episode_0039

“Sigh….”

Sitting behind Mileia on the horse, I grab her waist from behind and let out a sigh.

Behind me, there were supply wagons, numerous adventurers, knights and soldiers dispatched from the capital following us.

Why did things have to turn out this way?

I dare not turn around to face the burning gaze that feels like it could pierce through my skull.

If looks could kill, I would have been dead a long time ago.

The saddle Mileia and I were riding on felt like a bed of thorns.

In this large-scale demon subjugation force, I was nothing but an unwelcome guest to everyone except Mileia.

“Why are you like this? Is the saddle uncomfortable?”

As I continue to sigh deeply, Mileia turns slightly to look back at me and asks.

“No….”

I reply in a voice barely audible.

In truth, the saddle is uncomfortable, the harsh gaze behind me is uncomfortable, and this whole situation is just uncomfortable, but I can’t bring myself to say it.

In this subjugation force, Mileia was the most terrifying presence, except for Mileia herself.

“Mileia, who received a sharp advice from Yunoa in the last demon subjugation battle, was determined not to make the same mistake this time.”

No, if she didn’t want to repeat the same mistake, she could have just changed her mind, why me?

“To Mileia, Yunoa was the only fateful advisor in this world. She wanted to keep Yunoa by her side in this subjugation battle to help her make the right decisions.”

I should have known something was off when her attitude towards me started to change.

I thought I had been rejecting her advances by keeping a wall up, but I didn’t expect this.

And if it was just about participating in the subjugation force, I could have just ridden in the supply wagon at the back.

There was no need for me to stand at the front with Mileia on the same horse.

Already delayed by waiting for me, the other members of the subjugation force were getting impatient.

And to top it off, now even a silver-ranked adventurer was standing at the front on the same horse as the subjugation force leader.

It would be strange if the burning gazes didn’t come my way.

But if I had refused Mileia’s offer there, the situation would have been even more dreadful.

Imagine, already late to depart, if I, a silver-ranked adventurer, had refused the subjugation force leader’s request, and Mileia had insisted that the subjugation force couldn’t leave without me…

Just thinking about it gives me a headache.

* * *

As the sun began to set while on the move, the subjugation force set up a makeshift camp to spend the night.

The scale of the subjugation force was much larger than when I participated during my novice days.

There were many more adventurers participating, as well as knights and regular soldiers dispatched from the capital.

This indicated the size of the demon they were going to subjugate.

Is there a role for me in this subjugation force?

Everyone knew that I was a silver-ranked adventurer.

I wasn’t initially summoned to the subjugation force; Mileia insisted on my participation.

Feeling frustrated, I wanted to take a walk to breathe in the night air, but I couldn’t do so because I was conscious of other people’s gazes.

In this atmosphere, it felt like if I even slightly moved away from Mileia, insults would come flying at me from all directions.

The reason why no one said anything to me despite the harsh gazes was because Mileia was by my side.

“Mileia, I clearly said back then.”

“What did you say?”

“I said I would be your advisor, not your companion.”

Honestly, I was a little resentful of Milaia for putting me in this situation.

I just wanted to do some silver quests at the guild and relax, but this is a mess.

What worries me the most is the gazes of other adventurers that will be directed at me after this expedition.

Milaia is not your average adventurer.

Even among the gold-ranked adventurers, her actions are easily the talk of the town.

Being treated specially as a silver-ranked adventurer by her, it wouldn’t look good to others.

While I may not be able to directly confront her while she’s by my side during the expedition, the discomfort of facing the guild after this is a concern.

“So, you brought me here as an advisor.”

“Without consulting me? Forcing me into a situation with no choice?”

“Well….”

Seeing Milaia answer nonchalantly with a blank face, I felt a little angry.

Does she not consider my awkward position at all?

“At the very least, you should have given me a heads up, shouldn’t you? I feel like I’ve been dragged to the battlefield after just waking up.”

“I’m sorry.”

Milaia apologized obediently.

Even from her expressionless face, I could somehow sense a sincere apology.

Well, what’s the point of getting more worked up when the water’s already spilled?

“As I mentioned before, as an advisor, I will provide advice when you come to me in need.”

I said to Milaia in a softer tone.

“It can’t be helped this time, but please make sure to inform me in advance next time. Okay?”

“Got it.”

Sitting by the campfire, I observed the atmosphere of the other expedition members around me.

In groups of 2-3 or even 5-6, they were sitting together, taking a rest.

It felt distinctly different from the two of us sitting alone here.

If I weren’t here, Milaia would probably be alone even at times like this.

Adventurers admired Milaia but also felt fear and pressure, so it was common.

Milaia is always expressionless and not very sociable, so she probably doesn’t make an effort to fit in with others.

I remember the narration saying that.

Milaia is a lonely woman.

She knows how to fight, but she can’t express emotions or socialize with people.

Thinking like that made me feel a little sorry.

She probably didn’t intend to put me in an awkward situation, just inexperienced.

“Milaia was deeply reflecting on Yunoa’s words in her mind.

She felt both pleased and sad at Yunoa’s scolding.”

Listening to the narration in my head, I looked at Milaia’s face.

Her expression was so blank that it was impossible to know what she was thinking or feeling.

Is she really thinking those thoughts with that expression?

“After the demon subjugation in Daina Village, Milaia lost confidence in her own judgment.

She always had to lead and command other adventurers.

With one wrong decision, the expedition could be wiped out, and the village could disappear.”

“….”

“Milaia often recalled the words Yunoa had said to her.

The minimal casualties during the demon subjugation were solely due to her overwhelming power.

One could say she was lucky.”

The narration continued to talk about Milaia.

I never thought my words would have such an impact on her.

“This expedition was on an unprecedented scale until recently.

Milaea relied on Yunoa.

She did not trust herself to make the right judgments and lead the battlefield.

I felt the same way about myself.

Why did she come to rely on me so much?

I hadn’t done anything.

I glanced once again at the other members of the punitive force.

I could feel their sidelong glances flickering towards me.

The uncomfortable night was deepening in various ways.

* * *

Three days later, we arrived at our destination, the Horn Canyon.

The Horn Canyon was a place where the distant land known as the Demon Realm could faintly be seen.

On the map, it occupied most of the eastern part of the continent.

And nestled between the kingdom dominating most of the west and the Demon Realm, a land that belonged to neither side.

A subtle area too close to the Demon Realm for humans to live and too close to human lands for demons to inhabit.

The monster extermination force set up camp in the Horn Canyon and unloaded the supply wagons.

“Milaea, it seems the monsters are gathering on both sides.”

A man in armor approached Milaea, who was catching her breath, unfolding a map as he spoke.

It was the man who had glared at me with fiery eyes when Milaea delayed the departure of the punitive force within the guild.

“We should divide the force into two units and strike before they gather more solidly. Please give your orders.”

Milaea was studying the map the man had spread out.

The man waited for her response, casting a fleeting glance at me before furrowing his brows harshly.

It was a moment of realizing that one could curse without words through facial expressions.

A sense of foreboding crept over me.

Milaea quietly took the map from the man’s hand and then extended it to me, asking, “Yunoa, please give your opinion on what we should do.”