Did she already know what I would ask her for? Ch 208: I love freedom

Ch 208: I love freedom

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The clerk took to a room to await the arrival of the Admiral General.

A few minutes later, the door opened. Dorian Aranis was the first to enter, but I wasn't expecting Commander Cael to follow him.

"You look good despite the commotion you caused out there. You are the new rising star, you know?" mocked Cael "Many guilds were planning to recruit you, but after giving them a kicking, they got over it"

'So Commander Cael scared off those who wanted to recruit , huh? I should be cheerful since it took a weight off my shoulders, but seeing them enter this place together, I feel like I've already figured out the topic of conversation.'

"You made look like a superpower. You even frad for that attack you carried out." I looked at Commander Cael and said, "Why did you give all the credit?"

Anyone in his place would brag about his feats in war. The best example is Commander Rayan Alford, who didn't care what happened to his n as long as he managed to get the rits to move up in his military career.

"That's easy to answer. Just look at this guy" Cael pointed a finger at Dorian "Even though he's the admiral general, he doesn't look happy at all. Quite the contrary, he is replete with gray hair and regrets taking the position. If he could sell his position, he would have done so long ago."

'Ahh, better strata doesn't an greater peace of mind. I can understand that.'

"Cael, stop badmouthing in front of the Golden Archer. You make look like a bad guy," Dorian sighed, indicating that he just wanted world peace and didn't want to retire, even if the juicy retirent is tempting.

'I don't know Rick, it looks fake to . Initially, I thought Dorian was a good guy, but the more I get to know about him, the more I feel my ability to read looks increases in level. Could it be that this guy is a great actor? For his gift of gab, I wouldn't expect anything less.'

"Whatever," Cael said, ignoring Dorian's words, "I'll be honest: we want you to join the army."

'I knew it! due to the protection of the Holy Delia, they couldn't force like the others, and… That's why they probably decided to use a contract with very favorable terms to persuade .'

My thoughts ca true the next second, when Cael left in front of a contract with his and Dorian Aranis' signature.

"We will grant you 500 n, ready and willing to carry out any order you desire. You will also have only two superiors, He and I." Cael pointed his finger and said, "This ans you will know classified information and you will be able to see the big picture, while the other generals will only be able to see a part of the political landscape."

It is at this point that Dorian began to speak.

"By obtaining such information, you will never be deceived, and you will imdiately uncover spies and traitors..." Said Dorian with a serious tone.

"...As for your future promotions, the first one will grant you 500 more n, the second promotion will be a thousand n, and the third will be three thousand n. By that ti, you'll have 5,000 n at your disposal, an unlimited future, and the ability to accomplish feats you couldn't do alone."

These words were only the tip of the iceberg. In the following minutes, they explained in greater detail the contract to the point that one of my privileges is that my level and class will be secret from the kingdom; only a few will be able to know my real level.

"You can take the contract with you to analyze it more calmly; we know it is not easy to give an imdiate answer." Dorian said, handing the contract.

But... I didn't take it.

"I'm sorry, but my will is not sothing I can easily change." I shook my head and said, "I love freedom and, if I sign that contract, that will end."

I ca to this war solely because I wanted to get experience, a different experience than what I can get by defeating monsters. And it was because I got to be under the false protection of a Saint that my freedom remained intact. But it will all be over if I write my signature on that piece of paper.

"Golden Archer, I understand your concerns, but let just say that..." Both Dorian and Commander Cael tried to convince by saying that it will be very difficult for a commoner to rise if he doesn't have the support of soone with power, that my dal of honor only grants minor nobility, and that if I try to rise, the royal nobles will stand in my way.

And yet my answer did not change.

"I'm sorry, but I must let you down... My answer remains the sa." I thought that hearing my answer would end the discussion, but instead another discussion began.

"I told you it would be a waste of ti. I knew this guy would respond that way." Cael yelled angrily at Dorian.

"We didn't lose anything by trying," Dorian said, lifting his shoulders casually.

"You didn't lose anything. But I did!" Cael rose from his seat "I lost the damn massage hour! Now who's going to give a massage?!"

'Hey, didn't you get rid of the pain?'

"I have so knowledge on the subject. I can give you a massage if you want" Dorian rolled up his sleeves, showing that he ans business.

"Are you going to massage my feet?!" Cael was taken aback. It would be the first ti in his life that a renowned magical knight would massage his feet.

Dorian Aranis: "..."

*Sound of sword being unsheathed*

Cael: "..."

"Is it too late to say that it was a joke?" said Cael, grinning.

With a smile on his face, Dorian swings his sword, generating a huge crack in the wall room.

'What happened to Commander Cael?'

He disappeared, even though I don't know at what ti he did it. But he is nowhere to be found anymore.

"Did you forget that you yourself told about the weakness of the Shadow Class?" Dorian said, looking off into the distance.

Without waiting for an answer, he leaves the room, following Commander Cael's trail.

Emir: "..."

'Well, ti to go ho.'

***

*Omniscient POV*

At the sa ti, in another place.

Once the decoration event was over, the army broke ranks, and all the soldiers headed to their respective positions.

Since, while the victory celebration continues, many of them must keep their guard up to avoid the enemy revenge.

With the stage now empty, five n remain seated in front of a table with extrely complicated faces.

"So... no one could portray the Golden Archer?!"

These are the 5 professional artists in charge of making the portraits.

"No. I just know he was wearing a mask" said one artist.

"I rember part of the structure of his bow," said another.

And so each of them could only describe a small part of Emir, but none of them could rember his appearance in full.

"Haa... We must have the portraits ready by tomorrow; if we can't draw the Golden Archer, our careers will be over" said the leader of the artists.

"!!!"

'You were hired to draw portraits. Couldn't make it? Then take the consequences.' That's the situation they all imagined.

"Don't worry. If the Golden Archer is carrying that magic item, it ans he doesn't want people to know his real identity" The leader took a pause and then said, "Then we will portray him as the Admiral General's accounts describe him: as a cold, elegant, serious man!"

Such words struck the artists like lightning.

What is the best job? the one that allows you to let your imagination fly! It's where they can express their art without anyone interrupting them!

Because of this, the artists found themselves more excited than ever.

"His mask only allowed us to see part of his mouth. Wouldn't a crescent-shaped mask be better?" advised one of the artists.

"You're right, let's draw him like that." All the other artists agreed and made their respective changes.

"I'm sure he had green eyes."

"No. I noticed they were blue." The artist shook his head, but then he ca to a conclusion "Don't tell ... he has one blue eye and the other one green!"

"!!!"

'Does the Golden Archer have heterochromia?'

They couldn't be sure if this was true, but he looked good this way!

So they drew him like that anyway.

"I heard that the Golden Archer is a bastard noble, so his clothing must be that of a noble; the customs are hard to eradicate after all, but... he is here to make a na for himself and take revenge on his noble house. So his clothing must be that of a rebellious noble!"

"!!!"

Inspiration ca like crazy; every ti one of them spoke, it made thunder and lightning appear above their heads. They might be talking a lot of nonsense, but that nonsense sounded good!

So they drew him like that anyway.

The ti quickly passed. The artists had never in their lives tried so hard to draw soone.

They gave it their all, and when they were finished, they were sure that this portrait equaled the great feats once narrated by the Admiral General himself.

As a result, they drew a serious man, cold and elegant. With a crescent mask, heterochromatic eyes, and black hair typical of nobles related to royalty.

The portrait had an extraordinary aura. Anyone who saw it would understand that this is a talent that only appears once every 100 years.

The man's clothing was dark, and at the edges, golden threads adorned it; clearly, it was upper-class clothing, but it differed from many trends, giving him a rebellious nobleman's style.

As for his bow and arrows, these were the only ones that most closely resembled the real thing. Out of 10 points, they scored 8 in likeness.

The portrait, however… By all accounts, it was the portrait of Emir, but with five plastic surgeries and so organ transplants.