Name: Blue Sword Mercenary Group.
The members include the leader Halia, Diego who plays the role of the middle-ranking mercenary, and the sibling mercenaries, Bersia and Usher.
Though it was a small group for a mercenary band, it wasn’t much of an issue.
“Usually, mercenary bands don’t start big when entering a new area. Most of them start small.”
“Is there any particular reason for that?”
“If they come in too large, half of them would die on the way to Baern. Crossing the desert while protecting supplies is quite tough.”
Halia wrinkled her nose as if she didn’t understand.
Usher chuckled and added,
“To move dozens of people, you need that much supply. Wouldn’t a bunch of rich, inexperienced bandits hate it?”
“Is it some kind of magical land?”
“It’s just a place where people live… as Lord Therbion put it.”
“That’s right, Saintess.”
“Hm…”
Halia nodded, seemingly understanding.
By the third day of travel, Halia, who was on the verge of collapse on the first day, had now gathered herself, and Usher could see the familiar expression return to her face.
This was when her characteristic mischievousness came out.
“They seem to be a perfect match. Are they going to get married or something?”
“H-H-How could you say that, Halia!”
“Hm? Aren’t you two dating?”
“No!”
Usher jumped up, flustered.
The wagon swayed due to his sudden movement.
His face turned bright red, and Bersia’s face showed a hint of disappointment.
Seeing that, Halia burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! Your knight’s feelings are hurt!”
“So, you really hate me, huh, Saintess?”
“That’s not what I meant…! Both of you stop teasing!”
“I was serious though! Everyone in the Order knows how you dote on your knight!”
“Ah!”
Well, there was a reason for that, wasn’t there?
He couldn’t tell him that their bodies had swapped, so he was frustrated to the point of dying.
He glared, but unfortunately, there was no one in the carriage to support him.
One person, however, stood outside the carriage, offering just a single sentence in support.
“Halia, the Saintess is troubled.”
“Eh? Why is she the Saintess, and I’m ‘Halia’?”
“She’s more suited to be called a knight, don’t you think?”
“Haha! You really flatter strangely!”
A sigh escaped her lips.
Thus, the third day of their journey ended.
There was still some distance to the city, so they camped for the night.
The task wasn’t difficult.
It wasn’t because they were used to camping, but because someone in their group made camping romantic.
“Saintess, please eat.”
“Ah, thank you…!”
Diego, Halia’s bodyguard and a top-tier knight, set up the tent and cooked for the group.
The food was surprisingly delicious, and when they praised him, Halia said proudly,
“This guy’s cooked more bowls of food than you can count. Not only in the field but even at home, he’s the one who cooks!”
“My wife won’t eat unless I cook it.”
“At least you bring home the money! That’s enough!”
In the casual conversation, Usher learned a few things about Diego.
“So, you’re married?”
“I married well. My wife leads a massive trading house. That’s why I live in a mansion, one I could never afford with just my knight’s salary.”
“I can’t visit often, though.”
“And he has a son around your age. Haha, back in the day, that little guy kept chasing me asking for a marriage proposal… ah…”
“At that time, Halia, you were just entering your 40s.”
“He cried when he heard my age.”
“My son still sulks whenever we talk about that.”
Usher felt warmth and envy from seeing the two laugh as they reminisced.
It was the bond built over time that made those feelings clear.
Could he and Bersia ever have a relationship like that?
Though they were close now, Usher knew that their closeness wasn’t the same as the deep, unspoken bond between Diego and Halia.
A small smile appeared on Usher’s face.
It was then that their meal ended.
Halia went on a reconnaissance mission, and Diego accompanied her.
Usher was left alone with Bersia.
Finally, the tension relaxed, and Usher spoke to Bersia about the feelings he had just experienced.
“Don’t they seem incredibly close?”
“They’ve been together for over thirty years.”
“There’s trust between them. Even without words, you can see they’re connected…”
Usher was deeply moved by their conversation and felt there was so much more to talk about.
More than anything, he had learned a lot about Diego.
Diego was a reserved person, and many of his qualities were overshadowed by Halia, so not much was publicly known about him.
Even Usher only knew his military achievements, but little else.
“He’s an admirable person. Like our leader, Diego is an idol to many knights.”
“Do you prefer middle-aged men?”
“…It’s admiration. Do you really have to think about it like that?”
“I’m sorry, I just feel jealous. You seem so excited talking about an outsider.”
“……”
“You’re not even flustered anymore. You just look at me as if I’m pathetic.”
Why did she look so annoying, licking her lips with such a disappointed expression?
Maybe it was because of her light blue hair that made her seem so much like Bersia.
Or perhaps it was because she had seen her true nature.
Looking at her like this, Usher realized that his relationship with Bersia had changed.
Before, when she acted this way, he felt shocked and troubled, but now, it felt more like an overwhelming sense of confusion—’What should I do with this person?’
It was like dealing with a misbehaving seven-year-old.
As he glared at her, Usher sighed and shook his head.
“Anyway, stop with the teasing. If you keep this up, your language habits will become a mess.”
“Can we do just one more and then stop?”
“Is that really possible?”
“No, it’s a serious concern, you know.”
What could they possibly be asking, laying the groundwork like that?
With a serious concern involved, Usher decided to listen for now.
It didn’t take long before he regretted that decision.
“We agreed to play the roles of siblings, didn’t we?”
“That’s right.”
“But if we act too close, won’t others find it strange? So, in that case…”
“Can I hit you on the head with a fist?”
“Isn’t that a serious concern? I’ve heard that siblings usually hate each other, but we don’t fight. Others might think we’re quite sweet.”
“Sweet? What are you talking about? It’s nothing like that!”
Usher’s earlobes turned bright red.
She always manages to surprise people like that with her words.
Usher’s eyes narrowed.
He tried to ignore the rising embarrassment and tingling sensation and grumbled.
“There are certainly siblings out there who get along well. The idea that siblings have to hate each other is a very narrow view, don’t you think? And…”
Of course, Bersia wasn’t even listening to those words.
When would that person grow up?
It was a night full of deep sighs.
A week passed, and finally, the group reached the desert area. Once they crossed the desert, they would finally arrive in Baern. It had been a long journey.
The group, who had been relaxed up to that point, now became more tense.
They began to move according to their “roles” for the infiltration.
When it was time to play the role of the naïve young lady, Halia seemed irritated, but that in itself actually fit the role perfectly.
Diego’s role as the protector of the group was not much different from before, so it was peaceful, but the real issue lay elsewhere.
“It’s time to decide.”
Bersia said with a sweet smile as she spoke to Usher.
Usher’s eyes narrowed.
The moment had come that could not be avoided.
What was it, though?
The answer was obvious, wasn’t it?
“Who wants to play the younger sibling?”
Usher and Bersia were supposed to be sibling mercenaries.
Naturally, there had to be a hierarchy between them, and they both wanted the same roles.
“I want to be the older brother.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yes, I want to hear you call me ‘older brother,’ like how the knight does.”
Usher felt as if he were about to lose his mind to Bersia’s pure malice.
She just wanted to hear him say “older brother.”
How could such a thing be allowed?
“I absolutely refuse. I would never say that, even if I died!”
The upstanding knight Usher Therbion.
Though his body had changed, and he had become accustomed to living as a woman, he still had his internal masculinity.
That masculinity was part of his identity, and losing it would feel like a personal death.
No way, not as long as I’m alive—anything but that shameful thing.
The resolve to bite his tongue rather than say that rose in Usher’s eyes.
The confrontation continued.
“You still haven’t decided?”
Diego appeared.
Seeing his disinterested gaze, Usher felt a pang of guilt, as he might have thought they were dragging their feet for something trivial.
But that didn’t last long.
“I’ll flip a coin, and you each choose a side.”
The casual way of handling it made Usher flinch.
But Bersia quickly agreed.
If he refused now, it would only seem like throwing a tantrum.
Usher trembled for a moment before finally gathering his resolve.
Well, if it’s truly a matter of luck, then it would be less unfair.
And maybe luck would favor sincerity.
“…I’ll go with the back side!”
Usher’s eyes widened.
He anxiously prayed inwardly, hoping for divine intervention.
‘Oh gods! Have mercy on this poor soul…!’
As he stared intensely at the coin, praying, there was a soft “Ting!” and the coin landed on Diego’s hand.
“It’s heads. Sir Therbion will play the older brother role.”
“…!”
In that instant, Usher realized something he had forgotten.
Divine favoritism.
It was almost like a nickname, but Bersia was truly loved by the gods in a way that set her apart.
Despair surged over him.