Ch.37The Mage Millia (3)

# Mage Millia (3)

Two idiots who both thought their acting was perfect finally arrived at the Glacies Magic Tower.

“It’s not as cold as I expected, is it?”

Esmeralda remarked with a disgruntled expression. Just being near the magic tower already made it feel like winter.

But upon actually arriving at Glacies Magic Tower, which researched water, ice, and stasis, it wasn’t as cold as she had imagined.

“I have to keep the temperature raised normally, otherwise my underlings would all freeze to death while I’m conducting research.”

Glisha shrugged as if it were nothing special.

In other words, when she seriously used her magic, even other mages who specialized in ice magic could completely freeze.

“Ah, I see.”

So they really are lunatics after all!

Esmeralda nodded as if a long-standing question had finally been answered.

The human-shaped ice statues frozen throughout the place added credibility to this.

As she continued looking around, Esmeralda noticed someone approaching them.

There were many people around, but since everyone was keeping their distance while watching Tower Master Glisha’s mood, this one person’s presence stood out.

No, that wasn’t the only reason their presence was so distinctive.

“Hello, Esmeralda. And hello to Eirene and Lug too. Nice to meet you.”

A woman with short brown hair.

Instead of her usual baggy robe, she wore a revealing evening dress—a bold outfit choice.

Yes, it was impossible not to be overwhelmed.

Even another woman couldn’t help but stare at those two magical pouches.

“It suits you well, Lady Millia.”

“Thanks.”

And what about Lug, whose libido had been overflowing recently?

While naturally complimenting Millia, his eyes wouldn’t leave her chest.

By this point, he was staring so blatantly it was offensive.

But the other party was Millia. She showed no particular resistance to Lug’s obvious sexual harassment.

No, rather…

“Want to touch them if you’re curious?”

“Yes!”

“No!”

Lug immediately reached out with his answer, but Eirene intercepted his hand midway.

Somehow, their fingers became interlocked.

When Lug persisted and tried to reach out with his other hand, Eirene smiled and slammed holy power into his palm.

“Keeeeeeek!”

“This should have cleansed some of your filth. That’s good.”

Eirene said with a sweet smile.

Esmeralda felt like she had already foreseen what would happen when she handed Lug over to Eirene.

‘Maybe it would have been better to hand him over to Millia instead.’

That was her best option.

She definitely couldn’t decide how to deal with Lug after this was all over. She couldn’t risk her life to protect him, could she?

After defeating the Demon Lord, she planned to retire and return to the countryside.

Living there and plowing fields seemed much more peaceful than chasing after honor and glory.

In that sense, all she could do when their journey ended was to entrust Lug to someone reliable.

Since she had decided to take him along until they fought the Demon Lord, the demon army probably wouldn’t take him back either.

‘Or maybe I should install this bastard as the Demon Lord and then run away?’

Esmeralda didn’t intend to kill all the demons.

Her target was the Demon Lord.

After all, the hero was born because of the Demon Lord, so there was no choice.

So if she could just defeat the Demon Lord, that’s what she wanted to do.

After that? She had no idea what would happen to the demon realm.

The scope of what she could do was too limited to consider such aftermath.

Yes, forcing Lug onto the Demon Lord’s throne wouldn’t be a bad idea. Well, he’d have to deal with assassination threats on his own…

“Lady Millia. Please be careful. Lug has contracted a bad disease that makes it dangerous for him to have casual contact with other women.”

“Really? What kind of disease?”

“Well…”

“I don’t have any disease, do I?”

“Hehe.”

At least he’d be happier than being caught between these two people.

Esmeralda was convinced of that.

***

Lilith had just returned to her office after being away to review recent frontline trends and establish appropriate strategies.

“Sigh… So, what is this mess?”

But upon arriving at her office, she found papers scattered everywhere.

Judging by the pale complexion of her adjutant, this was no ordinary situation.

Lilith questioned her adjutant while openly displaying her displeasure.

“W-well…”

“I won’t scold you, so speak freely. What happened?”

Lilith exuded an intimidating aura while hiding her intention to immediately demote the adjutant after hearing the story.

“…Legion Commander Five came and rummaged through your desk at will, Colonel.”

“Legion Commander Five? Was she planning to protest about the previous incident?”

“I don’t know. She just said that anyone who tried to stop her would burn to ashes…”

“I see. I understand. Would you mind preparing a cup of coffee for me? I need to check what Legion Commander Five was looking for here.”

Lilith set aside her thoughts of demoting the adjutant for now.

A Legion Commander might have the same rank as her, but in reality, they were her superiors.

After all, Lilith had received her three stars through a parachute appointment, so it was easier to think of everyone with the same rank as being above her.

“Hmm, so she was looking through files about Lug…”

Legion Commander Five had said she never planned or approved any infiltration mission into the hero’s party.

Of course, the hero’s party’s threat level was relatively low at the time for her to be concerned about. But the problem was implementing such an operation without even getting Five’s review. It meant forging a superior’s seal.

“I was quite busy myself…”

Lilith considered what Legion Commander Five’s purpose might be.

Probably one of two things:

Either to find Lug, who was carrying out this operation.

Or to find traces of the person who executed this operation.

‘Lieutenant Colonel Extra…’

The field-grade officer who forcibly pushed through this operation. And reported dead by the hero while volunteering for a mission to retrieve Lug.

‘Are you really dead?’

Like a minor character in a play.

He disappeared so simply, and no one seemed to care about his death in the current situation.

Lilith felt uneasy about it.

“Colonel, your coffee…”

“I’ll be stepping out for a moment. Please organize and classify any incoming documents on my desk in the meantime.”

“Ah, yes!”

Lilith left the room without even touching the coffee her adjutant had brought.

The more deeply she became involved in matters related to Lug, the more something alien remained within her.

If that was the case, she had no choice but to confirm it.

‘First, I should go to the place where Lieutenant Colonel Extra was reportedly killed.’

Legion Commander Five was likely to be there.

***

I open my eyes with a tingling sensation.

“Urrrgh!”

I remember my hand reaching for Millia’s chest as if possessed, but my memory after that is hazy.

Am I getting dementia?

Why do I keep having these holes in my memory lately?

“Oh my, Lug. Are you alright?”

“Ah, yes, I’m fine.”

While feeling the numbness in my palm, I accepted and drank some water that someone handed me.

After drinking it, I realized it wasn’t water. But it had a nice refreshing taste, so I gulped it down.

After moistening my throat, I saw the Saintess, Eirene.

“This is delicious. Is it sparkling water?”

“You seemed unwell, so I added a bit of holy water.”

“Ah, I see?”

So that’s why it had that fizzy taste.

It was the taste of my esophagus being destroyed.

But since she said it was just a little, it wasn’t too bothersome.

Maybe it’s because unhealthy, stimulating foods taste good.

“How is it? Do you feel like some of your inner filth is being washed away?”

“Ah, yes. I do.”

“I’ll prepare it for you often from now on. Until all the filth in your body is gone.”

“…”

Eirene smiled sweetly.

As always, it was a pure and beautiful smile, but still unsettling.

“Lug, are you feeling better?”

“Oh, Lady Millia is here too. And the hero as well. I’m at a loss with everyone worrying about me like this. If that concern leads to the conclusion that I can’t join you on your future journey, that would be even better.”

“If Lug’s not around, I won’t have anyone to read books with me, so that won’t work.”

“That’s right, Lug. Companions are precious. Let’s stay together from now on, shall we? Until we kill the Demon Lord.”

“Haha…”

These barbarians.

Why don’t they resolve things through dialogue?

I’d like to meet the Demon Lord in person too, but why do humans always consider demons as enemies?

Honestly, as someone who doesn’t belong to either side, I don’t see much difference between them.

“Lug.”

“Ah, yes, Lady Millia. I wasn’t thinking anything.”

Really.

I wasn’t badmouthing you all.

I made excuses like a thief pointing at his own feet, but judging by Millia’s expression, she seemed worried about me.

With an expressionless face, she said:

“Tell me if it’s hard for you.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’ll let you touch my chest.”

“I’m really struggling.”

I’ve been through so much.