Chapter 477 (1/2)

Chapter 477

Translator: Nat

–Aegir POV–

Altair Region: Port City – Malmatum

「The wind is getting cold . Winter is not far away, huh . 」

I shove my hands in my pockets, slightly regretting that I came lightly dressed .

「It’d be bad if you caught a cold . Here . 」

Celia gets ready to take her coat off, but I can’t bear to see her cold and besides, it’s too small for me to be of any use .

And so I hug Celia herself close to my body to keep warm .

Celia squirms around, adjusting her position in my arms so that she can see the front before popping her head out .

「……this isn’t the time to play around . We’re landing . 」

The sound of wood sc.r.a.ping and rope creaking followed Myla’s words, eliciting soft cheers from those around her .

Although those weren’t unusual sounds in a port city, the volume and weight of those noises indicated the enormity of the arriving s.h.i.+p .

「Battles.h.i.+p Suvorov, docking――next, battles.h.i.+p Aless of Aless――docking!」

I jump from the quay to the Suvorov as I hear the heavy sound again .

I make my way along the s.h.i.+p’s deck, up the outer stairs and into the captain’s quarters .

In the room was Leopolt, as well as……

「What a restless guy . As the leader of an army, you should wait for me to disembark――」

「Ivanna!」

I hug Ivanna tightly and rub my cheek against her .

「W-what are you――nnmu!」

I finish by holding the back of her head and pressing my lips against hers .

Our kiss lasted for ten seconds before Ivanna broke away .

「I-insolent man! This is why soldiers from a small nation like Goldonia are―― seriously!」

Ivanna grumbles as she wipes her mouth .

「From the looks of things, it seems you’re back to normal . I wasn’t so sure if you would at one point . 」

Ivanna blatantly scowls at me .

「That was just your imagination……no, I just couldn’t get out of the holiday mood . It’s not something to worry about . If you guys say anything unnecessary……」

She directs a fearsome gaze at two young apprentices cleaning the deck, who quickly break out in cold sweat and start cleaning furiously .

Now then, I wonder why Tristan, who was sent as a staff officer, is also cleaning .

Well, I guess it’s not too important .

「Is this a good time?」

「I knew you were about to come . 」

Before I noticed, Leopolt was right next to me .

「We had an accidental encounter with more than 30 enemy wars.h.i.+ps just after reaching the Teries river . Approximately four hours later, we sunk over 20 s.h.i.+ps and won . In terms of damage, two of our s.h.i.+ps were moderately――」

Leopolt’s speech was interrupted by a slightly tanned hand .

「The only damage to either s.h.i.+p is to the superstructure and no s.h.i.+p has a broken mast . All s.h.i.+ps can proceed to the next battle without repairs……it’s a complete victory . 」

Ivanna says, pus.h.i.+ng out her reasonably large chest to emphasize the “complete victory” part .

「I have no objections . The enemy surface fleet was dealt a severe blow while our forces are still in good shape―― I would say we achieved a greater than expected victory . 」

If Leopolt says as much, it must be true .

When I peek at his emotionless face, I see his eyes make very small movements .

To me, it appears he didn’t expect it to happen .

「Man…… I didn’t think we could win so overwhelmingly with such forces . The enemy had s.h.i.+ps with some pretty big cannons too . We made quick work of them, almost like hunting pigs……mm, I think this battle will go down in history as a lesson for future generations . If possible, I want my diary to be the basis for that . 」

Tristan, the cleaner, also openly admires the achievement .

「To force your way on land with only emergency repairs and routing an enemy who outnumbers you…… that’s tremendous strength . 」

I also heap more praise, although I better stop around here or else I’m worried Ivanna’s arching back will give out .

「The initial objective was to deploy surface forces into the Teries river to keep the enemy in check and disperse their forces in the rear――but the winds have changed . 」

「Hmph . I guess they were just a decoy or something of that nature . 」

Ivanna complains as she lets out a pleased huff .

She must have liked the phrase “the winds have changed”, that Leopolt used .

It was an unusually fancy wording used by Leopolt to perhaps please Ivanna .

There’s a chance he’s also aiming to get inside her pants .

Leopolt continued on while I was lost in thought .

「With this, the enemy has no way to circle behind us even if we raise the frontlines . On the other hand, our troops can now move all the way to the vicinity of the capital or even to the Polpo region, regardless of success or failure . 」

「That is to say……the enemy can’t keep stalling, I guess . 」

Leopolt nods .

「If it’s only a transport s.h.i.+p to carry soldiers, it can be bought from a nearby city or maybe a city state along the Teries……at the very least, we have to a.s.sume the enemy can buy them . If so, we’re out of time . They’re going to make a move . 」

The janitor chimes in with his mop resting on his shoulder .

「You guys take care of the land . I will stay on the water and strike down anyone who challenges me . That’s all there is to it . 」

Ivanna tries to sit with her back arched, but falls to the floor .

Actually, the chair was pulled backwards .

「When you become conceited, you are p.r.o.ne to be swept from below . 」

The culprit was Sekrit .

She takes a defensive stance to deal with the snarling Ivanna as she walks over to me .

「I’m here too, you know . She gets a hug and a kiss and I get nothing?」

Before I could reply, she steps on my foot and pinches the hand I was trying to embrace her with .

「Pst, pst――that woman was waiting forever on the deck of the Aless of Aless . 」

「When Lord Hardlett boarded the Suvorov, she hurried over――pst . 」

「During repairs, the s.h.i.+p’s name was changed to the Leviathan !V! At least remember the proper name, grunt!」

While still in mid-sentence, a beautiful kick landed satisfyingly right to the crotch of the apprentice .

……I wonder if it was crushed .

Also, is Ivanna okay with the name Leviathan?

「The reason we won was because the enemy was weak . The way they handled their s.h.i.+ps and cannons was mediocre, and it’s laughable how a victory over such an opponent can be considered heroic in any way . 」

「What did you say!? All you do is complain, if you’re so dissatisfied then let me knock you off――」

Realizing they’re already on land as she speaks, she instead kicks the a.s.s of the sullen Tristan .

「Anyway, a complete victory against that number is not easy . Although there were times when she almost got provoked by the enemy…… I acknowledge the fact that she didn’t lose our cool at critical points . 」

Sekrit takes a breath .

「It’s impressive . 」

It took a second for Ivanna to register those words as praise and retract the fang she bore at Sekrit, but then realized on second thought that there was nothing good about getting complimented by Sekrit, so she turned away, folding her arms in a huff .

「This is a victory celebration . I’ve trained the enemy apprentices, where might they be?」

Sekrit snaps her fingers and in comes a boy and a girl, both terrified .

「Hm, then I’ll take the boy――」

Ivanna stops herself short, looking back and forth between me and Tristan before starting to threaten Sekrit .

「By the way, what did you think of this guy and the elves?」

I jerk my chin at Leopolt .

「Hmp, a staff officer of the land can’t do anything once he’s on water . ……although, he wasn’t just eating for free . 」

So he was useful .

「The elves who can manipulate water and wind are existences that are against the rules in the eyes of sailors, however they hid in the bottom of the s.h.i.+p, insisting they wouldn’t get involved with clas.h.i.+ng or killing of the enemy――though, what happened down there during the fierce battle was quite curious . 」

Sekrit smirks and points to the bow of the s.h.i.+p .

There, a group of white and black elves are lined up――puking like crazy .

「An unfamiliar s.h.i.+p, an intense battle, and the bottom of the s.h.i.+p which rocks the most……?」

Now that I look closer, Yularen’s a.s.s is also among the a.s.ses of the elves .

I wanted to pay her a visit, but this is probably not the right time .

Which means, Ivanna won without the elves’ magic .

I guess I don’t have to worry about her on the river .

After Ivanna’s victory, the war situation began to develop quickly .

The enemy, who were supposed to be dedicated to a battle of endurance, abandoned the towns and started to withdraw .

Although it was a move that made it appear like they were defeated, they were actually concentrating their forces on the outskirts of Alteria and starting to head north .

「Now that we took the river, their stalling is over, and now they’re preparing for a big operation, huh……?」

「That’s right . But we gave the enemy a certain amount of time . They’ll have a trump card ready . 」

That’s inevitable .

They’re not some low-grade monster so they’ll think of various ways to win .

「Regardless, I’m glad that the decisive battle is so easy to understand . This battle has gone on far too long . 」

I love war to the same degree I love peaceful times when I can f.u.c.k a woman .

I get bored if I only have one or the other .

No, it won’t be boring if I change the s.e.x positions .

「A directive also came from the Military Commissioner telling us to avoid unnecessary conflict in preparation for the decisive battle . 」

「Ah, in that case, I’ll go squeeze out a quick one . You might as well rest for the next…… actually, rest for the next 24 hours as long as you don’t hear anything from me . It’s an order . 」

Leopolt will continue meddling with something unless I tell him not to .

Whereas Tristan will rest without me telling him .

Oops, I forgot he was on the Suvorov . I’ll get him later .

As I left the tent with a smile, Benel was waiting for me outside .

「How relaxed you must be to take your eyes away from a prisoner . That carelessness will cost you your life . 」

Benel warns boldly as she wraps a scarf around my neck, takes my arm and rubs her cheek against me .

「Then, why don’t we nip that anxiety in the bud . First, I’ll have you pour me a drink, and then I’ll make you submit by f.u.c.king you to the point of breaking . 」

「You think you can break the heart of a female a.s.sa.s.sin like me? It’s over once you fall asleep from tiring yourself out from s.e.x . 」

Benel grins, pushes my arm in between her abundant bosom, skillfully removes her underwear from under her skirt and hands me the warm article of clothing .

「……what are you playing at?」

Celia, holding a coat, wedges herself between me and Benel .

「Since it doesn’t look like there will be fighting tonight, I will be his partner . Why don’t you go dive into the penal unit and entertain them?」

「Are you sure about that? If a group as shady as them make contact with me……that sword might point at you . 」

Benel suggests provocatively, tears welling up in her eyes .

「……besides, you-」

Celia starts mumbling to herself, her eyes fixed steadily on Benel’s body .

「That long blonde hair…… slightly plump body……sensitive with a propensity to squirt a lot…… serious yet lewd and weak to muscular men and large c.o.c.ks…… it can’t be a coincidence that a woman directly in the middle of Aegir-sama’s strike zone would be sent as an a.s.sa.s.sin . 」

I would also add that she has a nice, cheerful aura about her .

I’m not even sure if she’s really an a.s.sa.s.sin in the first place .

「Of course I am . During the training period, out of the 50 skilled individuals…… I came third . Two went missing on the way, so technically it was out of 48 people though . 」

「If that’s true, then South Yuguria must also not amount to much . 」

Benel disregards the doubtful Celia, combining alcohol, fruit juice and a splash of water measured roughly with her eye, and mixes it well before serving it to me .

She is also perfect when it comes to this kind of consideration . No matter how I think about it, it’s not a skill needed by an a.s.sa.s.sin .

We quietly pa.s.s the time, enjoying our drinks and slowly getting intoxicated .

By the way, Celia got dizzy 30 minutes after we started .

Benel clung to me with a flushed face, hurling a mult.i.tude of topics at me .

But instead of talking non-stop, she allowed me to talk to my heart’s content .

「The s.h.i.+ps I saw today were awesome~ Where did you get them~?」

Hahaha, the Suvorov and the Aless of――I mean, Leviathan IV are big, so anybody would be interested in them .

「There were a lot of people with long ears too~」

Haha, people don’t get the chance to meet elves very often .

When this many elves are together, it’s quite the amazing sight, I’m sure .

「I want to know more about the king of Aless~」

It feels like the alcohol will taste like sweat when Gildress is mentioned .

It’s strange though, I don’t think Gildress was present when she was captured .

「You have some unique subordinates too~ For example, that person looks like someone who loves money . 」

「You mean Mack? No, he doesn’t really care for it . He’s a pervert who likes women with dark skin . There’s no saving him . 」

I talk freely, interspersing gentle criticism with some exaggerations .

Then I notice that Benel is taking notes .

「What are you writing?」

「Hm~? Nothing~ Anyway, we’re getting pretty drunk…… want to torture me…… on the bed?」

Well, if she doesn’t want to tell me, I won’t force her .

I throw a blanket over the light-headed Celia before laying beside Benel on the bed……

–Third Person POV–

South Yuguria, Capital City: Alteria – Empress’s Chambers .

「I appreciate you coming . Please have a drink first . 」

「Pardon me . 」

Maestus puts the gla.s.s to his lips as encouraged by Wilhelmina .

But he doesn’t pour the entire gla.s.s of the finest wine down his throat, rather he only touches his tongue with a single drop of the liquid .

「So, what can I do for you, Your Majesty?」

The man beats the Empress to the punch before she could say anything .

It was as if he was there to solely focus on business .

The smile pasted on Wilhelmina’s face doesn’t crumble despite the man’s unconcealed att.i.tude .

It was just her eyes that changed sharply .

In contrast, Maestus also held a dignified smile on his handsome face while his eyes sparkled brightly .