Musou Knight: Crow of Cinders-Chapter 73: No Horni!

Chapter 73 - No Horni!

Everybody’s grins were so wide that they almost touched their ears. Their eyes curved up into a crescent.

Hoh, boy. An entertaining event was in store. I wished I had popcorns, even though I had no appetite.

Solus’s smiling face was as friendly as ever, but I noticed a big pulsing vein around his neck, leading to his chin. Welp, RIP, you idiots. You had provoked a sword demon.

Solus introduced himself.

"Welcome. You must be the royal class freshmen. I am Solus Ferrum, the instructor of the Physical Education Class, Martial Art Class, and Swordsmanship Class. You will be trained along with your seniors and fellow classmates here."

Minz laughed. "Sure. How do we start? Also, where are the servants and the healers?"

"There will be none."

"...Huh?"

"Your first lesson will be... getting beaten up by me!"

Solus unleashed his musou aura. A thousand gold swords manifested in the sky, pointing down. They surrounded the nine elites and their followers. One of which transformed into a heavy sword that I carried around while running a lap.

The sword spun and vanished. In the next instant, all new students were spanked. Knights in full-plate armor had the toughest time, receiving blows from the blunted side, while students were hit by the flat side.

The heavy sword vanished. However, another one descended and transformed into a brand new heavy claymore sword for training. Solus grabbed it and casually swung it around.

"Until all thousand swords are used up, everybody will be slapped in the butt until you behave!"

Minz, who was hit the hardest, rubbed his butt and raised his head in defiance. He turned to his concubines, who were crying.

"Impudent!"

Solus raised an eyebrow. "At least, you care for your people. Your sentence is reduced by 500 hits."

One of the flying sword transformed into a metal plate, with the shape and size of a human hand. It slapped Minz’s face.

Solus evilly grinned. "However, you shall receive the punishment of the two followers that you’re protecting. Therefore, you will be beaten up 1,500 times instead of 1,000!"

The punishment continued.

.

When everything was over, the sun hung at the west. Solus admired his work and turned to the others.

The seniors already packed their belongings and prepared to head back. As for me and my two girls, we had lost count how many laps we had run. Our stomachs felt unsettled from the vomiting and the bloating caused by the stamina potions’ soda.

Solus smiled at us.

"Good job, you three. See you next week... no, tomorrow. You have a swordsmanship class, so let’s meet again after the second breakfast hour. Remember to bring your own meal, cause we shall provide none but stamina potions."

"..."

Was this hell?

.

After Selus dismissed us, we dragged our sorry asses back to the room. Dinner was already waiting, neatly arranged by the maids.

Even though our stomachs still hurt from all the vomiting, we devoured everything in five minutes. Then the maids served us strange cocktails...very smelly ones.

"What are these?" I asked.

"Medicines, sir. You’ll need these, or you’ll collapse tomorrow."

We frowned. Lia picked up one of the glasses, sniffed it, and twitched her nose before licking the rim. Her lips pursed.

We stared at her in silence until she finally reported.

"Safe."

I turned to Lenitia. "Has she always been your poison taster?"

"Always been." Lenitia puffed her chest.

Since Lia approved, I had no reason to reject the cocktail. Of course, she handed me the one she had already licked.

"I haven’t tested the others yet."

"To be honest, if they really wanted to poison us, they’d have mixed it into the food. We’d already be dead."

I snickered and glanced at the maids, watching for any reaction. They kept their polite smiles as their poker face.

Lia shook her head, disagreeing with me. She tested two more glasses.

In the end, nothing seemed poisonous.

Reluctantly, we gulped down the dubious drinks. They tasted like raw cilantro, bitter chocolate, and aspirin.

The maids collected the dishes and trays, then one of them offered a warning.

"The recovery medicine may have a side effect. We’ll seal all sound in the room. Please do not be concerned about leaking noises."

"What side effect?" We asked in unison.

The maid replied, "What you drank was a mixture of muscle growth enhancement, full-body recovery, rapid regeneration, and bone marrow nourishment potions. When taken together, the medicines decrease your physical age by a month. However, when taken for the first time, those under thirty may experience... bliss, excitement, or intoxication. It usually hits so hard it’s like drinking ten jars of wine."

"...What?"

"Since you’re companions, we see no issues. We’ll keep everything a secret. Don’t worry. However, if things get violent, we’ll step in."

"..."

The maid bowed and left, leaving us confused.

I sensed nothing wrong with my body, so I turned to the women. Fortunately, they hadn’t transformed... yet. I steered the conversation away.

"Whatever the case, I don’t feel anything. No big deal, right? Anyway, who’s taking the bath first? I’m dying to scrub off the dirt."

Lenitia snapped to her senses and jumped up. "Me! The first bath water is mine!"

Lia giggled. "It’s been a while. Let’s bathe together. I’ll watch your back."

"Obviously!"

The two hummed and waltzed into the bathroom. Lia, bold as ever, stripped everything while I was watching. Definitely tempting me again.

Lenitia scowled at her, then turned to me.

"Don’t peek, Crow!"

She called me by my real name. I almost cried.

"Eh, if I were in the mood, I’d barge in and squeeze into the same tub."

"Y-You pervert! Lecher!"

Lenitia stormed into the bathroom. A second later, she screamed and rushed back out with a pale face.

Lia and I caught the clue. We grabbed our weapons and charged in... only to find three marble bathtubs full of hot water, folded towels, clean clothes, bathrobes, a tray of bath wares, and... a crucifix complete with leather straps, whips, and suspicious rods.

I froze. Lia smirked. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Supreme General, should we show Her Highness what these tools are for? I’ll be the prisoner."