Chapter 228: The Knight Makes A Home Visit (1)

“Haa.”

“…”

“Haaah…”

“…….”

“Haaah…!”

“I-is there something wrong, Miss Irene?”

“…Just call me Irene, Levy. And no, nothing is wrong.”

“I-is that so.”

“But…! Haa! No, nothing…”

“…”

…No matter how Levy looked at it, it seemed like she was giving her a strong hint that she wanted her to pay attention to her. Not only did she let out a deep sigh in front of others, but she also gave her a burdensome look every now and then, as if asking for attention.

Because of that, it was natural for a cold sweat to run down Levy’s forehead.

“Poor Levy, she ended up falling into that trap…”

“Why is she acting like that in the Swordsmanship Department training grounds?”

“She must be acting like that because she wants someone to talk to.”

“But why is she acting like that here? If she goes to the Magic Department, she will find a lot of people who want to talk to her.”

“The Magic Department guys are fanatics who worship Miss Irene. That’s why she said it’s burdensome.”

“I see… Huh? But how do you know that?”

“…I was caught last time and had to listen to her for 5 hours.”

“…You got caught too, huh.”

When Irene first entered the Academy, she was the object of envy for other cadets on the Swordsmanship Department. Being the daughter of a duke was one thing, but Irene Windler herself exuded a mysterious charm that was no less than that of a duke’s daughter.

A beautiful appearance like a fairy and a sweet voice.

A talent to be an Archmage and magical skills that matched that talent.

A brilliant intellect that ranked second when she first entered the school.

There probably wasn’t a man anywhere who didn’t have a crush on a girl who was not only beautiful but also had perfect intellect. If she hadn’t been the daughter of the duke, there would have been thousands of people confessing to her.

However, there was a place where all men whose feelings for her had cooled down gathered, and that was none other than.

She’s really beautiful and intelligent, but her behavior is a bit…

I got caught by her last time and had to sit through her conversation for 10 hours… I don’t want to experience that again.

I don’t know who’s going to take her hand, but that one has to got a strong eardrums.

…Swordsmanship Department.

At first, they admired the girl like everyone else, but as they gradually got to know her, they realized…

She’s not a bad person.

However, that didn’t mean Irene’s personality was bad or eccentric. She just had more desire for affection, didn’t give anyone a break in conversation, and often did strange things that didn’t fit her image as a mage.

…Well, those were precisely the reasons why they were leaving. Even more so when many of them got nosebleeds or faint after deciding to hangout with her.

As expected, beautiful things should only be seen from afar.

A girl who was more attractive when they didn’t get too close to her.

That was Irene Windler.

And as if to prove that sentiment,

“You know, listen, Levy. I saw it four nights ago, the maid and the instructor were really close together. I kept following them around and watching them, and you know what? They were holding hands, eating together, going for walks…! That’s a date, right? A date! Looking at that, I was getting angry inside,  I was jealous,  I was envious, and I wanted to be in that position…!!”

“So it’s like that, huh… But since the maid and the instructor were always close together, it’s not really strange…”

“No…!! I don’t know about other people, but you shouldn’t say that, Levy! Aren’t you jealous!?”

“Huh? If the Master is happy, I am fine with everything.”

“…Ugh!”

“T-the second thing is… Oh, no! It’s nothing…”

Ahhhh! Why are there only such kind and good girls around me! I’m the only one who’s bad! I’m the only one…!

[Arin, I’m really embarrassed by you.]

“Shut up!”

“Huh?”

“I didn’t say that to you, Levy! I said that to my nemesis, the ghost.”

“…”

“No, I’m serious! Don’t look at me with pitying eyes!!”

…Levy, who was caught by Irene, had to listen to the girl’s complaints and respond accordingly.

“Female Bear is such a kind and good girl. Kunta also wants a girl like that.”

“Didn’t someone confess to you a few days ago?”

“When Kunta told her to have a baby with him, she slapped Kunta and left. The next day, rumors started spreading that Kunta was trash. That made Kunta sad.”

“…It’s not something to be sad about. It’s your fault.”

“I think if the Instructor saw that, he would say, ‘You reap what you sow,’ hehe!”

“Oh, Galand. Are you done training?”

“I’m quite done. You know, the assistant instructor really got stronger. No, it’s not that he got stronger, but his venomous nature and dangerousness become no joke. He’s really hard to deal with because he’s holding a hammer.”

“…Yeah, he’s quite tricky to fight.”

In the Swordsmanship Department, there were three people who were called ‘The Trio’ by anyone. Even though the ceiling of power amongst the cadets of the Swordsmanship Department was clearly Roen, the second ceiling beneath him was those three.

Arno de Offen, the descendant of the Sword Saint.

Kunta, the Mystical Barbarian.

Galand, the disciple of the Mercenary King.

The trio consisted of those three cadets.

Those three people had decided to spar with one person, and they had to feel a sense of crisis several times during that sparring. Even now, a red mark was clearly engraved on Galand’s cheek.

A mark from a proper hit.

And the opponent who engraved that mark was,

“…Keuuu.”

It was Damien Paulet who was sleeping in a state of unconsciousness.

He had been knocked out by a proper chin hit during his duel with Galand. If he’s still like himself from before, Galand would have simply subdued him instead of knocking him out, but now, subduing him was anything but easy.

No, rather, Galand had to fight with all his might.

“He’s gotten stronger. Well, he’s got to be stronger since he attacks Instructor every day.”

“He didn’t get stronger just by attacking him. His hate is also growing.”

“Hmm, sometimes Kunta is scared by the Assistant. He looked like a ghoul when we fought yesterday.”

“He definitely looks like a ghoul.”

All of them had heard that he worked overtime yesterday too.

They couldn’t help but wonder when he did not work overtime as he, who had recently been suffering from insomnia, looked like he was of the same species as a ghoul.

“Hehe, I can sleep…”

Damian made a happy expression, wondering if being hit and fainting was the same as falling asleep. It seemed like he still considered falling asleep even after being hit was good.

“To think he is still sleepwalking…”

“Assistant is so pitiful.”

“If you feel so, you should work as an assistant too, Kunta.”

“Galand, you shouldn’t cross the line. There are things you shouldn’t say even between friends. Kunta doesn’t want to lose a friend today.”

“…I’m sorry. I made a slip of tongue.”

“Um, Kunta will accept it. I hope you won’t say things like that even as a joke in the future.”

“You’re good at talking all of a sudden?”

Just like that, the Swordsmanship Department enjoyed a peaceful daily life(?) as always.

The kingdom still had many incidents happening here and there, but since they were still students, they should be protected. Moreover, shouldn’t they enjoy the peace that might be over soon?

And…

“-What the? Why is this kid sleeping here instead of at home?”

A knight who unknowingly contributed greatly to maintaining that peace appeared.

“It looks like the construction finished early today.”

“It’s almost done. Now I just need to wrap things up.”

“…Haha.”

Lee Han, who showed up later than usual, had been to a construction site since dawn.

Which construction site?

Do you know what it means to destroy the royal castle, Instructor?

Did my father just tell me to not bother the instructor too much? But, isn’t that a natural thing to do?

Just who did he spar with, I wonder?

Of course it was the royal castle.

The construction site that Lee Han had gone to was none other than the royal castle, and most of the cadets knew vaguely what Lee Han had done. After all, there were quite a few nobles among the cadets’ parents who worked at Royal Castle.

From their parents, they heard that…

He almost destroyed the castle while sparring?

How could someone destroy the castle while sparring?

The cadets didn’t understand it at all, but one thing was clear: the parents of the students who had been expressing their discontent with Lee Han knowingly or unknowingly were now strongly urging them not to fight with their instructor.

They even wanted to give him a gift!

That’s why the cadets, whether it was the Young Masters or the Chicks, could predict what Lee Han did.

He must have done something he normally did.

As always, he must have committed a destructive act like the tyrant of the mountain (ogre).

“So, why is the assistant instructor here?”

“He got hit and passed out while sparring with Galand.”

“Really? He didn’t look like some who just get hit and pass out, though?”

“He left a mark on my face, Instructor.”

“You should be nervous. Else, he’ll catch up to you.”

“I’m going to do that even without you telling me, Instructor.”

“Hmm, then do you want to fight with me often like this guy?”

“Instructor… Even though I’m a former mercenary, I wouldn’t do something so ignorant.”

“But this guy did it ?”

“He’s more ignorant than a mercenary, tsk tsk.”

Damien had finally reached the point where even the mercenaries felt sorry for him, yet he was still sleeping happily.

Before long, Lee Han told Galand to throw him somewhere else, and then looked straight at the cadets.

[…]

It seemed like he had something to say, so the cadets were silent as if they had never been noisy.

“You guys are so quick-witted.”

Lee Han made a face that he was glad he didn’t have to say anything and took out a stack of papers from his bag that was hidden behind the stage.

“Take one each. Only the one who was willing should get your parents to sign it.”

“This is?”

“A home visit application.”

“…Pardon?”

“A home visit application.”

“??”

Lee Han explained.

“The kingdom has been in an uproar recently, right? Your parents must be worried because of that. So, as an instructor, don’t you think it’s necessary for me to reassure them? I’m also going to tell them about some measures to prevent dangerous situations that may occur.”

Only then did the cadets understand.

“Ah!”

“Such profound meaning!”

“You’re so meticulous. What’s wrong with you, Instructor?”

“Head on the ground!”

“Yes!”

After appropriately punishing the brat who had been talking nonsense, Lee Han fixed his gaze on the cadets again.

“Of course, I’m not going to force you to do it. I’m only going to do it if you want to. That’s why I asked you to tell your parents to sign it if you are willing.”

“What about Kunta?”

“If you want me to visit your home, tell me. I’ll run all the way to your hometown and come back.”

“But it’s 100km away?”

“It’s close.”

“?”

“If you understand, we should wrap things here today. So go ask your parents.”

Lee Han quickly dispersed the cadets. Even though It felt a little forced, the cadets who were already used to this situation simply nodded their heads and didn’t feel anything strange. Though, they couldn’t help but wonder that it might be some sort of side effect because they had experienced so many unusual things under him.

“…?”

A cadet who was reading the contents of the application tilted his head.

“Instructor, can I ask you a question?”

“What is it?”

“…Uh, if you look here, why is my application already signed…?”

It was Arno de Offen. He voiced his question after confirming that the consent box for his application had already been signed. However, rather than explaining, Lee Han just took something out of his pocket while snorting.

What he took out was none other than,

“It’s not something serious. I just didn’t need permission to go to your house.”

“…Why do you have that, Instructor?”

An old dagger.

Arno’s pupils trembled as soon as he showed him the dagger he had received from Baltar the day before.

The only person in the family who had that was his father, the head of the household…

“This is a free pass to your house, right?”

“…”

“Oh, before I use this, I have a question-.”

Is the ‘Sword Saint’ at home?