episode_0042

“So, when you say Holy Knight… are you referring to the Holy Knights under the Church’s jurisdiction?”

“That’s correct.”

“Ah….”

Lieutenant Nellion’s expression clouded at the end of his words, looking very perplexed.

It might be difficult for him to readily accept everything he had seen and heard so far.

Just then, Liberonne could be seen passing by over there, clad in the armor of the Holy Knights.

The Imperial soldiers who saw this were taken aback and whispered among themselves in surprise.

“So they are truly Holy Knights…”

“Among all the things I have told you so far, there is not a single lie. Everything is true.”

“Why exactly are Holy Knights staying in the village?”

“Jack…! Jack…!”

At that moment, the administrator called me urgently and rushed over in a fluster.

“The Imperial Army has arrived in the village…! We haven’t done anything wrong…! Oh, it’s tough….”

Instead of running, the administrator bent over, gasping for breath heavily.

“That person is our village’s administrator. He passed the Imperial Central Bureaucracy Exam.”

Lieutenant Nellion’s eyes widened in amazement at the administrator’s remarkable credentials.

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

“I have no idea either. How could I, a mere potion shop owner involved in the Empire’s personnel administration, know.”

“Truly, everything in this village is a mystery….”

Approaching the administrator, Lieutenant Nellion extended his greetings.

“Hello, Administrator. I am Lieutenant Nellion, commander of Imperial Army 213 Special Unit.”

“Oh, yes. Hello.”

I was worried that he might break down and wail uncontrollably, but surprisingly, the administrator composed himself, straightened his back, and calmly welcomed Lieutenant Nellion.

“Why has the Imperial Army Special Unit visited the kingdom’s direct command? And why are you so heavily armed?”

In response to the administrator’s calm question, Lieutenant Nellion awkwardly smiled and replied.

“I apologize. I understand that my behavior was rude, but it was an urgent matter that couldn’t be helped.”

“What is this urgent matter about…?”

As Lieutenant Nellion explained the purpose of his visit, the administrator calmly responded.

“Yes, those are all things done by the village militia. Since our village doesn’t have an official guard, I organized the militia under my authority to respond to threats to the village.”

“I’m not trying to nitpick about that. I was simply trying to understand the exact circumstances given how unusual the situation is. Both the Remugen Mercenaries and the Central Slave Trade are issues that should be controlled by the Imperial Army, especially considering that the Remugen Mercenaries’ mission is clearly assigned to our Special Unit.”

“I understand. I wasn’t trying to boast about achievements. It was just that Mr. Jack here was kidnapped, so it led to the process of rescuing him.”

“I already know about that. I’m not here to talk about achievements. I just want to express my gratitude for taking care of what the Imperial Army should have done.”

As Lieutenant Nellion slightly bowed his head, the red feathers on his helmet swayed gently.

“I plan to submit a report to the palace regarding the Remugen Mercenaries and the Central Slave Trade, and suggest a reward for the village, but what do you think, Administrator?”

The moment I heard those words, I doubted my ears.

Is it possible that what we did at the palace has become a reportable achievement? Not the palace, but the imperial palace?

I wondered if the administrator might feel burdened by this and hesitate, but surprisingly?

“Then let’s go to the office. I will assist you in writing the report, Lieutenant.”

That statement implied that he would personally review it to prevent distortion or minimization of what we had done, to ensure accuracy.

It was a bold statement made in front of the Imperial Army Special Unit’s commander, not a king but a government official.

From the outset, those who pass the Imperial Central Bureaucracy Examination start from Grade 5, just like a Imperial Army Captain, so their ranks are the same.

Going to the office, the administrative official drafted a report form on the spot and handed it to Captain Nellion.

The Captain was slightly taken aback but started writing down the content without any objections after looking at the form.

Standing next to him, the administrative official informed the Captain about various things.

Recently, we attacked the slave traders, freed a few people, how many members of the Remugen Mercenaries died, how we received refugees from the Jilke Republic, how we wiped out the goblin horde near Odellin City, why the holy knight Liverone stayed in this village, and finally, how I used potions to help the poor and uplift the village.

As the Captain transcribed everything as it was, he looked puzzled.

“Administrative Official. I plan to report only on the Remugen Mercenaries and the slave traders for now…”

“If that’s the case, you need to know the full background. Are you planning to write that the residents of a small nameless village gathered their strength and defeated the mercenaries and slave traders in a report that will go to the Imperial City? They won’t believe it there and will reject the report. Do you want pressure to ensure that the special mission assigned to the separate unit is properly completed?”

“Oh, that’s not… Yes, please continue…”

The administrative official continued speaking.

Listening to everything I have done since possessing him being clearly summarized by the administrative official is quite moving.

But did the administrative official always speak so eloquently?

He speaks smoothly without hesitation or faltering, and his words sink in effortlessly.

That seems to be the true nature of the administrative official.

When Liverone came last time and tried to kill me, I persuaded him in a similar manner.

Captain Nellion carefully folded the report and sealed it in an envelope after the administrative official’s review.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave. I’ve caused trouble in various ways.”

Captain Nellion, who had finished everything, left the office.

“I commend the brave actions of the villagers. Surely they will receive great rewards from the Imperial City.”

“Please take care, Captain Nellion. Return safely from your journey.”

The administrative official’s graceful farewell. It’s quite shocking.

As the Imperial Army leaves the village, the administrative official looks around with a sigh of relief.

“You’ve worked hard, Administrative Official. Despite the sudden situation…”

“Ugh, Jack…!”

The administrative official grabbed my clothes and wailed.

“It was so scary…! But I felt like I couldn’t collapse… I gathered courage while looking at you, Jack…!”

“You did really well. You’re the best, Administrative Official. You were amazing.”

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

Oh, goodness. This isn’t the situation to say no.

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

“Sigh…. I’ve become the only woman in Jack’s life….”

After hearing my response, the administrative official lowered her head and whispered sadly.

“There’s no other choice now…. In the end, I have no alternative but to entrust my remaining life to Jack….”

She’s acting like a crazy woman.

* * * * *

Returning to the shop and going to Liverone’s room, Adelheid, who was clearly lying on the bed, is nowhere to be seen.

Could she have escaped during that time? That could be possible.

From the Empire’s perspective, the Remugen Mercenaries are quite annoying.

While we couldn’t touch them easily when they were strong, now they are like a rat in a trap.

So it would be best to escape when there’s a chance.

It’s a shame there was a place to use her.

As I was about to leave the room, I heard something strange.

“Ugh….”

A sound that seemed like a sob or a painful groan came from somewhere in the room.

Slowly looking around, I walked and opened the wardrobe door.

As soon as the door opened, Adelheid and the Second Lieutenant rolled forward.

“Lieutenant!”

Covering the sprawled Adelheid with his whole body, the Second Lieutenant shouted.

“Sir! Are you alright?”

“Haa, haa….”

“Sir… Please come to your senses….”

The Second Lieutenant, with a deep sense of frustration in his voice, gently patted Adelheid’s cheek.

That’s quite a sight that’s hard to watch without shedding tears.

“The Imperial Army has left.”

At my words, the Second Lieutenant raised his head abruptly.

“Really…?”

“They didn’t come after you; we recently raided the Central Slave Traders. That’s why they came.”

“Central Slave Traders…?”

Perplexed, the Second Lieutenant wiped his eyes with his sleeve and said.

“Um… I wish I had an antidote….”

Adelheid, gasping for breath with his hands clasped between his ribs.

There is no antidote. Because drinking a Healing Potion will cure it instantly.

The Healing Potion I made can cure almost any condition.

“What will you do if I give you the antidote?”

“What will I do…?”

“Did you think I would give it to you for free? After kidnapping me and causing so much trouble?”

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

Hesitating and rolling his eyes around, the Second Lieutenant bit his lip.

“If it’s okay, I’ve saved this to give to you, sir, but even though it’s precious….”

The Second Lieutenant suddenly began unfastening the straps of his leather armor.

It seems he has hidden an emergency fund deep inside the armor.

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

Taking off his breastplate, the Second Lieutenant then removed the shirt underneath.

With an athletic and well-defined chest covered by his arms, the Second Lieutenant hesitated and said.

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

“Oh, forget it. Even if you give it to me, I won’t take it.”

Seemingly shocked by my words, the Second Lieutenant looked at me with a slightly dazed expression.

Then, he suddenly snapped out of it and shouted fiercely.

“Sir, absolutely not!!”

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

“What is it…?”

“The Remugen Mercenaries are quite adept at guerrilla warfare, right? So… it’s irregular warfare. Plundering, ambushes, building occupations, and such.”

“Of course! Our mercenaries are versatile. We can fight in any situation!”

“Good. You guys will work as instructors for our village militia’s irregular warfare. Unpaid.”