Memories. The White Lily Corps, in their swimsuits, as seen at the Koatotemites inn.
A river of memories. The events one sees before dying.
When I opened my eyes, I narrowly dodged an Orc’s sword, which was about to pierce my neck by about two millimeters, with Godspeed, and then plunged my Orietta Knife towards its heart.
What in the world is going on? I just saw the White Lily Corps in their swimsuits. Looking around, I was in the middle of a melee. Was I lying here?
“Captain, you’re awake. Good morning.”
A clear voice descended from high above. Looking up, Rufina was sitting on the edge of the second-floor window, swinging her legs as she looked down.
“You’re alive…”
I’m glad you’re alive. I jumped up to the second floor and hugged Rufina, who was sitting on the edge, as if pushing her over, in the room.
“I’m glad. You’re alive, aren’t you?”
I was so relieved she was safe, having endured a battering ram with such a slender body. I struggled to hold back tears.
“Captain! That’s a little too strong. Treat a maiden gently.”
Sorry, sorry. I’m so glad you’re alive. I’m so glad.
“Are you injured? Are you really okay?”
“Of course. I can handle that much with my magic.”
So that’s how it was. As expected of the daughter of a super-elite. An elite produced an elite. I thought Rufina had died when Rossa disappeared.
“Where’s Rossa? She disappeared, right? When Rossa disappeared, I thought, ‘What happened?'”
“Rossa disappeared due to mana depletion. The current Rossa coexists with my mana. Right, Rossa?”
“Yes, my lord. For future assimilation.”
I don’t quite understand, but if Rufina’s mana runs out, will Rossa also cease to exist? If so, why is she here now?
“My lord, the bet is my win.”
Wait, wait, what are you talking about? What bet? Why is Rossa here when Rufina’s mana is gone?
“You look quite surprised. Did you go blank, Captain?”
“Please, explain… The current situation is…”
What happened while I was asleep? First of all, why did I pass out? Why was I left unattended on the battlefield?
“I’ll explain in order. Rossa.”
“On behalf of my lord… First, the defensive magic my lord cast when hit by the battering ram was her last bit of mana. At that time, my lord also lost reserve blood and received a large amount of blood from Mikael for mana replenishment. That is why Mikael passed out.”
Don’t take so much blood that you pass out! When did you even do that! Normally, you use special equipment to draw blood.
“Behold this.”
Two fangs protruded from Rufina’s impossibly wide smile. Aren’t they a bit long, like a Vampire’s.
“That means…”
“Hmm, this is something I learned from a Vampire before. I had Orietta make it, and I used it for the first time today, but I think I sucked a little too much. With this, I can suck blood from the Captain anytime, anywhere, without pain.”
Damn Vampires! Why teach me such troublesome things. Orietta, don’t make useless things. Honestly, what kind of contraption did you make?
“I’m not going to become a Vampire, am I…”
“Are you an idiot, Captain? Vampires cannot live under the sun. This is just a ‘blood sucker’.”
Sorry for being an idiot! You should have come up with a better name. So I can get my neck sucked anytime now. Should I keep my Wide-Area Mind’s Eye activated constantly? It might be dangerous.
Still, you just left me here unconscious. My injuries have been healed, and I can move on both feet now, but…
“Also, your injuries should be somewhat healed. The arrows are no concern, but your legs might break if you overexert them.”
Considering Rufina isn’t specialized in healing, that’s pretty good. I don’t know about Godspeed yet, but since I could jump this high, it seems okay.
“By the way, I healed you.”
Considering Rossa isn’t specialized in healing… You’re the one who sucked, you heal! You had enough mana, didn’t you! You sucked and then left me like that?! You had Rossa heal me and then left me again! I saw a river of memories!
“Thank you, Rossa. So, what was the bet about?”
“Yes. We bet on whether your head would be severed before Mikael woke up. Since it wasn’t, I win.”
“No, wait. There is a blade mark on the Captain’s neck. This is practically the same as it being severed.”
“Even if you are my lord, I won’t back down. The bet was on whether the head would fall or not.”
“But the scar means…”
Since they won’t listen to me, the subject of their bet, I casually moved away and approached the window. Looking out the window, the Nebel Bridge’s final defense, the Castle Gate, had been breached, and the inner courtyard was in utter chaos.
If I were just tossed aside like a corpse in there, they might not even notice. They made an interesting bet. Everyone, do your best. I sent a silent cheer to the Adventurers fighting in the courtyard.
…That’s not it! I turned back and approached the two still arguing, and gave them each a flicked hit to the forehead with Godspeed.
“Is it about time to withdraw?”
I cracked my knuckles and stared at them menacingly, saying,
“Y-yes. It’s about time. Let’s withdraw. The bet is a draw.”
“There’s no helping it. A draw is acceptable. Mikael, please take care of my lord.”
Rossa said that and disappeared quietly. Now, we have to escape too. The Castle Gate of Nebel Bridge has fallen, and the chaotic fighting in the courtyard won’t hold out for long.
It’s already an hour behind schedule, so everyone else must have gone ahead. We who are left must hurry and escape.
I scooped up Rufina and left the building from the opposite side of the courtyard, heading for Lauenstein’s South Gate. But before that, I put her down, wrapped her in her robe to admire her swimsuit again, and then set off for the South Gate.
Monsters had not yet advanced into Lauenstein Castle or the castle town, but people who had not yet fled were still causing a commotion throughout the city.
At the South Gate, the White Lily Corps, who followed my instructions, would be beginning their retreat. I felt a little sad, but I was the one who gave the order, so it couldn’t be helped.
“Everyone went ahead. Now it’s just you and me, Captain. It’ll be a fun journey, kuku.”
I scooped up the Necromancer, who let out an unsettling laugh, and sprinted towards the south like the wind. As expected, Rufina is light.
Even with Rufina in my arms, with an hour’s difference, I can catch up using Godspeed; it’s not an insurmountable time gap. I entered a forest near the road leading south, carrying Rufina.
“Captain, are we going into a dark forest while it’s still light out?”
With an hour’s difference, I won’t be bothered by Priscilla. I can’t miss this chance to see her swimsuit again, not knowing when I’ll get another opportunity.
I lowered Rufina, still cradling her, in a slightly open area within the dense forest, and laid her down.
I removed the robe covering Rufina’s head and leaned in close to her face. Perhaps sensing this, Rufina closed her eyes and trembled slightly.
Normally she’d pierce me without hesitation, but when I initiate, she trembles like a kitten. How cute. My lips avoided hers and went to her ear.
“I’ll make my move tonight. Until then, conserve your energy.”
Saying that, I decided to rest beside Rufina until nightfall.
“…What are you doing?!”
What do you mean, “what am I doing”? I’m resting. I need to sleep now to be able to handle the night raid. I’ll be up all night today.
“We’re alone with no distractions, and you’re just going to rest?!”
Of course. What are we going to do with our energy now? The Demon Army will inevitably conquer Lauenstein Castle, and they’ll charge into Harm from there.
What Harm needs now is time. We need to gather knights, mercenaries, and adventurers scattered across the land to counterattack the Demon Army.
The Demon Army will likely begin their advance tomorrow. Harm might not even be able to prepare for battle, let alone gather knights.
To avoid this as much as possible, we will launch a night raid. If we can delay their advance, Harm will have more time to prepare. We only need to disrupt them a little. In the meantime, I’ll steal some horses.
I explained to Rufina with my eyes closed, and she listened silently. Rossa and I will be the ones making the move.
Rufina would slow us down with her escape speed, but Rossa can just disappear. It’s convenient to have a No-Life Queen in times like these.
Once we enter Lauenstein, Rossa will be the diversion, I’ll be the horse thief, and Rufina will be on standby. We’ll all be busy all night. It’s better to get some sleep.
The intelligent Rufina seemed to understand everything and knows her role. I should rest too.
Thanks to the Demon Lord, my entire summer schedule has been thrown out the window. At the very least, I have no intention of forgiving the cancellation of today’s plans.
I can’t believe I won’t get to see Priscilla’s micro-bikini. I’ll settle this debt with the Demon Lord’s head. As I thought this, Rufina leaned against my chest.
“There really is a Demon Lord, isn’t there.”
I recalled the battle at Nebel Bridge. The sight of monsters marching across the bridge in formation. To think that such a thing could happen, that myths could become reality.
“Yes…”
Was there any strength in my reply? Knowing the future, how am I supposed to fight in the war that’s about to begin?
“I’m a little scared…”
“…”
I met Rufina’s approaching lips… or so I thought. They were dodged, and I felt a gentle suction on my neck.
“A thousand is a thousand, ten thousand is ten thousand. Just kill them. Destroy everything. Kuku.”
In my faint consciousness, experiencing my second blackout of the day, I heard the devilish words of Rufina.
