a sound that would make people think he was an idiot, but Leila just continued, looking all pleased.

Then, she passed by him with a smile, but he still couldn’t understand the reason behind her emotional changes at all.

Thud-!

“Do you know, Sir? Your first kiss partner isn’t a fairy.”

“Yes…?”

A whisper tickled his ear softly, and Lee Han opened his eyes wide.

He wondered what those words even meant.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t bring himself to ask her.

“!!”

Because at that moment, he caught a glimpse of her reddened cheek.

“…”

For a while after that, he could only stand there blankly, and then…

Boom-!

…He jumped into the nearby river.

The crazy heat caught him, and even after he jumped into the river, it didn’t just go away and instead, it ran even hotter that it made his heart pound.

Yeah, it’s because of the heat.

…It’s summer, after all.