“Unify……”
“Statements?”
The young mercenary and the sergeant major girl exchanged glances in perfect understanding.
In truth, there was no need for much explanation.
No matter the world, nothing is ever so black and white.
The truth itself matters little; what matters is whether the outcome is acceptable to all parties involved.
(…So in the end, we’ll have to weave a tale about the entire knight squad dying heroically in battle.)
Originally, he’d wanted to trouble Tisha later to tweak her report a bit, covering up the fact that Morfiana survived.
But now, it seemed perfectly appropriate.
Weiss was the first to raise an eyebrow.
“So, how are we supposed to put it? That Northern died purely a hero’s death? That the entire Sacred Patrol Knight Squad fell gloriously resisting the Dread Tide?”
“Whether it was heroic or not is for others to judge. As for you two—”
Carine turned her head back, her expression stern and vigilant.
“The sergeant major just needs to firmly claim she only arrived after the tragedy. As for you, Mr. Weiss, please remember… no, it would be best if you remembered nothing at all.”
Just that little hint was enough for Weiss to understand.
All they needed was to shirk any responsibility.
If he’d been swept away along with the chaos, so be it—after all, as a foreign mercenary, his survival affected things the least, and as long as he stayed far away after, there’d be no issue.
As for Lortiṣa, as the kingdom’s strongest sergeant major, she had only entered the battlefield to make up for a wartime accident—everything was a judgment made on the spot; it would be normal for her not to arrive in time.
The captain of the knights sacrificed himself—truly, that would have to be cemented as a regrettable fact.
“Understood.”
As Weiss gave his reply, Lortiá¹£a nodded as well.
Carine finally let out a sigh, though it was nowhere near time for her to relax. It seemed the real battlefield requiring her as adjutant was only just beginning.
“Alright, as long as you both stick to that, that’s enough… If you need treatment, Sergeant Major, you can escort Mr. Weiss back to camp first.”
If she didn’t mention it, Weiss himself almost forgot.
It didn’t really hurt yet, and the wounds were already bandaged.
As far as this world was concerned, as long as it wasn’t immediately fatal, there was always hope, so there wasn’t much need to be too anxious. In a sense, he’d gotten used to it.
But Lortiṣa was clearly quite concerned, as if she’d been waiting for the adjutant to finish her tedious reminders, eager to take Weiss away.
The girl sergeant major exchanged a final glance with the adjutant. The woman warrior sighed in mutual understanding.
“Just go. If you stay, it’s the same anyway—leave the scene here to me.”
“Alright.”
Lortiá¹£a paused, then turned back to add one more sentence.
“Thank you, Carine.”
With that, she quickly slipped her arm around Weiss’s back and under his knees.
Before he could react, both his body and his shadow were swept up as she leapt into the air.
The world spun; by the time Weiss came to his senses, he was already being steadily carried in Lortiṣa’s arms.
Her movement was gentle, yet held a stubborn, willful strength—as if she were guarding her favorite stuffed bear from anyone trying to snatch it away.
“Hey! Wait—”
It was so sudden, Weiss could barely find the words, forced to watch the ravine beneath his feet fall away, the scenery blurring into shapeless streaks.
Wind roared in his ears; his vision was filled only with Lortiṣa’s focused profile.
Strands of golden hair fluttered in the wind, occasionally brushing his cheek with a faint, fresh scent.
“Um, I could really walk on my own…”
“Wounded soldiers shouldn’t move around.”
Lortiá¹£a replied curtly, eyes fixed ahead.
Weiss gave up resisting with a sigh, letting her carry him swiftly through the night sky.
From this angle, Lortiṣa’s jaw was set tight, clearly not as relaxed as she seemed on the surface.
(The most nerve-wracking part of the fight is over, the aftermath settled, nothing left for her to worry about… Is she… worried about me?)
At first, Weiss thought it unlikely.
Maybe he was daydreaming so much even he found it absurd, so he couldn’t help but smile wryly to himself.
Although being carried felt quite steady, the scenery whipping past behind them proved just how fast Lortiá¹£a was moving.
How she did it was something Weiss no longer cared to ponder in this world.
When the lights of the vanguard’s camp finally appeared in the distance, the girl sergeant major slowed, gently coming to a halt.
“You wait in the tent for a while. I’ll go get the ritual priest and be back soon.”
Depositing Weiss in the familiar sergeant major’s tent, Lortiṣa hurriedly lifted the flap and dashed outside again.
(Really, there’s no need to be so nervous…)
He wanted to say that, but at that moment, the delayed pain suddenly swelled, as if some villain had come back to collect a debt. Weiss could no longer force a smile.
So the painkillers had finally worn off.
He could pop a few more and the discomfort would fade, but considering the supply, it was best to save them for emergencies. Weiss steeled himself to endure pain that might well make him grit his teeth to the breaking point.
Maybe tonight’s fighting was just too intense; with so many wounded, the healers simply couldn’t keep up. Lortiṣa was gone for quite a while, with no sign of returning.
After about ten minutes, the pain in his wound had fully replaced the previous numbness.
Weiss could hardly maintain his composure, feeling on the verge of rolling on the ground.
Just as he was about to lose it, a gentle strength supported him, helping him to sit by the bed.
“—Here, drink some water with this first.”
He followed the voice without thinking, quickly taking the pill and washing it down in one gulp.
Oddly enough, after just a few deep breaths, the pain didn’t exactly disappear, but at least became bearable.
“This is…”
“Heinetion Shu family’s secret alchemical medicine. It boosts stamina and endurance. When I was little and got hurt training with my sister, I always took this. It’s not a miracle, but it’s better than nothing.”
Unlike painkillers that numb sensation, this secret potion from the alchemists increased one’s tolerance for pain. It still hurt, but was much easier to bear.
Feeling the effect, Weiss took a deep breath, steadying himself.
“I have to say, it’s pretty useful… Thank you—hm?”
Just as he finished, he realized something was off.
He turned to look—the one beside him was not Lortiṣa, returned from fetching the ritual priest.
It was Morfiana, the noble lady knight who had only just come back to camp.
At this moment, Morfiana was kneeling on one knee like a sentinel at a king’s bedside, head bowed, unmoving at the foot of the bed.