Chapter 58

Cricket was one of those aristocratic leisure sports similar to baseball, enjoyed by the nobility, but it was also a sport familiar to commoners. Unlike polo, which required trained horses, a field for practice, and specialized equipment, cricket only needed a ball and a flat bat, making it much more accessible.

As a result, cricket became a popular sport among both nobles and commoners, and it was no exaggeration to say that everyone knew the basic rules.

That’s why...

“You can’t play any better than that?”

“My grandma could swing the bat better than you!”

“Why can’t you catch the ball?! It’s dropping right in front of you!”

...Yeah, it was like that.

On the cricket field, or rather, in the cricket exam, cadets were furiously throwing balls, swinging bats, and desperately trying to catch the ball.

Coincidentally, the two teams currently playing consisted mostly of cadets from noble families representing the southern and eastern regions. It was as if fate had split them into teams according to their regions, and those from the South and East had already begun cheering passionately for their respective sides. The fervor was reaching the point where it seemed a brawl might break out at any moment.

This wasn’t just a sports match or an exam for cadets anymore; it was a territorial war, a battle of pride.

Arno, one of the participants in the cricket exam, shook his head in disbelief.

“If we lose this match, I feel like a rebellion might break out back in our territory.”

“It’s not just a feeling; it will happen. I heard that during a cricket match between rival territories involving senior cadets, the losing territory’s citizens armed themselves with slings and pelted the lord’s son with stones.”

“Is... is that senior still alive?”

“He’s breathing, but he’s living as the greatest traitor in his territory’s history.”

“...”

“So, we absolutely have to win. I don’t want to be labeled a traitor... or stoned to death.”

“...I see.”

And so, the cricket match continued to escalate, becoming something far more intense than anyone expected. The exam became secondary, with both teams seemingly determined to beat the other side to a pulp. Arno and the other members of the swordsmanship department were starting to worry that a fistfight might break out at any moment.

“Is this what they call a bench-clearing brawl?”

Ihan watched the chaotic scene, dumbfounded. He had come to watch since his cadets were participating, thinking it would just be a casual viewing experience. However, the situation had turned into something much more combative. He had expected the nobles to keep things refined, given that this was their sport, but it was more exciting than any baseball or soccer match he’d seen.

Moreover...

“Am I watching European football? What’s with all these hooligans?”

Even the spectators were getting rowdy. If things got any worse, Ihan figured someone might actually light a torch and start burning down the nobles' carriages.

“This is madness.”

Maybe it was because there were so few entertainment options, but people seemed to take sports very seriously here. Given how familiar cricket was, it was probably inevitable that things would get this heated.

“Should I introduce soccer here?”

There were already sports somewhat similar to soccer, but if he introduced the modern version, it would be interesting to see what kind of impact it might have. Perhaps this was what they called intellectual curiosity?

As he entertained the idea of introducing modern soccer, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Instructor?”

“Number 11 Bear?”

It was a familiar face.

“It’s Barry, Instructor. We’re not in the training ground, so could you call me by my name?”

“But I remember your number exactly, don’t I?”

“...Should I be grateful for that?”

“What brings you here, Cadet Barry?”

“Oh, I’m earning some extra cash. It’s kind of the peak season for that.”

Number 11 Baldy—no, Barry Cobs—scratched his head with a sheepish smile.

He pulled out a cool drink from his large backpack. The bag was also full of snacks like jerky and pretzels.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Hmm, is it okay for you to be selling things like that?”

“Technically, it’s not allowed, but most people turn a blind eye. Especially for guys like me who are always strapped for cash, it’s pretty common.”

“I see. I did notice some drunk people earlier...”

“Haha, selling alcohol is illegal. If the enforcement team shows up, those guys will get arrested on the spot.”

“There’s even an enforcement team?”

Ihan shook his head in disbelief and pulled out two silver coins from his pocket.

“I’ll take a drink and some jerky.”

“Uh, that’s too much money.”

“The rest is a tip.”

“...Instructor.”

“Study during exam season, alright? Don’t let your pride get in the way of accepting help.”

“...I will serve loyally!”

“Just do your best.”

“Yes, sir!”

With a sharp salute, Barry took the two silver coins (enough for a family of four to live for a month) and handed over the entire bag of snacks before hurrying off.

“I only asked for a few things...”

Ihan grumbled as he popped a piece of jerky into his mouth.

“This is homemade? Not bad at all.”

It was good enough to be worth the money.

In the end, Ihan had the audacity to decline Magnus’s offer.

Refusing an offer from a grand duke was unheard of for a mere knight. Magnus could have easily taken it as an insult and ordered Ihan’s head removed. But instead...

Why do you refuse?

Magnus simply looked intrigued, his eyes gleaming with interest. It was a very generous offer, after all. Ihan had a chance to become the son-in-law of a grand duke and even take on the Lionel name.

Why would he refuse such a golden opportunity?

When asked, Ihan’s answer was...

I’m just not interested.

...And with that, Magnus blinked in surprise, while Maximus rolled on the floor, clutching his stomach in laughter.

Hahaha! Brother, I told you! This man is something else! Imagine someone daring to blow off the great Lionel family like that! Isn’t he amazing?

...He certainly is, haha!

However, neither Magnus nor the northern knights seemed upset. In fact, they were amused.

Perhaps it was a northern trait.

Unlike central nobles, the northerners valued honesty and frankness over hiding their true feelings, and they seemed to appreciate boldness.

After a hearty laugh, Magnus had said:

Still, remember my offer, knight. The Lionel family will always welcome you.

And with that, he left, still leaving the door open for Ihan.

Magnus was a whirlwind of a man.

He had arrived with the ferocity of a storm, seemingly ready to sweep everything away, and disappeared just as swiftly, like a vanishing tempest.

Next time, we will duel for sure, Lohan!

…You’re doing that on purpose, right?

Hmm?

“...Should I break his jaw the next time we meet?”

Three times now—Lihan, Rohan—he’d been renamed by that annoying gorilla of a man. Unlike the surprisingly likable grand duke, Maximus had been a constant irritant.

Next time, Ihan wouldn’t let it slide. He’d crack that gorilla’s jaw—or his neck—when they crossed paths again.

But before that...

“Should I deal with the Information Guild first?”

More than the grappler and the gorilla, the Information Guild deserved a good beating. If they took his money, they should at least provide accurate information. How had things gotten so messed up?

‘I thought the duke was a murderer, but he’s just a normal guy. I assumed that guy was a rapist, but he turned out to be a pretty decent fellow. What kind of mess is this?’

Of course, you couldn’t judge everything from just one meeting, but Ihan trusted his instincts and his own eyes. From what he’d seen, both the duke and grand duke weren’t worthless scum. In fact, they were probably the most deserving of the title "noble" out of everyone Ihan had met so far.

So Ihan came to two possible conclusions about why the guild’s information was so off.

One, they had been lazy and gathered it sloppily.

Or two...

‘They both thoroughly manipulated the information about themselves.’

Whatever the reason...

“...This is exhausting.”

It seemed like he was getting into more trouble now than when he was in the knights.

...Was it because he was at the academy?

“No, it’s not the academy’s fault. It’s the people.”

Did you know?

In any academy story, everything is peaceful until the protagonist shows up.

And now, in his current workplace, there weren’t just one but two—or maybe even three—protagonist-level figures.

‘There’s the regressor, the wild prince of unknown origins, and then...’

“-Instructor!?”

“……”

“Oh my, what a coincidence! Fancy meeting you here, hoho...”

“...Hmph.”

And now, the reincarnator, too.

Ihan sighed deeply as he thought to himself.

She really...

‘She’s a terrible actress.’

Irene Windler approached him with a clumsy smile.

[Irene, you know what to do, right? There’s no better chance than today! This is the day to achieve your goal!]

‘Shut up! It’s because of you that I’m even doing this nonsense in the first place!’

Irene Windler couldn’t believe what she was doing. She had to put on makeup from the moment she woke up, all because of the noisy ghost she lived with.

[Huh? I didn’t tell you to put on makeup. That was all you.]

‘What, should I meet him looking like a mess, then?! I-I’m doing this for your sake, you brat.’

[Hmm~?]

‘W-Why are you looking at me like that?’

[Oh, nothing. Just remember, no matter what scheming thoughts you have, you have to grant my request. Understand?]

‘I’m not scheming anything! ...But do I really have to fulfill your request?’

[If you want to fail your exam, then feel free to ignore it.]

‘Ugh...!’

Irene Windler, who hadn’t studied at all, was forced to rely on the ghost who could memorize everything. She had no choice but to go along with it.

After all, even though she was the top student in the Magic Department, she couldn’t afford to flunk the exams.

‘Failure is not an option!’

For someone like her, possessed by the soul of a student who had never passed their entrance exam, bad grades were a nightmare.

So...

‘I’ll just... touch his thigh. Just his thigh...’

Glancing at the knight’s thigh—which looked thicker than her waist—Irene swallowed nervously.

Shivers!

“...?”

The knight suddenly felt a chill.