The Knight Princess and the Orc's Training
"Brother, let's start a rebellion. I shall be your hammer."
"Hold that thought. It's a great idea, but let's try something more practical first."
I still had a day left. If I didn't sleep, I had a full 24 hours to work with.
"Brother, the opponent is a human knight princess, renowned for her nobility. How do you expect to make someone who hasn't opened her mouth even under torture speak?"
Tural was right; the knight princess had endured brutal torture. Perhaps due to the unique physical specs of knights in this world, she stubbornly withstood the torture of goblins and demons, even though she had cracked my head open earlier.
"Who knows? We won't know until we try."
"I see. Then how will you make her talk? Do you truly believe that human knight will betray her own kind?"
"Of course. Do you think all humans are like you?"
If all humans were like Tural, the Demon King Solomon would have been defeated long ago, and we would all be ghosts by now. But I knew humans better than anyone.
"The torture was just too weak. Once you break a few arms and legs, she'll open her mouth out of pain."
"I pulled out all her fingernails, and she didn't even blink."
"......."
That was because the methods were too primitive. I thought of another way, one I'd only seen in movies. I found the prison where a few humans were still alive, and Tural, who had been treated to roasted boar by Forneus, followed me around like a puppy.
"Ugh."
The sickening smell of blood stung my nose. The human knight princess locked in the cell had her head bowed, her entire body covered in purple bruises. Even at the dungeon entrance, her hair had been a brilliant, shining gold, but now it was matted and clumped with dark, dried blood.
"What is the meaning of this?"
A skeleton guard blocked my path, and I informed him of the order Forneus had given me.
"Tsk, poor thing. Go on in."
Even if Forneus hadn't given specific instructions, everyone in the legion knew the rumors about me. Since I was the one who had captured the knight princess, my name and status were quite well-known.
"A glory that only lasts a day, though."
"Brother, do not lose hope. That glory could be the first step toward your hot future. They say a hero's childhood is always arduous and difficult. Come, let us recount the life of the Red Wolf—"
"Shut up and just hand over the item I asked for."
"Here it is."
Tural handed me a book he had found among the humans' belongings. The paper quality was trash and the content was some ridiculous erotic novel, but for me, the paper itself was what mattered.
Clink.
I approached the knight princess. She, whose name I didn't even know, was restrained against the wall in an X-shape, her head hanging low. Her armor had long since been stripped away, leaving her in the brown rags worn by prisoners.
"The key."
"Here."
I took the key from the guard and removed her gag. Through her disheveled bangs, a fierce blue gaze flashed, and the knight princess twisted her head to bite at my neck. I tucked the gag into my belt and lifted her chin.
"So, you were awake after all."
"Grrrgh!!"
The knight princess bared her teeth, trying to tear into my neck. But my skin was far too tough, and her counterattack, drained of strength by the torture, was nothing more than a pathetic struggle.
"What's your name?"
"Ptooey!"
The knight princess spat a mixture of blood and phlegm onto my face.
Whoosh—!
Tural threw a punch right beside her face. It was so fast that even I was startled, and the knight princess's pupils trembled at the fist that had grazed her cheek.
"Tural."
"Brother! How dare a mere human commit such an insult...!"
Tural was furious, as if he had been the one insulted by the spit. I didn't care at all, but the knight princess seemed to feel genuine terror at Tural's punch.
Sizzle.
A yellowish liquid began to run down the knight princess's thigh. She had wet herself from a single punch from Tural. A sour, pungent smell stung my nose along with the scent of blood.
"Tsk. Your name?"
"......."
"Did my brother not ask you, human? State your name."
Tural threatened her, raising his fist. The knight princess glanced between me and Tural, then parted her blood-dried lips.
"Ae, Aila."
"Brother, it seems this human's name is 'Ae-Aila'."
"It's 'Aila'."
I corrected Tural's misunderstanding, and the knight princess—Aila—began to watch me warily.
"Then let's start getting some information. Aila, which knight order are you from?"
"...Do you think I'd tell you?"
Aila glared at me with a venomous expression. Even though she had wet herself, Tural's fist was still terrifying enough that she didn't spit at me again. Instead, she just squeezed her eyes shut with a determined expression and opened her mouth.
"...Kill me."
"......."
I never expected to hear that line here. My head spun, and Tural was incensed.
"Human! If you've been defeated, answer the questions obediently!"
"Shut up. Even if I have been defeated..."
Aila tilted her head back and twisted her lips into a smirk.
"My heart will never be broken!"
"They say knight princesses are known for being stubborn, so I guess that's true."
I scoffed, but Tural beat his chest in frustration at my laughter.
"Brother! If you don't get information from this woman, your life is forfeit!"
"Are you trying to help me, or are you hoping I die? Why would you say that in front of her?"
I scolded Tural, and he stepped back, looking deeply shocked.
"Br, Brother... It's a misunderstanding. I, I never had any intention of—"
"Hah, good. So if I keep my mouth shut, this pig is a dead man?"
Aila snorted at Tural and curled her lips upward.
"Fine. To take an orc with me to the afterlife... I have no regrets now. Kill me."
"......!"
Tural's hands trembled, and he suddenly fled the prison. I let out a dry laugh at the absurdity, and Aila sneered at me.
"What now? You won't get a single piece of information from me. Heh."
"Your tone sounds like you're trying a bit too hard to act tough."
Twitch.
Aila's hand, restrained against the wall, flinched. I tore a piece of the book, soaked it in water, and wiped the blood from Aila's body.
"Hmm, so this is your face. Pretty."
"Y, you madman."
Perhaps embarrassed to be called pretty by an orc, Aila scowled.
"I, I am a knight! Do you think I'd be happy to hear that from an orc?! Not a chance!"
"Your face is decent, and your body is good, too. You'll be great at bearing children later."
I reached into her rags and lifted them. Her stomach was covered in whip marks and bruises, but the breasts sitting atop her toned abs clearly revealed their presence.
"Y, you wretch! Do you intend to shame me?!"
"And if I do? If I stop, will you give me the information?"
Aila bit her lower lip and swallowed her words. I wiped all the blood off her body with the water-soaked paper and then unlocked the shackles on her wrists and ankles.
Clink.
As soon as her wrists were freed, Aila didn't hesitate to grab my throat. She poured even the slightest bit of mana into strangling me, but unfortunately, it didn't hurt at all.
"H, how...?!"
"Did you forget? I was the one who knocked you out. You can't kill me with that level of strength."
"S, such a foolish thing...! How can an orc who isn't even an adult...!"
Aila shook her head as if she couldn't accept my strength. I wanted to brag that it was the result of three years of diligent training, but Tural had become stronger than me, so I couldn't really say anything. Instead, it was time to show the results of that training in a different way.
I released all of Aila's restraints, then hoisted her over my right shoulder, her stomach resting on it.
"W, wait?!"
Aila struggled on my shoulder. I didn't care, wrapping my arm around her waist and exiting the prison.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"I received permission from Lady Forneus. The prison isn't a good place to extract information from this human."
"I see. That should be fine. She won't be able to escape this dungeon anyway."
The skeleton didn't think much of it. I greeted the skeleton and left the prison with Aila. Aila's resistance gradually faded.
"......."
"......."
Neither I nor Aila said a word. I carried Aila to a secret spot I had prepared inside the dungeon. As I got closer to the entrance, Aila became as quiet as a mouse.
"Young orc, what is that?"
The gargoyle guarding the entrance was wary of me, and I repeated the explanation I had given the skeleton guard, adding a few more words.
"It is a process to extract information from the human. Open the door."
"Hmm... very well. This entire area is our domain anyway. You are the guardian who protects the dungeon in our stead. I pay my respects."
The gargoyle guard opened the door without a hint of suspicion, and I took Aila and left the dungeon. Aila's body began to tremble slightly, and I entered the log hut that Tural and I had built while hunting in the forest.
Thud.
I laid Aila down on the bed. She was looking at me with a complex expression.
"What is your intention...? Do you think I'll talk just because of this...?"
"No, there's no need to talk."
I took out the gag I had tucked into my belt and covered Aila's mouth.
"Ugh?!"
Aila resisted, but it was useless. I laid her down on the makeshift bed covered in animal furs and climbed on top of her.
"Anyway, you said that even if I got information from you, it would be useless and you'd just kill me. If I'm going to go, shouldn't we at least do this once before I do?"
"......!!"