episode_0050

I realized that Adelheid would talk about what happened back then based on intuition.

When I became a non-commissioned officer last time and came to the village, Adelheid mentioned the word ‘sincerity.’

The praises I mindlessly showered her with when she was kidnapped by the mercenary group to win her favor and put her off guard.

Adelheid accepted all of it sincerely and opened up to some extent.

But in reality, instead of a potion, I made a pig foot pill, and Liberonne rushed in and destroyed the mercenary group.

Having lost everything, Adelheid barely escaped with the help of the 2nd Lieutenant.

What did Adelheid think while returning to our village to find the antidote?

Was she angry at being deceived, or unable to let go of lingering regrets?

It’s probably a bit of both.

“Jack.”

Adelheid called my name once again.

“I want to know your heart.”

“What kind of feelings do you want to know?”

“What is your sincerity? Were the words you said to me then sincere?”

“The words at that time were sincere. The Lieutenant is a beautiful person.”

I answered truthfully.

“I see. But whether your heart is in them is a separate issue.”

“That’s right.”

“You won’t answer?”

I didn’t answer.

There are no emotions for Adelheid.

Recognizing the beauty hidden beneath the scars and rough appearance has nothing to do with truly liking her.

And I have never seen Adelheid as a woman.

But I can’t say that outright.

Not because I’m afraid of Adelheid, but because I’m worried about her crumbling.

As we remained silent, Adelheid asked softly.

“I’ll ask one more thing.”

“Go ahead.”

“Is my heart sincere?”

“Well, you should know that well, Lieutenant.”

“I don’t know, Jack. No one has ever taught me.”

Adelheid took a step back.

“I was born as the illegitimate daughter of the mercenary leader and forced to live as a man. I also mistakenly thought that was natural. Sometimes I even wondered if I was a man born as a woman. But since meeting you, everything in my life has felt wrong.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. At the same time, I discovered the joy of being a woman. But I’m not sure. If this is how I am, and you are not, then I can’t decide whether I should continue like this or let go of everything.”

Stepping back a little further, Adelheid smiled softly.

“For example, it means longing to hear those words from you again and wanting you to smile at me, expressing this miserable heart.”

Taking another step back, Adelheid disappeared into the darkness completely.

“Jack. You are a disaster to me. You’ve shattered everything I had, yet instead of taking your life, I cling to your shop for survival. There is no other alternative. But at the same time, I consider it fortunate to be like this. It drives me crazy.”

“I’m sorry. It couldn’t be helped.”

“Don’t even bother apologizing!”

Adelheid spat out harshly, pointing the sword at me.

The sword that emerged from the darkness stuck right below my neck.

In the light coming through the ceiling, the sword seemed to hang alone in the air.

“Don’t make me miserable anymore.”

“Understood.”

The sword slowly retreated into the darkness, concealing its form.

“Some questions can be answered without asking. I understood your answer well.”

Adelheid walked forward. Staring at me intently, she asked.

“Jack.”

“Yes, Lieutenant.”

“Just once… hug me.”

Adelheid turned her gaze away and closed her eyes.

“Just hug me once. I won’t make such a request again.”

I opened my arms and embraced Adelheid.

Adeleheid’s hand, which had been still, hesitated and rose to wrap around my waist.

“Oppa!!”

At that moment, the ceiling collapsed suddenly, causing Mirella to fall down below.

“Ah, what?!”

In the shaking barrel, Adeleheid fell over while holding onto me.

“Oppa! Are you okay…?”

Mirella, holding the lid opener in both hands, looked at me with a muddled expression.

I am now in a position where Adeleheid is attacking. Mirella might misunderstand.

“Oh, sorry. I’ll finish up and come back.”

Mirella hastily turned and ran up the partially collapsed stairs.

As I tried to get up, Adeleheid grabbed my arm tightly.

“Captain, please don’t do this.”

“I’m sorry.”

Adeleheid let go of my hand and whispered an apology.

Outside, Mirella stood by the railing, looking across the river.

“Mirella.”

“I arrived late and heard that Oppa and the instructor went inside. I was worried because a lot of time had passed, so I came in to check.”

Without asking, Mirella answered in detail.

“I’m not curious about what Oppa did down there, nor do I care. You don’t have to worry that I might feel bad or anything. Do as you wish, Oppa.”

“Mirella….”

“I’ll be at the store. There’s too much to do, like cleaning the shelves and organizing the warehouse.”

Mirella passed by me and leaped over the railing.

“Jack! What happened!”

The Hofstain Knights who were waiting outside rushed over.

“There’s nothing. Just some coins and trading receipts.”

“What on earth happened?”

“I have a rough idea. Get ready to move out immediately. We’ll sail back up the canal trade route. I’ll come with you.”

“Understood. Prepare to depart now!”

As Adeleheid followed me down to the dock, the second lieutenant pushed me aside and ran towards Adeleheid.

“Captain! Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. But… I feel like lying down.”

“Please come this way!”

The second lieutenant dragged Adeleheid towards the village.

Alone, I stared at the deck with a hole, lost in thought.

Mirella walked along the paved road with a stern expression.

Under the dark deck, the instructors and Jack lay side by side.

Both of them weren’t in such a relationship, and Mirella knew it was due to the aftermath of her destroying the deck.

She understood it logically but found it hard to accept emotionally.

Mirella was a war orphan who came to the starting village at a very young age and grew up in a slum.

She had no dreams or hopes and just lived day by day until Jack appeared.

He came to the slums with mysterious potions, giving them away for free like an angel.

He taught Mirella how to read and helped her live in a cozy shop instead of a shanty.

Mirella liked Jack. So she constantly tried to seduce him in various ways.

But Mirella was still a child. She knew that her actions were futile.

Moreover, there were many women around Jack.

There was a noble holy knight whom she could never reach, a successful administrative officer who passed the Imperial Central Bureaucracy Exam, a half-goblin who explosively bred pigs to contribute to the village economy, two instructors responsible for training the knights from the Imperial Special Forces, and that girl, Alaina.

Whenever a letter from her arrived, Jack would drop everything and sit down to read it repeatedly, laughing like a fool.

From the stories Jack occasionally shared, that girl seemed to be an adventurer.

Like other adventurers, they stopped by the potion shop in our village before setting off to get various survival tools including potions.

Ever since then, she has been sending letters to her older brother.

Mistakingly opened a letter, thinking it was an official notice from the Potion Association, it seems like someone with a significant reputation in another region.

She is fundamentally different from the incompetent Mirella who is stuck in this starting village corner.

Since he said he would finish the adventure and come back here… I don’t know when that will be, but when that time comes, Mirella will no longer be able to stay by Jack’s side.

Jack won’t drive Mirella away, but Mirella cannot bear that situation.

Living as a burden in someone else’s house without providing any help, if a girl of the same age who captivates Jack’s heart comes in, naturally, I should leave.

Trying to endure will only make me miserable alone.

The space for me around Jack is getting narrower. Really… it’s the worst…

“Mirella.”

Turning around, Adelheid and the 2nd Dog Captain were walking towards them.

“What are you doing here?”

“Just… going to the store. There are things to do…”

“I see. Jack is going up the trade route on a knight’s squad and a ship. Are you not going with him?”

“Oh, I… am not going.”

“Why not? Weren’t you always sticking with that man?”

As the 2nd Dog Captain intervened, Mirella lowered her head.

“I may not know, but my brother won’t think like that.”

“Why? How can you be so sure about other people’s feelings?”

“Well, I’m just a parasite living off others, unable to contribute anything to the village’s development.”

“What? Suddenly feeling down.”

Scratching his cheek, the 2nd Dog Captain interjected.

“Mirella, go. Go help Jack.”

“I’m not going.”

Mirella rejected Adelheid’s suggestion.

“The earlier incident was a misunderstanding. You were trying to climb the stairs, and I jumped down to avoid you. Nothing happened.”

“I understand.”

“But it seems like you don’t understand in your heart.”

“Why aren’t you going, Captain?”

“I’m not someone who fits in there. But you are not. So go quickly. The ship is about to depart. We need you to handle any monsters. The knights alone won’t be enough. We need you, the sorcerer.”

Adelheid gave a faint smile and passed by Mirella.

Following her, the 2nd Dog Captain started prying.

“Captain? What are you talking about? Was something happening below deck? And who doesn’t fit in?”

Standing alone, Mirella noticed the knights heading back to the dock. They all had backpacks and supplies.

Contemplating, Mirella firmly grasped her lid opener and followed behind the knights.

I don’t know if I am the right person to be by Jack’s side.

But if monsters suddenly appear, there is no one else but me to deal with them.

The knights have already left for the capital, and there is no one among them using magic.

Only I can protect Jack now.

It doesn’t matter how Jack sees me. What matters is how I see him.

And I hope Jack stays safe.

“Take me too!”

Just as the Startship was about to depart, Mirella leaped up with all her might.