As night deepens and everyone falls asleep, the White Lily Corps begins to move. I was seriously injured, so my waiting time at the campsite is only about two seconds.
“I’ll go when I’m healed,” Queen Annelyse said.
I wish she’d say something a little kinder. I’m always working. I’d love to open a lunch basket by a cool, breezy lake, eat sandwiches, go fishing, or maybe go for a swim.
I’ve healed, so I’ll go. Even though I’ve healed, what about waiting in bed with Sophia? If the commander goes to the front lines herself, the unit will collapse if something happens.
“Sophia, you wait here. We have two large carriages. We’ll go together. Alana, Lia, and the rotten one get in this one. Christine will drive the other. There are over twenty Succubi. Even if we load as many as the carriages can hold, we’ll need to make multiple trips. If they surrender quietly, good. If they resist, incapacitate them without killing them.”
Don’t I have any use? I’m losing all motivation. I’d rather just sleep. My stomach hurts.
“Rotten one, are you ready? I can’t forgive anyone who steals men away.”
Is that “motivation” personal? It’s true, I wouldn’t want a man stolen from me. If anyone dares to lay a hand on the White Lily Corps… If there’s someone brave enough, I might praise them, to begin with.
“Let’s go. We must prevent the annihilation of the Allied Forces.”
Everyone except me advanced into the night with anger. Three of us sat side-by-side in the driver’s seat, with Lia guiding us to find the first Succubus. I’m a little excited, it feels like a night crawl. Lia next to me is crossing her arms and pressing her chest against me… Stop it, stop going “goo”!
The first one was a big catch. Marquis Ulysses Fowler, Commander-in-Chief of the Asht Empire Expeditionary Force. While other legion commanders were forcibly requisitioning mansions in town, this man pitched a tent outside the city and slept with his knights. He’s a virtuous man, but he brought three mistresses with him. This old pervert.
Thanks to having three mistresses, he even prepared a separate tent for them and seems to be enjoying himself. But is it too much to ask for one to be shared? Fortunately, his partners were not Succubi. I snuck in and gently woke one up.
“Good evening. Would you prefer to die or come with me?”
The cute Succubus nodded at my gentle invitation. I don’t understand what she sees in an old man like that. It’s tough, even for work.
Just in case, I gagged her mouth, thoroughly searched her body, and then put on a single piece of clothing before tying her hands behind her back. Of course, everything was done gently, as it would be a waste to cause any injury.
“That was fast.”
I’m a man whose only virtue is speed. I gently placed the Succubus onto the wagon, and Priscilla drove the carriage roughly. Oh, sorry, I accidentally dove. …That old man, I’m envious.
We went after the second and third Succubi, with Alana’s invisibility and my Godspeed making the abductions progress smoothly. The first carriage quickly became full. Christine drove it back with escorts Alana and Orietta, while the three of us continued.
“Am I the only one working here?”
No one helped me with the infiltration and abduction. I hid in the shadows, sometimes clinging to the ceiling, and concealed myself in closets until the job was done… At times like these, I’m glad to be alone.
“Lia, is this the last one?”
“This is the last one. Let’s go back and… do it.”
We are not! I haven’t slept at all. I want to leave the Succubi to Rufina and get some rest. I want to be wrapped in a warm futon and indulge in lazy sleep.
All the captured Succubi were shoved into the underground cells, and Rufina was tasked with reading their memories. At that point, killing them was acceptable. Specifically, it was acceptable to make it look like an accident and kill Lia. After all, the dead tell no tales.
When morning came, I dragged my tired body towards Ashtal. I need to go to Ashtal for adjustments, and I have to inform a few people that their mistresses were Succubi.
“Your girlfriend is a Succubus and is suspected of leaking information to the Demon Army.”
When I say this, about seventy percent of people will grab me by the collar. I’m not used to being verbally abused with saliva flying. I’d like to grab them back, but as Baron Shin, I can’t do that.
So, I try to deliver the news as quietly as possible. I can’t get heated when trying to persuade someone. I explain the importance of the matter and arrange things so that if they wish to see their Succubus mistress, they can.
I think… Towards the end, I was understandably tired, and my words might have been a bit sharp. I apologize for that. It’s not malicious, but I’m exhausted by the same words and the same reactions.
And it’s pitiable for the Succubi as well. At least they must have loved each other, but not a single one came to visit them in the underground prison.
“Rufina, I’ll leave the rest to you…”
I’m going to sleep. Staying up all night is getting tough at my age. How many days has it been since I slept properly, alone, wrapped in my futon? Good night… Two seconds.
Priscilla has a patent for bursting through doors noisily, but through my blurry vision, I can see Rose. Even if I’m woken up, I’ll try to sleep. With Rose and the others, they wouldn’t force me to wake up, nor would they stab me.
“Is this way of waking you up okay?”
“Priscilla said it was, so I’m sure it’s fine.”
“Is that so? I won’t be responsible if you die…”
“I’m awake! I’m awake, Rose!”
Rose was clutching a knife, about to swing it at me. Two seconds of sleep. I slept well. Ah, I slept so well.
“Is there something you need?”
If they start talking about guard duty now, I’ll hit them. They have no authority to enforce guard duty on the new White Lily Corps. None at all!
“Mercenaries from the Hasuhanto Trading Company arrived early this morning. They’re asking what we’re going to do.”
I hadn’t forgotten, but wasn’t that supposed to be tomorrow? I appreciate them hurrying, but my sleep…
“Who is the representative from Hasuhanto?”
“An Elf named Manon Guiyu. Or maybe he’s a half-elf.”
Manon Guiyu? The one who lent me the Black Sword and created a connection with the Dark Elves? A half-elf with a beautiful cleavage. It’s been a while since I left the Imperial Capital. Has that cleavage deepened even more?
“I know him. Is he here?”
“Yeah, he’s asking for the Captain.”
This is a problem… I’m happy he’s here, but wasn’t he supposed to be here as reinforcements for Harm? If he wanted to pay his respects, he should have gone to Queen Annelyse or Ashtal’s expeditionary force. I see! He’s here to see me!
I told them, “I’ll be right there,” and changed my clothes. Rose and her party said, “Make him wait,” and started taking off their clothes. I left the changing room with Godspeed.
“My apologies for keeping you waiting.”
Manon Guiyu, whose sweat even looked dazzling as he turned, was a welcome sight. It’s been a while. I’ve been indebted to him for various things, but his beauty hasn’t changed. Maybe it’s because he’s a half-elf that he hasn’t changed.
“It’s been a long time, Baron Shin. The Hasuhanto Trading Company will provide two thousand mercenaries at your disposal.”
The cleavage I saw after so long now had a river of sweat flowing down it. His attire was certainly not suitable for Harm. It was probably something akin to a business suit, but I wanted to buy him an aloha shirt suitable for this region.
“Thank you. However, there’s considerable confusion right now with many Knight Orders from various countries joining us.”
I offered to mediate with the Ashtal Knight Order, but I was too busy dealing with the Succubi to do so. Some of the Ashtal Knight Order is also in disarray. It would be problematic and damage their pride if it became known that their mistresses were enemy spies.
“In that case, shall I help? I have experience in troop deployment.”
That’s right. Manon was an important figure in the strike force. If he’s skilled in organizational management, he might be able to resolve this confusion, but…
“I apologize. I don’t think it’s appropriate for the Hasuhanto to do anything further…”
While I’m grateful for the help from the Hasuhanto Trading Company and Manon, allowing a single trading company to control the entire army is also dangerous. If they prolong the war for their own profit, it would be problematic for us.
“Don’t misunderstand me, Mikael. Hasuhanto is not involved. I want to help as an individual.”
“…Understood. However, you will be temporarily joining the White Lily Corps. It will be your job, not just assistance.”
“With pleasure. I’ll show you just how capable I am.”
Whether she’s capable or not… she’s probably a capable person. Mistakes are sometimes understandable, but leaks of information are punishable by death.
She’s joined the White Lily Corps, even if temporarily. I don’t think Manon would do something like that, but with the Succubus incident, I have to be careful.
Of course, joining doesn’t mean the standard guard duty regulations apply. That would be life-threatening. Manon has taken a leave of absence from Hasuhanto and has temporarily joined the White Lily Corps.
Perhaps things will be a little easier now. If the unruly Knight Orders and Rothfar don’t listen, we can’t even set a date for the counterattack.
Manon’s temporary enlistment was resolved with a simple back-and-forth exchange.
