episode_0008

The food in Moscobia was dismal. Even considering it as field rations, it was dreadful. Any comparison to the cuisine of the Francian Kingdom would render it inadequate.

Setting aside the food, the treatment of prisoners seemed acceptable. Although there was undoubtedly animosity among the soldiers of the Moscobian army towards the magical soldiers of the Francian Kingdom, they did not express it towards me.

The magical soldiers in this world seemed to treat me akin to a sniper from a past life. That was the impression I got from their gaze. However, they seemed to refrain from interfering with me, perhaps due to Sasha’s orders or something similar.

“Go in.”

A Moscobian soldier with a stern accent of Francian instructed. His personal tent seemed larger than usual. Was it not just a simple sleeping tent? As I entered, the first thing that caught my eye was a large wooden bathtub in the center. To the right, Sasha was still seated at a desk in her military uniform, engrossed in paperwork. Does the field commander have so much to handle? What are the central bureaucrats of Moscobia doing?

“You’ve come?”

Sasha didn’t even glance in my direction. She remained fixated on the pile of papers. Perhaps spending time like this might be better. In the short time I had been around her, I could sense her authoritarian nature. The constant whip-like remarks, peculiar habits of breaking things, and an overbearing tone. After being told to come to the tent after the meal, I had imagined countless scenarios. Even looking at that bathtub in the middle, my imagination didn’t seem entirely off. Surely, she was going to do something perverse in the tub.

“Why are you standing there like that?”

“Yes?”

“Come over here. If you’ve eaten, you should pay for your meal.”

Sasha gestured for me to come to her side. Nervously, I approached. On the desk, documents written in Moscobian were scattered disorderly, but Sasha seemed to be handling them swiftly and accurately. Of course, I couldn’t understand anything, not knowing Moscobian. It would have been helpful if I had learned some Moscobian beforehand.

“Sit.”

“Yes?”

“Can’t the attendant do anything but answer like an idiot? He said to massage my shoulders.”

I could have ordered the attendants to do that. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve seen any attendants. There should be at least one or two people waiting outside this tent. When I came in, there wasn’t even a soldier guarding the front of the tent. The soldier who guided me here promptly left as well. Maybe tonight, I might be able to escape.

Her shoulders were as stiff as a rock. Muscles? When I saw her in military uniform, she didn’t seem muscular, and instead, she appeared agile compared to the intimidation she exuded. Stress can make things this rigid. It felt like if I applied enough force, it would soften, almost as if it would yield. In just a few minutes, her grip loosened, and she almost just held my hand, repeatedly. By then, it seemed her paperwork was finished as she stretched. She seemed quite exhausted.

Sasha got up, glanced at the central bathtub, and then shouted something outside. Soon after, the soldiers carried the bathtub out. Phew, at least they weren’t planning to do something in the bathtub.

“Hmm?”

As the bathtub was being carried out, a new one came in, filled with steaming water. Ah, this must be the water Sasha brought for bathing. There’s no way she’d ask for more bathwater just because it cooled down for a mere prisoner.

Sasha nodded. Did she want me to bathe? As I approached, she began to undress me, not herself.

“What, what are you doing!”

“Stay still.”

“Even if I’m just a prisoner…!”

I couldn’t finish my sentence. Seeing the whip in her hand, I could foresee a future where it would be wielded. Even so, I couldn’t just stay still. With my freedom of movement gone as if my neck was gripped, she skillfully undressed me slowly but proficiently.

“A-Are Muscovian people this barbaric?”

In embarrassment, I spoke in plain language. Her hand, which had been undressing me, momentarily paused and then she chuckled. As I stood there, stripped down to my military uniform and even my undergarments, I desperately covered the important parts with my hands. Sasha also released the barrier device around my neck. As soon as the barrier was lifted, my body began to absorb mana. Since it had been empty until now, my recovery speed was faster than usual.

“Your smell is even more repulsive when you’re undressed.”

The sweat and blood odor that had been concealed by my clothes now spread throughout the room. Now I knew what her intention was. The water in the bathtub was for me. I was confused about how to respond to her playful attitude. However, at this moment, I decided to forgive Sasha for uncouthly and barbarically undressing me, considering the fact that I could escape from the discomfort and take a bath. But it wasn’t a position where forgiveness was readily available.

As I immersed myself in the tub filled with warm water, a sound of relief escaped me. The refreshing sensation that the uncles used to talk about in my previous life was truly felt after a long time. When the water touched my neck, it felt a bit stinging. As I touched the area where the barrier device had been, it felt rough and the contact area seemed somewhat swollen. While worrying that it might be infected, something cold touched my neck suddenly.

“Does it hurt?”

It was ointment. Sasha was applying ointment to my neck, almost covering it entirely.

“It’s just a little sting… ”

“We can speak comfortably now. Treating soldiers equally is supposed to apply even if you’re from another army, as it’s commonly accepted among nobles.”

“Is that so?”

Was Sasha not a noble? I thought she was, seeing her young age and the rank insignia of a lieutenant she wore. Her condescending gaze seemed very natural too.

After she finished applying the ointment, she started to undress. Did she think we could just get in the same bathtub because we were speaking more comfortably? At this rate, the modesty I’ve maintained for 17 years might really be in danger today. I huddled my body as much as possible in the water and cautiously watched her.

“I already took a bath earlier. Isn’t it too cramped for two people to get in there?”

It was as if she could read my mind from my face, she said. Sasha’s casual attire was quite different. When she wore a military uniform, there was a cold and haughty atmosphere, but in her simple blouse now, it felt soft. However, her gaze remained the same.

Relieved that she wasn’t coming into the bathtub, I relaxed. I thought I might get a proper answer now, so I asked again the question I had posed during the day.

“Why did you capture me? You’re chasing the 93rd Division, so I can’t be of any use to you.”

“I told you. Because I wanted to torment you.”

Sitting on the opposite side of the tub, her eyes scanned over my body. From top to bottom. Bottom to top. Fearing her lecherous gaze, I hastily covered my chest with my arms.

“Then why did you release the magic suppression device? They wouldn’t sense any magic from me. I could escape now.”

“Run away naked? If not, even if you try to kill me, soldiers will swarm in while you’re putting on clothes.”

“There’s no one around with magic. Making fun of the Magic Infantry is pathetic.”

“You should have made fun of the Royal Guards instead. Everyone lost their minds in the hunt for magic aptitude individuals.”

Are the Royal Guards really that formidable? They are just ordinary people who can’t use magic. Is there something else besides the magic suppression device?

“I’m pretty confident about it. Confident that you won’t be able to kill me.”

Feeling defeated by Sasha even in verbal sparring, I quickly finished bathing. My face couldn’t hide my unease enough to bathe leisurely in front of Sasha, who was watching me with sticky eyes throughout the bath.

“I’ll do it.”

This time, there was no response. After she dressed me, the magic suppression device was back around my neck. What, she only releases it during baths? Still, it made me a bit uneasy, damn it.

Sniff, sniff.

“Okay.”

Did I smell that bad earlier? Sasha put her nose against my neck, sniffed, and then smiled in satisfaction. Feeling uneasy, I awkwardly smiled and tried to go outside the tent, but that attempt failed.

[“When did I say you could leave?”

My movements abruptly halted at her cold, changed tone. It seemed to relax for a moment, but it was inevitable. She gripped my wrist forcefully and flung me onto the bed. As someone unable to use magic, I couldn’t resist. As I collapsed onto the bed, sirens blared in my mind. Warning, warning!

“Oh, don’t come any closer!”

For some reason, the long rod on the bed seemed entirely out of place, not meant for that purpose at all. It looked like a conductor’s baton, really—she held it up with both hands, thrusting it forward like a threatening blade. Although it was a futile threat, given my state of shock from falling onto the bed and being unable to get up properly, I still made a desperate attempt.

“Are you going to stop me with that?”

Sasha smirked. With one hand, she lifted my hands above me, completely sealing off my ability to resist. The grip was so strong that she even let go of the rod. Damn it, if only I had magic!

Sasha straddled me as I lay on the bed. To anyone watching, the next scene would seem perilous for me. It didn’t seem like this posture held a different meaning in this world.

“Please, no!”

I desperately turned my head to avoid her slowly approaching face. Being overpowered by a woman? That was unacceptable. If it were a man, maybe. My consciousness was fading, but I was undeniably still a man.

“Stop it. Not fun.”

Freedom returned to my previously immobile hands. Her face, which had been so close I could feel her breath, quickly moved away. Sasha, who had been on top of me, got off the bed and left the tent. Wait, why is she acting serious? Shouldn’t I be the one acting serious?

I exhaled a deep sigh of relief, calming my pounding heart. Maybe she didn’t want to continue because I resisted so strongly. Thank goodness. I have to escape even in the early hours of today.]