blueteamnovel Chapter 146
Chapter 146
“If I suddenly leave my post at the academy, just assume I’m on the run.”
Ihan said this with a drained expression to the trainees gathered before him.
“On the run?”
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“Instructor—?”
“Just take it at face value.”
“???”
Two days had passed since the commotion at the Galahad estate, and a creeping sense of unease had begun to settle in.
Wasn’t it said that humans are creatures of regret?
Ihan found himself trapped in the vicious cycle of reliving the chaos he’d caused, feeling the consequences in the present. For two nights straight, he had dreamt of being hunted by Galahad soldiers, or of the duke himself coming at him with a drawn sword.
‘Where should I run...?’
Even exile was starting to look like a viable option.
Perhaps the desert and grasslands ruled by the Sultan would suffice? It was said to be hot but surprisingly hospitable.
‘No, the heat’s not my thing.’
Then maybe he should retreat to a remote countryside with valleys and beaches to live a quiet, secluded life?
‘Nope, that’s not ideal either.’
Even if he had the look of someone who could survive anywhere, Ihan was a city dweller at heart. He’d much rather live in a well-developed urban area than endure rural life.
“Ugh.”
“Instructor, I don’t know what’s wrong, but cheer up. Kunta supports you.”
“Surprisingly sensitive for someone built like a brick wall, aren’t you?”
“...I’d rather not hear that from you, Instructor.”
“What’s wrong with me?”
“You look more barbaric than any actual barbarian.”
“Is that supposed to be an insult or a compliment?”
“???”
“...Why don’t you understand your own words?”
Ihan considered adding reading sessions to their training curriculum. Sure, sword-wielders might be called muscleheads, but they still needed a basic level of knowledge.
Somehow, thanks to the bulky trainee, Ihan temporarily forgot his worries about the duke and began contemplating the future direction of his lessons.
That was when...
“Come to think of it, the ballroom season is approaching.”
“Ah, I nearly forgot.”
“Oh no, I still haven’t found a partner...”
The chick trainees practicing the grappling techniques Ihan had taught them suddenly grew lively. The topic of the ballroom season had stirred them up.
“A ball?”
“Yes! The second semester is when the ballroom season begins. The Royal Academy Ball is coming up soon, and everyone has to attend.”
“Something like that exists?”
“Since everyone at the Royal Academy must show their face in society—whether they like it or not—it’s a mandatory event. Not attending is essentially an admission of being excluded from high society.”
“Hmm.”
“Hehe, Instructor, you’re probably thinking balls and social events are pointless, right?”
“Ah, no, it’s not that...”
...These chicks were sharper than he expected.
Was this what people called women’s intuition?
‘Is my expression really that easy to read?’
It seemed like everyone he met could see right through him.
“Well, sorry about that. But I wasn’t thinking it was pointless. It’s just... events like that aren’t familiar to me. I didn’t mean to dismiss you or anything.”
“Oh, I know, Instructor. I understand you didn’t mean it that way.”
The chick’s faint laughter trickled through her words, and the others seemed to agree.
“That’s what’s great about you, Instructor. Even though we’re young and low-ranked, you still apologize to us.”
“Exactly! Unlike some nobles or knights who are too proud to apologize and just lash out instead.”
“If only it stopped at that. Some even resort to violence. I heard about Sir Frand the other day...”
“What?! That happened? Honestly, he’s as terrible as he looks—polished on the outside, but rotten through and through.”
“Such a shame. If I’d seen him, it would’ve been a great chance to test the techniques you taught us, Instructor.”
“Exactly!”
“...Can I leave now?”
Once again, Ihan realized he shouldn’t interfere in conversations between girls.
At some point, his presence seemed to fade from their minds, and he began to feel the urge to escape.
“Hehe, to sum it up, Instructor, you’re just kind-hearted.”
“...I asked about the ball, so why is this the conclusion?”
The kind, teasing voice of the blue-haired chick reached him, and Ihan learned a valuable lesson.
‘Never butt into conversations between girls.’
It was a lesson that would stay with him for the rest of his life.
Meanwhile, a red-haired woman—Judea Pierre—watched from a distance as the female trainees mingled with the knight.
Her expression was unreadable, as always.
However, if a kind and perceptive old priest were present, they might have recognized the faint trace of emotion on her face.
And that emotion was none other than...
“...Oh, Light, how am I supposed to live like this...”
Envy.
+++++
+++++
Outside Ihan’s modest home, a small outbuilding—a simple boarding room—stood nestled in the yard.
It was a handmade structure built by the landlord himself, crafted with such care and durability that it seemed capable of withstanding even the harshest storms.
The sole occupant of this precious little dwelling, Ihan’s “Assistant No. 1,” stood inside, his head bowed and eyes brimming with tears.
“Life’s really unfair, huh...”
Perhaps he felt undeserving of such a fine place to live. Regardless, this one-of-a-kind boarding room had recently been joined by nine more.
More interns had signed up for lodging.
The number of snoring voices had increased, but fortunately, none were disruptive enough to irritate the landlord. While these outbuildings technically shared the yard, they remained separate and independent spaces for their residents.
However...
Rustle.
A shadowy figure stirred, rising from one of the outbuildings.
The figure moved languidly, gliding across the yard with a disjointed, almost spectral gait. Despite her deliberate movements, no other resident seemed to stir; they were too deeply asleep.
It wasn’t that they were too tired to sense her presence. Rather, the figure herself exuded no trace of human footsteps or noise.
Shhh...
She—if the shadow could be called such—moved soundlessly, her feet seeming to float above the ground. If anyone had been awake to witness her, they would’ve screamed in disbelief.
At last...
Phzzzt!
She slipped through the wall rather than the door.
Was she truly some kind of ghost?
“Haa...”
Radiating an eerie, otherworldly aura, the woman stepped into Ihan’s room.
Her gaze landed on him, lying peacefully asleep in a hammock. Slowly, she extended a hand toward him.
Was she here to threaten him? Or worse, to kill him?
Whoosh...
A dark and sinister energy flowed from her, enveloping Ihan like a thick fog.
The energy exuded a strange, captivating allure, something sticky and hypnotic that seemed designed to overwhelm its target.
At last...
“...”
“Are you awake now?”
“...”
“If you’re awake, look at me. I am your master now.”
“...”
The figure—Judea Pierre—stood transformed, her voice and expression entirely different from her usual demeanor.
Shhhht!
Everything about her had changed. Her once-short hair now cascaded down to her waist, her figure more pronounced, almost intoxicatingly alluring. Even the atmosphere around her was charged with seductive power.
To Ihan, however, the transformation provoked a single muttered word.
“...A Yin Ghost.”
Her appearance and aura brought to mind the legendary succubus-like creatures, beings of seductive energy.
Judea, however, shook her head, a coy smile on her lips.
“No, I am a Dream Demon. I am far superior to such lowly beings. Accept me, and I will bring you endless happiness.”
“...”
“Go on, take me as your mistress. I can make you feel joy beyond your wildest dreams if you’ll just become my servant...”
“Are you done yapping?”
“...Why isn’t this working?”
“I said, are you done?”
“I-It should work! Why... could there be... um, an issue with your... masculinity...?”
“You insolent little—!”
Wham!
“AAARGH!”
The sound of impact echoed through the room, accompanied by Judea’s scream. It wasn’t an actual skull-crushing blow, but the dull, reverberating thud was enough to make her writhe in pain.
Though her demon-empowered body was resilient, the sheer force of Ihan’s strike proved overwhelming.
But Ihan wasn’t about to stop.
“You dare mess with me? Stab at my heart like this? I’ve already been through hell with that damn system rubbing salt in my wounds—!”
Ihan was enraged.
This brazen, insolent girl had crossed every line. Trespassing into his space? Acting smug while stepping on his nerves? This wasn’t just a violation—it was war.
“You’d better not think you’re getting off easy tonight!”
“...W-What do you mean...?”
Ihan strode to the corner of the room and hefted a massive axe.
“You ever hear the saying that you can beat a person without killing them?”
“N-No, wait, I—”
“I’ll show you how it’s done. You’ll understand by the time I’m through.”
“!!!”
That night, Ihan kept his promise.
He demonstrated every conceivable way to “punish” someone with an axe without ending their life, delivering a relentless seven-hour barrage of pain.
For seven long hours, Judea Pierre endured the beating of her life.