Ch.139Looks Like I Have to Go Out Again as Soon as I Arrive.

The next morning, I met Frider when I went down for breakfast.

She was dressed casually in just a white shirt and short skirt, unlike her usual coat and uniform—perhaps she’d sent them for cleaning.

Her skin was slightly flushed as if she’d had a drink early in the morning, with a faint scent of wine mixed in her breath.

Judging by her slightly damp hair tips and moist skin, she must have had a drink while bathing.

Drinking while bathing isn’t good for your health.

Though I’m hardly one to talk, smoking cigarettes while bathing.

Breakfast consisted of bacon and sausage made from young pork, salad, and egg tarts.

Overall, it seemed high in protein. Well, to build strength, you need to eat meat.

While dining with Frider, I mentioned my plan to visit Ainfeld territory soon.

Hearing this, Frider let out a mocking laugh.

She pointed at my shoulder with her raised finger.

I had left my damaged armor in my room, so I was only wearing a short top.

A scrap of cloth that revealed my shoulders, collarbone, and even my abdomen.

It was closer to underwear than an actual top, wasn’t it?

Anyway, because of this, the injury on my shoulder was clearly visible.

The hole had been filled, but the area remained darkly discolored, proving that the inside was still regenerating.

It had been almost a week since receiving healing, yet recovery was slow.

That priest must not have been particularly devout.

Frider poked my shoulder with her index finger.

Not the wound itself, but right next to it.

“And in this condition, you want to head straight to the battlefield? Quite the battle maniac, aren’t you? Missing the taste of blood?”

“It’s not like I have anything else to do. What about you? What are your plans?”

I hadn’t made any definite decisions yet.

I needed to ask about the situation there, check Ophelia’s schedule too.

And I’d have to visit busy Asha to ask her to repair my damaged armor, so today would be quite busy.

“Obviously, I need to rest first. Take a good week off… check my damaged equipment, review this battle to train on my weak points. Oh, and I should check on those women I asked the Church to look after.”

That doesn’t really sound like resting…?

I asked her to take Demian and Millia on missions if I didn’t return within a week.

I emphasized avoiding dungeons and making sure to recruit at least one priest.

Frider nodded readily.

Perhaps because the three of them had worked well together in battle, she seemed to like Demian and Millia quite a bit.

After finishing breakfast, I parted ways with Frider.

I needed to attend class to meet Ophelia.

I was also planning to visit the main administration office to check on the situation in Ainfeld.

—-

The classroom was sparsely populated, suggesting other students had been dispatched as well.

Without talent like Millia’s, it would be better to master the basics first rather than rushing into practical experience.

“Ah, you’re back, Haschal! It’s been a while!”

A pink-haired girl I hadn’t seen in some time approached and greeted me.

It was Lena, an aspiring battle priest of Saulite.

“You don’t need to address me so formally. Anyway, good to see you. Looks like you’ve been well, Lena?”

“I’m always doing well! Because Saulite watches over me!”

Lena smiled brightly, shaking the holy symbol around her neck.

She’s always so energetic whenever I see her. Is it because she’s young?

Anyway, that’s good.

Though her only talent as a priest is healing magic, her healing power is far superior to others.

“That’s nice. Then could you share some of that care with me? This injured shoulder of mine just won’t heal.”

“Yes! Leave it to me, Haschal!”

Lena nodded, gripped her holy symbol, and cast a healing miracle.

The sudden burst of crimson holy light momentarily drew everyone’s attention.

After confirming what was happening, they lost interest and turned away.

When the light faded, the stain-like scar on my shoulder had completely disappeared.

I rotated my shoulder to check its condition.

The muscles and joints rotated smoothly without obstruction. No pain, no discomfort whatsoever.

At this rate… I’d say it’s about ninety percent recovered.

“Hmm. Your healing magic is truly effective, Lena. Thank you.”

I should help her grow too.

Since she can’t use any other miracles, she’ll struggle to develop without my support.

Not many would willingly take a priest who can neither purify nor bestow blessings into their party.

“And like I said earlier, you can drop the formalities. Calling me ‘sir’ makes things feel awkward, especially since we’ve trained together for a while.”

“Umm… then can I call you… big sister? Haschal, big sister?”

Uh.

No, that’s a bit…

—-

When I hesitated to answer, Lena’s expression quickly turned gloomy.

It might be my imagination, but even her fluffy pink hair seemed to droop.

“…Is that not okay?”

“No, um… if you want to call me big sister, that’s fine.”

In the end, I had no choice but to allow it.

Let’s think positively.

We’ll have to travel together eventually, so rather than maintaining an awkward distance, being called “big sister” might be better…

—-

Demian and Millia’s seats were empty.

Well, it was their first subjugation mission, so they must be quite tired.

I wonder if they’ll rest the whole week too. I wanted to tell them about my schedule.

…Frider will probably handle it.

The theology lecture was still boring.

Unless you’re planning to become a priest, there seems little point in learning the doctrines of each church.

After the lecture ended, I called Ophelia out again.

Walking into the back alley, Ophelia frowned, clearly displeased with this meeting.

“You don’t listen to me at all, do you? I said we should avoid contact as much as possible.”

“You think I’m doing this because I want to? When is that plan of yours finally starting? I’m busy too, I can’t just wait around indefinitely.”

At this point, I was considering simply raiding House Sigmillus, massacring them all, and playing innocent.

As long as I don’t get caught, it should be fine.

…Though if I did get caught, I’d immediately become a wanted criminal.

“Busy? Planning to go on another dispatch, I see?”

“I’m thinking of going to Ainfeld. I heard they’re in battle with an undead army.”

I hadn’t heard about the battle situation yet.

“Ainfeld? Ah, there? Going to lend a hand to the First Prince’s gamble? How loyal of you.”

“Gamble? Is the situation that bad?”

I thought Leopold’s forces would be sufficient to suppress a few hundred undead.

“Of course it is. You think the Empress would let the First Prince earn military achievements? That would dilute the Third Prince’s greatest advantage.”

Ophelia shrugged.

“I heard about half of the Third Corps was dispatched, around eight thousand troops? The Church of Elpinel sent reinforcements, but… it won’t be easy. They say there are over a thousand monsters.”

What?

A thousand?

“No, wait. The undead monsters number over a thousand, not hundreds?”

“You didn’t know? It was common knowledge when the deployment was decided. The numbers have probably increased since then, who knows how many there are now.”

Cigarette smoke caught in my throat, causing me to cough violently.

At least a thousand. My God.

I had expected two or three hundred at most.

Did every undead in the world gather there?

“No one says it openly, but everyone considers the First Prince’s defeat a foregone conclusion. Even if he doesn’t lose, he’ll lose more than half his forces. They’re probably discussing how to organize reinforcements for the aftermath as we speak.”

So they’re planning to paint a picture of an incompetent First Prince who failed, and a Third Prince who saved him and subjugated the monsters.

Even if the First Prince doesn’t lose, they’ll emphasize the thousands of deaths to spread the narrative that he’s militarily incompetent.

The chewed tobacco leaf broke and fell to the ground.

Those bastards. They’re throwing thousands of troops into the jaws of the undead just for that?

Knowing full well that dead soldiers will resurrect as undead, instantly swelling the enemy’s numbers!

But I suppose for them, it doesn’t matter how many soldiers die as long as they win the power struggle in the end.

They don’t care if a few thousand of the eighty thousand Imperial troops die.

Leopold is also a problem. With such limited forces, he should have given up rather than engaging in battle.

And why didn’t Ludwig stop him?

Did they have some secret strategy for victory? Or were they just caught up in the First Prince’s stubbornness?

Whatever the case, I wouldn’t know until I got there.

“…I really need to go there tomorrow.”

“Hmm, do as you please. Though I’m not sure what difference one Master will make.”

Honestly, I don’t know either.

But I couldn’t not go.