I walked down to the meeting place with Sophia, arm in arm. What awaited me was a heart attack.
“Gah! Christine, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me…”
Anyone would be angry if they were late for a date, but being yelled at so directly feels like death. Even Priscilla was here before me, so I suppose it can’t be helped, but it still hurts.
“She is a Dark Elf. It seems she came to scout this fortress. She is alone.”
You should have worried about me first. Here I am, writhing in pain. It’s enough that Orietta is so laid-back. Also, Orietta, bring my jacket from the carriage.
“Christine, that’s enough. I’ve been waiting for an hour too!”
You’re an hour late, aren’t you? Is that something to brag about! Whether it was because Priscilla told her to stop, or because she had her fill of giving me heart attacks, Christine released me.
“Wh-why did you shoot Priscilla if you were just scouting? *Gasp*.”
“Because a person was being attacked by a beast. …Are you alright?”
I saw a Dark Elf for the first time, but her face was so distorted I couldn’t really tell. I don’t know much about Elves other than their skin color, so maybe I should take a closer look later.
But it’s terrible that she was attacked by a beast. Priscilla must have been hurt. I was being choked at the time, though.
“What is that Dark Elf’s name and affiliation? Where is she now?”
“Her name is Rene. Her affiliation wasn’t clear, but the name Hasuhanto Trading Company came up. Rene is being held in the underground prison with other women.”
I didn’t expect the name Hasuhanto Trading Company to come up. Are they gathering information because they know war is coming? Or is it to prolong the war?
“Hmm? What do you mean, ‘other women’?”
“Probably prostitutes or slaves.”
Women of that sort, huh. They’re a nuisance. Should I let them go, have them work here, or have them work only for me?
“Sophia, I’m leaving the women in the basement to you. Rufina, you should rest for a bit. Alana and Orietta, please repair the gate. Priscilla, sober up and, Chris—”
Talk about timing. For some reason, my heart is pounding at just the right moments. I wish it wouldn’t beat like it has arrhythmia. I want to live a long life.
“Ch-Christine, you have other work to do, so please come with me.”
After giving instructions to everyone, only the two of us were left in the central hall… I don’t think I should count the one who’s collapsed there. Christine, who must know what’s about to happen, has a blank expression.
Should I take her hand and lead her to the room? Or would words be enough? Which would make the expressionless Christine happier?
I want to hold her hand, but I don’t want another heart attack. I simply said, “Let’s go,” and started walking ahead. I sensed Christine following behind me, and thought that was the right decision.
Suddenly, my left hand was pulled. It wasn’t a strong grip, but a light touch, as if she felt sorry, and another heart attack. I instinctively put my right hand on my chest, enduring the pain.
Christine is terrible at expressing affection. She could have just said something, and if she had stopped walking, I would have held her hand. Please stop giving me heart attacks to keep me in place. I held Christine’s hand again and we walked.
Christine is, in a good way, a quiet person. I can’t read her thoughts from her expression. It’s not just because of that, but my inner sadist is starting to stir.
I’ve had my bones broken, my body cut, been poisoned, and had my blood drained, but I’m not a masochist. I lean more towards sadism.
I’m not a complete sadist, but being a mercenary makes you a bit sadistic. If possible, I’d like to unleash my sadism on Priscilla too, but I’m sure I’d get a counterattack.
Christine, Sophia, and Orietta are the quiet type, so while they occasionally show a sadistic side, they don’t overdo it.
I’d be happy if they saw it as a form of affection, as long as it’s mutual understanding. When I went beyond that understanding, Sophia almost tore my petty knife out of my mouth.
I need to be careful here. I want to push it to the very limit. Ever since yesterday, I’ve had multiple heart attacks, and my sadistic urges towards Christine have been building.
I led Christine to the room, pushed her against the wall, and kissed her forcefully. Like Priscilla, Christine is a bit taller than me. I pressed my chest against hers from below, and had a heart attack. I’m nearing my limit.
“Ch-Christine… Please be a little gentler…”
When I pulled away, Christine started taking off her clothes as she walked and headed for the bed. Maybe I should have built up the atmosphere a bit more. But my sadistic urges wouldn’t stop!
I pushed her onto the bed from behind, forcefully. After taking off her bottoms and kicking off her panties, just as I was about to thrust my pathetic petty knife at Christine, I had a heart attack. This time it hurt. I rolled on the floor naked. Christine looked down at me with emotionless eyes. Even those eyes are beautiful.
“…Please.”
This time, Christine supported herself on the bed with her hands and presented her behind. Why was that acceptable just now, but not before?! Is there some difference?
I stood up, suppressing the pain in my chest. Don’t underestimate me, Christine! I’ll thrust my steel-like petty knife into you! Enduring the pain, I placed my hand on Christine’s behind and thrust from behind all at once.
A “thwack” of flesh meeting flesh echoed in the room. Strangely, there was no sweet, warm sensation intertwined with the petty knife. What? I tried again, and this time I wouldn’t miss! As the petty knife struck directly in the center, there was no sensation, only the sound.
This is strange… What’s wrong, my friend? I slowly pulled away, and my petty knife, with the strength of a troll and the fire-breathing power of a dragon, bowed its head like a level-one slime.
My friend! I couldn’t even pounce on the supermodel Christine, who was like a level-one slime, and I collapsed onto the bed, clutching my chest.
In the fortress commander’s room, there were documents and reports. I was overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness, while Alana, trying to find some encouragement, had started examining the documents. It was Alana who found an important document.
“Captain, it seems reinforcements are coming. The number is about ‘thirty people,’ and it’s ‘reinforcements’ as ‘scheduled’.”
“Does it say when they’re coming?”
“It’s scheduled for tomorrow.”
Tomorrow, huh. Bad timing. Count Hart’s main force was scheduled to arrive in five days. Could I have been tricked?
No, that’s unlikely. Reinforcements of thirty men for a fortress that can be defended by a hundred is absurd. Perhaps it’s a diversion for troop deployment? Thirty men would be no match for Priscilla alone.
Speaking of Priscilla, her dress was wonderful. I should have everyone wear one next time. Christine would probably look the best. Preferably one with a low back.
Hmm? Where did that dress come from? Slaves don’t need dresses, and prostitutes would bring their own. Could it be… the commander’s hobby? No, that’s unlikely too.
When I went to the fortress courtyard, I found Priscilla and Sophia talking. I quietly approached them and tried to do a “knee-tap,” but I was seriously punched.
“Pr-Priscilla, where did you find that dress yesterday?”
Sophia looked at Priscilla with a little surprise. She wasn’t there when Priscilla wore the dress. It was truly wonderful.
“You wore a dress, Priscilla? I wish I could have worn one too.”
I’d like to see Sophia in a dress too, but right now I’m curious about its origin. I think a pure white dress would suit Sophia… It has a pure and chaste feel… But for now, the origin of the dress is what matters.
“What, you want to see it again? It was a bit small for my size, but it was quite something, wasn’t it?”
That small size was erotic and enhanced her charm. It seemed tight around the waist and hips, but Priscilla is all muscle, not fat. …No, I’m curious about the origin.
“It was in the room next to where we drank wine. There were others, so would you like me to wear it again later?”
Why would it be there? And in the room next to the commander’s? Could it be… a hidden preference. A cross-dressing fetish. Something he can’t stop doing. Should I try something new too?
“Did you kill any women in this conquest?”
“…I probably did. I can tell by the sharpness of my blade, even with armor on.”
Are there soldiers with dresses in the room next to the commander’s? This time, we attacked by surprise, so they shouldn’t have been able to escape easily.
“Sophia, what happened to the women in the basement?”
“Most of them have left the fortress. That Dark Elf also left.”
Did I mess up!? I rushed to where the remaining women were in the basement, but there was no one fitting the description. I’m looking for a woman who fits the size of that dress. That Auntie over there isn’t it, so she can leave.
“What’s the hurry?”
“I failed. I think that dress belongs to the fortress commander’s daughter. Given the gaudiness of the clothing, she’s young. The room next to the commander’s suggests she’s an important person. Perhaps when the fortress was attacked, she escaped here and disguised herself as a prostitute.”
Mercenaries generally don’t lay hands on prostitutes. Of course, they will after they pay, but they wouldn’t kill someone they might need later.
“Well, it can’t be helped. It probably won’t be a problem if we can’t take her hostage.”
What am I doing? I was so captivated by Priscilla’s dress that my thoughts flew away. I’m a failure as a captain. Please accept my resignation.
“Since we have dresses, let’s all wear them later.”
Let’s switch gears. Christine in a dress… No, let’s think about what’s coming next. After all, thirty enemies will be here tomorrow.
“The enemy has arrived~”
I want that flippant Orietta to feel some tension. Let’s find a cute dress with ruffles for Orietta. Cuteness is justice.
“They’re earlier than scheduled. How many?”
“Approximately three hundred~”
“Eh!”
The schedule was for tomorrow, and the number was around thirty. Why are there ten times as many? Could Alana not read? Her way of speaking was strange too. Did she make a mistake with the numbers?!
“Gather everyone in the central hall. The enemy will come all at once.”
This is a retreat. If we were attacking, we could manage with around two hundred, but a defense with fewer numbers will just create holes. I can’t swing my sword if we’re invaded through those holes.
