Volume 8 Chapter 46 The Hero’s Camp꞉ Midday Whispers and Hidden Faces
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Klock, it’s already noon.”
Something shook him gently, and Klock opened his eyes. He had already woken earlier, but sleepiness had kept his eyelids shut until the voice urged him up.
”Suzette wants you back.”
”Huh? Suzette came here?”
Klock’s voice sounded groggy. The inn’s bed wasn’t comfortable, but when you’re sleepy, even a hard mattress is enough.
Sunlight poured through the fully opened curtains, glaring across his feet so brightly that he didn’t want to open his eyes. No—he refused to.
”No. Telepathy.”
”Oh, that makes sense.” He barely grasped it. Suzette and Cianie could talk with each other mind-to-mind. Last night, instead of returning to the barracks, he had stayed at the inn. Normally, the overprotective maids would have come searching, but thanks to Cianie passing the word along, there hadn’t been an issue.
”Good morning.”
Cianie leaned over him and gave him a soft kiss as soon as he opened his eyes.
”…Good night.”
”Nope.” She pecked him again and again, keeping him from falling back asleep.
Klock slid a hand under her and grabbed her chest firmly.
From the texture, he realized she was already dressed in something like a cardigan. He squeezed and kneaded, enjoying the softness through the fabric instead of meeting resistance.
”Too late. I already changed, so nothing naughty.”
”Ah, lost interest. Good night.”
”Nope.” She yanked the blanket off him. A chill swept over his body. As he shifted, Cianie slipped between his legs and tugged down his cotton trousers.
He hardened instantly, bouncing in the open air. Her breath brushed against him, teasing his nerves.
”See? Awake now. …Mmph.”
”Ohhh, Cianie, you’re way too good…”
”Mmm… If you don’t get up, I’ll stop here.”
The blissful sensation made him forget sleep. In his drowsy haze, he savored the moment of being spoiled by his devoted partner.
* * *
”Welcome back. You were late.”
”Oh, morning.”
A maid stood firmly at the barracks entrance.
When they exchanged greetings, she raised an eyebrow. Her tone hinted at irritation—after all, it was well past noon.
”You said you’d return soon, but quite some time has passed.”
”Sorry, Suzette,” Cianie said softly. She glanced at Klock, then muttered under her breath, “Three times… that’s why.”
Suzette caught enough to guess and shot Klock a sharp look. “Well, I suppose it’s good you two get along.”
”For now, let’s move. Something came up after we parted yesterday.”
”Oh? A problem?”
Without another word, Suzette turned into the barracks.
Klock and Cianie traded wary glances. The sudden formality in her voice put them on edge.
* * *
”Boss, morning!”
”Yeah.”
The moment he entered, a young girl greeted him. Klock recognized her but had never spoken with her before.
She was probably from Polet Village. As he replied, he felt several eyes snap toward him all at once. It was like becoming popular overnight.
So this is what Heroes deal with all the time, he thought. Maybe after a while, the attention just gets annoying.
”Captain, where were you yesterday? We thought you were gone and nearly started searching.”
”Sorry. I was doing some rounds. Don’t ask about results.”
This time, it was one of the guards.
They seemed genuinely worried about missing him for just a day. Still, when one of them chuckled, “We thought you’d run away,” Klock understood what they meant.
If they believed their captain might desert first, that stung. And with the Hero around, running wasn’t even an option.
But people always measure others by their own standards. If that thought crossed their minds, it meant some of them already carried it.
Not all soldiers were brave. Everyone knew this was their chance to flee.
Maybe letting them relax too much was a mistake.
The longer peace lasted, the more they’d miss it—and the more fear would take root. He could already imagine fewer men showing up next time.
* * *
”Good morning.”
”…Good morning, Sir Klock. Hero.”
”…Can you still say that at noon?”
Waiting at the edge of the barracks were Primlena and Flavia.
They wore aproned dresses—maid outfits. The lace looked far too fine for common wear, likely chosen out of respect for their royal status.
”…Are those ears an illusion?”
”An illusion spell. Flavia cast it,” Primlena answered, embarrassed. Even though she was more covered up than usual, she still seemed self-conscious.
”We wanted to show our loyalty, so we took this measure. Normally, we’ll travel in regular clothing. Please forgive the appearance,” Flavia added calmly.
Their attitudes revealed the difference in pride between the two princesses. Both now had human-like ears.
Flavia blended naturally, while Primlena, lacking her familiar fin-like ears, felt strange to look at. At a glance, though, either could pass as human.
”I don’t want to walk around with you two.”
”…?”
Klock could already imagine the stares on their backs.
Even with human ears, their exotic aura hadn’t changed. Once-hidden features now drew dangerous attention—their faces too flawless, too refined, almost inhuman.
As expected of royal daughters.
Just seeing their faces clearly was enough to make Klock uneasy about taking them out in public. People had fought wars over women like them.
”Sorry you went to the trouble of changing, but don’t show your faces in front of others.”
”Understood.”
”If that’s what you want.”
A merfolk beauty. A forest maiden.
The Hero herself. Too many women needed hiding. And with Klock hiding from the Demon Lord’s Army himself, their group was nothing but trouble magnets.
”While you two were away yesterday, a servant from one of the noble houses approached us.”
”What?”
So that was the reason they called us.
A servant from some noble house had approached them. It didn’t sound promising.
”They asked whose servant I was, and I told them I served House of Livorno.”
”Well, that’s not wrong.”
Of course, they’d mistake it for a noble family, but there was no helping it. Suzette had only told the truth.
”When they said they’d never heard of such a house, I explained that we came from Sir Klock’s homeland, the kingdom. I also told them we had only just arrived here as refugees.”
So they must have assumed she’d fled the kingdom. It wasn’t a lie, but once they learned the truth, they’d no doubt feel deceived.
”I see. And then?”
”Yes. They invited us to their social gathering.”
”…Wait. What?”
Klock frowned so hard a crease dug into his forehead. Suzette looked equally uneasy.
”That doesn’t make sense. How’d the conversation end up there?”
”They said it was only natural to welcome guests from so far away. But their tone carried obvious hidden meaning.”
What a flimsy excuse. A social gathering…
basically a noble party. But would anyone really invite some unknown nobles from another land so easily? Especially when the whole discussion was carried out between servants?
”You sure this wasn’t a fake? Some bandit dressed as a maid?”
”They said they served the Borges family.”
The Borges family…
Klock didn’t recognize the name. The Federation was still taking root, and not knowing its officials might already be a bad sign.
”Do you know what sort of person we’re dealing with?”
”The head, Baron Kreis Borges, is said to be the district chief of Valture.”
A baron and a district chief. That sounded like lower nobility.
Still, noble ranks were supposed to have lost meaning after the Federation formed. Hard to know how seriously to take it. Yet if he was a district chief here in Conro, he must hold some real authority.
”May I ask something?”
”Hm?”
It was Primlena who spoke up.
”When we met that servant, Flavia and I were with Suzette. That maid seemed very interested in us.”
”I felt it as well,” Flavia added. “She cast her eyes our way more than once. I wondered if she’d seen through my illusion, but that didn’t seem the case.”
Taken together, their words suggested the maid’s real interest might have been them.
”So what, you two are the targets here?”
Even with human ears, forestfolk and merfolk beauty must have stood out.
For now, that seemed like the only explanation. Maybe all the Livorno servants were too striking.
”I have no desire to step into another human household. If they truly demand merfolk, I’ll send word to my homeland to dispatch a woman. Still, I’d rather not sell my people.”
”No, no, forget it. If they’re going to make that kind of troublesome demand, we’ll just avoid them.”
Primlena might be a woman herself, but she thought like a power broker.
Quick to cut problems off at the root. Admirable in a way, though Klock had no intention of treating people like property.
”What shall we do?”
”For now, we’ll attend this so-called social gathering.”
If the invitation came on the spot, the servant must belong to the host family. That meant Baron Kreis himself. Probably not a huge event then.
Still, in the current power balance, titles alone no longer decided status. Plenty of nobles had lost lands in the war. If they’d lost wealth as well, even their rank might be stripped.
Turning down the invitation could cause problems later.
”Our goal is also to make contact with powerful nobles. Hopefully this one will be useful,” Suzette said.
So, a noble with real influence.
This could be their chance to move forward. A gathering meant contact with many houses at once.
”The only worrying part is why they invited us.”
Not a banquet, but a social event. Of course, many guests would be expected. But a servant handing out invitations on her own judgment?
Strange. It almost sounded like a whim. If so, that only made it more unsettling.
”In any case, we can’t take Flavia and the others.”
On the surface, royals seemed perfect for such an event. But they weren’t human, and the cultural gap meant it wouldn’t suit them.
”Suzette and I will go.”
”Understood.”
Her role as the household face made Suzette indispensable.
The others—Primlena, Flavia, Meina—were all of different races. Only Suzette knew how to handle noble etiquette in human society.
”…Klock. What about me?” Cianie asked.
”Sorry, but you’ll have to stay nearby. I can’t take you somewhere that visible. At a social gathering, showing up could cause major fallout later.”
Her problem was obvious: she was the Hero. Just attending would cause a stir.
”Would Lady Cianie’s presence truly be a problem?”
”Social gatherings are all about displaying authority. By noble tradition, even in a greeting, status gets ranked. Heroes are adventurers, nothing more. In their eyes, that puts you below them. But if you curtsey to some noble, it won’t just be taken as adventurers paying respects. Someone might spin it as the chosen Hero bowing to a mere baron. That kind of rumor could spread like wildfire.”
The Hero’s position was vague. On one hand, an adventurer—no better than a common sellsword.
On the other, her power and divine mission placed her above royalty. One bow could be twisted into a weapon. A single gesture could ripple across nations.
”Some nobles must already know the Brave Knight’s identity. If you showed up and got recognized, it’d turn into a huge mess. You’ll wait close by.”
”Got it.”
For the sake of Brigante’s banner, the Hero couldn’t appear in public. She’d stay hidden, prepared to act only if needed.
* * *
Golden lamps hung from the ceiling, lighting the wide hall. Gilded porcelain walls enclosed the space where women in white dresses clung to their gentlemen, chatting and laughing.
”What is that?” Suzette’s voice stayed low as she peered into the town estate’s grand hall.
Klock followed her gaze.
A fat man sat surrounded by wealth.
A jeweled beauty leaned at his side. Gold rings wrapped every finger, chains coiled around his neck and arms, and even his spotless black shoes gleamed with money.
”So this is what it feels like to say, ‘disgusting.’ A social gathering isn’t all refined ladies and gentlemen after all,” Suzette said softly, though her distaste was plain.
Maybe his looks added to her judgment. She could be surprisingly strict, even with strangers.
”What’s that look for?” she asked.
”I’m thinking he might be worth it.”
Her brow furrowed. She glanced around to make sure no one overheard.
”If we join someone’s faction, better it be a man that bold.”
”Are you serious? He screams sleazy nouveau riche. You really want to serve a man like that?”
”Look around,” she pressed. Others frowned, turned their eyes away, or shrugged as they passed. Clearly, the man was avoided by everyone else.
”No point copying the blind,” Klock muttered.
”That’s my line.”
”That guy’s just blunt. Anyone who doesn’t matter, he ignores. Anyone who does, he smothers with proof of wealth.”
She glared at him instead of the man. If he could make her look this sour, there was no chance of forming an alliance anyway.
Nobles used parties as politics.
A gaudy wife and flashy clothes were messages: this is wealth, this is power. For anyone needing support, his fortune alone was tempting.
”With his backing, running troops would be easy,” Klock said.
”You’re hopeless. Someone like that man over there seems better.”
She pointed. A young gentleman stood tall, smiling as he spoke with a lady in a gown.
”Look at him. Straight posture, protective stance, watching the room carefully. He seems thoughtful, sincere, someone who would value effort and reward it.”
”Eh. Feels plain.”
Suzette’s glare narrowed into half-lidded scorn.
”This is a social stage. Nobles use it to flaunt ability and future potential. Manners alone don’t tell you much.”
The tilt of a wineglass could reveal upbringing, education, fortune. The contents of a casual chat displayed knowledge, wit, and political direction.
The ones who rise are those who grasp what others want.
A beautiful wife dripping gold said wealth and opportunity, whispered profit in every glance. That mattered more than likability.
”Then what’s wrong with him?” Suzette asked.
”You called him cautious and thoughtful. If that’s true, it means he’s scared of being challenged—a man with no guts.”
”That’s extreme. And if he is? What of it?”
”Anyone here is supposed to prove themselves. If he shows weakness, he’s finished. Big players know what makes them big. They recognize their own kind instantly. The rest, they dismiss. Guys like him—people see through them in a heartbeat. Just small men pretending. They’ll never treat us as equals.”
A man like that would never support Klock’s ragtag band.
”…I see,” Suzette said at last, tone flat. She added a dry, “Though calling us outlaws might be a bit much,” and left it at that.
It had only been idle talk anyway. With nothing left to say, they waited quietly in the corridor.
They weren’t allowed to enter, nor were they called.
By old noble custom, lower status waited for the higher to enter first. Perhaps the Federation had abandoned such traditions, but with no certainty, they played it safe.
Suzette wasn’t well-versed either. She had served the Viscount of Fennec, but as maid to his sickly daughter, she had never once attended a gathering in full dress.
”Ah, there you are. A pleasure to meet you.”
Klock, half-bored, jolted upright at the voice behind him.
”Here in the corridor? Were you waiting for me?” The tone was bright, almost cheerful. Klock turned, expecting a fresh-faced youth. Instead, his impression darkened immediately.
”Kreis. Kreis Borges. You must be with House of Livorno.”
”…Yes, that’s right.”
The man looked sly. That was Klock’s first impression.
Middle-aged perhaps, with eyes sharp enough to put him on edge. A hawk sizing up prey.
”I am—” Klock began.
”Klock.”
”…What?”
”Klock Livorno. A name I haven’t heard in years. I never thought I’d meet Maria’s son.”
The smile might have been meant as friendly, but to Klock it looked more like a predator licking its lips.
Shit. This might be the kind of situation you need an escape plan for.
It could already be too late. He wanted to glance at Suzette, but under Kreis’s piercing gaze, he didn’t dare look away.
Notes:
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
• Cianie – A noble girl with a fluffy white and light blue dress, indicating her high status. She has a hesitant and flustered personality but is kind and courteous. Her relationship with Klock begins as an accidental encounter and develops into a romantic interest. She has a fiancé but expresses feelings for Klock, complicating their relationship.
• 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.
• 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
• 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.
• Valture – A district within the Conro Federation, administered by Baron Kreis Borges. Outwardly it appears stable and prosperous, but its politics run on favors and hidden bargains, making it a place where strangers like Klock can be measured as assets or prey the moment they arrive.
• 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.
• Clea – younger dog beastkin sister who also serviced Klock previously.
• Maria – Klock’s mother, once known in noble circles but long absent from the stage. Kreis Borges recognizes Klock as her son the instant they meet, hinting at a past connection that Klock himself doesn’t fully grasp, and turning her name into both a bond and a weapon in that moment.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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