Chapter 98
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Churning Bitter Taste
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Considering the life experiences of Leo Floyd, a knight of the Silver Wing Knight Order,
he had inherited some talent as a knight and wasn't short on real combat experience, big or small. But lately, when he thought of "real combat," his mind drifted first to women rather than battles.
Life in the capital, free from the Floyd family's watchful eyes and restraints, felt no different from paradise on earth.
As long as he didn't forget to send timely letters checking in with his father, that was enough. Being the only son among a gaggle of daughters, it was understandable that his father worried a lot.
He'd probably let a precious child like himself do whatever he wanted too, right?
'Now even women are getting boring after all this. Man...'
But residents of paradise forget why it's paradise and start craving more.
Women who slipped into his bed as easily as sliding on ice grew dull because they were too easy. And those who spread their legs like a broken door without him even wanting to—his desire just evaporated.
There were a few women he was seeing now, carefully holding back from crossing that line to maintain some propriety.
But they all shared the same trait: calculating profits with their eyes like abacuses, eyeing only the benefits of using the Floyd name. Sometimes it sent chills down his spine, like a snake coiling around his throat.
Amid all that, there was exactly one woman around him who transcended every single one of those categories.
Eclair Dreitna, one of the Empire's Five Knights and captain of the Silver Wing Knight Order.
At first, he'd circled her lightly, thinking of toppling her just once. But watching this captain, he could feel it. She was the real deal, fundamentally different from ordinary women.
As a woman. And as a knight.
There were no gaps in her posture or spirit, and everyone around with any notable face or family had long since been brushed off.
He hadn't been outright rejected since he'd approached indirectly and circuitously. Still, their relationship felt stuck at the subordinate level, not even taking a single step forward. If anything, it felt like he'd been pushed back.
This thick, towering wall with no answers was a first, making him desperately want to tear it down and climb over.
The Floyd name held no sway, her martial prowess was beyond his power to challenge, and she wouldn't accept luxuries.
Yet Leo's life philosophy was that no woman was impossible to conquer.
But even that creed wavered before Eclair.
With no progress at all so far, he was starting to doubt if she was even within the bounds of humanity.
'...She is human, right?'
He thought this while watching the captain, flawless as ever, arrive at dawn, encourage the knights, and return to her office.
At that young age, younger than him, she was as strong as his father, a mountain of a man. He still couldn't believe it.
Sometimes, witnessing her unreadable swift sword strikes in real combat... considering his father's age, was she perhaps even stronger?
With such abilities, her rarity was off the charts. Countless men desired Eclair, but none possessed her.
That's why he wanted her. Just sitting by, swallowing his saliva, was driving him mad.
With her, unlike other women, he swore he could vow he'd never tire of her for life.
'Yeah. For the family too!'
For the Floyd family, renowned for holding famous knights, no goal or mate could be more fitting for their son.
'Ditch the impatience and start from scratch. Can't afford any mistakes escorting to the Adventurer's Guild today...'
First things first: regain the trust he'd squandered with his initial reckless moves.
This position had been yielded to him after buying drinks for colleagues and seniors multiple times. Screwing up again would be truly dangerous.
Lately, he lamented his past frivolous approaches so much that his mindset had become genuinely serious.
This might be the first time Leo Floyd had such proper feelings toward a woman.
With no duties or events today, the off-duty knights gathered in groups of twos and threes once the captain vanished, starting their chatter.
"The captain lately... she seems even more beautiful... And when she talked to me, it felt like she smiled just a little... Was it a dream...?"
One female knight murmured dreamily, and the woman right beside her jumped in like she'd been waiting.
"Right?! You're not the only one... Her vibe feels a bit softer too..."
The chatter of the Silver Wing's female knights tickled Leo's ears. True to their admiration for Eclair, they gathered today too, endlessly singing her praises.
The group, having glanced at the vice captain once over their flighty tones, lowered their voices but didn't change the subject.
'What tacky fuss...'
Every time he saw women like that, Eclair's rarity shot straight through the roof in his mind.
Was I satisfying Rike, or was Rike satisfying me?
Either way, from yesterday until dawn today, it had been a night of sticky, blissful happiness.
After washing up and waiting in the bedroom, Rike came in voluntarily wearing a maid outfit. Sensing my subtle concern about handling two women, she smiled indulgently, telling me to relax and enjoy, then buried my face in her breasts.
It was the most extravagantly luxurious feeling of my life, but strangely, her kindness truly lightened my heart.
First time being pampered sincerely by a younger woman, and it didn't feel bad at all.
Worried this might shake my masculinity into some dangerous fetish, I did my utmost to satisfy Rike.
Rike finally passed out completely and only opened her eyes around lunchtime. After a simple meal, I headed to the Adventurer's Guild for my appointment with Eclair, my first visit in ages.
'How long has it been?'
My main job was adventurer, yet the guild felt like forever ago. Squeezing through the wide-open doors—no need to even push—I scanned the room.
Quite a few new faces. Or maybe I just didn't remember?
I waved the receptionist back down as she started to rise at the sight of me and perched on her desk. Without pausing her paperwork, she spoke naturally.
"Long time no see."
"Yeah? Been tied up with personal stuff."
"I heard... that knight's coming today too, right? Cleared the meeting room on notice, so use it comfortably later."
"You do great work~ But lots of unfamiliar faces, huh?"
Casually snagging a candy from her basket, her pen stopped as her expression darkened.
"Ahaha... It's that time again lately."
"Hmm~ 'That time,' eh."
The receptionist's "that time" encompassed various woes.
A bad harvest in nearby villages driving healthy folk with no options but adventuring to sign up as newbies en masse.
Or bandits, thieves, or mercenaries wiping out villages, survivors flooding in.
Or veteran adventurers from stagnant territories migrating to the capital for promotions.
Anyway, her "that time" meant sudden spikes in numbers from all sorts of reasons.
Manpower influx wasn't always good for the Adventurer's Guild.
Unproven rookies multiplying, deaths piling up, botched requests ballooning, then hunting for adventurers to clean up the mess.
Not just adventurers dying—guild staff handling the aftermath too.
"Half the newbies are gone in a week... The vets from elsewhere are holding up, though."
"No trouble with the established parties?"
"Haa... Don't even ask."
Her sigh-shaken response gave the answer. I grinned oppositely.
"Figures. Everyone here is a weirdo anyway—no way they don't clash with out-of-towners."
Looked like it had happened more than once or twice. Missing those fun scenes—what a shame. I'd have to drop by the guild more often.
Glancing at the adventurers waiting behind to talk to her, I slid off the desk.
"I'll chill in the meeting room till her highness arrives~ Hang in there."
Before heading to the Adventurer's Guild.
While waiting for Eclair, who had gone to receive orders from imperial higher-ups, Leo patted the shoulder of his colleague assigned as fellow escort.
"Hey. The captain... she got a man or something?"
"Leo... If I get caught saying that, no one's covering for me. Please, no more questions like that."
"Boring..."
"Just go quietly and come back. No incidents. Please, Leo."
The reason Leo brought it up with his colleague was that fishbone-stuck-in-throat sense of wrongness.
He readily admitted it: sometimes women's instincts were sharper than a trained man's on certain topics.
-Is it just me today...? Captain seems in a good mood somehow.
It was the first time the female knights had chimed in unison like that. He didn't know details, but rumors swirled of her accomplishing something major again—maybe that.
With endless reasons around for good moods, it was the kind of talk to let slide in one ear and out the other.
'But something feels off...'
Nausea? A churning queasiness in his chest, a bitter taste in his mouth. This sensation was new.
Clack—clack—clack—
The two shut their mouths and straightened at the rhythmic footsteps echoing through the ornate hall.
"We're heading out."
A voice cold as a northern blizzard. Eclair in uniform strode past them, taking the lead.