Chapter 48 — Make Way for the Military Lord
"♬ Green Piggy~ Green Piggy~"
"♬ Stinky smelly Green Piggy~"
"♬ Just how stinky is your snot~"
Hugging a vial of pure nasal extract of Green Demon Boar, Frieren skipped out of the magic shop humming cheerfully, her expression one of complete bliss.
Behind her, Elias watched the elf's bouncing twin-tails and let out a long sigh.
Flamme's going to think she's cute no matter what she's holding… even if it's a bottle of pig snot.
"—So adorable!"
As expected, Flamme blurted it out the moment she looked at Frieren, her eyes practically sparkling. Her entire focus was on her beloved disciple—so much so that she failed to notice the sharp, piercing whistle behind them.
"—EVERYONE CLEAR THE ROAD!!"
Elias reacted instantly, pulling both of them to his side with a levitation spell.
A heartbeat later, cavalry thundered past, hooves pounding as they formed a barrier on both sides of the street.
Frieren hugged her bottle tight.
"W-Whoa… that was close."
"Who the heck needs to block off an entire road just to pass through?!"
Flamme snapped back to her senses and looked ahead. A long line of wagons rolled forward slowly.
"That's a merchant caravan from the North."
"What?"
Frieren stared, stunned.
"What kind of merchant caravan needs that kind of formation?!"
"Because it's not a normal caravan," Flamme said quietly. "To be precise… it belongs to the military."
"When we returned to the capital the other day, I heard the United Army took control of all caravans traveling between Oisester and Schtal."
"During wartime, the military steps in to ensure supply lines stay intact. That part isn't unusual."
"But what I don't understand… is why it took them eight years into the war to suddenly decide to take over."
Elias let out a cold little laugh.
"Hmph… what else could it be?"
"Besides unequal profit sharing, do you see another explanation?"
"By the way, did that old dwarf make a little extra on the side from all this?"
"—Elias!"
Flamme shot back indignantly.
"Setting war aside, Master has no interest in petty, greedy affairs like that!"
"And the Great Mage who holds the Holy Emblem and the military are separate powers. They cooperate only because of the war!"
"…True. For that old dwarf, it's not worth the effort."
Elias calculated silently. After all, Serie had already amassed a small fortune selling counterfeit Aivis magic tomes for years.
Someone who hit financial freedom long ago wouldn't stoop to fighting over military profits.
So the trio stood there quietly, watching the long train of heavily-laden wagons roll by.
Frieren's eyes suddenly widened.
"Wait— I know that person!"
She stood on tiptoe and waved excitedly.
"Captain Quinn!!"
Elias followed her gaze.
Quinn… the captain whose precious gemstone Tear of the Azure Sea had been stolen by the treasure fox.
He had been transporting goods from Oyserst to Strahl when they were hired. On the return trip, he honored the deal and paid them half the jewel's value in gold.
No wonder.
It looks like his caravan has been taken over by the United Army as well.
"Captain Quinn! It's been half a year! How have you been?!!"
Frieren waved both arms and shouted at the top of her lungs.
Quinn turned, looked at Frieren… then at Flamme and Elias.
And the next second—
his expression turned blank, as if he hadn't seen any of them at all.
He simply pivoted back around and continued marching with the formation.
"Uh…"
Frieren's ears drooped.
"Why didn't Captain Quinn answer me…"
"There, there~"
Flamme gently rubbed her disciple's head.
"He's on official duty. Don't distract him right now."
Elias continued staring at Quinn's towering back until it finally disappeared down the street.
That look Quinn gave them…
It wasn't the same as before.
Is it because he joined the military?
Or because of the cargo… the one protected by a barrier that blocks magic detection?
There was no denying it.
The military was being unusually cautious.
"What are you spacing out about, Elias?"
Flamme waved a hand in front of him. Elias blinked.
"Nothing…"
"Just thinking… as expected of the United Army. They spare no expense—not even for a simple delivery."
---
Meanwhile — South Outskirts of the Holy City
In an abandoned training ground choked with weeds—
A girl in battle armor drew her bow.
The arrow flew with a sharp whistle and struck dead center of the target.
"Whew…"
She lowered her weapon slightly.
"You can come out. It's just us here—no one else."
"—Fufufufufu…"
A priest stepped out of the grass, clutching a holy scripture, positioning himself behind her.
"What a coincidence. I was merely out for a walk, and look who I ran into—milady."
"A walk, huh…"
The girl's expression remained cold and unreadable.
Another arrow flew — again striking the exact center of the target.
"Even when Priest-sama takes a simple stroll, you carry your holy scripture… you must be truly devoted to the Goddess."
"Heh, the lady jests."
"For us priests, the Goddess's scripture is more precious than life itself. Naturally, it stays by our side at all times."
"But you, milady…"
A glint of white light flickered in the priest's eyes.
"Why come alone to a deserted place like this? Does the United Army's training grounds fail to please you?"
"Of course not."
The girl raised a third arrow, drawing her bow.
"The army's training grounds are the best there are. But with so many eyes and ears around… they're not suitable for a meeting between you and me."
— whoosh!
The third arrow shot out — this time missing completely and vanishing into the wild growth beyond.
"Oh dear… I seem to have slipped."
The priest's gaze darkened. His fingers tightened around the scripture.
"So… today's meeting was your trap from the beginning."
"Whose fault is it?"
The girl turned lightly, a serene smile blooming on her face — as calm as a starless night.
"You've been tailing me ever since the day I woke up, haven't you, Priest-sama?"
"So you noticed."
The priest inhaled deeply.
"As the Holy City's most skilled specialist in spiritual therapy, I refuse to believe someone simply collapses without cause…"
"Just as I refuse to believe someone simply awakens… without reason."
"Is that so…"
The girl tilted her head with an innocent expression.
"But I already told you — everything was thanks to your daily therapy, and the Goddess's divine blessing."
"Don't tell me… you don't believe in the Goddess anymore?"
Her question struck like a blade.
The priest lowered his eyes and slowly opened the scripture.
"At the very least… the Goddess—"
"—would never walk hand in hand with demons!"
"Goddess Magic — Triple Spears of Light!"
— SPLASH!
An arrow from nowhere pierced straight through the priest's throat.
Blood erupted, splattering across the scripture in his hands.
With the last of his strength, he looked up — only to see the girl smiling down at him, her pupils swirling with a bewitching violet glow.
"Bastard… even if I wished to guide you to Paradise, you would resist with everything you have, wouldn't you?"
"Since that's the case… close your eyes and go seek the mythical Heaven instead."
"How laughable… when my Paradise, so close one could touch it, feels far more real than your distant fantasy of Heaven."
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