Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Victory and Its Fruits (1)
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White Beard Mercenary Corps, Martin's tent.
Here, Karin was tending to Martin.
"Martin, you idiot! Why'd you come back so beat up...?"
Even as she said it, Karin gazed at Martin's sturdy frame with an expression like she might burst into tears.
The bruises mottling his skin in angry red and purple splotches told the tale of just how grueling the battle had been.
'If I'd known it'd be like this, I should've learned more from the herbalists back home...'
Karin regretted that all she'd done was pull out the arrows and apply some hasty herbal first aid—she had no real knowledge of proper treatment.
'Martin...'
She gently stroked his face.
The rough, hardened look of a mercenary was gone, replaced by a faint flush, and Karin looked at him with pity, letting out a deep sigh.
"You said you'd stay by my side, so why make me worry like this, you fool."
Even as she spoke, Karin's eyes reddened and a few tears fell.
"Still, thank you for coming back victorious and safe."
With that, Karin quietly placed her hand on Martin's face and began caressing it.
His prominent nose, sharp yet thick eyebrows, jawline chiseled like it had been carved from stone.
She'd always thought he was handsome deep down since the first time she saw him, but now he looked like a work of art.
Even the way he breathed peacefully in sleep felt endearing.
"The priest who treated you said there's no danger to your life now, and you'll wake up soon enough."
As if seizing the opportunity, Karin began exploring Martin's body with her hands.
From his face, down to his collarbone, then slowly to his chest.
'Warm, but so firm. Guess that's what makes him different from me—being a man.'
And so, over the course of thirty minutes, Karin touched Martin's body, her ears turning bright red by the end.
"......You won't know since you're asleep, right?"
Surrendering to the lewd thrill, she slowly brought her face closer to press her lips to his.
10cm, 5cm, 3cm...
The closer she got, the more wildly Karin's heart pounded, the unfamiliar sensation and pleasure exciting her.
"Yeah, Martin risked his life fighting for me. A little reward like this is fine."
Growing a touch more honest with her feelings, she carefully brought her lips to his.
Experiencing her first kiss, Karin felt a light thrill from it alone, and drunk on the pleasure, she moved to try something more intense.
"Is that bastard Martin awake?"
Hearing that, Karin shot upright and quickly wiped Martin's mouth.
"He's still sleeping."
"Yeah? A bunch of assholes are looking for this damn bastard. Hell, several even begged me for just one peek at his face. Shit, why do I have to clean up after this prick?"
Karin couldn't help but chuckle at that.
"Captain, if you're just gonna say stuff like that, at least hide that grin reaching your ears."
Dalton snorted and whipped his head away.
"Shut it. I'm the damn captain, and I'm sick of playing babysitter for some platoon leader. Meanwhile, Heinz and the others are boozing it up with whores—what kinda bullshit is this?"
"Then at least start with smiling..."
"Still, the kid boosted our rep after stirring up trouble for your sake, so I can't help grinning. Honestly, we cashed in selling off that Viscount Bishi prick, but other second-rate outfits pulled off similar feats grabbing nobles too."
Among the mercenary groups that had joined the main force like the White Beard Mercenary Corps, several had captured high-ranking nobles with titles.
Not a huge number—maybe around ten in total.
And even more had racked up achievements far surpassing the capture of a single baron or viscount.
So while Dalton and the White Beard Mercenary Corps had stood out, it wasn't enough to draw massive attention.
But Martin, a mere platoon leader, had crushed Paolo—an Aura Expert on the verge of mastery—and staged that romantic scene of protecting his beloved that knights and nobles went crazy for.
Exaggerating a bit, their current buzz put them on par with top-tier groups boasting over twenty Sword Experts.
'If he can land one big score from here, climbing to first-rate status isn't a pipe dream.'
Karin perked up her ears at that.
"It was already impressive up to now. And the kid just turned twenty—he reached Aura Expert, triggered by protecting his girl? Nobles obsessed with hyping their subordinates' reps lost their minds over it."
That reminded Karin of the banquet at the count's family last time.
Noble ladies swarmed Martin, cooing about his looks, his swordsmanship, how cool he was.
One vixen with modest breasts thrust them at him while slyly guiding his hand toward her rear...
Thinking of it made her start gnawing her lip.
'Other bitches putting their hands on Martin...?'
Dalton just smirked watching her, saying nothing more.
"And the offers rolling in this time? They're big."
"How big?"
Dalton pulled one letter from a stack stamped with golden seals, broke the wax, and handed it to Karin.
"Normally, recruitment offers for mercs are just between me and the guy. But since you and Martin are lovers, I'm making an exception."
Karin blushed inwardly with a smile at that.
But the joy didn't last.
"They're offering Martin a fief? A whole village, even?"
"Keep it down. And this is one of the weakest offers. Shows how much his value's shot up."
Dalton patted her shoulder and whispered.
"Exceptional talent, lion-like courage, the pull to draw people in. That bastard's a genius with it all."
Dalton, the mercenary captain, was the type to bask in his own glory, but he wasn't blind to objective talent.
'Jealous prick. I wasn't half that good at his age.'
Karin smiled but widened her eyes.
"Really?"
"I've served as a senior knight for a count's house and run a merc company—met Sword Masters and big shots like counts. I know talent when I see it. Hell, you think I'd be captain without that eye?"
Karin shook her head at that.
Dalton grinned mischievously.
"I'm just average myself, but that's beside the point. Geniuses like him don't stay single—grab him now, whatever it takes."
"We're already together, you know?"
Dalton chuckled.
"Watch him get snatched by Lucia. Anyway, send him my way when he wakes. Got some things to discuss."
"Got it, Captain."
Before leaving the tent, Dalton glanced back.
"Don't jump him while he's out."
Karin flushed, feeling caught red-handed, and could only bow her head without retort.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A few hours later.
I opened my eyes to find Senior Karin—face flushed red—smiling warmly down at me.
"Martin, how's your body feeling?"
Honestly? Not great at all.
Every little movement sent pain shooting through me from the countless bruises where that eunuch Paolo had pummeled me.
On top of that, muscle soreness like I'd run three straight 42km marathons?
But aside from that, breaking through to Expert had lightened my whole body immensely.
'Way lighter than before.'
Considering my current physical strain dragging down my stats, this was an insane improvement.
"Yeah."
At my short reply, Karin pulled me into a tight hug.
"I'm so glad you're safe. When that Paolo bastard was pounding you one-sidedly, I thought it was over..."
As her chest pressed against me, that signature softness registered.
Part of me wanted to start with a kiss right then and ride the mood.
But I summoned inhuman restraint and held back.
I could push this atmosphere further without issue, but if I did...
'Gotta make her first time perfect, or she won't be eager for more.'
To fully color Karin in my shade, a little patience was needed.
"I confessed first and said I like you, Senior—there's no way I'd go anywhere. I love you, Karin Senior."
She blushed furiously and nodded in agreement.
"I love you too. And please take care of me from now on."
With our promise for the future sealed, once things settled, I could tailor a date to her mood...
Give her the first experience she craved, and she'd gradually sink into sexual pleasure.
'Guys can do it without atmosphere, but girls feel the pleasure including the mood and pre-sex dates.'