Musou Knight: Crow of Cinders-Chapter 80: Is That How You’re Gonna Play? Fine!

Chapter 80 - Is That How You’re Gonna Play? Fine!

I was surprised by the strength in my thighs, calves, ankles, butt, stomach, and back. My lower core had improved dramatically.

Lia raised a white flag, while Lenitia never moved from her spot. Her eyes stayed locked on Lia’s blissful expression.

"Wanna try?" I asked.

Lenitia shook her head furiously.

Fine. Stop rubbing it in front of me, then.

I bathed Lia properly, dried her off, and princess-carried her to bed. Lenitia watched the whole thing while biting her lower lip.

Was that a signal? No idea.

Anyway, it felt great in more ways than one. I left Lenitia alone in the bathroom. Eventually... yeah, eventually.

...

I had made a mistake. I forgot to ask Lenitia and Lia about the next day’s schedule.

Lia explained while lying on my chest. Lenitia, the airhead princess, was still asleep, her fingers locked with mine. Nobody could understand my urge to bully her and pinch her cheek while she slept.

"So, we have navigation class today. They’ll provide horses, but we can bring our own. My Gale is at the stable. Should we head there and practice? You haven’t learned to ride a horse yet, right?"

"Ah, that. I have had plenty, actually."

"I mean real horses. Not me, my general." Lia blushed.

"You don’t have to worry about it."

"..."

Her face screamed, ’You’re going to embarrass yourself’. Her worries were meaningless.

After we prepared, the three of us headed to the northern field at the academy’s edge.

We were the last group to arrive. Guess we’d played too much last night.

The instructor was a level-six knight with a slender build, standing two meters tall. His long arms reached his knees. Mounted on a giant armored horse, clad in full armor, and wielding a four-meter spear, he radiated intimidation without even using musou energy.

Aside from us and the instructor, only nine other groups were present. No seniors today.

Among the royal-class students was the guy who’d lost his seat two days ago. He looked pale compared to when we first met. That water-mass-drowning technique must have wrecked him.

He noticed my gaze, smiled faintly, and nodded. I nodded back. Awkward but civil.

Minz frowned, sizing me up. His eyes flicked to Lia’s dragon horse, and he scoffed.

"Braggart." He patted the black armored horse he rode. "A proper rider cares for his mount. You don’t even give yours proper equipment. Soon, it’ll die or collapse from injuries."

He wasn’t wrong, but mocking Lia was unnecessary. Jealous much?

Oh, right. This country was called Invidia. Envy was the theme. I forgot.

The instructor swept his gaze across us, stopping at me and Lia, then arriving without horses.

"Two horses for these two," he commanded.

Junior squires bowed and sprinted to the stable, returning with two old warhorses. They handed us the reins.

I inspected the uma... whoops, I meant pony... no, the warhorse, excuse me. Fortunately, it came with a saddle and a set of stirrups. I leaped on top of it and held firm.

Lenitia raised an eyebrow as she mounted her horse in silence. Her puzzled expression was almost funny.

"Have you been practicing?" she asked.

I shrugged. "Well, somewhat. Ask your attendant."

"...You. Hmph!"

Both Lia and Lenitia came equipped with bows, quivers full of arrows, and long spears. As for me, I carried Troturre’s blue halberd and my mist sword. Couldn’t live without them.

The instructor scanned us, then looked away. His voice rang clear as he introduced himself.

"Welcome, brats! I am Lieutenant Joss Monke, commander of the 9th company’s thousand-man cavalry under Lord Paul Xess. I’ll be in charge of your navigation class today. We’ll start with the basics, just in case some of you haven’t learned how to properly ride a horse!"

Not me. Duh.

Joss announced, "Your first task is to stay mounted while carrying your weapon and sandbags I’ll distribute. You must keep the sandbags strapped to your thighs, calves, and torso at all times. Break one, you lose points. I’ll replace it and add an extra weight every time you break them. At the end of semester, anyone who loses 100 points is expelled from the royal knight class!"

So combat was allowed? Could I sabotage my classmates?

"I know what you’re thinking. From morning until afternoon, it’s free ride. Practice as much as you like or ask for guidance. During that time, you may fight each other or wager duels, I don’t care. You’ll also receive a map. Collect the items my men have placed at designated locations and return before sunset. Fail, and you lose twenty points. For the person to complete first, you shall receive a pin!"

A dozen squires carried sandbags toward us, strapping them around our legs and waists. Lifting my legs, I gauged the weight. Everything was about thirty kilograms or sixty-six pounds total.

The problem wasn’t the weight itself, but stamina. How long could I last on horseback? As long as my clone yesterday?

I thought back to the bathroom interaction. Yeah, no issues there. I would be fine.

While I daydreamed, Minz rode toward me, spear aimed at my chest.

You son of a beach.

I swung my halberd, deflecting the strike. Countering, I swept horizontally toward his face.

CLANK.

My halberd collided with the blunt end of his bodyguard’s poleaxe. She held it steady, unmoving even against my blow.

Minz snickered. "What are you doing? I was merely practicing my riding skill."

"By pointing your spear at my chest?"

"I’m a newbie. Mistakes happen. My apologies."

Bull-freaking-shit.

You wanna play? Let’s play.

"I challenge you to a duel. Fight me, you little shit."

All eyes turned to me, including Joss. The instructor grumbled. "Should I be the middle man?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Yes, please."

Joss faced Minz. "Once challenged, you can’t refuse. Pick a place and time, Your Highness."

Minz laughed. "Let’s set wagers first."

I sneered. "Go ahead. What do you want to bet?"

He pointed at Lia and Lenitia, armored head to toe.

"I want those two women. Their beauty is wasted on you, ugly brat!"

I cackled. "Their beauty is priceless. Are you sure?"

"Yeah. So, what do you want?"

I leaned forward.

"Your succession right to the throne."