Chapter 109
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: 25. Master's Grace. (4)
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"I'll be leaving soon."
Yufi, the master of Odnune, said this while gazing out the window at the clear sky. Allen, who had been serving her a cup of weak tea, slowly turned to look at her.
"......You can stay here as long as you like."
Honestly, Allen was just as greedy for talent as Viola or Elizabeth, so he couldn't help but covet her. Especially since he was holding her disciple practically hostage.
...But the master firmly shook her head.
"No need. Even freeloading has its limits. I've seen how my disciple is doing, so it's time for me to go."
"Odnune will be disappointed."
"If she were that kind of girl, she would've come looking for me ages ago. ...And a nosy meddler like me knows when to bow out gracefully."
The Blind Saintess was already sick to death of her master's brutal training lately. Truth be told, if the master left, she'd probably be cheering inwardly with both fists raised.
"She's still got a lot to learn, but...... please take good care of her."
"I should be the one asking that. I've received so much help from Odnune. It's all thanks to her excellent master."
The master smiled oddly. He might not excel at much else, but when it came to flattery, he was slyly masterful. ......No wonder her innocent disciple had fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.
"So, you're heading back to the Holy Kingdom?"
"No. I've got a quick stop elsewhere."
"I see."
"......If you ever find yourself in the capital, pay a visit to Prophet Aloa. I'm curious what she'd say about you."
"Haha, what would there be to say?"
"Who knows? There might be something."
Yufi's gaze was sharp, as if peering right through Allen.
"Anyway, thank you for putting up with me all this time."
"No need to thank us. ......Oh, and here."
Allen handed over a small leather pouch. Last time it had been more like a bribe, but this was just traveling money for the long road ahead.
"It's not much, but use it for expenses on your way......"
The master gladly puffed out a cloud of smoke and snatched it up.
"I'll gladly accept the gesture."
"All thanks to how well you raised your disciple."
"Ho ho, indeed."
And so they parted ways, with Master Yufi leaving alone at the crack of dawn the next day. Without even a final goodbye to her disciple. ......Or rather, it was more accurate to say the Blind Saintess slept in too late that morning.
Of course, the disciple didn't mope or anything when her master left. If anything, she seemed even happier. No more of that hellish training.
The one who was actually disappointed was the gum-chewing swordmaster. She'd sparred with Yufi whenever possible, and it had been incredibly beneficial. Finding someone of that caliber around here wasn't easy.
Anyway, with the Blind Saintess's master vanishing like the wind just as she'd appeared, the lingering tension deflated like a spent cock, and the mercenary corps returned to its usual atmosphere.
The Pingchang Saintess roamed the city reveling in her freedom, while the gum-chewing swordmaster reflected on Yufi's teachings and threw herself even harder into training.
......Of course, not everything was quite back to normal. Especially for Natasha, that friendship kiss had been seared into her mind like a brand.
To exaggerate a bit, the gum-chewing swordmaster was like she'd caught some demon plague—she couldn't stop thinking about the kiss with Captain Allen even for a moment. She'd held out through sheer willpower so far, but she was reaching her limit.
-Suppressing it too much won't help you.
That was Yufi's advice. She hadn't singled out desire specifically, but it probably included that.
...Yeah, suppressing it won't make it go away...!
If it was interfering with her training that much, resolving it properly was part of training too.
It took considerable resolve to make up her mind, but there was no other choice. ......She was going crazy just thinking about it constantly.
Thus, Natasha steeled herself and waited for sunset. Using a short break before dinner, she arranged a quick meeting with Captain Allen in his room.
"What's up?"
From the captain's perspective, managing his members smoothly was essential. He had to kindly accept any request for a private talk.
In truth, Natasha agonized over whether to speak up even now, but she finally confessed to the captain's gentle question.
"There's...... a small issue with my training...!"
"Oh dear, that won't do. If there's anything I can help with, I'll do my utmost."
"It's causing a huge drain on my mental strength...... It's getting tricky."
"Tell me. What is it?"
Natasha stood ramrod straight like the epitome of a warrior, forcing a calm expression, but she couldn't stop her face from flushing with embarrassment.
"I keep...... thinking about it."
"...It?"
".........That thing."
Allen didn't obtusely ask what she meant. Instead, he replied with a knowing smile.
"...I see."
She didn't ask what he thought she should do. It meant she was leaving it entirely up to him.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No! Absolutely not. It wasn't a mistake. I liked it too. I liked i...... Ah."
There, Natasha could no longer maintain her calm facade. Her posture stayed perfectly straight, but she hung her head, unable to meet the captain's eyes.
"So, you want to do it again. ......Right?"
The gum-chewing swordmaster finally gave a tiny nod after a long pause. Allen grinned broadly.
......Definitely, curing that demon plague had maxed out her favorability. She was this worked up over just one kiss, and he hadn't even done much.
Honestly, it was a relief for Allen. Holding onto a valuable talent like this wasn't easy with money alone. That's why the [Guild Master] system naturally included favorability management. Max it out to keep talent from jumping to other mercenary corps. ......Though sometimes money had to crush it anyway, high favorability reduced that risk a lot.
Of course, Allen was overflowing with willingness to provide attentive aftercare to Natasha, who would play a key role in the corps going forward. Whatever she asked for, he'd do it. ......As long as it didn't cost too much.
A kiss? He'd give her a hundred, a thousand...!
And for Allen, with [Lust Fiend] and [Womanizer] activating, it was no loss at all. If anything, it was a win.
If he'd sold his love for 40 gold coins, surely he could sell a kiss...!
Anyway, at Natasha's request, Allen eagerly sucked and nibbled on her plump lips. While stroking her back and kneading her ass.
The gum-chewing swordmaster lost herself completely in the kiss, her face a mess.
......Why had she insisted on holding back something so simple...!
Something big changed inside Natasha.
As befitting Chapter 2, the continent was wracked with pain from the mages' atrocities everywhere.
Devil contracts.
Gates to the spirit realm.
Summoning magic.
Fake gold.
Narcotics.
Power struggles.
They unleashed centuries of knowledge hoarded in the Mage Tower willy-nilly. Not all mages used it purely for selfish gain, but the majority who lost their money, status, and power overnight flailed desperately to reclaim them.
The reports flying into Vermandua daily were all about mages' misdeeds. Even the northern regions, which tabooed magic, weren't spared.
Rumors even said the worst bandit gang, the Martol Bandits—who already had several mages—were now commanding magical beasts too. Total chaos.
For all these reasons, lords from cities across the continent, east, west, north, and south, flooded Vermandua with commissions. The incidents caused by mages were so massive that local forces alone couldn't handle them.
Even the south, where mercenary skills lagged the most, was suffering badly from an overly powerful magical beast summoned by some lunatic mage.
In particular, Count Eberheim, who ruled the central city of Verher, was inextricably tied to the magic realm due to his copper mines. Because of it, Verher had been unable to approach the mines for months, driven off by monsters maddened by the magical beasts' influence.
Facing massive losses, Verher's lord had no choice but to take drastic measures. Send to the mercenary city of Vermandua for a powerful corps to resolve the crisis.
...And so, Charlotte, daughter of House Eberheim, led her mercenary corps on the arduous month-and-a-half journey and finally arrived in Vermandua.
She headed straight to the guild house and visited 10-Strong Viola's office. Being from a count's house herself, Viola the Captain graciously granted her an audience.
The commission was to stabilize the magic realm around the mines. Viola had already heard rumors of a powerful magical beast summoned in the south, giving her headaches too.
"Understood. I'll make some inquiries for now. Ideally someone familiar with southern politics."
"Thank you."
Viola the Captain specially invited Charlotte Captain to her hideout. Just in case, to build connections for the south.
......And not even a day later, two corps accepted the commission. One of whose captains was even from the south...
"If you'd like to meet them this evening, I can invite them."
"I'd be grateful if you did."
Charlotte was a bit tense but tried hard not to lose her composure.
And so the evening appointment arrived.
Viola and Charlotte shared light conversation in the parlor, awaiting their guests.
"These are people I trust completely, so rest easy."
"If Viola Captain says so, what do I have to worry about?"
Mid-conversation, the butler entered and whispered something in Viola's ear.
"Ah, one has arrived."
And into the parlor came a man.
Charlotte rose to greet him, only to freeze in shock upon recognizing who it was.
"How have you been, Viola Captain? ......And."
The man first gave a warm greeting to Viola Captain, then turned to the statue-still Charlotte with a broad smile.
"It's been a long time, Charlotte Captain."
......Charlotte had dramatically reunited with Captain Allen, who had suddenly vanished without a trace.