The duel ended in a disappointing whimper, contrary to expectations.
While Lee Han was filled with disappointment, the spectators watching the duel felt quite differently.
-…gulp.
The biggest change was in the way they looked at him.
Originally, there had been some disdain in their gazes, but now, that disdain was gone, replaced with occasional looks of admiration and longing.
Most of them were commoners, while the few noble-born ones mostly gazed at him with a sense of scrutiny.
Surely, they were judging whether it would be appropriate to forge a connection.
Anyway, this is why nobles are such problematic individuals.
Yet, despite their lack of warmth, Lee Han finally started with a proper introduction.
“I’ve introduced myself before, but let me do it again. I am Lee Han Turtle. Just so you know, it’s Lee Han, not Li Han. Keep that in mind.”
-……
“Come on, at least give me a response, you clueless bunch.”
-Yes, yes!
“Good answer.”
Honestly, these young fledglings, when will they come into their own?
“…I am a knight from the White Lion Order, and as you can see, I come from a common background. I’m sure many of you already know this. Oh, and for those who don’t want to learn from me just because I’m a commoner, like those second and third-year students, you don’t have to show up. Whether you come now or later, it’ll be about the same anyway.”
“There are no penalties…”
“There are no penalties. It’s easier for me to just teach those who actually want to learn. Just make sure you show up well during the exam period. You want to pass, don’t you? If you don’t need that, then just join another class. The correction period has ended, but I can still speak to the other instructors and lecturers on your behalf.”
In Lee Han’s view, he was showing kindness.
He hated to lose out on potential training partners, but he wasn’t irresponsible enough to waste time on those who didn’t truly want to learn.
On the contrary, he welcomed those who were eager to put in effort.
As they say, having a training partner can be quite beneficial.
“Oh, and anyone who wants to challenge me can feel free. I welcome duels!”
“I’ll take you on, Kunta!”
“Go take care of your back injury first. What were you doing while others were dueling?”
“…Um.”
Kunta’s enthusiasm deflated.
However, it wasn’t just Kunta who took the hit.
“Same goes for the rest of you. If you’ve just been watching the duels instead of getting treatment, go get treated first. We have enough patients.”
“Wasn’t that all your doing, instructor?”
“So what?”
“…Just mentioning it.”
Garland’s comment was swiftly dismissed, and soon the ones who had rolled around on the ground today hurried to leave.
They were off to the recovery room where the healing priest awaited.
‘Truly the Academy. Their support is incredible.’
Considering the salary of a healing priest is roughly equivalent to that of a middle manager in a large company, they must really be making it work.
And that’s not all. Hiring a healing priest automatically means regular donations to the temple as well.
With that kind of money, you could build a new building every week.
‘Guess I’ll have to make frequent use of this.’
Feeling a strange satisfaction thinking about the healing priests, he was interrupted.
“Um, instructor, what are we going to learn?”
A question came from those who hadn’t shown much interest before.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m, I’m Levi Polt, instructor.”
“Hmm. Noble?”
“Just a humble family.”
“Hmm, do you want to learn swordsmanship?”
“…If I can learn after registering at least once, I, I would like to do so!”
“Really…?”
This kid seems quite sharp.
At first glance, she appeared to be a noble girl who had never even touched a sword.
She seemed more like someone preparing for a debutante ball than the swordsmanship department.
A girl who would probably be more at home among the delicate socialites.
However, it wasn’t particularly unusual.
About half of them were similar.
To be honest, most of the girls who probably hadn’t washed a single dish came to his classes because…
‘They’re looking for a fiancé or a debutante partner.’
Just like picking a prom queen and king at a prom party you often see in American movies, having a great partner is vital for the debutante season.
Especially among those who might become knights in the future, it is quite common to engage in contract agreements during their debutante events.
It’s likely that they are part of this demographic looking to capitalize on that.
One might find it a bit infuriating, but Lee Han honestly didn’t care.
The reason this academy continues to operate is that they enjoy substantial sponsorship from those nobles.
That’s also why they can afford to hire healing priests.
However, seeing them eagerly looking to learn from him was a bit unexpected.
Why were they like that?
“Isn’t it because the fight between you and Prince Roen was so impressive? People generally look up to what they can’t do themselves.”
“…Is that so?”
“Especially for the noble girls. They must have grown up in a greenhouse, so this kind of stimulation feels awe-inspiring. But, all things considered, it won’t last long. Given that noblewomen avoid sweating like the plague, once they break a sweat, they’ll likely lose interest. That’s probably why most of the girls in the swordsmanship department drop out after just one semester.”
“You seem to know a lot.”
“Hey, my older brother is from the Academy, so I’ve heard quite a bit.”
“A walking encyclopedia, huh? Quite useful.”
“Thank you!”
“…But, as your instructor…”
“Y-Yes?”
“Could you not shove your face in my way? Looking at your face makes me want to smack you.”
“…Y-Yes.”
“Good, that’s nice to hear. From now on, whenever you talk to me, keep that same attitude.”
“……Damn.”
“I can hear you, instructor.”
Damian, or rather, the trainee (magic slave), felt his eyes once again welling up with tears.
* * *
Today’s class has concluded.
Much like universities that wrap things up early on the first day, he too exercised some flexibility.
Soon, all the trainees left, and the training ground fell into silence.
Only Lee Han remained, and the dimming sky was quite a sight to behold.
“Hmm.”
However, instead of taking in the beautiful sky, Lee Han found it more beneficial to reflect on the duel that had taken place earlier.
‘Should I have penetrated deeper in that moment?’
Even if it was just a duel with those significantly weaker than him, there were still lessons to be learned.
Why is a prestigious family considered prestigious?
Sure, they might lack fundamental skills, but they’re often overflowing with advanced techniques.
It’s like a pearl on a pig’s neck; if someone other than the pig can procure that pearl to some extent, it’s a significant achievement.
Especially notable were four individuals.
‘Kunta, right? I think I’ll challenge that barbarian guy again tomorrow. I should take it slower this time. He seems like my type, and it might be fun.’
‘The guy with the dual swords and the one with the spear technique were also impressive.’
‘…The regressor was more cunning than I expected.’
He found himself more intrigued by others than by the one he had initially anticipated.
There was much to learn.
Moreover, unlike him, they possessed limitless potential.
They could be considered geniuses.
Observing and battling those types of individuals would surely let him accumulate new information with each encounter.
Baltar had said it, hadn’t he?
What he needed wasn’t theoretical knowledge but rather information gained through practical experience.
And having people with much to learn from was certainly welcome.
“…Looking back, this job isn’t too bad.”
It had been something he was forced into by Isis.
Yet after trying it out today, it didn’t seem too terrible.
In fact, it was quite the opposite.
“A fulfilling experience!”
The title of an Academy instructor.
Now that he thought about it, it felt even more rewarding than being in the Knight Order.
Lee Han found himself unexpectedly smiling, realizing he had stumbled upon a job that suited him.
It seemed this role would be far from boring compared to the Knights, who only avoided dueling and offered no sense of fulfillment.
……Also.
“Hey, you rat over there.”
There were some interesting characters around too.
“Come out already. Why have you been peeking these past couple of days?”
Whoosh.
A gentle breeze brushed against the empty grass ground.
It was merely an empty space, but what did he mean by that?
In the midst of this peculiar situation, as Lee Han reached for his hand axe…
Whoosh.
“…I’m sorry, instructor. I didn’t mean to be a bother.”
Suddenly, a man appeared.
Lee Han recognized him.
He was one of the faces he had seen among the trainees.
The rather unnoticeable guy who always stuck close to Roen.
Surely he had a name.
“Was it Hans?”
“…It’s Jack.”
“Oh, right.”
“…Could you please put the hand axe away?”
“First, I need to hear your answer.”
Tap, tap.
Lee Han lightly tapped the ground with the axe, demanding a response.
Considering that he’d suspiciously observed him, it wouldn’t be surprising if the axe flew at him.
In such a tense situation, Jack maintained his smile but was sweating profusely.
‘Did he notice that I was watching yesterday?’
Technically, he wasn’t watching Jack, but rather Irene Windler, but he hadn’t expected him to catch on.
‘As expected, he’s no ordinary human, as my lord said.’
A dangerous person indeed.
Not only was he strong, but there was something special about him.
“So, my lord is certainly…”
Jack barely managed to pull away his chapped lips.
“…My lord has mentioned the term ‘Your Highness.’”
“Can’t you just say it like you did earlier? Why do you always have to do it this way? Nobles, I swear…”
“By any chance, do you know about ‘angels’?”
“…?”
“So you don’t know. That’s good enough.”
“Angels?”
“I’ll just tell you this: Don’t trust angels or temples.”
That was an utterly perplexing statement.
Angels?
…Does that guy have a screw loose?
There were plenty of reasons to doubt him, but I’d better just bash him over the head later. Who knows, he might get better.
Exhibiting his so-called goodwill by secretly treating him, Lee Han replied nonchalantly, “I indeed happen to be an atheist.”
“Haha, how irreverent. But I’m the same, so I must also be irreverent.”
“Hm, I don’t know what’s going on, but it sounds like you all came to the Academy for some pretty impure intentions.”
“…I won’t deny that.”
Jack thought he might die at this moment.
If the instructor wanted to kill him, he easily could.
But then,
“By the way, how old are you?”
“Y-Yeah?”
“How old are you, kid?”
“I-I’m twenty.”
“…You look a bit older than that. I thought you were lying about your age to get in.”
“That’s just too much, instructor…”
Lee Han casually delivered a crushing blow, leaving Jack looking like he was about to burst into tears.
Lee Han chuckled, shaking his head.
He had a rough idea of what was going on.
Whether it was angels or whatever, in stories that involve rofan (romantic fantasy), the typical recurring villains are usually…
‘The royal family or the temples are the bad guys.’
Anyway, they’re bound to be used like a well-cooked bone broth.
With that in mind, Lee Han wondered if there were any other humans he should be wary of.
“Are there no other humans I should be concerned about?”
“…Do you believe what I say?”
“I just have a hunch. It doesn’t seem like there’s anything I should be worried about.”
“…You truly are an unusual person, aren’t you, instructor?”
“Enough flattery. Is there nothing else? Something entertaining.”
“W-well, entertainment…”
Jack wondered if further comments might be overstepping.
However, Jack decided to take the risk by sharing the intriguing tale of a wandering bard, sensing the instructor’s growing interest.
Feeling that gaining this person’s favor might lead to significant help in the future.
“…Do you know anything about the ‘rambunctious second prince’?”
“Second prince? Are they still raising princes in the kingdom?”
Since the princess became the Crown Princess, he had thought all the princes had disappeared.
They had either been expelled or had mysteriously vanished without a trace; it was wise not to pay anyone any mind.
But there was still a remaining prince?
“Wow, the prince is not a dog, instructor.”
That was some seriously casual talk.
Shouldn’t this person learn to keep his mouth shut as a knight?
“Forget it. Rascally prince? What a common name.”
“E-eh, it should be quite famous; haven’t you heard? He’s known to be cruel and has a severe mental condition.”
“And why does that matter?”
Lee Han was starting to wonder why the name of a prince he wasn’t interested in was popping up, and Jack responded:
“…I’ve heard that this rascal has sneaked into the Academy disguised under another name. The reason is beyond my knowledge.”
“Sneaked in?”
“Yes. Honestly, I wonder if it’s even worth keeping an eye on him, but since he’s a prince, we might need to be cautious.”
That was a reasonable explanation, and Lee Han nodded, then asked again.
“By any chance, anything specific about him?”
“Hmm, ah! I’ve heard that the prince has mental issues.”
“Mental issues?”
“Yeah, apparently he often points at empty space and does bizarre things.”
“…….”
“Why do you ask?”
“…Nothing, just seems a bit crazier than I expected.”
Lee Han blurted out yet another blunt remark, and Jack cautioned him about the possibility of someone overhearing, but Lee Han didn’t pay attention.
He focused more on the absurd remark than worrying about who was listening.
‘…What’s up with this? There’s another one around?’
Rofan reincarnation.
Rebirth.
That alone was quite a bit…
‘Now there’s a status window too?’
Thinking again, he realized that his life at the Academy would be far from dull.
“Hah.”
Looks like there’s no chance to get bored.
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