Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Rise is on Sick Leave
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“Haat!”
“Haaat!”
Under the blazing sunlight on the wide expanse of sand, men shouted with fighting spirit as they thrust their swords into straw dummies. It was basic combat training to boost the soldiers' battle prowess.
I was swinging my sword diligently right there among them.
“Hat!”
Just six hours ago, I had given Rise a proper schooling. I'd hurried back to the barracks afterward and fallen into a deep sleep, but I hadn't gotten more than a few hours before reveille. At least I'd managed to snag permission for a couple extra hours' sleep since my training session with the Vice Knight Commander had run late.
Honestly, this was a breeze. How many times had I fought through days on end in the warzone without proper rest?
“Daron. Your swordplay's improved a ton! I can see the payoff from training with the Knight Commander.”
One of the watching knights complimented my sword. I was channeling mana into my blade just like Ariana had taught me, and he'd noticed.
“Thank you!”
“Keep pushing forward!”
After sword training wrapped up, the soldiers flopped over with groans of agony. They'd done more running and moving around than usual since morning, and they all looked dead on their feet.
“Daron. Heard you got some praise earlier?”
“Don't get us wrong—we're cool with you doing well, but when you get promoted, don't go making our lives hell, okay?”
Hamill and a few other barracks-mates came over to chat me up. A couple of them were the types who'd bullied my naive old self, but they weren't real villains. Just rough around the edges.
“Hahaha, no bullying from me. But I will drill you hard in training.”
I laughed it off casually, half-joking. No reason to mess with these simple guys. That said, if I ever ended up above them, the hard drilling part was dead serious. Whining like this was too soft, even for regular grunts.
“Heh, not denying the promotion, huh?”
Truth was, I had no clue when a promotion might come. This wasn't wartime, and without some standout merit, skill alone took forever to climb ranks.
“That Tyke asshole's mess aside, you've been racking up praise from the knights lately... Word about you is spreading like wildfire.”
“Must be that special training from the Gold Eagle Knight Order's commander?”
I'd only done it a handful of times, but everyone in camp knew I was getting one-on-one sessions with Ariana Katrin.
“Fuck, I'm jealous. Getting private training from a knockout like that.”
“Daron's too shy for that, but if it were me, I'd make a move.”
“Right? Social status? Who gives a shit. Nail it, and bam—life reversed, hot babe scored!”
Already did.
More than that, these idiots weren't even fazed spouting vulgar daytime filth. What if one of the knights overheard?
“Look at Daron glancing around all nervous. Still a scaredy-cat.”
“We're keeping an eye out too, man.”
They slapped my back and cackled among themselves. Hanging with these guys made me feel like my old, innocent self from way back.
...Not a bad vibe.
Life had been harsh, but guys in the same boat always got each other. In my last loop, rumors I'd tried to rape Ray had kept them away. They were just normal folks; I couldn't expect razor-sharp judgment. But I liked this crowd. They eased the mind more than you'd think. Made the revenge itch fade, even if just for a moment.
“But seriously, you trained last night too?”
“With the Vice Knight Commander, not the top boss?”
“Yeah, saw Daron sneak in at dawn.”
Hamill's words made the soldiers' eyes light up.
“What? What the hell were you doing with the Vice Commander that late?”
Training that late? Plus, guy-girl dynamic—they figured there had to be more to it.
But remembering Rise Salt, they shook their heads.
“Nah, no way. Not that man-hating bitch.”
“You okay? Looked like she called you out 'cause she hates you hanging with the Knight Commander. Beat you under training pretense that late?”
“Tch, figures you'd catch that cunt's eye.”
Rise stories were infamous among the ranks. Apparently, some dumbass grunt had hit on Ariana once, and Rise had thrashed him senseless. Guy spent weeks in bed after...
“Nah. She was pretty serious when it counted.”
“For real? You must have some real potential. Feels like the Gold Eagle Knight Order's dead set on grooming you.”
I didn't spill that I'd fucked Rise. Too risky until my position was solid. One loose-lipped soldier, and it'd blow up if it reached a knight.
“Man... that Vice Commander's got a scary temper, but her body's insane.”
Prime fuck material, for sure.
“Ariana's stacked too. If I were you, I'd be rock hard staring at them—training would suck.”
“Hamill. You don't jerk it thinking of your daughter or whatever?”
“Nah? Seems like he burns it off with workouts.”
“Ugh, you're hardcore. I ain't that desperate for a promotion.”
Now they saw me as some celibate monk. Felt unjust enough to spin the Rise conquest into an epic tale, but I held back.
Whatever. The soldiers were swapping their go-to jerk-off methods now.
As grunts, banging girls happened occasionally. Leave time was short, overnight passes rare. Couldn't always score outside the walls either. So if it built up, solo relief was the norm.
“Ahh, want a blowjob so bad. Girl wrapping her lips around my dick, begging for it.”
“Don't you have a girl? Ask her next time.”
“Says it stinks, refuses to die on that hill. So I imagine her sucking me off while I beat it.”
They kept the raunchy talk rolling.
No reason to bail, so I listened quietly till a chill ran down my spine. I looked up ahead.
“Gasp.”
Ariana Katrin, standing just meters away.
No clue when she'd shown up, but her flushed face said she'd caught the filthy banter.
“Huh? Daron, what're you looki—...”
Spotting where my eyes were, the soldiers clammed up. Ariana shook her head like shaking off dirty thoughts, eyes closed, then cleared her throat.
“Ahem. I'd like to borrow Daron.”
“Y-Yes! Take him!”
Ariana wasn't known for tormenting grunts like Rise, but that was only if you didn't cross lines. They'd trashed her too, from god knows where, and now they were terrified.
“Rest up, then.”
“Yes, ma'am!”
Ariana didn't chew them out, so they finally relaxed.
“...”
After splitting from the soldiers, I trailed after Ariana like a puppy. Looked like work-related, but she hadn't said a word yet.
Because of that crude chat earlier?
Or... did she find out about Rise?
“Not seeing Vice Commander Rise today?”
—Shit, shouldn't have brought her up. But Ariana answered normally, thank god.
“She's on sick leave.”
“Sick leave?”
“Yeah. Taking the day off.”
I was beat too, but I'd finished morning training... Turns out the knight was weaker than me.
“I checked on her out of worry. Her bed was soaked—fever in the night or something.”
“Sweat... Y-Yeah.”
Sweat, huh.
Sure, some sweat, but most of the wetness on Rise's bed was her pussy juices. Ariana had mistaken it for sweat.
“That serious?”
“Yeah. No strength in her whole body. Stumbling, couldn't walk straight, so I told her to rest. Figured she'd done hellish training or whatever.”
Her tits and ass probably still bore my handprints clear as day. And that? Her newbie pussy, short on experience, had to still be swollen tight.
“She'll recover lying low all day.”
What would Ariana think knowing she'd collapsed from exhaustion after fucking me? Curious, but not worth the risk.
Silence fell again.
Judging by our path, headed to Ariana's private training ground. I'd planned a lunch nap to recharge, but straight to drills?
“If I may ask... mind telling me what this is about?”
I finally voiced what I'd been dying to know.
“A little early, but time for your test.”
“Pardon?”
Hadn't I already done the test?
That's why I was getting custom training.
“I'll explain when we get there.”
Ariana smiled, like she got my confusion.