Being a serf knight is a notorious custom.
Why is it notorious?
It’s simple. It’s an utterly unreasonable custom.
It started as a title given to the apprentices of free knights, but who in this day and age would want to be the apprentice of a free knight?
They’re just criminals masquerading as free knights.
Yet, naïve boys from foolish rural villages are easily deceived by these free knights’ promises of apprenticeship.
Thus begins their so-called ‘serf knight’ life.
Cleaning, laundry, and cooking are just the beginning.
They also have to earn money for the knight’s entertainment, and for maintaining appearances, they can even find themselves having to borrow money.
All in the name of being a serf knight.
Because of this, most who become serf knights end up in debt.
Of course, many try to run away before that happens, but some can’t.
Even if they’re called free knights, they still bear the title of knight, and since they’re nothing more than thugs, they have no qualms about killing people.
That’s why the system of free knights has been abolished.
There are no villains as despicable as these.
Yet, oddly enough, the serf knight system has not been abolished.
According to the nobles, it’s the free knights’ fault, but knights from other noble families aren’t like that, or so they say.
…What a load of nonsense.
The knights I’ve seen from noble families, and the serf knights they command, are worse than servants….
Yes, I’ve seen countless times the degrading treatment they endure.
That’s why, if there’s a naive lamb hoping to become a serf knight, I’ll gladly teach them.
‘It’s not what you think,’ I’ll say.
However,
‘What does it mean for someone who knows everything to want to be a serf knight?’
1. They’re crazy.
2. They’re a masochist who enjoys pain and suffering.
3. Or it could be both.
……Hmm, it’s a tough question.
Very difficult.
So,
“…Where should I hit you?”
“Wha—?”
“Where should I hit you for you to feel better? Seriously think about it and tell me. I feel like I broke something, so I’m happy to fix it for you.”
“……”
Thud, thud.
Lee Han relaxed his fist, ready to strike either the back of the guy’s head or the front.
If the problem was hitting him with the podium yesterday, he could just hit him differently this time.
Since he threw it with a curve yesterday, should he throw a slider now?
It’s a troublesome bond, but this guy is also part of the Swordsmanship Department.
Regardless of how much he’s just a facade of an instructor, doesn’t he have the obligation to knock some sense into the trainees?
‘If it doesn’t work out, then so be it.’
As Lee Han casually looked around for an appropriate rock, the kneeling guy suddenly said,
“Th-That’s not it, sir! Uh, I think there’s some misunderstanding; I’m not crazy!”
“You’re not crazy yet you act like this? …Then isn’t that a bigger problem?”
“Th-That’s….”
Even he could tell his excuse was pitiful, so Damian’s words faltered.
And then he added,
“Uh, I must have misspoken.”
In his rush to express his desire to become a serf knight without explaining the circumstances, he had no defense against this treatment.
Acknowledging this humbly, Damian continued with further explanation.
“My father, er, I mean, my lord has ordered me to assist Sir Lee Han.”
“…?”
…Why?
Lee Han expressed his inquiry with a raised eyebrow.
He’d heard a lot.
From tales of how the count changed overnight to stories about knights and the count’s eldest son living in a shaky environment.
There were also rumors of elders coming forward to reinstate discipline within the family.
The youngest prince, who tarnished the count’s reputation, had apparently been removed from the family registry.
And if he wanted to return to the family, he needed to seek forgiveness from a certain knight first.
Well, he heard a lot, but the conclusion was simple.
“If you want forgiveness, you either cut off that obnoxious tongue of yours or bring me the head of the knight who tried to jump me. That should be enough for my forgiveness.”
“……”
“You can choose either.”
“……”
“Don’t like it? If you don’t, then scram. Just seeing your face is disgusting.”
Lee Han scoffed with merciless disdain. As if he already knew that this guy wouldn’t be able to follow through.
…At that moment.
“I-I’ll cut it.”
“…Cut what?”
“My tongue. If I do that, will you accept me as a serf knight?”
“……”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Evil.
In an instant, Damian pulled out a pair of scissors from somewhere he had been hiding them. The scissors were quite sharp, and with that, he was about to…!
Swoosh!
“Cough!”
“If you cut it carelessly, you might bleed out and die. Who are you trying to turn into a murderer?”
“Cough! Ugh!”
Kicked in the face, Damian struggled but managed to stand up painfully. However, Lee Han continued without a hint of sympathy.
“Tsk, didn’t you learn these basics in your family?”
“…Who the hell teaches that?”
Damian replied with a slurred voice. Blood was pooling in his mouth because his tongue was partially cut.
Lee Han tossed him a low-grade potion he carried for emergencies.
“Can I drink this?”
Damian caught the bottle in a daze, and Lee Han nodded at his question.
“…Thank you.”
Of course, being a low-grade potion, it wouldn’t heal his tongue instantly. But it would help with first aid, and since this guy had learned tactical techniques, he would naturally recover if given a week.
And seeing such a guy, Lee Han remarked, “If you were trying to gain my sympathy, you’d have separated your body and head, even if it meant fighting the count. Because you would have thought I’d never let you mock me again.”
“…Yes.”
In other words, he genuinely wanted to cut his tongue off, which meant Lee Han had saved him.
“Why are you carrying scissors?”
“I thought you might demand a price from me one way or another. I was prepared to lose a finger or an ear.”
“Do you want it that badly?”
“If I can return to the family, I don’t care.”
“…Is that so.”
“Yes.”
…What a ridiculous guy.
Just the other day, Lee Han thought he was just some loudmouth punk, but now he seemed to have some guts.
He wasn’t exactly the type he disliked.
However,
‘Just because I find this guy somewhat likable doesn’t mean I genuinely like him.’
It’s hard to start looking positively at someone you’ve already taken a dislike to. Moreover, in the end, this guy wasn’t sincerely seeking forgiveness; he was just doing all this to maintain his noble status.
Therefore, there was still no reason to view him positively.
But that didn’t mean he would look down on him either.
Just in any rural area, people might engage in fierce battles just to claim the trivial title of village head. Or old men might even hang themselves if they lose that title, despite having a plentiful life.
It only meant that losing power was the most painful thing to them.
Thus, power is scary, and at the same time, it makes someone like him think,
‘That’s something to keep away from.’
Lee Han stared down at him blankly, and Damian’s pupils were flickering incessantly.
He was still in a state of taut nerves.
To him, Lee Han said, “You can leave. You don’t have to be a serf knight or assist me, just don’t ask for forgiveness.”
“……”
“Good. If you accepted that, I would have gone to find the count and tell him not to forgive you.”
“…Yes.”
Noticing that the guy’s complexion had turned particularly pale, perhaps his heart had softened.
Even so, it was fortunate that he suppressed his urge to feel otherwise.
That thought saved this guy’s life, after all.
As he felt amused by Damian once more, Lee Han instead raised three fingers.
“Serve me for three years. Whether inside or outside the academy, I’ll call you when I need you.”
“Um, do you have any thoughts about accepting me as a serf knight?”
“I’m not in a position to take on a disciple. Instead, I’ll take you in as a ‘teaching assistant.’ Would that be satisfactory? Besides, you probably wouldn’t like being known as my serf knight anyway.”
“…I won’t deny that.”
“I appreciate your honesty. -Come along, teaching assistant. Classes start immediately.”
“Understood, sir!”
“Not sir, call me instructor. For the next three years, I’ll only refer to you as ‘teaching assistant,’ not by name.”
“…Ugh.”
“Response.”
“…Yes, Instructor.”
“Good to know you comprehend well.”
Lee Han turned around, and finally, Damian, who had caught a lifeline, sighed deeply, close to tears.
He thought to himself.
‘…Ah, I want to go back to the orientation ceremony.’
He wanted to smack himself from that time.
Damian Pollet, or rather the man who has now become Lee Han’s teaching assistant, felt his eyes mist up as the future looked increasingly grim.
Even now, it seemed like he was staring into a dark abyss.
And just as expected.
“Gather enough water and towels for 80 people. Also, bring along any other necessary items you can think of.”
“W-what about the money…?”
“Either use my name to get support from the academy or find a way to manage it with your own money.”
“…….”
“Any complaints?”
“…None, you jerk.”
“That’s an extra word, teaching assistant.”
“……Sniff.”
Eventually, Damian broke down.
* * *
…There were some cadets who paused briefly at Damian’s reaction, but their interest quickly faded away.
Half of the cadets figured out how the situation was unfolding, while the other half simply didn’t care.
They were all busy enough with their own affairs.
Lee Han liked the self-absorbed cadets.
No unnecessary explanations were needed.
While quickly assessing the cadets’ faces, Lee Han nodded.
‘Each one of them looks like a complete pain in the ass.’
Someone once said that facial expressions are science.
Lee Han agreed wholeheartedly.
Look at their faces! They reek of the lowest caliber from the military.
You could see the determination in their eyes that they wouldn’t listen to a word.
‘They’re probably not gonna like me.’
He understood that.
If he were in their position, he’d feel a certain way towards a commander who had been demoted from the knight order and caused a scene during the orientation ceremony.
Disliking him would be perfectly natural.
…However.
“First, before I introduce myself to you all, I have a proposal.”
-…?
“Cadets who doubt the instructor’s abilities should draw their weapons now. I’m more than happy to engage you.”
-…….
“And, just for your reference.”
-…….
“If anyone manages to defeat me, I will grant you the opportunity to be taught by Baltar Grace. This is a sworn pledge in the name of the White Lion.”
Clang!
“Excellent.”
In the next moment, half of the cadets unsheathed their weapons without hesitation and unleashed their aura towards Lee Han.
“Huh.”
─Yeah, but here’s the thing.
Just as they disliked him, he certainly wouldn’t be fond of those who disliked him either.
Above all, the most critical point was that he had no intention of spending time with these brats and building camaraderie.
Instead.
‘How delightful, so many puppets.’
He was only filled with thoughts of leveraging them.
This morning, he had confirmed that there were plenty of “puppets” to replace the recently deceased sparring dummy, and a smile crept onto his lips.
Each one of them looked sturdier than the rag dolls he had once created.
Lee Han was pleased.
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