16. Red Evil Mercenaries
Uh, um… what the hell is this situation all of a sudden?
Inside the barracks. Bella sat in the oversized chair at the far end, leg crossed over knee, chin propped on her hand. Around her stood nearly twenty members of the mercenary corps, lined up neatly—but about ten of them were prostrated face-down on the ground in what they called a "carpet bombing," foreheads smashed into the dirt.
I stood awkwardly beside her, drawing puzzled stares from the other mercenaries. Why's this guy here? Yeah, tell me about it…
Cheong-ah and Dina weren't affiliated with the mercenaries, so even though they'd come to help, they were resting outside in the carriage. So why was I stuck in here? I wondered the same damn thing…
But it wasn't like I'd barged in without a clue. Bella had dragged me along.
"Oh-ho, asses dropping already? You gonna keep those heads planted straight or what?"
"Sorry, ma'am!"
At Bella's words, the ones with their faces down thrust their hips up high.
She said their form was fine, why pick on 'em? I'd never seen such perfectly executed forehead-plants in my life.
The reason these ten were head-butting the floor? It started back at that ambush near the mountain base.
Turned out, the ones who'd attacked us weren't bandits—they were disguised as bandits, and they were the very people we had been looking for.
So, were these attackers from Bella's Red Evil Mercenaries and just didn't recognize their own captain? Nah, luckily not.
They were soldiers following Behena del Soboro, the legitimate heir to the Soboro County that used to belong to Count Soboro.
After those disguised soldiers clashed with Bella, one guy showed up. He was a mercenary from the Red Evil Mercenaries, back when Bella was captain.
From what I knew, every single member of the Red Evil Mercenaries was at least knight-level. In adventurer terms, even the weakest was Silver-rank—and not just any Silver, but a veteran in the mid-to-upper tiers.
Meaning these ten groveling here were no slouches either.
Watching elites like them in that pose… well…
"Hah, I come looking for my crew and end up getting ambushed. Shit, I'm really disappointed in you assholes."
Bella rubbed her temples, frowning like her head hurt.
A bearded guy standing at attention beside her chimed in without reading the room.
"But sis, you're not the captain anymore."
"…Sis? Belluto, you little shit. This a casual hangout?"
"Guh—sorry, Captain."
"You, a squad leader, can't even keep your head on straight?"
Of course, he caved immediately under her murderous glare and bowed his head.
…This side of Bella felt weirdly unfamiliar.
She was always so rough-around-the-edges, a total airhead with that neighborhood layabout vibe—like the unemployed big bro type you'd see in every movie. Boozy, violent, foul-mouthed.
That was her image, right? Sure, in bed she turned into an obedient puppy, which was a cute gap… but anyway.
This Bella? Totally different. Pure charismatic female boss energy.
…My dick twitched.
Ahem, kid, read the room. I calmed my ill-timed erection—like that bearded idiot over there—and sidled closer to her.
Bella glanced at me, then looked away.
"Hah, you fucking idiots. What, we been apart like ten years? Huh? Time flown by so much the mountains changed and none of you recognize me anymore?"
"No, ma'am!"
The mercenaries bellowed in perfect unison, like soldiers fresh out of months of drill.
But Bella wasn't impressed, still slouched as she kept going.
"Bullshit. How the fuck do you send a letter inviting me, then not even post proper guards yourselves to greet me when I show? You just line up these clueless fucks who don't even know my face? And that's it? 'Oh, if it's the captain, it'll be fine'? You shitty bastards. That your excuse?"
"No, it's just…"
"Agh, fuck. Belluto, you again? Speak. Let's hear your bullshit."
The bearded Belluto cleared his throat, glancing sideways nervously.
"Ahem, no, really… We figured if it was you, Captain—er, sis—it'd be fine. For real… Even if we described your face to them, we didn't know how you'd show up…"
"Hah, you little…"
As Bella started to retort, a long-armed guy next to Belluto smacked the back of his head with a loud crack!
"Gah! What the hell, why'd you hit me?!"
"Shut it, you worthless sack. You're making the captain's face twist up more!"
"No, but it's not wrong. Sis snuck in all sneaky-like with those shady fucks. I figured you'd at least be in disguise…"
Bella's brow furrowed unpleasantly at the exchange.
"What're you morons doing? Bantering in front of me like I'm a goddamn scarecrow? Should I step out so you can play?"
"Sorry, ma'am!"
"Hah, I was gone what, a few months? And discipline's gone to shit already? This has gotta be Karlson's fault. Right?"
"N-no, ma'am!"
"Vice-Captain Karlson did nothing wrong! It's all on us…!"
The squad leaders protested desperately. Bella waved them off dismissively, then eyed a refined-looking guy with a knife scar across his nose bridge, standing to her right front.
"Agh, shut up. My ears hurt, you idiots. So, Kalon."
"Yes, Captain."
Bella's gaze shifted forward. At the end of it was the woman who'd been in the barracks with us from the start, glancing around nervously.
"That her? Behena or whatever, the Soboro heir?"
"…Yes, that's her."
"Yeah? Nice to meetcha. As you can see, I'm Bellatrix, the real captain of these idiots' Red Evil Mercenaries, the Fallen Princess. Take care of us."
Behena del Soboro—elegant, beautiful with a subtle noble air—bowed politely to Bella's lazy wave.
"I'm Behena, the rightful heir of House Soboro. It's a great honor to meet the famous Fallen Princess."
"Honor my ass. My infamy's probably all over the place. Anyway. So your guys fired those arrows?"
Bella's face hardened coldly with the question. There'd been a hint of fondness in her eyes while chewing out her men, but staring at Behena now? Not a trace.
Behena shuddered slightly under that gaze but met Bella's eyes with resolve.
"I… I deeply regret that incident."
Bella smirked, softening her expression.
"Fine, whatever. Subordinates' fuckups are the boss's responsibility, yeah?"
"…Yes. I know."
"Good. We'll call it even. My guys messed up too."
"Th-thank you."
"More importantly, I like you. Not many can stare me down after screwing me over."
"H-haha… yeah."
Behena nodded awkwardly with a forced smile. With that, Bella decided to wrap up the incident and bellowed.
"Rise, you shits. Special mercy this time."
The mercenaries snapped to attention in perfect sync.
"Now, how about we get to the strategy meeting…? What? Why the fuck you all staring like that?"
"Well, that guy next to you, Captain. Isn't he the one from before? When we ambushed Princess Aria…"
"Yeah, so?"
"Just wondering why an outsider's here with us. We know you partied with him as an adventurer, and his friends outside came to help too. But still, an outsider…"
Kalon glanced cautiously at me as he asked.
I'd been wondering the same, shooting Bella a look. She turned to me, met my eyes, and grinned.
"Outsider? This guy's practically me now."
"Pardon?"
"Introduce yourself, hubby. Ian. Hubby, say hi to my men. They're dumbasses, but go easy on 'em."
The barracks went dead silent—not even a breath.
…Wait, here? Now?
"What're you waiting for? Greet 'em, dummy."
"Uh, um. Nice to meet you."
I bobbed my head awkwardly at her urging. They just tilted theirs in confusion.
"…C-Captain, what do you mean?"
"Jesus, why question it, idiots."
Amid their shocked, disbelieving stares, Bella shrugged like it was no big deal.
"He's my husband."