Volume 10 Chapter 30 Reunion
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Orrid Barracks.”
The room was empty now—rows of chairs and desks sat abandoned in the dim light. At the far end, a small office held a woman working alone until the door opened.
”Deena. This is Klock. He’ll be joining our march. He’s the captain of the troop with that Hero.”
The woman looked up, startled.
”…Klock…?”
Her voice trembled. A hand flew to her mouth as if to hold back a cry. Klock drew a slow breath, his eyes drifting toward a stain on the wall. As one of the Brave Knights, he had nothing to hide—but facing that familiar face still twisted something inside him.
”We leave tomorrow,” Ada said, yawning. “We’ll stop by Conro first. Once the Count’s ready to move, we head to Deirid.”
Deena fumbled for words, her shock plain, while Ada stretched lazily nearby, oblivious to both Deena’s panic and Klock’s stiff discomfort.
”Deena,” Ada said, shoving her thumb toward the table. “Talk over troop formation and march procedure with him. I’m going to bed.”
”Yes… understood.”
Ada reached into her chest pocket and pulled out the small pouch she’d tossed earlier. Two fingers plucked a gold coin; she stuffed it into Deena’s pocket.
”If he tries anything, you tell me right away. I’ll squeeze it out of him myself…!”
She licked her lips and grinned, all teeth and mischief. The threat made Deena’s shoulders tighten. Ada probably meant squeezing his purse, but Deena’s flushed face said she wasn’t sure.
Unlike Ada, Deena still seemed to have her innocence intact.
Ada left them there—no small talk, no lingering. Just a quick introduction, then gone. That kind of careless command suited a captain, Klock thought. Maybe captains should be rough around the edges.
The door thudded shut. Silence rolled back in.
Only Klock and Deena remained. The air turned heavy, awkward.
”…Ah—”
”Mr. John. It’s been a long time.”
Deena’s eyes met his directly. He tried to look away, pretending to study the ceiling, but his gaze betrayed him—drawn for a foolish second to the open neckline of her uniform. Too exposed for a clerk, he thought bitterly.
”Yeah. Long time.”
”…I should call you Mr. Klock now, shouldn’t I?”
”Y-yeah… guess so.”
It felt like being caught cheating. His alias had been exposed—and worse, she was the one whose bed he’d slipped into.
He couldn’t hold her gaze. She didn’t look angry, just unreadable.
”I never thought we’d meet again like this,” she said softly. “I’m glad we did.”
”…Yeah. Me too,” he replied, though his voice stayed stiff, unconvincing. Her gentle smile made him wonder—was he forgiven?
”I owe you an apology.”
”Huh?” Klock frowned.
She lowered her eyes. “At that time… you were helping the Saint Lady escape, weren’t you? I didn’t know. I couldn’t do much for you. I regret that deeply.”
”…What did you just say?”
Saint? How the hell did she know that? Did she realize who Adelina was?
He remembered—the night they fled from the ship in Shinnit, trying to smuggle the Saint to safety. Tiet caught them, beat him half to death, locked him up. The Saint had escaped, then rode back to save him—on a horse that must have come from Deena’s home. Maybe that’s when she found out.
”How’d you know she was the Saint?”
”She told me. She couldn’t speak, but we exchanged notes.”
So Adelina had written it herself. That explained it. Deena’s father had just passed away then, a knight. The horse had probably been his. Klock couldn’t recall all the details anymore.
”I could’ve been a kidnapper, you know.”
”You’re joking. She said she went to rescue you herself. And I’ve heard about your troop—Brigante, the one with the Hero.”
”…I see.”
So Adelina had already known what was coming, seen the future maybe. Every twist since had led him safely to the Beast Country. Maybe she’d guided all of it.
Future sight, huh. That explained a lot.
He sighed. It wasn’t the reunion he’d imagined—but at least she didn’t hate him. Maybe she even understood. He wasn’t the kind of man to vanish after getting what he wanted. Brave Knights didn’t do that.
Still, fragments of that night flickered in his mind—the warmth of her skin, the soft breath against his shoulder. He looked away quickly. She’d probably been awake that whole time. Great. Now she remembered everything too.
Deena stood, walking closer. He turned his face aside again, reflexive.
”To think you were one of the Brave Knights all along,” she said, stopping just in front of him. “What a surprise. Still… I’m glad we can work together.”
”Ah, yeah… thanks. Uh—how’s Elide doing these days?”
He let out a quiet breath, relieved when he remembered the name and checked on her. Deena’s face clouded a little.
”…What’s wrong? Could it be—” he asked.
A bad feeling slid through him. They had lived in Shinnit, and Shinnit had fallen to the Demon Lord’s Army. That meant their town might already be under attack by the Monsters’ forces.
”No, no. Elide is fine. She lives here in Orrid now. If you want, you can visit her,” Deena said, trying to smile.
”Ah—no, that’s all right. As long as she’s well.” He sounded uncertain. “You know my position… I should probably not meet anyone I had a thing with right now.”
He didn’t dislike Deena, but meeting someone he’d been intimate with could cause complications. Better to keep their past connection discreet for now.
”Okay. I’ll tell her myself,” Deena said, a bit too quickly.
He wondered why her face had shadowed for a moment earlier. She looked restless now, fidgeting as if holding something back.
”Um, if it’s all right—” she began.
”Ahhh—someone’s trying to touch Deena again!!” a high voice cut in.
”What?” Klock started.
The office door at the far end of the barracks burst open. A bright, sharp voice stormed in.
”DIVE!!!” the girl cried as she charged.
”Ugh?!” Klock grunted as the girl slammed into him with the force of a small whirlwind. His body bent like a bow.
”Come on, you beast! Lady Licia is here!! You won’t touch Deena!” she shouted, full of drama.
”Yeah, yeah! Cla-Cla and the others are Buddy Tiet’s juniors—don’t cross them!” another girl chimed in, bouncing with false threats.
”Eh? Hey—these people are just visitors…” Deena tried to explain.
The quiet barracks filled suddenly with bright, squealing energy. The girls ran circles around him, laughing and shouting. Klock staggered to his feet with a scowl.
”You little brats—what the hell?!” he barked, grabbing at the kid who had headbutted his side.
She slipped away and the pair moved out of reach like quick fish.
”Kyaaa—old man’s angry~” one teased.
”Gyaa—he’s all puffed up~” another mocked.
”We’re sorryyy!!” they sang, then raced around and struck fake fighting poses, hands in front like tiny warriors.
They were small, like Elna, but fierce in their own silly way. Light armor covered them, so maybe they were knights in training.
”We will unleash the holy sword taught by Tiet himself. One strike and you’re finished!” one declared, puffing out her chest.
”Yeah! You’re done for~~” another agreed.
Klock stared, frowning. Two of them yelled and preened while the third pretended not to notice.
Clara and Licia announced themselves loudly. The third just acted like she did not know the fuss.
All three wore ribbons on their armor and pink lace under their breastplates. Hair ornaments and bright makeup made them look more like fashion girls than hardened fighters.
”Hey, you two! This man is—” Deena tried to calm them.
Licia swung a ridiculous slow punch—more for show than harm. Clara stuck out her tongue with a proud face. The other girl turned away to act innocent.
Their so-called holy sword technique seemed to be mostly shouting; their hands were bare. Klock frowned, then listened when one girl blurted something about Tiet.
”Are you Tiet’s friends?” he asked.
”Huh?! How dare you not call Senior Tiet by his full name?!” one screamed.
”Ah—well. Buddy Tiet is dead, you know. You shouldn’t speak of him like that!” another cried.
”You’re one of the troop people with that Hero, right?” a third asked at once.
They all talked over each other. Klock thought it was easier to use the name than waste time denying it.
”I’m Klock of the Brave Knight. Tiet is one of my comrades,” he said.
The three froze.
Silence fell for a breath. Then each showed a different face—doubt, surprise, and a smug, tired smile. None of it settled anything. They did not seem to believe him and started saying terrible, childish things—insults, crude jokes, nonsense. The back-and-forth with the young knight girls dragged on a little longer.
”Die! Die!” they shrieked in mock battle.
”Ughhh!!” Klock roared, struggling with the noisy pack.
”You okay, mister?” one asked, worried for a moment.
”Shut up!! I’m telling you it’s not a lie!! He’s my comrade, damn it!! Stop clinging—ow! Don’t bite me!!” he snapped, flailing as they chewed at his sleeve like playful foxes.
After wrestling with the kids for a while, he finally sat down to talk with Deena about the march and troop details. The girls hovered nearby, more like noisy company than real guards.
Once they finished arranging the meeting and the march steps, they decided to call it a day.
”Man, I’m beat. That was the worst part of today,” Klock muttered.
He had escaped the awkward tension with Deena, but now those odd girls had decided he was their target. The three turned out to be Tiet’s junior squires—young apprentice knights who had once been part of his old unit.
So he did have friends or at least people who looked up to Tiet. Well, that made sense; that age often clings to one or two trusted seniors. Klock thought Tiet didn’t seem like the type to make many friends, but apparently he had a few.
They finished their work. All that remained was a short walk back to the camp where the men had set up camp in front of Orrid.
Just as they stepped out from the west barracks, two figures stepped into Klock’s path.
”Suzette. Flavia,”
”Did the negotiations go well?”
”Yeah. From today, we’re under GrassoCount’s protection,” Suzette answered.
Klock blinked. He hadn’t expected a reception. They’d been hiding nearby, watching him. Perhaps Kispe had been tasked with tracking his location and keeping an eye on him.
”I heard talk about your arrest,” Suzette said. “Everyone was worried.”
”It was their move,” Klock replied. “But it worked out, so I went along with it. We leave tomorrow morning. I’ll explain more later, but we’re joining the Count’s army operation.”
”A wise choice,” Suzette nodded. “But serving under the Count means you’ll answer to two houses now.”
”Yeah. Explaining that to Kreis will be the tricky part.”
He gave a short nod and patted Flavia’s shoulder. She smiled in silent acknowledgment.
”Ahh—late, late, I’m late!” a voice squeaked nearby.
A maid in uniform came running toward the barracks from the main street, skirts fluttering. Klock frowned, narrowing his eyes. The maid noticed him too, blinked twice, and froze like a startled cat.
”Uh… h-hi there…”
”You’re… wait, I know you—”
”Ha… haha…” she laughed weakly, trying to shuffle away.
”Michelle. What are you doing here?” Suzette’s calm voice cut through.
”Eek?! M-Maid Chief?!” Michelle stammered.
Now Suzette recognized her too. The woman was Michelle, once a servant of Viscount Fennec’s household—Suzette’s former coworker and subordinate.
Klock vaguely remembered her. The clumsy one. The same maid he’d disciplined with a sharp tongue and quicker hands once, when she’d tried to lecture him.
”Uh, well… I, um, got called, so I’ll just… excuse me!”
Michelle sidestepped fast, only to bump into the stone railing. She tripped, stumbled, and fell face-first into the flower bed.
”…”
”…”
They all just watched her in silence.
Michelle stood up, petals stuck in her hair, laughing awkwardly. She brushed her apron clean, muttered something, and ran off in a flustered dash.
So Michelle’s working under Ada now, Klock thought. That poor girl wouldn’t last three days there.
He sighed.
”Flavia,” he said as they started walking toward the city gates. “Anything happen in Brigante while I was gone?”
”No, my lord,” she said. “When word of your arrest spread, there was some panic, but once they heard you were negotiating, everyone stayed calm.”
”Good,” he said.
That meant Meina had kept things steady, sharing news clearly. He’d done right to leave her with instructions. Still, it was natural for the group to worry. Their leader getting arrested would shake anyone. Without him, Brigante had no one strong enough to steer it.
”Did you tell Queen Isabella about my situation?” he asked.
”…!!” Flavia stiffened.
”It’s fine,” he said lightly. “Just tell me if you did.”
”I went to her,” she admitted. “I told her everything.”
Of course she had. Her loyalty ran deep toward her homeland, just as Kispe had guessed. She was the type to seek help from home when things got rough.
”What did she say?”
”She told me to return for now and wait. To see how things unfold.”
That was a relief. Isabella had kept a cool head—no sudden accusations, no political storm. Klock had trusted she wouldn’t panic, but hearing it confirmed still eased his chest.
”My lord,” Suzette said quietly, “there’s something else. Your case and Queen Isabella’s talks reached the ears of Queen Palze of the Fairies.”
”…What?”
The name hit like cold steel. The Fairy Queen? That was unexpected.
”When I returned,” Flavia said, “Queen Palze was visiting. I was summoned before both of them in the throne room and had to explain the situation.”
So she’d walked right into it. Bad timing, but unavoidable.
”And what did the Fairy Queen say?”
”She accepted Isabella’s proposal for a meeting—and added her own request to meet you as well. She said to pass that message on.”
”Both Isabella and Palze want an audience…?”
He frowned. Originally, he’d planned to visit Isabella to discuss the assassination suspicions surrounding Primlena and the Fairies’ rumored involvement. Now both queens were asking to meet him together.
Skipping that meeting wasn’t an option—but it was going to be a pain. What was he even supposed to say if both were in the same room?
Maybe they’d meet separately, though from Flavia’s tone, it sounded like both would be present. That would make speaking freely harder.
(Master.)
Huh?
(If you do meet Queen Palze, there’s one thing you must be careful about.)
It was that small, familiar voice inside his mind again—sweet, lilting, unseen.
(No matter what happens, don’t let her hug you. You’ll end up pregnant.)
(…Preg—what?)
(We Succubi are often said to be barely human. But the Fairies—and beastkin—are worse in that sense. Palze and her children are the very picture of that truth.)
”Lord Klock,” Suzette asked aloud, “what shall we do? We can delay the response if you wish.”
His mind buzzed from the mental and spoken words overlapping.
”We’re heading for Conro anyway,” he said after a moment. “Once we arrive, I’ll have some time. I’ll visit the Void then.”
”Understood,” Suzette replied with a small bow. “I’ll send word.”
Flavia turned and ran ahead to carry the message, her boots tapping against the stone road. The setting sun stretched her shadow long behind her as Klock followed, the city gates drawing closer, the weight of tomorrow already waiting beyond them.
Notes:
• Orrid – Southern pleasure town near Conro, known for its chaos and vice. Serves as Brigante’s next destination and Count Grasso’s sphere of influence. Rumored den of spies and mercenaries.
• Deena – A 21-year-old unmarried woman. Her appearance is that of a beautiful woman wearing black mourning attire. She is grieving the recent loss of her father in a maritime accident. Deena is the older sister of Elide and is initially mistaken by Klock for a widow.
• Ada – Female. Ada the Wild Wind. An A-rank adventurer. Her appearance is striking, with black hair mixed with fiery red, multiple earrings, and an axe spear as tall as she is. She is incredibly strong and fast, with a Unique Skill called the ‘Blessing of the Wind’ that enhances her speed and agility. Ada is ruthless in combat but shows a surprising willingness to negotiate. She is highly respected in adventurer circles and feared by criminals. Her relationship with Klock is adversarial, as he stole from her and escaped using trickery.
• John – A pseudonym used by Klock.
• Adelina – The slave girl.
• Shinnit – Located south of the royal capital of the Kingdom of Crotopone, separated by mountains. A bustling trading town and the nation’s largest economic hub, controlling the Four Islands. It is a port city with gray outer walls, known for its strategic importance and military presence.
• Tiet – A companion and friend of Anna. A holy knight from the royal capital. She wears light armor and carries a shield adorned with a dragon holding a sword, indicating her affiliation with the National Military Police. She is concerned about Anna’s well-being and tries to support her emotionally.
• Elide – A 19-year-old woman, Deena’s younger sister. Her appearance is described as cute with a youthful, innocent face. She is engaged to a man who is currently away on a long-term fishing expedition and is expected to return in three months.
• Licia – Female. A junior knight in the Crotopone knights. Her playful banter adds warmth to the tense situation, reminding readers of the bonds between comrades.
• Cla-Cla – Female. A junior knight in the Crotopone knights. She is energetic and a joker, often making light of serious situations. Her appearance is not described in detail. She has a casual relationship with Tiet, who sighs at her lack of growth.
• Elna – Female. A young apprentice mage. Her appearance is that of a child with white hair reaching her shoulders. She wears a black hooded mantle with strange patterns. Her relationship is as an apprentice to Hermine, the Great Mage. Her power involves advanced magic, including spatial teleportation. Her combat style is magical, and she is described as childish and easily provoked.
• Clara – Female. A junior knight in the Crotopone knights. She is energetic and a joker, often making light of serious situations. Her appearance is not described in detail. She has a casual relationship with Tiet, who sighs at her lack of growth.
• Flavia – Younger Forestkin princess (132). Gentle yet resolute. Sent by Queen Isabella as marriage pledge to Klock, the Chain Binder, symbolizing the Void’s loyalty to the Goddess Teekua.
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
• Kreis – Baron of Valture and district chief. A middle-aged noble weighed down with gold chains and jeweled rings, yet it’s his hawk-like eyes and sly smile that mark him as dangerous. He meets Klock at the Borges family’s social gathering, greeting him by name as Maria’s son before Klock can even introduce himself—like a predator that already knows its prey.
• Michelle – The leader of the combatants, described as a woman with a no-nonsense attitude and a sharp tongue. She’s a survivor alongside Sir Klock, always choosing him as her final dance.
• Meina – She is a golden-haired catgirl employee of the beastman (Larana the cat woman) Inn, appeared performing fellatio, desperate and tear-streaked, with an inexperienced yet earnest approach to her work.
• Isabella – Forestkin queen, appears after Klock meets the Phantasmal Beast. Leads peace talks with Humans. Mother of Avery, Flavia. Calm, strategic ruler.
• Palze – A female character mentioned in relation to Succubi and beastkin, representing the complexities of non-human races.
• Primlena – Orange-haired merfolk priestess, fierce yet elegant | First v8c3 | Sister of Sea General Primjune, subordinate to Primrity | Once captured and violated by Klock, now obsessed with reclaiming honor | Commands Obsidian Riders on giant fish, fights with trident | Seeks to drag Klock to Seabed Temple for marriage trial or execution | Unique note: revenge-driven siren bride who masks fury under ritual grace
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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