Beyond a Single Woman's Limits
The inn was abuzz with talk of the black-haired man.
"Damo can't even get up, they say?"
"Yeah, apparently the black-haired guy did her in."
"Really? At this rate, won't we be stuck here tomorrow too?"
"No way... she's an A-rank warrior, after all."
The conversation inside the inn showed no signs of stopping.
"It's filled with rumors about Master," Syucali said with a grin, looking at me.
"My apologies. I must not have satisfied you enough."
Eos lowered her head, taking the blame upon herself.
"You weren't lacking."
"Tonight, even if my body breaks, I will serve you to the very end."
"..."
I could see Eos's mana flaring. She meant every word.
"Eos, do you still not understand?"
"Understand what?"
"No woman can satisfy Master one hundred percent at night."
"That cannot be. I have heard that men have their limits."
Eos was right. No man existed who could engage in endless relations.
"Then how do you explain Master?"
"That is..."
Both of them had climbed into bed with me last night as well. No matter how many times we went at it and drained me, I remained unchanged.
"It must be because I am lacking..."
"No. It means Master isn't satisfied with just one woman."
"...So multiple women are needed to satisfy Master?"
"Exactly. Did you think he keeps you and me as slaves just for snacks?"
"I see..."
Thwack.
"Ow!"
"Don't say weird things, Syucali."
"Sorry~"
Syucali was teasing Eos again today.
"Don't take it so seriously, Eos. I'm plenty satisfied."
"Yes, Master..."
Eos's reply didn't sound convinced.
"We're departing tomorrow morning. Today, we'll finish all preparations for departure."
"Yes."
"Got it!"
Once the caravan and marching began again, it would be time to fill in whatever was lacking. From my military days, I always felt that preparing for training took far more time than the training itself. This place was no different, so I needed to wander the village and stock up on everything necessary.
"If you need anything, say so."
"I need daggers."
"I require mana stones to protect Master."
Since we'd raided the dungeon and filled our coin purses, it was time to spend it. Leaving the inn, we headed straight for the blacksmith.
Clang! Clang!
"Blacksmith, how much for these daggers?"
"One gold each."
"Eek! That's expensive! Give us a discount!"
After buying Syucali's daggers, we had the party's equipment repaired.
"Master, there is no Magic Tower in this area that sells mana stones."
"Of course there isn't. Magic Towers only exist in noble territories or the royal capital."
It would be difficult to obtain mana stones in a village full of nothing but wheat fields.
"Hmm... I heard mages like even low-grade mana stones. We should try the Adventurer's Guild."
"Oh! As expected of Kang Seo-ja."
We went to the Adventurer's Guild and found a mage.
"Hey, pointy hat. You're a mage, right?"
"I am, but... why are you looking for me?"
"If you have mana stones, sell them to me."
"Why would I... Huh? Aren't you Black Blade Syucali?"
"So what?"
"...I'll sell them."
Syucali's standing within the guild was quite strong. Just showing her face made everyone keep their distance.
"What kind of evil deeds have you been up to?"
"I've never done anything like that. I just borrowed what I needed when I saw it on the road."
"Did you return it?"
"I did... I think?"
"You're a villain."
Thanks to that villainous Syucali, gathering low-grade mana stones wasn't difficult.
"Next, we'll stop by the market to buy ingredients."
"Yes, Master's cooking is essential."
"That's right! Was it called stir-fried pork...? I want to eat that again!"
We bought spices and seasonings to stock up. We also purchased three more sacks of flour, a specialty of this village. This time, we bought quite a lot of cooking ingredients. When the big rest period came, everyone from the sixteenth carriage onward would come to eat, so we had no choice but to buy in bulk.
"Can't we just eat by ourselves?"
"Only if you can stop all those people."
"Ugh..."
Feeding everyone's stomachs meant spending my energy and time, but watching them eat their fill of my cooking gave me an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. That aside, the caravan's morale had plummeted ridiculously because of the traitor. Listening to the adventurers hired at the inn, I could hear bad rumors spreading. Things like how Isabella was already operating at a loss and it wouldn't be strange if they collapsed immediately, or even that the betrayal had been justified. Since the caravan was suffering from all sorts of negative effects, the hired hands who moved on direct commissions were bound to waver more easily. If left alone, the caravan looked precarious, as if it might fester and burst at any moment. The only way I could help Isabella was by cooking in between to prevent as many deserters as possible. If I didn't, the number of deserters might grow so large that an attack could bring everything down instantly. So on this departure, managing the hired hands' morale seemed just as important as managing my own party.
"Isabella must be having a hard time."
"She is. Nom~ Hmm... this is bland compared to Kang Seo-ja's cooking."
Adventurers were simpler than expected. If they had even one lifeline to hold onto, they wouldn't desert easily. I decided that lifeline would be food.
"Master."
"What is it, Eos?"
"Must you personally step in? The merchants will handle it themselves."
Eos looked displeased at my unseen devotion.
"For our safety as well, the caravan cannot collapse."
"Why is that?"
"Whether I like it or not, I'm part of this caravan now. If the hired hands guarding all those carriages start deserting one by one, the area we have to protect will only grow."
"Ah... Then Master is doing this for me..."
"Right. If morale can be maintained with just cooking, we'll have it easier too."
"As expected of Master."
Perhaps because Eos hadn't seen it before, she focused intently on purchasing ingredients from then on.
"We're moving."
"Yes, Kang Seo-ja!"
"Yes, Master."
In this world, power was the most important thing. Equally important was the method of maintaining that power. No matter how great a hero someone was called, could they win a war with a rusty sword and broken armor? If the body sent danger signals saying it was hungry and thirsty, could one ignore them and fend off an enemy's attack? No matter how great a hero, I believed combat was impossible without preparation. Every living being eventually ran out of stamina, grew hungry, and had their weapons destroyed. While coming to this farming village, my role had been finding traitors and guarding the carriages... but from now on, I believed my role had changed to maintaining Isabella's caravan until the very end.
"Haaah~"
"Shana unni~"
After finishing the final preparations and heading back to the inn, I saw a woman with golden mana in the distance.
"She's doing her role well."
"Yes?"
"It's nothing."
Watching her walk while laughing with the children was quite pleasing. I hoped her golden light would last until the end. No, she wasn't someone I needed to worry about. She would do just fine on her own.
"She's a dangerous human."
Eos was also conscious of her. If Eos said she was dangerous, it seemed she thought the woman could become a threat to the demon race.
"Eos, how far do you think that woman will rise?"
"...I've encountered several heroes with that kind of mana on the front lines."
It meant she would survive and grow at least to the border.
"If Master hadn't been here, I would have killed that human by any means necessary. That human will kill countless of my kin."
"You're honest, Eos."
Wrapping one arm around the now-sharpened Eos's waist, I pulled her close.
"Ah..."
"Even that side of you is appealing."
"Thank you, Master..."
Eos's face flushed as she felt my touch.
"Hmm... Kang Seo-ja."
"What is it?"
"That woman looks strong. Aren't you going to use her as a party member?"
"I'm not."
"Why?"
"Because you two are enough for now."
"Wow! Then you're not selling me off?!"
"Right."
"Yahoo~"
Syucali cheered and hugged me. For a while, I planned to maintain this party squad. Eos the mage in the rear. Me the warrior in front. Syucali handling the enemy's rear. With these three as the foundation, I intended to slowly build up the rest of the members. Once Kang Seo-ja, Syucali, and Eos became the solid roots of the party, others who would share roles beside us would appear in the future. For example, that golden-haired woman over there might stand at the front with me. Margaret might be beside Eos as well. For that to happen, these three needed to become the pillars.
"Master, what are you thinking after this caravan commission ends?"
I answered Syucali's question without hesitation.
"I'll build an S-rank party."
"But Master is still F-rank?"
"I'll rise as I go."
It wasn't something that could be achieved by rushing. I just needed to grow slowly in the way I had been. And these two beside me would grow that way as well.
"Will you follow me?"
"Of course."
"Yes, Master."
"Our destination is Kidichi Territory! We're departing!"
With Paula's shout, Isabella's caravan began to move. We cut through the road while meeting the morning dew.
"There are no more traitors, so it'll be fine now, right?"
"Who knows."
It was hard to answer no to Syucali's question. After seeing hostile nobles send mages and recruit traitors, I felt they probably still had one last move left.
"I heard there's a territory war going on. Will they really target the caravan carriages?"
"They'll pay attention. If the supplies succeed, the tide of war will completely turn."
The supplies pouring out from all nineteen carriages were no ordinary provisions. The territory's people and soldiers receiving these supplies would gain the strength to endure what came next. They would feel that reinforcements existed and hold greater loyalty toward the noble protecting the territory. The hostile nobles wouldn't be unaware of this either.
"They'll make a big move at least once."
Eos, who had been on the battlefield, nodded as if she agreed with my words.