Chapter 200: The Kukkoro Male Knight and the Hunter Fox’s Determination

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“Did you all come from beyond the northern mountain range? I heard that place was really difficult to pass.”

“Indeed, that mountain range was the kind of land where even just crossing it caused no small number of deaths and injuries. But our predecessors carved out a blood-soaked path in the literal sense and improved the mountain road for us.”

As the alcohol flowed, so did their conversation. Uru, the crow-girl, and Gilberto chatted warmly as they exchanged drinks. Uru had already finished off an entire bottle of wine, and her milk-chocolate colored skin had turned a deep shade of red, giving her a striking, healthy allure.

“……”

Feeling frankly envious, I watched the two of them. If possible, I wanted to gulp down alcohol myself and join their circle, but there was no way I could afford to get drunk in front of Uru, who was my temporary spy. I had no choice but to drink slowly and blandly, controlling myself.

Well, this was someone else’s home to begin with. As someone borrowing a night’s lodging, I couldn’t exactly let loose. Actually, I already felt like I had been imposing quite a bit. I should give them a proper gift of thanks later as an apology. For the record, the village chief’s family had already retired to their bedroom. Life in a frontier village was harsh, and even the village chief had to toil with her own tools to make a living. It seemed they had farm work waiting early in the morning as well.

“……”

As I silently tipped back my cup, I caught Lenael stealing glances at me, as if she wanted me to call her over. She clearly had something to discuss. She kept glancing toward Uru as well, so it was obvious she didn’t want her to hear it.

“Sorry, I think I drank a little too much. I’ll go get some night air.”

“Ah, I shall accompany you, my lord.”

Gilberto hurried to her feet, but she was unsteady from the alcohol. Sonia, who sat beside her, forced her back into her chair.

“A drunkard has no business accompanying anyone. You can sit here and drink. …Isn’t that right, Al-sama?”

Apparently Sonia had already understood my intent. We had known each other for a long time, but she truly was a remarkably perceptive adjutant. She was far too good for someone like me. By the way, she hadn’t had a single drop to drink. Sonia wasn’t a drinker, but she didn’t dislike alcohol either. She simply never drank unless she was with close comrades.

“We’re inside the village. It’s not as if anything dangerous will happen. …Lenael, would you mind escorting me?”

“…Yes.”

With her fox ears twitching upright, Lenael nodded expressionlessly. Her face was cool, but she was the type whose emotions were easy to read.

“Hot…”

Five minutes later, in front of the village chief’s house, I groaned. I had said I was going for some night air, but this was southern Liseben. Even at night, only thick, humid, disgustingly warm air blew through. It was somewhat better than indoors, but still nowhere near the kind of temperature where sweat actually dried.

“How long does summer last here in Liseben? In the capital, it’s already the time of year when things become pleasant.”

“It’ll stay hot for another two months.”

Her fluffy tail swaying, Lenael answered. She had taken off her hunting clothes right after returning to the village, but now she carried a rifle on her back and had a lit fuse cord hanging at her waist. Probably so she could protect me if something happened. She really was a proper, ladylike girl.

“After summer ends, winter comes suddenly. Snow only falls in the mountains, but even so, it gets surprisingly cold.”

“That’s a pretty harsh climate.”

I couldn’t help but give a wry smile. There wasn’t a single season in this place that sounded easy to live through.

“Anyway, you seemed like you had something you wanted to talk about. What is it?”

“……”

With her brows furrowed, Lenael looked away for a brief moment. It seemed she was carefully deciding how to begin.

“…Um.”

“Yes?”

“I would like to work under you, my lord.”

“Oh?”

She jumped straight into job hunting. Honestly, that surprised me a little. From what I had seen during the day, she was a very skilled hunter for her age. Even when facing dangerous, powerful barbarians, she had the courage to immediately step forward to protect others. She seemed perfectly capable of making a good living as a hunter…

“You said you wanted people familiar with the forest to train your army. …I believe I am well suited for that role.”

Ah, that. The request for an instructor for forest warfare. Considering the possibility of fighting elves, the current Liseben army—which could only fight on open plains—was at a clear disadvantage. They needed at least some ability to operate in the forest.

Of course, no matter how much training we did, it would never let us beat the elves outright. Still, even if we managed to bring the elves out to the plains and defeat them there, if our troops couldn’t enter the forest afterward, we wouldn’t be able to pursue them. It was impossible to annihilate an enemy force in a single pitched battle. We needed to plan for pursuit and for withdrawal.

“…I am still young, but ever since I can remember, I’ve been wandering the forest with my mother. I have plenty of experience.”

“I know. I have no doubts about your ability.”

I shook my head.

“The issue is that if you become an instructor, you’ll need to live in the city of Carrera. It would be too hard to commute from this village to the garrison.”

Carrera City and this farming village were relatively close, but the roads were terrible. Having her live in the garrison barracks would be far more efficient.

“I don’t mind. I am the third daughter. I’ll have to leave home eventually.”

“I see. But to be frank, I can’t pay much. You might live a better life staying as a full-time hunter.”

Liseben’s army was enormous for the size of the territory. We were forcing operations by using reparation money from the Diesel family and rewards from the royal family. It was all temporary money. We couldn’t waste it carelessly.

“If you provide food, clothing, and shelter, I don’t even need pay.”

“If my instructor worked for free, everyone would think I was unbelievably stingy. Spare me. …Why do you want to join the army so badly? It’s not like you admire soldiers, right?”

Unlike my new recruits, she already had a real profession. It wasn’t like some unemployed drifter with no prospects deciding to enlist. And though instructors weren’t soldiers, it was still dangerous. With elves’ ability to hide, there was a real chance of being attacked during training.

“Those elves said they wanted to negotiate, yet they didn’t even offer a single apology.”

Lenael spat the words out, deeply irritated.

“My little brother was almost kidnapped by them when he was small. We managed to get him back before they could take him away but even now, he’s terrified of women. Because of that, he still doesn’t even have a fiancée.”

“…I see.”

Her “brother” must’ve been an adopted sibling. Unlike nobles, commoners rarely adopted boys, but instead they often had households where demi-humans and hume lived together as one family.

“I won’t say I want revenge. But seeing those elves act all high and mighty makes me furious. Unless they bow their heads and offer at least one sincere apology, I can’t stand it. …But for that, I need strength. I can’t imagine them bowing to someone weak.”

“I see…”

Lenael was right. The elves didn’t suddenly become enlightened about human rights. They started acting cooperative only once the ruler of Liseben changed from the previous magistrate—who had barely any troops—to me, who commanded a respectable army. Even negotiations required force behind them. Sad but true reality.

“If you, my lord, can grab those elves by the head and grind their faces into the dirt, there’s nothing that would make me happier. I want to help make that happen.”

“Alright, I understand.”

So that was her goal—to strengthen the Liseben army to indirectly accomplish her own purpose. Realistically, no individual could stand against elves. Numbers were the only way. And in truth, even if she hadn’t brought it up, any reconciliation with the elves required an apology. If we ignored the looting and assaults inflicted on the people and tried to “get along,” the citizens who suffered would never accept it. A minimum act of atonement was unavoidable.

“If you’re willing, then I should be the one bowing my head. Please, lend me your strength.”

“Gladly.”

Lenael bowed with a rare smile on her face.

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