I, reincarnate as the leader of the villainous knight order

Chapter 52: Interrogation

Arriving at the stables of the Third Knight Order, Jest remained clinging to my back while I tended to Eleanor.Probably only about three kilometers, but the whole time it could be a good workout.

“Alright, that should do it. Thanks, Eleanor, for your help this morning.”

The stable attendant conveniently brought over some fodder, and Eleanor eagerly started eating as if she’d been waiting for it. It’s almost lunchtime, but since there are no requests for assistance today, everyone should be at the training grounds.

Changing from formal attire to training gear in the changing room at the training grounds and selecting wooden swords, I was approached by members of Justin’s squad.

“Captain! How was the audience? No reprimand for the dragon?”

Simon was the first to ask, peering with curiosity at Jest clinging to my back.

“Well, they were surprised by the magical contract.”

“Indeed, I’ve never heard of such a thing. But seriously, are you going to carry him like that forever? You don’t think of the captain as your mom, do you? Haha.”

“Justin is Justin! He’s not my mom!”

“Oh, he’s saying something. Is he complaining to Arnault?”

“Arnault, you’re a squire, yet you’re so cheeky! Take this, the captain’s special torture!”

When I heard about my own special torture, I tilted my head, but Simon was actually teasing Arnault with a pickled plum. It felt weird to have such a common punishment called torture.

“Ouch! It hurts! It really hurts like crazy! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

Arnault apologized tearfully and collapsed to the ground as soon as he was released.

“Just so you know, what the captain does is twice as painful!”

Simon proudly pointed, for some reason, feeling triumphant. Twice as much? That can’t be right… Oh, maybe because I’m stronger in this life, I didn’t hold back as much?

“So, pickled plums can be used for torture…”

“Huh, so that punishment is called a pickled plum.”

It seems Arnault also recognized it as torture. Using that level of punishment might be a bit pitiful; I should think of a gentler punishment.

“Alright, let’s get back to training. …Maybe we’ll do some one-on-one practice.”

As I suggested while stretching before joining the training, the subordinates grimaced. One-on-one practice involves one person facing off against everyone else in sequence. Naturally, being the one who faces everyone in succession is quite exhausting.

“Um, well… that is…”

“From now on, each squad will start one-on-one practice! If any squad lacks motivation, I’ll personally intervene later!”

While Arnault muttered softly, he issued instructions to the entire training ground. I must say, my voice carries surprisingly well, reaching across the entire training ground, which is even larger than a soccer field.

“Now, I’ll go first, come at me one by one. If you want to come at me all at once, that’s fine too. Jest, stay back, it’s dangerous.”

“Got it!”

As Jest moved away from my back and sat neatly on a bench with wooden swords lined up, the subordinates argued over who would go first, pushing each other.

“Go in age order! Stop messing around!”

“Alright, then it’s me next. Here I go.”

Even though Simon said, “here I go,” his face gradually turned into a more aggressive expression. He’s a battle-crazed junkie.

“Here I come! Yah!”

“You’re swinging too hard! I’m not a monster!”

I lowered the tip of my sword to deflect the strike from above and countered with a hit to his neck.

“I thought I’d strike since your torso was open. Not many can counter your strikes, but against me, it’s a bad move… How many times do I have to tell you? Is your brain just for show? Do you lack learning ability?”

I tapped his head with the tip of my sword.

“Ugh… but lately, I’ve been improving my sword speed, so I thought I could pull it off!”

“Step back, next!”

“I’ll go steadily…”

Gaspard, who quietly moved out from behind Simon, launched an attack. Although it’s not very powerful, it’s fast and he strikes multiple times.

“Push him, push him! You can do it, Gaspard!”

“No room for carelessness! Focus! And make the captain more tired! Move, in front of me!”

“Gaspard is really fast, but the captain doesn’t seem bothered at all!?”

Oh, Marius is surprisingly observant. And Arnault, he should stick with it and not finish too quickly.

Gradually shifting from blocking to deflecting the strikes, I create openings without them realizing it. When Gaspard’s posture faltered, I deflected his sword, and unfortunately, Gaspard’s wooden sword flew towards Jest.

“Kyah! What!?”

Perhaps out of boredom, the wooden sword hit Jest’s head while he was half asleep. I hurried over to Jest. It was an impact that could have knocked out a person, I think.

“I’m sorry, Jest, I didn’t expect it to fly towards you. Are you hurt?”

“Just a little… but pat my head.”

At Jest’s adorable request, I lifted him up and patted his head.

“There, there, let the pain fly away. Does it still hurt?”

“My head hurts too…”

“There, there… Wait, you should be practicing too!”

I absentmindedly patted Simon’s head when he offered it, then brought my fist down on his head.

“Ouch! But captain, you only call me ‘you’ when you’re flustered or angry, right? Hehe.”

“Quiet…! …Phew, alright, understood. If you want me to pay that much attention to you, then I’ll spar with you properly. Arnault, Marius, sorry, but continue training with Gaspard. Hee.”

“Eek!”

“Alright… I mean, understood! Good luck, Simon. Let’s go, we’ll practice over there.”

Simon said he might have been dead if lunchtime hadn’t arrived.