“Um, I want to be beneath you.”
On a sumr evening with a breeze blowing, a white-haired beastwoman spoke in front of the lodging.
“Beneath?”
In response to the question, Dunbachel carefully chose her words.
At this point, what did it matter anyway?
“A slave or a servant is fine. As long as I can be beneath you, I’ll do anything.”
If Frog was blinded by personal achievent or desire, the beastwoman’s eyes were fixated on the two words ‘reproduction’.
So, her words could easily be misunderstood.
“The continent is vast.”
Encrid tried to subtly suggest that he wouldn’t stop him if he left.
“As long as I can be beneath you.”
Dunbachel knelt. Her disheveled, greasy hair and scalp were visible. A foul sll wafted up.
Seeing this, Encrid first thought about washing up and getting so rest.
So, what to do with her?
Actually, it wasn’t a tough decision.
If she intended to stab them in the back.
‘Is that even possible?’
Before that, he sohow felt like Jaxon would slit her throat.
That’s the feeling. Just a feeling.
In reality, it wouldn’t have to be Jaxon, if Rem or anyone else sensed anything suspicious from Dunbachel, they would imdiately beat her to death.
Luckily, there didn’t seem to be any malice. Her life was spared by so caprice.
It ant nothing. So.
‘If there’s no malice.’
Encrid thought about the fact that his platoon had ten mbers.
A platoon usually consists of forty to fifty n, and a company is responsible for a hundred to two hundred n.
‘But my platoon mbers are.’
Rem, Ragna, Jaxon, Audin, Finn.
Including himself, that makes six.
Isn’t that too many?
He almost wanted to check if Marcus’s conscience was intact.
‘If they’re going to make a Company Commander, they should also replenish the personnel.’
Of course, only a few would survive. Rem wouldn’t leave them alone.
He thought of Andrew for no reason. Finn was the only new mber since Andrew.
In conclusion, the company lacked personnel, and Dunbachel was more capable than a regular soldier.
Her current attitude was even submissive.
Submissive beastn are rare.
Amid a few complicated thoughts, one clear point erged.
‘Lack of personnel.’
He would get the Battalion Commander’s permission later, and if it was deed too much, he could get rid of her then.
“Alright.”
“I swear by Krimhalt. If I’m sworn outcast, that’s trust… Huh?”
“Co in. There are spare bunks. But wash up first.”
To Dunbachel, this seed like a bold decision. There was no sign of hesitation.
‘Was he planning to take in from the start?’
Such thoughts crossed her mind. No, that wasn’t it. There were several monts where she could have been killed. Monts where it would have been fine to kill her.
And yet, she wasn’t killed but let go.
This showed that Encrid was a man who kept his word.
“To officially join the platoon, we’ll need the commander’s permission. If he refuses, there’s nothing I can do.”
‘It’s done.’
Encrid’s words made Dunbachel think there was no way she would be refused.
If she were the commander and had soone like this under her, she would nod even if they had ten servants.
Who would refuse?
“Don’t even think about serving at night or anything like that. I’m not interested. So, if you want to join, co in as a soldier. If you want to be beneath , pick up a weapon and fight. If you die in battle, so be it.”
Encrid said just that much before opening the barrack door and stepping inside.
Dunbachel stood there hesitating.
She wanted it, but it took courage to take actual action.
Even though she had longed for it, accepting sothing that had co true required even more courage.
Was it okay for her to step inside?
‘Soone like ?’
She had expected to be refused. That’s why she hesitated. As she did, the door of the lodging swung open.
“Aren’t you coming?”
Beyond the open door, he saw blue eyes under black hair. That face, although it was a man’s, was beautiful.
The moonlight flowed from those strong blue eyes, striking and scattering across his cheeks.
In front of the utterly unromantic military barracks, Dunbachel felt like she might cry.
Why?
She had no idea.
It was just that no one had ever welcod her before.
He was the first person to invite her in without ulterior motives.
“I’m coming.”
Her voice trembled.
Dunbachel stepped inside.
They say life brings opportunities and sotis a trigger.
Dunbachel thought eting this man was such a thing.
Even if others rejected her.
She would endure.
Even if everyone ostracized and cursed her.
She would bear it.
“I’m really curious about sothing.”
Once inside, she saw a woman with orange hair. She was talking to Encrid, speaking quickly.
“You actually like being called the Enchantnt, don’t you? That’s why you bring a girl every ti you go out, right?”
Kyaak!
A panther hissed right beside her.
Flinch!
Dunbachel flinched at the sound, and Rem, who was beside her, spoke.
“Don’t worry, that panther rarely bites. Ah, it only bites that Big Eyes brat. So if you don’t provoke it, it won’t bite.”
Why was there a panther in the barracks? Dunbachel wondered but then stopped thinking about it.
The atmosphere was not as hostile as she had expected.
“Stop talking nonsense and get her cleaned up. She stinks.”
Encrid said as he turned and began to organize his belongings.
He seed to be preparing to wash up, gathering thin linen clothes. anwhile, the woman with the orange hair approached.
“You don’t have any clean clothes, do you? Should I ask for so? If I ntion the captain’s na, will they give so?”
“Would they give them just because of that?”
“Of course they would!”
Finn said cheerfully and took the lead. It seed like a bright night, illuminated by moonlight.
Taking Dunbachel outside, Finn asked.
“What’s your na?”
“Dunbachel.”
“I’m Finn.”
She extended her hand for a handshake. In ancient tis, a handshake was a process to prove there were no weapons in each other’s hands and that they ant no harm.
In modern tis, it’s also an expression of becoming good friends.
As she grabbed Finn’s hand, Finn smiled and said.
“So, how long has it been since you last washed?”
“Um, half a year?”
Beastn do not enjoy bathing.
“Let’s walk a bit farther apart.”
Following Finn’s guidance, Dunbachel entered the bathroom and, without complaint, subrged herself in the bath.
She watched the water turn black, and heard Finn outside ntioning that she was leaving clothes for her.
Dunbachel scrubbed her body thoroughly with soap.
It seed Encrid disliked bad slls.
After bathing and changing clothes, she returned to the barracks. Finding her way back wasn’t difficult.
Perhaps because she had bathed for the first ti in a long while, her body felt light.
“…Is that really what you look like?”
As she entered the barracks, Encrid asked.
“Why? Have I changed?”
Dunbachel glanced downward out of habit. Her chest protruded, causing her shirt to bulge, and her pants were loose.
Do the clothes make her look different?
“Never mind. Your spot is over there. Go to sleep. And make sure to wear so underwear.”
Does it really matter? Dunbachel thought, but nodded nonetheless.
Encrid casually waved his hand and pointed to a spot. That was her place.
And thus, Dunbachel beca an independent mber of the independent company. No one ntioned that the beastwoman was once an enemy or a mber of the Black Blade Bandits.
Or even if they did, they neither doubted nor ostracized him.
Why?
She herself didn’t know.
* * *
The atmosphere within the platoon was as cold as ever, but Encrid remained the sa.
Get up, train, and watch Finn get hit after practicing the Isolation Technique.
“Ail Caraz Style martial arts is only this much, sister?”
The mouth of hell, Audin, was the sa as always. A vein bulged on Finn’s forehead.
After sweating profusely in the morning, they gulped down water to fill their stomachs, and spread butter and orange marmalade on soft bread.
“Where did you get this?”
Encrid asked, biting into the bread. The marmalade was delicious.
Sweet and tangy.
Krais, chewing next to him, swallowed the bread and spoke.
“It’s a new shop across from the spiced jerky store. Run by a 26-year-old woman with dull brown hair and lots of freckles. Her na is Jurie, she doesn’t have a boyfriend, and her ideal type is sowhere between Captain Encrid and Ragna. She really dislikes guys like .”
Why does he know so much detail?
“I know all the key people in the city. That’s the job of the Gilpin Guild.”
Is that right? But is soone who makes good marmalade really a key person?
“Of course. You’ve tasted it, so you know.”
Fair point.
As they continued their al, Krais started chattering again.
“Similar things will keep happening.”
“Similar things?”
“They won’t leave the Border Guard alone.”
Encrid paused mid-rise and looked at Krais. His large eyes briefly glanced at Dunbachel.
Dunbachel sat there staring blankly into space.
She needed to be given sothing to do.
Turning his attention back to Krais, he continued speaking.
“By blocking Aspen, the Kingdom has expanded its territory. Thanks to that, the military city Border Guard is becoming a central trade city in northern Naurillia, with a permanent military presence. This transformation is currently underway.”
Recently, the frequency of visits from rchant caravans had increased, and new goods were constantly arriving. The population of the city was also growing.
“Jurie said that marmalade needs to be made in large batches, but it’s hard to store if it doesn’t sell quickly. Fortunately, with more people coming and going, it sells well.”
That’s why the marmalade shop opened.
Comrcial viability is determined by population and the number of people passing through.
This was common knowledge Krais often shared when he was bored.
“So, how will the surrounding areas view the Border Guard?”
“Like well-cooked barbecue or ripe tomatoes.”
If you have a knife in hand and are ready to eat.
Just a simple slice will do.
That’s the position of the Border Guard. It looks like a juicy barbecue, tempting enough to make one want to plunge in a knife, even if it’s a bit tough.
How would the hungry see it? They’d want to carve it up imdiately.
When the pioneer village Encrid saved grows and the trade routes expand, things might get better, but for now…
‘The center of northern trade.’
According to Krais, that’s the position of the Border Guard.
“That’s why the packs of lycans are unending around us.”
“When did you start expecting this?”
“Well, I’ve felt uneasy ever since we pushed back Aspen.”
Since then… even Marcus knew?
As soon as he returned, he was being nonchalant about loving the city and all.
The Battalion Commander knew of the city’s crisis.
So he must know how to avoid it too.
It was soon ti for the eting.
“Let’s go.”
“Let’s protect the spiced jerky and marmalade, Commander.”
Krais said from behind. It didn’t sound crazy.
Those two foods were quite precious to Encrid too.
The Battalion Commander’s office had already beco a conference room.
A map was spread out on the large table, with chess-like pieces scattered all over it.
“Do we know the enemy’s numbers?”
“We’re sending out scouting parties every hour. As of now, it’s estimated to be more than two infantry battalions.”
“That’s a lot.”
Marcus said with a wry smile. He didn’t look scared.
He certainly had sothing he was confident about.
But is it okay to ntion this now?
All the Company Commanders were gathered here.
Encrid quietly stood next to Marcus.
“Do you have sothing to say?”
“I have fewer than ten mbers in my Company.”
So what?
His eyes said. He was a Battalion Commander without a conscience.
Shouldn’t a company be filled with mbers to be considered a company?
“Can I add one person? The beastwoman we captured previously.”
She was forrly a mber of the Black Blade Bandits.
Having just cut the throat of a suspected spy bandit, now he was proposing to incorporate another bandit into his ranks.
Co to think of it, he also needed to report about the noble bandit whose head he had just lopped off.
“Go ahead.”
‘Is that it?’
Is it just over like this?
“For the details and organization, talk to the Supply Officer.”
That really was the end of it.
He turned his head as if there was no need for further discussion.
Worried that other Company Commanders might object, Encrid looked around, but no one seed to care. Only the Fairy Company Commander mouthed the words.
‘Did you seduce another woman?’
It was a Fairy-style joke. He ignored it.
He watched the eting for a while. They discussed the enemy’s formation, where the battle would take place, their numbers, and the opponent’s key units.
“Martai might use cavalry, but we don’t have any cavalry.”
If you added up all the horses in the Border Guard stables, there wouldn’t be more than about fifty.
A few were prepared for urgent ssengers.
But a cavalry unit was a different story.
Most of the horses, except for a few, were packhorses.
There’s a saying that an untrained unit is like a knife to the heart.
So, it was possible they would have to face mounted soldiers without any cavalry of their own.
“The Border Guard Commander has just returned.”
In the midst of the military eting, the Border Guard Commander returned.
The ongoing discussion was entirely expected.
They had attacked the main force of the Black Blade Bandits.
There was one unexpected piece of news mixed in.
The commander suddenly said:
“Well done. I heard that part of the Black Blade Bandits attacked Baron Vancento in advance. The Vancento fled suddenly, causing the protection target to be lost. While losing the target isn’t an official achievent, you did well to slaughter so of the Black Blade guerrilla forces and co back alive.”
It was theatrical. Marcus slamd his desk with a bang.
Several pins, used to mark positions on the map, toppled over and rolled across the table.
“How dare they kill a noble! Those Black Blade bastards!”
Marcus showed excellent acting skills.
“So we imdiately retaliated. If we hadn’t followed them, who knows what would have happened.”
The Border Guards Commander seed a bit awkward.
Encrid watched without smiling.
At the end of it all,
“So of the troops attempted to flee, and we lost them. Please punish them.”
“Ah, that’s fine. They’ve been caught.”
Marcus continued the real story after the theatrics, pointing to Encrid.
“He happened to catch them on the way.”
That had happened. A gift package had arrived. So fool from the fleeing main force of the Black Blade Bandits had been caught.
“Really?”
There was unprecedented goodwill in the Border Guard Commander’s eyes.
Though he said losing the protection target wasn’t an achievent, the look in the eyes of both the Battalion Commander and the Border Guard Commander made it clear.
‘It’s a definite achievent.’
An achievent recognized by the influential Battalion Commander and the current power of the Border Guard.
Several nobles’ faces turned pale.
They were quick to catch on.
“Let’s all have a mont of silence for Baron Vancento.”
The Battalion Commander spoke. He wanted the man nad Vancento to die as a noble, not as a bandit spy. He commorated him as a mber of the Kingdom till the end.
That was good for everyone.
So, let’s handle this well?
This silent mont of respect was like sending a ssage to the remaining nobles.
The perceptive nobles would understand this well.
“Alright, let’s get back to the eting.”
The exhausted Border Guard Commander, still covered in dust on his shoulders, beca one of the people surrounding the table.
The eting resud.
Marcus’s plan was full of holes.
Though one might think he had sothing to rely on, it seed there were nothing but flaws.
‘What is he really relying on?’
It was a question that suddenly arose.
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