Chapter 23 : Red Bush (2)

The day after course registration.

After hearing that the application for <Valut Swordsmanship> had been very successful, I found myself at the administration office of the Swordsmanship Department.

In truth, I rarely have reasons to come to the administrative office. Most important matters and administrative tasks within the department are handled by the dean, senior instructors, and other experienced faculty members.

As a third-level instructor in my first year, I didn’t hold much authority within the department.

In other words, if the administration office had called me, it meant that something had come up, big or small.

To confirm this, as soon as I arrived at the office early in the morning, a knight from the Royal Knights of Kleppe
greeted me.

“Greetings. It’s an honor to meet the esteemed Instructor Edgar of the renowned Mulick family. I am Rick Jude, senior knight of the Royal Knights of Kleppe
.”

Rick Jude.

It was a name and surname I had never heard before.

He could be the son of an unrecognized family, or he might have received his noble title through merit.

Commoners could be accepted up to the rank of regular knight, but from senior knight onward, one had to be a noble. Thus, for commoners without noble titles, a non-hereditary honorary title such as ‘quasi-baron’ was often awarded to facilitate promotion.

Such policies were especially pronounced in prestigious knight orders like the Royal Knights of Kleppe
.

Even though the Kingdom of Kleppe

upheld principles of meritocracy and heroism, they still observed minimum standards in such matters.

With Rick Jude’s polite greeting, I responded with due etiquette as a noble myself.

“I am Edgar Mulick, an instructor at Tristan Academy. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“As I’ve heard, your body balance is exceptional for a swordsman. Your feats in the Red Thicket Zone now make perfect sense.”

“You flatter me.”

Of course, it wasn’t just empty words.

More than a month had passed since my return, during which I had consistently trained my body, drawing on <Indomitable Body>. Although I hadn’t fully recovered to my pre-return state, I had managed to build a physique close enough.

It had reached a point where people might find it hard to believe that I was a descendant of a family known for its magical prowess.

Still, given the compliments so early into our meeting, it seemed he wanted something.

I could tell from the official cooperation request he pulled out immediately.

“The reason I’ve come to find Instructor Edgar today is related to the Red Thicket Zone that you previously ventured into.”

<Official Cooperation Request>

• Ensuring the safety of our citizens and the safe traversal of our lands is a responsibility we as kingdom-affiliated heroes must uphold. Therefore, as the sudden appearance of high-ranking monsters in the ‘Red Thicket Zone’ warrants more specialized and active investigation, jurisdiction over the investigation of this designated area has been transferred to the Royal Knights of Kleppe
  .
• As a reference guide for this designated area investigation, we request the cooperation of ‘Edgar Mulick’ (Tristan Academy of Heroes). Please note that this request is entirely voluntary for the reference guide, who may decline at any time without any compulsion.

I vaguely remembered Ray mentioning this once.

Regions deemed dangerous and unexplored by the kingdom were sometimes transferred from the ‘Royal Investigation Unit’ to the ‘Royal Knights,’ but only when a high-ranking monster or beast was confirmed to be present.

Ordinarily, ‘explorer heroes’ would take on the challenge in such regions, hoping for a jackpot, but even they tended to avoid areas that were as officially important and hazardous as this.

A reference guide in this context is someone who serves as a guide or support in the investigation process.

Given that I was the hero who had hunted down a group of Kelleil that had unexpectedly appeared in the Red Thicket Zone, I was judged competent enough to participate in the dangerous zone investigation, prompting this cooperation request.

“The investigation period itself is estimated to be roughly three to four days. With preparation and handling, we anticipate a maximum of two weeks.”

“What happens if I decline the request?”

“There would be no issues, of course. As stated in the official document, this request is purely voluntary, and Instructor Edgar is free to decline at any time. However, given the high level of public concern and the potential risks to citizens posed by the area, we hoped to proceed efficiently with Instructor Edgar’s assistance as a reference guide.”

I did some rough calculations.

Three to four days, up to two weeks.

With a month remaining until the semester starts, it’s plenty of time.

Although the preparation period was crucial for an instructor with a new course, I had already completed <Valut Swordsmanship> and had taught it a few times before, so I didn’t need any special preparation.

‘Just in time.’

It gave me something to do during an otherwise idle period.

If it were just a nuisance, I wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but the matter involved monsters and beasts in a dangerous zone.

As it might impact the safety of those around me, it naturally piqued my interest.

“Alright, let’s go together.”

Seeing my easy agreement, a bright expression spread across Knight Rick’s face.

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

The journey to the Red Thicket Zone commenced just a day later.

In fact, the Royal Knights of Kleppe

had already completed their preparations, so they could depart as soon as I accepted their offer.

Unfortunately, Ray couldn’t come with me.

Even though nobles usually traveled with attendants, investigations in royal-designated zones were restricted to authorized heroes only.

“I’ll be fine, Edgar. Please, have a safe trip,” Ray had said with an impassive face, but I knew I wasn’t fine.

Since my return and appointment as instructor, Ray and I had been inseparable.

So now, without her, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.

Who would prepare my peppermint tea?

This was the downside of having someone who was exceptionally competent.

“…Instructor Edgar, were you really planning on leaving without saying a word to me?”