Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Ulstro Kingdom - Squire Life (5)
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"Yawn..."
"Didn't sleep well?"
Elza, mid-yawn, jumped at Mercedes' question. She started to nod, then hurriedly shook her head instead.
"N-No, it's not that. I just... feel tired for some reason..."
"Like I said yesterday, don't push yourself too hard."
With that, Mercedes headed back to the front of the group. She had been right there in front of them, but as she moved ahead, Elza let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Valdes watched the exchange from behind and thought to himself that he'd gone a bit too far last night.
In the end, he'd sent Elza back to her room three full hours after starting. Before that, things had wrapped up in under an hour, so it made sense that she looked this worn out.
'Tsk. But she says it's still not enough...'
There was nothing for it.
Back in the Demon King's castle, he'd lived a life of indulgence every single day. Holding back for just a few days had his lust boiling over.
He'd changed his mind five days after joining the knight order. There was no need to target Mercedes or Etilene right away as his first marks. Instead, he'd dosed Elza with a heavy helping of Charm Magic to stir her up.
In the end, she couldn't hold back and pounced on him. Valdes used that as his excuse to take her every night.
Right now, as a mere squire and not a knight, Elza's status was still that of a commoner. She wasn't nobility—just a regular citizen. If word got out that she'd assaulted another squire in the royal Pedro Knight Order of all places, she'd be kicked out on the spot. And there was no way she'd ever become a knight afterward.
It had started as blackmail. But he was certain: within a week, she'd come begging for it on her own, no threats required.
"How's it going? Rides okay?"
Amy, riding alongside him, called out.
"Yeah, easier than I expected."
"Wow... It took me over a week just to get the hang of it."
"I'm a quick study."
Amy giggled at that, beaming like it was her own accomplishment.
"First mission and you're not nervous? We're off to hunt trolls, you know."
"Saw a few back during my mercenary days."
"Oh, right. You did say you came from mercenary work."
Amy nodded emphatically, as if the realization had just hit her. His demeanor didn't scream "rough mercenary," so she kept forgetting. But he'd insisted he'd spent years in the life.
"Impressive. ...Huh? What's up?"
Valdes had suddenly twisted around to look behind them, and she gave him a puzzled look.
"Nah, nothing."
He shook his head and faced forward again, toward Amy. Even so, his attention lingered on the rear.
'She's glaring daggers.'
The spot he'd been eyeing belonged to Etilene Profilene, who was tagging along for this mission.
The procession bound for Planks Barony had Mercedes at the lead. Three knights trailed in her wake, their squires clustered around them.
Mercedes had slotted Etilene—whose first mission this was—right behind her in the number-two spot, figuring it'd give the newbie a chance to learn the ropes. Which meant Valdes had to endure that piercing glare the whole way.
"Hmph."
Etilene shot Valdes a look laced with clear irritation.
Her sole lifestyle squire fretted over her obvious discomfort.
"Everything alright, Lady Knight?"
"...It's nothing."
"If something's bothering you, just say the word."
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
Etilene flashed her squire a soft smile.
She'd joined the knight order so abruptly—thanks to the Hero Memorial Martial Tournament—that she hadn't been assigned any squires.
Normally, squires got picked alongside the entrance exams. But her tournament entry threw the timing off, so she only had this one lifestyle squire, who'd previously served another knight.
Still, the woman was seasoned and capable after years on the job, which suited Etilene just fine. Though it was a shame the squire herself hadn't made knight yet.
"Hmm. At this pace, we'll run a little late. Pick up speed!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Everyone spurred their mounts at Mercedes' command.
They rode on for hours, but sadly, the first night meant camping. A slower pace might've let them overnight in that village they'd passed a few hours back. But the timing had been awkward, forcing them to push farther.
"We'll rotate three to a watch."
Valdes drew the third shift with Mercedes and Glet.
Etilene—who had first shift—offered to cover for him and swap with Mercedes. But the vice commander shot it down, saying she couldn't leave the two rookies alone together.
In the end, Etilene sulked through the whole late dinner.
Once they'd eaten, tidied camp, and enjoyed a brief bit of free time, everyone hunkered down to sleep. No stream nearby meant no washing up.
He'd barely closed his eyes when time slipped away. Mercenary life had drilled night watches into him, so rising on cue was second nature.
Mercedes and Valdes were already huddled by the campfire, warming their hands, when Glet shuffled over, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"Not too tired?"
"I'm good."
"Same here."
"Glad to hear it."
"......"
Mercedes wasn't much for chatter. She tossed out that line and clammed up. In her head, she mulled over icebreakers, but nothing clicked.
Glet, tense with the vice commander right there, barely spoke a word. So Valdes picked up the slack, tossing out random topics to keep things lively.
He wasn't a silver-tongued charmer himself—just curious questions or old mercenary yarns. The stories were loosely based on his Pedro days, of course, with plenty of edits.
"...Heh. You've certainly lived an eventful life."
Mercedes' soft chuckle widened Glet's eyes.
'Sh-She laughed out loud?'
Years under Mercedes, and audible laughs from her were rare as hen's teeth. A faint smile was her usual max.
'N-No way...'
Glet started wondering if Mercedes had taken a shine to Valdes.
Sure, what would a princess want with a half-demon commoner? But people were unpredictable. Her own childhood friend had suddenly sprouted a fiancée out of nowhere, after all.
'...Ugh, irritating all of a sudden. Because they're headed to their territory?'
She'd thought she'd moved past it, but nope—mood soured anyway.
'Nah, can't be. It's Mercedes... Right. She's interested professionally, as his superior. Not... personally.'
Had to be that. It had to be. If Mercedes saw her as a rival, Glet didn't stand a chance.
Valdes' steady stream of chatter made the shift fly by. Drawing grumpy or silent partners turned watches into a slog.
"Uh, you two go ahead and rest. I just need to... "
"Something wrong?"
"N-No, it's..."
"Hm?"
"Gotta pee..."
"Oh! S-Sor—sorry!"
Mercedes flushed crimson and bolted for her bedroll.
Glet slipped into hers, heart fluttering just a touch. Warmth wrapped around her instantly. Hardly thick material, yet so cozy—magic.
'...Valdes still isn't back.'
Waking midway killed her sleep. She peeked at his empty bedroll two spots over.
'What if something happened?'
Chills prickled her spine. Careful not to rouse anyone, she rose and crept toward where he'd vanished.
"Mm... Hn..."
Her gut feeling nailed it. A pained groan drifted from afar.
Stifling her steps—beasts or monsters might lurk nearby—she headed toward the sound. It grew clearer as she closed in.
But something felt off.
"Slurp... Suck... Haha."
This didn't sound like pain. No matter how she sliced it. Interspersed sucking noises. And definitively—a woman's voice.
Her heart hammered.
...Gulp.
She dropped low. Just in case, she eased into the bushes.
"!!"
The sight hit her like a thunderbolt; both hands flew to her mouth. Her left palm scraped dirt across her cheek, but who cared.
Valdes leaned against a tree, pants around his ankles.
And below him, someone crouched, face buried in his crotch.
Glet was nobility, tutored extensively. No way she didn't recognize the act.
Thump. Thump.
'Wh-what the...? Who's the woman?'
Her brain short-circuited. Deep breaths to calm down? Tempting, but getting caught? No thanks.
"Mmm... Glrk... Lick."
"That's it. No teeth—lick it just like that."
Valdes stroked the woman's head with grandfatherly kindness.
"Slurp... Y-Yes...♡"
The woman's voice oozed lewdness, but muffled around... whatever. Hard to place exactly. But it screamed consent. And familiarity.
Clouds parted; moonlight bathed the tree.
Shoulder-length red hair gleamed.
'E-Elza...?'
A few others in the group had red hair, but Elza topped Glet's list. Valdes—ten days in—wouldn't know the rest.
"Yawn... Mmph!"
As she reeled, Valdes seized Elza's head in both hands.
His body shuddered.
"...Phew. Good girl. Sorry for dragging you out like this."
Gulp. "...N-No, it's fine."
'Sh-she swallowed?!'
More shock on top of shock. Without her hands, she'd have screamed.
"Couldn't wash up today—bet I reeked of sweat, huh?"
"Still... f-felt good..."
Valdes and Elza tidied up casually, chatting like it was nothing, then strolled off.
"...Pha!"
Minutes after they vanished, Glet pried her hands free and gasped for air.
"Haa... haa... What... what was that?"
Were they together? If so, since when?
Squires spent near-constant time together. Elza especially—lifestyle duty kept her busier, glued to Mercedes every other day.
Actually, she had spent the most time with Valdes.
Unfairness bubbled up.
"What the hell..."
Yet her heart still raced from the shock.
Were they really an item? Why the formal speech from Elza? If not lovers, then...?
No more camping after night one.
Mercedes paced them perfectly for inns in villages and towns.
They swung through Glet's hometown, Cornetto Barony, mid-morning. Grabbed a meal, exchanged greetings, and rolled out.
It eased Glet's mind some. But that wasn't her only worry.
'So what's their deal, anyway...'
The knight order pressed on regardless.
When they finally reached Planks Barony, the group got bewildering news.
"The trolls are already dead...?"
"Yes, that's right."
Mercedes frowned at Baron Planks.
"Sent a messenger a few days back. You must've missed each other?"
"Seems so."
Should've packed a crystal orb.
She clicked her tongue at the mission's pointless cancellation.
"How'd you take them down, then?"
Planks Barony had been stomped flat by the Demon Army once. Tiny place, no real exports. Slim pickings for coin.
Rebuilds dragged on. Royals cut some tax slack, but between repairs and basics, no budget for extra guards or knights.
Hence the Pedro Knight Order dispatch.
"W-Well... A passing mage—or spirit user, rather—lent a hand."
"Spirit user?"
Mercedes' eyes lit up.