Episode 68

The person who had fallen behind was Sergeant Ilian, who was on the verge of fainting.

Sergeant Ilian flailed her hands, gasping for breath, then tilted sideways and fell. She then got on all fours and started dry heaving.

“Are you okay?”

Sergeant Ilian, drenched in sweat as if she had fallen into water, shook her head.

“Ugh… Hello… there…”

The Sergeant, who was retching and spitting on the ground, finally looked up at me.

“Please… catch your breath.”

“Yes…”

Crawling slowly like an animal, the Sergeant eventually collapsed sideways like a dying horse.

The Sergeant’s shirt rolled up as she lay on her side, revealing her sweat-soaked, smooth stomach.

Her stomach heaved rapidly like a living creature in sync with her labored breathing.

After waiting for her to recover, the Sergeant finally came to her senses and lifted her head.

“Boss… what brings you here…”

“I was passing by. Are you okay?”

“I taste iron in my mouth…”

The Sergeant spat on the ground and then closed her eyes tightly, staying still for a moment.

“Whoo…”

Finally, with her breathing stabilized, the Sergeant pushed herself up and sat upright. She raised her knees and rested her arms on them, taking deep breaths.

Looking down from above, I could see her modest chest through the neckline of her shirt. But she looked so miserable and exhausted that it didn’t evoke any particular feeling.

“I wanted to visit the Inn… but… I couldn’t find the time.”

“It’s okay. Come visit when you have time. I heard you’re busier these days.”

“The new Captain just arrived… it’s hard to adjust.”

The Sergeant lowered her head with her characteristic lack of confidence.

“Well… what can you do. If the commander says jump, you jump…”

“That’s right… there’s a long-term service selection this year… I need to work harder.”

The long-term service selection… it’s a critical matter for non-commissioned officers, almost a life-or-death situation.

It seems the Sergeant chose to remain in the non-commissioned officer ranks instead of becoming an officer.

There are two career paths for non-commissioned officers.

One is to be recognized for their abilities and continue to rise to become an officer. The other is to give up becoming an officer, remain a non-commissioned officer, and ensure a stable service period.

Given her background and abilities, becoming an officer might be too challenging for her. Even so, being a non-commissioned officer is no easy task either…

“Didn’t they recognize your merit for handling the remaining Golruks alone last time?”

“Ah… Captain Lambert said it was just a temporary stroke of luck…”

“Then what’s important?”

“He said it’s better to hire mercenaries than to use a non-commissioned officer lacking in stamina and combat skills…”

Lambert isn’t wrong.

In actual combat, non-commissioned officers lead soldiers and physically engage, so most of them are battle-hardened warriors. Those who aren’t don’t survive in the first place.

But the Sergeant falls behind even in basic running… unless she puts her life on the line, it’s hard to be optimistic.

In fact, when we encountered the Golruk, the Sergeant’s squad would have been annihilated if it weren’t for me. As Lambert said, it really was luck and chance.

The more I get to know him… the more I realize he’s quite sensible.

The Sergeant grabbed the fence and stood up.

“I should get going. I’ll get scolded if I stay too long.”

“Ah, yes. Go ahead.”

After greeting me, the Sergeant flitted away towards the guard post.

Returning to the inn, I saw there was only one wagon in the parking lot.

It seemed the caravan that had come in yesterday left this morning.

In the middle of the parking lot, the statue was bathed in the red glow of the setting sun, staring majestically at the mountain range.

I’m glad I made that; otherwise, when the thieves broke in last time, I would have had to compensate for all the stolen goods.

When I entered the hall and placed the bread on the bar, Idi approached sneakily.

“What’s that…?”

“Bread. The bakery owner gave it to me to try.”

“Really…?”

Idi, glancing at me, gently stroked the bread.

“It’s so soft… It must taste great…”

“Weren’t you trying to lose weight?”

I reached out and pinched her side.

I grabbed a soft bit of flesh between my thumb and index finger.

Idi squealed and jumped away, fleeing with a piece of bread in her hand.

“Eat in moderation, in moderation.”

I took the remaining bread into the kitchen.

Today’s dinner menu was soup and pork chops, so this bread would go well with it.

It’s not enough to serve to all the guests, so I’ll eat it separately with the staff.

Just then, Pelée came into the kitchen to get some ingredients.

She hesitated when she saw me already there, then quickly went into the storeroom.

Soon, Pelée came back with a basket full of today’s ingredients and placed it on the counter, then spoke suddenly.

“Hey, about my salary.”

“What. Asking for a raise again?”

“Give me some of it.”

Currently, Pelée’s salary is only nominally paid; she doesn’t actually receive any of it.

That’s because I took over their bank debt, and her salary is being used to repay it.

So Pelée doesn’t get a single penny.

Still, she gets room and board at the inn and isn’t addicted to shopping like Idi, so I wonder why she needs money.

“What do you need the money for?”

“To buy some vegetables.”

I glanced at the basket next to her.

It’s filled with carrots, onions, and bell peppers. What more vegetables does she need?

Pelée explained further, seeing my look.

“These are the Inn’s ingredients.”

“So you’re buying vegetables for yourself? Why?”

“I can’t just eat ingredients that aren’t on the menu.”

I stared at her for a moment and then sighed.

“Just… sneak some. Why live so rigidly?”

As soon as I finished speaking, Pelée nonchalantly grabbed a few carrots and bell peppers from the basket.

She’s thorough, almost too thorough…

It’s good from a work perspective, but any demon or human who marries Pelée will have a hard time.

To be honest, it’s a bit uncomfortable for me too.

I should mention it while I’m thinking about it.

“Hey, you know, you’ve made the meal plan so well that there’s no room for snacks.”

“So?”

“So, don’t preserve everything, leave some. That way, you can make something when you’re bored.”

Pelée then put the vegetables on the counter and rummaged through her apron pocket.

What came out was another neatly folded meal plan.

“No, I’m not saying to change the meal plan…”

As I took the meal plan, I saw the scribbled notes and fell silent.

“What’s this?”

“A snack plan.”

In neat handwriting, simple snacks were listed in the blank space below the regular menu.

Judging by the handwriting, it seemed to be Della’s.

I could recognize it immediately since Della often managed the ledgers when I was away.

Next to Della’s handwriting, there was another scribbled handwriting.

“Did you and Della make this?”

“It’s not finished yet.”

Pelée snatched the meal plan from my hand.

“Hey. Isn’t it a bit much to plan and eat snacks too?”

“Then what should I do?”

“Uh… buy more from Mr. Mollo. You know, sweet things and stuff. You’ve given them to the demon army as provisions, right?”

“Yes.”

Pelée spoke briefly and then picked up the vegetables from the counter.

Seeing her, I recalled the first time I met her in Kerno City.

Back then, Pelée didn’t eat with me and Amugar; she ate raw carrots and cucumbers alone.

“Are you a vegetarian by any chance?”

“No.”

“Then why do you eat raw vegetables instead of delicious meals?”

“Because I’ll gain weight.”

With that, Pelée quickly left the kitchen.

I was just about to start cooking when I heard a sound behind me.

Someone seemed to be approaching quietly.

“Idi?”

“Huh…?”

I turned around and saw Idi sneaking in and freezing in place.

There were bread crumbs on the corner of her mouth.

“How did you know…?”

“I can hear your footsteps. No matter how much you try to hide them, I can still hear.”

“Really…? I tried to come in quietly…”

“You’re not a trained assassin, so that’s not going to work.”

Idi giggled and scratched her head.

“How did you know it was me…?”

“If you hear it often enough, you can tell whose footsteps are whose.”

Idi tilted her head.

“Is that magic…?”

“Do you think I’d be the owner of the Holy Sword for nothing? Anyway, why are you here?”

“I heard something about snacks and got curious…”

I couldn’t help but facepalm.

I wonder when she’s going to stop gaining weight…

“By the way, there’s something you need to do when you close the hall later.”

“What is it…?”

“Come here.”

I pulled Idi out of the kitchen.

I instructed Idi to prepare various things.

Idi was a bit confused by my instructions.

“Do that here…?”

“The bakery was robbed, so we need to be prepared too.”

Idi understood and prepared everything as I wanted.

You never know… it’s better to be cautious.

Late that night, as I was lying in bed, there was a knock on the door.

“Bertrand…”

Idi opened the door slightly and peeked inside.

“I think you need to come down…”

“Did they catch you?”

“Yes…”

I quietly got out of bed and went outside.

All the lights in the inn were out, and only one candlestick illuminated the landing.

Idi and I walked down the dark hallway together.

As we came down to the second floor, I looked down at the first-floor hall over the railing.

The hall was dimly lit, with a bit of light coming through the windows from the lanterns outside the entrance.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes… I’m sure…”

I saw a pewter cup rolling across the hall floor with a clang.

Looks like they got caught.

“Let’s go, Idi.”