I’m the Slit-Eyed Character at the Academy, but I’m not the Mastermind

Chapter 89

"Speak up quickly. Unlike you, I'm a busy man."

As I pondered, Caron began to press me for an answer.

It hadn't even been a minute yet, but well, I had just finished thinking, so it didn't matter.

With the politest expression I could muster, I spoke.

"Keke, no, upon further thought, it seems inappropriate. It doesn't seem right to expect a reward for something so trivial."

"...What's your angle now?"

Caron frowned.

Refusing the reward seemed to have made him even more suspicious.

"Seriously, you know as well as I do that I'm not that kind of person."

Ah, at that moment, I was more inclined to receive something in return. My apologies.

But that was then, and this is now, right?

"Keke, it's just that your departure seemed too abrupt. Even though we're in a business relationship, it felt too cold, didn't it?"

"The relationship we have is perfectly fine for someone like you. It's rather unsettling. I'll just give you something. What do you want? Money? Artifacts? Or something else?"

No, you maniac! I don't want anything!

What's with this guy?

"Keke, then let's consider it a favor for the future. When I provide significant information next time, I'll receive it together with that."

'This is neither accepting nor rejecting the reward!' strategy.

Caron clicked his tongue in response.

He might not like it, but it seems he'll let it pass.

"...Do as you wish. You have nothing else to say, right?"

"Keke, I do have one pure curiosity."

"I doubt it's anything pure. I'll be on my way."

Caron reached for the training ground's door handle.

But stopping him was all too easy.

"Even if it involves Lady Renia?"

Halt-.

Caron immediately turned around.

"Tch, as I thought, it's not a pure curiosity. Stop beating around the bush and speak. What is it?"

"Lérang knows about One Flash. And in quite detail."

"Lérang?"

Caron showed interest.

Just as planned. Asking about Lérang using the Lester family as a pretext.

For Caron, it's something he can't just ignore, and it's unlikely he'll rush to dismember Lérang over this.

Well, he might go to vent his frustration, but that's a different story.

"Explain in detail."

From the outdoor class a few days ago, Yuridia's obsession, to the recent incident in the classroom.

After finishing my story, Caron slightly nodded his head.

"So, that happened. Lérang, huh... It's possible for him to use One Flash, indeed. But hearing that he learned it from the Lester family is new to me."

He paused for a moment, indicating he was thinking.

Eventually, when Caron's lips began to move, our mouths opened at the same time.

"Probably a lie."

"Likely a lie."

We reached the same conclusion. Well, I've thought so for quite a while.

'The Lester family is very rigid.'

A conclusion drawn from the information I knew from playing the game and from what I've heard directly here.

Not exactly secretive, but not open either.

A family that could be described as old-fashioned.

It's unlikely that such a family directly taught swordsmanship to an outsider like Lérang.

That was our conclusion.

"Did you ask knowing already?"

"Keke, just in case. There might be another special case like me."

"True, the first one to properly use One Flash besides someone from the Lester family is you."

"Keke, then I hope you'll look upon me kindly..."

"Had I not seen One Flash right before my eyes, I would have killed you on the spot. It's a pity."

Caron truly seemed to regret not having done so.

What's wrong with asking to be looked upon kindly?

Even a psychopath wouldn't go that far.

'Wait? Now that I think about it...'

There was one odd detail.

I had thought Caron would be furious at Lérang for lying about being directly taught, but that didn't seem to be the case.

"You're not angry?"

"Why would I be angry? Your face annoys me every time I see it, but I can tolerate it enough."

...This guy?

I wanted to summon Luna over to show him a lesson, but I desperately held back, thinking information about Lérang might come up.

"Keke, didn't Teacher Lérang use the Lester family's techniques? He even lied about being taught directly. Aren't you angry about that?"

"Ah, that's what you meant. You should have clarified earlier. I thought it was because of your ugly face."

Crack, click.

I must endure. If I lash out, I'll be the one to die.

Caron was wearing a look of amusement, almost as if he was inviting me to attack.

If I did, it would result in at least 12 weeks of recuperation. Serious injury.

I decided to endure. I'm an adult, after all.

"So, you're not attacking?"

"Keke, would I do such a thing? Especially to a respected teacher like yourself."

"Boring."

Disappointed, Caron's eyes glinted as he spoke.

"Lérang is quite a hard worker. That's why I don't dislike him. Well, I don't particularly like him either."

"A hard worker?"

"Yes. Using another family's swordsmanship is not easy. He has a keen eye and a talent for analysis, but... it's impossible without effort."

The evaluation of Lérang was quite high.

If Caron praised him to this extent, it was clear what others thought.

‘Well, I had felt it during class too.’

Knowing from the start that Lérang was the boss ending Chapter 1.

I was nervous during the first class, but as soon as it ended, the tension melted away like snow.

Diligence, passion, doing one's best.

He was the epitome of a great teacher.

‘A hard worker... Could this be the keyword to redeem Lérang?’

As I was organizing this information in my head, Caron continued.

"And the fact that he sparred with Renia could also be true."

"Really? Is that true?"

"Renia isn't one to avoid a duel. Unless there's a special reason, she would have accepted. Of course, she wouldn't bother with those unworthy of her sword... but Lérang isn't one of those people."

Caron's gaze swiftly moved and then settled on me.

"Didn't you know this information? Dreaming of being the Lester family's rat."

Though it was a casual remark, it posed a question I hadn't considered.

I mustn't show my surprise. Act shamelessly.

With a slight pout, I replied.

"I spent more time apart than together. I had to fulfill Lady Renia's request."

"Request? What request?"

I covered my mouth as if I had spoken out of turn.

"Keke, I mentioned it back in the ant hill. It's your task to find out, Teacher Caron."

"...Worry not. I'll find out for sure."

Caron smirked.

Oh, cool, isn't he? Influenced by Luna's puffed cheeks?

As I was about to return the smile, Caron's expression hardened instantly.

"I'll find out, even if I have to dissect you."

Terrifying. Not a joke, but genuinely frightening.

He's talking about disassembling people. He's not in his right mind.

"Keke, you're joking, right?"

"Find out if I'm serious or not. It'll be an interesting quiz for us to enjoy, thanks to you."

No. It's not an interesting quiz at all.

And you're serious about disassembling me, aren't you?

Correct answer or wrong, disassembly either way. I'm not pleased at all!

"Anyway, Lérang's classes are of decent quality, so don't miss out. He may have strayed, but... living here, he'll come to realize on his own."

"Strayed? What do you mean by that?"

"Do you think the swordsmanship of a prestigious family is strong because it's from a prestigious family?"

Isn't that obvious? That's what makes them prestigious.

"Isn't it?"

"Tch, that's nonsense. Becoming strong just because you learned the swordsmanship of a prestigious family? That's absurd."

"Why is that?"

"Because of different physical structures."

Strength, muscles, height, weight, gender, etc.

"Everyone has different given conditions, so do you think standardized swordsmanship would suit everyone? If it did, that would be even stranger."

Indeed. From the length of arms and legs to strength.

Everyone has different physical structures. Even if they learn the same swordsmanship, there are differences.

Even if those differences are minor, they are still differences.

Over generations, those differences would only grow larger.

"Then why do the major families continue to maintain their positions?"

"It's obvious, isn't it? Because they work hard."

Both in places where others watch and where they don't.

It's through constant effort that they can maintain their positions.

Caron was saying just that.

"Well, the legacy, honor, and trust built by predecessors do play a role."

"Isn't that a bigger influence than effort?"

"Maybe. But if the next generation is useless, it'll only take a moment to squander that legacy. Think about it. Have the eight pillars of the empire always maintained their position from the beginning until now?"

The founding of the Annwood Empire dates back hundreds of years.

The eight families that turned the Annwood Kingdom into an empire.

Of those, the only family that has maintained its position to this day is.

'Rodelin's Lucid family.'

The other seven pillars have changed hands one or two at a time every generation.

Whether it was a newly rising family or one of the original eight pillars, there were times for each.

"It can change depending on effort, then."

"Exactly. Especially for families that wield swords. That's why the swordsmanship of a prestigious family isn't necessarily strong. If it were..."

They would have to maintain their position from the beginning until now.

A swordsmanship powerful enough to devour all other families.

'Learning the swordsmanship of a prestigious family doesn't guarantee strength,' as Caron suggested.

"Of course, being taught refined swordsmanship is efficient. But in the end, you have to adapt it to fit yourself. Only then can you reach the pinnacle."

The swordsmanship passed down in a family is merely a guide.

Walking along that path and adapting and developing it to fit oneself.

That's the task for the future generations.

"Swordsmanship, spear techniques, archery, martial arts, they all start and end the same. Only the middle is different. Any family's martial arts can reach the top."

Only the middle is different, not the start and end.

It's a good saying.

At the same time, I knew what I had to say to Lérang.

'Lérang thought his family's swordsmanship was weak.'

That's why he learned other families' swordsmanship and gradually lost his way.

'But he became stronger, didn't he? Is that what you call losing your way?'

I hoped Caron would offer more insights, but he had been silent for a while.

'If I show any more curiosity about Lérang, Caron might suspect something.'

The last thing we need is for Caron, noticing Lérang's suspicious behavior, to kill him.

That must be avoided at all costs.

For now, the fact that Lérang is a hard worker and the reason he lost his way.

I'd have to be satisfied with gaining these two pieces of information.

"...Perhaps, it's better to stop now?"

"Excuse me?"

Caron's gaze was directed at Luna.

"Ugh... Ugh... One more time!"

In the middle of the training ground.

Exhausted, Luna was writhing on the ground like a worm.

--TL Notes--

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading