Ch.94Revealed Truth (1)

# Late Night

Adora recalled what had happened today.

She had finally gained freedom from the curse that had tormented her for over a decade. And she had met a benefactor. The man named Erich Lohnstein was the first man Adora had ever felt attracted to.

Once, her father Tedman Giford had said something about him.

That man is so well-respected he’s famous even in other units. After the war ends, how about going on an arranged date with him?

At the time, she couldn’t spare a thought for men because of the forbidden spell, but now things were different.

“Hmm.”

Adora curled up in the corner of the stone bed and smiled with a hint of tears.

Once she escaped this deserted island, her hardships would be over.

This uninhabited island was actually an artificially created magical realm. Adora knew this precisely. It was more dangerous than one could imagine. Even though Adora was a first-class combat mage, she couldn’t navigate it alone.

She needed help from the Holy Spirit Kingdom soldiers.

The next morning.

After wiping away the dried tear stains with a cat wash, Adora looked straight at the faces of the enemy female soldiers. Then she bowed her head in apology.

“I’m sorry for my rudeness the day before yesterday.”

Despite Adora’s apology, the three female soldiers’ reactions were lukewarm. Rachel frowned, Riyo snorted while crossing her arms. Tiria showed no behavioral change, but her eye color was strange. Red and green were mixed together.

“It’s hard for us to trust you.”

“Ah, yes. It must still feel awkward.”

“We’re just going to check the traps and bring back some firewood. We’ll be back soon, so don’t even think about trying anything.”

The three female soldiers scurried into the forest. Only Adora and Erich remained.

“Well, hmm.”

They hadn’t known each other long. Trust would build gradually from now on.

Still, she wondered how she could quickly prove she wasn’t an evil mage.

After some consideration, Adora spoke to Erich.

“Major, I hope you’ll help me for the time being.”

“Yes. I was planning to act as a bridge between you and the Holy Spirit Kingdom soldiers anyway.”

Adora smiled contentedly. She adjusted her cap and patted Erich’s shoulder. Her gaze swept over his face.

“Major, now that I look at you, you appear quite gaunt.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“Are you very tired?”

“To be honest, yes.”

Erich’s appearance was close to that of a beggar. Long grown-out hair, bristly beard. Torn and tattered officer’s uniform. He hardly looked like a first-class mage.

Well, even so.

“You’re handsome.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I hate repeating myself. If you didn’t hear it, just leave it at that.”

After a moment’s thought, Adora spoke again.

“Are you going to wash up right now?”

“Yes, there’s a stream nearby. I plan to wash my face and brush my teeth there, and maybe splash some water on myself before the others return.”

“You even brush your teeth?”

“If you mix tree bark with salt and some herbs, it works. It’s a bit cumbersome, but better than letting your teeth rot.”

“You’ve been managing fairly well. Did the saint help you with the herb combinations?”

“Yes, the saint is both a skilled doctor and pharmacist. It’s also thanks to her divine power that your heart has been protected.”

Adora nodded.

“I’ll thank her separately later. By the way, Major?”

“Yes?”

“Your hair and beard seem less well-maintained.”

“I suppose they’re lower priority. I do trim them periodically, but it’s not easy. Trying to cut hair with stones or buckles instead of proper scissors or razors is rather…”

“I’ll do it for you.”

Adora saw it. The ripples spreading in Erich’s eyes.

“That’s all right. I can manage on my own.”

“Maintaining appearance is a basic principle for Magic Kingdom soldiers. How can you start your day with discipline if you can’t even keep a single hair or beard strand in order?”

“Didn’t you cry all night yesterday, Major General?”

“Be quiet.”

Adora cleared her throat and her gaze fell to Erich’s waist.

“Is that a dagger?”

“Yes. A carbon steel knife.”

“Let me borrow it for a moment. I’ll trim you up nicely.”

“You’re saying a general officer wants to act as a barber?”

“There aren’t any other Magic Kingdom soldiers here besides you and me, are there? Since I outrank you, I should handle your grooming, shouldn’t I? Who else would do it?”

And then it happened.

“Wait! Just! A! Minute!”

Both turned their heads. Then looked down. Two tiny golems were waddling toward them.

David Kanihi and Johannes Kalon. Officers of the Magic Kingdom who had already passed away. In their tiny hands were sharp pebbles.

“Let’s~ try~ this~ now~!”

“Let’s give a haircut!”

After finishing their strange short song, they immediately raised their voices.

“Have you forgotten about us?”

“We’re Magic Kingdom people too.”

“We men know men’s hair best.”

“That’s right. Lieutenant Kanihi, the most junior officer here, will do the haircut.”

“Ohhhhh? Then what will you do, senior?”

“I, Lieutenant Colonel Johannes Kalon, will inspect Major Lohnstein’s grooming regularly. So, Major General, please kindly yield to the saint… ah, that’s not what I meant…”

David and Kalon were separated from Adora’s hands.

[“Dwuu…”]

[“Dyaa…”]

It happened in an instant. Erich’s shoulders froze completely. She was as nimble as Rachel.

Dusting off her hands, Adora shifted her gaze.

“I’ll take care of the haircut from now on. If it makes you uncomfortable, think of it as an extension of yesterday’s gratitude… no, on second thought, that might be burdensome too. Consider it in lieu of reward leave.”

“…Yes, I gratefully accept.”

Erich bowed his head, trembling. Adora found this puzzling.

Is he afraid because my rank is too high?

That didn’t seem right, considering the spirit Erich had shown on the first day. That statement about considering even the Magic Kingdom an enemy if they betrayed the Pledge of the Mage had been very impressive.

He’s not someone who would be intimidated by authority.

He’s not someone who would bow his head to the position of Major General or the prestige of the Giford family. Yes, a man should have that much backbone.

Which made it all the more puzzling. What exactly was making him so cautious?

That question was finally resolved when they reached the stream.

“…Ah.”

To cut hair without dirtying the uniform, clothes would need to be removed.

Adora’s lips pursed.

Swoosh.

Pop.

The bubble gum she’d been habitually chewing inflated and then burst. The sticky rubber clung to Adora’s cheek.

“Um, Major General.”

“Excuse me for that.”

“May I handle this on my own?”

“No?”

Having come this far, she couldn’t back down.

“Take it off.”

Adora came from a long line of military families. She had learned to handle blades since childhood. She had been familiar with dagger handling for a long time.

“Let’s bathe together while we’re at it. Any objections?”

“N-none.”

“Understand this is for efficiency’s sake.”

The haircut and shave were done quickly. For just a brief moment, Adora faced Erich and stood still, repeatedly popping her bubble gum, but it didn’t last long.

“Good.”

Erich’s hair was now neat, and his jawline smooth and clean. Adora smiled with satisfaction as she washed the blade.

“Your features come alive. You look completely like an intellectual now.”

“Thank you.”

The two quickly finished bathing and got dressed. It was refreshing after three days without a bath. Of course, it was a bit embarrassing to wash outdoors.

Adora was upright. She knew how to exercise restraint. Erasing unnecessary emotions was something she had been doing for a long time. It was familiar to her now.

As they were returning to the base:

Thud.

The sound of a basket dropping came from ahead.

“Y-you two. Where have you been?”

It was Tiria and her group. They seemed surprised, as the Lumina’s eyes were orange. The Valkyrie and fox beastkin following behind showed the same expression.

“Don’t tell me you went to the stream?”

“Yes. To wash up.”

“Together?”

“Is there a problem?”

Adora asked innocently. Tiria shrieked.

“Of course there’s a problem! You bathed together? Are you crazy?”

“My eardrums are going to burst.”

Adora chewed her bubble gum loudly and placed her hands on her hips. By her standards, this was completely incomprehensible.

“The Magic Kingdom values efficiency. In special situations like this, every minute counts. There’s no military regulation prohibiting men and women from bathing together.”

Adora looked down at her legs as she continued.

“Besides, I’ve been shot and can barely walk. I’ve decided to accept Major Lohnstein’s support until I recover. The Major has agreed. I plan to stay close to him for the time being.”

“What? Who decided that?”

“I did.”

“Support? Aren’t you embarrassed, getting so close when you’ve just met? We’ve known Erich longer, so we could take turns helping instead.”

“I thought those who believe in the Holy Spirit Order had negative feelings toward mages.”

“That’s not true.”

At the saint’s denial, Adora gave a hollow laugh.

“Nonsense. The rigid Order is famous for being hostile to mages if nothing else. People’s values don’t change so easily.”

“So you can read my mind? You know whether my values have changed or not? Who are you to make such assumptions?”

“…Well, you have a point.”

She wanted to say more but refrained. If she continued, her goal of building trust would be derailed.

In any case, Adora herself was the closest thing to an outsider here.

Her position was still closer to that of an enemy or prisoner than an ally. Hoping time would heal everything, Adora moved forward, clinging to Erich.

“Oh, by the way. Look at the Major. I personally cut his hair and shaved him. How is it?”

She blurted this out proudly because it turned out so well.

With that one comment, the three female soldiers’ expressions grew even more sour.

“…”

Why on earth?

***

Though the oblivious Adora didn’t realize it, Erich had somewhat caught on. That night, pretending to be asleep, he eavesdropped on the Holy Spirit Kingdom female soldiers’ conversation.

“That woman is about to upset the balance.”

“Erich probably prefers people from his own country over us, right?”

“Given the situation, should we temporarily call a truce and form an alliance?”

He could barely understand what they were saying. But from their tone and atmosphere, he grasped the general situation.

Really.

If the three female soldiers truly had more than just goodwill toward him.

Then they weren’t wary and hateful of Adora because she was an enemy general, or a member of The Seven Swords, or part of a pseudo-magical organization.

“…Is it me?”

Sensing that the situation was not simple, Erich took out bubble gum after midnight and infused magical power into the wrapper.

On the faintly glowing wrapper was written:

[Today is a day to be careful with relationships. Fighting!]