Free Web NovelChapter 156: Enrollment Order
Rigel had been ordered by King Wistaria to enroll in the Royal Academy.
For Rigel, whose mind was occupied solely with thoughts of rape, this was an extremely troublesome development. However, when he reminded himself that it was a necessary step to eventually obtain the position of Border Count and gain his own territory, it was something he could tolerate.
In the audience chamber, the king wore a satisfied smile.
"It is decided. Rigel, continue to devote yourself to the Wistaria Kingdom."
"Yes!"
"You shall enroll in the Royal Academy through your own power. Consider that part of your training as well. Ah, and one more thing—"
"And one more thing?"
"When you leave, clean up that trash over there. Losing is one thing, but to commit such a disgrace in the audience chamber... Appointing a woman as a captain was a mistake. I curse my own poor judgment."
King Wistaria cast a contemptuous gaze. At the end of that gaze was the female knight — one of the knights defeated by Rigel. Balzac and the other knights were also directing scornful looks at her.
"Just as I thought. A woman becoming a knight is already out of place, let alone making her a captain."
"This battle made it perfectly clear. Thank goodness it wasn’t real combat."
In the face of Rigel’s overwhelming strength, her defeat itself was unavoidable. However, no one would defend someone who had wet herself. While she could be said to have fought the hardest by resisting until the very end, her ultimate defeat and the pathetic sight of her losing control of her bladder far outweighed any merit.
"Uuu... Uuuu..."
Unable to endure the humiliation, the female knight burst into tears. It was her first defeat.
However, Balzac and the others showed no sympathy.
"Your Majesty, if I may speak."
"What is it?"
"She has shown such a disgraceful and shameful display. Executing her here would be appropriate."
"Indeed. That wouldn’t be bad."
"Hii!?"
The female knight’s face turned pale with terror at Balzac’s suggestion. The other knights also agreed.
"However, I would rather not dirty the audience chamber with any more filth. Balzac, dispose of her appropriately later."
"Yes!"
"Ugh!? W-wait...! Please don’t kill me!!"
"Silence! You have sullied my honor in front of His Majesty...! As expected, promoting a mere commoner to captain was a mistake!!"
Balzac grabbed the female knight by the neck. As Commander of the Royal Guard Knights and head of the Goussel Marquis family, the handling of the knights was entrusted to him. Moreover, he currently had the agreement of King Wistaria and the other knights. The fate of this unusual commoner-born female knight was essentially sealed.
"N-no...! I don’t want to die...!!"
"Father, please wait."
"Hmm...?"
At that moment, Rigel spoke up. It seemed he intended to go against the wishes of the king and his father.
"Please release her."
"Rigel... Are you interfering with me? Have you taken pity on this commoner woman?"
"No. However, I have become interested in her strength."
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Hearing Rigel’s words, Balzac showed an intrigued expression. While the other knights looked suspicious, they could not openly complain in front of King Wistaria and Balzac.
"You say this woman has strength? She is the one who committed a disgrace in front of His Majesty, you know?"
"Yes. It is true that her behavior was extremely shameful... However, her actual ability is genuine. As proof, she continued to resist me until the very end."
"Hmph... So you acknowledge her strength and believe she should not be killed here. But this is His Majesty’s will. No matter how much my beloved son—"
"It is fine, Balzac."
Hearing Rigel’s words, the king nodded generously. Balzac released the female knight’s neck.
"What I ordered was the disposal of garbage. There are methods other than execution to remove her from my sight."
"Yes! Then—"
"I shall leave her disposal to Rigel. Boil her, burn her, do as you please. Since you value her strength, you may even raise her as a future retainer or guard."
"Thank you very much."
Rigel bowed respectfully. He then turned back toward the female knight.
"That’s how it is. Your choices are limited. Either die, or obey me to survive. Those are your only two options."
"Hii!"
"For now, I will take you with me. But if you show even the slightest rebellious attitude — you understand, right?"
"Y-yes..."
"Good. Now stand up quickly and follow me."
Rigel pointed behind himself and spoke in a cold tone. Resistance was not allowed. If she resisted here, she would undoubtedly be killed. Sensing this, she obediently followed Rigel.
"—Then, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."
"Umu. I look forward to your performance at the Royal Academy."
"Yes!"
Rigel turned on his heel and left the chamber. The female knight hurriedly followed after him. Thus, Rigel’s audience with King Wistaria came to an end.
Formal ownership of the Divine Staff and Divine Spear.
A tentative future appointment as Border Count.
An order to enroll at the Royal Academy.
And as a bonus, the right to dispose of the female knight.
Having obtained all of these, Rigel left the audience chamber in a generally satisfied mood.
—-
"Kukuku. This is the Goussel Marquis family’s mansion. How about it? Quite impressive, isn’t it?"
"Y-yes... It’s very magnificent."
"Right? Of course it is."
Rigel had returned home with the female knight in tow.
This was a particularly large mansion located in one of the high-class residential districts of the royal capital. Currently, Rigel was free to use it as he pleased. His mother and Mesterica were back in the territory, and his father Balzac was busy with his duties as Commander of the Royal Guard Knights. As a result, Rigel was currently living here alone.
"My, my, Young Master. Welcome home."
"Yeah, I’m back."
In the entrance hall, the maids came out to greet him. Rigel returned their greetings.
"And who might this be?"
"Ah, this one is—"
"I am a proud Royal Guard Knight! I have no name to give to mere maids!!"
"..."
The female knight suddenly shouted. Even Rigel was momentarily speechless.
"U-um... Did I do something rude...?"
"Don’t mind her. She just hasn’t fully understood her current position yet."
Rigel sighed in exasperation. This female knight was apparently of commoner origin and had risen to become the only female captain in the Royal Guard Knights. That was probably why she was so strict about social hierarchy.
"Hey, you."
"Yes? —Guh!?"
Rigel grabbed the female knight by the hair and forcefully pulled her close, then slammed a hard punch into her cheek.
"W-what are you doing!!"
"That’s my line. What do you mean ’proud Royal Guard Knight’? Are you an idiot?"
"Id-idiot?! What do you mean?!"
"Idiot means idiot. You were ordered to be disposed of as ’trash’ by His Majesty. The only reason you’re still alive is because I took over the disposal rights."
Rigel looked at her with eyes full of contempt, as if she really were garbage. In his mind, that was exactly what she was.
"Th-that’s..."
"How long are you going to keep acting like a Royal Guard Knight? You’ve been dismissed. Right now you’re nothing but a commoner — no, even less than that. I can kill you whenever I want, and you have no right to complain. If you obey me, I’ll let you live for a while."
"—!! ...Understood."
The female knight’s face twisted with humiliation, but she could not defy Rigel.
"Do you really understand? —Hey, you maid over there. What do you think?"
"Eh? M-me?"
"Yeah, you. Does it look like she’s reflecting?"
"...No, not in the slightest."
The maid answered instantly. Rigel couldn’t help but smile wryly. The one who snapped back was the female knight.
"Don’t spout nonsense! A mere maid like you! I am a proud—"
"Shut up."
"Ugh!?"
Rigel drove his fist into the female knight’s stomach, then grabbed her by the hair and lifted her up.
"Ugh... Uuu..."
"Listen carefully. Your life and death are entirely in my hands. I picked you up on a whim, but I can kill you anytime I feel like it."
"Haa... Yes..."
"You are trash. To me, maids are already lowly beings, but you as trash are even lower. Any objections?"
"N-none..."
"Since you’re trash, act like trash. Got it?"
"Yes... I’m sorry."
The female knight hung her head and apologized. Rigel dropped her onto the floor.
"Now then... Let’s go around and introduce the newcomer."
"Eh? Introduce...?"
"That’s right. You may be trash, but I need to train you into at least somewhat useful trash. You’ll start by working under the maids and guards of this mansion. The least you can do is greet them properly."
"B-but... I am a Royal Guard Kn— Hii!? N-no! It’s nothing!"
The female knight tried to protest but immediately shut her mouth when Rigel glared at her.
"Good. Then let’s go."
"Y-yes... Please take care of me."
The female knight stood up and bowed. She had become somewhat more obedient, but it still wasn’t enough for Rigel.
"How strange."
"Eh?"
"There’s supposed to be trash standing in front of me. Yet it’s still wearing knight equipment."
"Th-that’s..."
"Take it off. You don’t need that anymore."
"Eh? No, but..."
The female knight hesitated. Her equipment was not something she could easily discard. It was a symbol of her pride as a knight.
"Did you not hear me say take it off? Are your ears just decorations?"
"—!! U-understood..."
Trembling, the female knight began removing her armor. However, she still hesitated.
"Hmph... Can’t be helped."
"Ugh!?"
Rigel kicked the female knight in the back. She fell forward, collapsing face-first.
"What are you doing?!"
"Hurry up. I’m not a patient man. If you make me wait any longer—"
"Hii! I-I’ll take it off right away!"
The female knight frantically removed her armor. She quickly stripped off the metal protective gear, leaving only a simple cloth outfit.
"I-I’ve taken it off..."
The female knight said weakly. Her expression was filled with shame. She wasn’t exactly in underwear, but exposing herself like this as a knight was deeply humiliating.
"Hmph..."
After looking over her appearance, Rigel snorted lightly. Then—
"And you call that taking it off? You’re still wearing things, aren’t you?"
He spoke coldly.
