Chapter 96

…Defeat.

An utter, indisputable loss without any room for excuses.

“That old man… he’s ridiculously strong.” “…Haha.”

Derek let out a hollow laugh, looking at the person lying battered in bed.

Just yesterday, he had been completely fine, yet now he lay there, bruised and beaten. Derek had removed the bandages he had hastily wrapped around him, shocked to see the extent of his injuries. He had sewn up countless torn patches of flesh.

…And, for the record, it was he himself who had stitched him up. His “Suturing” skill proved extremely useful.

“Thanks for treating me.” “…The hard work was probably done by you, Instructor, stitching your wounds without anesthesia. Even Guan Yu didn’t go this far.” “Well, I didn’t scrape down to the bone like him, did I?” “To be honest, Instructor, I think you’re in a worse state overall.”

Sigh!

Derek wanted to use an anesthetic, but the man’s [Poison Resistance] trait made it ineffective. Most anesthetics in this world had toxic elements, so Derek had no choice but to proceed without it, stitching live flesh, his hands trembling with each move. Still, he was amazed.

“Not a single sound of pain… incredible.”

Throughout nearly seven hours of surgery, the man endured in silence.

“He’s not just strong… he’s truly resilient.”

For Derek, this wasn’t merely about physical strength. There was something undeniably strong about his character.

“He’s powerful—not just physically, but mentally.”

It wasn’t just his ability to endure the pain without crying out that marked him as strong.

It was the fact that he could make such an intense decision for the sake of his disciple… a girl who was, at the end of the day, not even related to him.

Could he do the same?

“This wasn’t about hating the future he envisioned. He did it to create a [possibility] where Revi wouldn’t suffer… Was this an option I hadn’t even considered?”

…No, this probably wasn’t the right answer.

Fighting a marquis’s household to secure a girl’s happiness sounded absurd. Even the most insane developers wouldn’t have hidden such a ludicrous Easter egg.

“Honestly, a rematch with the Demon King would have been better. Fighting Tristan was just absurd.”

The Crimson Eagles each had levels from 5 to 6. Their vice-commander alone was a Level 7, like him. When all of them gathered, they held the collective strength of Level 8 or more.

And the Marquis himself was…

“Level 8.5.”

Not quite Level 9, but nearly reaching that monstrous threshold. Few, save for a Level 9, could face him and survive. Simply returning alive was an achievement in itself.

“To have fought the order, survived an encounter with a near-Level 9 monster… there’s no doubt.”

Level 8 Hero Class.

Derek realized that the man before him had genuinely joined the ranks of the world’s strongest.

“…An impressive man.”

To reach this level at his age spoke volumes about the kind of life he’d endured. Derek was moved, imagining the sheer effort that must have been invested.

If only he could use a skill to check his stats right now… but while he was feeling that thrill, he heard a small voice.

“M-Master…”

A girl, pale and disheveled, entered the room.

Revi Folt.

She looked like she was about to cry.

“Oh…”

Derek froze. The girl had no idea.

Despite being the center of the conflict, she had waited powerlessly. But her master had fought on her behalf against the marquis’s household.

The emotions must have been overwhelming.

And sure enough—

Tears flowed down her face.

Joy, worry, frustration, guilt… a tumult of emotions left Revi at a loss for words. The instructor watched her, his gaze warm.

“Little one…” “M-Master, I…” “—Save the tears for later and help the maid bring me some food. Lying in bed all day has left me starving.” “…….” “I trust that feeding this hardworking instructor isn’t too difficult.” “…….” “Quickly.” “…Yes.”

…Perhaps his emotional reserves were simply too dry to play the role of a tragic hero.

“…No news got out?” “Yes, not even rumors.” “…How is that possible?” “Indeed.”

After devouring over ten servings of beef stew, bread, and three roasted chickens prepared by Reira and Revi, Ihan blinked in surprise at the information he received from Soshimi.

Not a single whisper of his assault on the marquis’s household had reached the capital.

“No one knows, even after all that?”

He hated to admit it, but he had truly caused a scene without restraint.

Even though the marquis’s estate was in a secluded forest, was it possible that no one had noticed?

“If someone powerful meticulously controlled the flow of information, then maybe… But it would require someone incredibly influential and capable. Instructor, do you know any dukes or such people who could…?”

“Hmm.”

He knew of a certain duke, but he doubted they would have intervened.

‘That lady really lets me run wild.’

For such stringent information control, one would need the help of countless officials, including magicians. The only person he could think of with that level of influence was the silver-haired princess he knew.

Ihan clicked his tongue, realizing the extent of power one needed to ascend to the throne.

“…Isn’t it a bit disappointing? You could’ve gained a reputation for beating Tristan.” “Why the sudden nonsense?” “Well, I thought knights would like that kind of honor.”

Soshimi seemed to think it was a missed opportunity. Muttering about how earning “achievement points” and “fame” could yield new traits, he whispered under his breath, though Ihan caught every word, amused.

He wasn’t even the one gaining the fame, yet he worried over it so much.

“False fame means nothing. I lost, plain and simple.” “…….” “I think you see it as a win because I came back alive. But in reality, I lost. I only survived due to the marquis’s and his knights’ mercy, so stop that train of thought.” “Hmm…”

Ihan didn’t think he’d won.

He had only survived because they hadn’t known enough about him. The marquis could have killed him anytime but chose to let him live.

There was no sense of victory—only a sense of having taken a beating.

“Still, isn’t surviving a form of victory?” “Maybe, if you care only about the result. But I value the process as well, and because of that… it doesn’t feel like much of anything.” “…Instructor, you’re stricter than I thought.” “That’s what age does to you, ha.” “…I’m not so sure about that.”

Soshimi gave him a meaningful look, and as Ihan moved to scold him for being cheeky—

“…Why… why did you do it?” “…….” “Why did you go so far for me? For someone like me…” “Why are you asking again? Just let it go.” “I… I can’t! Look at you, injured like this—!”

Revi’s voice cracked as she struggled to hold back tears. She felt guilty for the injuries he had sustained because of her.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and Ihan gazed at her silently.

“Soshimi.” “…Yes, call me if you need me.”

Soshimi, sensing the atmosphere, quietly left the room.

Now, it was just Ihan and Revi.

“……”

“Sniff…”

The silence was thick with unspoken feelings, and though Ihan wished to let her calm down on her own…

“Is it wrong to protect a disciple who is about to walk willingly into misery, against her own will?”

“…!?”

It felt like the right time to ask, and Ihan spoke.

Revi froze, her eyes wide, looking up at him.

“From what I know, Revi Folt is a bright, courageous girl. She endured the grueling training of the Vulcan program, stood her ground against spellcasting magicians, and even commanded troops in battle against the gnoll horde, securing victory. All 80 students in the swordsmanship department know of your bravery, and so do I.”

“W-What are you talking about…?”

“But then!”

“Gasp…”

Her words halted by his sharp tone, Ihan continued, clearly unwilling to be interrupted.

“…Why does such a smart, brave girl keep making foolish choices? Why does she constantly choose such idiotic paths? I couldn’t understand it.”

“……”

“Because you’re a filial daughter? For the family? That could be part of it. You’re a ‘good kid.’ You might accept your fate out of filial piety. But as much as I try, I can’t understand your parents.”

“—!!”

Revi’s face turned pale with shock.

Only now did she realize.

He had figured something out.

“According to you, the Folt family has fallen. They failed to restore their knightly honor. Then, why would they abandon you, a girl with undeniable knightly talent? Isn’t it strange?”

“Ah… ah…”

“If you became a knight, the family’s wish would be fulfilled, and the Folt name could be revived. So, why wouldn’t your parents support you? Could it be because they don’t understand the world? Or do they disregard you because you’re a girl? If it were me, I wouldn’t discard someone as ‘blindly’ hardworking as you. It doesn’t make sense.”

“M-Master…”

“…What drives you to follow their orders so blindly?”

He pondered, piecing together the clues he had seen.

Blind dedication.

That was the core of Revi Folt.

Despite being a noble lady, she fought with a ferocity beyond words, struggling as if to prove her worth.

What had driven her to such desperation?

“Why are you so blindly loyal, obeying your parents’… no, their ‘commands’?”

“……”

“If you want, I won’t ask further. I’ll bury my suspicions. You can ignore an old man’s ramblings, or hit me if it’ll make you feel better.”

“……”

“Yes, if you want—”

“…It’s true.”

“……”

“It’s all true, Master… Everything you guessed.”

“……”

Silently, she wept.

A forlorn smile on her face.

“Master… you’re surprisingly perceptive… despite how you look.”

Speaking was difficult, tears flowing endlessly, and Ihan shrugged.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Appearance has nothing to do with it. It’s just natural for a parent to protect their child.”

“…Yes. It’s… only natural.”

“You don’t need to explain. I wasn’t interrogating you.”

“…You were.”

“It’s not interrogation; it’s counseling. Instructors need to know their students’ circumstances.”

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

Despite her tears, she smiled brightly.

This man who’d casually uncovered the “truth” she’d kept hidden, yet treated her as usual… she felt grateful and…

“Hehe, I was finally caught.”

Relieved.

She’d thought she would have to hide it forever, fearing inevitable judgment if discovered.

But now that it was out, the weight lifted.

So, with a mature smile, she began to tell her story.

“…Yes, Master, just as you thought, I…”

—don’t have parents.

Slowly, she revealed it.

Whoosh!

The illegal gambling den lay in ruins.

The guards were long since defeated, and the gamblers lay outside with broken arms or legs, unconscious and neatly stacked.

Only one person remained conscious inside.

Or rather, had been kept from losing consciousness.

Crunch!

“Wh-why are you doing this?!”

“……”

“What did I ever do to you?!”

“……”

“Say something…!”

“—Shut up. You reek.”

“!!!?”

A man with blue hair was lifted by his collar, overwhelmed by the pressure, unable to breathe properly.

But the young man holding him by the collar showed no sympathy, pressing down on him without a hint of mercy.

“Raynol Folt, you will answer my questions clearly. If you can’t speak, nod. If you can’t nod, blink. But if you delay or lie even a bit, I’ll… erase your entire family from this world!”

“!!?!!”

Raynol Folt.

The head of the Folt family, trembling with terror, nodded frantically.

A truly pitiful sight.

Anyone else might have felt a sliver of sympathy for him, but not Roen.

To Roen, he was no better than vermin.

Crack!

For the first time, his composure broke, barely restraining his urge to end the man then and there.

Barely holding back his rage, Roen asked:

“Raynol Folt, 43 years old. A commoner wife, and two daughters, correct?”

“!!”

“Yes, that’s right?”

“!!!”

Raynol Folt frantically nodded his head.

It was true. He had a wife and daughters.

“—Or not. You have one daughter. Why lie?”

“?!”

“Not two, just one. And even if you did have two daughters, why would you mark one with a ‘seal of obedience’ and give her such horrific orders…!!”

“……ugh…”

The Hidden Seal.

An ancient sorcery, like a poisonous curse, it couldn’t be broken by conventional means—a seal used only on livestock or monsters today, forbidden by law.

Roen wasn’t here to discuss the law.

What he was here for…

“You scum! Who do you think you are, to toy with someone’s life like that?!”

Driven by anger at a life destroyed by this wretch,

Roen’s wrath summoned forth—

[Growl!]

The Black Lion roared.

Ready to tear apart the one who dared to harm its master.