It had already been over half a month since the terrorist attack, dubbed the [Monster Subjugation Battle], came to an end.
The battle of wills between the Headmaster and the Royal Inspector continued, and there were plenty of issues, but that was now merely an extension of politics.
It was no place for subordinates to interfere.
Thus, classes and the atmosphere in other departments had long since returned to normal, and the lingering aftereffects of the terror were slowly fading into oblivion.
They say humans are creatures of forgetfulness—truly an apt assessment.
However, they had every right to savor this peace; once the midterm evaluations ended, the 'Summer Recess (休校)' would effectively begin—in other words, a two-month break—so it was inevitable that both cadets and instructors would slack off a bit.
Recess.
What a sweet sounding word.
Even those with grand goals never despise a break.
There were already quite a few who were excited, and some had even drafted systematic plans on how to spend their days off.
Just as a relaxed atmosphere wafted through the Swordsmanship Department, no different from the other departments—
"-We will be having counseling sessions after class today."
-??
Their master made a declaration that suddenly spiked the tension.
Ho, could it be....
"We're not doing anything like sparring, so just accept it as it is. Still, as your instructor, I have to do something like counseling before the break. Annoyingly..."
-...Phew.
Thank goodness. Their master wasn't entirely inflexible.
...I thought I'd have to be hospitalized in the temple for the entire break.
"You brats! If anyone saw you, they'd think I'm the kind of guy who hospitalizes people every time we spar!"
-......
...Do they have no conscience?
"Are you not going to open your eyes properly?"
-Ahem.
They obediently lowered their eyes.
* * *
'What is this? Did they all plan this out before coming here?'
The counseling was conducted one-on-one, and Lee Han almost thought they were truly colluding.
How was it that—.
"I plan to return to my territory and train with the knight order. However, personally, I would like to request instruction from you, Instructor. If... if we invite you, would you come to the territory?"
These were the Young Masters.
"I'm thinking of taking on some work at the guild. From light scouting to odd jobs, earning money while accumulating real combat experience. A-and, if it's alright, could I visit you personally, Instructor? Because I want to receive training..."
The Bears.
"The debutante season starts in the fall semester. I'll probably be living at the salon I belong to, preparing for the fall. ...So, Instructor. If perhaps as a partner-, ...Ah, it's nothing!! I misspoke, ahem."
...Even the Chicks.
He had deliberately divided them into three teams for easy distinction, and the words coming out of their mouths were mostly similar.
The Young Masters would go to their territories to train.
The Bears would take on requests at the guild to make a living.
The Chicks would do things fitting of noble ladies....
They shouldn't have coordinated, yet the three teams each gave answers identical to their teammates, and to Lee Han, the kids were so overly earnest that it felt awkward.
Regarding his reaction.
"Even if it's a recess, how many cadets will truly rest? Even if they weren't expelled from the Academy this year, there's no guarantee they'll survive the next, so building up their capabilities as much as possible is the normal choice. If anything, I'd like to see the face of anyone who slacks off. Just to see how big their guts must be."
This was the answer of the slave—no, Assistant No. 1.
The hardships of a cadet are best understood by another cadet; it was a well-organized explanation.
Lee Han thought once again that the assistant guy was perfect in every way except his personality.
"But aren't you going back to your territory?"
"...Are you rubbing salt in the wound? I'm currently disowned, you know."
"Ah, right."
"......"
He scratched at it out of habit.
He knew it was a bad habit, but it wasn't easy to fix.
'The impact feels good.'
Lee Han muttered to himself that it was more satisfying than a sandbag for relieving stress, and Damian Pollet could only put on a miserable expression.
Anyway!
Excluding such special cases, most of them were working hard for their own development, and he felt anew that their duties varied greatly depending on their status and gender.
"-That's what they're doing, so what are you guys going to do?"
With most of the counseling with the cadets finished and only a few left, Lee Han asked the trio he had gathered together.
He was wondering what they would do during the break.
"Why did Kunta call us all together?"
"Wasn't this an individual counseling session?"
"Instructor-nim, we have private lives too..."
The trio, called in all at once, expressed their dissatisfaction.
I mean, why were they the only ones not getting individual counseling, but called in together?
However, Lee Han didn't listen to their complaints.
It was fine to call them as a set anyway.
After showing their dissatisfaction once, seeing that it didn't work at all, they stopped complaining and immediately continued with their answers.
"Arno invited Kunta."
"I heard the way back to my hometown is long. I decided to study together at my family. You're a good sparring partner, and it'll be quite a big stimulus for the family's disciples too."
"I got an invitation too, but unfortunately, I'm going to see our old man for a bit. Haa, just thinking about meeting that guy makes me feel daunted already."
It was a schedule fitting of them, and Lee Han accepted it.
And so.
"Hmm, want to have a serious spar before the break starts? I'll take you on 3-to-1."
Showing consideration as if to compensate for their break, Lee Han offered a special proposal.
With a gaze that said he was confident he could bring their form to its peak.
Thus, the trio....
"K-Kunta doesn't want to return to the bosom of Mother Nature yet, R-right now the Instructor is scary..."
"The aura emanating from your body is considerably more violent than before. It seems you've had some growth... if we clash carelessly, there's a chance one of us could end up crippled."
"What did you do to make your body even better? Teach me the secret technique too."
With pale faces, they expressed a fierce refusal.
Unlike the other cadets, the trio had perceived with their extraordinary talents that Lee Han had achieved exponential growth, and they decided to bolt quickly before getting caught in Lee Han's net, turning their bodies around swiftly.
Swish!
The three disappeared with a zero-to-hundred speed rivaling a cheetah, and Lee Han...
"Tch, quick-witted little brats."
It was a shame.
They would have been perfect for adjusting the condition of his changed body.
He barely had time to chew on that regret.
"Ah, you're here. Prospective Assistant No. 3."
"...I'd rather you call me Black Dog."
With a rare rotting expression, Surveillance Target No. 1—the Regressor—furrowed his brow, and Lee Han tilted his head.
Wondering why every single one of them despised the assistant proposal.
"What's wrong with being an assistant that everyone hates it?"
"I saw how you treat Damian Pollet, do you think there would be anyone who wants to do it?"
"...What's the problem?"
"...The fact that you're asking back is the horror itself."
"??"
Lee Han couldn't understand it at all.
That was because.
'Compared to my days as a non-commissioned officer, I really treat them humanely...'
Compared to what he had endured, what Assistant No. 1 went through was just a drop in the bucket, and he felt a bit disappointed that it wasn't recognized.
"-I'm looking into those who summoned the Demon King the other day. I hear that 'His Excellency the Grand Duke' has already found their traces."
"That... it's not really my place to say, but do you have a bad relationship with your father?"
Somehow, the counseling content felt like it was veering toward Noir.
He didn't want to experience another family's darkness like this...
Lee Han tried hard to change the atmosphere playfully, but betraying his expectations.
"How could the relationship be good or bad? Dare I say, 'being a mere illegitimate child'."
"Yeah, I can definitely tell the father-son relationship is the worst."
Lee Han became solemn.
'That guy seemed fine when I saw him the other day... Does he only treat his own people well, and is a zero as a father?'
There are those types sometimes.
People who do well on the outside, but are neglectful heads of the family at home.
Just seeing the Black Dog guy rarely show such resentment meant the probability of his prediction being right was high.
"...I heard you met with His Excellency the Grand Duke."
"Well, it just happened."
"Please be careful. His Excellency the Grand Duke is a self-willed person. Despite that, he lacks a 'great cause'. It's best not to get involved with such a madman."
"...Could you stop digging up your family's darkness in front of me?"
Lee Han had never had children, but he felt he would be hurt if his own child showed him contempt like treating him like a stranger.
...Though it didn't seem like that log of a man would suffer any emotional wounds.
However, his empathy for the hardships of a patriarch was brief.
A coldness lingered in Lee Han's eyes.
"So, you found their 'traces'..."
The traces of the scum who summoned the monsters.
Recalling the events of that time, Lee Han's voice lowered along with the sensation of his blood running cold.
"I figured it was reliable information."
Roen set aside his personal feelings and expressed his confidence in the information the Grand Duke had brought.
Because even if he was a heartless father, he was not an incompetent man.
Most likely, he held important information eight or nine times out of ten.
"You'll probably have to go and hear the details yourself, but if you wish, Instructor, I'll share the information separately."
"...There are a lot of rats around me lately, so it'll be difficult to give it secretly."
"Fortunately, I have an overqualified subordinate."
"......"
Only then did Lee Han grasp the source of this guy's audacity to blurt out such important information inside the Academy.
Jack.
The guy who always stuck to him like his right arm.
A guy born with a talent more suited for an assassin than a knight.
It seemed he was currently catching suspicious things around them.
"That ordinary-looking guy, he seems to have a knack for handling rats too?"
"It'll probably be quiet for a while."
"Thanks. I'll repay him separately later."
"He'll be delighted."
Lee Han and Roen held similar smiles and nodded their heads.
The two men were clearly worlds apart in appearance, environment, and background, but they had both lived desperately.
Thus, the two men, who exuded somewhat similar auras, felt no awkwardness even as they faced each other.
It was truly a wondrous relationship of trust.
"I'll be getting up now. It seems I've said all I needed to say."
"This was supposed to be counseling, but it somehow turned into a secret conversation."
"Neither you nor I are people meant to live quietly, are we, Instructor?"
"...I really want to decline, I want to retire, please."
"It won't be easy. The world isn't soft enough to let capable people rest."
"......Rotten."
"Haha."
Roen laughed lightly and tried to turn his back.
As if his business here was done.
...Halt.
However, he stopped mid-step.
What was he thinking?
Even he couldn't grasp the gist of his own feelings, but for some reason, right now...
'I thought meddlesomeness had nothing to do with me...'
Had he even learned this meddlesomeness from the man he acknowledged as his master for the first time?
In the past, he would have dismissed it as trivial, an emotion without even a grand cause, and acted narrow-mindedly...
'...I don't want to do that.'
If he lived exactly the same as 'before,' wouldn't the ending be the same as well?
Roen, the man who went against the flow of time, made up his mind to try a slightly different path and opened his mouth.
"-Levi Folt. She's probably still in the royal capital."
"......"
"I know it's useless meddling, but I'm saying it just in case."
"Meddlesomeness doesn't suit you."
"I thought so too, oops."
After a light bow of his head, Roen turned his back.
No more words were needed.
Just by looking at his eyes, he could tell he wouldn't sit still.
'...I guess there was no need to push his back.'
Roen smiled bitterly, thinking that people really shouldn't do things they aren't used to.
* * *
"......"
Lee Han watched the door Roen left through for a moment, then opened his desk drawer.
"Hmm, I'll get scolded by the Headmaster, won't I?"
According to the school rules, it would be right to submit it today, but...
"You should deliver something like this face-to-face, right?"
Riiip.
Lee Han tore the envelope labeled [Leave of Absence] in half and stood right up.
To catch the 'Delinquent Bear' who had been absent without leave for five days and hadn't even come to the counseling session.
Seriously.
'Earnest kids cause trouble once in a while.'
Lee Han felt anew the hardships and sorrows of a master.