episode_0096

“…Certainly, if this information is accurate, stability can be thrown out the window.”

Crack!

Without hesitation, the dwarf inspiration destroyed a sample with high stability and then carefully examined another sample that was unstable but had one outstanding effect.

Focusing intently on the latter sample with a contemplative expression, the inspiration soon turned his head towards me and posed a question.

“You want it done within three days?”

“Yeah. I feel like we need to move as quickly as possible. It’s not like it will fail… just doesn’t feel right.”

“Whenever you say something isn’t good, it always turns out to be reality. Got it, I’ll put all my effort into completing it as soon as possible.”

“Oh, by the way, make some time free in the evening. I need to brief you on how we’re going to the capital.”

“Well, that’s unfortunate. Time is a bit tight. I’ll just bring you the results tomorrow or the day after.”

After finishing speaking, the inspiration called back the crew who were taking a break and resumed work.

The sound of hammering that followed seemed like an auspicious sign to me, prompting me to leave the workshop and head towards the training grounds.

It was just about the start of lunchtime, so by now, everyone except for Karl, who was likely engaged in solitary training with swords, would have gathered at the training grounds.

Fortunately, my expectations were met, and I was able to inform my colleagues about the evening schedule.

…I have no idea why I’m looking forward to going to the capital in three days.

Well, feeling rather restless, I moved towards the next destination, which was the exclusive training ground used solely by Karl from the Pasible family.

Upon arriving at the door, I knocked cautiously to call him out, but Karl remained silent, seemingly engrossed in his training.

Clack.

Out of curiosity, I turned the doorknob, and the door opened without resistance.

As the door swung open, a rush of intense heat enveloped me, almost like a welcoming embrace.

“Phew…?!”

Accompanying the heat was the distinct musky scent of a man.

As I continued to inhale the scent, feeling increasingly uneasy, I tried to shut the door quickly, but Karl had already sensed someone’s presence.

In an instant, he arrived at the door, preventing me from closing it, and looked down at me with a sly smile.

“Interrupting training is quite rude, Beatrice.”

“Rude? I did knock. I just opened it once because there was no response.”

“Here, knocking signifies that food has arrived. Especially at this time. It’s clearly lunchtime, isn’t it?”

“…I made a mistake. Sorry…”

“It’s fine. You’re not from the family, after all. So, why have you come?”

“That’s…”

‘Ugh…’

Trying to convey the matter and leave, I found myself distracted by the persistent scent of effort and passion emanating from him.

Am I a pervert? Why does this feel oddly pleasant?

This is exactly like that thing where people take someone else’s clothes and enjoy the scent in manga or anime.

‘Wow… I feel really weird.’

Despite the confusion, I relayed the purpose properly.

“I might be heading to the capital in three days. I plan to brief everyone on how we’ll get there at the tavern tonight, and I came here now to let you know in advance to prepare. There are no other intentions.”

“Ah, I see. Okay. Should I come to that tavern when the time comes?”

“Yeah.”

Nodding, Karl glanced briefly inside the training ground.

Come to think of it, wasn’t there little detail about this training ground in the original work?

I was genuinely curious about what it looked like inside.

With a gaze filled with curiosity, Karl chuckled and swung the door wide open.

“If you’re curious about the inside of the training ground, take a look around once. Well… there probably isn’t anything particularly special.”

“If there’s a significant difference compared to other clans, wouldn’t there be at least one special thing?”

“Well… I’ve never visited another clan, so I don’t know about that. Come in for now.”

Following Kal’s guidance, as I entered the training ground, a scene similar to what I saw at the training field unfolded before my eyes.

However, there was one clear difference.

An intense magical concentration whose cause I couldn’t discern.

Yeah, with something like this, no wonder it was treated as a super soldier training facility in the original work.

Who would come out weak after training in a place like this?

But what was important to me wasn’t that.

“Beatrice? Your face is really red, are you okay?”

“I-It’s fine. It’s just… a bit hot…”

The guy’s scent filled the enclosed space.

During my travels, I couldn’t possibly find the smell of dust refreshing, but now, smelling this pure, untainted scent, I couldn’t help but…

‘Why do I like this…?’

Even though I had that thought, there was a strangely addictive quality to it, making me involuntarily sniff again and again.

Did I have a fetish for scents? Or is it just Kal’s scent?

Regardless of the reason, the situation was definitely dangerous.

Not knowing what might happen if I stayed any longer, I decided to escape from this place for now.

“S-Special thing seems to be just the magical concentration! Thanks to that, I had a good look! See you in the evening?”

“Yeah, see you in the evening.”

Bang!

As I heard his affectionate voice, I headed towards the room as if fleeing.

Upon arriving in the room, I realized something strange in my hand.

…Wait, when did I bring this shirt here?

—–

Confused by the shirt I unknowingly brought, the promised time approached suddenly.

After composing myself, I left the room in casual attire.

“It should get better after briefing and coming back.”

His scent still lingered around my nose, but I slapped my cheeks a couple of times to snap out of it.

Yes, this was clearly theft. Without even the excuse of laundering, how could I just bring it without saying anything?

I needed to return it quickly before being questioned. Or maybe come up with a suitable excuse!

…But what excuse would work best?

The maids handle the laundry, so that wouldn’t make sense… Should I say it was part of magical research?

Lost in thought while walking, I suddenly felt someone’s arm around me.

I widened my eyes and gathered magic, but upon feeling the familiar touch, I sighed, retracting the magic.

“You startled me, Kal.”

“I think I was more startled. I almost died in an instant.”

“If it were someone else, what would have happened?”

“Hmm, even if it cost me an exemption granted by the Emperor, wouldn’t I have killed them?”

By now, I had developed some resistance to Kal’s touches.

Would ‘accustomed’ be a better term? It was a level of familiarity that didn’t feel burdensome.

But with other men…

“Don’t let your guard down against wolves eyeing your body. You’re the same, Kal.”

“Didn’t we already kiss? Am I being threatened with murder right now?”

“…Th-that was unavoidable. I did it to avoid troublesome situations.”

And above all else,

I asked for it.

So, it doesn’t matter.

As I whispered, Kal’s expression became quite amusing.

Something seemed like he wanted to say something, but he soon nodded and slowly opened his mouth.

“Oh, right. Did you happen to see my clothes at the training ground earlier? I’m sure I left them on the floor, but I have no idea where they went.”

“Clothes? W-what clothes?”

Startled at the mention of ‘clothes,’ he glanced at me, but fortunately didn’t seem to realize that I had taken them.

Perhaps thinking that his surprise was due to something else entirely, he didn’t press me further.

“No, I thought I looked carefully and thought I saw them, but I guess not.”

“Uh, yeah! I was just curious about the facilities, so I was looking around. You’ve never seen the clothes before?”

I let out a sigh of relief and then turned back towards the tavern.

…As expected, it’s better to just secretly put them back.

If I accidentally admit to taking them, he’ll tease me with mischievous words, making me feel embarrassed!

It was really an accident, right? When I got back to the dorm, they were in my hands…

Well, let’s just hold onto them for one more day for now.

I’ll wait for him to leave the training ground and then just stash them anywhere.

I’m definitely not trying to smell them more! Just by looking at how I’m trying to return them is obvious, right?

W-well, if circumstances don’t allow, I might have to keep holding onto them!

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about how to brief everyone…”

“It seems like you have quite a creative plan again? Well, there hasn’t been a time when it wasn’t like that.”

“Rather than creative, it’s more like a risky method. Especially this time, even more so.”

Is strapping a person to a missile and sending them off a normal method?

If someone suggested using that method on modern Earth, they would probably be called insane and inhumane.

But come to think of it, among the methods we’ve used so far, there hasn’t been a single humane one.

In the south, hostage dramas.

In the west, forced slave contracts.

In the north… well, we still fought normally.

In the central regions, execution after torture.

Looking back on our dreadful actions, we arrived at the tavern.

Upon entering, my comrades were already there, tipping their glasses as usual.

Watching them, I approached the table with the sharp guy and raised my glass.

“Well, let’s have a drink and start the briefing right away.”

And so, with a simple gesture, the insane strategy explanation began.