episode_0027

I perked up at the sound of footsteps.

It was an order for Adelheid to bring back Delphinapo perfume from the patrol.

The original knowledge was indeed correct.

Adelheid, the illegitimate daughter of the mercenary captain, was trained from a young age to inherit the mercenary group.

She was raised with a rougher temperament than any other mercenary, suppressing her femininity forcibly.

No matter how hard they try to make it, how can a woman become a man?

This is surprisingly going well.

Alright. Then I’ll start working little by little now.

I filled the pot with water and boiled it.

I mixed various ingredients in proportions known only to me.

Soon, the boiling water emitted a strange color and a peculiar smell.

* * * * *

While the potion shop owner Jack was diligently making potions,

The 2nd Division Commander, who respects the captain endlessly, was in the midst of obtaining Delphinapo perfume as per the captain’s orders.

“Run! Run faster!”

Amidst the already sprinting troops, the 2nd Division Commander dashed towards the base like the wind.

His heart raced as if it would go mad.

The perfume, hidden deep within his embrace, was a birthday present from the captain to the 2nd Division Commander.

He had never taken care of such a thing before, but this year was particularly different.

Perhaps, after years of life and death together, the captain had finally opened his heart to the 2nd Division Commander.

The 2nd Division Commander had rehearsed the lines he would say when the captain said, “This is your gift,” several times in his mind.

Thank you, I will cherish it for life, I will give you the perfume as a token of my gratitude, and so on.

Will the captain accept the 2nd Division Commander?

There is a very high possibility that he will.

The captain has never been close to a man with such a beautiful appearance.

In other words, the captain does not like men.

If you reconsider those words, it could also be seen as him liking women instead of men.

And the 2nd Division Commander is the only woman in the mercenary group.

Women are not suitable for harsh work like the mercenary group, so naturally, most are men.

There is no reason to place a woman in the position of the 2nd Division Commander.

However, the commander accepted the second-in-command as a mercenary.

What could that mean?

The commander also seems to have special feelings for me!

Tonight might be a very important moment for the relationship between the commander and the second-in-command.

The second-in-command was on the verge of losing his mind, wanting to get to the commander as soon as possible.

“Hurry!”

Returning to the base, the second-in-command leaped out of his still-moving horse, rolled once on the ground, then sprang up and dashed like an arrow into the commander’s bedroom.

About to burst into the bedroom, the second-in-command caught himself, straightened his clothes, and composed himself.

“Commander…! It’s the second-in-command…!”

“Come in.”

As he opened the door and entered, the second-in-command almost spilled his coffee and collapsed.

Adelaide, who had just bathed and come out of the makeshift bathtub, was drying herself with a large towel, wearing nothing.

“Oh, um, well….”

Staring blankly at her scarred and muscular body, the second-in-command stammered.

“What’s the matter?”

“Well… I’ve brought the perfume you mentioned.”

“Already?”

After explaining in great detail that he had rushed into the nearby city’s perfume shop, smashed the window, and retrieved it while the owner was sleeping, Adelaide chuckled.

“It wasn’t that urgent.”

“But… it was a special order from the commander….”

“Let’s see what it is and where it’s from.”

Turning around, Adelaide reached out her hand.

Distracted by Adelaide’s ample bosom, the second-in-command vigorously shook his head and took out the perfume bottle from his chest.

“Here it is….”

“Hmm, it’s needlessly flashy, perhaps because it’s what city women use.”

“Still, I will gratefully cherish it for the rest of my life….”

“Now go.”

“Pardon?”

For a moment, the second-in-command, like a fool, didn’t understand Adelaide’s instructions.

“You’ve done well. Go back and rest.”

“Oh, then… that means….”

“This will be used as an ingredient for the potion seller.”

“So, it wasn’t a birthday present…?”

Adelaide looked at the second-in-command with a strange look in her eyes.

“Birthday present? What are you talking about?”

“Oh, no, nothing! Then I’ll go back!”

The 2nd Division Commander dashed out of Adelheid’s bedroom as if fleeing.

Leaning against the closed door, the 2nd Division Commander chewed his lips for a while, unable to fathom what was going on.

No matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t seem like a present from the 2nd Division Commander.

So, is it really that potion freak demanding ingredients?

Is that all? Is there no other intention?

“What are you doing? Go and sleep.”

“Shut up!”

The 2nd Division Commander snapped at the subordinate guarding the door and strode off down the corridor in anger.

And the next morning, at the strategy meeting.

The 2nd Division Commander couldn’t concentrate on the meeting at all.

It was because he caught the first scent emanating from Adelheid, who was pointing at the tactical map spread out on the table right beside her.

This isn’t a natural scent.

Usually, when close to Adelheid, the 2nd Division Commander could distinctly differentiate the deep, respectful scent of the commander by taking a deep breath.

This is an artificial fragrance.

Very faint, but definitely the smell of perfume…!

What on earth is going on?

“What’s wrong? Can’t concentrate?”

A senior officer tapped the 2nd Division Commander’s shoulder, puzzled by his distracted state.

“Yes? Oh, yes….”

Even as he left the meeting, the 2nd Division Commander couldn’t understand any of it.

Could it be that the potion freak really had something to do with this?

I don’t know, I just don’t know….

* * * * *

That evening, Adelheid summoned me to the dining hall.

As I sat facing Adelheid, I noticed the scent of perfume emanating from her.

I declined the offer to become a servant, but she didn’t completely disregard my advice.

“Commander. I told you. That perfume would suit you very well.”

“I accidentally spilled some while trying to open the lid to see why it’s so expensive.”

“Well, since you’ve opened it, use it often. This is really…”

Pretending to take an exaggerated deep breath, Adelheid revealed her annoyance and picked up her fork.

“If you’re going to mock me, you’d better stop right now.”

“I wouldn’t dare. I’m speaking sincerely. But how did the subordinates react today? Surprisingly, there wasn’t much, was there?”

Adelaide didn’t blow the fork right away.

It seemed like her subordinates didn’t pay much attention to whether Adelaide sprayed perfume or not, just as I said.

Of course. No one followed Adelaide because she acted like a man.

Her legitimacy as the daughter of a former mercenary commander, unquestionable force, and timely appearance of salary are the sources of her leadership.

Whether Adelaide sprays perfume, does her hair, or wears a skirt in non-combat situations is not a big issue.

It’s just that today, it seems like the commander has something special going on.

“Commander, since you’ve sprayed perfume, how about buying some clothes as well?”

“I called you to check on the progress of your potion making, not to interfere with your attire.”

“Oh, of course. But you can always check on potion-related matters anytime, but other advice can only be given here, where there are no subordinates.”

Adelaide’s eyes that were staring at me turned towards the door. And she said nothing.

Not missing that strange atmosphere, I continued.

“Armor is certainly nice, but occasionally wearing a blouse or a skirt wouldn’t hurt.”

“Hmm. That’s amusing. A mercenary commander in such attire.”

“In non-combat situations. Of course, you should be armed during missions. But during peaceful times like now, it’s good to spend time basking in the sun while dressed like that.”

“It seems you don’t understand the situation of our mercenary group. We have many enemies. Not far from here, the Imperial Special Forces are waiting for an opportunity to attack us.”

“But this is Yeongjuseong, isn’t it? While receiving protection, you should be able to have such moments in the courtyard. If that’s unsettling, then even on the bedroom terrace.”

“Are you telling me to secretly cross-dress?”

What crazy talk about a woman cross-dressing.

“Let me put it this way. It’s about momentarily setting aside the stress and pressure that comes with leading a mercenary group and fully reflecting on oneself.”

It was nonsense to think she would sell, but Adelheid said nothing.

After a moment, Adelheid slowly opened her mouth.

“Are you saying you’re giving up everything?”

“Yes, Commander. You are not just the leader of the mercenary corps. Before being the leader of the mercenary corps, you are Adelheid Remugen.”

Adelheid’s pupils trembled as she looked at me in silence.

“You…”

Just as Adelheid was about to say something, a heavy vibration swept through the restaurant.

Dust fell from the ceiling, and the tables shook with intensity.

“Commander!”

A subordinate burst in as the door swung open.

“What’s going on?!”

“We’re under attack!”

“Attack?! Is it the Imperial Star Unit?”

“No! It’s an unidentified knight!”

An unidentified knight?

* * * * *

The Marquis’s castle used as the mercenary corps’ base.

Mercenaries on guard atop the castle walls spotted someone approaching on horseback and shouted out a warning.

“Halt! If you don’t stop, we’ll shoot!”

As the mercenaries aimed their crossbows, the rider took a few more steps before halting the horse.

“Who goes there?”

“Is there a potion shop owner named Jack here by any chance?”

At the rider’s question, the mercenaries looked at each other.

“Is he talking about the guy we kidnapped last time? Do you know him?”

“Whether we know him or not, what does it matter? Just shoot him.”

The mercenaries quickly reached a decision and simultaneously fired their crossbows.

“What the?! What is that?!”

The golden sphere surrounding the rider deflected all the quarrels shot by the mercenaries.

Seeing the quarrels fall to the ground, the rider, expressionless, began unsheathing a sword from the saddle.

“I’ve heard there’s an armed group committing all sorts of atrocities under the influence of an evil star.”

The never-ending stream of swords brought a look of astonishment to the mercenaries’ faces.

“I thought I had to pass judgment, and now this opportunity has arisen.”

Having fully drawn the sword, the rider began walking towards the castle gate.

As the mercenaries frantically tried to reload their crossbows, the castle gate suddenly exploded with a tremendous vibration.

“I am the Holy Knight Liberone. There can be no forgiveness.”