Will this be a moving reunion? What will flow between the girl who remained and the woman who can no longer speak of what happened to her.
The sorrow of war. Even if you say you want to change, you can’t. I’m a mercenary. I earn money by killing. Just a mercenary… I can’t be a hero.
The commercials are over, and it seems my popularity boom has arrived. Perhaps they saw me as someone they could rely on. The women I’ve rescued are flocking to me, some even trying to hug and kiss me.
This is truly my popularity boom. If I were to reject someone hugging me by saying, “It’s just work,” I’d be branded as gay. I won’t hold back, come on baby!
Brat! Don’t put your hands in your pockets. There’s nothing in there. Auntie! Don’t pull away the busty girl who’s hugging me. You don’t need to hug me so tight, you’ll break my spine, it hurts.
“You’re my hero, aren’t you?”
Auntie! …Sumo wrestler! Please put me down…
The auntie, who was not light at all, easily lifted me and hugged me as if to break my spine. The soft touch I had just experienced vanished along with the pain.
“Put me down!”
Oops, as expected of my popularity boom, beauties are calling out to me one after another. This time, the girl is wearing a particularly striking yellow dress, has a slender body, a beautiful face, twin-tails, and large breasts. And, according to the rules of this world…
“Hurry up and save me!”
Those with large chests also have big attitudes.
Judging by her attire, she must be a noble. She has a different aura than the other women around her. She exudes elegance, but her sharp gaze is a shame. If she smiled a little more, she’d be perfect.
Before I could be subjected to an Argentine Backbreaker by the auntie, she called out to me, which I appreciated, but my gaze was fixed on her chest rather than her voice.
After thanking the auntie who put me down, the twin-tailed girl stepped forward, and the surrounding women parted as if the sea were splitting, in fear.
“Get me out of here quickly. You came to save me, didn’t you!”
The rules of this world are absolute! So, without regard for politeness, I avoided her eyes and spoke to the two mounds overflowing from her dress.
“Mercenary, White Lily Corps. I am Mikael Sin, Captain, and a Baron of the Asht Empire. May I ask who you are…”
“A Baron of Ashtal! Why are you in Harm… I am the daughter of the lord of Lauenstein Castle, Viscountess Marte Rosalinde Lauenstein. I am tired of this place. Get me out of here quickly!”
It doesn’t feel like she’s “asking” me. Besides, I only came to steal two horses, so I have no intention of saving everyone. I ended up saving that unfortunate woman due to the circumstances…
The gazes of those around me were painful. Their eyes sparkled with hope as they looked at me. I don’t have the nerve to say, “Actually, I’m a horse thief, and I didn’t come to save you all,” nor do I have the recklessness to try and take everyone with me.
“How many people are here?”
I asked the auntie, who was as strong as an Orc and almost broke my spine. My gaze remained fixed on the twin-tailed girl’s chest.
“About fifty.”
That’s too many. Let the hero handle the cool stuff like breaking through enemy lines alone while providing escort. I considered escaping alone using Godspeed. Seriously, I did.
“Can that carriage be used?”
There were three carriages in the center, not connected to any horses. They were about the same size as the carriages we usually use, so ten people should be able to fit in one.
“They can be used. And there are several people who can drive them.”
Three carriages, enough for thirty people. There are fifty people here. I couldn’t possibly leave twenty behind, so it would be about sixteen people per carriage. If they’re over capacity, the carriages will be slower, and the area to defend will be wider, as the three carriages will be lined up.
“None of that matters! Save me!”
I want to see the faces of the parents who raised her to be so selfish. I’d slap her back and forth, then strip off her dress… I took my eyes off the twin-tailed girl’s ample chest and looked around. In the darkness illuminated only by moonlight, how terrifying must it have been, not knowing when a monster might appear.
…Sigh, I guess I have no choice.
“I’m the only one who came to rescue you. I can’t escort all of you. If you still want to escape, I’ll take you. Prepare the carriages. Connect two horses and make sure two people who can drive them are in the driver’s seat. It will be over capacity, but squeeze in. We don’t have much time until the diversion our comrades will create. If you want to be saved, hurry!”
When instructions are given, people can act. Whether they are correct or not is another matter.
Under the auntie’s command, everyone except the woman in the yellow dress moved briskly. The woman kept complaining and whining by my side, but I closed my ears and focused only on what I saw.
“They’re ready.”
Auntie, if you were a man, I’d definitely want to add you to my subordinates. No, why don’t you join the White Lily Corps?
Perhaps it was thanks to the auntie’s excellent command, but the horses were quickly hitched to the three carriages, and people began boarding. The dressed woman, Marte-something-or-other, who was also annoying, was shoved into the last carriage.
At that moment, not a single person reached out to help her board. The daughter of the lord of Lauenstein Castle must be really disliked. Given her attitude, it’s easy to imagine. I had no choice, no choice, but to push her from behind and get her onto the carriage. And, well, that was quite the…
Everyone boarded the carriages, and all that was left was for Rossa to wreak havoc. I also secured my own horse and Rufina’s horse and opened the stable door slightly before heading out.
Even with Wide-Area Mind’s Eye, there were no human shadows or Orc shadows around. It seemed the Orcs and Goblins I had killed had not been found either, so this might actually work. I picked up a spear that was too long for a Goblin to use.
A loud explosion would have been the signal, but Rossa doesn’t do that. The signal sound came in the form of screams.
Knowing Rossa, if I told her to go wild, she’d probably kill them to the point of stopping. Screams erupted from the west. The occasional massive flames—who caused them?
Seeing that the time was right, I opened both doors. The carriages started slowly at first. As if moving normally, to give the impression from a distance that I was working. No need to rush, it’s better not to rush.
I gestured with my arm to signal them to start. The carriages moved forward as planned, and as they passed through the gate, they let out a surprised “Hiee!” and then sped off at full throttle. If the front moved, the back would follow. Without any chance to stop them, the three carriages set off at full speed.
Damn it! I should have cleaned up the scattered Goblin corpses around the gate. They must have lost their minds seeing the dismembered bodies. It can’t be helped, but the plan has changed. I leaped onto my horse.
Door locked! Electricity on! Water on! Twin-tails secured!
I had a bad feeling. In the back of the stable, bathed in moonlight, sat Marte Rosalinde Lauenstein.
“What are you doing?!”
Even if it’s obvious, I have to say it. At a time like this! What on earth are you doing? We’re all trying to escape, and you’re the only one not running. How contrary can you be?
Could it be… Was she dropped? The carriage suddenly starting might look like an accident, but given her attitude, she must have been disliked. If I leave her here, an Orc will finish her off. Women are scary.
What should I do!? While riding one horse and leading another, escort the three carriages with Lady Marte, using an unfamiliar spear!? …Impossible!
…I’m not a hero, right? The three carriages have already gone ahead, and no one is watching. For my diversion…
I galloped away on my horse like a fleeing rabbit.
“Get on!”
I couldn’t possibly abandon her. I’ll give up one horse. I can ride back with Rufina. As for the twin-tailed girl, I can throw her onto the carriage if necessary, and the escort should be manageable.
“Get on!”
I called out to Lady Marte, extending my hand, but she just reached out to grasp empty space in front of her and didn’t move.
I can’t wait forever! I dismounted, scooped her up, and pushed her onto the horse. Lady Marte, her strength gone, slumped over so far that she almost fell off the other side from the rebound of being placed on the horse.
“Hold on tight!”
Did my voice reach her vacant eyes? Her belief in her own specialness had crumbled so easily. Where was her support now?
My service time for her is over. With the reins and spear in my right hand, I kept my left hand on hers, holding her in front of me so she wouldn’t fall off. With this, I could catch up to the three carriages ahead and escort them… Is this what my popularity boom is all about!?
I raced to catch up with the carriages ahead at full speed. Carrying a sorrowful woman on my back.
