Hero, Go To School! - Chapter 38

The one who brought the horse to a smooth halt was a young man.

His hair, the color of peanut butter mixed with milk, curled softly like little spirals, making him seem even younger. He didn’t have a gentle face, exactly, but his green eyes were as clear as emeralds.

He leapt down from the horse in one swift motion and gave its back a few pats, almost by habit.

After being surrounded by teachers in antique dresses or polished suits, the sight of this unpretentious young man felt oddly refreshing.

Was he really a teacher?

“I’m Jean Herald. I’ll be in charge of your riding lessons.”

His tone wasn’t exactly polite.

It sounded like he was just spitting out what needed to be said.

Was he dragged here against his will? Highly likely.

Rumors must have already spread far and wide that the grand ducal heir had gone mad after coming back from the brink of death.

The long line of tutors once eager to take charge of Ian must have vanished like dust in the wind.

Looks like this lesson’s a lost cause too.

Even the most determined tutors had failed to handle Ian. There was no way for someone being forced to do it could possibly succeed

Riding wasn’t something you could just teach yourself.

What should I do? I was torn. Should I send Ian away and take the lesson alone?

But Ian wasn’t the type to quietly step aside just because I asked.

“I don’t know if the two of you will take to me, but I’ll be in your care regardless. While we’re in class, I’ll do my best within my limits.”

“…Please don’t do your best. Not too much, anyway.”

I meant it, sincerely, for the sake of the tall young man’s future.

Weighing all the circumstances, I came to one conclusion.

Today’s riding lesson was as good as over.

All I wanted was for this man to leave with his body and spirit intact.

“I’ve heard quite a bit about the two of you.”

“……”

Jean’s gaze slowly dropped below Ian’s neck.

“Rumors do tend to be exaggerated, I suppose.”

From the direction of his gaze alone, it wasn’t hard to guess what kind of rumors had been spreading. That the Duke’s son, thought to be dead, had regained consciousness only to become a naked brute.

Seeing Ian fully clothed, Jean quickly lost interest.

“I was told that due to the unfortunate accident, your memory isn’t quite intact. So, I’ll start slowly, from how to hold the reins…”

Jean hadn’t even finished speaking. Ian dashed forward like the wind and leapt onto the saddle.

It happened so suddenly and swiftly that neither I nor Jean could react in time. Only the horse was startled, rearing its front legs high into the air. But Ian gripped the reins with astonishing strength and held his position atop the horse.

Jean’s eyes, which had been indifferent until now, widened as if they might pop out.

Even as the panicked horse thrashed about violently, Ian remained perfectly calm, tugging the reins left and right.

After wrestling with the animal for a while, Ian took off, galloping far across the field.

Clop-, clop-. The pounding hooves echoed like a phantom sound.

“……”

Jean, having had his horse stolen right from under him, could only stare blankly at the spot where Ian had disappeared.

“I was told… his memory wasn’t intact…”

“His brain’s broken. That’s why he’s like that. Don’t worry. The horse will come back safely.”

Ian made a full circle around the riding grounds and came charging back toward us.

He jumped down from the horse with practiced ease and stood in front of me once more.

“A thoroughly trained horse. A dangerous one. Be careful.”

“…What exactly is supposed to be dangerous about it?”

“This horse is fiercely loyal to its master. Even if you’re holding the reins, it might still obey that bastard’s commands and throw you off. There have been many cases of people dying from spinal fractures because of tricks like this.”

I couldn’t understand what required so much caution. As if it wasn’t enough that Ian had recklessly stolen the horse, now he was turning someone else into a potential murderer. It was getting hard to meet Jean’s eyes. I shifted my gaze slightly to study his expression.

“…How did you know?”

His eyes, lifeless as a dead fish’s just moments ago, now held a faint glimmer. That wasn’t the reaction I expected.

Jean took a step forward, as if entranced. Ian immediately shoved me behind his back.

“So, you’ve finally revealed your true nature.”

I grabbed Ian’s forearm and peeked my head out. Was there really an assassin?

All the previous tutors had either fled in horror at Ian’s insane behavior or stared at him like a complete idiot, forgetting he was the Duke’s son. But Jean now blinked rapidly, as if Ian had struck a nerve.

“…Is it true?”

His hands were clenched so tightly that the veins bulged from the strain. I mean, really? Who in their right mind would try to assassinate the Duke’s son in this age of peace?

Yet Jean, without blinking once, stared Ian down before slowly opening his mouth.

“Ares Balthazar.”