kscans

Chapter 38 - The Commoner Group's Mass Transfer, It Wasn't Just a Personnel Change

Now that we knew I could transport Mireille with the ring, the quality of our meals and baths improved dramatically.

"It's better not to go outside from here, but I can provide warm meals and a bath in this place,"

When Leonhard told her this, Mireille smiled with a hint of relief. Thanks to that, her complexion improved slightly, and her expression brightened a little.

And, while we had the time off, Mireille and I checked the surrounding materials and continued to place the pins. We kept to a one-kilometer radius.

"If we gather materials while the Monster-Repelling Bell is ringing, it's mostly safe, right?"

"Yes... I'm starting to get a handle on the materials in this region."

Around the tower, there were many fire-attribute monsters and plants, and near the watering hole, a few water and earth-attribute plants could be found. We gathered information bit by bit and recorded it together. Weapons, armor, alchemy materials, nothing could be wasted.

In this way, our lives and our work slowly started to return to normal.

---

I made sure Mireille didn't open the wooden boxes on the fourth floor by herself.

"Don't open them alone yet. Don't touch them until life has settled down a bit."

If she didn't have some mental leeway after our life settled down, she might fall into despair like before.

My relationship with Mireille wasn't that of a lover. But lifting her up and being in contact had become a normal part of our lives due to the power of the ring. Since that day we passed each other as strangers in front of her shop after Darius's talk of an arranged marriage, our relationship had become something special and subtle, more than friends, but less than lovers.

"By the way, this..." As I was leaving the Townhouse for the last time, I took out the chain I used.

"It's a man's chain, so it's heavy and I'm sorry, but please thread the necklace top you made onto this. A woman's chain is thin, and I'd be worried about it breaking." Mireille took the chain with a slightly bewildered look, but she nodded firmly.

"Thank you... I'll treasure it."

And so, each small, everyday interaction gradually shortened the distance between us.

---

But even those precious days came to an end. The day came when Leonhard had to return to the knight order's barracks.

"Haa... I have a feeling some annoying guy is going to become my boss," I grumbled while packing my things.

"Oh, right! Leonhard-san, this!" Mireille came running with a sword in her arms. It was the one Darius had given me.

"I made the sword's wind attribute removable so you can change it. I wanted to make it switchable just by touch, but... The magic stones, one is strong, and the other is about half as weak. And if you don't attach one, you can use it as a non-attribute weapon. It won't arouse suspicion even if you use it in the Royal Capital."

"...No, being able to switch between two wind attributes, that's more than a year's salary," I said with a wry smile. Mireille gave a small laugh.

"Please just say you splurged and bought it."

"...I'll take good care of it." I gripped the scabbard and gave a short reply.

"I'll be back soon."

With those words, I returned to the barracks.

---

But as soon as I got back, the air was strange. The corridors were buzzing, and the soldiers' faces were tense.

"Kyle, what happened?"

Kyle rushed over, his face pale.

"Captain! There was a sudden personnel transfer today..... you, me, and the entire commoner group have all been transferred!"

"What!? All at once? We can't even do a proper handover!" I couldn't help but raise my voice. A turmoil grew in my chest, and I felt as if the price for those sweet days had suddenly come due.

"So, where am I being transferred?"

"...To be the captain of the Tree Sea Defense Force. I'm the vice-captain. All the commoners from the First Knight Order are being sent there."

"...What did you say?"

The Tree Sea Defense Force--.

What has been going on lately? Normally, only the captain and vice-captain knew of its existence. It was a secret unit that operated in the shadows of the king. Including Mireille's case, wasn't it becoming a little too close for comfort?

Kyle lowered his voice.

"...Captain, they're completely turning the knight order into a noble-centric organization. And the Defense Force's policies are changing too drastically."

A cold feeling spread through my chest. Was this a transfer in name only, a demotion, or was it... a 'trap'.