Chapter 46
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Translator: Xrecker
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Grace Period
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Two days after I returned to the fortress, I received news from my informant in the city that the Margrave of Hamburg had been found dead.
It wasn't surprising. The ruler of a city had marched out with his troops one morning, under the pretense of a training exercise, and then vanished without a trace. A search party was dispatched the next day, and following the tracks left in the snow, they discovered a devastated valley and a hundred corpses buried in the snow.
While I hadn’t intentionally mutilated the bodies during the fight, few would have remained intact. Most had been torn apart by wind blades or electrocuted by lightning strikes.
The only ones whose bodies were relatively undamaged were the last ten I had killed.
I had refrained from bringing back the Margrave’s head as a trophy, opting instead for a diamond ring, presumably a symbol of his authority, which appeared to be worth several dozen carats.
They must be in an uproar by now, having discovered its absence. Even to my untrained eye, it looked incredibly valuable.
Well, not my problem.
***
“Hmm hmm hmm ♪”
Dorothea had been in a good mood for the past few days, thanks to my successful solo mission.
After all, a subordinate's achievements reflected well on their superior.
Having achieved little of note during her nearly year-long tenure, she had now accomplished two major feats: conquering a fortress that had stood for a hundred years and assassinating the Margrave of Hamburg. She had every right to be pleased.
I had been busy creating supplies for the fortress with transmutation magic when I was summoned to her office. I asked Dorothea, who was humming cheerfully,
“What is it?”
Dorothea looked up from her paperwork.
“Do you have any requests? As a reward for your recent success, I’m willing to grant you anything within reason.”
“A reward?”
“Yes. You did a great job. I want to compensate you.”
“Ah, that’s what you meant.”
I understood and scratched the back of my head awkwardly. I hadn’t been expecting a reward.
“I can provide you with money or any items you desire. Just let Eva know.”
I had initially planned to ask for something later, but then a thought occurred to me.
“Do you have any… adult books? No, wait, never mind.”
Asking for porn as a reward seemed inappropriate, even if it wasn't against the rules. I should have bought some while I was in Hamburg, but I had been too tired to think about it.
But I couldn’t take back my words now. Dorothea looked at me strangely.
“Are you… backed up? I’ve been busy lately, but if you had asked, I would have been happy to help.”
“No, it’s not that. There’s a… reason.”
While we hadn't had sex this week, I wasn’t that desperate.
To avoid further misunderstanding, I explained about Camilla.
I needed teaching materials for her sex education.
Dorothea tilted her head, as if confused.
“You need to study for that? Can’t you just learn through experience?”
While she had a point, Camilla wasn’t exactly the type to learn through practical experience.
“Anyway, I’ll hold off on the reward for now. I still have a week left before returning to the Demon Lord’s castle. I’ll think about it.”
I was about to leave when I remembered the ring in my pocket.
“Ah, I almost forgot to give you this.”
“What is it?”
“A trophy I took after killing the Margrave of Hamburg. I forgot to report it.”
I pulled the diamond ring from my robe pocket and handed it to her.
Made from a gemstone mined in the Vulcan Mountains, the large diamond, symbolizing eternity and strength, was practically the emblem of the Hamburg family, the Shield of the Kingdom.
Dorothea, recognizing its significance, stared at the ring, then gasped.
“Wait, this isn’t… a proposal, is it?”
“Don’t worry, it’s not.”
Did she think I was proposing to her in a roundabout way?
I chuckled, and Dorothea, embarrassed, mumbled, “Just kidding,” but she still looked at the ring with interest.
“It’s yours if you want it. I just need to write a report for the Demon Lord. A commander-in-chief has that much authority, doesn't she?”
“R-Really?”
She clearly wanted it, so I nudged her further, and Dorothea, her face lighting up, tried on the ring.
The band adjusted to fit her finger, as if by magic.
Even Dorothea, who didn’t seem to care much for jewelry, was captivated by its beauty. It must have been quite a stunning piece. I didn’t even wear bracelets because I found them cumbersome.
Anyway, having concluded my business, I excused myself and left Dorothea’s office.
***
A month had passed since its capture, and the Hamburg fortress, once a bastion of humanity, was now firmly under the control of the Demon Lord’s army.
As I walked through the fortress, demon soldiers who recognized me greeted me warmly.
I still wore the dog mask to conceal my identity, but it seemed to have made me more memorable.
True to their culture of respecting strength, the demons treated me with respect, having witnessed my power firsthand. There was no ostracizing or bullying, which was a welcome change.
Or perhaps they were simply afraid of getting their heads smashed in.
I walked around, followed by a gaggle of imps begging for magic lessons, like the Pied Piper, and then dispersed them with a handful of snacks.
While vicious and relentless in battle, imps were just playful children in their downtime.
Ten minutes after leaving the residence, I finally reached my quarters.
“I’m back.”
“Welcome back.”
Camilla, as always, greeted me with a composed expression.
I handed her my cloak and asked,
“What’s for dinner?”
“Potato stew and potato omelets.”
“…Potatoes again?”
“We still have a lot of potatoes left from the supply shipment. I’m trying to use them up.”
“I want meat and vegetables.”
“Don’t worry, there’s bacon in the stew. And potatoes are technically vegetables.”
“…”
She had a point. I couldn't argue with that.
I changed clothes and then washed my face with water warmed by Firebird Wind Shear.
While I wanted to take a hot bath, I decided to save that for later.
I went to the kitchen, and there, on the table, were the freshly made potato stew and omelets.
While I had complained earlier, Camilla was an excellent cook, and even potatoes, in her hands, tasted delicious.
We sat facing each other and said a short prayer.
While we worshipped different goddesses – the Goddess of Wisdom and the Goddess of Power – our prayers were similar.
We then began our meal.
As the sound of clinking utensils filled the quiet kitchen, Camilla, after taking a bite of her omelet, said,
“Master Kaldrash, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve mastered the… blowjob technique you mentioned.”
Cough! Cough!
Her unexpected announcement caught me off guard, and I choked on my food.
Camilla, handing me a cup of hot water, asked with a straight face,
“If you have the time, I’d like to demonstrate. When would be convenient for you?”
I stared at Camilla, her bluntness bordering on shamelessness, and said,
“Can we talk about this after dinner?”
“I’m sorry. I was just eager to show you.”
I took a deep breath, my coughing finally subsiding.
“I understand you’re eager to learn, Camilla. But please be patient. I haven’t prepared the teaching materials yet.”
“Teaching materials?”
“Yes. I told you I would prepare them for our next lesson.”
“Are they really necessary?”
“It’s better to have them than not.”
I held up three fingers, trying to convince her.
“Three days. Just wait three days. I’ll have something prepared by then.”
“…Alright.”
Camilla, seemingly resigned, relented.
Relieved, I finished my omelet.
I’m going to have to use my favor for this.
I placed the empty plate on the table, hoping Dorothea wouldn’t be too angry.