The Worker
Early morning.
After finishing breakfast, Lee Dam headed back to the dormitory. Normally, she would have gone straight to the assigned lab to doodle designs for the Knight Armor using steel, but today was different.
Upon reaching the underground dormitory for the apprentice mages, among the mages walking the hallways, several large knights stood waiting in front of their own quarters.
'Somehow I feel like a soldier.'
Strictly speaking, it felt more like she'd been appointed as the shift commander or platoon leader, but since she was still an apprentice, Lee Dam simply shrugged and called it soldier mode.
"Attention on me."
She tried it anyway, just to feel the vibe, and surprisingly, the knights snapped into position with perfect crispness.
It wasn't drastically different from standing at ease, but the way they held it with discipline looked surprisingly cool.
"Well, starting now, we're heading to the lab. From tomorrow onward, you'll need to report here after breakfast, so don't forget the way."
"Understood!"
She wasn't sure why the hierarchy had flipped, but the knights followed her orders without hesitation.
Their footsteps were steady, the line behind them clean and orderly. The discipline and control that mages like her rarely felt was refreshing, and the subtle charisma that made nearby Magic Tower mages glance over with envy was unmistakable.
Lee Dam's lab was on the second floor.
Usually higher floors gave mages a sense of pride, but this one had been chosen because she hated climbing stairs.
The lab was completely empty.
More precisely, it only had the furniture; there was no one inside.
Normally, when labs were assigned, capable mages or friends were recruited to join the project, but Lee Dam hadn't bothered.
She'd felt the hassle of explaining her actions too many times through Theodore, so she skipped it.
"Well, it's your first day, so I won't give you anything too tough."
The knights relaxed slightly and eyed the parts laid out on the table.
Helmets, shoulder guards, chests, arms, waists, thighs, legs—everything had been disassembled.
"Here, these are all the parts of the Knight Armor. Wear them one by one and spend the day in them."
"Ooh."
"That's the real Knight Armor."
"Never thought we'd actually see it like this."
The knights sighed in awe, eyes sparkling as they swallowed hard.
Knights usually fixated on one area—swords, obviously, but also armor without fail.
Interest in the Knight Armor had to be off the charts.
"Yes, today I want to hear your thoughts on these. Try each part separately. Tomorrow we'll all wear them together and rotate through living like this."
"...Wait a second."
The knights sensed something off. One raised his hand and asked directly.
"Is it okay to wear them separately? Would it be better to start by putting on the whole thing—"
"Uh, no. Do exactly what I say. There are special notes for each part, so keep that in mind."
In the end, the knights fell silent at her words. It wasn't a big deal anyway, so they began suiting up without complaint.
"Hey, you there. Put this on."
Lee Dam handed the shoulder guard directly to Noland.
The other armor pieces were left in their default colors, but this one had been painted in deep black with a strong glossy finish.
"Y-yes?"
"Think about who I'm talking to. Put it on now. I made it a bit heavier than the others, but thicker for that reason."
"Ooh."
The other knights watched Noland's heavy shoulder guard and whistled in admiration. It was twice as thick as the parts they had been given.
"Understood."
Noland nodded proudly and strapped on the shoulder guard. Even though it was twice as thick as the Knight Armor, it was still lighter than the battle armor he normally wore.
"Well, since you've put on the armor, let's move. Follow me."
The knights followed Lee Dam again, each part equipped.
They chattered among themselves like kids on a school trip—especially Noland, the clear center of attention.
"Hey, Noland. Why the hell did she pick you out?"
"Dude, this thing is insane. It's so cool."
"The black color is next level. It'll stand out like crazy in the field."
"Or make enemies shit themselves. Being a named unit makes the contrast even better."
As the comments flew, the envy and jealousy focused squarely on Noland.
Noland was smiling smugly while gently touching the shoulder armor he wore.
'Saintess-sama really is something.'
Even though they were of the same race, she took care of him like this—Noland was moved.
In truth, Lee Dam had taken care of him for a different reason.
'Traitors don't suit black.'
She figured it would fit the mood and presentation better later when she needed to betray someone, so she painted it black.
That was the only reason.
"Haah... Lady Dam."
One of the massive knights behind her, helmet on, called out cautiously.
She frowned, unable to see his face.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Knight Commander Winston."
"Oh, that fits."
"Thank you."
With his gorilla-like build hidden by the helmet, Winston looked better just wearing it.
"Is the reason you singled out Noland...?"
Winston asked carefully.
Her tone annoyed, Lee Dam glared at him with narrowed eyes.
"What? Do I have to explain everything to you?"
"No, it's nothing."
"I just thought it suited him perfectly, so I gave him the heavy one."
"Of course, as Lady Dam said."
Winston straightened his bent posture, looking troubled.
From his perspective, there was only one reason the knights were being treated so specially.
'Yesterday, he satisfied her.'
Lucky for him.
He'd heard she liked orc cocks, and if Noland could make her happy, that was good.
'Still, I need to keep my head straight.'
Watching the other knights envy Noland's black armor, Winston steeled himself.
If the truth ever came out, there might be someone who became even more devoted to Lady Dam just to keep getting that special treatment.
As commander, some sacrifice was necessary, but he didn't want the knights to get so hooked on one woman that they only moved to satisfy her.
'Ha, this is tough.'
Even kings get distracted by women and ruin their kingdoms.
How much more would knights who only cared about swords and martial arts lose their focus when such a provocative woman suddenly appears?
Already a few were secretly looking forward to bedding her.
Lee Dam led the knights outside the Magic Tower.
It was a dark, overcast day that promised rain. She stretched her arms and smiled.
"Nice weather."
'Nice weather?'
'Was there some other meaning?'
'Did she say that because she wanted to check the armor in the rain?'
"Well, pay attention. I said I'd test the armor. For that, you'll need to sweat buckets and pant like you're running a marathon."
It was a test, after all.
In battle, breathing would be ragged and sweat-soaked armor would feel like a wet rag.
Lee Dam wanted practical Knight Armor, so she wanted them to push themselves to the limit.
"Training? Of course. Let's begin."
Winston actually looked relieved.
Once they had their minds straightened out through training, the knights would surely be...
"What the hell. I said you had to do something useful."
And that's where Lee Dam led them—naturally, to the Giant Blast Furnace attached to the Magic Tower.
"......"
"......"
"......"
The knights' mouths stayed shut.
So this was what she meant by treating them like workers.
Waiting as expected, Theodore emerged from the giant furnace, drenched in sweat, and approached Lee Dam.
"You made it? Finally?"
"Yeah, yeah. Finally here."
"Ah, good. If you'd been even a minute late, the mages were about to go on strike."
"Ha, unbelievable. Working on a day like this under this weather? What could be harder?"
So that's why she said it was nice weather.
The knights finally understood.
This overcast, rain-threatened sky was perfect for working in a place as hot as the furnace.
'Wearing armor out here?'
'Oh no.'
'We're fucked.'
The knights' gazes naturally shifted to Knight Commander Winston.
After all, he was the only one not wearing a helmet.
"Haah... hah... hah... hah..."
Winston's breathing sounded especially rough.
But the knights pretended not to notice and gently stroked or fussed over the armor pieces they were wearing.
"Well then, shall we?"
Of course she wouldn't stay away from the furnace.
No, Lee Dam was the most dedicated mage to the project.
She slipped off her robe, and Noland quickly took it from her.
Lee Dam, who had prepared for work, wore only a white sleeveless camisole underneath the robe.
She pulled a hair tie from her pocket, fumbled it together clumsily, and grinned.
"Let's make this day super productive."
