Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Five minutes before the clash with Lizark Baumann.

Khal, who had been doing push-ups, instinctively turned his head at the sound of a rowdy commotion.

There, Frank was utterly mocking a young boy with his sword.

‘It’s none of my business.’

Khal tried to ignore it and return to his training, but he couldn’t help but remember the entries in his diary.

—I want to become a proud knight and be recognized.

—I will become a knight who protects the weak.

Remembering those words and the oath he had made to Sarah Stark, he sighed.

An absolute being must strictly adhere to their own word.

Keeping his contract with Chait was also a matter of Khal’s own pride.

Having reached a decision, Khal stood up and walked toward the wooden dummy.

He then spoke to the boy who was striking the dummy.

“Move.”

“Huh?”

“It’s my turn. Move.”

“O-okay.”

At Khal’s overbearing tone, the student stepped back, visibly tense.

Step.

As Khal stood before the wooden dummy and shifted his weight back, the student beside him asked with a puzzled expression.

“Don’t you need a wooden sword?”

Khal replied with a smirk.

“I don’t need it. I’m planning to test how sturdy this thing is first.”

Immediately after he spoke.

Crash!

Khal’s foot slammed violently into the wooden dummy.

Unable to withstand the impact, the dummy shattered with a loud crack and went flying toward Frank.

Thwack!

Frank, struck directly in the leg by the broken pieces of the dummy, collapsed ungracefully.

* * *

And now.

An ominous energy pervaded the training ground due to Khal and Lizark Baumann glaring at each other.

“Wow. That guy’s personality is no joke.”

“Tell me about it. He makes Frank look tame.”

Twitch!

At the sound of the whispering around him, Frank glared at the students.

Those who met his gaze immediately quieted down like frightened puppies.

“Hmph!”

Frank watched the confrontation between the two with his arms crossed, thinking to himself.

‘That guy is a complete mad dog.’

Facing something that didn’t go his way for the first time, Frank felt a surge of resentment. He wanted to suppress Khal with force, but he was held back by the surrounding eyes every time.

But what if the situation were reversed?

Khal would surely attack Frank without caring about the interference of those around him. He was a man who prioritized what he wanted to do over public perception.

Though they didn’t look alike, Frank was reminded of someone who gave off a similar vibe.

‘He might be like Deses.’

Their dispositions were completely different, but for some reason, their way of life was very similar.

Drip.

While thinking about Khal, Frank suddenly realized his palms were drenched in sweat.

‘No way, am I afraid of that guy?’

Grit!

Frank immediately denied the thought and ground his teeth.

‘That’s impossible. He’s just a mad dog full of bluff.’

Meanwhile, Lizark, whose anger had reached its peak at Khal’s provocation, repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists.

He wanted to strike him down with his fist, but for some reason, he felt as if this guy wouldn’t even blink while retaliating.

Fearing things might escalate too far, Lizark asserted his authority as an instructor.

“Kalliant, it seems you still don’t know your place.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“As punishment, you and that half-wit over there will clean this place today.”

Lizark pointed his index finger at Lowell Romanov, who was watching them.

Khal looked blankly at Lowell before speaking to Lizark.

“May I raise an objection?”

“Denied. Shut up and do as you’re told. Do you want me to add more reasons for your expulsion? And don’t even think about making your servant do it.”

“I suppose I have no choice. But what is the specific reason for this punishment?”

“Rebellion against me.”

“I like that reason. Please continue with the training. I’ll have it cleaned as soon as it’s over.”

Khal shrugged his shoulders and returned to his spot.

Twitch! Twitch!

Veins bulged on Lizark’s forehead as he grew even more infuriated. A stubbornness that became tougher and fiercer the more he tried to crush it, and a contrarian spirit that refused to listen.

Lizark was a tough character himself, but he was at a loss for how to handle someone even worse than him.

‘The reason they sent me here was to crush that guy.’

Lizark finally realized the vague reason why he had been sent to this place.

* * *

The training ground after the session ended.

Khal ground his teeth while sweeping the dirty floor with a broom.

“Leaving such a mess just because I said I’d clean it.”

Lowell, who was picking up trash and putting it into a sack beside him, glanced at Khal before speaking.

“……Thanks for earlier.”

“For what?”

“You helped me on purpose.”

“I didn’t help you. I just acted according to my convictions.”

Although he was stuck cleaning the training ground as a result, Khal didn’t seem to have any regrets based on his expression.

Seeing that, Lowell let out a small chuckle.

“……I wish I could be as confident as you. Well, maybe not exactly like you—that’s too much—but maybe just a drop of it.”

“What’s with that expression?”

Khal was a bit taken aback by the unusual phrasing, but Lowell continued as if he were envious.

“Factions exist wherever you go. People eventually have no choice but to kneel before a powerful force. Even though this is a school, I don’t think you’ll ever bow down.”

Khal nodded as if he agreed with Lowell’s words.

“True. I’ve never knelt before, but once you start kneeling, you’ll keep giving up what’s yours one by one. By the time you snap out of it, you’ll have become a hunting dog tamed by a master. I’ll pass on that.”

Lowell seemed a bit surprised to hear that. Soon, he spoke with a face full of resolve.

“My name is Lowell Romanov. I’m a noble from Lucon, just like you, Kalliant Stark.”

‘Romanov?!’

Even though Khal wasn’t particularly interested in politics, it was a name of a prestigious family he had heard until his ears bled.

If the Stark Family were the overlords ruling the north of Lucon, the Romanovs were the overlords ruling the east. The Romanov family possessed two Sword Masters.

If the Stark family’s swordsmanship was domineering, the Romanov’s was a swift sword, like a gale.

In terms of lineage, he had met someone from a rival family, but Khal didn’t care and tossed out a casual question.

“So, why bother revealing your name?”

“Wait, you’re not going to ask how I knew yours?”

“No need. I can guess just by the genetic characteristics of your hair and eyes. A few others in this school probably recognized you too.”

Asking or knowing each other’s status was forbidden here, but that was merely a school rule. Unless one was an idiot, there would surely come a day when they realized it after spending a long time together.

“So, why did you introduce yourself?”

“Well, you see.”

At the direct question, Lowell scratched his temple and spoke with a shy expression.

“I was hoping we could be friends.”

“Friends……”

Thinking about it, the only people he met frequently since coming here were Lily, Eri, and McCally. Considering the future, having connections was also important.

However, the Romanovs and the Starks were bitter rivals who kept each other in check. It was obvious that getting along would bring more harm than good.

‘Not bad.’

But Khal and Lowell looked at each other as individuals, not as representatives of their families. Lowell felt a sense of camaraderie toward Khal, and Khal felt sincerity from Lowell.

To look at each other beyond the narrow-minded notions created by adults was quite progressive and cool…… and Khal thought that was enough.

“You’ve got quite the nerve wanting to be friends with me. Your school life is going to get even harder.”

Even while speaking sarcastically, Khal naturally reached out his hand. Realizing it was an acceptance, Lowell chuckled and shook Khal’s hand.

“I said it knowing the risks. Besides, I think it’ll be fun.”

‘I think this is my first friend.’

Khal, meeting someone he could call a friend for the first time across his past and present lives, scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

* * *

A guest room in Partes Academy.

“Where on earth has my son disappeared to!!”

There, Vin Rafta, the parent of the recently missing Ariel Rafta, was shouting in an excited tone at Chen Riddler, a professor of the Sceletus School.

‘My ears hurt.’

Chen, who was in the interview with him, looked at Vin Rafta with an absurd gaze. It looked as though he was a grieving family member whose loved one was missing, but in truth, Vin Rafta was the type of man who would sell out even his family for his own gain.

Even now, his desperation to find Ariel stemmed from the anxiety of losing a tool to connect his family with another.

‘Deses is amazing. To accurately grasp the inner thoughts of such a human and tell me how to negotiate.’

Chen Riddler narrowed his eyes and spoke.

“I heard you’ve been trying to start an interesting business in Lucon under a borrowed name recently.”

“…….”

At his words, Vin’s complexion turned cold and rigid.

“H-how did you?!”

“Setting aside the details, I think you would face a painful retribution from the Lucon Imperial Family if you were caught.”

“A-are you threatening me right now!”

“Depending on the situation, this could indeed be a threat. Anyway, it is deeply unpleasant for a mere merchant like you to express dissatisfaction to a noble like me.”

“…….”

At his surprisingly brazen words, Vin’s face turned pale. On the other hand, Riddler was confident. Since there were no other ears listening, he had no reason to hide his sharp personality.

Riddler pushed Vin even harder.

“Your son felt remorse for the atrocities committed by the Rafta Merchant Guild and ran away from home, so you don’t need to worry too much. Just discard a piece of trash like him who doesn’t even understand the family’s hardships.”

“H-how could.”

Vin broke into a cold sweat and tried to say something, but Riddler smirked and continued the conversation.

“The family business only needs to be passed down to one eldest son. Isn’t what you want a noble title? I know a Viscount who is dying of illness. That Viscount has a young daughter in her early teens. I will act as a matchmaker in my name to connect her with your eldest son……”

Lean.

Riddler leaned forward and whispered into Vin’s ear in an incredibly cunning voice.

“And then you can snatch the title. Viscount Rafta.”

At the mention of being a Viscount, the sweat on Vin Rafta’s forehead trickled down to his chin and fell. Grin. Soon, the corners of Vin’s mouth curled up in an incredibly devious manner.

* * *

After the interview ended.

Riddler looked out the window. There, he saw Vin Rafta heading toward his carriage with a cheerful stride.

Snicker.

Seeing that, Riddler unconsciously raised the corners of his mouth and muttered.

“Becoming a noble at the cost of giving up one son. Quite a huge profit indeed.”

Slurp.

Having successfully finished the consultation, he sipped his tea with satisfaction. Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“Enter.”

Once Riddler’s permission was given, Lizark Baumann appeared from outside the door.

“What is it?”

“I’ve prepared a somewhat dangerous lesson, but I was told I needed the professors’ permission, so I came to visit.”

Riddler frowned as he looked through the documents Lizark handed over.

“Have you come to get my signature in your right mind?”

The training Lizark had prepared was incredibly suspicious and dangerous.

“I will do my best for the students’ safety. Except for one person, that is.”

“One person?”

“Kalliant, who belongs to Onyx Square.”

“Ah, you mean that arrogant brat.”

Deep crimson hair like a burning flame and vivid red eyes. Not long ago, he had suffered the humiliation and disgrace of having his long-labored Skeleton King summoning magic broken by Khal. And he had never forgotten the anger he felt then.

Smirk.

In the next moment, Riddler’s face was filled with joy.

“……Is this Deses’s wish?”

When he asked in a tone full of excitement like a child, Lizark nodded.

“Deses probably considers him an eyesore as well.”

“If that’s the case, I should help, even if my honor is slightly tarnished.”

Riddler lit a red candle, dripped the wax onto the parchment, and firmly pressed the seal engraved on his ring into the wax.