Musou Knight: Crow of Cinders-Chapter 66: Exposed Secret?

Chapter 66 - Exposed Secret?

"W-what?"

"...Is he dead?

"M-M-M-MURDER!"

Screams erupted in the spectator stands. Some noblemen gasped in shock. Commoners held their breath.

Why panicked? I thought this was to be expected.

Ignored the unrest crowd and stormed toward Rock’s corpse. Three seconds after his death, light manifested beneath the corpse. Before the items fully manifested, I snatched two items, shoving them in my pocket. Another item fell to the ground after grazing my fingertip.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t fast enough.

Paul squinted his brows and strode toward me. He definitely saw those.

Three level-four knights leaped from the arena. Brandishing their weapons, they yelled.

"BASTARD! HOW DARE YOU?!"

"A HERETIC MUST BE PURGED!"

"YOUR PUNISHMENT IS DEATH!"

I finally figured Rock’s family. He hailed from a caps-lock clan.

As I was about to dodge their attacks and fetch a wine bottle in my pocket, Paul stood in between me and the knights. He faced the assailants and bellowed.

"GET LOST!"

The three knights fell from midair, and their armor shattered. Everyone squirmed and coughed up blood, as though struck by the unseen Qi of a wuxia martial art.

Paul announced.

"I forgot to explain another rule. For the sake of fairness, a candidate of the royal knight class may only accept challenges twice per day! No one else may challenge the candidate. For those who seek an opportunity, challenge other people! Nine additional worthy knights await to test your abilities."

This shocked me. I didn’t expect the elitist to suddenly protect me or show me a favor.

Meanwhile, the aristocrats grumbled. The children of knights booed, while the commoners minded their voices. Aside from the rowdy brutes, nobody protested.

With a furious look, Paul surveyed the assembled knight families, radiating killing intent. Subsequently, the families shrank away in fear.

Paul scoffed and turned to me next. He grinned.

"Interesting power you have there. Care to explain?"

This would get complicated. I shook my head.

"Not in public."

"Understandable. Come to my office when this whole farce wraps up."

"...Yes, sir."

Paul kicked Rock’s body toward the three injured knights. He then picked up Rock’s two magic swords and a dropped item.

There was the third magic sword, a duplication of the black mist broadsword.

Paul compared the two identical swords and chuckled. He handed to me and leaned closer to my ear. He whispered.

"You’d better not run away, or I’ll tell everything about today to Sylveria."

I broke a cold sweat and replied. "I know, sir. I don’t want to be cut open by that mad woman and her father."

"Good boy."

Paul patted my shoulder and turned to the crowd in the arena. He stared at the remaining nine royal knight class candidates.

"Come out, all of you. It’s your turn to show your skills! As for you, little brat. Stand to the side. Also, wait for me to distribute the wagers."

"..."

The challenge ceremony continued without me. Moreover, Paul took away the wager box and the three swords.

Damn swindler.

After I had left, nobody dared to challenge the other nine. Instead, the nine candidates solidified their ranks by challenging each other. Six of them fought once, but three candidates sat out of the competition.

As I couldn’t take part, I was ranked at the bottom of my class because of my level.

.

After the ceremony, the instructors guided us to our new dorm, where we could choose to stay or commute from our residence.

Had it been the modern world, a few kilometers of distance was nothing. I could have stayed home and saved myself from trouble. But here, catching that distance with a horse carriage was a torture. Lenitia and I accepted the dorm offer.

We arrived at the designated room. The academy hadn’t prepared a place for the candidate’s followers. After entering with our luggage, Lenitia and I frowned at each other. We both looked at the single queen-sized bed and the set of long couches.

Lenitia pointed at the couches. "You sleep there."

"Nay. I call the shot here. You go sleep on one of those."

"Hey. I’m a princess here. Show some respect!"

"Former. Princess."

"..."

Lenitia lowered her gaze. Her eyes were wet.

I guessed my words were too harsh. Her father had just died.

"Fine. Go sleep on that bed if you want to. Remember I’ll be sleeping in the same bed."

"W-What?!"

"I’m the breadwinner here. It’s important for me to have quality rest. Otherwise, we’ll be kicked out of this room."

I scanned the room. Aside from the basic furniture, there was a bathroom with a marble bathtub. However, like any medieval house, the water system was primitive. Only a drainage was installed.

While I looked around, Lenitia removed her helmet and armor. Her furious eyes fixed on me.

"I see. You’ve taken my servant and now you desire me as well?"

"No. I never wanted a cunning woman like you. I’m just annoyed being around you."

Finally, I confessed my true feeling. I’d had enough of this spoiled princess.

"..."

Once again, Lenitia looked like she was about to cry.

Dammit. I might dislike her, but making a girl cry put a bad taste in my mouth.

Feeling bad, I patted her head.

"Don’t take it the wrong way. Trying your hardest for yourself is never wrong. But being too assertive is a demerit in society. People can take you the wrong way and hate you. For men, we can make amends after exchanging a few punches to the face. Any woman in a vulnerable position like yours will face scorn or bullying if she maintains that attitude. I lashed out to teach you a lesson your father or your royal tutor never could."

I walked away and dropped my luggage near the couch. I fell onto the seat and removed all hidden items from my pockets. On the coffee table, I placed a new dragon seal and a talisman that enhanced strength, which were from Rock Norg’s drops. The others were small bottles of wine which I prepared. After removing my stuffy jacket, shirt, boots, and socks, I rested my head on the soft couch.

Ah, finally a break.