episode_0042

As Memer immediately guesses his identity, Sir Dice’s face hardens.

“Ahem! Hmm! Wh,what are you talking about⋯.”

“And next to it is probably⋯⋯. Oh my god.”

Memer turns to look at the girl sitting nervously next to Sir Dice, then his mouth is covered by her bright red hair.

“⋯Why?”

“Sarah? Don’t let anyone in here.⋯I mean, don’t let anyone in. At least not until I give you another order. Do you understand?”

Memer turned his head to Sarah and gave instructions with a serious expression.

“Yes, yes! No one will let me in!”

Sarah answered loudly and decided to leave the scout barracks and stand proudly guarding the entrance.

“⋯Is this something I should be out doing too?”

Ailee asks Memer.

“No, I’d like you to stay and listen to the story. It’d be quite interesting.”

Memer said that and chuckled once. Then he slowly turned his head to Sir Dice, who was sweating profusely and nervously, and began to carefully choose what to say, tapping his cheek with his index finger.

“⋯Is Uriel finally running out of patience? It’s a little earlier than I thought.”

“⋯⋯⋯I can’t tell you anything yet.”

Sir Dice swallowed his dry saliva once and spoke to the dark-skinned man standing before him.

“Hmm? Why?”

“Somehow, you seem to be very knowledgeable about our situation, but I have no information or trust in you at all.”

The prince, perhaps frightened by the unfamiliar surroundings, pressed himself even closer to Lord Dice.

“Oh no, what a rudeness. We were late in greeting you.⋯We were too excited.”

Memer smiled at the cowering prince who was looking at him with eyes like a wary deer.

“We were aware of the existence of the bandits, but we have not heard any reports of such armed forces being active. It does not seem like any famous noble families are involved. Maybe you share their goals.”

“We are not a sect of bandits. We are a group of volunteers who are doing your work for the capital city officials who are not very interested in the southern regions. If we are a group of bandits, why do you think we are treating you like this?”

Ailee interrupted and continued speaking in an agitated tone.

“Ailee.”

Memer interrupts her by patting her arm as if telling her to calm down a bit. Ailee tries to say something more, but then closes her mouth and turns her head away.

“Let me greet you formally again. My name is Memer.”

Memer bows politely, slightly lifting the dark green cloth with gold embroidery around his waist.

“⋯I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t even inherit the surname. As you expected, we come from humble families. However, despite my lacking body as a man, I have had a talent for business since long ago and was able to accumulate some wealth. Since being a merchant requires going around to many places and meeting many people, it was probably by chance that I recognized you, the chief. The people who share the same goal as me here are all equally talented and trustworthy. ”

As if he noticed the prince glancing at the snacks placed far away on the table, Memer bent down and pushed the plate of snacks towards him.

“Try it. Farmers suffered less damage than last year, so the harvest was good. We contributed a lot.”

“Ugh… Thank you.”

The prince took a bite of the sweet snack he hadn’t seen in a long time. After watching him enjoyably, Memer turned around and walked towards the scout map hanging inside the barracks.

“Look. Here and here, these are the places that have been reclaimed from the bandits. I can’t say that they’ve been completely cleared yet, but this is a map that organizes the progress so far. ”

“⋯Why are you doing this instead of enlisting in the regular army?”

Sir Dice, who had been sitting up and looking at the map, continued asking questions, as if his doubts had not yet subsided.

“Because the situation is urgent. It is not certain how much time will pass before I become a low-ranking soldier and help protect our homeland, and as you can see, I am also a man. Do you understand us a little now?”

“⋯⋯Let’s talk to the boss here.”

Memer pauses at Dice’s words. After a moment of hesitation that doesn’t make her think it’s strange, he elbows Ailee.

“You can speak.”

Ailee receives it.

After finishing her work and returning to the vigilante group’s quarters with her direct force, Mila looked around.

“Where did everyone go⋯? Are you still busy⋯⋯⋯.”

Aside from Remili’s special forces that had gone out on a night operation, the other personnel who were supposed to return around evening time didn’t show up, so they decided to wander around.

“What? You’re here? What are you doing standing here?”

Mila walked towards the area where the scouts were staying, found Sarah, and spoke to her.

“Oh! Captain! Thank you for your hard work! We are on guard duty!”

“I told you not to call me that⋯⋯. What kind of border mission is this?”

Ever since Mila accepted the offer to become the leader, she still felt awkward when she constantly spoke to her formally.

“There were orders not to let anyone in!”

“I⋯can’t go in either? Who’s in there? That couple? Are they in a meeting?”

Sarah blinks her eyes and closes her mouth.

“Haa⋯⋯.”

Mila sighed and turned around, thinking that she would get nothing out of talking more. However, it was not like she was just a pants president, because Memer and Ailee had really handed over all authority to her, and the direct unit that they had originally worked with was reduced to the same status as Sera’s reconnaissance unit and Remili’s special forces, operating with only a small number of personnel. Nevertheless, very occasionally, when she forgot, Memer would do something without properly explaining the content to her, the leader.

“Do you understand? I’ll only work with you as long as you remain my subordinates as vigilantes. Last time, that⋯ I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“Are you saying I will make you a king in the future?”

“⋯⋯Yeah, that’s it. I can’t even dream of getting involved in something so ridiculous. That’s my condition.”

Mila tried to calm her passing anxiety by thinking that she had not forgotten. Was it foolishness or ignorance? They must have no idea how cruel and terrifying the royal family’s people were. Otherwise, they would not have dared to speak of such an impious plan that would not only save their own body, but also bring harm to all the precious people around them.

“Chief! I’m sorry about earlier!”

Sarah’s voice heard from behind stops Mila’s steps.

“You… Can’t you just be comfortable like before? We’ve known each other for a long time, so everyone knows that.”

“That can’t be! Aren’t you of a higher rank than Memer?”

“That damn Memer… That guy always gives me orders like that. He always plays around with Memer’s skirt, so maybe he’s working on you too?”

“Work? What are you talking about? What kind of⋯.”

“No⋯Why, why did you suddenly start yelling⋯⋯.”

“⋯Why is my Memer angry at a person like you?”

Sarah is serious.

“A human like you, Captain⋯⋯. If you’re going to be respectful, do it properly. You’re in a hopeless love, my friend.”

Mila pats her friend’s shoulder with a relieved expression.

“Is that the person called the manager?”

A tall woman, whose face contrasts sharply with Sarah’s youthful appearance, speaks to Sarah.

“Yes, that’s right. You can see that this person is leading us all.”

Sarah answers. Mila looks at the woman in the scout uniform, a face she has never seen before, and tilts her head at the familiar accent.

“Oh, right. I came here to introduce you to my new subordinate. Let me introduce him to you. This guy is Efre, and his skills are truly dazzling.”

“I will work hard.⋯I guess you won’t be pulling the cart anymore?”

The woman named Efre bowed her head to Mila, but her gaze was firmly fixed on Mila’s pupils.

“Huh? Ahhh… Have we met before?”

Mila crossed her arms and thought about it, but she couldn’t remember her face or her name. It would be nearly impossible to remember all the customers she’d met over the years of business.

“Well, that’s just how it turned out. I still have the cart, but I’ve closed up shop. Welcome to the vigilantes.”

“⋯⋯.”

Mila guessed that Efre was a little nervous, or maybe just naturally blunt. When he felt embarrassed as he extended his hand to shake hers, Mila surreptitiously lowered her arm again.

“First of all, I have finished the training on the great achievements of our vigilante group and their status in the southern region. I will finish the training so that I can work at the reconnaissance unit as soon as the sun rises and then I will go home. So, you should hurry up and go see your pretty husband who is waiting for you at the dormitory.”

Although she was clearly happy that she got a job, Sera thought that it must have been a bit nerve-wracking for a new employee to face the big boss on the first day, so she tried to ease her tension by creating a cozy and warm atmosphere of the vigilante group with words that showed her closeness with the leader.

“⋯⋯⋯.”

“Come on, let’s take a look at the scout barracks.”

Sera leads Efre by holding his hand, who is still looking at Mila with a stern expression.

“Yeah, good luck.”

Mila greeted him dryly and turned around.

“Somehow, it’s not enough.”

Mila stops dead in her tracks and turns her head at the sound of Efre’s voice coming from behind her.

“Once the opportunity comes, grab it with all your heart. Someone might want it desperately. If you think they’ll wait for you forever, you’ll regret it someday.⋯⋯Someday.”

“⋯Good words. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Mila nodded with a smile. She thought that this kind of self-introduction wasn’t bad. Then, Sera and Efre turned around and walked away.

“Is that a motto or something? Your ambition is amazing!”

Sarah enters the scout barracks and receives the item she had requested.

“Huh? No⋯. Just.”

“Here’s your Vigilante ID. It’s proof that you’re one of us. I’m starting to look forward to the days we’ll be together. Let’s do our best starting tomorrow!”

Latia Epre – Scout

The above person proves that he/she is a member of the vigilante group.