episode_0026

Adelehyde remained silent at my proposal and stared at me with a blank expression.

It was a calculated gamble, seemingly with some potential.

If my guess is correct, Adelehyde clearly wants to continue receiving Nadena from me.

She seems to also harbor some expectations about her changed feminine appearance.

Perhaps her earlier half-serious suggestion for me to become a servant to that insane Chihuahua-like woman was partly genuine.

She must be feeling regret inwardly right now, so let’s push a little harder.

If successful, I can properly roast Adelehyde, and if not, it’s fine too.

I still have some use here, so there’s no need to kill me.

If I fail, I’ll just make another plan.

“You want to become my servant?”

Adelehyde finally spoke.

“Yes, Captain. I will serve in a way that upholds the dignity of a captain.”

“The dignity of a captain?”

“Of course, always maintaining a neat appearance, attire, and a pleasant fragrance.”

For a moment, Adelehyde’s expression stiffened frighteningly.

“Take that brat with you!”

Adelehyde shouted, and her subordinates rushed in, pulling me from my chair.

This time, instead of kicking me around, they dragged me on the floor.

Damn it, seriously. I haven’t even had a proper meal yet.

“Take him away immediately! Starve him until tomorrow evening!”

“No, Captain! What is this, ugh!”

Is she really insane?

I knew her temperament was erratic, but I never thought it would be this capricious.

It’s almost like a split personality, isn’t it?

As I picked up the clothes thrown in the kitchen and got up, I became lost in thought.

This is strange, really strange.

Why isn’t it working?

It’s really strange…

* * * * *

After the potion addict was taken away, Adelehyde hurriedly ran to her bedroom and stood in front of the mirror.

Then, she smoothed her hair and face, pulled her breastplate, bowed her head, and sniffed her nose.

All because of what that potion addict said.

‘Of course, always maintaining a neat appearance, attire, and a pleasant fragrance.’

Does that mean my current appearance and attire are dirty and smelly?

In the past, Adelheid wouldn’t have cared about such things.

But the arrogant potion peddler’s words made her unexpectedly sensitive.

Now that she thought about it, this armor had never been properly maintained.

Just wiping off the sweat and blood and hanging it in the shade was all she did.

And the undergarments worn inside were all roughly woven and dyed by clumsy subordinates.

She didn’t notice it when among mercenaries, but to an outsider like him, it must have been quite provocative.

Embarrassing.

Adelheid was startled and found herself holding her breath without realizing it.

Is it embarrassing now?

The renowned leader of the Remugen Mercenaries, Adelheid?

Damn it.

Bringing this strange guy has messed everything up.

It seems there’s no other way.

I have to personally deal with that guy to feel a bit relieved.

With an angry expression, Adelheid headed towards the kitchen where the potion peddler was confined.

Just after driving him away in anger.

* * * * *

Hungry, she was eating a potion when suddenly the door burst open and a mercenary shouted.

“Step back against the wall!”

“Yes?”

“The commander is coming. Your life is forfeit now.”

“Yes…?”

“You’ll probably end up begging to be killed.”

“Yes…?”

The mercenary stepped aside as Adelheid entered the room.

What kind of crazy situation is this now, seriously?

As the door closed, Adelheid, arms folded, looked down at me arrogantly.

“I think cutting out that arrogant tongue will bring peace of mind.”

“Is that so? But if I can’t speak, the commander…”

“Shut up! Before I rip your tongue out!”

“Yes.”

“I said shut up!”

Adelheid grabbed my collar and shook me in anger.

Seems like grabbing collars is a hobby for the female mercenaries here.

“Shut up and listen, you damn potion peddler.”

Adelheid sharpened her teeth as she spoke.

“You insulted me. You treated me like an unsuitable woman for leading the mercenaries.”

The words “There was no such thing” rose to my lips, but not being a masochist, I just kept quiet.

“Then, without any shame, they interfered with me here and there. A maid? A servant? Cosmetics? What was it again?”

Adeleheid continued boldly.

“You’re wrong. I’m not a woman. I’m a man born as a woman. No matter what you say to me, I won’t even blink an eye. Got it!?”

“I understand…”

Oh right, I told him to shut up.

When Adeleheid slapped him, stars appeared before his eyes.

“Shut up! I said shut up!”

* * * * *

Adeleheid nudged fiercely.

He was afraid of what nonsense might come out of that potion peddler’s mouth.

He was scared that Adeleheid might shake him again for saying something strange.

The Remugen Mercenaries are a notorious militant group in the Empire.

The foundation of this organization is the daughter of the former mercenary leader, Adeleheid, who restrained herself more brutally than her subordinates.

But that guy is trying to completely destroy one of them.

Don’t get involved anymore.

Adeleheid almost succumbed to his words several times, and if that happened, this mercenary group would be finished.

But still, Adeleheid wanted him to speak again.

He didn’t know why he was doing this, he was on the verge of madness, and that’s why he treated the potion peddler so violently.

Just like his father did to him.

“Captain….”

The potion peddler, whose cheek was slowly swelling, opened his mouth slowly.

“I distinctly told you to shut your mouth.”

“Captain, you are truly beautiful.”

“If you open your mouth further….”

“That earring really suits you.”

Adeleheid, who had clenched his fist, froze.

“That earring. You probably didn’t buy it yourself, who gave it to you? Then that person has an exceptional eye.”

“Enough! I’ll kill you!”

Saying that, Adeleheid couldn’t do anything.

“Captain, what do you think is the reason why your subordinates follow you?”

The potion peddler continued to speak, looking at the hesitant Adeleheid.

“Cutting your hair short? Wearing dirty armor like a man and speaking roughly? If manliness is the qualification of a mercenary leader, aren’t there many subordinates who are more truly manly than that?”

The potion seller slowly released Adelheid’s weakening grip.

“The subordinates follow the commander because she is the former commander’s daughter and because of the commander’s exceptional fighting skills. So, Commander.”

The potion seller lightly grasped Adelheid’s released hand.

“There’s no need to struggle to be manly. Even if you cultivate yourself a little, your subordinates will never turn their backs on you.”

Adelheid, who had been staring blankly at the potion seller, belatedly withdrew her hand in haste.

She tried to retort, but her lips wouldn’t move.

No one had ever acknowledged or deliberately ignored what the potion seller was fully acknowledging and understanding.

She really hated this…

“Delfinapo.”

“What…?”

Adelheid murmured in response to the unfamiliar word from the potion seller.

“What is that…?”

“It’s perfume. It seems like it would suit the commander well. If you have any thoughts, how about trying it separately?”

“Do you think you can talk to me like that?”

“Of course not. I’m not telling you what to do, just suggesting…”

“Shut up and make the potion!”

Adelheid cut off the potion seller’s words and stormed out in anger.

“Commander. You were screaming quite fiercely.”

A subordinate standing outside the door raised his thumb.

“Surely, after being so frightened, she won’t dare to speak out again.”

“Probably not. How dare she speak in front of anyone. By the way… I should get something from outside.”

“What do you need, sir?”

“There’s a perfume called Delfinapo. Do you know about it?”

“No? I’ve never heard of it. But a perfume? Could it be that the commander will use it?”

“No. They said the potion requires that perfume as an ingredient. Get it for me.”

“Understood. I’ll have it brought from the patrol unit.”

Adelheid walked down the corridor, fiddling with her earring.

This earring was a gift from her deceased mother, given to Adelheid secretly by her father when she was young.

A mother who was kidnapped and raped during the looting of a mercenary troop did not want Adelheid to become as ruthless a mercenary as her husband. Nevertheless, she could not resist her husband and instead left behind this earring, hoping that Adelheid would not completely lose herself.

That bastard touched my weakness properly.

Wait. But how does the owner of a potion shop know that I inherited the mercenary troop…?

No, it’s probably because it’s a place where many travelers visit, so they heard various rumors…

You bastard….

* * * * *

“What…? Delphinapo perfume?”

The 2nd patrol leader, who was about to go on patrol duty, cocked his head at the mention of getting perfume.

“Perfume? What kind of nonsense are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“The commander asked you to get it. He said it’s needed as an ingredient for making potions.”

“Perfume as an ingredient for potions? I’ve never heard such nonsense before.”

“I don’t know either. Earlier, while scolding the potion guy, he suddenly asked for it.”

The 2nd patrol leader, thinking that the potion guy might have pulled something strange on the commander, frowned upon hearing those words.

Stepped on the potion guy? What, then it’s not the potion guy’s trick?

But no matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t make sense for perfume to be in a potion meant for consumption.

But the commander wouldn’t use perfume, and there’s no meticulous fellow in this mercenary troop who would use perfume.

Why on earth would we suddenly need perfume…

Oh, could it be…?

Could it be… that he’s trying to give it to me…?

Just a few days ago was the 2nd patrol leader’s birthday.

Like rough mercenaries, they ignored birthdays and celebrations, but could it be that the commander remembered and wanted to take care of him!

After making me get it as if it were an ingredient for a potion, he’ll say, “I actually got it for you!”

The commander sees me as a woman!

“Hehe, Commander….”

“What are you doing? Hurry up and get going.”

“Shut up!”