Incurable Disease (3)
At the same time Albrecht left for Gergius's lair, Erinn—who had remained at the front—soon heard the news through Freya and Clara.
"Ah, so that's why that dangerous one didn't do anything?"
Ser-Aria seemed to finally understand why Gergius hadn't fought properly. Erinn looked as though she understood as well, yet still spoke with a faint edge of dissatisfaction.
"Why did he just decide that on his own and leave?"
Clara answered.
"It wasn't on his own. I gave him permission."
"You didn't tell me."
"But right now, Albrecht and I aren't members of Erinn's party."
At those words, Erinn flinched. She let out a small sigh, then said,
"…So you're drawing a line like that?"
"Because you were blaming Albrecht."
"I wasn't blaming him…"
Erinn turned her head slightly. Only then did she speak a little more honestly.
"…It's because he just left without saying a word. He could have woken me up and talked before going… making people worry."
"…You don't need to worry."
"That's right. He didn't seem like he was lying, either."
Freya added,
"There's no reason for him to lie about something like that in the first place, and without a reason like that, there's no reason a dragon of that caliber would intervene on the battlefield."
Hearing Freya, Erinn nodded.
"…I should be grateful to Albrecht. If the dragon had joined the fight, it would have been rough."
"Yes."
"Hmm? That's true!"
Ser-Aria said with a light laugh.
"When he comes back, I should buy him a drink to show my gratitude!"
"…Yeah."
Erinn answered with a snicker, but Freya's expression was a little off.
"Erinn, actually… it seems we won't be able to stay in the Shah Zar Kingdom any longer."
"…Ah."
Erinn seemed to have anticipated what Freya was about to say even without hearing it.
"The Empire found out?"
"Yes. A messenger came to the frontline headquarters a little while ago… they want us to return as soon as possible."
"…I see."
Erinn nodded.
"I expected it even before coming here, so we have to go."
"…Tsk, then I won't even get to properly treat him to a drink."
When Ser-Aria voiced her regret, Erinn said,
"Can't be helped."
"…"
"…We can just come back again."
When Clara said that, Erinn snickered. She understood the hopeful heart behind Clara's words, but the odds of that happening were vanishingly small.
"Going out onto the battlefield without orders is a serious crime. Since we achieved the feat of subjugating a legion commander, public sentiment should be fine, and the Emperor will probably cover for us… so we won't be punished. But at least for a while we'll have to stay in line and behave, right?"
"…That woman won't miss the chance to get Erinn and us under her thumb."
Hearing Erinn and Freya, Clara lowered her gaze slightly and closed her mouth. Erinn snickered at the sight and spoke a little playfully.
"Aaah~ Just thinking about that woman throwing another fit is already pissing me off~♡"
"…Indeed."
In truth, Erinn was fine with the Military Minister giving her a hard time. Across three lives, her relationship with the Military Minister had always been like that, and by now—even if it was annoying—she was almost used to it.
But what she truly hated was that for a while again…
…I won't be able to see him.
The fact that she would have to be separated from Albrecht. She said with a bitter smile,
"We'll have to leave as soon as my body recovers."
"They were already urging us to do just that."
"Ha, so impatient."
Just as the atmosphere inside the tent was growing a little heavy, someone suddenly barged into the tent where Erinn's party was staying without so much as a by-your-leave.
"So you were here."
"…Karna?"
It was Karna, the Hero of the Holy Spear—another key figure in the subjugation of the Legion of Oblivion. He simply nodded, offered a brief greeting to Erinn and the other party members, and said,
"I've come to discuss the aftermath."
"Is there something for us to be involved in? Headquarters will handle…"
"The commander is dead, isn't he?"
"A successor should have arrived."
At Erinn's question, Karna shook his head.
"He has not come."
"What? Still?"
"Whether there's no talent suitable to come as a successor right away, or whether it's still under discussion—he has not arrived yet."
"…But the vice-commander should be acting in his place, right?"
"Yes. He requested our assistance."
The vice-commander himself? Erinn asked with a slight doubt.
"For what?"
"Now that we've stopped the Legion of Oblivion—to fully secure the front line that was momentarily pushed back. And to mop up the remaining remnants."
At Karna's words, Erinn's eyes widened slightly as if surprised.
"It's a frontline recapture operation."
"……"
"How long has it been since we fought the legion and they're already talking about battle again? The losses on the front line must be enormous right now, right?"
At Ser-Aria's question, Karna said,
"That's precisely why it's the perfect opportunity. Just as we are weakened, so are they—so they want to wipe them out before they become a future threat."
The operation Karna conveyed certainly had merit. With the legion weakened now, mopping them up would prevent continuous damage from remnants in the future, and also keep them from joining up with other Demon King's forces later.
Of course the front line was equally weakened—but with two Heroes currently stationed there, the chances of success were actually high.
"Of course it won't start immediately. It will only begin after a successor commander is appointed."
"…That makes sense."
"What do you intend to do, Erinn?"
Karna seemed to take it for granted that he would participate. Erinn pondered for a moment at his attitude, then lightly shook her head and said,
"…It's impossible. Just acting on our own this time has the Empire reacting like that; I can't act unilaterally again."
"Is the military the problem?"
Erinn narrowed her eyes slightly. She was more than curious—she was suspicious of how Karna knew that fact.
But Karna spoke as if it were nothing special.
"You know I'm under the crown prince of the Shah Zar Kingdom, don't you? Word about the surrounding political situation tends to reach me."
"…Ha, fine. As you say, it's a problem with the military. More precisely, a problem with that head of theirs."
"Then if that problem is resolved, I take it that means I can get you to participate."
"What?"
When Erinn asked back in confusion, Karna simply said,
"The Military Minister of the Dern Empire, Yureinia Achilles."
"…"
"The legitimate daughter of the Achilles ducal house. Without a doubt, one of the real powers of the Dern Empire."
"You know her well. But why bother stating facts everyone here already knows? Are you trying to get on my nerves~?"
"A position of real power means undisputed supreme authority… but conversely, it becomes all the more vulnerable when someone holds a definite weakness over them. Especially if that someone is a being they cannot eliminate of their own will."
"…You."
Hearing Karna's words, Erinn sensed something serious. She looked at him.
"What do you know?"
Even Erinn, living her third life, had never been able to grasp the weakness of the Achilles ducal house and Yureinia. That was why she had endured every time they acted so damnably…
Could the Shah Zar royal family have already figured out that weakness?
It was just like a royal family that cunningly raised and operated shadow organizations. As Erinn made a somewhat incredulous expression, Karna said,
"If I tell you this fact that I know, will you be able to persuade the Empire so that you can participate in this operation as well?"
At Karna's question, Erinn let out a light, hollow laugh.
"Are you asking the obvious?"
And she smiled with satisfaction. Not being tormented by Yureinia Achilles anymore was a big part of it—but more than anything, if she participated once more…
"Just deal with that woman and there won't be a problem, so tell me quickly."
…She would get more time to be with Albrecht. Given his personality, he would definitely help.
"Very well, then…"
Karna told Erinn's party something, and upon hearing his words, every one of them widened their eyes in shock.
"…What?"
Because it was a bomb far bigger than they had imagined.
"Mmm…"
How long had I slept? When I sleepily opened my eyes, a delicious aroma was brushing against the tip of my nose. Drawn by it, I slowly sat up—and Letisia was looking at me with a gentle smile.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah, comfortably… ah."
I… slept with my head on her thigh, didn't I…?
Honestly, it was incredibly comfortable and nice. Firm yet soft in just the right way, and even a little squishy… saying it like this makes me sound like a pervert.
I said with a slightly awkward smile,
"…Yeah, thanks."
"Not at all. More importantly, Gergius hunted some meat he said was for you—would you like to eat it right away?"
Come to think of it, I was hungry. I nodded, and Letisia stood up with a bright smile.
"Let's go."
"Huh?"
"You said you wanted to eat? They're roasting it right now, so let's eat right away."
"Ah."
I thought they'd already eaten, but apparently not. I nodded, got up, and followed Letisia. There were Caesius and Gergius, and also…
"Huh?"
"Ah… hello, Benefactor."
There was a beautiful woman. Hair close to emerald green cascaded in waves, and light green eyes reminiscent of bright foliage shone with a bit of vitality.
"Mersius?"
"Yes, that's right, Benefactor."
She was Mersius. I could tell because mana crystals still remained here and there on her forearms that her clothes didn't cover.
"Albrecht, you're awake."
"Welcome, Albrecht. I'm glad you seem to have rested well."
Caesius beside her simply acknowledged me, and Gergius greeted me warmly. I nodded to the two people—no, dragons—and approached.
Then Mersius smiled gently and asked,
"It's fortunate you woke up just in time. Father caught a delicious reindeer—would you like some?"
"Ah, yes. I came because I was hungry anyway."
I naturally accepted Mersius's offer. And since there was an empty seat, I naturally sat down next to her, and Letisia sat down beside me.
"Please eat as much as you like, Benefactor."
"Yes, thank you."
By the way, Caesius is one thing, but Mersius is also… quite beautiful. Are all dragon polymorphs pretty?
If Caesius is the cold beauty type, Mersius was closer to the opposite. Was it because of the color of her eyes and hair?
"…Dangerous."
"Huh?"
I thought Letisia just said something strange. When I turned my head, she was looking at Mersius with somehow meaningful eyes.
And soon, as if noticing my gaze, she startled by herself, turned her head, and pretended to eat the meat Gergius had handed her.
What was dangerous?
I looked at Mersius again in puzzlement. She was nothing more and nothing less than a pure girl—to the point where I wondered if a creature like a dragon could be this harmless.
"Is something the matter, Benefactor? Do you need more meat, by any chance?"
"Ah, no. Um… I was just wondering if it's okay for you to be like this when you haven't fully recovered yet."
"Thanks to you, Benefactor, I've gotten much better. It still hurts a little, but compared to the pain I've endured until now, this is nothing."
"Ah…"
"And Father said that being like this would make it more convenient for you to treat me, Benefactor. After all, our true forms are quite large for humans, aren't they?"
That was true. Moving mana to match a dragon's large body was a chore in itself. Of course, since she was still stuck at the Hatchling stage, her size was on the smaller side—but she was still larger than a human.
"Since you're treating me, Benefactor, you should be even a little more comfortable."
"I'm grateful you think of it that way."
"I'm the one who should be grateful."
"It was just a fair transaction."
When I said that, Mersius shook her head.
"When Father came to serve the Demon King in exchange for receiving the curse, I felt truly sorry—but you resolved even that and are treating my illness as well. How could I treat it as merely the result of a simple transaction?"
Mersius said with a gentle smile.
"Even if I thanked you for a lifetime, Benefactor, it wouldn't be enough."
"Haha…"
Being praised so highly made me a little embarrassed, so I laughed awkwardly. Feeling like the atmosphere was focusing too much on me, I felt the need to change the subject a bit.
"But earlier you called him 'Dad,' and suddenly your form of address got all stiff."
When I said it playfully for the purpose of lightening the mood, Mersius's face flushed bright red and she said shyly,
"Th-that was because it hurt so much… please forget it, Benefactor."
"Haha, I'm kidding."
"What?… Ugh, Benefactor, you're so mean."
This dragon was fun to tease. She was different from Caesius, who reacted to everything with indifference. Dragons all had different personalities too, I guess.
Thinking that, I took a bite of meat when suddenly someone called me from the side.
"…Albrecht."
"Huh?"
Letisia was looking at me with a very dissatisfied gaze.