It was rare for Duke Icaldoren to lose his composure and erupt in anger in such a disgraceful manner.

Even if he was furious, the duke's way was to prepare a dagger in his heart and stab with it rather than exploding outwardly.

The reason why the duke was unleashing his anger like this was partly because the knights had continuously gotten on his nerves today, but above all, it was largely due to falling into suspicion and delusion because of Yi-Han.

No matter how cold-hearted the duke was, it was inevitable when fear and confusion filled his head.

"It's strange."

"What is?"

"I've never heard of Duke Icaldoren acting so emotionally."

Jijel tilted her head beside him.

"Rumors are often wrong. The duke is more emotional and stingy than you think."

"Is that so?"

Jijel was honestly surprised.

Weren't the two words Wardanaz just said the least suitable words for Duke Icaldoren?

But there was no way Wardanaz would make a mistake in such aspects...

"Perhaps the reason why Duke is so angry is because he cherishes the students that much."

Rowena added.

From Rowena's point of view, there was no other reason.

Jijel also seemed to agree, thinking it wasn't wrong.

"He wouldn't get that angry just because they caused a ruckus in the residence."

"Ah. Right. He was extremely mindful of the royalty."

"...?"

Rowena, who was listening beside them, felt something strange.

It was Yi-Han and his friends who had a confrontation with the knights, not Adenart.

Then, wasn't he getting angry because they messed with Yi-Han, not because they messed with the princess?

"I... I apologize. Duke."

The knights of the Chestnut Tree Knight Order seemed to have fully grasped the situation now.

They had been mistaken because the duke had treated them generously, but the difference in power between them and the duke was like a firefly and a full moon.

It was fine when the other party let it slide, but if he wielded his sword with determination, there was no way out.

"Why did you come in mistaking the date? Does the appointment seem that trivial to you?"

"We-We really didn't know. It wasn't on purpose!"

"Is that so? Are you saying my judgment is wrong again? That you're right?"

"That's not it..."

"Then shut up! If you act arrogantly one more time, I'll behead you on the spot!"

"..."

The duke scolded them so harshly that even the knight of the White Wood Knight Order was taken aback.

He had hoped that the knights of the Chestnut Tree Knight Order would be humiliated, but he didn't expect it to be to this extent.

"Mr. Wardanaz. Is there any way to calm Duke's anger?"

"Pardon?"

Yi-Han looked at the knight as if he was saying something absurd.

What method could Yi-Han have when someone like Duke Icaldoren was making a fuss?

In the first place, Yi-Han wasn't even close with the duke. If Yi-Han said 'Please calm down,' there was a high possibility that the duke would react with 'Who are you to butt in?'

"There's no way..."

"I-Is that so?"

"...Come to think of it, there is a way."

"!"

The knight widened his eyes and whispered.

"What is it?"

"But those knights caused all kinds of trouble, do you really have to save them?"

At those words, the knight glared at the other knights.

These guys who call themselves knights have such loose tongues...

"I won't deny that it was rude. But they are knights who moved together with us. We can't just abandon them, can we?"

'Why does it seem like only good people always suffer in this world?'

Looking at the knight of the White Wood Knight Order, Yi-Han was reminded of Dolgyu.

The White Tiger Tower guys cause trouble, but Dolgyu cleans up...

"If you tell me the method, I will definitely repay you."

"!"

He didn't think much of it, but to think the other party would go this far.

Originally, he would have taken gold coins, but Yi-Han also had a conscience.

He knew what kind of knight order the White Wood Knight Order was and had been indebted to them before, so he wasn't heartless enough to extort money.

"Then lend me your sword just once next time."

"Do you need an escort?"

"Something like that."

"I'll gladly do that for you."

The knight readily accepted.

Borrowing a knight's sword wasn't actually an easy request.

In the worst case, what if he asked him to kill someone?

However, the knight trusted Yi-Han.

Judging from the character he had shown last time and the things Bikelintz had said, Yi-Han was definitely not someone who would make a request that went against morality.

'I'll have to use it during the swordsmanship lecture in the second semester.'

Professor Ingurdel wouldn't even imagine that the knight of the White Wood Knight Order was already being bribed.

And the knight himself was the same.

"But what is the method?"

"Just watch."

Yi-Han stepped forward with confidence.

Due to the duke's anger, the knights of the Chestnut Tree Knight Order couldn't even breathe, but Yi-Han was certain.

It wasn't because Yi-Han was particularly brave or ignored the duke. Yi-Han had a special card.

"Princess. Come here."

"??"

Adenart, who had been quietly standing and watching, hesitated when Yi-Han suddenly called her, not knowing what he was thinking.

Still, thinking there must be a reason, she approached.

"Duke. Please calm down."

Yi-Han spoke in a clear voice that everyone could hear.

'Since he can't refuse royalty, if I use the princess as an excuse, it will definitely work.'

If he added reasons like the princess wants to show mercy, the princess wants to forgive them, even the duke would have to pretend to be defeated and let it go.

"Pri-"

"...Alright. I went a bit overboard with my words."

"???"

As soon as Yi-Han brought it up, Duke Icaldoren stopped his anger and regained his composure.

The princess tilted her head beside him.

"Uh, no..."

"Their rudeness was too much, and they even acted roughly towards the students I invited, so I couldn't control my anger. Alright. I should stop at this point. I apologize to everyone for ruining the pleasant occasion."

The duke quickly wrapped things up and left. The attendants and servants, who hadn't expected his reaction, were startled and chased after him.

"...?"

Yi-Han couldn't understand why the duke was acting like that.

He was truly the most eccentric and fickle person he had ever seen.

'Fortunately, he's not a professor at the magic academy.'

Of course, the duke had quickly withdrawn, thinking there might be a trap when Yi-Han intervened like that in a situation where he was confused about Yi-Han, but Yi-Han couldn't know that.

"Th-That's amazing!"

The knight of the White Wood Knight Order exclaimed in amazement, blinking his eyes.

When Yi-Han said he had a method, he didn't doubt it, but he never imagined it would be such a miraculous method.

To calm the duke's anger with just a single sentence.

How on earth?

"How did you do it?"

Yi-Han was curious about that too, but he couldn't show it.

Instead, he gave a meaningful smile and smoothly passed over it.

If he didn't say anything, the other person would interpret it on their own.

"I'm really glad it was resolved well."

"Indeed."

As Yi-Han and the knight walked away, the princess stood still and looked at their backs with a dumbfounded expression.

Then why did he call...?

The students who returned to the banquet hall talked about what had happened.

"Yi-Han. Be careful. Those knight bastards are cowardly and persistent, so they might take revenge for today's events later."

"That's right. Wardanaz. Knight bastards are all equally vicious and evil."

"..."

At Gainando and Salko's words, the White Tiger Tower students beside them glared.

When did we ever!

'Did the White Wood Knight Order handle it well?'

Curious, Yi-Han opened the door of the banquet hall and stepped out into the corridor.

Unlike the noisy and lively atmosphere of the students, the atmosphere of the knights who had caused a big incident was bound to be very gloomy, but...

Still, the situation had ended somehow, so they must have taken care of it.

Yi-Han moved his steps to see how it turned out, show some concern, and ask if they had plans to come to Einroguard during the second semester.

A diligent student always starts preparing for the next term during the break.

"!"

Yi-Han was startled to see Jijel coming out. Jijel also had a surprised expression, just like Yi-Han.

"Don't tell me you..."

"You too?"

"Yeah."

"...You're really amazing. I'll give you that."

Jijel said as if surrendering with both hands.

The reason Jijel came out was to get acquainted with the knights.

Especially in the case of the Chestnut Tree Knight Order, even though they had caused a big incident in front of the duke, they still had influence among knight families due to their wealth.

For a family like the Moradi family, which frequently interacted with other knight families, there was no harm in getting friendly with them.

It was human psychology to feel more grateful to someone who approached them when they had suffered a major disgrace rather than when they were doing well.

Right now was the opportunity.

"You're amazing too. Moradi."

"Stop saying things you don't mean."

"No. I'm serious. Trying to find out the lecture content for the second semester in advance. The other White Tiger Tower guys should learn from you."

"...What? Hey, wai-"

While Jijel was dumbfounded, Yi-Han said what he had to say and walked forward.

He didn't want to be disturbed by Jijel if he was late for no reason.

"!"

However, before he could even go halfway, he noticed people loitering near the corridor pillar.

They were the knights of the Chestnut Tree Knight Order.

Their appearance of wandering around, waiting for someone, was very suspicious.

'No way!'

The words Gainando and Salko had said earlier quickly flashed through Yi-Han's mind.

"They're already waiting to take revenge. They're not just petty, but knightly petty!"

"What? Revenge?"

Jijel was taken aback.

No matter how much the Chestnut Tree Knight Order had been humiliated, they weren't crazy enough to attack again in the residence after receiving the duke's forgiveness.

"There's no way that's possible."

"Didn't you say earlier that there was no way the knight of the White Wood Knight Order would help me, Wardanaz?"

At Yi-Han's words, Jijel was at a loss for words.

This bastard, arbitrarily changing the family name of...

"If you're so confident, why don't you take the lead? Wardanaz."

"I'll admit you're right, so don't change the family name as you please. You crazy bast-"

While the two were talking, the knights of the Chestnut Tree Knight Order spotted them first.

As the knights approached, Yi-Han stopped the argument and raised his staff.

"Damn it. There won't be enough time to cast reinforcement magic! I'll summon undead, so step back! I'll spread fog and buy time!"

Jijel was curious about how he could even use undead and fog despite being in the same year, but instead of asking, she grabbed her dual swords.

Yi-Han's momentum was so serious that she unconsciously went along with it.

Later, when she thought about it, she would think 'Why did I go along with it?' but when Yi-Han spoke with a serious face, most people would waver and think 'I... guess so?'

"I'll block the front, so focus on your magic. Got it?!"

"Moradi. You finally have a consci-!"

"Focus on your magic, you do-"

"Thank you!!!"

"???"

"???"

The knights of the Chestnut Tree Knight Order bowed deeply and shouted in unison.

"We missed the opportunity to say it earlier because things were chaotic. Once again, thank you sincerely."

"..."

Jijel quietly put away her half-drawn sword and glared at Yi-Han as if she would kill him.

Yi-Han whispered without changing his expression.

"It could be a trap, you know."

"Shut up."

The knights continued, not knowing what misunderstanding the two had.

"We reflected on our actions. It was truly rude behavior. But to think you would cover for us despite that..."

The knights couldn't believe they were the same people who had come earlier and acted arrogantly about changing the banquet hall.

If it were Einroguard, they would have suspected it was the skull principal's magic.

"I can't believe it."

Yi-Han muttered.

"People don't usually change so easily like that. Why are they doing that? Isn't it a trap?"

"..."

Jijel honestly agreed with Yi-Han's words.