Chapter 11
“Yeah. You’ve seen it too — rolling around without a moment’s rest.”
“You can’t let your guard down, even for a second. You never know when or where a ball will come flying or what kind of order will be given.”
Ben brushed his sweat-soaked hair back.
He’d thought that being a lady’s “dog” would just mean swallowing his pride a bit and acting obedient, but the reality that unfolded before them was hellish training. Far worse than the knightly drills they were used to.
And then there was Anna… Anna!
The viciousness of Anna, who stood beside Lady Penelope instructing the drills, was beyond imagination.
Before becoming a maid, there were rumors she’d been involved in something terrifying — and she lived up to them.
Sometimes she would mutter, “A knight guarding my lady’s side being this lacking in skill is unacceptable,” and would suddenly flick a dagger their way. She was no ordinary opponent.
If they ever tried to snap back at Anna, the lady herself would conveniently show up and open her big eyes.
“And what exactly were you about to do to my maid just now? You knights are bad dogs.”
Today, again, he’d been caught and got a flick to the bridge of his nose from the lady.
“You were just about to yell at Hailey, weren’t you? Bad dogs need to be flicked on the nose.”
Her small, delicate-looking hand was surprisingly sharp. It stung — more than that, it sent a chill down his spine. But more painful than the flick to his nose was the wound to his pride…
Frederick and Ben vented their frustrations for a while before belatedly realizing something.
“…Wait, why’s everyone looking at us like that? What, you picking a fight?”
“It’s not that. You just took down five guys. That’s what’s surprising.”
“What? We beat five guys?”
“Huh… guess we did?”
“Why are you all lying flat like that?”
Ten days ago, during the evaluation match, these same opponents had been their equals in one-on-one bouts.
The two knights mumbled in a daze.
“Did they get weaker?”
“Yeah, their punches felt slow.”
“They couldn’t take hits as well either.”
“And their presence… they couldn’t hide it as well.”
The surrounding knights shouted, exasperated.
“Stop saying nonsense! You guys just suddenly got stronger!”
“There’s no way we could’ve suddenly gotten stron— actually… maybe there is.”
Frederick and Ben thought back to the “bad dog play” training Lady Penelope had been putting them through.
“Now that I think about it… the training did help with stamina, agility, and endurance.”
“Our senses got sharper too.”
“And taking hits from Anna… yeah, our durability improved.”
Their skills, which had been plateauing for a while, had suddenly shot upward.
“Maybe it’s thanks to that unorthodox training…”
Ben checked his own body carefully — and exclaimed in surprise.
“I don’t think that’s all. Our vital energy itself has increased.”
Frederick’s jaw dropped.
“You’re right… it has. And so suddenly?”
“Vital energy” meant, literally, the energy to act — but to a knight, it was also the measure of their potential. The higher one’s vital energy, the more likely they were to become a Sword Master.
But the amount of vital energy one possessed was considered almost entirely innate. The only way to increase it was through grueling, body-breaking training — and even then, only by a little.
Most knights eventually despaired before the limits of their natural capacity.
…Or so they thought!
In barely over ten days, Frederick and Ben’s vital energy had nearly doubled.
The unprecedented growth left them feeling as though they’d been smacked in the back of the head.
“Does her training have some kind of secret to it?”
“Or maybe the lady herself has something special?”
“Wait… vital energy has a cold property to it…”
As they pondered with their heads together, their eyes suddenly met.
…No way.
…Could it be?
They both remembered the moment Lady Penelope had flicked them on the nose.
There was a strange, cold energy that shot through the bridge of my nose…
Was that… vital energy?
The two knights muttered in unison, without needing to say it first.
“…We need to confirm this.”
“Let’s go. Now.”
And without a backward glance, they set off to find Lady Penelope — to get flicked on the nose again.
Meanwhile, it wasn’t just the two knights who were shocked. The remaining members of the Black Hawk Knight Order whispered among themselves.
“…Is her training really that effective?”
“You can get that much stronger?”
“Vital energy… increased? How?”
“She must be hiding some special technique!”
They conveniently forgot that, moments ago, they’d been mocking Frederick and Ben for being “treated like dogs.”
Someone spoke up.
“If you could improve that fast, being treated like a dog would be worth it, wouldn’t it?”
The Black Hawk Order was a strict meritocracy — and its members were ambitious.
Knights began shouting over one another.
“I’ll be the lady’s dog too!”
And thus, the unofficial knight order club “People Who Want to Be Lady Penelope’s Dogs” was born.
* * *
Lady Penelope found herself confronted by a group of knights blocking her way.
“Knights? What’s going on?”
As she tilted her head, the knights all dropped to their knees at once, the force of it overwhelming.
To keep from feeling intimidated, Penelope gripped Frederick and Ben’s leashes tightly. The ribbons pulled taut, making them choke and gasp.
“My lady! Please make us your dogs too!”
Penelope blinked in disbelief.
“…What did you say?”
“Make us your dogs! If you say bite, we’ll bite! If you say bark, we’ll bark! Treat us just like those two!”
They pointed sharply at Frederick and Ben.
Penelope looked at the pair.
“…We have no idea what they’re talking about.”
The two averted their eyes and mumbled — looking exactly like people who knew something but didn’t want to admit it.
Yesterday was weird too…
They had suddenly shown up asking her to flick their noses again…
Since they were being such a nuisance, she’d done it — and they’d left looking elated, as if they’d just gained some great revelation.
And now, today…!
“Please accept us as your dogs too!”
The knights blocking the hallway even barked like dogs. They clearly had no intention of moving aside.
Penelope pressed a finger to her lips, looking troubled.
Ugh, I have to see the duke…
Today was the day of her luncheon with the duke. She had no desire to be late because she got caught up arguing with knights barking about being dogs.
Hmm… what should I do?
After a moment’s thought, Penelope pulled a hairpin from her hair. Then, with all her might, she hurled it out the window.
“Fetch!”
She pointed outside, and the knights scrambled to their feet and leapt out the window without hesitation.
In seconds, the hallway was empty.
Hailey murmured with satisfaction.
“The only ones who can command the Black Hawk knights like that are the duke… and you, my lady.”
…This was just them acting like dogs, wasn’t it?
Penelope swallowed the thought.
Ben, meanwhile, spoke up as if trying to justify himself — planning to ask that she accept no other “dogs” besides them.
“My lady, may I say something?”
Penelope was about to readily agree — but froze.
“Do not… let your guard down…!”
“Villain…! Infamy…!”
The voice of the demon sword Demonia echoed from afar.
So Penelope changed her mind and replied as primly as possible.
“No. Dogs shouldn’t talk like people.”
Then, feeling it might be a bit too harsh, she whispered to Anna and Hailey,
“Prepare some beef jerky. I’ll throw it to Frederick and Ben later.”
It was her way of apologizing — though…
Getting stronger is nice and all, but…
Does she really think we’re not human, but actual dogs?
Frederick and Ben’s expressions turned strange — something Penelope, of course, did not notice.
* * *
Penelope, having cleverly dealt with the dozen or so knights, headed to the luncheon with her head held high.
As always, the meal proceeded in silence. She stole glances at Duke Calix.
Today, he wore a comfortable shirt and trousers. His appearance was more casual than usual, but it still carried a languid charm.
An ordinary person might have blushed at such decadent allure, but Penelope’s mind was occupied with something else entirely.
Today’s the day! I’ll eat just like the duke!
Elegant table manners and effortless, natural pickiness!
Both were things Penelope lacked.
She handled the small fork and knife before her with determination.
I… will not eat the cooked carrot today!
When cooked, carrots become sweeter — and that sweetness was hard to resist. But seeing Duke Calix’s flawless demeanor, she steeled her wavering resolve.
I am a bad child. I will hurt the chef’s feelings by being picky… I am a villain…
Just the thought made her conscience tingle — which meant her magic was building up.
“Excellent…! Successful…!”
Demonia’s voice cheered her on from afar.
Buoyed by the encouragement, Penelope slyly pushed the carrot under a decorative flower on the plate.
If she just resisted eating it, this would count as a perfectly successful display of pickiness!
Ah, my carrot… but! If it means being a villain… I’ve done it!
She was smiling faintly at her success when—
“You. What did you just do?”
“Eh? Wh-what?”
“You just moved your knife strangely.”
Duke Calix’s narrowed eyes moved back and forth between Penelope and her plate.
