I, Reincarnate as the Leader of the Villainous Knight Order - Chapter 177: Habit

Chapter 177: Habit

(Note: Special for this chapter, dialogues in telepathic are written in this bracket: ‘………’.)

“I’m so tired…”

I finally completed the escort duty for Felix and the others. After getting ready for bed at the guesthouse, I collapsed onto the bed.

“It’s rare to see you like that, Captain. Aren’t you more tired than after a monster hunt?”

While playing with Jest in dragon form, Simon tilted his head from the bed beside mine.

“Hunting monsters is way easier…! In the end, I was practically the caretaker for those four!”

“I thought it was five people, including Jest.”

Arnault said, having heard my complaints. But Jest didn’t behave recklessly like those four ignorant of the world.

Though it wasn’t a huge amount, I still ended up paying for a lot of things.

“Didn’t you think Jest was far less trouble to deal with?”

“True. Compared to royals unfamiliar with city life, Jest sometimes goes out with you. He is much easier to handle.”

“Right?”

Satisfied with Arnault’s nod of agreement, I looked over at Jest—who was pressing his paw pads into Simon’s face.

Simon then rubbed his cheek against those pads. He looked like a complete pervert.

“Jest, it’s time to sleep, come over here.”

‘Okaay’

“Ah—”

Jest leapt from Simon’s bed and flew into mine.

Simon looked obviously regretful. He was missing the addictive feel of Jest’s paw pads.

Once on my bed, Jest chanted a spell and took on human form.

“Huh? Jest, you’re going to sleep in human form?”

“Yup! When I’m a dragon, my wings get in the way and I can’t sleep next to Justin!”

Yeah, before he used to curl up near my pillow to sleep.

While replying to Simon, Jest squirmed under the sheets.

Lying down, he brushed his bangs aside and looked up at me.

This meant he was waiting for a goodnight kiss.

But… am I really going to do this in front of my subordinates…?

When I checked with just my eyes, I saw them either chatting or getting ready for bed in their own ways.

Now would be the time—it shouldn’t be noticed.

Thinking that, I lay down next to Jest and kissed his forehead.

“Goodnight, Jest.”

“Ehehe, goodnight, Justin.”

Jest smiled happily and closed his eyes. It made me smile in return.

Just as I turned to lie down, I felt eyes on me. When I looked around, every subordinate was staring at me.

Surprised expressions, some trying not to laugh. And some with warm, amused looks.

I hadn’t expected to be seen—my face burned.

“You bastards…!”

I nearly jumped up and shouted. But Arnault silently raised a finger to his lips and pointed at Jest.

Right. If I shouted now, I’d wake Jest. He was about to fall asleep.

I clenched my teeth and held it in. Then Marius quickly turned off the lights.

“Hmm…? What’s wrong…?”

“Nothing. Go ahead and sleep.”

“Okay… zzz…”

Maybe because the room was already dark, Jest fell asleep quickly.

In the dim room, lit only by moonlight through the curtains, I could tell the others had already gotten into bed.

Their coordination in moments like this was just as perfect as during battle.

With nowhere to direct my embarrassment and anger, I clenched my fists. I listened to Jest’s soft breathing beside me as I too drifted off to sleep.

—

The next morning. 

When I woke up, all the subordinates were gone.

I had vaguely heard them mention going to the dining hall for breakfast. But they had likely left quietly so as not to wake Jest.

It was obvious—they were afraid I’d be angry over what happened last night.

Not that they did anything wrong. So I wasn’t actually going to scold them.

I had meant to say something like “What are you looking at,” but…

…………..Wait a second.

From now on, are they going to see me giving Jest a goodnight kiss every night?

But then again, it’s not the kind of thing you’d go out of your way to hide under the sheets…

I mean, they weren’t even watching us. And yet they just *happened* to see that exact moment of the kiss—how does that make any sense?!

Sure, they’ve trained to keep a wide field of vision during battle. But there’s no need to use that in peacetime before bed!

While I was getting dressed, grumbling to myself, Jest stretched.

“Nnn~! Good morning, Justin!”

“Good morning, Jest. I’m heading to the dining hall now—want to come along?”

“Yup! There’s that bread you made, right?”

“Yeah.”

The dining hall was already quite full. And people started looking when they noticed Jest.

But the atmosphere felt a little different than usual.

It’s not like anything specific happened. But after telling Jest to sit wherever he liked, I walked over to my subordinates’ table to get food.

As I was heading toward the table where Jest and the others were, a familiar face from the First Knights approached with a smile while getting seconds.

“Good morning, Commander Vandière! I must say, I didn’t expect you to be the affectionate-with-children type! You’d make a great father someday!”

“Ha…? What are you even tal…king ab… wait, no way!”

“The Third Order was talking rather loudly. So I overheard. About how you gave that dragon a goodnight kiss.”

There was no malice in his words—I could tell he genuinely meant it.

I smiled and sat down at the table where everyone was. I greeted them and ate with Jest as usual.

Why?

Because that makes my subordinates more nervous, that’s why!