Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: The Mixed-Blood Battlefield (12)
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Eloy's unit immediately began to move out.
After dismantling the tents and loading the wagons, a long march commenced.
The 2nd Reconnaissance Unit, made up of mixed-bloods, brought up the rear of Eloy's forces.
'Reminds me of the army...'
Staring at this endless procession brought back memories of marches from his military service days.
Well, soldiers were soldiers, then or now.
The difference was that 99% of this line consisted of elves.
And beside him walked another cute demi-human beauty.
"My legs hurt."
"They'll heal on their own anyway."
"They hurt in the meantime."
"That's why I told you to ride up front."
"......"
Ireilla had a spot where she could travel comfortably without walking.
Even Eloy, the commander of this unit, was a half-blood.
And Ireilla outranked ordinary half-bloods as a royal half.
To the purebloods, she might be seen as a servant, but here she was effectively the highest in status.
"Why insist on walking and suffering? You could just fly ahead."
"...I just wanted to walk."
"You can still go ride now. I won't tease you."
"Yeah, I'll walk."
"......"
Was she just stubborn, or did she have something on her mind?
Either way, Ireilla silently kept pace beside him.
The march didn't end in a single day.
It would take about three more days.
So at night, they halted, pitched simple tents, and slept.
"Cold."
"Are you an idiot?"
"Idiot? ...Why me?"
Rarely, Ireilla pouted at being called an idiot.
She'd reacted the same way during that match before.
She really didn't like the word.
But she was an idiot.
"If you went to General Eloy, he'd set up a luxurious tent for you. Why shiver here in the cold?"
"......"
As mentioned earlier, she was putting herself through unnecessary hardship.
Frustrated, he asked why she was doing this to herself.
Rustle, rustle.
"Cold."
Instead of answering, Ireilla huddled up and pressed close to his side.
"No, I mean..."
"......"
Stare—.
Her emerald eyes gleamed in the firelight, fixed on him.
"Strange scent."
"What...?"
And suddenly, she brought up something out of left field.
"I've noticed it before. A weird scent. Coming from you."
"......"
"Spray perfume or something?"
"No..."
It was the scent of Male Pheromone.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'First King of the Beastkin' chuckles!] He shot a subtle glare at Arkan's message.
And then.
Slide.
Ireilla's head leaned toward his shoulder, her weight gently resting there.
"...It's a comforting scent."
"...Comforting?"
"Yeah."
"...Not making your heart race?"
Male Pheromone was a debuff trait that aroused females and cowed males.
Comforting was far from its effect.
"Different scent."
"A different scent...?"
"Yeah, right now the comforting one stands out more than that. I like it."
"......"
With that, Ireilla arbitrarily finished speaking and closed her eyes.
Leaning comfortably against him.
"Snooore..."
She let out a soft breath, her breathing steady and even.
"Hmmm..."
Scent.
Now that she mentioned it, he became aware of her scent too.
Her snow-white hair brushed his cheek, carrying a fruity aroma that tickled his nose.
"......"
Sleeping like this felt awkward.
Why was she even here?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' blushes and smiles!] [Ancestor 'Star Prophet' watches with interest.] The voyeuristic ancestors were getting noisy.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Whoooosh...
A cool breeze caressed her cheek.
At the sensation, Ireilla slowly opened her eyes.
"Hmmm..."
Rubbing her eyes with small fingers, she realized where she lay.
'...A dream?'
She awoke in a warm, cozy embrace.
A familiar scent tickled her nose.
"Mommy...?"
"Awake?"
"Yeah."
"Hee hee, dinner's still a ways off. You can sleep more."
"...Then I'll stay here. I like Mommy's lap."
"Ireilla's such a spoiled girl."
Thus, Ireilla rested her head on her mother's soft thighs, savoring the familiar touch.
Her mother's pristine white wings draped over her shoulders like a blanket.
'So cozy...'
Her mother gently stroked her hair.
"Ireilla."
"Yeah."
"Don't worry too much."
"...About what?"
"Even without me, someone will come to cherish you."
"......"
Her mother said something odd out of nowhere.
But it didn't feel like the first time she'd heard it.
"......"
A memory surfaced in Ireilla's mind.
'Don't worry too much...!'
'Even without Mommy, someone will surely cherish Ireilla...!'
'Ireilla...! My baby...'
"......"
In the memory, her mother tearfully faded away.
"Ah."
Only then did Ireilla snap to reality.
Right, it was a dream.
She sat up from the cozy embrace, which had vanished without a trace.
Alone, she stared into space.
"Mommy..."
It had been so long.
Since dreaming of her mother.
She hadn't seen her since being sent to her father at age five, per pureblood rules.
"......"
Ireilla closed her eyes gently.
Recalling the cozy sensation and scent from moments ago.
And then.
"Hmmm..."
Ireilla awoke from sleep.
"Snooore..."
"......"
She opened her eyes on a man's lap.
The man was leaning against a tree, sleeping soundly.
It was Number 17.
"......"
She had a vague sense why she'd dreamed of her mother after so long.
Flop.
"Hmmm..."
"......"
Ireilla immediately lay back on Number 17's lap and closed her eyes.
To savor more of this rare cozy, comforting feeling.
But.
Sniff, sniff.
"......"
The scent had shifted slightly.
"...Naughty smell."
In the end, Ireilla fidgeted a bit.
Then turned toward Number 17's stomach, eyes closed, waiting for morning.
And the next day.
"Sniff sniff, ...sniff sniff."
"What is it...?"
Ireilla walked beside Number 17 as before, sniffing his scent.
She grumbled with a sullen expression.
"Today it smells naughty."
"......"
What was he supposed to do about it?
Number 17 made a baffled face and subtly put distance between them.
Of course, Ireilla closed the gap right away.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The three-day march was exhausting.
Walk, walk, walk all day.
Without auto-healing and his sturdy body, he'd have tapped out long ago.
But it wasn't boring.
Thanks to Ireilla chattering and asking questions beside him.
Or the occasional chit-chat from his subordinates.
Time flew by.
Upon reaching the destination campsite, they pitched tents like before and set up basic living quarters.
"Vice-captain, sir, vice-captain."
"Yeah?"
A few subordinates helping with tents sidled up to him.
"We're just too curious. Couldn't ask while walking since she was right there, but..."
"Right. Are you and... Lady Ireilla... like that?"
"......"
He shot them a look, and they frantically waved their hands in excuse.
"N-no, it's just! She's stuck to your side the whole march!"
"The vibe screams it! Even sleeping right next to you!"
"We figured it had to be that!"
"......"
They weren't entirely wrong, come to think of it.
'Yeah... now that I look back, she clung unusually close...'
Though she was the one clinging, not him.
...Male Pheromone effect, maybe?
"It's not like that."
He pondered briefly before brushing them off.
"Huh? Not like that...? Even after all that?"
"C'mon, vice-captain, be honest! You like her too, right?"
"A mongrel like you with a royal half? No way."
One who'd even tried to kill him.
Elena's closest confidante, no less.
...Though her clinging didn't seem malicious.
Still, no rash judgments.
He didn't hate it, but he wasn't head over heels either.
So he planned to deny it and end the talk.
But.
"What're you doing?"
"Eek...!"
"O-oh! We'll get back to work then!"
"Rest easy, vice-captain!"
Right on cue, bored-looking Ireilla appeared, and the subordinates grinned and scattered.
"Can't you see? Pitching tents."
"The mongrels are doing the tents."
"......"
Ireilla's blank eyes stared innocently at him.
That gaze recalled the subordinates' words.
His face heated up; he turned away.
"So what? Sorry, can't play now."
"Yeah, not here to play. Came to fetch you."
"Fetch me?"
"Yeah, the commander's looking for you."
"Me...? General Eloy?"
"Yeah."
"......Why you delivering the message?"
Ireilla was a royal half.
No matter Eloy's rank, he couldn't send her on errands.
Ireilla replied nonchalantly.
"I volunteered?"
"......"
"Let's go?"
And she grabbed his hand, leading him off.
Soon, led by Ireilla, they reached a large command tent.
He'd shaken off her hand midway.
He wasn't a kid.
"Number 17 here. Entering."
Inside were Eloy of Karloph and the unit's key officers.
"You're here."
Eloy smiled welcomingly at his arrival.
He stood by Karloph, and Ireilla sidled up close beside him.
"Everyone's here. Let's begin."
Begin what?
No one asked.
"The doppelgangers... we'll smash their heart, their main base. Operation launches in five days."
"......"
The pureblood doppelganger base.
The plan to raze it began.