Ten rounds of Magic Cannon shells. Sixty hand-picked Dwarf warriors. One hundred and twenty members of the 1st Brigade, including twenty-nine from the White Lily Corps.
“…We’ve become quite a large group,” Christine remarked, likely referring to the newly added members of the White Lily Corps. After operating with only seven people, their numbers had quadrupled. What’s more, they were all women, making me feel out of place.
“It’s a Harem for you, Captain Shin,” I could do without this kind of Harem, Rose. Aside from the two Mages from the White Rose Brigade, the new members were all female swordswomen. If Christine had allowed men…
Twenty people were equipped with super-vibrating Halberds and horse gear, and our combat power would have significantly increased. To be honest, I couldn’t gauge the individual strength of each person, but they were only gathered through Rose’s connections and recommendations from the Mercenary Guild and the Knight Order.
“I don’t think of it as a Harem. They are all precious members of the White Lily Corps,” I declared.
“Hey!” Christine shouted. Why was Priscilla, who disregarded my dignity even in front of new members, angrier than usual?
“You’ll bite your tongue if you talk too much. We’re in the middle of a forced march,” I warned.
Our procession, which had left Runbergzach, was long when including carriages and the brigade. The White Lily Corps, leading the way, couldn’t afford to slow down our speed by chattering.
“What about guard duty!” someone piped up.
Do we really have to discuss that now? I’d rather have that complicated conversation later, just the two of us at night. Besides, the sound of the horses galloping was loud, and it wasn’t something to shout about.
“That’s interesting. The new members have rights too, don’t they?”
They do not! I only consider the new members to be temporary. I intend to return to the original formation after this battle is over.
“You bastards have no right to any of that!”
Exactly!
“Huh? Is it okay to say something like that? You can’t use this equipment, can you? We can stop anytime,” a new member retorted.
That’s also true!
I can’t assert myself when my weaknesses are held over me. I am the captain, yet I am being threatened. However, I don’t think all the new members desire guard duty. Some must have made vows in their hearts. I want to respect such pure hearts.
“Th-that discussion, let’s have it later, slowly. There’s no need to rush, is there?”
“Captain Shin, that’s impossible. We’re about to clash with the main force of the Demon Army. If we die, we won’t get to do anything.”
It’s natural for mercenaries, who might die at any moment in battle, to want to live to the fullest right now. However, if I agree to those terms, it’s as clear as day that I’ll either be killed by the White Lily Corps, die of overwork, or impregnate at least one person.
“Gu-guard duty is suspended during wartime. Therefore, we are providing it as post-payment compensation.”
It’s strange to offer myself, but that’s the reality. Furthermore, I don’t know if I can even repay the compensation I owe to the White Lily Corps with interest, let alone the new members.
“We’re on the move right now.”
You’re so picky. That’s true, but in the grand scheme of things, we are in the midst of war. Besides, who in their right mind would do that while on the move? I’m not that much of a pervert.
We have to make up for the lost day’s travel time. We’re trying to move quickly, but the carriages carrying the Dwarves and cannonballs are inevitably slowing us down.
However, we have a trump card. Sophia’s Eight Lightning Balls will illuminate the night road and guide our long procession. If we use that, we should make it in time.
“We’re moving, so let’s keep moving. We’ll travel through the night.”
“If we have that much time, there’s no problem. The White Lily Corps will do it in tents on top of the carriages, those that don’t let sound leak out, right?”
…Who said that?! Who revealed the White Lily Corps’ secret! It’s true we did it even while moving, but not with this much urgency. We usually did it during slower movements…
“Rose has a point. We need to get paid too, or we might die by tomorrow.”
I wouldn’t let you die, I’ll protect you. I would die if I really had to satisfy twenty-eight people in a carriage. What should I do? The conversation is turning towards guard duty in carriages and compensation.
I have to change this flow somehow. We are seasoned mercenaries, battle-hardened veterans. What concerns me most is the upcoming battle with the Demon Army. We need to buy time for Ashtal’s Knight Order to arrive after defending Runbergzach.
“Priscilla, Rose, and the entire White Lily Corps, listen carefully.”
I raised my voice at the opportune moment. I’m the captain of the White Lily Corps, a brigade directly under Her Majesty the Queen Annelise Flüge.
“We will now split into two groups: one heading to Runbergzach and the other to face the Demon Army. We will send the Dwarves and cannonballs directly to Runbergzach. The White Lily Corps and the 1st Brigade will head towards the Demon Army. Our objective is to launch surprise attacks and disrupt their supply lines to delay their arrival at Runbergzach as much as possible and crush their morale.”
“What’s the order?” someone asked.
“We go first. The new recruits go later!” Priscilla asserted.
“Don’t kill them, Priscilla. I can’t do anything with the dead,” Rose added.
Yes, I’ll ignore them. I thought I was saying something important, but… We started throwing luggage off the back of our usual carriage to make space for tents.
We ran towards Runbergzach, with Sophia’s orbs of light illuminating the night. Only our carriage was at the very back of the procession, with people swapping in and out.
Sophia is quite skilled. The orb of light at the very back seemed to glow pink for some reason.
“We will part ways here. King Shidenzach, please proceed directly to Runbergzach with the cannonballs. We will launch a surprise attack on the Demon Army.”
“Indeed, be careful. We will meet in Runbergzach… Brigade Commander Shin, you seem quite exhausted, are you alright?”
Of course, I’m not alright. I’m barely standing, using Magic Sword Zebra, the only one of its kind in the world, as a cane. This is the most exhausting march I’ve ever experienced.
After running all night, both the brigade and the horses are tired. The Dwarves will proceed to Runbergzach with the cannonballs first, but we are changing our route to raid the Demon Army. Please give me some rest.
In the past two days, the total number of encounters was fifty-five! That’s a “rough” estimate. I lost track and the will to count higher. This is calculated as one person or more encounters, but the new White Lily Corps members had no such pure hearts.
“We’re splitting up now. Will the Dwarves make it in time?”
“That depends on us. If we can gain even half a day, it’ll be tight. If we gain a full day, we’ll have some leeway, but it remains to be seen how long we can hold back the Demon Army.”
“…Are you not tired? Are you alright?”
I’m exhausted. So exhausted that I could drown if I took a bath and fell asleep. I remember you coming three times during the confusion, Priscilla! Even the new members were embarrassed.
“I’m alright, let’s hurry. Have the scouts gone out yet?”
“Alana and some of the brigade members went. Where are we targeting?”
“According to Iris, there are Sand Dragons and Giants, so I’d like to target them. Also, any unit in charge of supplies…”
Am I saying this clearly? Why does Priscilla’s chest seem larger than usual? Was Rufina always this… big?
“I don’t understand what you’re saying. We just need to find them and kill them,” a new member blurted out.
I must be at my limit. I probably can’t speak properly. Indeed, twenty-eight people is beyond my limit. Some of the new members were memorable, but I’ve forgotten them now, like a dream.
“Let’s go. If possible, I’d like to rest in the carriage…”
“You still want to?! You’re insatiable.”
As expected, my speech is slurred. I’m starting to lose track of what I’m saying. The brigade kept moving while I mustered my last strength until the communication drone sent by Alana arrived.
“The Demon Army is marching on the road about one kilometer ahead. …Captain, are you alright?” Alana reported.
Even Alana is worried. I might have to consider retirement. I’m already unable to stand. Despite that, I have so much magic power that Buster Sword is beyond my control.
“I’m fine, Alana. You’ve done well. What’s the situation with the formation?”
“Are you really alright? How many fingers are these?”
“Two…”
“…Priscilla. The captain is dead.”
“Damn it… Sophia, do something.”
“So he has finally died. Let us make him an undead and keep him until the end of time…”
“Be quiet! Sophia! Hurry up!”
“In that case, immediately… ■■■■, activate!”
I was vaguely listening to everyone’s conversation, but perhaps Alana miscounted the fingers. It’s cruel to treat me like a corpse for something like that. Sophia’s incanted spell had no effect on me. Even though she sometimes fails, I didn’t have time to find her humanity endearing before Sophia cupped my face with both hands and gave me a hot kiss.
Correction, it wasn’t a hot kiss, but a bitter one. She made me drink something! It was incredibly bitter! Far more bitter than malt! Unable to move properly, I accepted it as she forced it upon me.
“Haaah, as expected, it’s ‘this’,” Sophia exclaimed.
Please explain what ‘this’ is. My tears won’t stop, and it went up my nose. It’s agonizing. It’s so bitter. Is it because it’s poisoned?! At least wrap it in an oblate!
“He’s writhing, but will he recover?”
“In five minutes, he’ll be back to his usual self, Captain.”
Headache, nausea, dizziness, joint pain, muscle pain—all sorts of pain are overwhelming me. I rolled around, trying to alleviate the pain as much as possible, but somehow, the Petty Knife transformed into Buster Sword… and the unspoken pain… in my crotch…
“Are you feeling well? With energy, you can defeat even the Demon Lord! Are you feeling well?”
“…Should we make him drink it again?”
“He’ll probably die.”
“Let’s wait a bit longer…”
Bring it on! White Lily Corps! What’s twenty-eight people? I’ll keep you all on a leash! Bow before me! No, I’ll do you all until you can’t stand anymore!
Thanks to Sophia’s magic or medicine, I regained my senses after ten minutes. My energy returned too. Buster Sword, however, did not revert to its original form.
