“Two weeks of confinement. Young Schneider.”
“Ah, really? It could have been longer.”
“Oh, this is delicious. Where did you buy it?”
“It’s an oven-roasted chicken from a famous restaurant in the capital.”
“I see. It goes well with the beer.”
Professor Leit, who had come to inform Patrick of the meeting’s outcome in person, let out a deep sigh.
‘What kind of confinement is this?’
Confinement.
It meant to be careful with your words and actions, and reflect on your wrongdoings. That was the usual meaning. It did not mean lazing around comfortably in your room, eating food and drinking alcohol that your butler bought for you.
“As expected, coming to the capital, the food and drinks are delicious and varied. I guess this is why people say you should play in the big leagues.”
“What should I buy for you tomorrow?”
“We had lamb yesterday, right? Is there any dish made with beef?”
“I heard there’s a place near the academy that makes delicious meat pies.”
“Really? Then, Professor. Could you issue a few more outing permits for this guy?”
“Again... again?”
“Yes. Ah, and since I might need to use some too, I’ll just give them to you in a bundle. You just need to sign them. I’ll fill in the dates myself.”
“Outing permits aren’t something you can just issue haphazardly like that.”
As Professor Leit showed his reluctance, Patrick, who was munching on a chicken leg, stood up and put his arm around the professor's shoulder.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, Professor, why are you being like this? Between us. Huh?”
Patrick put the chicken leg in his mouth and then took it out. Professor Leit marveled at the cleanly picked bone. So that’s one way to eat a chicken leg.
And then Patrick said…
“Professor. I made you a seven-star, didn’t I? Right?”
“Right. I’m truly grateful for that. But…”
“A whole seven-star. The supreme realm. I elevated you, Professor, to a level that only one person in the entire kingdom had reached. Yes, just like that, didn’t I? Right?”
“Well, that is true.”
“How great a favor is that? If it weren't for me, it would have taken at least ten years, no, twenty… no, thirty more years, wouldn’t it?”
Why does the number keep increasing? Seeing Professor Leit’s bitter expression, Patrick spoke.
“As a result, you, Professor, voluntarily offered to repay the favor first… so what could I do? It wouldn’t be polite for me, a mere student, to refuse, now would it?”
Polite?
Was it right for the word ‘polite’ to come out of the mouth of a student who was casually putting his arm around an academy professor’s shoulder and applying subtle pressure?
Justin Leit.
A man known to the world as the Unyielding Knight, would he tolerate such injustice…
“Yes. You’re right.”
He would.
And as Professor Leit agreed with him, Patrick smiled brightly and said.
“Right? So I’ll let you diligently repay the favor by letting me use… no, by letting you work hard.”
I think this punk was about to say ‘use’. Patrick spoke to Professor Leit, who had a soured expression on his face.
“Then please issue a whole bunch of outing permits. I’ll call you again if I need anything else.”
“Alright.”
Professor Leit sighed and did as he was told. What else could he do? The favor he owed Patrick was not something that could be repaid with such trivial privileges.
Thanks to Patrick, he had been able to reach the seven-star level. How could he possibly repay that? And one more thing…
Even if he forgot the favor and tried to enforce the rules on Patrick, there was a problem.
‘This monster, just what…’
Before reaching the seven-star level, Professor Leit had no idea how strong Patrick was. And now, after reaching the seven-star level.
‘I still don't get it.’
This was a serious problem. Even with the much sharper senses he gained after reaching the seven-star level, known as the supreme realm, he still couldn’t fathom Patrick’s depths when he looked at him. If anything, he could now see the true worth of the handsome butler standing beside him.
He looked to be at least at the six-star level, same as his old self. He hadn't known before, but he could tell now. However, he still couldn’t figure out Patrick’s skill.
What did this mean…
‘It means there’s still an enormous gap in skill between us.’
A powerhouse that even he, who had reached the seven-star level, wouldn’t dare to face. That was Patrick Schneider. Why on earth did someone with such skills enroll in the academy?
Were the professors supposed to teach him?
How?
In any case, just based on skill alone, going against Patrick was no easy task. So what could he do? It was better to be pressured under the pretext of repaying a favor than to be threatened.
Thinking this, Professor Leit let out a chuckle and went outside.
‘Still, I doubt he would ever openly threaten an academy professor.’
He did not know Patrick very well yet.
「For causing a commotion at the academy, all related parties are sentenced to two weeks of confinement.」
This was the content of the officially posted notice. In effect, it was a mutual punishment, meaning the incident would be treated as one without a perpetrator. The first-year students of the knight faculty were inwardly pleased upon seeing this notice.
“That bastard Roist got what he deserved.”
“I heard he and his lackeys all ganged up on him and still got beaten?”
“That guy hasn’t even come back to the academy yet, right? He must have gotten beaten up pretty badly.”
“Isn’t he just embarrassed? I heard he went to the temple and paid a lot for treatment, so his body should be healed by now.”
“He has every right to be embarrassed. I hope he just drops out, while he's at it.”
Among the first-years, Roist was not very well-liked. He had some skill, but he was better known as a troublemaker who acted recklessly with the backing of the House of Marquis Panola. So, they were secretly delighted that Roist had been thoroughly beaten by a newly transferred student and was now too ashamed to show his face at the academy.
However, they were also worried.
“Will the House of Marquis Panola just let this go?”
“No matter how powerful Marquis Panola is, it’ll be hard for him to interfere with matters inside the academy, don’t you think?”
“The Marquis, maybe. But you know, right? His older brother is in the third year.”
“Ah…”
“Somehow, I don’t think this will end quietly.”
“Should we give the new kid some advice?”
“We’d have to see him to give him any advice.”
“Oh right, he’s in confinement too.”
The first-year students were subtly worried about Patrick. It was truly the most useless worry in the world.
The streets of White Town. A bustling downtown area where brilliant magic lamps lit up the night streets and drunk people wandered around with pleasant faces. Patrick walked through it naturally.
“Mmm. It feels good to be out after so long. People really need to live freely.”
Why was Patrick, who should have been in confinement in his dormitory, out here? Because Patrick was Patrick. No matter how much delicious food and drink April brought him, staying cooped up in his room was suffocating.
Usually, confinement meant enduring that suffocation and reflecting on one’s actions, but…
“There’s no way I could do something like that. Even when Master forced me into seclusion, the longest I ever lasted was two days.”
What a thing to be proud of.
[You brat! How can you not even last three days? Three days…]
[What’s the point of seclusion anyway? All that matters is getting stronger. If seclusion made you strong, all the shut-ins would be the strongest under heaven.]
[Did I put you in seclusion to make you stronger? It was to keep you from causing trouble… you brat! Where are you running off to? Get back here!]
“Looking back, those are some fond memories, Master. Right?”
In what way? In any case, this outing was simply because he felt stifled. However, should he call it killing two birds with one stone?
He did have a destination in mind.
‘I should at least show my face.’
The place Patrick walked to was a very large tavern in the bustling area of White Town. It was a recently opened tavern in the capital that operated as a pub from the first to the fifth floor.
[Red Dragon.]
Seeing the sign, Patrick entered without hesitation.
Red Dragon.
This tavern, which had recently opened in the capital's downtown, was quickly gaining fame by word of mouth. This was because it operated on a rather unique system for a tavern. It only accepted members as customers, and customers were seated on higher floors according to their membership level.
Naturally, membership level depended on how much money one spent. Starting from the first floor, crowded with commoners, as one went up to the second and third floors, the quality and level of the clientele improved. People spent more money at this tavern because there was a strange sort of fun in climbing the floors.
And most importantly…
“Oh my, you’re here again today.”
“Ooh, Madam.”
“I’m grateful that you visit me every day like this, but I’m afraid your wife might get jealous.”
“Hahaha. For you, Madam, my wife’s jealousy is nothing.”
“You’re such a smooth talker.”
Her alluring smile as she covered her face with a red fan was enough to drive a man’s heart wild.
‘She’s sensual.’
‘I want to conquer her.’
‘If only for once, just once…’
In fact, the biggest reason for Red Dragon’s fame was this. The existence of the tavern’s Madam, who would occasionally come down to chat with the customers. A woman of radiant beauty, for whom splendor was not the least bit awkward.
An alluring woman whose fiery red hair and the small mole under her eye suited her perfectly. Many customers came just for a glimpse of her. Especially after hearing that the Madam only personally served customers on the fifth floor, customers flocked to the tavern, making daily visits in their race to reach the fifth floor.
Her charm was that demonic. She wasn’t just pretty and beautiful.
“I’ll be waiting.”
“Ma… Madam.”
She unfolds her fan, whispers softly into the man’s ear, and then, just as his hand is about to touch her, she exquisitely pulls her body back. Every one of these actions was driving the men crazy. Within reach, yet untouchable.
Giving just enough room for hope, yet slipping away like an eel when one tried to grasp her. It was as if she could see right through the psychology of the creature called man, knowing what they were thinking at any given moment. Her elegant yet alluring charm had already captivated countless men.
Every man was lost in her smile…
“Hey.”
Or they were supposed to be…
‘Why is that bastard here?’
The Madam’s expression twisted instantly. The Madam, who had hastily covered her face with a fan, saw Patrick letting out a deep sigh.
“I expected it, but to think you’re actually doing this…”
“Hohoho, it’s been a while, Young master.”
When the Madam spoke as if she knew him, the other customers around them spoke up.
“Madam, do you know this boy?”
“Yes. He is the son of a esteemed person I serve for business.”
“Ah, for business…”
“So that’s what it is.”
At the mention of a business relationship, the other customers looked visibly relieved. It was a sigh of relief that their Madam had not yet been conquered. And the Madam, fanning herself gracefully, said.
“Come to think of it, you mentioned you were coming today for an important matter, didn’t you? I must have mistaken the time. Is that right?”
“…”
“…”
“Young master?”
“Hm, I don’t think this will do. You need a good beat… mmmph. Mmph mmph!”
“Hohoho, Young master. You can’t just discuss important business matters out here. Let’s go to a quiet place upstairs to talk.”
The Madam moved quickly, clamped her hand over Patrick’s mouth, and then tucked him under her arm and ran upstairs. As the Madam ran off, the hem of her red dress fluttering, the customers left behind could only stare blankly at the scene.
Thwack!
“Let go, you bastard! You looking for a beating?”
“Keuk… You already hit me, didn’t you?”
“Ah, right. Sorry. I should have told you before I hit you.”
“Ugh…”
So you were going to hit me anyway? The Madam… no, Red, the master of the thieves' guild from Parmas, clutched his head in pain. And looking at Patrick…
“Young master, aren’t you supposed to be in confinement for causing trouble?”
“That’s right. You know well, don’t you?”
“Huhuhu. Some of our customers are academy professors. No, that’s not the point. How did a person in confinement get to a tavern?”
“I just sneak out.”
“For someone who wants to be a knight, you sure treat the rules like dirt.”
“Coming from a thief lecturing me about rules, doesn’t your conscience ache?”
“…”
“…”
“What? What did you say, punk?”
I’ve felt this for a while now, but I can’t win against him with words. The kid has no common sense, but sometimes, he’s ridiculously sharp with his words. And I can’t win with force either, so the conclusion is…
‘This is pathetic. So pathetic.’
Letting out a small sigh, Red cleared his throat and spoke.
“Ahem, that’s all well and good, but what am I to do if you act so recklessly out there? What if my identity gets exposed?”
“You’ll be treated like a pervert, I guess.”
“Ah, I told you I’m not a pervert. It’s a disguise for gathering information, didn’t I say?”
“For that, you seem to be enjoying it a bit too much.”
The waitress disguise from their first meeting was one thing. At the time, he was in a situation where he could have been killed by the traitor who killed his father, so there was a need to hide his identity.
But even after that, he continued to cross-dress under the pretext of gathering information, and now he has even mastered the role of an alluring tavern Madam.
“You… you’re not really into that, are you? I can respect your preferences, but it’s not like I’m not uncomfortable.”
“I’m not, you fool! How many girlfriends do you think I have?”
“Men?”
“Women!!! You bastard!”
Whack!
“Where does a kid get off talking back to an adult, so rude…”
You’re the younger one.
You are.
“Keuk, that’s because you were talking nonsen… sir.”
He quickly changed his speech, thinking he might get hit again if he spoke informally. Then, Red spoke with a serious expression.
“My cross-dressing is purely a part of my information gathering. Even if our organization has expanded into the capital, who would ever imagine that the master of that organization would be cross-dressing like this?”
“Well, sure. Let’s go with that.”
“It’s not ‘let’s go with that,’ that’s the purpose!”
“Alright, alright. Anyway, any new information?”
“Information… I have some.”
“Hoooh, really?”
Patrick grinned.