The work of collecting equipment from the defeated enemies had settled down.
We of the Barbar Mercenary Party had retrieved not only weapons, armor, clothing, and coins from the enemy, but also captured three horses from their cavalry.
「These horses look tasty…」
「Hey! Horses aren’t food! Riding horses are expensive! Don’t eat them! Seriously, don’t eat them!」
Rosso, the chieftain of the Great Lizard Tribe, and Uncle Athos were bantering like a duo of Japanese comedians.
My strength had gradually returned, and my mind had calmed down too.
That’s when I noticed the blood on my body and couldn’t stand the smell anymore.
「Uncle Athos. I’d like to wash off this blood. Is there a water source nearby?」
「There’s a stream past that grove. Gaia, you should take a break. I’ll handle the negotiations with the Vaffancrow Empire.」
「I’ll leave it to you.」
I decided to take advantage of Uncle Athos’ reliability this time.
I’d been run through the gut in that last fight, I was bleeding badly.
I’d taken down the enemy commander. So no one can complain if I rest for a bit.
I passed through the grove and found the stream.
Someone was already there.
An Elven girl mage.
Though called a 「mage」 she looked like a girl, probably still in her early teens. If I remembered right… she was Elranief’s niece.
Her name… was Jessica.
She was completely naked, standing knees deep in the stream.
Her golden short-cut hair fluttered in the breeze, and her sunlit fair skin seemed to glow.
(Look at her like this, she looks like a slender beautiful girl …)
The unexpected sight left my mind blank, I stood there, staring.
Jessica, the Elven beauty, noticed me.
「Who is there!?」
「Sorry! I’m Gaia, from the Blumund Tribe!」
「Ah… Sooo~? Did you come to peek?」
「N-no! I came to wash the blood off!」
「Then get in already. This is a battlefield, move fast.」
I snapped back without thinking.
She was only thirteen.
I had been reborn as the thirteen-year-old Gaia, but originally I was a man in his forties.
There was no reason for a grown man to get flustered over a girl young enough to be his daughter.
I stripped and waded into the stream completely naked.
「Seriously… You just walk in from the front?」
「Huh?」
「Turn your back when you come in! We’re in full view of each other here!」
She had completely taken the lead in the conversation.
A wave of exhaustion hit me all at once.
I decided to focus on washing up.
Begone, impure thoughts.
By the midpoint of the stream, the water was deep enough to sit in.
As I slowly lowered myself, the surface reached my shoulders.
This was the south, by June, it was already hot.
The stream’s water felt just right, cooling my body still flushed from battle.
「Hey, Jessica. Is it okay for you to bathe alone?」
「What? You planning to jump me?」
「N-no! It’s just… a battlefield’s dangerous. I’m worried about a girl being alone.」
「Ooh? You’re worried about me? Hmm~ ♪」
What the hell…
Ah, I see.
Jessica was at the age where this kind of teasing was fun.
I didn’t mind that. But I wish she wouldn’t drag me into it.
「I’m being serious, you know…」
「Gaia, you’re such a worrywart! I’m fine! I saved one spell just in case. If anyone tries anything, I’ll fry them to a crisp or slice them to bits!」
So that’s it.
She had held back a spell during the earlier magic assault.
It was wise, not to expend everything on the battlefield.
She’s quite clever.
A quiet moment passed.
Behind me, I heard the soft splashing of water.
The sound of Jessica washing herself.
Just hearing that stirred my imagination.
Begone, impure thoughts…
Red alert…
Begone, impure thoughts…
Red alert…
As I closed my eyes and tried to chase away the wicked thoughts, Jessica suddenly spoke in a serious tone.
「Hey, Gaia…」
「Hmm?」
「Are we just going to accept the Empire’s rule like this?」
I looked around.
We were speaking in Elven, so we should be fine, but I was still concerned about the Empire’s eyes.
「It’s okay. There’s no one around. Elves have good ears, you know.」
「I guess so… you’ve got long ears, after all.」
「Yeah. So, what is it? Are we just going to grovel under the Empire forever?」
「…」
I didn’t answer.
Because that wasn’t something I could say lightly.
「Gaia… my mom and dad died in the war against the Empire.」
「Mine too.」
「I… hate this! Fighting for the Empire like this! Being their pawn, it makes me sick!」
Jessica’s voice trembled.
The water splashed as she moved suddenly, and something soft pressed against my back.
Jessica’s chest.
She wrapped her arms around me from behind, hugging me tight.
My neck grew damp…
From her tears.
I placed my hand over hers.
And told her how I truly felt.
「Jessica… I’ll never forgive the Empire. I will destroy them. I’ll avenge my father, my mother, and my comrades.」
「Really?」
「Yeah, really. I’ll take revenge for your mom and dad too.」
I answered Jessica plainly.
My voice was so cold, it scared even me.
That coldness must’ve convinced her.
Her arms around me tightened.
「I’m glad…」
「Not yet. We don’t have enough power. For now, we build strength. And for that, we’ll use the Empire, or anyone else, if we have to… Then after that…」
「We’ll destroy the Empire…」
「That’s right.」
「Gaia, promise me! Promise me you’ll destroy the Empire! If you swear it, I’ll let you do whatever you want with me!」
So intense… and still just a girl.
I could feel the heat rising from Jessica’s body against my back.
The water around us warmed from my body heat, forming a gentle layer around us both.
The warmth from her chest pressed against me matched the quickening beat of her heart.
「Jessica. I promise. I will destroy the Empire.」
And then, I turned around, and held her close.