I, reincarnate as the leader of the villainous knight order

Chapter 111: Separate Actions

“Alright then, I’m counting on you. Jeanne. While we’re apart, consider Orel as my substitute and assist him as needed.”

“Got it.”

“Leave it to me. Commander, there’s no need to worry. But, this time we’re cooperating with the adventurers from Frales, right? Keep an eye out to make sure our subordinates don’t get into any fights.”

“Yeah, got it. …Third Knight Order Subjugation Squad, move out!!”

We were heading towards Frales, a city near the Holy Kingdom, responding to a request for assistance. Frales is a town within a count’s domain, known for having just the right amount of monsters for mid-tier adventurers to earn their keep. It’s to the extent that it’s almost seen as independent from the count’s domain.

In reality, there are times when issues arise that wouldn’t be resolved in time if reported back to the lord’s capital from Frales, so they are permitted to act on their own discretion. This time, the number of monsters had increased so much that even mid-tier adventurers were struggling. That’s why we were called in to prevent a potential stampede.

“Hey, Commander, I’ve heard that adventurers run the place in Frales. Isn’t it okay to teach them a lesson?”

The one to say this first is always Cassius, who grew up in the slums. He has a mindset that you’re finished if you’re underestimated and strength is everything.

“Even if we do teach them a lesson, we need to consider our methods. Besides, don’t break formation. Do you want to be taught a lesson in front of the adventurers?”

Cassius, part of Elliot’s squad, should be two squads behind Justin’s squad. If he’s here, it means he came to the front. I answered quietly while still facing forward, and the sound of hoofbeats nearby lessened by one.

“What does ‘teach them a lesson’ mean?”

Jeanne and the saint had taken the carriage provided by the royal family. Because of that, Jest is sitting in front of me right now. He asked me so as he looked up

“Teaching them a lesson means making them understand the situation properly. Cassius came to the front and broke formation, right? That’s a violation of order, so we’ll make sure he understands not to do it again.”

“I see~”

Jest nodded as if he understood, though I doubted he really grasped the meaning of a violation of order. Behind me, my subordinates were whispering, but I wasn’t lying.

Jest had learned various ways to use magic from Jeanne during our journey, allowing us to travel without encountering monsters.

With fewer people due to separating from the temple group, we were able to handle meals and lodging at towns and villages along the way, but everyone unanimously agreed to eat outside whenever possible. According to Arnault, if there was a water source for the horses, it was always better to stay outside.

Even the squires in charge of cooking said so, so I had no reason to oppose. We were buying additional food, thus contributing to the local economy and being appreciated.

When we arrived at Frales a few days later, there was a tense atmosphere at the town gate. As it’s not the capital, the gatekeepers were commoner soldiers. Despite being obvious, they still asked who we were.

“Halt! Who goes there!!”

“You should have received word from the lord. We are the Third Knight Order from the royal capital.”

“Can you prove it!?”

They obviously knew who we were without asking. The soldier’s voice was unnecessarily loud, probably because he was scared.

“Commander, shall we teach them a lesson right away?”

From behind, I heard Simon grasping his sword’s hilt. I raised my hand lightly to stop him.

“Stop it. They’re just scared of us, which is why they’re raising their voices. Don’t bully someone who can’t maintain their composure without bluffing.”

“……!!”

My quiet but clear voice reached both my subordinates and the noisy soldiers, causing my subordinates to stifle their laughter. Naturally, the soldier I addressed turned red with embarrassment. I intentionally said something sarcastic because of his rude attitude.

“Here, this is the royal decree. Be careful not to commit lese-majesty.”

I kindly warned him as he took the document with trembling hands and checked its contents.

“I-I’ve confirmed it. …This town has more power vested in the Adventurers’ Guild and high-ranking adventurers than in the royal family or the lord. So please handle things peacefully. Uh, currently, because of the monster disturbance, most inns are fully booked. There’s a square next to the Adventurers’ Guild used for dealing with large numbers of monsters. We’d have you camp there…”

It seemed his earlier attitude was due to pressure from high-ranking adventurers or the Adventurers’ Guild. Upon confirming the royal decree and realizing our status, his demeanor changed abruptly, becoming much more submissive.

“As long as there’s a water source and a place to pitch our tents, that’s fine. Show us the way.”

“Yes, right this way.”

The Adventurers’ Guild was apparently close to the gate. Within a few minutes, we arrived at the square. It was spacious enough to pitch all our tents, and water troughs for the horses were prepared, so there were no issues.

“Good work. …If the adventurers give you any trouble, consult with me. I am Justin de Vandière, Count and Commander of the Third Knight Order.”

“Th-thank you…! I, uh, my name is Diego… Oh! Now, an adventurer named Alan is heading this way! He has significant influence from the Guild Master over the adventurers in this area. He’s not inherently bad, but he tends to resolve things by force if he’s displeased, so be careful… Well then.”

The soldier, who introduced himself as Diego, ran off in the opposite direction from where the adventurer named Alan was coming from. A typical small-fry move.

“Everyone, set up the tents and prepare for camp!”

I noticed a bearded man with a leather breastplate heading our way, presumably Alan. Nevertheless, I had no obligation to wait for him to speak first. I gave the order, and everyone began tying up their horses and setting up the tents.

“Who’s in charge here?!”

When the adventurer named Alan arrived at the square and shouted loudly, my subordinates immediately became tense and bristled with hostility.