I, Reincarnate as the Leader of the Villainous Knight Order - Chapter 181: Coffee

Chapter 181: Coffee

Led by Simon, we head toward the location of the porcupine-like monster. We proceeded as indicated by the magic tool.

When it’s just the subordinates, Arnault usually takes the lead. But during combat, Simon naturally shows leadership.

If only he could show some thoughtfulness outside of combat, there would be no doubt in appointing him as the next commander.

Using a hand signal to halt our movement, I give Marius instructions to use a Horn Rabbit a short distance away as a decoy.

Marius quietly circles around and throws a pebble at the Horn Rabbit. Startled, the rabbit runs off toward the porcupine.

The sound and presence of the Horn Rabbit passing through a small clump of grass immediately puts the porcupine on alert. And the moment it spots the Horn Rabbit, it fires its quills and takes a defensive stance.

While that happens, Arnault and Gaspard move to surround the porcupine. And Simon gives the attack signal with a hand sign.

The three rush out silently.

Facing enemies from three directions, the porcupine panics and turns its back. It fires quills toward Simon—meaning us.

“Hyooeh!”

“Kyaaaa!”

Simon lets out a strange sound as he narrowly dodges the incoming quills.

The quills Simon dodged naturally come flying toward us in the back.

Maybe because it had already fired at the Horn Rabbit, only about five quills came flying.

I easily deflect them with my sword and stop the three who were about to charge in for the kill.

“Hey! Don’t kill it! We can already collect the quills!”

“””Ah.”””

In fact, the mission was already complete when the porcupine fired at the Horn Rabbit.

However, since we’re so used to defeating monsters on sight, their bodies must have reacted on instinct.

The porcupine, having its attack avoided, runs off the moment the three stop moving.

After confirming that, I pick up the quills I deflected.

They’re about the length and thickness of barbecue skewers. But they’re quite a bit lighter.

“Hey, Aria, wanna take the Horn Rabbit too?”

“Yes! Its horns can be used as materials! I’ll butcher it and eat the meat too.”

Aria had collapsed with a scream and looked like she’d thrown out her back. But at Simon’s words, she immediately gets up.

“Got it.”

Grabbing the Horn Rabbit by the ears, Simon starts pulling out the stuck quills without much care.

After removing about ten quills, he holds out the bl00d-soaked quills and the rabbit to Aria.

“Here.”

“Ah… um… Wait a sec.”

Apparently, she doesn’t expect to be handed them still dripping with bl00d. Aria panics and opens her magic bag.

“Hold on, Simon. Cleanse. …There, that should be fine now.”

“Thanks…”

As I cast the cleansing magic, the dripping bl00d disappears. And Aria looks relieved as she receives the rabbit and quills.

Still, this quill looks like it could be used as a weapon.

“Can I have one of these quills?”

“Sure. I don’t mind if it’s just one. But be careful—there’s a barb at the base.”

“Got it.”

Looking closely, the end opposite the tip of the quill has jagged barbs.

Maybe that’s why it doesn’t pierce all the way through and deals internal damage.

“This one has magic power in it.”

While I’m examining the quill, Jest looks over and comments.

“As expected of a dragon. That’s right—the porcupine’s special trait is that its quills gain more magic power as it grows. That’s why we use its property of storing magic to make magical circuits…”

“Hold it right there!”

Just as the explanation starts picking up, Simon cuts her off.

“What?”

“Even if you explain any more, we won’t get it anyway.”

“”””Don’t lump us in with you! (Don’t!) (Please don’t.)””””

We all said it at the same time. But I didn’t miss Gaspard’s eyes slightly darting around.

Still, I’m not heartless enough to call it out.

Jest grabs Simon’s sulking hand. And we leave the royal forest.

Once outside, the carriage is already waiting. Simon boards our carriage to head for the royal capital.

“So why are you riding with us again?”

“Because I came all this way holding Jest’s hand. So I *have* to ride here! Right?”

“Right~! Justin… is that okay?”

Jest is sitting next to me. He looks up and asks.

“Don’t worry. He’s already on, so I won’t kick him off.”

“Yay~! Good for you, Simon.”

“It’s all thanks to Jest~! If it were just me, I’d definitely be kicked out.”

Maybe because Aria and Simon are commoners, they naturally leave the forward-facing seat for me when riding the carriage.

Personally, I’d prefer to give it to Aria since she’s a woman. But that would mean sitting next to Simon. So I pretend not to notice.

Two large guys sitting side-by-side probably look stuffy too.

When we arrive at the capital, it’s midday. Dining halls and cafes are bustling.

Near one cafe, Aria suddenly sticks to the window.

“Ah! I was supposed to pick up coffee beans for the Tower Master! Coachman, please stop in front of the coffee shop!”

“Coffee!? There’s coffee!?”

“Oh my, you know about coffee? It’s a drink spread by a highland tribe about four years ago. So it’s made its way to the Kingdom of Rafios too?”

“I only knew about it as knowledge.”

I never imagined I’d be able to drink coffee in this world too.

I’m not obsessed with it, but I used to drink it occasionally. So it feels nostalgic.

“The Tower Master was the first to drink it. But then my master—our previous Tower Master—liked it too. So I got really good at brewing it!”

She looked at me with a proud, obvious smirk.

“I see… I’ll come by the shop to drink it sometime.”

She probably wanted me to say I want to drink the coffee she brewed. But who knows what kind of payment she’ll demand this time.

With that in mind, I dodged the topic. And Aria silently and violently shut the carriage door and headed to the coffee shop.