Among the nobility, there were quite a few eccentric and stubborn types, so Viss didn’t feel the need to take it too seriously—he just chalked it up to bad luck running into the little fairy.
Besides, the little fairy knight had already landed a solid punch on the Captain of the Soldiers, which was a fitting comeuppance.
But Lortisa was not convinced.
She looked coldly at Northearn, her emerald eyes devoid of any emotion:
“You, your knights, should focus more on self-control than just honing your martial skills. Don’t let the banner of the Holy Patrol Knights be disgraced by your improper behavior.”
Her words landed like a silent slap, striking Northearn and every Holy Patrol Knight present hard in the face.
It wasn’t a rebuke of their strength, but a condemnation of their inability to control the most basic emotions—rashness, arrogance, and irritability.
Northearn’s smile completely faded; a slight twitch in his cheek muscle betrayed his tension as he could only bow his head with effort:
“…Your reminder is noted. I will enforce strict discipline among the knights again.”
Whether this was mere politeness or sincere acceptance, Lortisa no longer looked at him. She turned and gave Viss a brief, cold word:
“Let’s go.”
With that, she strode straight out of the training grounds, ignoring the complicated gazes behind her.
Viss rubbed his nose, glanced at the disorderly scene and the awkward atmosphere among the knights, and gave a polite nod to the Captain of the Soldiers, silently saying “It’s alright.”
Seeing the Captain return a similarly apologetic smile, Viss then hurried to catch up and left the knights’ camp.
Watching the two leave, the perfect smile on Northearn’s face dimmed slightly as he tapped his sword hilt in irritation.
He had expected that Lortisa might intervene during the duel.
But even with foreknowledge, his reaction couldn’t keep pace with the sudden change.
That punch was so fast that, unwilling as he was to admit it, he had to acknowledge that this was the strength of the strongest Captain of Soldiers in the kingdom’s history.
However, more surprising to Northearn than that was the outcome of the duel on the training ground.
From the sidelines, the gap in strength seemed so vast there was no suspense—the duel barely went one round before Viss surrendered.
But as the Knight Captain, Northearn knew very well—
For an ordinary mercenary to face off against a Holy Patrol Knight and actually hold out, then walk away unscathed as if nothing had happened?
Seeing his superior deep in thought and the atmosphere turning uneasy, the adjutant cautiously approached:
“Master, that guy’s just lucky. If the Captain of Soldiers hadn’t been there, he probably wouldn’t see tomorrow’s sun.”
A trace of sarcasm twisted Northearn’s lips:
“Do you really think… a sane person can so easily snatch life back from the hands of the Soul Devourer?”
“Huh?”
The adjutant blinked, confused.
“Although that guy isn’t as simple as you imagine, he’s still just a bug—somewhere between an earthworm and an ant.”
“Then, Master, should we find more men…?”
“No need.”
Northearn cut him off, his face returning to the lazy arrogance that was truly his own.
The trash that should have been cleaned up wasn’t dealt with properly, and he even allowed the elite in the knights to get hurt for no reason.
The first time could be excused as underestimating the situation.
But if he made the same mistake twice with the same method, there’d be no excuse.
Northearn would never allow such stupidity under his command.
No matter the reason why the kingdom’s strongest Captain of Soldiers valued that mercenary—
To Northearn, anyone who was a nuisance had no right to exist.
“Go, draft a report. I have urgent matters to discuss with Count Leichester.”
Issuing the order, his sapphire eyes flicked once again toward the direction of the Vanguard Camp, a determined curve tugging at the corner of his mouth.
That’s right, the best tool naturally deserved the best master.
As for the occasional flies that flew by… they were just to be swatted away.
Returning to the Vanguard Camp’s main tent from the knights’ camp, Lortisa remained silent the entire way.
Though they had just met and didn’t know each other well, Viss could somewhat read the mood from the girl’s back.
Probably because she was upset about what had just happened?
Of course, he didn’t know the details, guessing it was likely indignation over the knights’ poor display.
“Um… I forgot to say earlier.”
Viss rubbed his nose and quickened his pace to catch up.
“Thanks for helping stop that knight lady just now, or I probably would’ve taken a heavy—uh, thank you very much, Tisa.”
Lortisa stopped walking, paused for a moment, then slowly turned around. Her eyes were as stern as a strict instructor’s:
“You know that would have ended badly for you, don’t you?”
“Eh…”
“Knowing you’re no match, yet still agreeing to the duel—the other side was clearly aiming to suppress you. You couldn’t see that?”
“Well, not exactly…”
Viss forced a sheepish smile.
Now he understood why she was upset—it seemed to be because of him.
But the real reason—he had taken the risk to agree in order to collect spiritual power—wasn’t something he could just say out loud.
So he came up with an excuse:
“I mean, they asked so sincerely and reasonably. Refusing would have been rude.
Besides, I went with you to their place. As a mercenary, being too harsh would’ve looked like I was just relying on you, which would have put you in an awkward spot…”
What he was really doing was considering things from a social perspective… for me?
Lortisa blinked slightly.
She wasn’t really mad at Viss, just unable to properly express her nervousness and worry.
When she spoke again, her expression was serious and resolute:
“In the future, no matter what happens, leave it to me, okay?”
Will there be a future? Oh, she probably meant when the army returns to the Tidal Plague Zone… Viss didn’t think much of it.
“Uh… alright, I’ll be a bother then.”
Though he said it casually, Lortisa suspected he’d probably still “dare to next time.” She sighed helplessly.
But looking at the young man’s face filled with genuine reassurance, she felt a rare, strange sensation, as if her heart had been dyed a vivid red.
Realizing she had stared at his face a little too long, Lortisa tilted her head slightly:
“By the way, while you’re staying in the camp, it’s better if you stay in my tent. If you need to go out, just tell me.”
Viss gave a bitter grin:
“So, I have to file a report?”
“This is for your safety.”
Lortisa spoke with complete confidence, fully asserting her authority.
“I have military duties to attend to and have to leave for a while… anyway, just stay here and rest. If you need anything, tell the guard at the door—I’ve already informed them.”
The young female soldier captain escorted him to the main tent’s entrance, gave her final reminder, and upon seeing Viss nod firmly, hurried away.