I walk with Priscilla offering her shoulder for support. She’s taller and stronger than me, a capable and nurturing older sister type.
But I’ll kill them. I’ll have my way with them someday. At least, at least I’ll make them cry out in bed. Alana, you’re equally guilty, remember that. If you forget, I’ll come ask. I’ll ask your bodies.
And the White Roses! I won’t forget. You stabbed me as I was dying, like you were finishing me off. Rhys, especially! Your waist was so slender, I wanted to be behind you! Nora, especially! As expected of a fire Mage, it was warm inside. Nicole, especially. As expected of water elementals, the love fluid flowed out as if you’d wet yourself, I was surprised. Rose, you’ve trained too hard, you’re gripping too tight.
And the four of you took turns. This isn’t an attraction, so don’t line up. I’ll be charging admission.
The city of Koatotemites is in as terrible a state as my body. It’s nearly noon, but the corpses of Adventurers, Orcs, Trolls, and Black Flame Dragons still litter the streets. There were many Orcs caught in explosions and Adventurers who were cut down.
The White Lily Corps was waiting for me in the city’s central plaza. Sophia burst into tears and hugged me, making me truly realize, “I’m glad you’re alive.”
“Cap-Captain! Are you alright?!”
Even while sobbing, you rush into my chest and worry about me, how wonderful. This is a small happiness of being a Captain.
“Hmm? Sniff, sniff. I smell something…”
“I’m fine. Besides, most of these injuries…”
The platinum laser, which had pierced through my abdomen, incinerated the destroyed city, completing the cremation of Adventurers, Orcs, and Black Flame Dragons. My life was over too.
When I came to, I was in bed. The familiar ceiling. The ceiling of the inn I always stayed at. Beside me, a naked Sophia. Why?!
The pain in my chest, the pain in my legs, the wound in my abdomen – everything was healed. I felt fine, except for the fatigue. I seem ready to work anytime. I was on the verge of death, and already I have to work.
Or have I already worked? Did the new skill “Can Do It While Sleeping” activate? Sophia is sleeping with a satisfied look. Have I already been paid my wartime reward…
No, I probably haven’t. Even if I have, what value does a forgotten reward hold?! If “take-out” is forgotten, there’s no point in taking it out.
Instead of meaningless things, I’ll do things that have meaning. With that in mind, I reach out to Sophia’s chest and scratch my own.
“…You’re awake.”
It hurts, Shin-chan’s chest hurts. Christine, leaning against the wall near the door, standing silently, a sight to behold. Stop this post-sleep paralysis.
“Please report on the situation.”
I wanted to tease Sophia a little longer while looking at her sleeping face, but I’m the Captain. I absolutely did not succumb to heart palpitations. All of my injuries, which should have taken weeks to heal, are completely gone. No time to rest.
“…The battle has concluded. …The army has secured the city and the hunt for remnants is over. … That was yesterday. …The only one injured in the White Lily Corps is the Captain. …Currently, we are removing rubble. …That is all.”
Speak a little faster. So, it’s over. From now on, I’ll focus on rebuilding Koatotemites. How difficult it will be to bring back the people who left and restore the city to how it was before the monsters came.
“Did I sleep all day?”
“…Yes. …Everyone received their wartime rewards. …Sophia was the last.”
What were you guys doing while I was sleeping? I’ll beat you up. Well, the war is over, and the rewards were personally handled while I was sleeping, so it was easy. It’s all good.
“I see. I’m glad everyone is safe. Where are the other members?”
“…Priscilla is drinking and sleeping. …Alana is working on rubble removal, …Orietta is making something in her room. …Rufina has gone to raise the undead.”
Two of them require attention, but I’ll leave them be. Or perhaps, assaulting the sleeping Priscilla would be an option. As I try to get up, Sophia’s hand moves with mine.
Huh?
“Christine, what is this?”
A red string connects my right wrist to Sophia’s.
“…It appears to be handcuffs.”
What could this mean? Several answers come to mind, and none of them are good.
“I’ll rest a little longer. Christine, you should rest too.”
If I break this string here, I feel like mine will be broken too. Is this my imagination? Christine, who I told to rest, hasn’t left the room. Does she have something else she needs?
“…Border Count Cornelius Remar was calling for you.”
That’s important. You should have told me much earlier. Also, use “sama” or some other title for nobles, they’re so fussy.
“Can I go?”
I ask, holding up the red string that connects me to Sophia.
“…If you want Koatotemites to be completely destroyed, then you can go.”
I’ll stop myself. I’m injured, after all. No, let’s say I’m sick. My stomach hurts, my heart hurts, all my internal organs hurt, that’s how I feel.
“I’ll rest a bit longer. Good night.”
I pull the covers over myself and decide to sleep. Remar, the Border Count, likely wants to hear about the situation, but that can wait. The city of Koatotemites is more important. Good night.
“…I’ll join you.”
Huh? This person, she’s getting into bed. And undressing. Is she a challenger?! Is she an idiot?! Does she want Koatotemites to be destroyed?! We’ve already paid the wartime reward, so isn’t this a violation of the corps’ rules?!
I freeze. I don’t know what to do, it’s so sudden. I want to look. At Christine’s beautiful naked body.
“…It’s okay once in a while, right?”
What makes it “okay”? And “once in a while”? We just did it, didn’t we? Though I don’t remember…
On my right hand, Sophia of Platinum, filled with loving kindness and ready to sacrifice herself. On my left hand, Christine, the exceptionally beautiful nine-head-tall beauty who causes heart palpitations. Choose “endure,” or choose “death,” I can’t find any other options…
Fortunately, I didn’t die. It must be because of my good deeds. When Sophia woke up, I was understandably surprised and let her in, but Christine continued without minding, which I couldn’t help but admire.
“That’s unfair…”
Finally, after we all three achieved peace and satisfaction, the entire White Lily Corps gathered for dinner. However, due to the supply disruptions from the recent battles, we had to eat preserved food.
The innkeeper had evacuated the city, but thanks to his return with the army, I can sleep in a clean bed. It’s a shame, I could have stayed for free if he hadn’t come back.
I was told that my wartime reward for the battle of Scora can be paid yesterday, so I decided to take advantage of it. In the past, this would have been a small number of achievements, but with more people capable of using Area-of-effect Magic, it could become unfair.
Perhaps I need to reconsider the wartime reward assessment. Recently, it seems quality is prioritized over quantity. Fewer numbers are helpful, but it would be troublesome if they demanded dangerous rewards, like right next to someone or in the middle of a battle.
During dinner, Orietta told me she had something to show me later, so I waited in my room. Lately, there have been many battles with monsters, and a Short Sword can be difficult to use, so I’m hoping she’s making me something like a Buster Sword. A faint hope.
An hour passed waiting in the room. I thought she’d forgotten, but the sound of a knock woke up my dazed mind.
Everyone entered the room with their cloaks pulled over their heads. We haven’t set a departure date… Could they be leaving me behind?
“Captain~ I made something interesting~!”
A sword? A shield? What’s with that outfit?
When everyone took off their cloaks, there was…
