All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 233

233. I’m Not Okay – 1

As Ian headed to the Sun Temple in the Imperial Academy, Eishi kept glancing at him.

To the young martial artist, Ian was nothing short of an idol.

Everyone admired someone who could stand against a nation single-handedly.

Of course, some dismissed Ian as overhyped, but Eishi genuinely admired strength, so he was very interested in him.

“Actually, when the Count told us to come out if we wanted to learn, I really wanted to go,” Eishi said.

“Then why didn’t you?”

“Oh, come on. How could I learn from the Count at my level? I’d rather ask for guidance later when I’m at least an Expert.”

“Is that so? Then come find me then.”

“I will. But why are you trying to teach us so much, Count?”

Other martial arts families hardly teach even their own family members.

Many don’t even reveal simple training methods, but Ian openly teaches in the training ground, telling them to watch and learn.

Curious, Eishi asked, and Ian casually replied, “I don’t know if this will be a good example. A sausage wouldn’t be of much value to you, right?”

“No. I’m the heir to a baronetcy, after all.”

“But to a starving, newborn puppy on the street?”

“Oh. It would be quite valuable, right?”

“What’s so difficult about giving a sausage to a dog you like?”

‘Is that so?’ Ian thought.

But Ian didn’t correct him, and Eishi laughed awkwardly.

“As expected, the mindset of the strong is different! Anyway, it’s a real honor to meet you like this, Count!”

“Yeah. I’m glad you think so.”

“Please visit our family sometime.”

“Ah. That’s a bit…”

As they walked and chatted, they arrived at the temple, where quite a few people were gathered in front.

“Those guys don’t seem to be students?”

“No. The Sun Temple in the capital is the only one here. There are two Moon Order temples, though.”

So, the Sun Order followers in the capital had no choice but to come here.

It seemed more crowded because a service was ending.

“I wonder if we can get treatment with this many people.”

“If not, I’ll do it.”

“You can do treatment too? Wow!”

As Eishi exclaimed, a priest came out to see off the followers.

The middle-aged priest with graying hair smiled when he saw Eishi.

“May the Sun be with you. Eishi, welcome.”

“Haha. Yes. Bishop O’Kendi.”

As expected of the capital, someone of the rank of bishop was in charge of the main temple.

As Ian watched, O’Kendi gave him a warm smile.

“I don’t think I’ve met you before. May the Sun be with you. I am O’Kendi, a humble servant of the Sun Order.”

“I’m Ian Brandon.”

“Oh!”

Ian’s name was by no means unknown, even in the Sun Order.

Perhaps that’s why O’Kendi’s expression brightened.

“Goodness. I never thought the day would come when I would meet Ian! I should have come to see you sooner.”

“No. I should have come to you. You must be busy, Bishop.”

He was very pleased with Ian’s reply and laughed loudly.

Perhaps because of that, the followers who were about to leave watched them with curiosity.

“Let’s go inside instead of standing here.”

“Um. Bishop O’Kendi, could I ask you to treat Princess Sharl?”

“Ah. Of course. Sister Ishilla! Please take care of the treatment!”

Among the nuns who were gathered to clean up after the service, a middle-aged nun walked over.

She sighed as she looked at Sharl on Eishi’s back.

“Princess Sharl is like this again.”

“I’m sorry.”

Ian scratched his cheek and apologized, but she shook her head.

“Hehe. I heard you were teaching the Princess?”

“Yes.”

“I think it’s a bit too much. But I guess that’s not something I should point out.”

She smiled gently and took Sharl away with the nuns.

O’Kendi, who had been watching all of this, rubbed his palms together.

“Ian, there’s some good tea inside. Would you like to have some with me?”

“Sure.”

There was still some time left anyway.

As Ian was about to go inside, Eishi stepped back.

“Why? Aren’t you coming with us?”

“It would be a real honor, but it’s a bit much for me to join a conversation between the Bishop and the Count.”

“You need to know how to be recklessly daring sometimes.”

“But I know this isn’t the place for that.”

Eishi gripped his sword tightly.

He had already received a signature on his sword from Ian today and had a conversation with him.

If he did any more, he might be so happy that another person would be added to the patient room.

“Thank you so much for today.”

“You’re saying all sorts of nonsense. And if you want to learn, come find me when I’m here.”

“Yes!”

“Remember that what’s important is the will to fight. That’s why I’m teaching him too.”

Ian patted Eishi on the shoulder, and Eishi was almost about to cry.

“It’s a real honor! I will definitely come to see you, Count!”

He bowed deeply and walked away.

As Ian watched him go and turned around, O’Kendi led the way.

“This way.”

Following him inside, he saw something different from the temple at Fredon Academy.

In front of the chapel, there was a statue of someone wearing a robe and holding a staff.

‘Has anyone actually been appointed as an Apostle of the Sun?’ Ian wondered.

As he looked at the statue of the Apostle of the Sun while listening to Kirke’s explanation, O’Kendi smiled.

“The statue of the Apostle of the Sun isn’t at Fredon Academy, is it?”

“No.”

“The statue of the Apostle of the Sun is only erected in the temple where that Apostle came from. This statue is of the great Holy Knight Chase Callard.”

He was quite proud.

“The temple that produces an Apostle is designated as a holy site, and it receives a lot of support.”

“Are you talking about relics?”

“No.”

“Then property?”

“Haha. No. We can bring in more priests and nuns.”

And they can hold services for more believers.

And they can treat more people.

“As clergy, there’s no reason to be interested in wealth and fame.”

Willis too.

No, most of the priests he had met so far were similar to him.

As Ian nodded, thinking of Fredon Academy, Kirke laughed for a moment.

‘I know. The fact that the clergy are like real clergy.’

All the clergy Ian had met so far seemed like clergy in the truest sense.

They were frugal and hardworking.

‘You don’t like the clergy, do you?’

As Kirke retorted sulkily, Ian smiled.

O’Kendi was puzzled when he saw that.

“Why is that?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

O’Kendi was curious but didn’t ask further.

As they entered the seemingly frugal head priest’s office, he brewed tea himself.

“When I first heard that you had come, I really wanted to visit you.”

“Why didn’t you come?”

“Haha. I had a lot of things to do. Um. Do you know that there have been many missing person cases lately?”

O’Kendi, who had spoken lightly, sighed.

“Among those who come to the temple, there are people whose families or friends have suddenly disappeared.”

Of course, they weren’t just nobles or Imperial Academy students.

There were also those who lived from day to day in the capital and those who ran small shops.

And there were those who wandered the back alleys.

“Of course, I’m not saying that their lives are not easy, but suddenly disappearing is a bit strange.”

He brought out warm tea and placed it in front of Ian, then sighed heavily.

“It’s a bit much for a clergyman to say this, but a lot of strange things have been happening since the Iron-Blood Duke took power.”

Even at his words, Ian only sipped his tea without saying anything.

“Ah. Do you not like these stories?”

“No. It’s interesting.”

“Is that so? That’s a relief. Anyway, for something like that to happen at the Imperial Academy… Haa.”

O’Kendi sighed with great regret.

The kidnapping incident at the Imperial Academy.

And the story of the Balrog Altar.

Of course, O’Kendi had also heard that story and went to investigate.

“Are all the things that have happened in the world happening at the Imperial Academy? I’m really worried.”

As he sighed heavily again,

There was a knock on the door.

“Would you mind if I came in for a moment?”

“Yes, please do.”

The one who opened the door was a middle-aged priest.

He bowed politely and then spoke calmly.

“Bishop O’Kendi, Count Fobas asked me to deliver this.”

It was a scroll.

He received the rather luxurious scroll and opened it with a puzzled expression.

“Please tell him that I can’t do it? No, I’ll deliver it myself.”

He rolled up the scroll and put it in his arms.

As the priest who had come to deliver the scroll left, O’Kendi was bitter.

“Do you know what this is?”

“It’s probably a letter sent by the parents of one of the guys who was caught last time.”

They would donate to the Sun Order.

So, they wanted him to testify that their child had nothing to do with Essir.

It was a kind of solicitation.

“I was also included in the investigation of this case, so I’m getting a lot of requests like this.”

“Is there no word from the Imperial Palace?”

“No. In fact, if there’s a story from the Imperial Palace, it’s hard for me to refuse, so it’s a headache. I don’t know whether to call this fortunate or not, really.”

What if the Emperor himself came forward to save Otal?

Power aside, he was the Emperor of the Empire.

The only fortunate thing was that the current Emperor did not come out of the inner palace.

“His Majesty’s health is not good either. It’s a pity that I can’t treat him.”

“I see.”

“Yes. His Majesty’s treatment is only done by his Majesty’s personal physician, the Empress, and I only check the medicine, so it’s really a pity.”

As he spoke sincerely, there was another knock on the door.

Hearing that, Ian stood up.

“It seems like the Sun Order is under a lot of pressure.”

O’Kendi gave an awkward smile.

If they were putting this kind of pressure on the bishop of the Sun Order, what would it be like for others?

Perhaps Krepen, who was in charge of the current investigation, was also under external pressure.

That’s why Ian stood up.

“Anyway, since I’m also involved in this matter, I’ll take care of it.”

“No, there’s no need for that. It’ll all pass.”

Ian shook his head.

“Bishop, I like people like you.”

“Oh, is that so? Thank you.”

“I don’t want to give up, even moving for someone I like.”

At those words, O’Kendi smiled quite pleasantly.

As he went outside, there were several errand runners from noble families.

Ian, who was looking at these seemingly arrogant people, said calmly, “If you’ve come to put in a request because of what happened at the Imperial Academy, get lost.”

At his harsh words, the errand runners frowned.

“You seem to be a student, but don’t meddle unnecessarily. You’ll get hurt.”

One errand runner said, looking around to see if anyone was listening.

But Ian didn’t even pretend to listen to his advice.

“And tell your masters, don’t make these kinds of requests to the Sun Order, and come directly to me if you have any complaints.”

“But who are you to say that?”

As the errand runners were puzzled, Ian smiled.

“Ian Brandon.”