Ch.24The Mercenary Captain Who Dislikes Women (5)

The place I was dragged to by the subordinates was an old kitchen.

Dust had accumulated as if it hadn’t been used for a long time, but it was equipped with cooking facilities.

It seems like I could at least pretend to make potions here.

“Excuse me. Where’s the bathroom?”

When I asked, a subordinate pointed to a small oak barrel in the corner. Damn it.

The door closed, and I heard the sound of a lock being fastened from outside.

As I put water in the pot and sorted through ingredients, I thought to myself.

I need to establish a proper guard unit in this village as soon as possible.

Even in a medieval fantasy world, how can someone just get kidnapped in broad daylight like this?

A few months ago, that bandit Vint tried to kill me in broad daylight too.

Strong institutions and administrative power are what protect vulnerable NPCs.

I need to establish a guard unit and secure public safety first.

By the way, I wonder if Adelheid has developed some feelings for me.

The reason I patted her head as soon as we met face-to-face was all because of my knowledge of the original story.

The mercenary captain Adelheid had an unfortunate childhood.

In modern terms, she was born as a gang boss’s daughter and was forced by her oppressive father to suppress all emotions while being trained as his successor.

While girls her age were playing with dolls and dressing up, Adelheid was learning how to kill people.

All this information is revealed after killing Adelheid in a side quest.

She appears as an evil woman, but then there’s the reveal: “Actually, this is what happened to her,” ta-da!

It was such a common plot twist that I just accepted it when I was playing the game.

I never thought I’d end up being captured like this.

Anyway, that’s why I tried to stimulate Adelheid’s suppressed femininity.

I thought it would work, but judging by her reaction, I completely failed.

Can’t be helped. Now I just need to buy time and think of a way out.

I have knowledge of the original story, so I should be able to escape somehow.

If that doesn’t work, I could make a potion that gives me superhuman strength, drink it myself, and smash everything.

Though I’m not sure if I can make such a potion.

While I was lost in these thoughts, the door opened, and a piece of dry bread and water were brought in.

It was the same low-quality whole wheat bread I used to eat in the village when I first possessed this body.

This is really ridiculous.

Just when I thought I could finally live comfortably after saving the village, I get kidnapped like this.

Suddenly, I had a realization.

Could this Remugen mercenary group be just the beginning?

A rural village with no name suddenly growing rapidly, with a potion shop owner at its center.

I could be misunderstood as someone who killed dozens of goblins with potions, like this time, and there’s no guarantee that other powerful figures won’t approach me for various reasons.

When that happens, I have nothing to protect me.

The village administrator is a civil servant but low-ranked and powerless.

Mirella is out of the question, and Sir Hostante’s Potion Knights are knights in name only—more like a village volunteer group or vigilante corps.

It would be nice to have a strong background to support me.

But who would back a potion shop owner in the Starting Village?

I searched through my knowledge of the original story, but no particular character came to mind.

Alreina? Definitely not.

Even in the original story, Alreina never returns to the Starting Village.

It seems there’s no other way but to quickly develop and upgrade the village to increase the guard force.

Why did I have to possess such an NPC and make life difficult for myself?

It would have been better if I’d possessed a wizard or knight, or at the very least, become the lover of some villain princess.

It’s funny that I’m envying such a position.

As the pot started to boil vigorously, I put in some ingredients and stirred them lazily.

Today, I’ll just focus on making something with a pretty color.

There’s no point in rushing; it would only shorten my lifespan.

* * * * *

The next morning.

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!!”

The guards standing outside the door looked at each other as curses and breaking sounds came from Adelheid’s bedroom.

Adelheid was in an extremely agitated state right now.

She had stayed up all night.

The reason she couldn’t sleep was because of that potion shop owner she had captured yesterday.

It was because of the nonsense he had spouted that kept her thinking all night.

She had coolly brushed it off on the terrace last night, but once she lay in bed staring at the ceiling with the lights off, his words kept coming back to her.

She would never admit that she was excited by it.

“That bastard! How dare he toy with me!”

Adelheid tore her blanket to shreds, unable to contain her anger, or perhaps a slightly different emotion.

“What? Pretty? Heart melting? Hold hands? Have a meal together? Don’t talk nonsense!”

Adelheid was furious about hearing words typically meant for women.

To be precise, she was angry because it brought up feelings about her father who had forced her to abandon her femininity.

Anger, fear, hatred—all sorts of negative emotions.

Although her father was already dead, Adelheid was afraid of being scolded for this incident.

By whom?

By her father who had deeply rooted himself in her heart.

After throwing a tantrum alone for quite some time, Adelheid grabbed the bedpost, breathing heavily.

Calm down, Adelheid.

You must not show weakness to your subordinates.

Subordinates are like wild dogs.

If the leader shows weakness, they will mercilessly kill and appoint a new leader.

Just as my father did, I must do the same.

After taking deep breaths for a long time, Adelheid slowly straightened her back, got up, and began changing her clothes.

“Damn it.”

Adelheid cursed again as she pushed her somewhat larger-than-average breasts into her breastplate.

I should just cut off these useless lumps of flesh. They’re of no use in battle.

When angry, everything Adelheid saw displeased her.

After suppressing her anger, Adelheid, now fully armed, was about to leave her bedroom when she paused.

After hesitating for a moment, Adelheid took out a lipstick hidden deep in her drawer.

Standing in front of a broken mirror, Adelheid’s hand was very awkward as she applied lipstick to her lips.

“Hmm…”

After calmly looking at her red lips reflected in the mirror, Adelheid raised her arm and nervously wiped her mouth.

Then she stormed out of her bedroom.

“What is that potion merchant doing now?”

“He worked all night and is now sleeping.”

At her subordinate’s answer, Adelheid pondered for a moment.

I couldn’t sleep and I’m already irritated. Should I call him in and beat him up a bit?

No, no. That would be letting emotions take over.

His potion is essential for our mercenary group.

A potion shop owner with nothing killed dozens of goblins.

If we can secure such an amazing potion reliably, our mercenary group could become the best on the continent.

Until we have a clear conclusion on whether he can make that potion or not, it’s best to accommodate him as much as possible.

Yes, now that I think about it, he did say something.

He wanted to meet face to face once a day for a meal or tea.

“What’s today’s schedule?”

“In the morning, there’s the contract extension with the Brendanew family, and in the afternoon, we’re scouting the protest site of the National Small Merchants Union that we’ll be suppressing next week.”

“And in the evening?”

“Besides dispatching a patrol to the Imperial Army detachment that’s been following us, there’s no special schedule.”

“Then I’ll have dinner at the base. With that potion guy. I have something to discuss with him about potions.”

“Understood, Captain.”

If that’s what he wants, I’ll give it to him. It’s not difficult.

If there are no results after a month, I can just kill him.

“By the way, Captain, perhaps…”

The subordinate hesitantly opened his mouth, looking at her smeared lipstick.

However, seeing Adelheid’s fierce glare that looked like she might devour him at any moment, he quickly averted his gaze.

* * * * *

When I opened my eyes, I could see the sunset through the window.

I stayed up all night and slept until now.

I’m hungry.

“I need food!”

As I shouted, the door flung open and several Remugen men entered. They were empty-handed.

“I said I need food.”

“Follow us.”

“Where to?”

“The captain has summoned you.”

What’s this about?

Did my plan actually work?

“Bring the sample you made overnight.”

I filled a bottle with the unfinished potion from the pot and followed them to what appeared to be a dining hall where Adelheid was sitting alone.

“Welcome, Jack.”

“Hello, Captain. Are you keeping your promise?”

Ignoring my question, Adelheid gestured with her chin.

“Is that the potion that can tear apart ogres?”

“Yes, it is. But since it’s only been boiled for a day, it has no effect.”

“Bring it here.”

I walked around the table and placed the potion in Adelheid’s hand.

After examining it from various angles, Adelheid handed the bottle back to me with a wicked smile.

“Drink it.”

“Excuse me?”

“Who knows if you made poison instead of a potion? You drink it first.”

“But Captain… after kidnapping me, if you don’t trust me like this…”

“Drink it.”

Under Adelheid’s pressure, I opened the bottle cap and drank the potion.

It’s a potion similar to tasteless water.

I clearly said it had no effect, yet she’s so distrustful.

“So you weren’t playing tricks.”

Adelheid smiled, seeing that I was fine.

“I told you. This has no effect, and to do it properly, I need at least a week…”

“Bring in the meal.”

Cutting off my words, Adelheid ordered, and her subordinates entered and began setting the table with food.

The food brought out by these grim men with awkward movements was all rough fare, the kind you’d eat in the field.

“It seems there are no maids here to handle household chores?”

“No.”

“Perhaps you should at least hire someone to attend to you, Captain. With a maid’s touch, you would become a very beautiful person. Though even now, your radiance…”

“Shut up!”

Adelheid suddenly shouted for no apparent reason.

“I apologize.”

Adelheid, who had been glaring at me as if about to draw her sword, soon softened her expression and asked.

“Do you really think so?”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“Do you really think I would become a beautiful woman with a maid’s touch?”