Ch.42Imperial Special Forces (7)

“So by Holy Knight, you mean… the Holy Knight Order under the church?”

“That’s right.”

“Ah….”

Major Nerion trailed off, wearing an extremely troubled expression.

It must be difficult to readily accept everything he’s seen and heard so far.

Just then, I spot Liberone passing by over there. She’s wearing the armor of the Holy Knight Order.

The imperial soldiers who saw her were startled and whispered among themselves.

“So she really is a Holy Knight….”

“Everything I’ve told you so far is true, Major. There’s not a single lie.”

“Why on earth is a Holy Knight staying in this village?”

“Jack! Jack!”

At that moment, the administrative officer came running desperately, calling for me.

“The imperial army has come to the village…! We haven’t done anything wrong…! Sigh…. This is tough….”

The administrative officer bent over and caught his breath after running.

“This is our village’s administrative officer. He passed the Imperial Central Civil Service Exam.”

Major Nerion’s eyes widened in surprise at the administrative officer’s impressive credentials.

“Why would someone like that be in such a small village?”

“I wouldn’t know. How would a mere potion shop owner like me understand the imperial personnel administration?”

“This village truly is mysterious in every way….”

Major Nerion approached the administrative officer and greeted him.

“Hello, Administrative Officer. I’m Major Nerion, commander of the Imperial Army’s 213th Special Unit.”

“Ah, yes. Hello.”

I was worried he might break down mentally and wail about dying again.

Surprisingly, the administrative officer caught his breath, straightened his back, and greeted Major Nerion with composure.

“May I ask why an Imperial Army special unit is visiting a territory directly under the kingdom…? And so heavily armed at that.”

Major Nerion responded to the administrative officer’s calm question with an awkward smile.

“I apologize. I know it’s a discourteous action, but it was an urgent matter that couldn’t be helped.”

“And what might this urgent matter be…?”

After Major Nerion explained the purpose of his visit, the administrative officer calmly replied.

“That’s correct. Those were all actions taken by the village’s Vigilante Corps. Since our village doesn’t have an official security force, I used my authority to form a vigilante group to respond to threats to the village.”

“I’m not here to question that. I simply wanted to understand the exact circumstances because the scene was so unusual. Both the Remugen mercenaries and the Central Slave Traders are issues the imperial army needs to control, and especially in the case of the Remugen mercenaries, it was a mission clearly assigned to our special unit.”

“I see. We had no intention of stealing your achievements. It happened during the process of rescuing Jack here after he was kidnapped.”

“I already know that from what I’ve heard. And I’m not concerned about achievements either. I simply want to express my gratitude for doing what the imperial army should have done.”

Major Nerion slightly bowed his head, making the red feather on his helmet sway gently.

“Regarding the Remugen mercenaries and Central Slave Traders, I plan to submit a report to the imperial capital and recommend a reward for the village, but what do you think, Administrative Officer?”

The moment I heard those words, I couldn’t believe my ears.

Our actions would be reported as achievements to the imperial capital? Not the royal palace, but the imperial capital?

I was worried the administrative officer might feel burdened and collapse, but to my surprise…

“Then let’s go to the town hall. I’ll help you write your report.”

That statement meant he wanted to personally review it to prevent any distortion or minimization of what we had done.

It was a very bold statement to make in front of an imperial army major.

Perhaps this is because he’s an imperial civil servant rather than a kingdom one.

After all, those who pass the Imperial Central Civil Service Exam start at grade 5, and an imperial army major is also grade 5, so they’re equal in rank.

At the town hall, the administrative officer immediately drafted a report format and handed it to Major Nerion.

The major seemed a bit flustered but looked at the format and, finding no objections, began writing the content accordingly.

Standing beside him and looking down at the report, the administrative officer explained various things to the major.

How they recently attacked slave traders and freed several people, how many of the Remugen mercenaries died, how they accepted refugees from the Zilke Republic, how they annihilated the goblin horde near Odelin City, why Holy Knight Liberone was staying in the village, and finally how I used potions to help the poor and revitalize the village.

The major, who had been writing everything down as dictated, expressed reluctance.

“Administrative Officer, I was only planning to submit a report about the Remugen mercenaries and slave traders….”

“Then you need to know the full background. This report is going to the imperial capital—do you intend to write that residents of a small, nameless village joined forces to defeat mercenaries and slave traders without any context? The imperial capital will certainly not believe it and will reject the report. Would you rather receive demands asking if you properly completed the mission assigned to your special unit?”

“Ah, no, that’s not what I want…. Yes, please continue….”

The administrative officer continued speaking.

Listening to him systematically explain everything I’ve done since I possessed this body until now, I feel a new sense of appreciation.

But was the administrative officer always this articulate?

He’s speaking clearly without stuttering or crying, and every word is perfectly comprehensible.

This must be the administrative officer’s true self.

He persuaded Liberone in the same way when she came before and tried to kill me, claiming I was a demon or something.

After completing the report, Major Nerion carefully folded it and sealed it firmly in an envelope, following the administrative officer’s review.

“I’ll be leaving now. Thank you for your cooperation in many ways.”

Major Nerion said as he left the town hall after finishing everything.

“I pay my respects to the brave actions of the village residents. The imperial capital will certainly bestow a great reward upon the village.”

“I appreciate your help, Major Nerion. Please return safely on your long journey.”

The administrative officer’s dignified farewell was quite shocking.

After all the imperial soldiers had left the village, I turned to the administrative officer with a sigh of relief.

“Thank you for your hard work, Administrative Officer. Despite the sudden situation….”

“Uwaaah, Jack…!”

The administrative officer grabbed my clothes and wailed.

“I was so scared…! But I thought I shouldn’t break down… I took courage by watching you…!”

“You really did well. You’re amazing, Administrative Officer. Truly impressive.”

“Is that really true…? Am I amazing? Am I the best woman in Jack’s life…?”

Well, this is awkward. I can’t say no in this situation.

“Ah, yes…. Haha, yes…. That’s right….”

“Haah…. I’ve become Jack’s only woman….”

After hearing my answer, the administrative officer hung her head and whispered in an extremely gloomy manner.

“Now there’s no choice…. In the end, I have no other option but Jack…. I have no choice but to entrust the rest of my life to Jack….”

What a crazy woman.

* * * * *

When I returned to the shop and went to Liberone’s room, Adelheid, who had definitely been lying on the bed, was nowhere to be seen.

Could she have escaped in the meantime? That’s possible.

From the empire’s perspective, the Remugen mercenaries are extremely annoying.

They couldn’t easily touch the mercenary group when it was intact, but now they’re defenseless like mice in a trap.

So it makes sense for her to escape when she had the chance.

It’s a shame, as I had uses for her.

Just as I was about to leave the room, I heard a strange sound.

“Hnngh….”

A sound like sobbing or a pained moan was coming from somewhere in the room.

Looking around carefully, I walked over and opened the closet door.

As soon as I opened it, Adelheid and the 2nd squad captain tumbled out.

“Captain!”

The 2nd squad captain shouted, covering Adelheid’s body with her own as they lay sprawled on the floor.

“Captain! Are you alright?”

“Haa, haa….”

“Captain…. Please pull yourself together….”

The 2nd squad captain stroked Adelheid’s cheek, sobbing with a voice full of frustration.

This is quite a pitiful sight.

“The imperial army has left.”

At my words, the 2nd squad captain jerked her head up.

“Really…?”

“They weren’t chasing you. We recently ambushed some Central Slave Traders, and that’s why they came.”

“Central Slave Traders…?”

The confused 2nd squad captain wiped her eyes with her sleeve and said:

“Um… could you… give us an antidote…?”

Adelheid was gasping for breath with her hands between her thighs.

There’s no antidote. Because drinking a Healing Potion will cure her immediately.

The Healing Potions I make remove most status ailments completely.

“What will you give me if I provide an antidote?”

“What do you mean, give you…?”

“Did you think I’d give it for free? After kidnapping me and putting me through all that trouble?”

“But I don’t have any money right now and nothing to give you….”

The 2nd squad captain hesitated, rolling her eyes around, then bit her lip.

“If it’s alright… although I was saving this for the captain, but if nothing else….”

The 2nd squad captain suddenly began undoing the straps of her leather armor.

She must have emergency funds hidden deep inside her armor.

“I don’t need money…. What are you doing?!”

The 2nd squad captain removed her breastplate and took off the shirt she was wearing underneath.

Covering her small, perky breasts with her arms, the 2nd squad captain hesitantly said:

“If it’s okay with you, I’ll let you do it once…. If once isn’t enough, as many times as you want….”

“Good heavens, no thank you. I wouldn’t take it even if you gave it to me.”

The 2nd squad captain seemed greatly shocked by my words and stared at me with a slightly dazed expression.

Then she suddenly came to her senses and shouted fiercely:

“The captain is absolutely off-limits!!”

“Ah, my ears hurt! I’m not interested in that. Instead, let me make a different proposal.”

“What is it…?”

“The Remugen mercenaries are quite good at guerrilla warfare, right? I mean… irregular warfare. Looting, ambushes, building occupation, that sort of thing.”

“O-Of course! Our mercenary group is versatile. We can fight in any situation!”

“Perfect. You people will work as irregular warfare instructors for our village security force. Without pay.”