90 – middle ground-5

“Have you been, master?”

Ceres smiled brightly. I returned to the inn with a complicated mind, but when I saw that smile, it felt like my heart was relieved.

“It’s late. Go to bed first…”

“Worried? All of a sudden at night, only Eleanor called and left, so what happened?”

He didn’t do much at the World Tree, but Ceres was an indispensable and important person for this party.

“I’m going to tell everyone tomorrow… but I’m going to the opposite formation.”

“Yes! Let’s find out!”

The warrior party members had some vitality, but they tended to be a bit biased.

Celia was surprisingly good at washing and cooking. His birthplace itself was not on the rare side, and he was the type who didn’t mind working hard.

However, he was weak at negotiating with others or persuading them. Unfortunately, she couldn’t understand an evil or desperate person.

Farseer and Nerwen’s vitality was at a disastrous level, and Eleanor had at least the ability as a knight, but was also lacking in details.

“Soldiers are said to be under the ground, so it would be better to go back to prevent a useless clash. Do you have enough food?”

It wasn’t even a real wartime situation yet, and no matter how bad the relationship between the two families was, it wasn’t to the extent that traffic was blocked. Merchants and adventurers will be able to pass freely.

However, this large wagon draws attention. If her relationship with William was discovered, there was a possibility that her plan would go awry.

“As long as you have the means to get food there, you’ll be fine. Miss Nerwen can solve the error to some extent!”

In the end, it was Ceres who coordinated the trivial matters. Acquiring an inn, managing supplies, etc.

I didn’t have to carry a load on it, since it wasn’t a very rough road, but other than that, it was similar to what I was doing.

Fortunately, the other women listened to Ceres’ words.

“Thank you always. Have a good rest, and I’ll ask you again tomorrow.”

“It’s something I love to do!”

Still I couldn’t understand Ceres.

It didn’t seem like he was aiming for anything, and he had no reason to serve me with such sincerity.

“good night!”

/////

Celia’s healing light enveloped Eleanor.

“How did you get hurt?”

“… sparred.”

The light faded in an instant. As if reacting to Celia’s contorted expression.

“Crazy? Knowing what Enerel thinks of that!”

During the adventure, Celia did not see the couple. I couldn’t bear to see it.

There are times when Paladins also do ‘practical training’, but it wasn’t that violent.

If they lacked strength, their solution was to first raise their divine power through prayer. The way to become stronger was different from that of knights and soldiers.

Celia understood that, but even so, it was a sight she couldn’t bear to see.

She hates violence. If it’s not cultists or monsters, she’s a saint who only wants everyone to laugh and be happy.

There was no way we could enjoy watching the sight of them fighting each other to death just because it was necessary.

“I thought he would be happy. Some people said so… But, it seems it was a little different from what I thought.”

Eleanor bowed her head in regret.

“I thought it was okay until the middle, but at some point…”

“You still want to hit Enerel?”

Celia’s resentful voice scolded her.

“You think I enjoyed it? I didn’t do anything because I wanted to!”

“Are you going to run away again? Are you going to say that you don’t care because you’ve just done your duty?”

Eleanor bit her lip. However, I didn’t want to lose to her now.

“Yes. He was a man who did not need to be obligated, and I interpreted his favor as my own and pressured him. It was my fault. I apologized directly, but it was not enough, and even if I apologize several more times, it would not be enough. But at least I did my duty like you. I didn’t pass it on.”

“What do you mean?”

“When you were on your night watch, you stood up and prayed for him at the appointed time. Did you know I didn’t know? Besides that…”

This time, on the contrary, Celia’s expression darkened.

The closer he got to the demon lord’s castle, the more the god’s presence faded. He was able to demonstrate his divine power somehow, but even the faintly felt impatience disappeared.

Thinking it was because of her lack of sincerity, she prayed as if it were natural. After seeking another ‘good man’s pardon’.

“Well, at that time, it was a bit urgent… I was also given permission!”

“Permission? Permission? Did you really think he would say no?”

If it was related to the demon king, if it was something that could save even one more person, he would endure anything.

Of course, I didn’t think he would refuse.

“But… I was at least polite with my words!”

“Horse? Do you think it’s meaningful now? Then when I trained him, was it something that could be forgiven if he spoke beautifully? With a sociable smile like a noble?”

Little tears flowed from Celia’s eyes.

“Wh, of course it’s meaningless, but maybe it was…”

Even if you didn’t see the sight, you could hear the sound.

Since the training was conducted in an enemy area, it was not possible to keep too much distance from the other party members.

The sound of a sword swing, the dull sound of flesh and sword colliding, his panting moans and the emotionless and cold voice of Eleanor telling her to get up again.

These were words that stirred the terrifying imagination.

“I’d rather be nice to you, even if it’s just words…”

If there had been encouragement instead of reprimand in between, it might have been a little different.

But even Celia, who brought up the words, knew that those words were meaningless. The rebuke to Eleanor was something that could be applied to her as well.

It wasn’t enough to treat the sleeping porter with the divine power secretly squeezed out instead of the Parseer.

She should have comforted me instead. It was the same with Celia who neglected him just because it was comfortable or because she was afraid of other people’s eyes.

The two froze at the sound of the door opening. Enerel and the other women stood at the door.

“Should I wait longer?”

“No problem.”

Eleanor moaned a little, but then got up and took the armor from the corner.

/////

Mercenaries are rough by default.

If he was an ordinary and sincere person, he would have helped with the farming work. Even if you are a little stronger than others, you can choose a job other than mercenary.

Those with a sense of responsibility and discipline would have entered the military, and those with romance would have become adventurers.

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Joining the Mercenary Corps was because he wanted to make money even by killing people.

It wasn’t rare that there were mercenaries who only accepted moral work, but such people were usually poor.

“alcohol.”

“Yes, yes! I’ll bring you more!”

The mercenaries who filled the tavern were eating and drinking mindlessly.

“When do we start, chief?”

“I don’t know. Crazy bastards. Call someone and they’ll tell you…”

The fact that the war with the demon king ended early was both fortunate and regrettable for the mercenaries.

It was inevitable to die fighting, but it was shameful to starve to death because there was no work.

After the war, which seemed to last for at least several more years, ended overnight, the mercenaries had to find new jobs.

At least I smelled the war through the kite I had with the nobles, but after I arrived here, I had no choice but to wait without a promise.

“Still fighting the regular army, wouldn’t it be dangerous?”

“The riskier, the better. Because you can get plenty of money.”

The mercenary captain, wearing wolf skins over his shoulders, thought he had too many of his subordinates lately.

Those who remembered the Emperor’s reign thought he would quickly put an end to the confusion. It was only delayed for a moment because something happened in the capital, and it was clear that it would spread its dignity soon.

Of course, in such a peaceful era, mercenaries are useless. It was clear that if he did not somehow reduce his head and improve his constitution, he would be unable to overcome his size and destroy himself.

“Isn’t it because the captain accepts all the gossips?”

“Did you know? I couldn’t help it because I needed at least one more meat shield to fight monsters.”

The wooden door opened with a creak. The mercenary next to the captain screamed.

“Oh, the captain said he’d have a drink! I told him not to come in!”

The mercenary got angry at the thought that ordinary people wouldn’t come in because he had put two guards in front of the inn.

“I’m sorry. I came because I had something to say…”

However, it was an ordinary young man who opened the door and entered. The sword on his side looked good, but his clothes and face were like those of a novice adventurer.

“I want to talk about money, can I take you to a quiet place?”

However, the story was a bit different for merchants. The mercenary in wolf skin stood up with a small smile.

“The Red Wolf Mercenaries. What can I help you with?”