Chapter 119
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: A Short Rest with the Girls
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That night after the battle ended, me and the guys in our hundred-man platoon were buzzing with excitement like never before.
Even Karin, who usually kept her cool around me, was perking up her ears with a smile on her face.
"Thanks to Martin, we're gonna stuff ourselves with free booze and grub today."
The others were grinning from ear to ear, laughing uproariously and shouting at the top of their lungs.
"Ha, fuck. Never thought I'd live to see the day I'd get free drinks and meat from another mercenary company."
"All thanks to our amazing Hundred-Man Platoon Leader Martin, right?"
"This time he even took down that enemy captain who was Expert mid-level, as expected."
The guy wasn't actually Expert mid-level; he'd just been stuck at low-level Expert for so long that he'd picked up some mid-level parlor tricks.
If he'd really been mid-level Expert, I wouldn't have been confident I could kill him with my own strength.
Even if I had managed it, the heat from that flame-wrapped sword would've left me with full-body burns, forcing me into weeks of healing and emergency treatment from the priest uncles.
'Well, it's not a total lie. If word spreads, it'll boost my reputation anyway.'
As long as I didn't go around bragging myself about soloing a "mid-level Expert," there shouldn't be any problems...
"What bullshit are you spouting, you idiots? He was just a beginner Expert who'd rolled around long enough to pick up a few tricks by chance."
Otto chuckled slyly at that.
"Do mercenaries not exaggerate? Hell, even Captain Dalton beat thirty guys single-handedly before our platoon leader joined, but I heard him inflate it to fifty to hype himself up."
I perked up at this surprising bit of info I'd never heard before.
"For real?"
"That's nothing. That time he gathered all us officers and admitted his fling with Lady Anna was just a drunken fluke..."
'Captain Dalton likes to puff up his love life stories, huh.'
"Still, Heinz the vice-captain—who's been with him since his high knight days—says he was pretty popular back then. That's why Dalton quit being a knight."
I tried to lean in for more, but the cheers from the surrounding guys drowned it out.
"Fuck, those Red Rose bastards sure know how to throw a bash—the kegs are huge!"
I looked where they were pointing.
The tables and chairs were plain due to the wartime setup, but the spread of food and drinks on them was anything but ordinary.
"Whole roast pig, bread made purely from flour, pizza, steak, and all sorts of desserts..."
Sugar and spices weren't too rare in this world, so desserts weren't outrageously expensive...
'But laying out a feast like this must've burned a hole in the Red Rose guys' wallets.'
As I stood there stunned, a guy from the corner—the same one who'd teased me at that banquet in the Medici Republic last time—approached me.
"Red Rose Mercenary Corps Hundred-Man Platoon Leader Gaspard. I'm truly sorry for offending you with my rude words last time."
He bowed so low he looked ready to drop to his knees.
"Even though I started the trash talk and embarrassed everyone, you gave up pursuing the enemy captain to come aid us. I sincerely thank you for that. So, to express my apologies and gratitude, we've prepared this modest banquet."
......Modest? That food alone must've cost a fortune. And that stack of wines—fifteen bottles of the pricey stuff worth a gold coin each?
"It's fine, water under the bridge, right? Have you spoken to the captain and vice-captain yet...?"
"We already have. We conveyed substantial thanks to the captain—though calling it payment for saving our lives feels off."
Even if helping allies is the right thing and boosts your fame, moving your unit to aid another company is a real loss.
Didn't our White Beard Mercenary Corps just miss a shot at killing the White Hunting Dog's captain?
So, they're throwing this expensive feast to offset the financial hit, earn a rep for generously rewarding rescuers, and all that.
"We've also selected some fine ladies for you—relax and enjoy. Tonight, everything you eat or drink is on Red Rose. In return, if possible, fight alongside us in the next battle..."
I couldn't help but smirk at that.
"I'll pass it along to Captain Dalton."
"Thank you."
The moment Gaspard left, our platoon guys dove headfirst into the feast before them.
They sat and started devouring the food like wild animals, grabbing it with their bare hands.
"Medici cooking really is the best on the continent—fucking delicious."
Otto seemed more into the wine than the food, chugging straight from the bottle.
Karin sighed quietly watching him.
"Men lose their minds over booze, food, and women."
Lucia stared at Otto guzzling away in fascination.
"Wow, you can drink that boldly, huh..."
As the mood heated up, our platoon leaders gathered around me to discuss how the war might play out.
"Even after we took out nearly a thousand of theirs, I heard it didn't change the big picture much. Why'd they retreat then?"
"It's their turf anyway—probably holing up in the castle to cut losses and boost win chances."
"Great, now the forces'll split again. Fuck."
It was common after losing the first plains battle for the defenders to retreat into the castle and start a siege.
Because once they did, it turned the tables so badly on us attackers we'd be jumping out of our skins...
Just to screw us over.
As the vibe darkened a bit, I looked around at them, grinned, and spoke up.
"They wouldn't seriously ask us to storm some fortress like that moron Papenheim did—with five hundred against two-fifty garrison, right?"
Otto burst out laughing maniacally.
"Spot on. No way the Medici commander is Papenheim-level stupid... but if he is, we demand full contract refund and bail."
The others chimed in agreement.
"Yeah, nothing's decided yet anyway. Sorry for worrying needlessly! As penance, Walter here—down this penalty shot!"
Walter clapped loudly for all to see, sliced the wine bottle's neck with a dagger infused with aura, and shoved it in his mouth.
Glug, glug, glug—the contents drained steadily.
Once empty, he flipped the bottle upside down over his head and shook it.
"Not a drop left—satisfied?"
"Who said anything?"
And so we drank for hours...
Otto, face flushed beet red, clapped his hands.
"Red Rose rounded up a ton of top-shelf ladies tonight, they say. Leave your wallets—we won't need 'em. Don't weigh down your belts."
He led the charge, and the others followed like zombies, single file.
'That was supposed to be my job.'
The afterparty left just me, Lucia, and Karin.
Karin barely seemed tipsy in the mad revelry, just a slight flush...
But Lucia was another story.
"Senior Karin, how much did Lucia drink? Looked like two whole bottles."
"No way I'd let a lightweight like her chug that much. Just three glasses, and she's like this."
Face bright red, suspicious smile, droopy ears, tail swishing happily.
Clinging to Karin's shoulder like a cat, acting all cutesy...
"Karin sis, sis... hehe..."
Karin pretended it was a hassle, but smiled faintly...
And gently stroked Lucia's head with one hand.
"Okay, Lucia. Time to head back and sleep. You've had enough."
Lucia perked her tail straight up and shook her head.
"Hehe, wanna drink more..."
Leave her be, and who knows what state she'd end up in—I approached gently, scooping her up princess-style...
"Hundred-Man Platoon Leader?"
Seeing me, Lucia stood, rubbed her cheek against my chest furiously.
"Hehe, so warm. Makes my heart all cozy."
The tighter she hugged, the more her F—no, bigger—breasts pressed against my stomach and little buddy, teasing relentlessly.
"Platoon Leader, just one more glass? Feeling so good. Pretty please?"
I nearly caved.
"No."
She hugged harder, tail swishing.
"Then brush my tail later? Fox beastkin do it for family, hehe..."
Tail grooming? Piece of cake...
But with drunk Lucia...
'She'd 100% demand wild sex after.'
Not great for the body in that state.
"Fine, fine. I'll do it. But once we're back at the barracks, you sleep quietly."
"Yesss..."
I carried her princess-style back to the barracks...
And spent the night wrestling boiling lava-like urges.