30 Years After Reincarnating, It Turns Out This World Was A Rofan?! novel Chapter 146

“If I suddenly leave my post at the academy, just assume I’m on the run.”

Ihan said this with a drained expression to the trainees gathered before him.

“On the run?”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“Instructor—?”

“Just take it at face value.”

“???”

Two days had passed since the commotion at the Galahad estate, and a creeping sense of unease had begun to settle in.

Wasn’t it said that humans are creatures of regret?

Ihan found himself trapped in the vicious cycle of reliving the chaos he’d caused, feeling the consequences in the present. For two nights straight, he had dreamt of being hunted by Galahad soldiers, or of the duke himself coming at him with a drawn sword.

‘Where should I run...?’

Even exile was starting to look like a viable option.

Perhaps the desert and grasslands ruled by the Sultan would suffice? It was said to be hot but surprisingly hospitable.

‘No, the heat’s not my thing.’

Then maybe he should retreat to a remote countryside with valleys and beaches to live a quiet, secluded life?

‘Nope, that’s not ideal either.’

Even if he had the look of someone who could survive anywhere, Ihan was a city dweller at heart. He’d much rather live in a well-developed urban area than endure rural life.

“Ugh.”

“Instructor, I don’t know what’s wrong, but cheer up. Kunta supports you.”

“Surprisingly sensitive for someone built like a brick wall, aren’t you?”

“...I’d rather not hear that from you, Instructor.”

“What’s wrong with me?”

“You look more barbaric than any actual barbarian.”

“Is that supposed to be an insult or a compliment?”

“???”

“...Why don’t you understand your own words?”

Ihan considered adding reading sessions to their training curriculum. Sure, sword-wielders might be called muscleheads, but they still needed a basic level of knowledge.

Somehow, thanks to the bulky trainee, Ihan temporarily forgot his worries about the duke and began contemplating the future direction of his lessons.

That was when...

“Come to think of it, the ballroom season is approaching.”

“Ah, I nearly forgot.”

“Oh no, I still haven’t found a partner...”

The chick trainees practicing the grappling techniques Ihan had taught them suddenly grew lively. The topic of the ballroom season had stirred them up.

“A ball?”

“Yes! The second semester is when the ballroom season begins. The Royal Academy Ball is coming up soon, and everyone has to attend.”

“Something like that exists?”

“Since everyone at the Royal Academy must show their face in society—whether they like it or not—it’s a mandatory event. Not attending is essentially an admission of being excluded from high society.”

“Hmm.”

“Hehe, Instructor, you’re probably thinking balls and social events are pointless, right?”

“Ah, no, it’s not that...”

...These chicks were sharper than he expected.

Was this what people called women’s intuition?

‘Is my expression really that easy to read?’

It seemed like everyone he met could see right through him.

“Well, sorry about that. But I wasn’t thinking it was pointless. It’s just... events like that aren’t familiar to me. I didn’t mean to dismiss you or anything.”

“Oh, I know, Instructor. I understand you didn’t mean it that way.”

The chick’s faint laughter trickled through her words, and the others seemed to agree.

“That’s what’s great about you, Instructor. Even though we’re young and low-ranked, you still apologize to us.”

“Exactly! Unlike some nobles or knights who are too proud to apologize and just lash out instead.”

“If only it stopped at that. Some even resort to violence. I heard about Sir Frand the other day...”

“What?! That happened? Honestly, he’s as terrible as he looks—polished on the outside, but rotten through and through.”

“Such a shame. If I’d seen him, it would’ve been a great chance to test the techniques you taught us, Instructor.”

“Exactly!”

“...Can I leave now?”

Once again, Ihan realized he shouldn’t interfere in conversations between girls.

At some point, his presence seemed to fade from their minds, and he began to feel the urge to escape.

“Hehe, to sum it up, Instructor, you’re just kind-hearted.”

“...I asked about the ball, so why is this the conclusion?”

The kind, teasing voice of the blue-haired chick reached him, and Ihan learned a valuable lesson.

‘Never butt into conversations between girls.’

It was a lesson that would stay with him for the rest of his life.

Meanwhile, a red-haired woman—Judea Pierre—watched from a distance as the female trainees mingled with the knight.

Her expression was unreadable, as always.

However, if a kind and perceptive old priest were present, they might have recognized the faint trace of emotion on her face.

And that emotion was none other than...

“...Oh, Light, how am I supposed to live like this...”

Envy.

+++++

Ihan shared the details of his recent escapades with one of his collaborators, who immediately reacted with wide-eyed shock.

“Y-You were summoned by the duke?!”

The collaborator, Taechang, looked as if he were on the verge of fainting.

“Is that really something to get so worked up over?”

While Taechang occasionally displayed bouts of boldness, his naturally timid personality made him prone to overreacting to trivial matters.

But Taechang rebutted fiercely.

“How could I not be shocked?! Wait, Instructor, you actually know Duke Blake Galahad? The ‘Blake of the Cursed Sword’?”

“...What kind of title is that?”

“Blake of the Cursed Sword, the duke who possesses strength rivaling that of an Aura Master. His power alone is legendary, but when wielding the Cursed Sword, he’s a walking cataclysm—a man capable of wiping out entire nations.”

“...Don’t tell me he’s some kind of important character in this world too?”

“He’s more like an event boss. Similar to Grand Duke Lionel, he wasn’t designed to be a defeat-able enemy.”

“...Then what’s the point of his existence?”

“The original development team sometimes went a little crazy and added nonsensical Easter eggs. Honestly, in the original storyline, he doesn’t do much, but it seems the devs couldn’t resist throwing him in.”

“He doesn’t do much? That duke?”

From Ihan’s perspective, Duke Blake Galahad was far from an indifferent bystander. The man was astute, capable, and undeniably remarkable. Hearing that he didn’t play an active role in the original story left Ihan puzzled.

Sensing his confusion, Taechang explained why the duke’s character had such a limited role.

“He’s written as a passive observer. You know how having someone who can control every situation completely ruins the flow of a story, right? That’s why he stays out of the action. Though, admittedly, it means his screen time is almost nonexistent.”

“Does he have any moments of significance?”

“Oh, he does.”

“When?”

“When Irene Windler falls from grace.”

“...Ah.”

Ihan nodded, recalling a detail about the story’s original plot.

“Wasn’t Irene Windler originally one of the three major villainesses?”

In response, Taechang nodded and elaborated on her backstory.

“Irene Windler becomes a villainess because she’s essentially the final boss of the academy arc. In the original, she’s adopted as the duke’s ward, and like most people who enter a powerful family, she has two choices. Do you know what they are?”

“Be grateful for their newfound fortune and strive to prove their worth, or become arrogant and lose their way.”

“Exactly.”

“I’ve read my fair share of comics... But judging by the way you’re talking, the chick...”

“Yeah, she takes a very dark path in the original.”

It wasn’t just a little rebellion, either.