30 Years After Reincarnating, It Turns Out This World Was A Rofan?! novel Chapter 15

The Royal Academy of Pendragon.

Also known simply as the Academy.

A place of learning and a sanctuary of knowledge where the future leaders of the kingdom are educated, the Academy teaches a wide range of subjects.

Not just swordsmanship and magic, but also medicine, statistics, astronomy, blacksmithing, and so on.

If you look closely, they even teach some odd things you might not expect, bringing the total number of subjects taught at the Academy to over thirty. There might even be more than that.

However, even with so many subjects, the quality of the instructors or professors teaching them is never lacking.

Why else would it be called the Royal Academy?

To carry the royal name, it would be an insult to compare it to other academies.

That’s why the faculty of the Royal Academy consists of exceptionally capable individuals. As they are responsible for educating the future of the kingdom, their skills and experience must be second to none.

But...

“...Is that the guy?”

“The rumors were true?”

“No way.”

“Should we try to get on his good side?”

“Forget it. He’s probably in a bad mood right now.”

“...Yeah, you’re right.”

It was a simple gathering held before the Academy's entrance ceremony—a kind of presentation for the teaching staff, meant to provide introductions and a basic explanation of their roles while also giving the instructors a chance to familiarize themselves with one another.

While they mingled and made acquaintances, their curious gazes frequently darted toward one man.

Unlike the groups of people chatting together, this man sat alone like a noble wolf, quietly eating steak.

They already knew who he was and what his identity was.

“That’s Lihan, right?”

“The White Silver Lion, huh. I never thought I’d see something like this in my life.”

“Agreed.”

Some of the more senior professors murmured his name.

Knight Lihan.

A current active knight dispatched to the Academy as an instructor.

It wasn’t their first time seeing a knight, but seeing an active one—especially a young knight—at the Academy was a first.

What did it mean for him to be young?

It meant he was in his prime, when his aura techniques were at their peak, when his vitality was at its most dynamic.

But for such a person to become an instructor meant he was missing out on the most active period of his life.

Because of this, people tended to avoid him, thinking he must be displeased with his situation.

Though it might be called a demotion, or a temporary assignment, it didn’t mean he was weak. Professors saw him as a potential danger and subtly distanced themselves, avoiding any risk.

It was simply a matter of wisdom.

Well...

‘Do they think I’m some kind of poison?’

Even though they tried to be discreet, their actions didn’t escape his notice, and Ihan smirked.

Humans, honestly.

‘Playing cute, aren’t they?’

He wasn’t particularly upset. Being feared was better than being ignored, after all.

He took another bite of steak.

One week earlier, the sudden news of Ihan’s assignment had been a big issue within the knight order, and for once, the knights felt some pity for him.

...It might be hard to understand at first.

How could a task like teaching the future leaders of the kingdom be seen as a punishment?

Wasn’t this, by all accounts, an honorable mission?

But that’s a perspective held by someone who only knows one side of the story.

What was the White Silver Lion knight order?

They were the royal knight order, sworn to protect the royal family.

The pride that came from guarding the glorious royal family was a source of unmatched honor in this kingdom.

To abandon that prestigious duty and become a mere instructor?

It wasn’t a bad position, per se, but it was the kind of post you’d offer a retired knight. For a young knight in their prime, it was like a bolt from the blue.

So yes, this was indeed a serious punishment.

At a time when he should be honing his skills and aiming higher, he was now forced to teach a bunch of rookies.

There was no greater loss than that.

That’s why it wasn’t so strange for the knights to feel sorry for him.

However, the person in question...

“Oh, so that’s how they’re framing it? Well, it makes sense if they want to tie everything together. That woman really is cunning.”

“You disrespectful fool, how dare you speak about the princess like that.”

“Oh, you know a bit about the situation, huh, old man?”

“I can only make some guesses.”

“Hm, as long as I get paid properly, right?”

As expected, Jake, with his keen sense, didn’t bother asking about his well-being, but instead, since he seemed to know that the secret mission was related to the Academy, he simply wrote a short message: Do your best.

The next letter, in contrast, was from Yord. Despite not knowing Ihan for long, Yord wrote a long letter filled with concern, mentioning how he planned to petition the commander on Ihan’s behalf, saying things like, I will try my best to help you, so...

Ihan, my reliable adopted brother, if you’ve received this letter...