Depraved Noble: Forced To Live The Debaucherous Life Of An Evil Noble!-Chapter 133: Master Or Saint?

One knight, a stocky woman with calloused hands and a toddler back home, snapped out of her daze first.

She stepped forward, her voice hesitant, almost trembling. "Wait...You mean my baby daughter—she could go to one of those fancy schools? Like the nobles?"

Cassius nodded, his smile gentle but firm. "Yes. She can."

Another knight, her braid swinging as she edged closer, piped up, her tone thick with disbelief. "And my son too? Really?"

"Yes." Cassius said again, his voice unwavering.

A third, her eyes glistening, pushed forward. "My little brother—he's smart, reads everything he can get his hands on him too?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Cassius replied, raising his voice to carry over the growing murmur. "Every child here, every one in your families they'll all go...I mean it."

The knights fell silent again, but this time it wasn't shock—it was awe.

They stared at Cassius, their gazes softening, a reverence settling over them as if he'd just descended from the heavens.

To them, he wasn't just a noble anymore, not even just their master—he was a saint, a figure of impossible grace who'd seen their quietest, deepest hopes and made them real.

No one spoke, no one cheered; they just looked at him, hearts swelling with a gratitude too big for words.

Julie, sensing the stillness, stepped forward, her boots crunching softly on the grass. She cleared her throat, her voice steady but laced with sincerity.

"On behalf of the knights, Cassius." She said, meeting his gaze. "Thank you. Truly. This...What you're doing for them, for their families—it's more than we could've asked for."

Cassius waved a hand, his grin returning as he shrugged it off. "It's nothing, Julie. It's just what I owe them as their master. Loyal work deserves more than a pat on the back."

Before she could respond, Aisha surprised them both by stepping up beside her, her eyes locking onto Cassius with an intensity that caught Julie off guard.

"No, don't just brush it off." Aisha said, her voice firm, stripped of its usual cheek. "What you're doing—it's good. Really good and I sincerely thank you."

Her words hung there, raw and earnest, a rare crack in her guarded facade.

Hearing this, Julie and Cassius turned to her, their eyes widening in unison and in response Aisha flustered under their stares, her tail flicking nervously as she crossed her arms.

"W-What? Why're you looking at me like that?" She stammered, her cheeks tinting pink.

Julie blinked, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"Well, I just didn't expect you to thank him, that's all. You've been calling him a pervert all morning and I thought you despised him."

Aisha huffed, waving a hand dismissively.

"Oh, I still don't like him, he's a total lecher, no question...But this?" She glanced at Cassius, her gaze softening despite herself. "This is different. Seeing you make sure these knights little ones get a good life—it's admirable. I've gotta give credit where it's due."

Her voice held a quiet weight, her own orphaned past flickering beneath the words.

To her, this wasn't just a reward—it was a lifeline for kids who'd otherwise be left behind, and that struck a chord she couldn't ignore.

Hearing her gratitude, Cassius's grin widened, a mischievous spark lighting his eyes as he leaned toward her.

"Well, if you really wanna thank me, Aisha, how about letting me touch those fluffy ears and that tail of yours? I've been dying to see how soft they are—c'mon, just a quick feel!"

He stepped forward, hands outstretched, his tone half-teasing, half-serious.

Aisha's eyes widened in horror, a squeak escaping her as she bolted behind Julie, clutching her captain's shoulders like a shield.

"No way! Never! Especially not a pervert like you!" She yelped, her tail standing as she peeked out. "I don't even know what you'd do to them—you'd probably ruin them with those grubby hands!"

Julie burst out laughing, the sound bright and unrestrained, echoed by the knights who'd caught the exchange. Their earlier awe gave way to easy chuckles, the tension melting into a shared mirth that rippled across the grounds.

Even Lucius, standing primly at Cassius's side, cracked a faint smile, shaking his head at his master's antics.

Skadi, meanwhile, stood off to the side, her silver eyes drifting between Cassius and the knights as her mind wandered.

"Hmm." She muttered to herself, tapping her chin. "If my future kids go to noble schools, they could be fancy like Master...But what if they wanna be warriors like me?"

"...Noble warriors? Is that a thing?"

She frowned, lost in her own little world, oblivious to the laughter around her as she scribbled a hasty note on her crumpled parchment: Ask Master about noble warrior kids later.

The knights laughter and chatter still hung in the air, a warm buzz of camaraderie and gratitude, when Cassius raised his hand again, his satisfied grin shifting into something more thoughtful.

"Hold on, we're not quite done yet." He said, his voice cutting through the lingering commotion. "I've got one more gift for you all."

A ripple of surprise passed through the ranks, the knights exchanging wide-eyed glances as murmurs broke out.

"Another one?" A knight near the front muttered, scratching her head.

"What is this, our birthday or something?" Another chuckled beside her, nudging her elbow.

"At this rate, I'm gonna need a bigger bunk to stash all these goodies!"

The teasing tone carried a playful disbelief they'd already been showered with a tavern, free alcohol, and noble educations for their kids.

What more could he possibly heap on them?

Even Julie raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued, while Aisha's tail gave a skeptical flick, her eyes narrowing as if bracing for another twist.

Cassius let the murmurs settle, his grin softening as he clasped his hands behind his back.

"Before I get to that final gift, though, I wanna clear something up—set your minds at ease." He said, his tone earnest. "I know I'm your new master, and that might've had some of you worried I'd come in swinging, slapping new rules and schedules on you, turning everything upside down...But I'm not here to do that."

"You've got a system—a damn good one—and I'm not about to mess with it. You can keep doing what you do, how you do it, same as always. No new regulations, no leash."

"...You're already running like a well—oiled machine, and I'd be a fool to tamper with that."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the knights before landing on Aisha with a nod.

"And I've gotta give credit where it's due—Aisha, I've heard your impeccable planning is what keeps this legion running so smoothly. And everything I've seen so far? Utterly perfect. I couldn't possibly ask for better."

Aisha blinked, caught off guard by the praise and then let out a quick "Hmph!" crossing her arms tighter as if to brush it off, but a faint blush crept up her cheeks, her tail swishing despite her best efforts to look unbothered.

"Y-Yeah, well, of course it's perfect." She muttered under her breath, barely audible. "Didn't need you to tell me that..." The knights around her smirked, a few nudging each other as they caught her flustered reaction.

Cassius continued, unfazed by her grumbling.

"And the truth is, I don't plan on ordering you around much at all. Sure, there might be a few times I'll need your help, call you in for something specific, but other than that? You're free to operate as usual...I can handle my own messes just fine."

A collective sigh of relief rippled through the knights, their shoulders easing as the tension they'd been quietly carrying melted away.

Julie felt it too, a weight lifting from her chest.

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She'd been steeling herself for a sit—down with Cassius, ready to fight tooth and nail to keep their routines intact—every drill, every patrol, every unspoken rhythm they'd honed over years.

The idea of a new master meddling had gnawed at her, but here he was, handing her that peace without a battle.

"Thank you." She said softly, almost to herself, her lips curving into a faint, grateful smile.

The knights nodded among themselves, murmurs of "That's a relief" and "Thought he'd have us marching in circles" passing through the ranks.

One piped up, grinning. "So we don't have to salute you every five minutes? Gods, I like this guy more every second!"

Cassius chuckled, then leaned forward, his tone dipping into a playful drift that caught them off guard.

"Now, don't get me wrong—every now and then, I might pull a few...let's call them 'pranks' on you lot. I mean, I can't help it—my love for women's a bit too strong, and I'm not perfect at reining it in. Might sneak a lewd comment or two, maybe a cheeky stunt. Fair warning!"

The knights didn't angry at his statement—instead, they shook their heads with amused grins, a few rolling their eyes like they'd expected nothing less.

"Figures." One muttered, laughing.

"He's a dog, but at least he's upfront about it!" Another smirked.

"Long as he keeps the tavern stocked, he can flirt all he wants—I'll just dunk him in the ale!"

The easy acceptance in their laughter showed how much they'd warmed to him, his flaws shrugged off as quirks rather than offenses.

Julie and Aisha, though, flushed at the comment, their minds flashing back to that morning—Cassius's shameless display, Isabelle's moans, the towering bulge under the blanket.

'Is that what he means?'

Julie wondered, her cheeks heating as she fought to keep her expression neutral.

Aisha's ears twitched, her blush deepening as she hissed under her breath. "If that's his idea of a prank, I'm locking my door at night."

Cassius's grin then faded into something more solemn, his posture straightening as he shifted gears.

"Alright, enough of that—onto the final gift." He said, his voice dropping to a quieter, more serious note. "I'll hand it out in a moment, but first, I've got a favor to ask. I want you all to show off your skills—duel each other, right here, right now. Let me see what you've got."

The knights blinked, a wave of confusion washing over them.

"Duel?" One muttered, scratching her neck.

"What's he playing at?" Another tilted her head, frowning. "Like...sparring?"

Cassius nodded, his gaze sharpening.

"Not just sparring—duel like it's real. Take it seriously, fight like your life's on the line. I want to see your full abilities, every ounce of what you can do...No holding back."

The request hung in the air, unexpected and jarring. Julie's brow furrowed, her mind racing to piece together his intent.

'What's this about?' She thought, her instincts prickling.

She caught his eye, and before she could ask, he turned to her directly. "Julie." He said, his tone curious but firm. "Do all the knights here follow the same training routine? Same skills, same fighting style?"

Julie shook her head, stepping forward as she answered.

"No—not exactly. We've got a standard protocol, sure, a baseline everyone trains to once they join...But before that? Everyone's got their own roots, their own ways."

"Some came up swinging axes in the hills, others honed swords in city dojos. We've got archers, brawlers, spear-wielders each one's got their own flair, their own weapons. We standardize the basics, but the styles?"

"...They're as varied as the lot of us."

Cassius's smile widened, a glint of satisfaction sparking in his eyes.

"Perfect." He said, almost to himself, then raised his voice again. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Here's what I need: pair up, duel each other—randomly. Mix it up, switch partners every few minutes. Five minutes a round, then swap. I want everyone to face off with everyone else, show me everything you've got."

The knights exchanged puzzled glances, their murmurs growing.

"Switch every five minutes?" One said, hefting her sword.

"That's...a lot of fighting." Another shrugged, grinning faintly. "Guess he wants a show—better not trip over my own feet!"

Julie still didn't grasp his endgame, her mind turning over the odd request.

'A test? A game? What's the gift tied to this?'

But Cassius was her master, and his orders were clear. She straightened her shoulders, her voice ringing out with authority.

"You heard him—spread out! Pair up, duel like it's real, five—minute rounds, then switch. Move!"

The knights hesitated for a split second, then obeyed, their confusion giving way to action.

They fanned out across the grounds, the clatter of armor and weapons filling the air as they split into pairs. Steel clashed against steel, wood thudded against shields, and grunts of effort rose as they threw themselves into the duels.

A burly woman with a mace squared off against a lithe archer-turned swordswoman, their styles clashing in a flurry of brute force and quick dodges.

Nearby, a spear-wielder danced around a dual-dagger fighter, thrusts meeting parries.

The grounds transformed into a chaotic cluster of combat, each knight unleashing her unique flair with a seriousness that matched Cassius's command.

Aisha sidled up to Julie, her tail flicking as she watched. "What's he up to, Captain? This some weird noble whim?"

She muttered, her eyes tracking Skadi as the Fenrir paired off with a broad-shouldered knight, her wild swings already forcing her opponent back.

Julie shook her head, her gaze fixed on Cassius. "I don't know." She admitted, her voice low. "But he's got a reason—always does. Let's see where this goes."

Cassius stood with Lucius at his side, his arms crossed and his grin steady, watching the duels unfold with an intensity that belied his earlier playfulness.

Whatever this final gift was, it was tied to this display—and Julie couldn't shake the feeling that, once again, he was about to surprise them all...