Chapter 85
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Aftermath (1)
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Marseille Castle, Golden Rooster Inn.
Normally, this was a lodging for mercenaries, merchants, and the occasional penniless knight.
But right now, only our squad was staying here.
They said that until we left the castle, this inn was exclusively for us Martin Squad members—a true luxury, to be sure.
"The festival kicking off today and running from here on out is all thanks to the food the Marseille citizens voluntarily provided, so eat up without leaving a scrap! And if you're horny, don't grab some random woman and start humping away—if you're caught, it's the headsman's axe!"
I'd thrown in that "voluntarily" bit, but come on—what Marseille citizen would hand over food to us occupying soldiers out of the goodness of their hearts?
Obviously, it was just protection money. They'd shelled out massive sums of cash and food for free to folks like Pappenheim and the rest of the occupation forces, begging us not to loot the place.
'Still, calling it "extorted protection money" would be like spitting in a perfectly laid-out feast.'
And if we didn't take it, every citizen and commoner in the city would be trembling in fear, wondering when they'd get hit with the full combo of looting, rape, and murder.
You could call it a fair trade—both sides getting what they needed.
At my words, all the mercenaries in our squad raised their glasses high.
"To the White Beard Mercenary Corps' victory and the day every one of us in the Martin Squad strikes it rich—cheers!"
"Cheers!"
With that, they downed their one-pint (473ml) beer mugs in a flash.
"Damn, they drink fast."
The guys started wolfing down meat and chugging beer like possessed demons—or like they were pigs at a trough.
They were gluttons at every opportunity even on normal days, but slap "free" on it, and it was chaos.
Thinking back to how they'd shone in that godforsaken valley last time, their clear ON/OFF switch gave them a touch of human charm.
"More booze over here! Keep the meat grilling and coming!"
"You moron, wait your turn. Ugh, you pig. No wonder your gut's bursting."
"Wanna fight?"
"Back yard, punk. Today, this senior mercenary's gonna show you that even if our ranks are the same, I'm a cut above."
And just like that, they started bickering and actually headed for the back yard.
I darted over and grabbed both their shoulders, channeling aura into my grip.
"Milton, Zaltz—both of you, freeze. Fighting drunk in private is a rules violation. You wanna ruin a perfect day like this, sleep it off, and wake up to double whippings tomorrow morning? Solve your hangovers with the lash? That your kink?"
"Agh, shit. Squad Leader, my bad."
"Hah, it's a good day, so you're off the hook."
At that, they sat back down like the fight never happened, kept tilting their glasses, threw arms around each other's shoulders, burst into loud laughter, and started bragging with wildly exaggerated tales of valor.
Women dragged in from the city kept bringing out meat and booze, handing it to the mercenaries.
Every now and then, some creep with wandering hands would grope a breast or an ass...
"This one's got some nice, sturdy size."
Pulling the kind of sleazy move you'd expect from a department head who lives for office harassment.
It made me grimace a bit personally, but the others hooted and hollered like it was the best thing ever.
"Hah, loosening up your hands before you go pop one after getting sloshed?"
"Idiot. Touch a female mercenary wrong, and you lose a wrist. But here? A little grope gets a pass. Not taking advantage would be the real loss."
"True that. This guy's got some sense..."
Hey, no concepts like human rights or sexual harassment here, so I couldn't touch that.
But rape or serious assault? We'd have to round 'em up and execute them to keep city order.
Like that, I made the rounds of each ten-man squad, drinking along the way, when Baker asked,
"I figured you'd be cozying up with Ten-Man Leader Karin, Squad Leader. She's not around, though. Something up?"
There was almost never any friction between Karin and me—at least not yet.
Except when I got too obvious ogling some girl or overdid it, and the next day she'd sulk with a "That was too much."
"Hans Hundred-Man Leader dragged Dalton Captain into it, so she got summoned. If not for Lucia, it'd have been total wipeout—not just me, the whole squad."
"... Ah, so she's testifying for the trial over that."
You might wonder about trials in a mercenary company, but we're a proper army with rules. We don't just execute someone who crossed a line without witnesses or evidence.
If there's major misconduct or a crime, we lock 'em up, and high-ups like the captain or vice-captain act as judges to hand down punishment.
Of course, that needs evidence and witnesses to testify.
Since the fight was on that hilltop, Karin had a clear view of Hans Hundred-Man Squad's movements and ours, so she got called as a witness.
Shit, thinking about it just pisses me off more.
That dog stalled and pulled tricks instead of coming, nearly sending us all to the afterlife—or Deus's heaven.
To cool off, I slammed a shot and said,
"Because of that bastard, we barely survived a near-death scrape. Archers and mages said he could've come easy but didn't."
"Hah, that's not done between fellow mercenaries. And a Hundred-Man Leader, no less?"
"That's why he's toast soon."
A Hundred-Man Leader deliberately holding back support?
No excuse—that's a death sentence.
So they'll gather more evidence and execute him in a few days.
"Hundred-Man Leader's a goner, mark my words. That guy's too much. Last time, he even called us—not even his own squad—to set up his camp."
"He did?"
"Don't get me started. And another time..."
Baker and the guys around started spilling all the dirt on Hans.
Not quite as bad as withholding reinforcements, but enough stories to make you question the man's sanity.
Ordering our non-subordinates to work, skimming our share of rare rations to give his boys more, and so on.
Here I was, in the middle of a victory bash where we should be stuffing our faces and partying hard, but all I got were rage-inducing tales.
Then Lucia staggered over, tongue thick with drink, sniffling a bit.
"Urp, Squad Leader, Squad Leader."
Who fed her booze? Or did she down it herself?
I froze for a second, but Lucia plopped right onto my lap like it was her reserved seat.
Sober Lucia was super cautious even asking for a head pat as praise, but booze had made her bold.
'Not that I'm complaining.'
I didn't push her off, letting her settle in.
The feel of her ass on my thigh was great, and her fox beastkin's fluffy, cute tail swishing and brushing against me was even better.
"Hehe, I like Squad Leader."
Her fox ears atop her head twitched like they were saying, "Pet me already?"
I stroked them as gently as I could.
Some guys watching clutched their stomachs.
"Ow, Squad Leader... stomachache. Gotta hit the john."
The tone-deaf stragglers got herded away by Baker.
"I promised these idiots I'd show 'em a good time with girls tonight. Whoops, gotta snag the pretty ones quick..."
And just like that, my surroundings cleared, leaving just me and Lucia. She started acting all cat-like and cutesy.
"Squad Leader, back in Pastak... I thought you were gone. I was so shocked and worried. That's why I pushed myself to try intermediate magic—I needed stronger spells..."
I'd already heard that story the day after the battle.
Though with all the post-battle cleanup running me ragged, I hadn't gotten to congratulate or thank her yet...
"I kept failing at magic beyond my limit. I got so impatient. But thinking of you kept me going."
Lucia pressed closer against me.
Karin smelled fresh like forest leaves, but Lucia had this sweet, grape-like scent.
And her tail against me was heating up.
It'd been just warm before, but now it was fever-hot, like a forehead in the grip of a cold.
'I heard fox beastkin get hot when they're in heat...'
Lucia giggled slyly.
"My desperate need to save you made me an intermediate mage. That's when I realized—I can't live without you, Squad Leader... I'll talk to Ten-Man Leader Karin myself."
Her voice cracked with emotion.
"Please accept me."
Hearing that, I whooped internally.
Last time, I'd gotten Karin's verbal okay for Lucia, but...
Her going straight to Karin would land better than me pushing for marriage again.
Plus, having her confess first—leading to us getting together—was way better than me doing it after thinking it'd work.
I stroked her head even more tenderly.
"Not sure if you know, but I like you too, Lucia. Love you. But until we sort it with Karin..."
"You love me too, Squad Leader? For real? I half-expected it, but I was still doubting. You always had that happy-looking Ten-Man Leader Karin by your side. But now I'm thrilled. You love me too—what do I do? I get it, we can't until you talk to her, right? Don't worry. Leave convincing her to me."
She beamed, then pressed her lips to mine.
"I'll be your woman too, since we like each other... This much is okay, right...?"
... Knowing Lucia's personality, she'd die of embarrassment under the covers tomorrow once sober.
Celebrating my successful conquest of Lucia, I figured I'd cough up some bonus cash from the men's pockets to send them off to a good spot...
Then the inn door burst open, and our company's admin officer, Albert, appeared.
"Senior Squad Leader Martin, Captain Dalton's summoning you. Something about Hundred-Man Leader Hans."