Chapter 54

My squabble with Dajin continued for over twenty minutes, despite the pleas of Lir and Belua. It was the first time I realized I possessed the stamina to argue with someone for such a prolonged period. Perhaps it was thanks to the deer-spawn relentlessly scratching at my nerves.

“Yes, yes, quite an amusing conversation. Should such diverting affairs arise again, do call upon me. And as you seem averse, I shall not observe you every moment of the next twenty-four hours.”

“This little whelp speaks as if he’s granting a favor…”

“Thank you! Now, Bean! What should we say at times like this? Dajin granted our wish, remember?”

“Indeed, General! One must be a good child here! The Spirit said she’d show some leniency, so you should simply say thank you, and end the conversation!”

Lir and Veluah, grasping at me before I could launch sharp words at Dazin, scolded me as one would a misbehaving child.

…It seemed even they were growing weary, their energy draining as they tried to mediate our little quarrel.

“If you desire to observe me, the least you can do is give me a word of notice that you are doing so. This is the best concession I can offer.”

“Why, a word of notice is something I can manage.”

Dazin answered, lifting his head with a haughty air.

“Honestly, acting like he’s doing me some grand favor since when…”

“Wow! Wow, waaah… Thank you! Isn’t that right? Master Dazin has granted your request, hasn’t he?”

“Erm, the Transcendent One seems to acknowledge you, General! Erm, erm!”

Lir, with her slender hands, clamped down on my mouth, preventing any harsh words from escaping. She pressed her face close to mine, her large eyes desperately pleading, ‘Please, let’s stop this….’

Veluah, likewise, cleared her throat several times in an unnatural manner, giving me knowing glances. It seemed she, too, felt the burden of this situation, with her superior and the Transcendent One exchanging heated words.

“R-right? Master Dazin has granted the request, yes?”

With my mouth still covered, I quietly nodded at Lir, who was sending me a look of fervent entreaty.

She warily removed her hand from my mouth, slowly.

“……”

I gradually turned my head, gazing at the deer that looked down upon me with arrogant eyes.

Lir was still on high alert, ready to clamp my mouth shut the moment I uttered anything foul, while Veluah looked worried, her eyes glued to me, as if fearing I might suddenly charge at the Lightning Deer.

“Well, yes.”

Considering their efforts, I mustered what politeness I could to reply.

*Tch.*

The stag fawn snorted, as if intentionally trying to scratch at my insides.

“Charming.”

“……”

Lir must have seen my lip twitch, because she quietly tugged at the sleeve of my robe.

‘Please… just bear with it a little longer…’

“Ah. Yes.”

Reading the words in her eyes, I forced down the curses trying to claw their way out of my throat, responding coldly to Dajin.

“Tsk, not very fun when you restrain yourself.”

Dajin clicked his tongue, then, seeing me contain my anger, lost interest and turned his head away.

*Fwish!*

Immediately after, the lightning bolts that had formed Dajin scattered into the air, before calmly seeping into my right hand.

It was a warm and gentle sensation. How such a feeling could come from lightning, I couldn’t fathom.

“…Is he gone, then?”

“Who knows, I wouldn’t. He could be holding his breath, watching secretly like some perverted creep.”

“The words of a Transcendent carry a weight different from that of mortals, he likely wouldn’t do that.”

Lir patted me on the back as I stared suspiciously at my right hand, telling me so.

“I don’t know about the genius magician general, but I, at least, don’t want to incur the wrath of a Transcendent. So please, if you’re going to fight, do it somewhere empty, you nearly scared me to death.”

Only then did Belua relax her tense grip and slump back down in place, sighing.

“What were you planning to do if, even for a moment, he became enraged and told us to get out of this forest immediately?”

“He wouldn’t have the power to. The b*stard was trapped in that stone even as he watched demons defile his forest, unable to do a thing about it.”

“Still, I can’t help but be afraid. Let me reiterate, General, though it might not matter to you, for most of the continental people, the Transcendent is akin to a god. Please, don’t do anything so preposterous.”

“A god? That ba—”

*Thump.*

A slender hand clapped over my mouth once more. I stared at Lir with utter disbelief.

She’d said the Transcendent’s words carried weight, that it wouldn’t be secretly watching, yet she was silencing me? What was she so worried about?

“…It’s not like they’re listening, and maybe the Transcendent wouldn’t do such a thing! But, just in case, let’s watch our words.”

…’We’?

Seems like even she secretly found Dagin unlikeable.

“Haa… Anyway, General, I have a report on the operation’s progress.”

Belua, who had been sitting on the ground catching her breath, slowly stood and began to speak.

“What is it?”

I asked, swatting away Lir’s hand from my mouth. Lir also turned to look at Belua.

“The construction of the outpost is complete. As of today, the outpost construction operation is finished.”

“But there are still people working late, aren’t there?”

I asked, a puzzled expression on my face.

“…That’s because those fools are obsessed with adding unnecessary decorations and initials. The essential construction is finished.”

What kind of race were dwarves, anyway…? Continuing their all-nighters, sacrificing their rest time, just to add ornaments to a military outpost building…

“I’ll prepare the carriage. General, you should return to the capital, report on the work’s status, and request more supplies to be sent to Valerand.”

The reason for building the outpost in the Achilliptus Forest was that this location provided a direct supply route, connecting the capital with ‘Valerand,’ a battlefield where a war of attrition had been raging for months.

Therefore, Belua’s report was very timely.

“What are you planning for Bellua and her unit? If you’re returning, wouldn’t it be better to go together?”

“Our unit’s mission isn’t just constructing this outpost. It’s protecting this outpost and the supply lines, too.”

“That means…”

“Well, it means farewell tomorrow. You’ve worked hard, General.”

Bellua spoke of the end so matter-of-factly.

“What did I even do that deserves a ‘worked hard’? I haven’t done anything.”

Constructing the outpost and repairing the roads was the work of the dwarves and Bellua’s unit. Eliminating dangers and guarding the perimeter fell to the mages and rangers.

In the end, all I did was fall ill, rest, and clear a dungeon or two.

Even with the dungeons, Trian and Rex did most of the work. What I did was truly nothing special.

“Doing nothing was enough. Just knowing that mages of your and Alter’s caliber were present allowed our infantry to work without worry. The fact that the demonkin haven’t launched additional attacks to retake this place is likely thanks to you and Alter.”

“Why would you say all that?”

“Then, at the morning roll call tomorrow, say a few words of greeting to the troops. I’ll head in first.”

With those words, Bellua clapped my back with a thick, large hand, then chuckled and walked towards her tent. On her back, a cold sweat, just beginning to dry in the wind, glistened.

“Shall we go back too? We should eat dinner.”

Lir followed Bellua, who had already disappeared, walking slowly toward the tent built for me, Alter, and Lir.

“…”

I stood silently, watching her walk away.

“Why are you just standing there?”

Lir stared at me with a questioning look, puzzled that I wasn’t following her.

“I can’t walk.”

The backlash hit after twenty minutes of screaming, of fists and kicks flung at the empty air.

“…Really?”

Lierre regarded me with a look of utter exasperation.

“Just a little hand, please.”

“Why not just ask for a piggyback?”

“Oh, would you?”

“No.”

Lierre answered firmly, extending her hand to me. I grasped that slender hand that had stifled my mouth so many times today, and slowly, step by step, I extended my trembling legs forward.

“…So frustrating.”

“I told you to give me a piggyback.”

“I refuse.”

Lierre watched me move with the unsteady gait of a child just learning to walk, muttering complaints under her breath.

But despite the displeased words from her lips, her hand never once abandoned mine until I reached the tent.

* * *

The next morning.

I found myself parting ways with Belua’s squad.

Frankly, I hadn’t grown particularly attached. The difference in rank, the difference in roles, the absolute amount of time spent together was quite limited from the start.

Among Belua’s squad, I’d spent a decent amount of time with Trian… But that guy, thanks to his uniquely insolent manner of speaking, wasn’t exactly the type to inspire affection.

“Going’s going, why bother a person from morning….”

…Well, I wasn’t expecting much, but still, that’s a bit much.

Trian, coiling her long golden hair, was sending glances that plainly said, ‘Wrap it up.’

…The headmaster’s speech is supposed to be the most boring thing in the world, I know, but is she really allowed to look that bothered?

I am a General, you know.

“Well, you all have worked very hard for almost a month. I am to return to the capital as is. Need to report on the operation’s status and prepare for the next mission. I will be sure to relay everything you’ve done.”

“…What are you talking about? Our work isn’t finished yet?”

“The buildings barely function. Real art is beyond mere function, you know.”

“Hey, White Anvil! Is your squad finished?”

“No, our work is not done either. We don’t like the roof color. The area is so overgrown, the paint doesn’t dry well, and it’s hard to get the color we want.”

The dwarves in formation wore bewildered expressions, muttering amongst themselves in small voices.

…Military buildings just need to function, why does artistry matter, of all things.

“Ahem! Ahem!”

As the squad of dwarves murmured, Belua cleared his throat, drawing their scattered gazes back to the front.

“Well, the building’s painting and such, you all can figure that out with the squad leader to adjust the schedule.”

“Adjust the… schedule…? Why should we? Can’t we just work all day?”

“Damn, my little ones still have a lot of walls to paint…!”

Hearing my words, a flustered look spread across their faces. I couldn’t even begin to guess what that paint job meant to them.

Anyway, to finish the speech, I looked into the eyes of each soldier gathered before me and continued.

“Before I set out, do you all remember the promise I made to you?”

“The one about bowing your heads when it’s all over?”

A familiar voice blurted out from the archers’ formation. It was Trian, who had been giving me the ‘hurry up’ look since earlier.

“……”

I forced a smile, looking at Trian.

“What?”

He said, rearranging his long blonde hair with an air of entitlement. The dwarves glanced sidelong at Trian, sighing at his audacious attitude or shielding their eyes with thick hands.

“Why is everyone staring like that? Focus straight ahead. The General is speaking.”

The truly frightening thing is he doesn’t even realize what he’s doing wrong.

A madman, until the very end, remains a madman.

“Well, Sergeant Trian’s comment wasn’t entirely off base. I did promise I would bow my head to you all before we marched out.”

“Oh, finally trying to exhibit some manners, are we? Good to see you’ve come to your senses, however belatedly.”

…Someone, please, do something about that crazy elf’s mouth.

“Hm, well. Anyway, yes. I decided I would bow my head to you all. I made the mistake of not reviewing the contract closely enough, and now you must prepare for a battle you shouldn’t have to.”

I tried my best to keep my gaze averted from Trian. If I kept looking at that lunatic’s face, my temper would explode, and curses would spew forth.

“I made a mistake. And…”

For a moment, the stench of the corpse cart grazed the tip of my nose again.

Rex’s bubbling, seething back flashed before my eyes.

…And the words he spoke to me before departing echoed in my ears, reverberating within my mind.

None of us are perfect.

Even that great Sword Saint makes mistakes, and comrades and subordinates exist to make up for those mistakes. No warrior complains that they are not given a perfect situation.

What would Rex, who isn’t here now, have thought to see this scene, me finally lowering my head before the common soldiers?

That useless thought lingered in my mind, refusing to depart.

“……”

I lifted my head, still silent.

I needed a moment, however brief, to think.

The sky, even today, was too clear for a thunderstorm.

The clouds, thick with foliage, unlike those swollen with lightning, were pristine white and translucent, gathering and dispersing with the whims of the wind.

“Well… anyone can make a mistake. I’m only human, after all. No one died, no one was injured, so isn’t it all water under the bridge?”

Without thinking, I blurted out the words that had drifted through my mind.

“Ha ha!”

The nameless dwarf squad leader at the very front erupted in a hearty laugh.

Seeing the dwarf laugh so freely, I laughed along with him.

“I’ll probably mess up again. So, I’d be grateful if you could all lend a hand to this inexperienced mage.”

I don’t know why those words, *I’ll mess up again*, came so easily.

Perhaps it’s because of those clouds. That they scatter and reform so capriciously, shaking a person’s heart and making it feel so… light.

Yes, let’s blame it all on the clouds.

“Ha ha! You’re incorrigible!”

“Honestly, we didn’t really want an apology anyway! Soldiers expect to get hurt in battle, but you were treating us like children!”

“No one even got hurt, so it’s a good thing, right! We managed to thin out the ranks of those damned demons!”

The dwarves chattered, smiling, after hearing my words.

“Tch. Cheeky.”

The only one who seemed to disapprove of my attitude was the elf from the archery unit.

…No, truthfully, most of the elves seemed to have no opinion, only Trian among them glared at me with a terribly displeased face.

Look at those fierce eyes. Ready to devour a man whole, it seems.

“Then, fare you well. Thank you for everything.”

After a light farewell to the infantrymen who had toiled for nearly a month alongside me, I settled into the carriage where Alter and Lirr waited.

The dwarf acting as coachman also laughed boisterously at the sight of me.

“Indeed, only a man of such stature could tame a spirit!”

…?

As I climbed into the military carriage, a strange sound reached my ears.

“Haha, that’s right! He tamed a spirit, so if *he* bows his head, we’d all be uncomfortable!”

…What is the meaning of this?

I stared, dumbfounded, at the backs of the dwarves as they dispersed to their posts after morning roll call.

“Wait…”

*Crack!*

Before I could utter a word, the dwarf who had been laughing so heartily cracked his whip and set off. The wheels rattled as we began to travel upon the paved road, and the dwarves’ backs receded in an instant.

“…”

Unable to comprehend what I had just heard, I looked back and forth between Lirr and Alter.

But they, too, seemed equally bewildered by the situation.

…What is this new madness? Truly.