*
“This area is the temporary camp of the Kingdom Border Brigade’s Third Vanguard Squad.”
“Oh…”
“The main sections are the Soldiers’ Barracks and the Training Grounds.”
“Hmm…”
“As for over there, that’s the Armory and the Logistics Camp—”
Lortisa led the way, raising her hand to point out each area one by one as she introduced them.
Beneath her calm and indifferent tone, there was a hint of excitement, like a child proudly showing their parents a good report card.
Vis followed silently behind her, nodding occasionally as his eyes carefully scanned the orderly scene around them.
The late autumn sunlight was gentle, casting a soft golden glow that wrapped the entire camp in warmth.
The air was filled with the scents of dry hay, leather, and faint cooking smoke, carrying the distinctive, rough yet vibrant atmosphere unique to a border army camp.
The gray-brown tents spread out like clusters of mushrooms, leaving wide paths between them.
The rhythmic clang of metal striking metal could be heard nearby—likely the camp blacksmiths repairing weapons by the forge—but the sound was soon drowned out by the sharp training bugle accompanying marching boots.
Further off, atop a wooden watchtower, the figure of an archer stood motionless like a statue, eyes alertly fixed toward the northwest border line.
Perhaps because women in this world have a naturally higher affinity for magic and respond better to enhancement spells boosting physical ability,
the entire vanguard squad’s elite close-combat fighters were almost exclusively female.
As the two passed by, the female soldiers along the way immediately stopped whatever they were doing at the sight of Lortisa.
One after another, they straightened their backs, clenched their right fists against their left chests, and offered a crisp military salute while loudly calling out her official title of Soldier Commander.
Without exception, their eyes shone with genuine respect.
But as their gaze shifted from Lortisa to the unfamiliar male by her side, that respect quickly turned into undisguised curiosity and scrutiny.
Before they realized it, the pair had already arrived at the camp’s main gate, near the central road.
“—So, that’s roughly the layout of the vanguard squad camp.”
Lortisa stopped walking.
“As for the outside, those are the camps of other squads. Please keep that in mind.”
“Understood. I definitely won’t cause any trouble.”
Vis took her words as a polite reminder—after all, a mercenary from a neighboring country should be careful not to raise suspicions inside a military camp.
“That’s not what I meant.”
Seeing he seemed to have misunderstood, Lortisa turned around deliberately.
The sunlight framed her delicate profile with a soft golden outline.
“The main force of the Border Army only arrived for the rendezvous today. Soldiers outside my command don’t know you, which could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings. In the common areas, movement is still mostly unrestricted. If there’s an urgent matter, you can also have a Patrol Soldier relay a message to me.”
Vis nodded:
“So it sounds like you’re already preparing for battle—to deal with this Disastrous Tide?”
“For now, we can’t just send troops out recklessly.”
Lortisa’s gaze drifted outward as she briefly recounted the orders from the camp meeting earlier, about holding position and awaiting commands—not really a secret anyway.
“…However, after yesterday’s reconnaissance around Silent Sun Town, we confirmed the source of this Disastrous Tide’s disaster—that’s thanks to you as well.”
“Oh? Looks like my bad luck isn’t all bad. At least I was able to help a little, huh? Haha…”
Vis naturally knew she was referring to the unexpected encounter with the Soul Devourer Primarch last night.
Just as he thought, running into the Soldier Commander’s rescue was pure luck.
“By the way, from what you just said, the Border Army needs permission from the Empire or a joint force to launch an operation?”
“Yes.”
Lortisa paused, then added:
“That doesn’t rule out the possibility of the disaster source crossing the border and invading the Kingdom. In that case, we can launch a clean-up hunt.”
In other words, a waiting game.
Vis raised his hand to his chin:
“Um, if you’re planning an operation, I’d like to… join and help.”
A barely noticeable flicker passed through Lortisa’s eyes:
“Too dangerous. If it’s for the commission, I said I can assist.”
Vis shook his head:
“Thanks, but that’s not how it works. I have to personally handle my commissions.”
Not that he was especially devoted to duty,
but selfishly, recovering the guaranteed minimal reward cloak had to be done as quickly as possible.
As for commissions, while he could get outside help, he must complete them personally to earn Wishforce points. So finding the Merchant’s Daughter required his direct involvement.
Since the condition was “finding,” it had to be the first to discover matching information.
For both official and personal reasons, Vis had no choice but to go himself.
“Besides… it works out well. I’ll help as a favor, as a little repayment.”
Lortisa studied him carefully.
Even though it was just a commission,
it was perfectly reasonable for a mercenary to refuse if it was too dangerous. No one could force or blame them.
But he didn’t.
Accepting others’ commissions and requests was like making a promise—he would see it through no matter what.
How could such a good-natured person be a mercenary?
Yet, it was precisely because of that that he was Vis.
Lortisa fell silent for a moment before finally nodding softly.
They talked by the camp gate as the midday sun stretched their shadows long.
Neither noticed the sharp blue eyes fixed unblinkingly on them from the shadow of a nearby row of tents.
—Nothern Higriwell Lanzobonnet,
Knight Commander of the Pathfinding Knights Order of the glorious Holy Covenant Kingdom, watched Vis and Lortisa’s conversation as if judging heretic evildoers spreading calamity.
The meeting was over.
According to the Earl Commander-in-Chief’s instructions, they had to wait for negotiations with the Empire before deciding the next battle plan.
During this idle time, Nothern felt grateful to the Supreme God.
Wasn’t this all just arranged specially for him—to bring him closer to Lortisa?
But since leaving the Main Tent, all Nothern had seen was Lortisa running back to the vanguard squad camp like something urgent had come up.
Curious, he followed, thinking maybe this was another opportunity heaven had prepared.
No such luck, but he did witness a private meeting.
—Who is that man?
Judging by his clothes, he was obviously a mercenary.
Nothern had heard rumors—
Lortisa was famously cold and arrogant,
disinterested in anyone weaker than herself—whether that was true or not was unconfirmed,
but she was known for being taciturn, which everyone who knew her, including at the meeting when she gave reports, could attest.
Yet now, the amount she spoke with that mercenary was like she was a different person.
Nothern couldn’t understand it.