"Don't be afraid, my dear, it's not a dragon's roar. Stay calm, stay calm..."
The leader swiftly got up from the ground, not caring about his disheveled state, and hurried to calm his spooked horse. Rody took advantage of the chaos, extending his mental power like a spider web, lashing the horses, causing them to kick and jump in pain. Everyone thought it was due to a dragon-like roar, not realizing Rody was attacking the horses with his mental power.
The silver-armored man struggled, covered in mud and dirt, unable to control his horse, which kicked and bit, trying to escape. Eventually, the horses broke free and scattered in panic, leaving their riders, including the leader, looking at each other in confusion and dismay. The leader's reins even snapped as he watched his beloved horse flee in a frenzy, reluctant to use force for fear of injuring it.
"Such a mighty four-star swordsman, such a grand silver-armored knight," Rody sarcastically praised, thumbs up. "Such excellent horsemanship!"
"You..." The leader trembled with anger, unable to comprehend how his well-trained horse got so frightened by a mere roar. Despite not being injured, his pride was deeply hurt by the new magic apprentice who could mimic a dragon's roar.
"Noble knight, I'm just a novice magic apprentice who doesn't know how to cast spells. I feel so ashamed, so embarrassing. It's much more shameful than a four-star swordsman who can't ride a horse. What an honorable title, four-star swordsman! Oh, how I envy it! I dream of being a four-star swordsman, of riding a horse, even if there's a risk of falling off, I'd gladly take it!" Rody spoke earnestly, leaving the previously stunned Tommy almost rolling on the floor with laughter, unable to stand straight.
"I admire knights too, oh heavens, just the way you fell off the horse so elegantly is worth learning from," Tommy managed to hold back his laughter.
"Master, those knights did fall, but wasn't it less elegant than you said?" his dull servant muttered, inciting further laughter from Tommy.
"Seems like your cheap skins and bones are itching for a lesson, daring to scare off my horse," the leader threatened, drawing his sword.
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"Julian, do you remember the knight's code of conduct from the manual? Do I need to remind you?" Dean Buke of the magic academy emerged, walking gracefully, smiling as if attending a salon rather than breaking up a fight.
"Dean, it was just a misunderstanding. We were only greeting the new students. We didn't expect the horses to get spooked," Julian, the leader, quickly changed his demeanor upon seeing Dean Buke, smiling respectfully and bowing slightly. "Dean, we need to retrieve our startled horses, so we'll take our leave now."
They left, Julian giving Rody a cold glare as he passed.
Rody just pretended not to see, maintaining his smile.
"Great Dean Buke, you truly have the authority of a dean. I misjudged you," Tommy excitedly patted Buke's shoulder, almost knocking him over, exclaiming, "What kind of person is this arrogant Julian? Such poor horsemanship and he's a knight?"
"He's the second son of General Anthony of Feric, one of the most promising swordsmanship students in the academy, a Holy Sword Knight consecrated by the Feric Cathedral, soon to become a formal knight in six months. His strength is close to a five-star Great Swordsman, just not yet tested. Angering him is not a good thing," Dean Buke remarked, smiling at Rody and his cart. "Rody, how many gold coins did you earn today?"
"Not a single one," Rody lied as easily as eating cabbage, stunning Tommy.
"How many silver coins, then?" Dean Buke smiled, "You're not going to say none, are you?"
"Just a small business, many onlookers but few buyers, impossible to make money. Only a few copper coins today," Rody answered seriously, surprising Tommy who had never heard such casual and confident lying.
"Is that so?" Dean Buke's expression turned peculiar. He turned to leave, then paused and added, "Then you must work harder."
"Although it's difficult, I will try to earn two gold coins in half a month," Rody nodded earnestly.
"Oh my..." Tommy felt like dying, and wanted to report Rody but refrained, instead shouting to Dean Buke, "Dean, why does Julian listen to you? What are you to him?"
"He's my student," Dean Buke laughed and walked away.
"Hey, you dare to talk to him? You're really clueless!" A sneaky figure emerged from the shadows, whispering, "Do you know who that was?"
"The dean!" Tommy was puzzled, asking, "Bootlicker, is he the king's illegitimate son or something?"
"You fat-headed fool, you're hopelessly stupid! If he were ordinary, could he be the dean?" the skinny bootlicker said angrily, piquing Rody's curiosity.
"So, is there something odd about Dean Buke?" Tommy was skeptical, finding the dean too amiable to be like other deans.
"I haven't found out more, but I know Julian and others secretly call Dean Buke the 'Demon Dean'!" the bootlicker revealed, chilling both Tommy and Rody. It seemed Dean Buke was playing a deceptive role, appearing amiable on the surface but terrifyingly sinister inside.
"Oh my, I just patted his shoulder..." Tommy recalled in horror.
"Not just that, Master. This morning you asked if he was married, and when Dean Buke said no, you whispered he must be impotent. I think he heard you," the servant chimed in, turning Tommy pale with fear.
"Being with you is too dangerous. I'm leaving, safety first," the bootlicker quickly fled, only to return a moment later to caution Tommy, "Make sure never to tell anyone I know you. I'm off, thank heavens, I'm safe, I'm safe."
"Being classmates with this bootlicker is the worst luck!" Tommy spat in anger.
"I find him quite interesting," Rody laughed, amused by the situation.