Chapter 114: PAID

The knights rose slowly, casting furtive glances at one another.

I began calling out their names one by one.@@novelbin@@

Each name left them visibly surprised. None of them had introduced themselves, after all.

“Do not lie to me again.”

“…I apologize.”

Dorothy bowed her head in apology. She must think I’d heard their names from Go Min-ji. How could she possibly guess I actually have a mind-reading ability?

“So, these are all Go Min-ji’s personal knights…”

The thought sent a shiver down my spine.

I should tread carefully around her from now on.

“Do you know why you’ve been assigned to work under me for the next month?”

“No, sir.”

“Then let me give you your first task. Clear all the forests on this island.”

“…Excuse me?”

“See those trees over there? They’re bigger than your mechas. Clearing them with conventional methods would require over 100 heavy machines and take months.”

“….”

“Use whatever you want—plasma cutters, railguns, I don’t care. Just get it done.”

The knights’ faces turned blank.

It was clear they found it absurd to use high-caliber personnel like themselves for something as mundane as land clearing.

“Dorothy.”

“Yes.”

“There’s no telling what might happen, so you’ll stay by my side. The rest of you, begin clearing the forest. Now.”

“What now?”

“Really? That’s faster than I expected.”

“You mentioned I could use them for a month, right?”

“Oh… so you’re calling because you want to use them for something else?”

“Yes.”

“You perverted little shit.”

“…Excuse me?”

“You’re always thinking dirty thoughts, aren’t you? Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

“Do what you want. Just don’t break them, and don’t turn them into eunuchs like last time without telling me, or I’ll make you regret it.”

“I’d never do such a thing.”

“That’s why I’m warning you. Never say never. Just treat them gently—they’re expensive toys. Do you even know how much it costs to make one of those?”

“I understand.”

“Yeah.”