Ch#178
"The Association President?"
Aleric, who had changed into comfortable clothes, asked back.
As soon as someone responded, Libia dashed over to Aleric.
"Yeah! She wants to share the tent with me!"
Aleric furrowed his brow.
The Association President's tent had been assigned for her alone.
This was due to the nature of the mercenary group and Holy Knights, where there were hardly any women.
"Didn't Leonardo, the Union Force commander, deliberately separate it? Considering she doesn't show her face."
"Exactly!"
Libia punched Aleric's arm—thwack, thwack.
"But just a bit ago, she came and said let's share. And then she took off her mask in front of me......!"
Tese tan froze once more.
Libia lowered her voice to a whisper.
"I seriously thought she wasn't human."
Victor let out a "Hoo" and perched on the cot.
"That much?"
"Yeah. Totally unbelievable!"
Libia dramatically raked her fingers through her hair.
"Her hair goes down to her waist, like liquid gold!"
"Liquid?"
"That's how much it shimmered! And that's not all? I thought she'd be a beauty just from her eyes, but how can she be that pretty? Even as a fellow woman, my heart was racing!"
Aleric let out a chuckle.
He looked at Libia and asked.
"So. You don't know why she wants to share a tent with you?"
"Huh? Uh, no."
"Go sleep."
Aleric shook his head with a smiling face and pushed Libia away.
Libia was pushed out helplessly and turned back desperately.
"Y-you're kicking me out like this? Already bedtime?"
"Reveille at dawn tomorrow. Don't be the only one late to the meeting complaining you're sleepy. Go sleep."
"Aleric, you......!"
Finally pushed outside the tent, Libia fumed.
"So picky! So damn picky!"
Soon, heavy footsteps faded away in annoyance.
As the surroundings quieted, Victor muttered.
"Maybe the Association President is a noble like the Leader—no, Vice Leader."
Aleric nodded as he got into his bed.
"High probability. Considering she goes to such lengths to hide her face."
"But why show her face to Libia? Her actions so far made it seem natural she'd use a tent alone."
Aleric closed his eyes slowly.
"Who knows. Must be some unavoidable reason."
Victor lay down and chimed in.
"Yeah. Maybe she's scared to sleep alone."
Silence settled in the tent.
A few minutes later, Tese tan finished maintaining his weapons and stood.
He glanced down at Aleric and Victor before stepping lightly outside the tent.
The central bonfire was lit, surrounded by tents in a circle, all visible at a glance.
Lifting his head, three layers of barriers domed the sky.
One from Leonardo, another from Aleric with an orb, and the last from Astie.
"Kieeeek—"
Just then, a massive shadow swiftly passed over the camp center.
A flying magical beast from the mana stone 50 die away, beyond the barrier.
Tese tan muttered while gazing at the rising moon.
"Their active time, huh."
Magical beasts were only active at night.
This was why the Union Force resumed investigations at early dawn.
No other way to scout the mana stone without clashing with beasts.
Feeling the wind pick up fiercely, he slowly began patrolling the base.
Circling the outer edge of the tents to check for any other threats.
But he soon stopped in place.
Tese tan's gaze fixed on a dark tent.
"Interesting."
Muttering, he swiftly threw the dagger in his hand.
Whoosh—the dagger sliced through the air and thunked into a small tree beside the tent.
Simultaneously, the darkness inside grew busy, then fell silent seconds later.
Tese tan walked slowly to the tent side.
His dagger had pinned an unfamiliar cloth scrap to the tree.
'She wants to share the tent with me!'
Libia's voice flashed through his mind.
Libia had said she didn't know why the Association President made that offer.
'......Looks like this is why.'
Tese tan narrowed his eyes quietly as he pulled the cloth from the dagger.
Soft, stretchy fabric made for special wear.
Exactly the same material as the assassin garb worn on missions.
Tese tan glanced silently at the adjacent tent.
Familiar noises—no, racket—came from beyond.
Libia grinding her teeth like the world was ending.
Tese tan thought quietly.
'Gotta tell them tomorrow.'
If an assassin had snuck into this tent, they were targeting the Association President.
Libia, no longer even an executive, had no reason to be assassinated.
And even if so, the one worrying about death wouldn't be her.
Hearing the grind-grind of teeth, Tese tan furrowed his brow.
'Don't dismantle. Bring alive.'
He turned and headed to his tent.
The next day.
Tese tan took a seat in the meeting tent and secretly lifted the corner of his mouth.
"Gooood morning! Libia auntie gooood morning! Uncle Leonardo gooood moooorning!"
The Necromancer King, seated at the head with a fresh face from good sleep, waved to everyone.
And beside her,
"Sorry. I grind my teeth a bit. Better than snoring, right?!"
Was the Association President, weakly smiling at Libia's voice with sunken eyes.
Her under-eyes were noticeably hollow.
"Now, everyone take seats."
At Nordics' urging, the gathered people sat one by one.
Leonardo, the Union Force commander, also sat.
As he reviewed the meeting materials, Aleric whispered from beside.
"See. The Necromancer King—no, our Leader is quite unique."
Tese tan stared silently at Aleric.
"It's been weeks since the merger, and she still hasn't shown her true self. Well, she seems to enjoy it......"
Aleric's gaze fell on Astie, now perched on Basto's lap, doodling in the corner of the meeting materials.
Tese tan let out a short internal sigh.
'Gotta tell them soon.'
He thought he should reveal Astie's identity, which he'd learned recently, to Victor, Libia, and Aleric too.
* * *
The meeting ended before the sun rose.
It hadn't taken long, and it started so early.
As Leonardo withdrew his holy power, a massive hole opened in the barrier center.
Toward the Clock Tower entwined with the mana stone.
Leonardo looked seriously at the Holy Knights.
"Can't use regular teleportation circles near the mana stone. So we'll go on foot and return to base by sunset at latest."
"Yes!"
Meanwhile, Agavert was busy preparing nearby.
"You sure you don't need to go? Not even taking Raoul and Enzo."
Basto nodded at Veil's uncertain voice.
"It's just preliminary scouting. Plant-type mana stone, so checking its spread range."
"Still. The Association President is going, and me not......"
"Save your stamina. Takes long to move, no need for many people."
Veil nodded reluctantly.
Tie, held in Basto's arms, waved to Veil.
"Veil bro! Tie come back evening!"
"......Got it, so be careful, kid. Stick to Basto always."
"Yeah! Tie going see if bone friends at Clock Tower!"
Veil now stared at Ardiana beside Libia.
"But why're you going? You look like you barely slept."
Ardiana met Veil's eyes with hollow gaze.
"I'm part of the Union Force too, so it's natural. Leave the base to you."
The Holy Knights ahead began departing first.
Needing horses, members rode two per mount.
Basto and Tie together.
Aleric and Libia together.
Victor, laden with gear for emergencies, mounted one by one,
"Not riding?"
At Tese tan's voice, Ardiana startled and looked up.
She pressed her lips tight, then hesitantly mounted the saddle with an uncomfortable expression.
