Volume 6 Chapter 36 I Came In A Lively Mood, But...
Two days remained until Yukina and Rouza's 'duel', and Mikage was sitting alone on a park bench. She knew it was bad to be alone, but she couldn't help hesitating to face Yukina and the others right now.
"...What am I doing, anyway?"
As she sat on the bench, surrounded by the royal capital's residents, she couldn't help but laugh at herself. She thought she could vent her frustration by swinging her sword, but even after 2 or 3 days, her anger wouldn't subside. Now, she couldn't even muster the energy to hold a sword, and all she could do was sit in the corner of the park, feeling dejected.
"This is the worst mood I've been in since the engagement talk..."
The situation was different, and so was her state of mind. However, the turmoil in her heart was similar.
She had polished her sword skills with her brother, thinking that one day she'd become Rouza's protector and eventually the Shogun. But then, the engagement talk suddenly came up, and she was told that her swordsmanship was a hindrance. It felt like everything she had worked for was being denied.
If she couldn't support the Shogun, then what was the point of all the training she had accumulated? As her heart grew more turbulent, she heard a rumor about a 'Brave' who appeared in a foreign land. She thought that she had to offer her refined swordsmanship to someone, and before she knew it, she had packed her bags and left the country.
For Mikage, everything about Sanmoto was already in the past.
And yet, here she was, being pursued once again.
"I heard more than I wanted, but your face looks more pathetic than I thought, Silver Flash."
Mikage, who was about to get caught up in an endless spiral of thoughts, was brought back to reality by a familiar voice. It was a voice that, if you didn't know the person, would sound like a man's, but if you knew them, you'd realize it was a woman's (that voice――it was enough to make Mikage's eyes light up. As Mikage raised her face,
"Hey, from now on, we're going to stand shoulder to shoulder. Should I call you Mikage?"
"Reed!? When did you get back to the royal capital?!"
"Just a little while ago."
It was Reed the Trampling, a 2nd rank mercenary who had parted ways at Eubarest. There was a promise to meet up in the royal capital after completing a job, but Mikage had completely forgotten about it.
"...Damn, the pain-in-the-butt pig transport job finally ended, and I was all excited to see my beloved Yukina (darling) in the royal capital, but I heard that the clinic I was supposed to visit got destroyed. What a shock!"
Reed, who had just delivered the corrupt merchant Narinki to the neighboring country's government agency, had arrived in the royal capital of Arcus with high spirits. But when they visited the Kyunei clinic, which they had been told about beforehand, they found it in a state of half-destroyed disrepair. Although the repairs had already begun, the workers didn't know the details, but Reed was able to find out that the job had come from the Mercenary Guild.
"I went to the guild, and Karan-san told me about the situation, and I didn't even have time to catch my breath, you know?"
Reed was, after all, a top-notch 2nd rank mercenary. If a renowned mercenary like her, who had made a name for herself in other countries, came to visit, it was only natural that the higher-ups would take notice. And, of course, Yukina had also told him about the incident with Eubarest.
"I asked the old man (Karan) for directions, and before coming here, I even stopped by the inn where Yukina and the others were staying. I already knew what was going on from Princess Aina. Oh, I forgot, you're the princess now, right?"
Reed, who was grinning mischievously, seemed to be aware of the battle that was wagered, but Mikage averted her gaze, her eyes clouding over with unease.
"If you're here to tease me, then please leave. Unfortunately, I don't have the leisure to deal with you right now."
"Don't be like that. I was asked by Yukina, after all."
"Yukina-sama, you say? ――Ah, of course, naturally."
Every night, she returns to the inn, but aside from that, she spends most of her time alone. Although she's aware that she's being targeted, she knows it's not good, but she just can't bring herself to face Yukina and the others.
Mikage thought of herself as a sword and shield to protect her friends, but now, she felt like she was the one putting them in danger. Even if it was indirect, the guilt was gnawing at her.
At the same time, she knew Yukina wouldn't just ignore her. If she deliberately didn't reach out, it would only make things harder for Mikage.
"You know this very well. I didn't tell Yukina-sama and the others about my whereabouts, either."
"In this country, beastmen are rare, and on top of that, you're a beautiful woman with unique clothing. It's easy to find out if I ask around a bit."
Reed chuckled and sat down beside her without hesitation. Mikage silently accepted it.
"I'm the 'newbie' among you guys, so I can ask whatever I want without reserve. Besides, I've got a bit of a feeling that I want to comfort my fellow comrades who are about to stand alongside me."
"Seriously, are you being reckless or not..."
"I'm leading a mercenary group, you know. I've got to take care of my team's mental state, and that's a tough job."
The people in Reed's mercenary group were a bunch of misfits, even among other mercenaries. While they all respected their leader, conflicts among team members did occur. As the leader, Reed had to take care of their mental well-being too.
"Usually, I just get punched and that's the end of it, but..."
"Could you just acknowledge my feelings a bit?"
"Oh, did you just get your spirits back up a notch?"
"...Yeah, reluctantly."
Mikage had her arms crossed, looking sullen, but her voice had a bit more energy than before. It was annoying, but talking with Reed was definitely the trigger.
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