Chapter 13

Most knights come from noble families. While some become independent after being knighted, it's common for them to still rely on their families’ support. Naturally, it’s easier to have help from home. After all, many of these noble children have been taken care of their whole lives until adulthood.

In extreme cases, there are those who can’t even wash themselves or change their clothes without help. Of course, once they attend academies where dorm life is mandatory or get used to life as a knight, these tendencies start to fade.

But even if they improve, can someone who’s been pampered their entire life really change overnight?

Even among knights, many have attendants. Maids or butlers are always on standby, ready to rush in if the knight has any need. It’s an absurd sight.

Especially for someone like Ihan, who found it difficult to understand. Frankly, he found it a bit embarrassing and often clicked his tongue at the thought.

But now…

“Huh, Ihan bringing along a maid? That’s a first.”

“Judging by her outfit, she looks like a royal maid. Was she assigned to him?”

“She’s a beautiful lady. How about we invite her for tea...?”

“…Ihan is right behind you.”

“Gah!”

…That embarrassing situation was now happening to him. Even though he had no intention of it.

“…Damn it.”

Ihan muttered under his breath.

“So, who’s the lovely lady?”

“Lovely? Don’t you think she looks a bit, I don’t know, dazed?”

“…She does seem a little tired.”

Jake playfully slapped Ihan’s back as he teased him about the lady. Among all his peers, Ihan was the one who had never taken a lover or wife, opting to remain single. Honestly, some even pitied him, wondering if there was something wrong with his body, or perhaps, he liked men…

“If you’re thinking something weird, I’m getting a bad feeling.”

“Ahem, I didn’t say anything. Don’t accuse me of nonsense.”

“…Is that so?”

…Damn it, this guy’s instincts were sharp.

If there were an aura-user level for awareness, Jake would be it. After glancing around, he sat down on the grassy edge of the knights’ training grounds, looking at the maid, who appeared so sleepy she was on the verge of drooling.

“…She really does look tired.”

“Sigh.”

“So, what’s the story? You didn’t hire her, that much is clear.”

“…Just know there’s a complicated situation behind this. It wasn’t my choice. And she’ll be sent back soon.”

“Hmm, was it a royal assignment?”

“…”

“I’ll stop asking.”

Jake nodded, finally understanding the situation. The others seemed to grasp it too, given the presence of a royal maid.

Sometimes, the royal family would select specific knights for special missions. It was considered a great honor and was always kept highly confidential. While some might envy or even feel jealous, no one would dare question a royal order. The loyalty and respect for the Pendragon royal family ran deep, regardless of status.

“Good luck with it, then. I’m rooting for you.”

“Rooting for what exactly?”

“For that lovely lady. She may look a little out of it, but she’s beautiful, don’t you think? Haha!”

“….”

“Hm? Why is it suddenly so cold…?”

Ihan contemplated whether or not to punch him. This wasn’t a joke.

‘I want a girlfriend too, you idiot!’

It was a painful secret he couldn’t admit to anyone. Ehan didn’t show it outwardly, but inside, he was crying like a frustrated child.

Layra Winter. That was the maid’s name.

Though he felt like he was forced into this situation, it wasn’t her fault. The real culprit was the cunning old woman who caused this mess. Still, he figured it wouldn’t hurt to remember the maid’s name.

“Maid, how about you stop coming here and just rest at home? Or better yet, return to the palace.”

“No, Sir Knight! I have to do my best at the job I’ve been given. I’m getting paid for this, you know? Hehe.”

“…”

She might not be the brightest, but she was a sweet girl. Only twenty-two years old. If you didn’t judge her too harshly, she was an earnest and diligent young woman.

…The problem was that every time she worked, something inevitably got broken.

‘That old hag, did she send this girl just to wreck my household?’

It was a moment of mixed suspicion and certainty when…

“She’s a cute one. You don’t deserve her.”

“…Could you please stop sneaking up on me like that? Sometimes I think you’re the one with an assassin background.”

“I used to have a friend who was an assassin, actually. Ended up killing him with my own hands.”

“….”

“Haha.”

Crazy old man.

The worst part about him wasn’t that he said terrifying things so casually, but that no one could tell if he was joking or not. Still, people praised and flattered him regardless.

“What brings you here? Aren’t you supposed to be in a meeting?”

“Why would an old man like me bother with such things? Let the young ones handle it.”

“Still doing things your own way, I see.”

Despite his snow-white hair, it gleamed with a youthful luster, and his skin, though belonging to someone in their seventies, was unbelievably firm. Though his frame might seem small and unimpressive, there was an unmistakable aura about him, one that kept people at a distance.

If this were a martial arts novel rather than a medieval fantasy, he would probably be known as the Sword Saint.

Baltar Grace.

He had started as a gladiator and caught the eye of the king, who made him a knight. Over time, he made remarkable contributions in wars and became an aura-user, earning his place as a legendary knight.

‘If you meet Baltar on the battlefield, you run’ — so many tales surrounded him that there were even ballads written about his legendary feats. He was a figure too great for even royalty to treat lightly, having turned down the position of Grand Commander of the army to remain the leader of the Third Knights.

…He was also a mountain Ihan would have to overcome one day.

“Why are you here, anyway? You never visit the knights' grounds.”

“Heard you brought a woman along, got curious.”

“…You must be really bored.”

“At my age, what else would I do but enjoy life?”

“…Fair enough.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Even though he was an aura-user, Baltar was well past the age of retirement. It was only thanks to his aura that his body remained in its prime, which allowed him to keep this youthful appearance.

“Still, I envy you. I heard you got yourself another lover?”

“Not a wife, a lover. Don’t go making me a married man.”

“You’ve fathered ten children already. Just accept it, you’re married. It’s embarrassing.”

“When the body is young, so is the heart. I’m still in my prime, haha.”

“…This country is in good hands.”

Oddly enough, despite his appearance suggesting a life of quiet retirement, Baltar was still a highly virile man. He had over ten women who were clearly his wives—though he called them lovers—and had fathered ten children. He even had a great-grandchild.

And yet, he refused to acknowledge that he was married. According to him, if there was no wedding, it didn’t count.

However, despite all this, he was loyal and kind to his partners, playing the role of a loving father. His family, rather than being in constant turmoil, was harmonious.

…Honestly, Ihan thought this old man was more of a main character than any reincarnated hero or romance protagonist he had ever encountered.

‘So jealous.’

Some of us haven’t even held hands with a woman in thirty years.

And if you count his previous life? How many years was that in total?

…Don’t ask.

“You seem troubled today.”

“…I’ve got something on my mind. There’s an opportunity to recover something I’d given up on, but it’s going to be a messy process.”

“Haha, that doesn’t sound like you. Stay true to your nature. Just charge ahead. That’s what suits you.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“Haha.”

Baltar laughed heartily, and only then did the knights in the training grounds notice him, freezing in their tracks. When Baltar wanted to hide his presence, not even trained knights could sense him.

“C-Captain Baltar, it’s an honor to see you!”

One by one, they saluted him with genuine respect.

For many of them, this was their first time seeing Baltar in person, having only heard stories about him. Even those who had only known his name couldn’t help but stare in awe. After all, he was a living legend.

For the younger knights, including Yord Decker, who had recently fought with Ehan, the sight of him was like seeing their lifelong idol.

As the pinnacle of knighthood in the kingdom, this reaction was only natural.

“Carry on with your duties. I’m only here to take care of something quickly.”

Despite the many admiring gazes, Baltar didn’t seem interested. Though his face held a smile, there was an air about him that kept people from approaching.

Many wanted to ask for his teachings, but very few dared to actually step forward. This was one of the reasons no one had been able to learn from him.

“That old man… hoarding all his techniques to the grave.”

“It’s his thing. He hates unnecessary trouble.”

Baltar was known for being one of the few aura-users who never took on a single apprentice. Even his own children, some of whom became knights, had never learned from him. His eccentricities were well-known.

Then…

– Come to the backyard later. I have something to give you.

A whisper tickled Ihan’s ear, a voice only he could hear. It wasn’t aura but a technique that likely used qi. Even for those trained in it, this method was far from easy to replicate. It was a highly advanced skill.

Having experienced it firsthand, Ihan could only marvel.

“Neat trick, but next time, just speak normally. Hearing a guy’s voice in my ear is creepy.”

“…You ungrateful brat. Learn to appreciate subtlety.”

“It’s giving me the shivers.”

“…How about we settle this with swords first before talking?”

“Haha, that sounds good. Let’s take this to the rooftop, old man!”

“There’s no rooftop here.”

Srrrng.

With a light-hearted but sharp response, Baltar accepted Ihan’s provocation, and Ihan couldn’t have been more excited.