“Really? He took a full-powered sword strike from a Holy Paladin and not only survived, but acted like nothing happened… How is that possible?”
“That’s Morphyana of the ‘Strong Crown’! Ordinary mercenaries don’t even get to spar with her. Getting hit once means death or crippling injury.”
“Absolutely! I was on duty near the knights’ camp and saw it with my own eyes! And it was a public duel—plenty of witnesses…”
Following their conversation, Weiss slowed his pace slightly,
his gaze subtly drifting toward the source of the voices.
Not far from the campfire, a few female soldiers who had just ended their shift were gathered together, swapping out their gear while lowering their voices to talk.
Their eyes occasionally flicked in his direction,
and judging by their expressions, besides growing curiosity, there was a faint sense of admiration.
“Hss… no wonder the Squad Leader brought that—no, that mercenary back. Seems like she really isn’t an ordinary person after all.”
One of the women remarked with a concluding tone,
and the others nodded in agreement.
Their conversation carried faintly through the wind, broken and incomplete,
but the main points were still mostly audible.
Weiss felt his eye twitching uncontrollably.
This rumor’s really blown up over these past few days?
He had only gone up, put on a token show, and immediately conceded.
He hadn’t really shown any fighting skill, and had clearly been cut down by the knight’s sword, rolling several times before standing back up.
So how had this turned into some story of a fearless hero confronting disaster head-on in their mouths?
Looking back, the soldiers passing by had at least nodded and greeted respectfully, which was already self-controlled restraint.
If they hadn’t all believed him to be a “guest” brought back by the Squad Leader, they probably would have crowded around to ask for the full story.
Weiss, holding a mix of speechlessness and awkwardness, walked to the camp entrance, where he immediately saw the returning young female Squad Leader and the female officer.
The two seemed to be discussing some urgent matters; Karin was reporting point by point while Lortisa occasionally nodded.
Yet as if by default, the moment Lortisa’s eyes landed on the mercenary youth standing at the gate,
she immediately put him at the highest priority,
no matter what they were discussing, it suddenly became irrelevant.
“Weiss.”
The young Squad Leader quickly approached, her calm and composed expression still as emotionless as ever.
Though she ignored the greetings of the surrounding soldiers, it seemed everyone in the Vanguard squad was already used to this kind of leader and did not feel slighted.
But it was curious—rarely did a superior initiate conversation with another male so openly; the female soldiers present couldn’t help but silently shift their attention here.
“Uh… you’re back. Good work, Di… Lady Lortisa.”
Weiss stumbled over his tongue and could only offer a forced smile.
Though he had promised to greet her properly, in front of so many soldiers and the officer, as just a mercenary, it was truly impossible to use such a close form of address outright.
Lortisa’s eyes dimmed slightly, but her face remained unreadable:
“You… these past few days, no problems?”
“No, no, thanks for the care. I’ve been fine.”
Weiss scratched his nose,
feeling a bit embarrassed living like he was on vacation at a frontline camp.
“The wound—is it anything serious?”
“No issues with movement… I think it’s healed.”
Weiss rubbed his left shoulder, moving his arm with no discomfort now even where the rib had been pierced.
Lortisa watched him, though she didn’t seem fully convinced.
“Karin.”
She turned her head slightly, ordering the officer,
“The matter mentioned earlier—arrange it as you said. Also include Weiss.”
“What?”
The female officer’s square jaw dropped in surprise,
her expression asking, “Do you even know what you’re ordering, ma’am?”
“Yes, order.”
Without leaving room for questions, Lortisa repeated sharply, then lowered her voice somewhat,
“Not together with the soldiers.”
“Oh… just using the other side? Got it, understood.”
Karin slapped her forehead and smiled wryly,
“Squad Leaders are like this—when it’s an order, it’s set in stone.
We’ve worked together long enough; you should be used to it by now.”
But it was the first time she’d seen someone special enough for the Squad Leader to treat so differently.
Karin raised her chin toward the mercenary youth with a nudge of encouragement:
“Hey, kid, you heard that. The Squad Leader’s orders—come on, cooperate and follow me.”
“Ah?”
Weiss responded, confused, turning his gaze away,
just catching the Squad Leader silently nodding, as if giving a quiet “Go on, it’s fine.”
Of course, Weiss trusted Lortisa,
but why couldn’t she say exactly where they were going?
Though full of questions, Weiss followed the tall and sturdy female officer out of the camp.
Karin was tall and broad-shouldered, with a wide stride; Weiss had to quicken his pace to keep up.
They circled around the garrison, following the sentry fence until they reached a relatively secluded area behind the Vanguard camp.
Passing through a small copse of trees, an open clearing suddenly appeared,
with a cordoned-off tent surrounded by several layers of curtains,
lit by torches and bonfires, wisps of steam constantly rising from inside.
(This must be…)
Before Weiss could wipe the dark line of doubt from his forehead, a loud, spirited greeting sounded:
““Deputy Squad Leader, ma’am!””
Two female guards standing at the door saluted smartly upon seeing Karin.
“Is everything ready inside the bathhouse?”
“Reporting, ma’am—the artisan mage and spirit priestess have prepared everything. It’s ready for use at any time!”
“Good.”
Karin nodded in satisfaction, then turned her face and gestured Weiss forward with a nod,
“Take him inside then.”
““?!””
The two guards, who had been holding back their surprise, exchanged looks.
“Ma’am, he… this mercenary is a man…”
One hesitated to speak,
knowing questioning a superior like this usually meant a reprimand,
but the shock was too much to hold back.
Karin just shrugged:
“Squad Leader’s orders. And don’t misunderstand—it’s definitely not for him to join the others. He’s being led somewhere alone.”
“Eh? But the other side is set up—”
Before the other guard could ask more,
the female warrior interrupted roughly, as if out of patience:
“If it’s an order, you follow it. No more questions.”
““Ah, very sorry, ma’am! Understood!””
The guards bowed apologetically.
Straightening up, one lifted the curtain while the other turned to lead Weiss inside:
“Mr. Weiss, please come in.”
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