“But that was reckless. If you make an enemy of Roist, your life at the academy, no, your life as a knight, will become difficult.”
"Huh?"
“You heard that Roist's family name is Panola, right? Still, thank you for mustering up your courage.”
"Huh?"
“But next time…”
“Wait, wait, just a moment.”
Patrick cut the other boy off and spoke.
“This conversation is moving too fast. Let's start over from the beginning.”
“Oh? Uh… okay.”
“I'm Patrick Schneider. And you are?”
“My name is Matthew.”
“Right. I see.”
“…You're not surprised?”
“About what?”
“I don't have a family name. I'm a commoner, is that okay?”
“Huh? You keep saying strange things. Aren't you a student at the academy?”
“Well, yes, but…”
“Then what does it matter? Anyone can get into the academy if they pass the exam, right? Even I know that, and I'm from some backwater in the eastern territory.”
“Uh. Yeah. I guess that's true.”
What Patrick said was the truth. The gates of the academy were open to everyone, regardless of whether they were nobles, illegitimate children, or commoners, and once enrolled, students were not supposed to discriminate based on social status. They were all just fellow students.
That was the rule. It was certainly a rule, but…
“Still, it's a fact that I'm a commoner.”
That was the thing about rules. It was impossible to follow them all, and over time, they tended to be relaxed, often compromising with the wall of reality.
“You timid fool.”
Patrick looked at Matthew as if he were pathetic.
“Sorry.”
“Hey. I'm not asking for an apology.”
“…Sorry.”
“I told you not to apologize, didn't I?”
“……”
“You want to die? Are you defying me? You wanna go?”
“Hup!”
Matthew, who was about to apologize reflexively, quickly covered his own mouth. He had glimpsed an unusual madness in Patrick's eyes as he looked at him. Seeing Matthew hastily cover his mouth, Patrick sighed and said.
“Don't apologize if you haven't done anything wrong. That's the twenty-seventh thing I hate the most.”
At those words, Matthew nodded with his mouth still covered.
‘This friend of mine sure hates a lot of things.’
Even in that situation, he still had such a thought. Then Patrick spoke.
“I'm hungry, where do I go to eat?”
“You have to go to the knights’ faculty cafeteria.”
“Really? Do you pay? Is it free?”
“…It's free?”
“Kuhuhu, right. That's how it should be. Meals should be provided for free.”
As one of the problems he had been secretly worried about was solved, Patrick said with a bright smile.
“Then shall we go get something to eat? Hey, show me the way.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
And so, Patrick took Matthew to the cafeteria.
And then…
“Kuhuhu, this is the real deal. Absolutely. The menu is very meaty.”
He was extremely satisfied with the protein-rich meal of the knights’ faculty. Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and some kind of unidentifiable meat. The cafeteria of the knights’ faculty was filled with so much meat that one might wonder if it was an excess of protein.
‘It's a shame there's no liquor, but it can't be helped. I'll just have to sneak some in later.’
It seemed not drinking was not an option for him. Watching Patrick pile his tray high with meat and munch on it deliciously, Matthew thought.
‘Is this guy thoughtless? Or does he not realize what he's done?’
Matthew held his own tray, which had less than a quarter of the food Patrick had, and stared blankly at him. On Patrick's face, as he chewed the meat with a happy expression, there was no sign of anxiety or worry.
“Hey, are you really okay?”
“Wha-a?”
“Swallow then talk.”
“Munch munch munch.. Keck keck..”
“Here, have some water.”
April, who was behind Patrick, poured water into a cup and handed it to him. Patrick gulped it down.
‘He's… handsome. How can a human look like that?’
Matthew stared blankly at the butler behind Patrick. This wasn't just handsome, it was beautifully insane. Is he even human?
Does he have the blood of the high elves, the legendary race, flowing in him? Even though they were both men, just looking at him made his heart pound.
“Hey?”
“Huh? Oh…”
“Why did you suddenly space out while talking?”
“Ah, sorry…”
“I told you to stop apologizing. So what were you about to say?”
“Uh… well, you see.”
“What was it?”
‘This bastard, I should just!’
As the urge to beat someone up welled up inside Patrick, Matthew spoke.
“Roist is the third son of the House of Marquis Panola.”
“What? The House of Panola?”
“Yeah. You know it, right?”
“No, I don't?”
“…”
Seeing Patrick's nonchalant reply, Matthew said.
“Then why did you act all surprised just now, as if you knew?”
“Isn't it fun?”
“…”
‘Mom, I don't like him. He's weird.’
To only realize that now… Marquis Panola was one of the top five knights in the Atronia Kingdom and the commander of the Royal Knight Order. He was a sword master who had personally reached the six-star level, and a man who carried the expectations that he might one day reach the seven-star level.
Roist was the third son of that very Marquis Panola. If he got on the wrong side of Marquis Panola, his academy life wouldn't be the only problem. What would it mean for a knight to be marked by the commander of the Royal Knight Order?
For starters, it meant he would have to leave the central region. At best, he would be shuffled around to insignificant posts, or perhaps he'd be assigned to a dangerous mission where his life could be threatened. Because he was the son of such a powerful Marquis, no one among the first-years dared to cross Roist.
No, even the upperclassmen couldn't treat Roist carelessly. And Patrick had publicly humiliated that same Roist, and on top of that, even landed a spectacular double flying kick on him.
“Do you understand how dangerous your situation is now?”
At Matthew's earnest explanation, Patrick just snickered. Then, picking his teeth with a toothpick handed to him by April, he said.
“What's he on about?”
“Right. So tomorrow, you should… huh?”
“In short, because he's a young master from a rich family, he grew up spoiled and became a scoundrel with a personality ground to dust in a mortar. That's it, right?”
“Uh… Uh huh…”
There were too many words in the middle he couldn't understand, so he didn't catch everything. But somehow, the words themselves seemed to hit the core of the matter.
“Well, I figured he'd be that kind of guy.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, those types are all predictable.”
The fact that he had underlings fawning over him, even though they were all first-years, meant he had either skill or a good background. The skills of these youngsters were all about the same, so for such a clear hierarchy to be established, he must have been from a good family.
“I know those kinds of guys veeery well.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I've dealt with plenty of them.”
[How dare you, you cur! Do you not fear the Great Mount Hua Sect?]
[You dare to ignore me? Is that the same as ignoring the Great Wudang?]
[Amitabha. In the name of the Great Shaolin, I shall punish you for your insolence.]
‘There were so many of them. Morons who hide behind the name of their sect or family and count it as their own strength. Why did they all love adding 'Great' to everything?’
What did the Mad Dragon Grandmaster do to guys like that? For reference, those who acted arrogantly relying only on their background was the sixth thing Patrick hated the most. As mentioned before, when it got to single digits, things got serious.
“That's just what guys like him do. It's obvious. I'll take care of it myself, so don't you worry about it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. So stop worrying and eat your meat.”
“Okay. I will.”
When Patrick said it was fine, Matthew finally began to chew on the lamb from his own plate.
‘The kid is kind, at least.’
“Haaa… that was a good meal.”
His stomach full and round, Patrick returned to his dorm room and flopped onto the bed. As expected, free food was the most delicious. He had been forced to enter the academy out of a sense of filial piety, but he was starting to like this place a little.
“Young master, you should wash up before you sleep.”
“I know, I know. I'll just lie down for a moment and then get up.”
“I will draw a bath for you.”
April was about to draw water in the bathroom, but there was no need.
Knock, knock.
A knock came from outside the door.
“Who is it?”
When April opened the door, an entirely unexpected person was waiting there.
“Is Patrick Schneider inside?”
“Yes. He is.”
“Call him for a moment.”
“Please wait a moment.”
Then, April spoke to Patrick.
“Young master. A professor has come to see you.”
“A professor? Why is that old man here?”
“I do not know his business. Shall I ask?”
“No, it's fine. Tell him to come in.”
And before April could even finish speaking, Professor Leit stepped inside. Entering the student's room, where the luggage was still unpacked, Professor Leit said to Patrick.
“I came by a little earlier, but you weren't here.”
“I went to eat.”
“Is that so? Then come out for a moment.”
“Why?”
Professor, schmorfessor, why are you calling me? I can't be bothered to move. Professor Leit spoke to Patrick, whose feelings were plainly written all over his face.
“Let's get some post-meal exercise.”
The training grounds of the knights’ faculty. After the sun had set, with only minimal lighting, three men(?) stood there. Patrick, April, and Professor Justin Leit.
And Professor Leit, holding a real sword, said to Patrick.
“Well then… shall we begin?”
“So suddenly like this.”
“Sooner is better.”
“Well… that's true, but there should still be a reason, right? Don't you think?”
At Patrick's words, Professor Leit mumbled, "What a pain..." then thought for a moment before speaking.
“Let's call it a sequel to this morning's test.”
“Do you normally conduct the test twice?”
“Mm, I've decided so.”
“Starting today?”
“Good, you're a quick study.”
“That's because I'm exceptionally brilliant.”
At that, Professor Leit grinned and said.
“Then use that brilliant head of yours to think about what you should be doing right now.”
“Ugh, I guess I have no choice. It seems you won't let me go without a fight.”
“You know me well.”
A deep smile spread across Professor Leit's lips. There was only one reason he had sought out Patrick, a student, and brought him to the training grounds under the moonlight. The competitive spirit of a swordsman.
He could come up with all sorts of excuses, but his true intention was just that. In the morning's test, Leit had failed to grasp Patrick's true skill. Even with his eyes, the eyes of a six-star knight of which there were only five in the kingdom, he could not see the bottom of Patrick's abilities.
Of course, it could have been because his opponent was a pushover. Trying to gauge Patrick's depths by pitting him against Roist was impossible from the start.
Therefore…
“I have no choice but to confirm it myself…”
“Aigh, it's impossible for you, Professor.”
“Your confidence is impressive. In that case, prove that confid—?”
“…”
For a moment, Professor Leit was startled and took a step back. At his movement, like that of a wild animal terrified upon discovering its natural predator, Patrick clapped and praised him.
“Ooh… you survived that one. As expected of a six-star knight, amazing. Truly amazing.”
“…Just now?”
“Shall we go for another one?”
“Wh— Hup!”
Leit hastily moved his body to the side. At the motion, which looked just like dodging an enemy's attack in a real battle, Patrick nodded his head.
“Good senses, good reaction, but you know you were slightly cut the second time, right?”
“…”
Professor Leit's jaw dropped. What he had just dodged was Patrick's killing intent. It was not so surprising for a swordsman who handled the realm of aura to spread killing intent and overwhelm an enemy with his presence.
However, the killing intent Patrick had just unleashed was refined into a single attack. The first attack was a clean, vertical strike. The moment he felt it, Professor Leit immediately dodged.
And the second attack was a vertical slash aimed at his neck. He tried to dodge this time as well, but the attack was faster than the first, and he ended up getting his face slightly cut. It was only a slight cut, but in a real fight, it would have decided the match.
‘Is such a thing possible? With mere presence alone…’
“No need to be so amazed. Once you get used to it, any dog or cow can do it.”
“Haha… hahahaha…”
“Killing intent is just killing intent. No matter how sharply you slash with it, you won't die from getting hit by it. So…”
Patrick drew the twin swords he held in his hands. Then he smiled at Professor Leit and said.
“The real thing starts now. Are you ready?”
Leit swallowed hard. The desire to test Patrick's depths had already vanished. Instead, what now dominated his mind was the desire to learn a thing or two from a master who was clearly on a higher level than himself.