Chapter 367: Chapter 367

From beyond the door, Pjol could sense Daike’s flustered demeanor.

Pjol let out a sigh of relief.

He had been wondering if the one knocking was an assassin sent by his lord to silence him.

‘It’s not that I fear death. If my death could help the Baron…’

He could give up his life as many times as needed.

In any case, Pjol had steeled himself when someone knocked on the door.

And yet, it wasn’t an assassin, but a student who couldn’t even hide basic information.

‘Looks like I’ll need to guide him a bit.’

Was it because his days were numbered? Or maybe just because he had nothing to do.

“If you stay silent like that, it’s no different than admitting it’s true.”

“No, well… It’s not something you need to apologize for.”

“No, I was rude. I should have greeted you in person. Please step back for a moment, would you?”

Suddenly asking him to step back. He didn’t understand. Could it be…

“You’re not thinking of breaking the door, are you?”

“That’s right. I have to open it if I want to greet you properly. But there’s no key… so I’ll have to break it.”

What was this? Some new assassination method trending lately?

Whether it was or not, Pjol had to stop Daike.

‘A student suddenly came and broke the door, then greeted me and disappeared. Oh, and brought some meat too.’

—no one would believe such an absurd story was true.

Anyone would think, ‘Pjol broke out, went hunting for meat, and came back! He’s a meat-obsessed pervert!’

Pjol opened his mouth faster than ever.

“Pardon? But I haven’t greeted you yet…”

“I’ve received more than enough of a greeting. So intense, in fact, that I’ll never forget your name for the rest of my life.”

“To receive such praise… thank you.”

It wasn’t praise. It was sarcasm.

Pjol clicked his tongue.

This kid, Daike. He was far more rigid than he had expected.

More precisely, he lacked communication skills.

To the point where it would cause issues in everyday life.

‘Must be the result of being raised like a hound.’

Someone who provides full support so nobles can enjoy a comfortable life.

Similar to a servant, but also different. Servants might get paid, but they don’t necessarily spend their whole lives in one place.

They can leave for another territory or quit, depending on their own decisions.

But hounds are not like that.

They receive no salary and must work under the same noble for life.

And they don’t find it strange.

Partly because they’re usually orphans without families, but mostly because they’re raised in that lifestyle from an early age.

‘They grow up thinking that life as a hound is only natural.’

To the point where sacrificing their lives for their master is considered normal—it says it all.

Of course, you couldn’t say that life as a hound was necessarily bad.

They were provided with everything they needed—food, clothing, shelter. They didn’t get paid, but they weren’t living in poverty.

And the quality of education they received went without saying.

When the noble children were being taught, the hounds were taught the same curriculum, giving them knowledge on an entirely different level from the average person.

‘Though it’s all to make them assist their masters more effectively.’

Still, education is education. Perhaps because of that, hounds often displayed remarkable abilities in many fields.

Despite being so talented, the reason they were still called hounds was simple.

Because they lived under their master’s control for life and swore absolute loyalty.

‘It’s a well-known story that hounds died fighting each other because of their masters’ childish pride games.’

There were some hounds who achieved enough merit to be given titles, but none of them became nobles. They were ‘disposed of’ before that.

A life spent leashed, with dreams and futures neutered.

That was what it meant to be a hound.

‘This kid Daike probably received training focused on escorting and combat.’

Even so, he didn’t expect communication to be this difficult. Had he not received any education outside of fighting?

‘To create a monster that can’t even communicate… The Vyuern family is truly terrifying.’

A monster who had reached the realm of 5 stars at the mere age of fifteen.

If he continued to grow , what kind of monster would he become?

Pjol felt a chill he couldn’t explain.

While Pjol was deep in thought.

Daike was overwhelmed with emotion.

A knight—no, a knight of great renown—remembered his name.

More than worry that his identity had been exposed, Daike was filled with joy.

“Okay, Daike. What is this dish?”

“Meat. It’s a special order from the best restaurant nearby, so you don’t have to worry about the taste.”

“…That’s not what I meant. I’m asking why you brought this to me.”

“You’ll damage your muscles if you don’t eat well. From what I saw, your meals didn’t seem to provide enough protein.”

“It’s more unusual to give good meals to a prisoner.”

“That’s a misunderstanding.”

A misunderstanding, he said.

Pjol now understood the phrase, ‘it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.’

He didn’t want to disappoint this child. But he also couldn’t deny his own crimes.

After a brief moment of thought, Pjol decided to change the subject.

“Is becoming a knight your dream?”

“I gave up on that dream… long ago.”

His voice was filled with gloom.

It seemed he knew the reality of a hound well.

A hound could never become a knight. No, they were beings who could never become anything.

‘To think he gave up on his dreams at that young age.’

Despite possessing such outstanding talent and qualities, he couldn’t pursue a dream.

It didn’t just leave a bitter taste—it was almost nauseating. Was there really nothing he could do for this child?

“If you’re curious about anything, feel free to ask. I’ve only been locked up a day, but my tongue is already going dry.”

Daike hesitated. Pjol soon realized his question had been ill-posed.

To ask a hound, who lived a passive life, to ask questions—wasn’t that impossible?

But perhaps because he had truly pondered it, Daike slowly opened his mouth from the other side of the door.

“Actually… I can’t use Aura.”

“Aura? Not even a little?”

“Yes… I’m ashamed to say so.”

The reason countless people dream of reaching the level of 5 stars, and their first goal.

It’s because it’s the realm where one can use ‘Aura,’ the symbol and domain of knights.

If he were a 5-star knight, even a sliver of Aura should be usable. In fact, it’s the first thing used to assess a 5-star level.

“What did your family say?”

“Undetermined. They said my mana is sufficient, and my internal techniques are stable, but they can’t figure out the cause…”

It must be accurate, since that was the diagnosis from Vyuern family experts.

All the conditions were met. And yet, he couldn’t use Aura.

“It’s likely a matter of the heart.”

“Yes. Aura is more finicky than people think.”

Mind, technique, body.

Only when all three align can one truly wield Aura.

“Others may say the heart isn’t important… but I disagree. In fact, I think it’s more important than anything.”

“I see. Then what should I do?”

“That I can’t tell you. The heart is yours alone, and only you can know it.”

“Don’t you have any goals? Often, when you have a goal, your heart follows naturally.”

A goal. Something you aim to reach to achieve a purpose.

Put another way, it’s like a temporary waypoint on the path toward a dream.

For a hound to pursue a dream is a forbidden act.

But Pjol wanted Daike to have one. Even if it meant playing word games with the terminology.

“How about setting a goal first? Then your heart will naturally follow.”

“A goal… and the heart, huh…”

Daike’s voice murmured from the other side of the door.

‘It’s a shame… but I should be satisfied with this much.’

The end of his life was near. Pjol thought he had done his part.

It was time to let go.

“Please tell Prince Teron I enjoyed the food.”

“This dish, I mean. Wasn’t it Prince Teron who ordered it?”

A hound cannot act on their own thoughts or judgment.

So Pjol naturally assumed it had been ordered by his master, Teron.

‘He must’ve ordered him to get advice on how to use Aura.’

Because no one would wish more fervently for Daike to use Aura than Teron himself.

But Daike’s answer was unexpected.

“Ah, no. I did it because I wanted to…”

As mentioned earlier, a hound is a passive existence that only follows their master’s commands.

And yet, he had acted of his own will?

‘There might still be hope after all.’

It was frustrating and sad. If only they had met sooner.

If only his body were intact.

If only he hadn’t committed an irreversible mistake.

He might have been able to free this child from the fate of being a hound.

He might have helped him rise not as a fake knight like himself, but as a true one.

“I must be going now. I only slipped out for a moment.”

At Daike’s farewell, Pjol swallowed bitter saliva.

Right, there was nothing he could do for a dog bound by a leash. All he could say was—

“Very well. Return safely.”

To tell him to be careful.

Daike’s footsteps grew fainter from beyond the door.

Pjol, who was known as a ‘polite knight’ for never cursing aloud.

His curse now filled the room.

Who was he to offer advice? Someone who abandoned his honor and convictions—how could he speak so loftily?

“You lived a passive life too, didn’t you, Pjol?”

To obey his lord’s orders without question—that, he believed, was the knight’s virtue. But it wasn’t.

“What’s the difference between that and a hound?”

He had forced himself to rationalize it and ignored the truth, but now that he had met Daike, who dreamed of becoming a knight, he could no longer look away.

A true knight must stand against his lord, even if it means rebellion.

That is what separates a ‘knight’ from a ‘hound.’

Why does regret always come too late?

Pjol writhed in agony.

At Caron’s report, one of Principal Dwener’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

“Yes, that’s correct. From the looks of it, he’ll likely return again.”

The secret meeting between Pjol and Daike.

It lasted only a few minutes, but it couldn’t escape the eyes of the rat.

“Let him be. We still need to investigate Sir Pjol further.”

“It’s practically confirmed at this point.”

They had investigated Dolores, but she was just a civilian not affiliated with any group.

Since there was nothing for her to gain by framing Pjol, it was almost certain he was an accomplice.

“Pjol the Gentleman. Not as much now, but he used to be quite famous, apparently.”

“That’s true. Even I, way down at the southern edge back then, had heard his name.”

“Not just his reputation—he was deeply trusted by both the townspeople and other knights. If we lock someone like that up, sparks will fly, one way or another.”

Sparks called conflict.

They might be quiet now, but with the slightest provocation, they would rise up in resistance.

The knights wouldn’t be a problem, but if the townspeople joined in, things would get troublesome.

This was a time to act with caution.

“He’s not the type to kill a student. Let’s observe a bit longer. And who knows? That exchange might just help Daike break down the wall holding him back.”

Dwener was well aware that Daike couldn’t use Aura.

Reaching the realm of 5 stars at only fifteen years old.

Annwood Academy upheld the principle of equal education for all—but there were always exceptions.

“Lady Lucia also reached the 5-star level at fifteen.”

“They’re the kind of talent the Empire can’t help but rely on. And yet they treat a kid like that like a dog… It’s outrageous. We need to establish proper laws or something, tsk!”

More than just treating someone like a hound, what really enraged Dwener was the hypocrisy of pretending to provide incredible support to orphans.

No noble family ever went bankrupt from raising a handful of orphans.

“They hang them around like ornaments, then make them duel each other! These damn nobles…!”

Dwener began ranting furiously, even spitting as he spoke. Check latest chapters at NoveI(F)ire.net

Using the report as a shield to cover his face, Caron thought to himself.

Today’s report was going to take a long time.

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