Chapter 73

When Mihail appeared, the customers in the bar reacted.

"Hey, isn't that Mihail the 'Powerful Swordsman'?"

"Really? The one who single-handedly defeated five orcs?"

"He's one of Jarak's fierce generals, right?"

"Isn't he the elite instructor? Why is he in a place like this?"

It seems he is quite famous.

"The place isn't that bad," the bartender muttered to himself.

Mihail, seemingly oblivious to all this, strode in and sat on the stool next to Hikaru.

"When I heard that Instructor Mirei had become a real person, I couldn't believe my ears—"

As he spoke, Mihail noticed that Mirei was holding a tumbler.

"—drinking from noon, huh? You haven't changed!"

"I'm not drunk! It's just a reward drink!"

"Three cups, right?" a customer interjected.

"...Hikaru. I'm not saying this to be mean, but it's not too late to take the greatsword class..."

"Old man, you're being noisy. I already said I'm not going to the greatsword class."

When Hikaru spoke rudely, the customers gasped.

Even the smallsword instructor, who should be Mihail's colleague, gasped.

"Hey, Hikaru. Don't start a fight with Instructor Mihail. It won't end well. He's scary. They say he hung a disrespectful student from a tree, destroyed a shed with a greatsword during a lecture, and killed five orcs during an off-campus training session. He has many heroic tales."

"Old man... you're no good."

"Don't call me old man. I'm an instructor at the academy you attend, you know."

Mihail looked a bit hurt.

"Understood. Instructor Mihail, as I've said many times, the greatsword isn't suitable for me. Please leave it at that."

"Your polite speech makes me feel itchy!"

"What do you want me to do...?"

"The greatsword is stronger than the smallsword. Talented students should learn the greatsword. This country can't afford to waste talent."

"That's right, Hikaru. You should do it."

For some reason, even Mirei was recommending the greatsword, but it was probably just her laziness showing.

"That's a different matter. I'm not the country's talent, and I want to live as I please."

"Try to understand, will you?"

As Mihail pleaded,

"Hey, that demon is bowing to the boy."

"Barkeep, how much power does he have...?"

"Is Mihail influenced by alcohol?"

The onlookers whispered among themselves.

"Anyway, I recommended you as a special student. It doesn't look good if you don't take the greatsword class..."

"What? Instructor Mihail brought Hikaru to this academy?"

"Instructor Mirei? Stop using strange terms, please?"

"Ah! Hikaru's smile isn't a happy one!"

"Hey... Hikaru, I thought you were controlling Instructor Mirei with fear...?"

"Fear is a harsh word. I'm just controlling her health. Right?"

"Ah!"

"See?"

"'Ah' isn't a confirmation, I think."

The onlookers nodded in agreement.

"Well, I can't force you to take the greatsword class, but... one of my students is saying something troublesome..."

"My students... the ones you teach, old man?"

"Aye."

As Mihail, looking like he had bitten into a bitter bug, was about to ask another question, Hikaru was interrupted.

"Instructor! Are you here!"

The bar door slammed open, and a group of burly young men appeared.

All of them were men, so they looked rough.

These were probably Mihail's "students," but Hikaru noticed that not all of them were from Jarak.

They weren't all hairy, and some faces were familiar to Hikaru.

"Ah! You!"

It was Roye, the Yellow Tiger, from the Romanya clan.

The clan that had confronted him at the Adventurers' Guild. According to League, he had been "kicked out of his family and sent to the academy."

"What, Hikaru. Do you know him?"

"No. I just hit him once."

"You..."

Mihail looked exasperated.

"Instructor!! How could such a coward get a recommendation from you?! I can't believe it!"

"Hey, Roye. What do you mean?"

"This guy, this Yellow Tiger, attacked me out of nowhere when I tried to talk to him!"

"How dare he..."

"I can't forgive this!"

The young men glared with anger.

"Hey, old man."

"This isn't my fault, it's Hikaru's behavior, right?"

"Bringing him here is your fault."

"—Y-You call the instructor 'old man'!?"

Roye and the others entered the bar, quickly surrounding Hikaru, Mihail, and Mirei.

Incidentally, Mirei had tried to escape with a plate of pasta and a tumbler, but Hikaru was holding her by the collar.

"Instructor Mihail! I can't accept this!! Such a rude kid—"

"Are you from the Romanya clan? Is it okay for you to be taught by Jarak?"

Hikaru, suddenly curious, asked.

"W-Well, there's nothing wrong with learning from a powerful instructor..."

His response was hesitant.

League, a green demon, had struggled with being taught by a researcher from Kotoi. Roye probably found it difficult as well.

(Ah, right. He was practically exiled from his family. He must have wanted to gain strength, even if it meant abandoning his pride and identity to learn from a powerful instructor.)

Even League had hesitated, but Roye had taken the step first.

Hikaru thought, "Good for him," but Roye's Soul Board only had a 1 in "Magic Power" and no "Weapon Proficiency."

"Hey... maybe you should try magic instead of the greatsword?"

"!?"

"That's what you're suited for—"

"Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

Roye's face turned red as he shouted.

It seemed Hikaru had said too much.

Mihail whispered in Hikaru's ear.

"...Hey, how did you know? Roye is indeed more suited for magic."

"...Then why don't you recommend it to him?"

"...Our academy values independence and self-respect. He wants to show up his brother, who is a greatsword master."

"...Ah."

Hikaru understood that this was a complex about his brother who stayed at home.

"Fight me... a real fight!"

Roye pointed at Hikaru and shouted.

"Huh? Why should I accept a fight?"

"Shut up, kid! Poor guy! Sitting in this cheap bar with your feet up!"

The bartender, irritated, said, "This isn't a cheap bar."

"What's wrong with calling a cheap bar cheap? It's a typical cheap and bad place!"

"—Hey"

"Ah!"

Hikaru's voice was low. This "Ah" was from Mirei.

"You can say as much as you want about Instructor Mirei and Instructor Mihail, but I won't tolerate anything about this bar."

"What... what did you say?"

"Fine. I'll accept the fight. I'll show you how great the bartender's skills are."

"—Ha! Bring it on. Let's go outside."

Roye, Hikaru, the other young men, and Mihail left the bar, full of spirit.

"...Are they going to have a cooking contest or something?"

The bartender muttered.

"I don't know...! If anything happens, it's all Instructor Mihail's fault. Bartender, another drink, please! I can't do this without drinking!"

"You're trying to sneak in a fourth cup. No way."

"Please, just this once!"

"It's a promise with Hikaru."

"Why do you prioritize Hikaru over me, a regular customer!?"

"Go outside and watch."

The bartender shooed Mirei out.

Mihail, who turned out to be a famous person, and Roye from the Romanya clan reappeared.

Next time, the match with Roye.