Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Victory and Rewards (1)
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The next day, we attended the banquet prepared by the count. Everyone lost their minds at the sight of the spread.
"Are we really allowed to enjoy all this? They're not gonna make us pay up later or punish us, right, fuck?"
"Sigh, you dumbass country bumpkin pricks. Don't you get that Count Zaltzheim set this out for us to eat?"
"Watch your damn mouth, punk."
Whole roasted pigs turning on spits, steaks fresh off the grill from the chefs right there on the spot, all sorts of exotic dishes, soft loaves of newly baked bread, and oak barrels overflowing with beer and wine.
It was shocking enough that our favorite foods were piled high, not just stacked but heaped like mountains.
But on top of that, it looked like they'd resolved to properly entertain the White Beard Mercenary Corps. Village girls were bustling back and forth, trays of drinks in hand.
We couldn't manhandle them, of course, but with mutual consent, there was plenty of fun to be had...
This place was pure heaven for mercenaries—booze, meat, and women, all in one spot. A place worth killing or dying for.
I wasn't all that interested in any women besides Karin and Lucia, but my squad mates? They'd already gone cross-eyed at the sight of those skirts fluttering around.
"Ugh, you sex-crazed, horned-up bastards."
A moment later, one cute girl came right up and hooked her arm through mine.
In that instant, through my clothes, the soft, fluffy give of her breast pressed against my arm.
"You're Squad Leader Martin Meyer, right?"
She was suddenly all friendly, and it threw me for a loop.
"Yeah. What's up?"
"The count said to take special care of you. This way."
With that, she tugged my arm, flashing a bright smile as she led me to our reserved spot.
The other squad seats were just lonely wooden chairs cobbled together, but ours had nice, plush cushions.
My guys spotted them and piped up in excited voices.
"Squad Leader, we can really sit here?"
A girl had come over and specifically shown us to our seats—what was there to question? Just sit.
But these hairy dudes were staring at me with big, shiny eyes, spouting that nonsense. Some wordless feeling washed over me.
Probably 'cause they'd scraped by at the bottom their whole lives, never been treated like this before. Felt awkward, the dumbasses.
I smacked Baker in the back and laid it out.
"Without our mercenary corps—hell, without Martin Squad—the Zaltzheim count's house would've been royally fucked. This? It's both something to be grateful for and straight-up what we earned. What're you waiting for? You're the stars of this feast today, you bastards."
That lit them up. They scrambled to their seats and started wolfing down the food like animals.
Men chowing down like they were possessed—it should've looked ridiculous, but somehow it was kinda cute.
My subordinates. Guess 'cause they're my boys—cringey way to put it, but yeah.
As I watched them stuff their faces, Baker scratched his head and looked my way.
"What're you staring at? Something on my face?"
"Nah. Just... thanks to you, Squad Leader, we get to live it up like this. I'm seriously grateful."
...A grown-ass man saying shit like that? My nose stung a bit, wasn't a bad feeling, but spacetime itself cramped up.
Embarrassed, I channeled a bit of aura and cracked him over the head.
"Fuck, dude, why you gotta say such cringey shit? Who's keeling over?"
"It's how I really feel, Squad Leader."
"Shut your trap and eat. Thanks for sticking out my shitty drills to the end. And for backing me up when I went feral like a wild boar. If you hadn't kept up, I'd be dead from yesterday too. Thanks, you bastards."
This was the real deal.
That first battle, when I was going ham? Truth be told, I didn't trust my rookie squad, so I held back—enough that even if shit went south, I could solo my way out.
But the rookies, Baker and the rest, huffed and puffed better than I expected, sticking to my six. Let me ramp it up day by day.
By yesterday, it was do-or-die anyway, so I could trust them enough to dive in.
'Worth every bit of grinding them.'
As I praised the crew, Karin shot me a smile, lips curling up.
Then she whispered, just loud enough for me.
"Our Squad Leader Martin's weak to this stuff, huh."
"Kinda embarrassing, Senior."
"Gotta get used to it, Squad Leader. Otherwise, every 'thanks' from the men'll have you cringing out."
True. The higher I climb, the more of this I'll hear. Gotta force myself to adapt.
Still, right now? I wanted to share the awkwardness with Karin.
"Really wanted to thank you, Senior Karin. When the rookies were screwing up, your arrows from the back saved a few—like keeping Baker and the rest's heads on their shoulders. You're the only one for me, as expected."
Riding the vibe, it came out sounding like a confession if you squinted.
Karin's face went beet red—even visible in the candlelight—and she ducked her head quietly.
'Maybe it's time to shoot my shot?'
The thought crossed my mind.
But if I went overboard solo and bombed? Chance to claim her could vanish into the horizon.
'Deep breath. Calm down... calm. The perfect push-pull moment's coming.'
To settle my buzzing nerves, I scanned the surroundings quick.
A bit away, Lucia kept peeking my way—like a kid dying to show off her treasure.
A second staring, head turn, repeat. All while her ears and tail swished away.
Her face was cute and honest about her feelings, but that tail and those ears? Screaming for praise louder than words.
Guess that's why folks go nuts for tails and ears.
"Lucia."
I called her name, and her ears and tail wagged faster.
"Yes?"
"Thanks for doing great. Without you, we all might've ended up dead."
"No, it was all you, Squad Leader..."
Strictly speaking, yeah, I carried the squad hardest.
I personally beheaded at least 30-40, plus two high-ranking knight commanders.
But as leader? Expected.
Still, no Lucia magic? That first spear clash with the enemy would've wrecked me, and a ton of rookies would've bought it.
'Initial collision's where the most bodies drop—when the enemy's defense is tightest.'
"My wins are mine. Yours are yours. And if you hadn't fired that magic right on my cue? No way we'd punch into their lines easy."
"R-Really?"
She hesitated, but her eyes, attention, and tail all begged for more.
'Too damn cute how readable she is. Whole different charm from Karin.'
"Put a mage through stamina drills and tough PT. You kept up—I'm genuinely grateful. Let you deliver exactly the support we needed."
"Squad Leader..."
Tears streamed down—maybe all that pent-up hurt from never getting real props before.
Knowing her backstory even roughly, it hit pitiful. I placed a hand on her head, stroked gently.
"Just keep it up like this. You're the best."
I glanced at the guys around, and Baker and the others jumped in praising her.
"That fireball was badass, Senior Lucia!"
"Your booms broke those shitty phalanxes and the count's hired goons—let us smash through safe!"
"Looking forward to more!"
My cue or not, Lucia gradually stopped crying, smiled with her tail swishing.
"That much praise is embarrassing..."
Her tail kept begging for more, though.
So I went point by point over all her good work, praising long and steady.
'Can't do without you.'
'Lucia's the best—gonna be an even greater mage.'
'Keep trusting and counting on you.'
Till she wouldn't get sick of it.
Just as I was easing open her heart, Captain Dalton—who'd been boozing it up with the real nobles—showed, grabbed my nape, and yanked me out.
I tensed—what'd gone wrong...
"Punk, the bigwigs wanna see your mug. Wipe your face and come on in."
Looked like the nobles had a real interest in me.