16. Red Evil Mercenaries
"Yeonja, that place looks good!"
"Yeah, let's head that way."
I somehow managed to drag Bella away from the spot, where she'd been screeching curses at everyone around her with her explosive temper. Truth be told, Bella wasn't the type to lose her head completely—she'd probably just vent her frustration with a barrage of swears until the crowd dispersed, then drop it without another word. But getting her out of there took priority.
"Mmph...!"
"Goddamn it, hold on. I said wait."
"Mmmph."
I soothed Bella's muffled grumbling as we finally reached a deserted alley between two buildings.
"This should be far enough."
"I'll get down first, dear."
Cheong-ah stepped down first, and only then did I release Bella's mouth and arms.
"Hah... haah..."
Bella gasped for breath, then grumbled in complaint for no real reason.
"Goddamn it, Ian. How am I supposed to breathe if you cover my nose too? Even if I'm used to that kind of play, springing it on me out of nowhere is a problem."
"No, Bella, how can you say that when Dina's right here?"
"Hm? Yeonja, what did this body do?"
Dina reacted to her name, tilting her head innocently as if she had no clue.
Bella flashed a sly grin, chuckling as she propped her chin on my shoulder and leaned in.
"Yeah, what could our husband possibly mean? Curious, aren't you, shorty?"
"Silence, you beast. How dare you call this body 'shorty' again!"
Dina bristled at the word "shorty." Oddly enough, Bella apologized without a fight.
"Heh heh, alright, alright. My bad."
"What ails you, wench?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're the type who usually calls me 'shorty' until you're blue in the face. What's with the sudden change? Are you ill?"
Dina eyed Bella suspiciously, but Bella just shrugged it off.
"Ill? Nah, just tired. Anyway, I apologized."
"Hmmm... Very well, I'll trust you. So what did Yeonja mean just now? Why this body?"
"Huh? Oh... well..."
I'd pointed out Bella's slip-up, only to find myself in the hot seat. How the hell was I supposed to explain this? I was rolling my eyes, scrambling for words, when Cheong-ah mercifully bailed me out.
"Dina, forget that. Want some of this?"
"Oh, candy! I want some!"
"Here, take it."
"Gratitude!"
Dina snatched the candy from Cheong-ah and popped it into her mouth. Her face twisted for a moment. What the hell did it taste like to make her do that?
"Urk. What flavor is this?"
"Red ginseng. I got it because it's a specialty from Yuldo, made from our famous red ginseng... but it's not great?"
...Huh. Red ginseng candy. Even a glutton like Dina might hate it. But as that thought crossed my mind, I realized I was wrong.
Dina rolled the candy around in her mouth a few times, then broke into a satisfied smile.
"Hmm, it was weird at first, but it grows on you. Feels nice on the tongue... Got more?"
"Yeah, here."
"Thanks! Let's share with the grumpy girl too."
"Mm, no thanks. I don't really like candy..."
"Pity. It's pretty good."
"Then you can eat my share too, Dina."
"Heh, understood. What about you, Yeonja? Want some?"
"Nah, I'm good. You eat them all, Dina."
"Hee hee. Very well."
Dina beamed at the chance to hog them all, peeling another wrapper and tossing it in. While Cheong-ah kept her occupied, I chatted with the still-grumbling Bella.
"Hey, shorty. Why not ask me?"
"You wouldn't eat it anyway."
"Sure, but getting asked and turning it down is different from being ignored."
"No candy for beasts."
"Hey, you little shit... You wanna keep discriminating?!"
"Cool it, Bella. Enough."
I reined in Bella before she blew up, and we caught up on what we'd learned. Cheong-ah explained how the current lord was desperately trying to erase all traces of the previous one. Bella nodded knowingly.
"Yeah, usurpers are all the same. I know from experience."
"Your uncle?"
"Eh, uncle my ass. That bastard's just an enemy now. Anyway, anything else?"
"Else?"
"You're missing the important part. The whole point is finding my men and that lady successor. What'd you learn about them?"
"Oh, that?"
I puffed up a bit, ready to boast. Dina and I had checked the back alleys for it. But just as I opened my mouth, Bella cut me off with a dismissive tone.
"Nah. You probably got something similar... Makes sense now why those guild assholes wouldn't talk even after threats. Tsk."
Bella, who'd gone to the mercenary guild, seemed to have struck out like Cheong-ah. She spoke with understanding. No, we actually found out...
"Hey, Bella, we did learn—"
"It's fine. No need to apologize. I'm grateful you're even helping for my sake. Satisfied that my man's pitching in this much."
"No, listen—"
"Can't be helped. Guess we'll have to leg it and search manually now. At least we know where the fight went down, so we can start there and—"
Bella kept interrupting, rambling anxiously. She'd been playing it cool, but she was clearly worried about her subordinates. Fair enough, but...
I couldn't take the constant interruptions anymore.
"Goddamn it...!"
Smack!
I finally unleashed my pent-up frustration with a hard slap to Bella's ass. She yelped like a bitch in heat and stopped mid-mumble, yelling indignantly.
"Kyaa?! What the hell? Why'd you smack my ass out of nowhere?!"
"Let me finish for once, you bitch!"
"Finish what?"
"We found them. Where your men are."
Bella blinked at me, then asked in disbelief.
"W-what...?"
"We found out. Where your men are."
"How? Even after I half-killed those mercenary guild pricks, they wouldn't talk."
"Half-killed? Bella, what the...?"
She'd said she was investigating—what the hell had she been doing? I shot her a confused look, and she bristled irritably.
"That's not the point. So where are they? My guys. How'd you find out?"
"Right, so first off..."
I slowly explained how Dina and I had gone to the thieves' guild in the back alleys, and what their guildmaster had told us.
Once she'd heard it all, Bella was impressed.
"Thieves' guild in the back alleys? Never crossed my mind. Right, this kingdom's got that kinda setup. How'd you know?"
"Dina told me."
"Owe the shorty one, huh."
"So what's the plan now?"
"Plan for what?"
"Your men. We know where they are—gonna go straight there? Or rescue Karlson first, since he's probably locked up in the lord's castle?"
"...Dunno. What's best?"
I pondered her question. Between rescuing Karlson or finding her hidden subordinates, what was priority? Obviously, Karlson. No telling what they were doing to him in that castle—he needed saving first. But...
"The current lord's after your men and that successor lady, right? Word from the thieves' guild is he's obsessed with finding them. If we rescue Karlson and they get exposed in the meantime..."
"Exactly. So only one way—split up?"
"Yeah, split into two teams?"
"What else? I'll go solo and bust Karlson out. Meanwhile, Ian, you take Cheong-ah and the shorty to help my men."
"That'd be ideal if we could."
"Then we're good? Any issues?"
Grabbing two wins at once was obviously best. But one thing bugged me.
"Remember what I said? About the guy who took Karlson down in seconds."
"Oh, the assassin-looking dude? What about him?"
The powerhouse who'd flipped the battle just as the Red Evil Mercenaries were winning. If that guy targeted Bella while she was alone...
"That's what worries me."
"Worried about me?"
"Well, yeah..."
I wouldn't be there to buff her. Not that I doubted her skills.
"Come on, you know how strong I am. Unnecessary worry."
Even before my buffs, Bella had been a top-tier mercenary despite her disabilities. Maybe it was overthinking. But...
I stepped closer, locking eyes with her intently.
"How could I not worry?"
"Eek, h-hey... W-what's with the sudden intensity?"
Bella backed up against the wall. I propped my arm by her head, leaning in slowly for her lips...
"Dear?"
"Hm? Grumpy girl, I can't see. Move your hand. Why cover this body's eyes?"
"Just bear with it a sec, Dina. Dear, not in front of her. It's not right."
"Why does this body come up now, grumpy one?"
"Nothing, Dina. Just a moment."
"Understood..."
"...Mm."
Cheong-ah's sharp eyes killed the mood. I pulled back awkwardly, scratching my head.
"Heh heh, idiot. Got you excited, huh?"
"Excited my ass... Anyway, if you get hurt, it hurts me too. That's all."
Bella punched my chest lightly and grinned.
"Don't worry. I'm invincible."
That was when someone at the alley entrance pointed at us and bellowed.
"Found 'em! Over here!"
He was a soldier from Soboro territory. His shout brought a rush of footsteps—plenty of them, judging by the sound.
"Dear."
"Hmmm..."
"Hey, what now?"
Serious-faced Cheong-ah. Candy-obsessed Dina. Head-scratching Bella. All eyes on me.
"...What else?"
We break through and run.