I drew my sword and threw aside the cumbersome shield. Before Christine could react, I thrust my sword into the orc’s heart and slashed upward to my shoulder, impaling it.
“Christine, please stand back.”
Without waiting for a reply to my words spoken face-to-face, I decapitated the orc fighting Alana with Godspeed.
“Alana, go to the others.”
Few would have been able to recognize my form due to my speed. Such speed. Such anger!
“Priscilla, are you alright?”
As I stood between Priscilla and the orc, she could only stammer, “Ah, ahh…”
“I’ll finish this quickly. Sofia will heal your wounds.”
In less than a minute, five orcs lay bloodied and fallen. If you’re going to die so easily, you should have died from the start. Before you could even scar Priscilla’s face.
“Priscilla, it’s over. Did Sofia heal your wound?”
“Ah, ahh… It’s nothing serious…”
“It would be terrible if there were lasting effects. Sofia, please take care of Priscilla. …I need to rest for a bit. …Something feels strange…”
“Are you, alright? With magic…”
“I told you to heal Priscilla!”
“…”
“I apologize. Priscilla, please. I’ll rest in a suitable room in the mansion. …Why did I yell at Sofia? I feel sick. My head is spinning, I don’t feel right…”
The mansion was already occupied by mercenaries, but it was quiet, and I collapsed onto the sofa in the nearest room. Alana, worried, followed me.
When I said, “Leave me alone…”, she closed the door and went outside. To worry Alana too, how pathetic. But what was that strange feeling earlier? I had used my cheat before, and I had swung my sword. I didn’t think I had done anything out of the ordinary…
As I pondered without finding an answer, the nausea subsided, and my head began to clear. At the same time, the area outside the door became noisy.
Exiting the room, I found the White Lily Corps and the Knight Order glaring at each other. The atmosphere suggested anything but a game of “stare contest” or “flirting.” Should I tell a joke?
“What’s going on?”
“Are you the captain! Get out of the way quickly.”
For some reason, I was being yelled at. Apparently, the White Lily Corps, trying to be considerate of me resting, had been holding off the Knight Order who came to investigate. They have their good points.
The knight who spoke to me pushed aside the White Lily Corps and barged in. Although I yielded the path to the knight, he further shoved my shoulder, who had yielded, and advanced, saying, “Discipline your women!” I couldn’t help but punch him.
This is bad. Have I always been this quick to fight? Is it because I used my cheat? Or is it because they insulted the White Lilies?
Tensions rose. Priscilla wore a fearful smile, Alana bared her claws, and Christine… is composed. Normally, the “unfortunately…” would activate, but no one has died yet. Perhaps they are all locked on.
“Stop it. Both sides, fall back.”
She looked to be in her early thirties, though prying into a woman’s age is a bad habit. She wore robes but her face was visible, her silver eyes sharp, her features refined – Countess Haida Grizel. A woman I shouldn’t be meeting here. A woman destined to die in the battle of Nuyoo.
“My apologies, Countess Krisel.”
“Oh? You know me? Have we met somewhere?”
“I’ve heard many things about you…”
“Believe only the good rumors. Knight Order, for your reconnaissance. Captain, you will come with me.”
For a Countess to address a mere mercenary with “sama” is never a good sign. But I couldn’t ignore her. She is my employer.
As I was ushered into a not-so-small room by the Countess, the scene of me being suddenly pushed down and told “I love you” remained only in my imagination.
“You were fighting with the orcs.”
She came straight to the point, but I wanted to have more enjoyable conversations with a beautiful woman, share tea, and speak of love.
“Yes. They were quite strong.”
“That’s a lie. I saw from a distance. You defeated them in an instant. Were the orcs that weak?”
She’s observant. Is she a stalker? Her silver eyes make it hard to lie. Though it wouldn’t be a lie.
“They were genuinely strong. Even the White Lily Corps struggled. I’m just a little special.”
“Is that so? …How much do you know about this incident?”
“Nothing. …They don’t tell us mercenaries anything.”
“Is that so? Please keep the matter of those orcs confidential for now. It will likely be made public eventually.”
“They’ll find out. Even if we keep quiet, other mercenaries are loose-lipped.”
Orcs themselves are strong. It’s the norm for three knights to take one down, and for mercenaries, it’s an attack by ten.
It’s natural for them to be strong, but they never side with humans. Orcs have their own society, but they see humans as nothing more than prey.
There is no reason to cooperate with prey, so there must be a reason why cooperation is unavoidable. The suppression this time is likely related to that. Sensing my thoughts, Countess Krisel continued.
“The official story is that the orcs just happened to be present during the suppression.”
“Understood. So, the orcs that happened to be present were also eliminated.”
I see, there was a story already in place. The orcs were just a coincidence that could be pushed through. Countess Krisel smiled and nodded. She is beautiful indeed. Will Sofia become like this someday? Though Sofia has a larger chest.
She said I could stay at the mansion tonight. I should find a suitable room and let everyone rest well. Rest well. I want to rest.
“Captain. I want to enact wartime regulations~”
When I was led to a rather ordinary room, where food was prepared and the fireplace was lit, this was the first thing I heard. I expected it, though.
“There’s food too, isn’t there? Is it a bit early to light the fireplace?”
“They said it gets a little cold around here.”
“Is that so? Let’s all rest well then.”
“Captain~. Wartime regulations~”
Orietta, you’re deliberately changing the subject. Aren’t you going to play along? Is it okay? To show this to others? It’s best to keep unusual hobbies a secret.
“I have something to discuss with you regarding that. Concerning this battle, Orietta, you broke through the wall and earned military merits, but then you also wrecked friendly forces. Priscilla and the others fought the orcs, but I defeated them, and I defeated the remaining orcs. If we follow wartime regulations, I believe I am the foremost, wouldn’t you agree?”
How’s that! I’ll push through in one go. The logic should be sound. I won’t give them time to object.
“…Now that you mention it, that might be true.”
Of course. I was the one who performed the best this time. I’m glad Priscilla’s facial injury has disappeared. Let’s enjoy ourselves again later, without any swords.
“Therefore, according to wartime regulations, I will take a break…”
“Therefore, according to wartime regulations, let’s all enjoy our captain!”
Huh!? You didn’t even listen to me until the end.
“I’ll go first. Don’t think it’ll be like usual.”
Christine clung to my right hand, Alana to my left, Rufina to my right foot, Orietta to my left, while Priscilla stood with her hands on her hips. Sofia had propped a closet against the door to prevent it from opening.
“We’re going to enjoy ourselves!”
With those words, I gave up on my rest.
