Teaching the Lazy Knight a Lesson (1)
The arena in Renes Territory was the city's premier entertainment spot. Especially lately, with the addition of a male gladiator who had captured everyone's attention, the atmosphere there burned hotter than ever. The number of spectators and their expectations had reached an all-time high. Watching the scene from the arena's VIP seats, Renes wore a satisfied smile at the festival's success, which exceeded even her predictions.
"Petunia!?"
In stark contrast, Martina, who was tasked with guarding her, couldn't help but gasp in shock at the opponent standing in the arena.
"What's wrong, Martina? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"O-Of course I'm shocked! I have seen something unbelievable!"
Even for a seasoned knight like her, who was unfazed by most things, this situation was impossible to accept. After all, the one who had stepped into the arena was one of the three knights—one who matched her own level of martial prowess.
"My lord, are you insane!? Putting a man who's only been a gladiator for a few months against Petunia!"
"Of course I'm in my right mind. From the start, you and Helia said it yourselves, didn't you? His talent is extraordinarily rare for a man, and you've trained him to a level where he won't go down easily anywhere."
"Even so, this is only his third real fight. Matching him against someone on my level..."
If it were her or Helia, they could at least hold back. But with Petunia, that was out of the question. True to her nickname of the Lazy Knight, she never took anything seriously—not for a single moment. She slacked off due to her inherent laziness most days, but when prodded by the lord, she'd unleash her full power just to wrap things up quickly. Naturally, she never considered holding back, so even in simple subjugation missions, she'd often beat her target to a pulp or turn the surroundings into a wasteland.
In other words, pitting him against her was like defusing a bomb that could go off at any second. And Renes, her lord and Petunia's master, knew that better than anyone...
"We need that level of excitement to meet the crowd's expectations."
"Excitement...?"
"Look at the stands right now. Can't you feel the air change the moment Petunia appeared?"
-Murmurs erupted.
The arena grew chaotic the instant Petunia showed up. Most spectators were stunned, not having anticipated her appearance, but that shock soon gave way to anticipation and cheers.
"Yes, everyone! As you can see, Adrian's opponent today is none other than Petunia, the loyal servant of Lady Renes! A fierce battle against her, whom no one in this city can match in strength—it's bound to be a thrilling show!"
"Damn, what the hell is that lord thinking, pulling this stunt?"
"She planning to half-kill that guy right here? Or... no way, is she actually expecting Adrian to win...?"
"Fuck, either way, this is gonna be hilarious."
"Fight! Fight!!! Give us a real clash!!!"
Right—the spectators here sought only pleasure. To them, a matchup between their idol and an unexpected powerhouse was the ultimate show they couldn't resist anticipating. And that fervent support was exactly what Renes aimed for.
"Heh, I've run this arena for a long time, but I don't think the crowd's ever been this fired up."
-Crunch.
Martina clenched her fists, grinding her teeth in frustration at Renes's delight. Her displeasure was so evident it showed on her face.
"You're saying you're sacrificing that boy just to create this hype?"
To the crowd, it was just a fleeting thrill. But to her, he was someone special she'd devoted her life to. She wanted to rush down there and shield him right now.
"Any problem with that?"
"Well, the problem is..."
As Martina turned to protest, her breath caught, and her face paled. She realized her sworn lord was staring at her with chillingly cold eyes.
"How strange. You've always been so loyal to me, Martina, yet today you're awfully talkative."
"Th-That's..."
"Have you grown fond of that man? Or is it mere physical attraction?"
Her sharp words pierced Martina's heart like a blade. Martina swallowed hard as Renes rose from her seat, closing the distance between them.
"I don't care what you have with him, but it must never come before your loyalty to me."
-Slap!!
Renes's hand struck Martina's cheek. Martina flinched but didn't retaliate. The one before her was her lord—someone she couldn't defy.
"Martina. Since you've forgotten, let me remind you."
As if to drill it into her, Renes spoke in a stern tone.
"It was I who discovered your talent, earned through more effort than anyone. It was I who gave a nobody like you a place to belong. And under my protection, you realized it—I'm the one who makes you shine brightest."
Her life had indeed split into before and after meeting Renes. Thanks to her, she'd risen to fame as one of the three knights, and she'd spared no effort to repay that trust and earn more.
Renes was her light, her salt, her heart... her lord, whom she'd protect with her life.
"Need more explanation?"
Her worth must always come before some fleeting fling with a man she'd just met. Martina felt her resolve break as she bowed her head.
"No. I understand fully."
"Hm? Doesn't look like you do to me."
Even that didn't satisfy Renes, who addressed her vassal as lord to retainer.
"If you truly understand, show it properly. Right?"
Unable to refuse the command, Martina hesitated before beginning to strip off her armor layer by layer—the plating, the stockings—until she was utterly naked.
"I'm sorry."
She knelt, pressing her forehead to the ground to prove her loyalty to her lord.
"I dared to defy my lord without knowing my place. Please show mercy to this lowly vassal."
It was the picture of a devoted retainer. Satisfied with the response, Renes used Martina's bare body as a seat to continue watching the arena, reveling in the fact that even the city's strongest knight couldn't defy her.
That's right—no one in this land can stand against me.
In this city, she was king, god, absolute ruler. No one could stop her, no matter what she did—even if it meant throwing an innocent man to the wolves.
Still, don't push him too hard. As you saw in the match, he's pretty feisty for a man...
Once I get the chance, I'll fuck you senseless too.
"...Pfft."
A chill ran down her spine, but Renes dismissed it with a scoff and a amused smile. Gazing at her 'treasure' clashing with her knight, she murmured softly.
"Of course. If he's got the guts, he should deliver results. Right?"
Yes, the arrogant lord genuinely hoped he'd meet her expectations.
*****
"Yaaawn~"
A yawn escaped her lips. Even with countless spectators watching, on the verge of a life-or-death duel staking their pride.
"...Sleepy."
Her mutterings held no trace of seriousness. Petunia, one of the three knights, voiced her thoughts in that lazy demeanor.
"This sucks. Wanna lie down, wanna sleep. But it's too noisy around here to even nap..."
...Damn, from the way she talks, no one would think she's on the same level as Helia or Martina. What the hell was Renes thinking, sending this one out against me?
"Sigh, why'd the lord suddenly summon me and make me stand here?"
She grumbled complaints about Renes, then turned to me with clear dissatisfaction.
"And my opponent's not even a woman, but some fragile guy. How much of a villain does she want me to look like?"
...Fragile guy? Even in this male-superior world, that's rich coming from you—you're way smaller than me. Short and scrawny; compared to Helia or Martina, you look like a kid with some exaggeration.
"Hey, bro."
Her unexpected term of address caught me off guard, and I reflexively stammered back.
"B-Bro? You mean me?"
"You look older than me, so bro it is. Unless you're an old man?"
"...No, bro's fine."
"Okay, bro."
The nickname stuck. Her carefree attitude reeked of laziness, and her next suggestion was no different.
"Hate to say it, but why not just forfeit?"
"What?"
"I'm lazy too, but you're probably not here by choice either, right? Gotta be the lord's got something on you, forcing you into this."
Petunia spoke as if she knew Renes well. She wasn't wrong, so I stayed quiet, but she soon lost interest and turned away.
"Don't care about knightly duty, and I don't enjoy roughing up guys... The crowd'll understand if you forfeit against me. Better to bow out now."
Understand? The crowd's heat said otherwise. But her offer tempted me. I'd gotten stronger through Helia and Martina, but I'd never beaten either in sparring. Fighting one of the three knights now was a huge hurdle—far more likely I'd lose. No dumber move than jumping into a sure-loss fight; maybe backing off now and planning later was smart.
But...
"Sorry, can't do that."
"...Huh?"
"Crowd paid to see a fight—sending 'em home empty-handed would piss 'em off. Plus, it's the lord's setup; a boring end means retaliation for sure."
I'd learned from watching Helia get humiliated before me. That woman was viciously authoritarian and hated anything challenging her authority. If her staged match flopped, she'd see it as defiance, and the payback wouldn't be light. If I couldn't escape her grasp, I'd have to keep risking it all as the arena slave anyway.
And...
"And this is the real reason."
-Whoosh.
I swung the mace in my hand through the air, aiming its tip at Petunia. In that stance, I said calmly,
"My hobby's putting cocky bitches in their place—the ones who mouth off without fearing men."
Yeah—if by some miracle I beat her, I could shatter that arrogant mindset and expose it raw to the crowd. That'd bring me massive pleasure. If I can't avoid it, better enjoy it. Right now, I felt the urge to indulge that desire honestly.
"Cocky bitch—you mean me?"
"Who else is here?"
"...Heh."
Did my words irk her? A flicker of emotion—just a tiny bit—crossed her previously bored face.
"Big talk for a guy. Guess the lord sees something in you to use as a gladiator."
Annoyance, irritation... Not full rage yet, but enough to stir her lazy body into motion.
"Hate dragging this out, so I'll end it in one hit—no holding back."
As if responding to her mood, invisible energy exploded from her body. Propelled by it, she blurred into afterimages and vanished from sight.
And then—Boom!!
Explosions rang out from all directions. Realizing it was her mana-charged footwork, she was already behind me in my blind spot, sword poised to thrust.
"Fall."
A curt mutter. Then a strike loaded with immense power shot forth.
-Boom!!
I blocked it with my weapon, but my arms went numb, every muscle screaming in protest. She's strong. Pure destructive power—at least matching or exceeding Helia and Martina. But I could block it.
-Zing!!
Aware of that, I suppressed my body's recoil on instinct, channeling mana into my weapon and aiming forward.
To crush the arrogant knight's nose flat, who'd opened her eyes wide at this unexpected turn, assuming one hit would drop me.
"Huh? Why hasn't he fallen...?"
-Boom!!
My weapon smashed into Petunia's body.