"Screams echoed through the air."

 

"Huh!?"

 

As Kazuya and his companions entered the castle at the heart of the fortified city to meet Duke Lotrec, the interior was abuzz with soldiers and residents celebrating, having heard of their victory over the Imperial forces.

 

"We heard about it! You lot defeated the Imperial army, didn't you? Thank you! Truly, thank you!"

 

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Hey, let us through!"

 

"Where are you all from?"

 

"Hey, lads! I'll buy you drinks later!"

 

"No, I said let us through!"

 

"Hey, hey, what's this?"

 

"What?! Missy, don't touch that! It's a grenade!"

 

With news of the Imperial defeat spreading rapidly within the castle, Kazuya and his companions found themselves surrounded by grateful soldiers and residents seeking refuge, making it difficult to proceed further.

 

"Ah, what a hassle... Is Chitose alright?"

 

"Yes, somehow."

 

Having managed to push through the crowd of residents, Kazuya and his companions finally reached their intended destination, guided by the fortress city's soldiers.

 

"Chitose, wait here with the others."

 

"Understood."

 

"Excuse me."

 

Leaving the soldiers of the First Platoon outside the room, Kazuya knocked on the door and entered with Chitose.

 

Inside the room, two exhausted women with dark circles under their eyes awaited.

 

One exuded an overwhelming presence, with a slender and modestly endowed figure.

 

The other, a tall beauty with long, flowing blue hair tied in a ponytail.

 

Karen Lotrec, the Duchess with golden hair styled in vertical rolls, glanced at Kazuya as he entered and spoke slowly.

 

"...I don't know who you are, but we owe you our thanks. Thanks to you, we were able to temporarily drive back the Imperial army. I'm grateful."

 

Karen had met Kazuya once before, but his appearance had changed since then. Kazuya wore a helmet and sunglasses, concealing his face. Assuming he was the leader of a mercenary unit that had repelled the Imperial forces, Karen addressed him in her fatigued state.

 

"Oh, I... I'm just here to repay a personal debt. Well, there are other reasons, but... Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Kazuya Nagato, the leader of Parabellum."

 

As Kazuya removed his sunglasses and helmet, Karen's eyes widened in astonishment.

 

"You...!?"

 

"...Karen-sama? Do you know each other?"

 

Maria Broad, a mage and one of Karen's subordinates, asked Karen, who was visibly surprised.

 

"Uh, yes. A little."

 

Maria sensed Karen's awkward response but refrained from further questioning. For context, Kazuya and Karen had crossed paths on the second day of Kazuya's stay in the fortress city of Nacisto. After saving Iris and her group from a swarm of bugs on the highway, Kazuya had stayed in Nacisto for two days. During this time, Karen, disguised, had been inspecting the city incognito. Separated from her unit, she wandered the city alone while Kazuya was exploring. They collided, and in the ensuing chaos, Kazuya accidentally kissed Karen after they fell to the ground.

 

That mishap had led to their acquaintance.

 

...

 

Karen glared at him intensely, as if wanting to say something. However, realizing that speaking her mind might reveal what had happened between them to Maria, Karen refrained from doing so. Clearing her throat, she addressed Kazuya and his companions in a somewhat formal tone.

 

"Ahem! Anyway, thanks to you, we're safe. Tonight, we'll hold a victory celebration to boost the soldiers' morale. I hope you'll join us. We can talk afterwards."

 

"Understood. But before that, one thing. We'd like permission to move freely within the fortified city."

 

"Well... I suppose that's fine. I'll arrange for you to have access to areas other than the restricted ones. Will that suffice?"

"Ah."

"Then until tonight."

With these words, Karen urged Kazuya and the others to depart.

"Until tonight."

Leaving the room with Chitose, Kazuya left behind a smile.

Having left the room where Karen was, Kazuya received reports from each squad and the current situation from Chitose in the tent that had become a temporary command post.

"Well then, let's hear the reports."

"Yes. At present, each squad is continuing their missions without any issues. Casualties for each squad include two lightly injured in the 2nd squad, one heavily injured and three lightly injured in the 3rd squad, and one deceased, two heavily injured, and four lightly injured in the 4th squad."

The casualties in the 4th squad are substantial as expected.

"How about the enemy forces?"

"They are still besieging the fortified city, but there is no sign of movement, possibly due to significant losses. The enemy headquarters remains the same. It is estimated that they may not move for at least two days due to reorganization of their forces."

"I see... Understood. Inform each squad to take turns resting and gather the wounded here. I will heal their injuries with my complete healing ability."

"Understood... Also, about milord?"

"Hmm? What is it, Chitose?"

Chitose, having finished listening to the orders, smiled and asked Kazuya.

"Could you kindly explain later what milord referred to as 'a personal debt' that Duke Roetreck mentioned to me earlier?"

With a sinister aura surrounding her, Chitose stated it to Kazuya as if it were a decided matter.

"Well... Even if it's called a debt, it's something trivial. Besides, it's not a debt that Chitose needs to worry about..."

Despite Kazuya's attempt to cover up the fact that he had accidentally kissed Karen, fearing Chitose might find out, he was interrupted.

"...Is milord going to the battlefield for something trivial?"

"N-no, it's just..."

"Then, I'll listen to the story later, alright?"

"...Fine."

Unable to deceive Chitose, Kazuya finally nodded silently.

Nightfall.

In celebration of temporarily defeating the Imperial Army, a modest feast was held, with the citizens being treated to some alcohol and meat. Observing the boisterous soldiers and citizens of the fortified city celebrating with drinks in hand from a distance, Kazuya leaned against the wall, his legs trembling (due to the 'adult' scolding from Chitose after she learned what happened between him and Karen).

Chitose, who would usually be by his side, was absent because of some errand she had to attend to, having left Kazuya's side just moments ago.

"... "

Replacing Chitose who had left, Karen silently approached Kazuya.

"Do you have any business, Your Grace?"

Kazuya intentionally used formal language as he addressed Karen, who shot a sharp gaze at him.

"You don't need to speak in such a manner now. Speak as you did before."

"Is that so? Then, I shall do so."

After Kazuya's response, silence fell between the two for a while, but Karen, unable to bear the silence any longer, murmured casually.

"...To think that the man I thought was just a commoner who accidentally pinned me down and stole a kiss in the middle of the street would be the one to save us... Life is so unpredictable."

"Hey hey, that was an accident."

"...You, after stealing the lips of a duke, especially a maiden's first kiss, do you intend to brush it off as an accident? I can't begin to count how many times I've thought about cutting off your head for that."

"I'm apologizing, aren't I? And that's why I came here, to help you. A debt? Or rather, to make amends."

"W-wait a moment!! Is that really the reason you came here!?"

After hearing Kazuya's words and freezing in disbelief, Karen, who started moving again, looked at Kazuya with an incredulous expression.

"Is that really the reason... Well, that alone isn't the reason, but the main reason I came here was to help you, Karen."

"What!?"

Upon hearing Kazuya's words, Karen's face flushed crimson as if boiling, and she turned her back to Kazuya, lowering her gaze.

"W-What's this about?! W-What is this man up to!? Is he... trying to woo me!?"

In Karen's mind, a circuit of thoughts resembling that of a maiden dreaming of a prince on a white horse was at work—Kazuya had come to my aid on the battlefield, seeking retribution for stealing my lips.

In other words, he was willing to march onto a battlefield where he might perish just to ensure I didn't meet my end.

= He wants me!!

She pondered like a maiden yearning for a fairytale prince.

"E-Even if you suddenly say such things, I, I also need time to prepare myself... I-I mean, it's not that I object. But, there's a difference in status between us... Y-Yet, if you truly insist, th-then I suppose... I could accompany you?"

Muttering nervously, Karen summoned her courage in a barely audible voice, her face still as red as an apple, before turning abruptly to gaze up at Kazuya.

"Besides, Beretta asked me too."

However, Karen's words were spoken in such a soft voice that Kazuya couldn't hear her.

"...Who's that woman?"

"Eh?"

With female intuition, Karen was convinced that the "Beretta" mentioned by Kazuya was a woman. In an instant, her face transformed from that of a smitten maiden to a serious expression, as a mixture of irritation and jealousy coloured her voice when she questioned Kazuya.

"Umm... Beretta? She's a woman who serves as the vice-commander of the Second Royal Guard... Apparently, her sister is here in this fortress city, and she asked for our help. By the way!! Have you ever heard the name Colt Zara?"

"...I see. So, you weren't trying to woo me."

"...Eh? ...Is something the matter, Karen... san?"

When Kazuya honestly answered Karen's question, she looked down and began to tremble slightly.

Seeing Karen's reaction, Kazuya had a bad feeling creeping into his mind.

—Rumble!!

At that moment, Kazuya envisioned raging flames behind Karen.

"Don't you dare utter misleading words that raise expectations!! You, you dullard!! Oblivious fool!!"

—Thud!!

"Guh!?"

Karen's calculated right straight connected perfectly with Kazuya's solar plexus.

Caught off guard by Karen's sudden assault, Kazuya could do nothing but react, crouching on the ground, clutching his solar plexus with his hands.

"Hmph!!"

Karen walked away from Kazuya, her shoulders trembling with heavy breaths.

"W-What did I do..."

—Clatter.

Later, when Chitose returned from her errands, all she saw was Kazuya crouching motionless on the ground.

"M-Master!!??"

The anguished cry of Chitose echoed hollowly in the aftermath.