Subjugating the Serpent's Head, Helgabüdel (2)
The Valkyria Mercenary Group, outfitted with excellent equipment, would cross the lake on foot while the other units relied on hastily constructed rafts or small ferries to land on the island. The plan was to block the enemy arrows that would rain down like a storm during the crossing using shields as much as possible. No, in my eyes, it could hardly even be called a strategy. It looked more like a reckless, all-or-nothing charge that didn’t care about the sacrifices involved.
I shook my head and raised an objection.
“Fine. Then what about the hostages’ lives, never mind the soldiers’ sacrifices? The moment we launch our attack, those bastards will slaughter every last hostage. Are you okay with that?”
At my question, Adelia paused for a moment before answering.
My face twisted into a deep scowl.
“W-what?”
A flustered Adelia blinked rapidly.
“Why are you getting angry?”
When I raised my voice, Adelia widened her eyes and shot back with equal fury.
Adelia looked somewhat surprised.
“Yes! I’m worried! I’m very worried!”
“……!”
She made an expression of genuine surprise, and her momentum instantly deflated. However, perhaps her pride wouldn’t allow her to yield so easily, because she added with a pout,
“Thank you.”
I gave her a bright smile. Buying time to think was enough. The officers and soldiers who had been watching the argument with tense, held breaths also regained their energy.
Adelia looked somewhat exhausted.
Adelia walked alone to a quiet spot beneath a tree, leaned her back against it, and placed a hand over her chest. Her heart refused to calm down; it was pounding wildly.
She had never once been reprimanded for her behavior while growing up. Yet today, for the first time, she had been scolded. It was an unbelievable experience, but it was real, and the fact that she had been scolded felt strangely fascinating.
The image of him exploding in anger earlier flashed through her mind. Then the sight of him shouting that he was worried about her struck her like lightning, one after another, wrapping around her body. Her heart raced.
Adelia frowned at the unfamiliar sensation.
On my way to the area where our mercenary group was waiting, Seira suddenly stepped in front of me.
Her expression was emotionless, but her tone clearly conveyed annoyance.
“Are you trying to say that we mercenaries should just take the money no matter what our employer does?”
“No. I have no intention of spouting such pathetic nonsense.”
She continued, “What I wanted to say is that your voice was surprisingly loud. I thought only the low-ranking soldiers would bother dealing with the leader of a shabby little mercenary group, yet seeing you speak to Lady Adelia—the supreme commander—on equal footing was quite refreshing. Or should I say, a little shocking.”
“What an arrogant way of speaking. Are you boasting that Lady Adelia has fallen for you?”
“What?”
I frowned slightly at the absurd remark.
“We’re not like that.”
“Even if you aren’t, Lady Adelia might be. Otherwise, I can’t understand why you would have such strong influence in discussions. Honestly, your claim that the hostages’ lives come first was pathetic. It was a statement that fully revealed your inexperience.”
Could there ever be love between a noble and a former bandit? Even if Adelia did like me, the moment her father—the knight commander—found out, I would be torn to pieces. Just imagining it was terrifying. With an expression that said the idea was ridiculous, I walked past her.
From behind, Seira’s voice followed.
What kind of nonsense was this now? Did she not realize she was the one hurting others?
“Yes, yes, I understand~ From now on, I’ll choose my words more carefully~”
I answered half-heartedly and left.
When I reached the spot where our mercenary group was waiting, Pasvachio was chopping wood, and Epibia was skillfully tying cut logs together to build a raft. Unia was a short distance away, tending a campfire and cooking, while Dana sat silently on a rock, stroking a bird perched on her shoulder.
“Epibia is really good with her hands.”
At the sudden sound of my voice, Dana shot to her feet and the bird on her shoulder fluttered into the sky. Epibia, who had been crouching and tightly tying ropes, wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled brightly.
“So that’s why you’re so good at it. But I didn’t order anyone to build a raft. Why are you making one?”
“Lion Heart Unit told us to. An officer came by a little while ago and said since we don’t know when the operation will start, we should make one in advance for our share.”
As soon as Pasvachio finished speaking, he let out a spirited “Hup!” and swung his axe deep into a tree trunk.
“Did anything come up during the meeting? Are we just on standby?”
Unia approached with a ladle in one hand. Having been sitting by the campfire in full armor, her round, full breasts glistened with sweat from the heat.
“The meeting’s been paused for now. It’ll resume in a bit. Just keep waiting for the time being.”
“Really? Guess it’s not going well.”
After speaking, Unia glanced at Dana, who was standing silently beside me, and grinned.
Unia had been making frequent attempts to open Dana’s tightly sealed lips and build a friendship. This was clearly another such effort.
“……”
Dana’s gaze turned toward the distant campfire. She quietly raised her arm and pointed.
“Person?”
“Huh?”
Both Unia and I looked toward the campfire. At some point, a woman in ragged clothes had sat down in front of it and was shamelessly scooping and devouring the boiling soup with a spoon without permission.
“Hey! Who the hell are you!”
Unia shouted and rushed over. I followed right behind her. Even after seeing us, the woman didn’t try to run. She simply looked up with an innocent face and giggled foolishly.
Unia quickly snatched the spoon from her hand.
“How can you just eat without asking? Who are you?”
The woman appeared to be in her mid-twenties. Her hair was a wild mess and her skin was dark and filthy, as if she hadn’t washed in days. Strangely, though, a faint perfume scent wafted from her body. Judging by her appearance, she might be a beggar living in these woods.
I turned to Unia.
“Scoop her a bowl.”
“I only made enough for five people?”
“It’s fine. I don’t eat much anyway.”
“Well, if you say so.”
Unia looked at the woman.
With a smile, Unia filled a bowl to the brim and handed it to her. The woman set it on the ground and began devouring it ravenously, as if possessed.
I waited until she finished eating before speaking.
“My name is Hyunwoo. What’s yours?”
The smell of her burp was awful.
“Do you live in a village near here, Miss Sani?”
“Is there any food at home?”
The village near our encampment was a small, poor settlement with only about thirty households. With no local militia and so few residents, they must have been helpless against the bandit raids.
“When are you going to catch those damn bastards?”
It was difficult to reveal military operation details to civilians. In fact, Sani entering the soldiers’ encampment was already illegal trespassing.
“We’ll wipe them out soon, so go back to the village and wait peacefully.”