Iris was battered and bruised. Poor thing, she must have been terrified. But Priscilla should be fine if she’s not a Lycanthrope. Facing Priscilla in her transformed state would be a life-or-death struggle.
“As expected, this won’t do. I can’t get enough to eat without something long, thick, and substantial. Right, Mikael?”
Please don’t talk to me. It’s already a challenge to drive the carriage while hugging the unconscious Sophia.
“Could you carry Sophia to the back? We can’t keep her like this forever…”
“It’s fine, just keep stabbing at it. Heheheh.”
He laughs in such a disturbing way. I really can’t let Richauda see this. I can feel my dignity as captain crumbling like an avalanche. We ended up having to move to the campsite with Sophia impaled.
Sophia never left my side until we reached the campsite. I was exhausted. My right hand holding the reins, my left hand wrapped around her, the condensed magic power, and my overall fatigue made me decide to sleep alone.
When I’m alone, I think about many things. The small tent and low ceiling are just right for contemplation. Suddenly, I look to my side and see Alana looking at me with expectant eyes.
…I’ll think about it tomorrow.
Harmonia Royal Capital, Klinshberbach Castle. It’s too long! It’s so long, I can’t remember it all. It’s shorter than Jugem-jugem-jugem-po-poy, but can’t they make it a bit easier to remember?
Klin Castle is a massive city that includes the inner castle, the inner town, and the outer town. It’s said that twenty thousand people live in this capital alone, but it should be swarming with refugees, provincial knights, and mercenaries, yet the outer town was deserted.
“…It’s deserted, Captain.”
Christine was beside me, which was unusual. More accurately, I was sitting beside her. I left the carriage driving to Christine, as my all-nighter had taken its toll, and I was dozing off next to her.
“Were the knights or mercenaries stationed in the granary area, further outside the outer town?”
“No, we haven’t seen any sign of people up to this point.”
Huh? I thought they would fight in the field to prevent damage to the outer town, but are they using a different tactic? If so, is it to focus on a siege, sacrificing the outer town for individual victories?
“…It’s the castle walls. …It looks like people are stationed there.”
I stood up from the driver’s seat and looked at the formation. I could only see a few knights, and mostly mercenaries and militia.
“…There are few knights. Yet, there are many militia.”
That’s true. I can understand why there are so many mercenaries, but militia, just armed townspeople, will be useless.
“Christine, please drive straight towards the castle gate. I need to go to the Guild and speak with the Administrator.”
Looking down at her, my gaze followed the elegant line from Christine’s collarbone to her chest. I wonder if anyone can appreciate this subtle, yet alluring view.
Christine looked up at me, placed her index finger on her chest, pulled her clothes forward, and spread them further to reveal more of her décolletage.
Good job, Christine! Oh, but be careful not to overdo it. The barely-there line is exquisite.
I gave her a thumbs-up to show my approval, and a flame erupted from my thumb.
“■■■■, raging fire. How can you play around! It’s war!”
“NOOOOOOOO!”
I suppressed my right hand and extinguished the fire. I couldn’t help but shout, sounding American, but people in this world wouldn’t know about America, so it’s fine.
“Rufina! What are you doing all of a sudden?!”
“I said it’s war! You’re being a bit too lax!”
I admit I did glance at Christine’s chest. And while I’m at it, I’ll add that the skin from her collarbone to her chest was beautifully smooth.
But setting your thumb aflame like a torch just because of that?! It’s too bright for a campfire. And you’re suddenly talking sense. What’s wrong? Did you eat something poisonous?
“It’s pathetic that after all these days you’ve left me alone, your only activity is peeking.”
Hey, where did the talk about war go? Besides, it was Rufina who liked the dragon’s blood and never came back. Doesn’t she even know my legs were severed?
And it wasn’t peeking. Christine herself spread her clothes, so it was consensual. This is an artistic observation, not erotic. Even if I were to put my hand on her chest, as long as it’s consensual, I’d like to think it’s not an act of a despicable pervert, even if it were erotic.
“…If you wanted it that badly, you should have snuck in like Alana.”
Christine, who poured fuel on the fire without even looking at Rufina, is a good cook. After all, cooking is all about heat; a cooking stove has its limits.
“W-what are you saying?! T-that’s impossible… …!”
I don’t understand. She’ll do it herself, but gets flustered when encouraged, and when people are around, she doesn’t care. I don’t understand women’s hearts.
When I don’t understand, there are only two options, even when I do: “talk” or “don’t talk.” Talking might pour more fuel on the fire, but it can also lead to persuasion.
Not talking can lead to waiting for someone to smooth things over, or saying what you want and leaving satisfied. Which is the answer? I chose “silence,” letting Rufina put out the pillar of fire created by the oil Christine poured.
“……”
That’s my line! It’s common sense when putting on fireworks to finish dealing with the fire, right?! I faced the fire as if I were a firefighter. However, with Rufina hesitating now, I saw it moving towards a temporary lull!
“Rufina, I never forgot about you. I thought I shouldn’t bother you since you were interested in the dragon’s blood… I’m sorry.”
Why do I have to apologize?! I want to believe this will act as a fire extinguisher. …Is it working? She’s not even talking, her head still bowed. Is complete extinguishment near? Let me finish her off.
“I think we have time until the Demon Army arrives. Until then… you know,”
I was confident of victory when Rufina looked up with a smile. Unaware of the napalm support fire from behind.
“That’s good. I prefer it in bed, after all.”
“Oli-chan prefers the bed too~. Doing it outside is nice too~.”
“Me too. I want a grown-up romance next time.”
“……”
Christine tugged at my hem as I stood up from the driver’s seat, indicating her will. Say something!
Godspeed!
A pillar of fire erupted from the driver’s seat where I had been standing, and Alana’s usual spot was blown away. If I hadn’t used my Mind’s Eye at the opportune moment when Sophia started pouring the oil, I would have been engulfed in flames.
As always, she has no hesitation. Wonderful reflexes, but please use them on someone other than me. Rufina huffed an excuse and returned to the cargo area.
I should get a new carriage. One with a wide, fire-resistant cargo area that can easily accommodate a soundproof tent.
“Who are you?!”
The gatekeeper, who had seen the pillar of fire earlier, rushed out to greet us. Show some respect, we are the White Lily Corps.
“Thank you for your hard work. We are the Third Army from Schreiaschwald. Have you received any news from the First Army from Schreia?”
I don’t necessarily need to be polite, but it’s my first encounter, and first impressions are important. It might save my life later.
“So you are the commander of the Third Army. My deepest apologies. The rest of the army will wait outside the walls. You, the nobles and knights, and the commander will meet with the Administrator inside.”
“Can’t we go in? Everyone is tired and I want to let them rest.”
“I am truly sorry. The inside is chaotic with refugees. If you wish to enter, please speak with the Administrator.”
It’s understandable, with knights and mercenaries gathered from various regions and refugees as well. I’ll have to tell them to give up on rotating guard duty in beds.
I gave instructions to the entire Third Army and passed through the gate, accompanied by nobles and knights. I informed the remaining Third Army that they could not enter and to wait, but I felt the gaze of the White Lily Corps. I wonder if there are love hotels in this world. I might need to look for one.
When I went to the Administrator, I was told that the nobles and knights would be reassigned to other units, but then there was another issue. After all, it meant leaving the side of Christine, the Goddess of Support.
The nobles and knights, who were spewing words like “die” and “kill,” were reluctant to leave Christine’s side, but I couldn’t say, “Christine sees your lives as less than insects.”
“Shin, can you say something?”
I have no desire to get involved. All of them glared at me, and I flinched. Some of them have been with me since Lauenstein, and some have risked their lives for reckless strategies.
However, not all of them look at me with respect as their commander. I don’t want to help them, as I can see that they are all pleading to stay by Christine’s side.
Some of them are jealous of Christine’s relationship with me and direct their hostility towards me. Some look at me with pity because they don’t want to leave Christine. It’s tough being popular.
“Administrator, they are comrades who have faced death together. Before parting, there is someone they wish to see one last time. Please grant us some time.”
Of course, the person they wish to see is Christine. They are the kind of people who would gladly lay down their lives at her word, so I want Christine to say it.
“…Understood. Please proceed. Shin’s Third Army will join Duke Annelise Flüge’s forces. They are encamped outside the walls on the northwest side.”
Annelise, what a cute name. But the title of Duke suggests she might be older. The absence of “Regent” implies she’s unmarried, perhaps without a husband.
But being under a Duke is lucky. She’s likely related to the King and must have considerable power and a large army. I just hope she doesn’t charge in alone or make reckless assaults.
“Understood. The Third Army will proceed to Duke Flüge’s location. Duke Flüge… Duke Flüge…”
Suddenly, a memory resurfaced. The last remaining keyword, “Fugen.” Flüge and Fugen, the words aren’t entirely dissimilar. Could this be the “Fugen” from my memories?
“Administrator, has Duke Flüge… has Duke Flüge ever been called ‘Fugen’?”
“Hahaha, Shin, you are knowledgeable. Annelise’s grandfather was once called ‘Oni no Fugen’ (Fugen the Demon), a master spearman who achieved many military exploits.”
The last fragment of my memory, “Fugen,” was not a weapon or a place name, but a “person.”
