Chapter 93: Acquiring Weapons - 9
Chapter 93: Acquiring Weapons - 9
The handsome man standing behind Asira frowned at the sight of Jiha's smile.
His dark skin and the single horn on his forehead marked him as demon-kin.
"If you knew Lady Asira is a Unique, then surely you owe her the proper courtesy? You are far too familiar for a Common."
"Enough, Kamain. A warrior's courtesy is demonstrated sufficiently through martial skill."
At Asira's reproof, the man called Kamain shut his mouth.
Then, with a sudden smile, he inclined his head toward Jiha.
"You are right, of course. Pay no mind to my idle words."
"I'm finding that a little hard to do."
Jiha shot back as he studied Kamain.
'Kamain. If what I've heard is true, Asira's right-hand Super Rare. Someone who was granted power beyond the Rare rank.'
Uniques could select followers and enable them to exert Rare-rank or higher strength.
But making a man—Kamain—a Super Rare?
"I shouldn't keep imposing while a patient needs rest. I hope you recover swiftly and completely."
As Asira said her farewell, Jiha asked.
"Leaving already?"
"Would my presence not make you uncomfortable?"
Spoken like a two-star general pretending to care about a private.
An ordinary Common would never dare admit to feeling uncomfortable in this situation.
But Jiha deliberately let a sarcastic edge slip into his voice.
"I've been bored out of my skull sitting around all day. It'd be nice if a precious Unique who came all this way could spare the time to chat."
"......."
Kamain's brow tightened for a split second before smoothing back into a mask of composure.
Jiha's eyes caught that fleeting change without fail.
The one actually addressed, Asira, calmly seated herself on the chair beside the bed.
"I'm glad if even someone like me will do. Though I hope you'll forgive me—I've never been particularly gifted with words."
"Lady Asira, even so, you needn't keep indulging this insolent Common......."
When Kamain offered his counsel, Asira shook her head.
"One shouldn't fault the words of a person in physical distress. And even less should one turn away from a suffering person reaching out for company."
"......."
Asira knew perfectly well Jiha was being perverse, yet she humored him.
One might normally call that being a pushover...... but Jiha could read the sternness hidden beneath it.
'Meaning she'll tolerate it because I'm a patient.'
Having silenced her subordinate, Asira smiled and spoke.
"Now then, what did you wish to talk about? If you have any suggestions or complaints, speak freely. And if you don't want it known that you were the one who raised them, I'll keep it strictly confidential."
"Forget the wish list. This is just a simple question......."
Jiha looked at Kamain, standing behind Asira, and asked.
"That man's a Super Rare, right? Is it truly acceptable to appoint a man?"
"......."
In a world of female dominance, a male Super Rare—it was almost unheard of.
At present, Kamain likely held the highest public-status position of any man in Warsland.
As if he hadn't expected to be challenged on the point right in front of him, Kamain fired back.
"I wasn't chosen because I'm a man. I merely outperformed all the other knights who follow Lady Asira."
"Knights who follow you?"
"Ah, they are subordinates and friends who share my cause. Although at the moment, only Kamain is present here."
"So he was chosen fairly, through competition."
The authority to create a Super Rare was limited to one per Unique. It meant Kamain had bested the others and been selected on superior merit alone.
But Jiha pressed the point deliberately.
"Even so, you must have gotten some pointed comments from the people around you."
"......."
Because it was true, Kamain's face twisted into an open scowl.
He had hidden it at first, but Jiha kept picking at the wound, forcing his true feelings to surface.
Asira, however, simply shook her head calmly.
"A person should be judged by their intentions and their deeds. Kamain is outstanding even among those who follow me, and not a single shadow of doubt has been cast on his righteous conduct. Therefore, he is a friend I can especially trust."
"......."
"There was plenty of idle talk about my choice, but I've never once regretted it."
When Asira spoke so resolutely, Kamain's expression softened.
When the master you serve steps forward to defend you so directly, a subordinate can hardly stay angry.
'He doesn't look particularly happy, though.'
From Jiha's perspective, Kamain had only relaxed his expression.
If your master praised you like that, wouldn't there be some positive reaction—if not tears of gratitude, then at least something?
A little embarrassment, a demurral...... there was nothing of the sort.
'A curious reaction.......'
Just as Jiha thought that, the door opened.
The person who walked in was a succubus with red hair: Yura.
Asira turned around, rose from her seat, and beamed.
"Yura, it's been far too long."
"Asira......."
"That outfit suits you. Have your tastes changed?"
Yura was currently wearing a red dress that concealed her completely from the neck down.
Only her hands and ankles were exposed. Completely covered, and yet Yura's large breasts still made their presence strongly known.
Asira shook her head.
"It's pretty, but it looks a little stifling. You have such lovely pale skin—wouldn't it be nicer to show it off, with bare sleeves at least?"
"I like this one......."
Yura was dressed that way because of the marks that still lingered on her body.
To hide from Asira the traces where Jiha had bitten and sucked so intensely.
Yura shot a glance at Jiha, sitting on the bed, her expression complicated.
She was glad to see him, but trying to hide it, and at the same time nervously anxious about being found out by Asira.
Asira walked over, clasped Yura's hands firmly, and kissed the backs of them joyfully.
"Forgive me for starting off about your clothes when we haven't seen each other in years. It's been so long, and you've grown so beautiful I scarcely recognized you. I sent letters while we were apart, and I missed you the entire time. Seeing your face again makes me so very happy."
"......Yeah, me too. Asira."
Unlike Yura, who trailed off vaguely, Asira wrapped her in a delighted embrace and rubbed cheeks against hers.
Anyone could see in an instant how truly she treasured and adored Yura.
'She really might try to kill me.'
Yura's worry didn't seem like much of an exaggeration at all.
If someone she doted on this much were endangered because of a lowborn man, of course she would see red.
Still holding Yura's hands, Asira smiled brightly and spoke.
"So, how do you find it here? The dark elves aren't giving you idle grief, I hope? I know Enril values honor, but you serve different masters, so I've always worried from afar. I waited for your letters."
"No, Lady Enril actually treats me very well."
"I'm glad. And no other troubles? No men pestering you, I trust?"
Yura almost looked toward Jiha but just barely stopped herself, shaking her head furiously instead.
Asira let out a deep sigh of relief.
Asira's eyes as she gazed at Yura were deeply warm, and every word she spoke was laden with sincerity.
"It may just be my bias because we grew up together, but every time I see you, you've grown shockingly more beautiful, so I'm constantly on edge. I've fretted myself sick wondering if some presumptuous scoundrels might be working their filthy schemes on your innocence, if you might be taken in by dirty bastards while knowing nothing of the world."
"......."
Too late for that.
Jiha laughed inwardly, but Yura had to force the words out.
"I, I don't know...... anything about, about men."
She glanced at Jiha, then quickly looked away, and luckily, Asira didn't notice.
"Yes. If you ever have a problem like that, make sure you tell me. I've been keeping my eye out for a suitable mate for you. I'll definitely find a man who can make you happy."
Yura hesitated, then nodded, when Jiha suddenly spoke up.
"What about yourself?"
"......Hm?"
Still holding Yura's hand, buoyed with the joy of reunion, Asira turned around.
Jiha had laced his fingers behind his head and was leaning back against the wall in a relaxed posture. He asked again.
"Forget Yura's groom for a second. I'm asking if you've been searching for a groom of your own."
"Ah...... you mean me?"
Asira looked startled, then gave a wry smile.
"As you can see, I'm not particularly beautiful, and I've been far too busy carrying out my duties as a knight. I've had no time to look. There hasn't exactly been a line of men courting me, either."
Kamain, who had been watching, cleared his throat.
"Lady Asira, this is no longer an appropriate place for further conversation. Let us move elsewhere."
"You're right. I should be going, so we can continue this another time, Jiha."
As Asira said that, Jiha, still leaning against the wall, simply extended his hand.
"Good to meet you, Unique."
It was an audacious gesture, utterly bereft of etiquette, but Asira took his hand without a moment's hesitation.
"Yes, let us speak again another time."
Hands clasped, Jiha lightly brushed his thumb over the back of Asira's hand.
Her pale skin, touched with a bluish cast, was supple and smooth.
Asira paid his odd motion no mind at all, but Kamain's mouth set into a hard line.
"Until then......."
Once the handshake ended, Asira immediately linked arms with Yura and moved to leave.
"Come, Yura. We have so many stories left unfinished. Let's spend the night together."
"......."
Kamain followed them out, and the infirmary door closed.
Left alone, Jiha gave a wry laugh.
"She really has no idea......."
He was now absolutely certain why no man had ever dared lay a hand on the innocent Yura.
Besides being a succubus who might get a man killed if he touched her...... Asira, another Unique, cherished and guarded her this obsessively. Who would have dared?
But the reason men didn't approach Asira herself didn't add up.
"She didn't say she'd turned down suitors. She talked as if the event itself had never even happened......."
On top of that, she secretly read romance novels as a hobby.
It wasn't that she had no interest in love between men and women.
She must genuinely believe the opportunity had simply never reached her.
Jiha was smiling when Uben climbed in through the window.
It was a two-story building, but a werewolf's agility made it possible.
"Has the Unique left?"
"Were you listening from down below?"
Uben nodded.
He'd been lingering nearby in case anything happened to Jiha.
"I couldn't make out the details of the conversation. Didn't want to draw suspicion."
"Did you dig up anything more about Kamain?"
"Yes, well......."
Uben hurried to explain.
"Kamain Batalion. He's reputed to be the strongest among all of Asira's followers. And he's the only currently existing male Super Rare in Blue Seal. I can't state it with absolute certainty because it's unclear who holds the Super Rare rank on the Purple side......."
Uben gave his conclusion.
"He's commonly called the strongest man in Warsland."
"I see. Is that so."
Jiha nodded.
"So if I knock that bastard down, does that make me the strongest man?"
"He's no easy opponent. Being specially chosen by a Unique means he's a truly exceptional fighter, even among Rares."
"I know. But it looks like I won't be able to avoid it."
Jiha made his judgment and then gave the order.
"Investigate that bastard as thoroughly as you can."
"Little is known about his actual combat ability, but I'll do my best to......."
"Of course you'll do that too, but dig into another angle. His track record, his conduct. Turn over every stone and see if there's something rotten underneath."
At Jiha's words, Uben tilted his head.
"You mean......."
"Fish can't live in water that's too clean."
He could accept the assessment that Asira was a person of integrity, of noble character.
Even Jiha, having only just met her, was forced to acknowledge it to some degree.
But were the subordinates who followed her equally noble?
'It's strange that a woman like that doesn't have even the shadow of a man around her. She's not the type who would arbitrarily reject suitors just because they didn't match her rank.'
It was highly likely that no man had ever been allowed to approach Asira at all.
The reason?
Just as Asira's presence meant no man's shadow fell near Yura.
Someone had been systematically blocking every single man who showed an interest in Asira.
That was why Jiha had made a show of shaking hands and deliberately stroked the back of Asira's hand.
'He tried to hide it, but his lips tightened.'
Kamain had been maneuvering to prevent any man from getting close to Asira.
"Chief, I'll follow your orders of course, but isn't this dangerous? If we just wait for them to leave......."
"Those people aren't going anywhere."
Asira's purpose in coming to Waris was to investigate the Mana weapons the gnolls possessed.
Conflict with Jiha, who was also aiming for those weapons, was unavoidable.
Uben looked like he had no idea what that meant, but he nodded.
"Understood. Also, they say a banquet is being held tomorrow night to welcome the demon knight. All of us Commons have been invited as well. How should we handle it?"
"They're offering food, so we'll attend. No point drawing needless suspicion."
"What will you do, Chief?"
Jiha grinned.
"Time to get serious."
It was time to properly welcome the new arrival.
In Jiha's own way.