Chapter 112

The Royal Capital of Dresden, Grossel District. This was where Juliana, the daughter of Count Ceberai, lived—a woman hailed by the people as the Saint of Grossel.

With a heart of benevolence that extended a helping hand equally to anyone, and a beautiful appearance loved by all, the people naturally called Juliana a saint.

Until recently, Juliana had dedicated herself to social service activities at least once every three days.

Her efforts were wide-ranging, encompassing everything from running soup kitchens and visiting soldiers to hosting charity parties to raise funds for impoverished children.

However, for the past ten days, those activities had ground to a halt.

According to the rumors, the saint had fallen ill.

Despite the pleasant morning unfolding outside, the curtains in Juliana’s bedroom remained tightly drawn, leaving the room in dim twilight.

Karina, Juliana’s maid, entered the bedroom to wake her lady.

Although there was a sense that she was already awake, she appeared to still be under the covers.

Ever since Hinoharu had departed for the battlefield, she had been cooping herself up in her room like this.

Listening closely, Juliana’s animated voice could be heard from beneath the bedsheets.

“You must wake up now, Hinoharu-san. Or should I have breakfast brought up here?”

“—”

“Ufufu, what a spoiled boy you are. Honestly. Very well, I shall handle everything for you, so please just stay exactly as you are, Hinoharu-san.”

“—”

“Touching me in a place like that again… ahnn.”

The object Juliana was talking to was Kota Hinoharu’s military uniform.

The elites of the Condemnation Bandits had stolen it from the South District Guard Post of the City Guard.

Juliana had taken this uniform to bed with her, fantasizing about intimate, scandalous lovers’ trysts.

“Haa… Hinoharu-san, you will be safe as long as you stay by my side. You only need to leave everything to me. Nnh…”

Juliana continued speaking, weaving strained pants between her words.

“In the first place, it is because you are in a wretched establishment like the City Guard that things turn out this way. If you would only stay in this mansion, in this room, there would be absolutely no danger at all. Always… by my side… yes…”

Yesterday, upon hearing news of the First Supply Unit’s return, Juliana had gone out to the city gates to welcome them.

However, the crucial Hinoharu was nowhere to be found, and the only acquaintance who returned was his adjutant, Emma Petersen.

“…Sending you to a dangerous front line is a fundamental mistake by the military. Hauu… At first, when I heard it was a supply unit, I reluctantly gave my approval. But to think you would actually be stationed at the absolute front lines in Romanburg… If I had known it would come to this, I should have protected you even if it meant kidnapping and locking you away. If anything were to happen to you… Honestly, those incompetent fools in the military leadership!!!”

Rising up in a fit of rage, the military uniform slipped from Juliana’s body, exposing her ample chest.

“My lady, perhaps it is time for you to get out of bed?” Karina called out in her usual calm manner.

“I suppose so… I was almost there, but the moment the faces of those idiots in the military flashed across my mind, it completely ruined the mood.”

“My poor lady. You were so worried about Master Hinoharu that you could not focus, weren’t you?”

“I am fine now.”

Juliana responded in a composed voice, as if her sudden outburst of emotion from a moment ago had all been an illusion.

“You are going to send a letter to Master Hinoharu today, aren’t you? A letter alone feels a bit lonely, so we must include something else inside as well.”

“That is true!”

Letting out a small cry, Juliana stepped down from the side of the bed.

“Karina, prepare my things.”

And so, another day was about to begin for the slightly unhinged saint.

It had been agreed that Lady Clara could only summon the Hippocrates Brothers five times.

However, at this rate, it looked like we wouldn’t even need to use the fifth summon.

Yesterday evening, the Kingdom of Portand’s army issued a general retreat order.

The Saxens army pursued them up to the border zone, finally pushing the front line back to the Neisel River.

In other words, things had returned to how they were before.

Both nations had suffered immense casualties, resulting in a futile outcome where absolutely nothing was gained.

“It seems a one-year armistice agreement is going to be signed. The diplomats have already departed from Dresden,” Lady Clara informed me of the future projections upon returning from her meeting.

“What will happen to the Special Medical Unit?”

“It will likely be disbanded. It is a unit that was entirely predicated on the medical supplies and the summoning of the Hippocrates Brothers. If we cannot summon them continuously, maintaining the unit is impossible. Or do you wish to remain on the battlefield, Kota?”

“Not at all.”

I hated the thought of staying in a place like this any longer.

There were far too many lives that couldn’t be saved, and I wanted to escape as quickly as possible from this place where sadness, hatred, and frenzy hung thick in the air.

However, when it came to the implementation of combat medics, I felt it was worth considering.

“I have already submitted a formal proposal regarding the introduction of combat medics. The rest is up to the higher-ups to decide.”

If possible, I wanted even a single additional soldier’s life to be saved.

“Excuse me. I have brought a letter for Sergeant Major Hinoharu.”

Corporal Schneider entered the room and handed me an envelope.

The sender was… Kamil Heuberger?

Who was that again?

After thinking about it for a moment, the identity of the name’s owner finally clicked.

If I recalled correctly, he was the leader of Juliana Ceberai’s guard knights.

The guy who had ended up wetting his pants after getting hit by my Paralysis magic.

What could he possibly want with me?

When I opened the contents, there was another envelope inside, and I recognized the handwriting.

The true sender of the letter was Juliana.

It seemed she had deliberately used Heuberger’s name as a cover to disguise the delivery.

I wondered what on earth she had sent me.

“Thank you, Corporal Schneider. You may dismiss.”

“Yes, sir.”

Once Corporal Schneider left the room, I pulled out the letter from the saint.

“It’s from Lady Juliana Ceberai.”

“Oh…” Lady Clara’s eyes narrowed slightly. “If I am in the way, shall I leave the room?”

“There’s no need for that.”

While I didn’t exactly intend to make Lady Clara read a letter from Juliana, I had nothing to hide.

I broke the seal right then and there.

As I pulled the letter out, something fluttered out and landed on the table.

This is… hair?

Long, golden hair was curled up and tied neatly with a light-blue silk ribbon.

…Wait.

There were some short, curly hairs mixed in there too.

These were golden as well.

I wonder if some loose debris just got mixed in…

Knowing her, I knew with absolute certainty that she had deliberately plucked them out and stuffed them inside, but still…

“…Haa.”

I couldn’t help but let out a massive sigh.

“It seems Lady Ceberai is entirely serious…” Lady Clara remarked, staring at the item bundled by the ribbon.

“Huh?” I blurted out an incredibly dumbfounded reply.

“Do you not know? A maiden’s pubic hair is considered an item of protection. …It is said to be sent to a loved one who is departing for the battlefield.”

Come to think of it, I recalled reading somewhere that a similar custom existed in Japan as well.

Stories about samurai warlords carrying their wives’ hair or erotic prints into battle, or soldiers drafted during wartime bringing their lover’s hair to the front lines.

There were theories that it was a remnant of phallic worship, or a play on words meaning “to not get hit by bullets.”

On a battlefield where people died left and right, perhaps men found themselves wanting to rely on even that sort of thing.

But to me, this was completely unwelcome.

It didn’t turn me on at all…

I was the type of guy who prioritized a romantic atmosphere, after all.

The letter began with lines expressing deep concern for my safety, followed by a passionate, desperate outpouring of how much she loved me.

I was pretty sure I had clearly told her, “I absolutely detest you,” though…

“I’m sending this straight back to her.”

Pinching the light-blue ribbon, I stuffed it back into the envelope.

“Kota,” Lady Clara said, staring intently into my eyes as if she had made up her mind.

“What’s the matter?”

“If you require such a thing, then… mine—”

“No, thank you!”

An awkward silence enveloped the room.

This was bad.

I needed to smooth things over immediately.

“I will never leave your side, Lady Clara. That’s why I have absolutely no need for that sort of item.”

“I see…”

She really was a bit too serious for her own good.

You don’t have to compete with her so directly, you know.

Or perhaps, within this world, it wasn’t considered such an bizarre act after all.

Still, there are some gifts that just leave you at a complete loss, you know? Even if it’s a present from someone you love.

I mean, what am I even supposed to do with it?

Keeping it in my pocket would just get in the way, wouldn’t it?

The sun was beginning to set to the west of Romanburg.

Tonight’s sunset felt unusually harsh on my eyes…

While I was thrilled to be able to return to Dresden, thinking about how my physical distance to Juliana would shrink left me feeling utterly demoralized.

That being said, since she was the daughter of a noble family, talk of a marriage match for her would surely come up soon.

Once that happened, she would bound to distance herself from me.

At that time, I still didn’t truly grasp the true nature of the saint, harboring a terribly naive outlook.

Completely unaware that such a total lack of a sense of crisis would give rise to a future tragedy.