Subduing the Snake's Head Hergabudel (1)
I stared at her intently before pouncing on Marte. The fact that I couldn't remember a single thing from last night left me feeling so wronged that I resolved to make sure I remembered every detail this time as I began to conquer her body.
***
"I saw everything yesterday! I saw it all with my own eyes!"
I had gone to Adelia's office in the morning after receiving an urgent summons, only to find her making a huge fuss right from the start.
"The sight of you and Madame Marte disappearing somewhere in that carriage was so unsightly, like watching a pair of beasts in heat!"
"You saw that?" I replied casually, and Sinclair jumped in.
"Did you think we wouldn't know? Lady Adelia and I witnessed the whole scene and had plenty to say about it. People really do play according to their looks."
"I was just meeting her for work since she offered to sponsor our mercenary group."
"I don't care what you do when you're seducing women."
"Then why are you making such a racket first thing in the morning?"
"Because I don't like it. Seeing that gigolo face of yours taking advantage of innocent women!"
"Madame Marte is a woman of impeccable character and high virtue. She would never fall for such debauchery. Yet even she was taken in... Honestly, you surprised me."
This was absurd. She was the one who made the first move!
"I'm not some con artist who preys on women. What exactly do you take me for?"
"A gigolo!"
"A playboy!"
Adelia leaned in close, staring straight into my eyes as she spoke with emphasis.
"If you think I'm the kind of foolish woman who would fall for that handsome face of yours, you're sorely mistaken. Let me be perfectly clear—I have not the slightest interest in you. Not at all."
"...Who said anything?"
"For the record, I have no interest either. Not even a flea's worth."
Dealing with these two women first thing in the morning was exhausting. Playing along with their antics was tedious and annoying, so I scratched the back of my head.
"Fine, fine. Just tell me why you called me here."
"Is that all?"
"What? Isn't the conversation over?"
Adelia, standing by the window, furrowed her brow in displeasure.
"I told you I have no interest in you."
"You did."
"So is that the end of it?"
"......?"
What was she expecting?
"What am I supposed to do about it? You said you weren't interested."
"I said I have no interest, not that I dislike you."
"Then I'll just assume you don't want my attention. What more is there to say?"
"If you politely ask me to take an interest, I could spare you a tiny bit of it."
Had she not sobered up from yesterday's drinking? Why was she being so inconsistent? I answered firmly.
"I don't need your interest."
"Good heavens! To say you don't need Lady Adelia's interest—you must be full of yourself! If it were me, I wouldn't know what to do with myself!"
Sinclair shouted in disbelief, and Adelia asked incredulously,
"Why? Why don't you need my interest?"
"Because we're from different social classes. Even if you took an interest in me, you'd just end up giving me more annoying tasks like ordering a slave around."
"Who said anything about ordering you around?"
Adelia's voice took on a slightly irritable edge. If I pushed any further, she might come charging at me and grab me by the collar like before.
"Let's drop the unnecessary talk, shall we? Let's discuss work."
Seeing me respond so half-heartedly, Adelia finally exploded. She stormed over, breathing heavily, grabbed my shoulders as I sat in the chair, and shook me so violently I thought my neck would snap.
"Why is this unnecessary talk?! Are you ignoring me?! Discriminating against people? What makes me inferior to Madame Marte?!"
"M-my neck hurts. Stop shaking me!"
"Hurry up and ask for my interest! Ask for it! Beg me and say you'd die without Lady Adelia's attention!"
"Why should I?!"
"Don't forget that we're employing your mercenary group! If you want to make money, you'd better grovel!"
She was right—money!
"Ugh, fine. Give me your interest, your interest."
"Say it louder and properly!"
Aigoo, this was such a pain.
"Hurry!"
Adelia stopped shaking my shoulders and stared intently at my lips, her eyes full of intensity. All I wanted was to play some classical music, sink into a soft sofa, and enjoy some meditation, but she kept pestering me noisily. Since it was exhausting, I decided to end it quickly. Money was important, so I'd play along with this childish game for a moment.
I moistened my lips and spoke clearly.
"Lady Adelia. Please take an interest in me."
Clap, clap, clap. Applause echoed through the room. Sinclair clapped with a satisfied expression.
"Congratulations, Lady Adelia. Even Captain Hyunwoo has finally fallen for your dazzling beauty."
"Hmph! You should have done that from the start."
Adelia folded her arms haughtily and returned to her seat.
"I didn't want to give you my attention, but you clearly asked for it with your own mouth. So from now on, I'll take an interest in you."
"I heard it clearly too, so I'll serve as a witness."
"You two forced me into this..."
"Now then, let me explain why I summoned you."
My protest was completely ignored. Adelia smoothly changed the subject as if nothing had happened.
"Listen carefully. This is important. An urgent letter arrived from my father early this morning."
Adelia's father was the commander of the Wittelsbach Knights, from what I'd heard. An urgent letter from such a high-ranking person must contain something significant enough to affect even our Kether Mercenary Group.
"What did it say?"
I listened quietly. She spoke with a serious expression.
"His Majesty the King is planning to visit Nobern soon to inspect the progress of the southern bandit subjugation operation and receive an interim report."
"Huh?"
I was startled.
"The King?"
Sinclair interjected.
"You must not have learned proper etiquette, coming from a lowly bandit group. It's not 'the King,' but 'His Majesty the King.' It's none other than the ruler of our kingdom, His Majesty the King, who is coming in person. Therefore, we must expedite the bandit subjugation even more than before."
"When is he coming?"
"He'll depart from the capital in a week, so it will take at least a month."
"A month... hmm..."
"Within that time, we must completely eliminate the remaining four bandit groups in Nobern."
There were currently four known bandit groups left: the Wild Wolves of Nobern Bison, Indestructible Kevin, the Two Shadows Lapilwood, and the Snake's Head Hergabudel.
Adelia continued.
"We don't have much time. In a month, not only His Majesty the King but also the six knights dispatched to the southern region will all gather here for the interim report meeting."
Sinclair clenched her fist as if steeling herself.
"To uphold Lady Adelia's dignity, we must turn Nobern into a clean and beautiful territory free of crime before everyone arrives! Let's hurry with the bandit subjugation!"
The schedule had been moved up. There was no time to relax. The next day, we set out to subjugate the bandit group led by the Snake's Head Hergabudel. Our total forces consisted of 60 members of the Lion Heart Unit, 50 elite members from the unnamed unit under their command, 21 members of the Valkyria Mercenary Group, and 5 members from our own group.
Seira, the leader of the Valkyria Mercenary Group, didn't comment on our small numbers but seemed curious about each individual's skills. She approached me with a blank expression and asked about the experience and primary weapons of not only me but also Dana, Pasvachio, Unia, and Epibia.
Thinking it was simply a warrior's curiosity, I kindly explained each member's background. After listening attentively, Seira delivered a cutting remark at the end—not quite an insult, but close.
"You look like a pathetic and pitiful mercenary group now, but someday you'll see the light. Keep it up. Though there's no guarantee you'll succeed even later."
She had a talent for making us feel miserable while pretending to comfort us. Her tone seemed arrogant from the first meeting, and I wondered why she spoke that way. However, as we moved together to subjugate the bandits, I encountered her often and began to understand her character. She was a blunt type who delivered sharp remarks casually with her doll-like appearance.
"The Kether Mercenary Group looks like nothing more than a tag-along between the Lion Heart Unit and our group. But that's fine. You'll at least serve as a meat shield and provide some minor help. Let's do our best."
Anyway, the Hergabudel we were heading to subjugate was a cunning and treacherous figure, hence his nickname "Snake's Head." We advanced smoothly, avoiding or dismantling the traps and pitfalls set up everywhere, but upon reaching the bandits' stronghold, the situation turned dire.
The bandits' base was located on an island in the middle of a lake. The island was about the size of a soccer field. The deepest part of the lake only reached chest height for an adult, so crossing wasn't particularly difficult. However, the problem was that the bandits had rigged the lakebed.
The lakebed surrounding the island was densely planted with sharply pointed stakes. The Valkyria Mercenary Group, wearing expensive high-defense armor, boasted that they could easily ignore the stakes with their plate boots and cross, but a bigger problem remained.
The bandits had stationed a considerable number of archers in preparation for our crossing and even possessed two crudely made catapults. Moreover, fearing a ranged attack themselves, they had taken dozens of hostages from a nearby village, hung them high on poles, and threatened to kill them all if we attacked.
"Is there no way to proceed?"
Adelia set up camp around the lake and pondered deeply.
"Even as bandits, they know how to use the terrain to their advantage for defense. Quite clever fellows."
Sinclair bit her lip, unable to come up with a good plan either. I was in the same boat, as was Seira. Without the hostages, we could have managed something, but with them in the bandits' hands, no good ideas came to mind. Furthermore, since the stronghold was in a completely open area rather than a forest or mountains, a stealthy nighttime infiltration was out of the question.
"We don't have much time."
After careful consideration, Adelia spoke as if she had made up her mind.
"If we're held up here, a month will pass in an instant without accomplishing anything. To achieve a swift victory, some sacrifices are inevitable. We'll strike their stronghold tonight."