Chapter 32: Chapter 32 - Operation Commencement
I've already experienced so many outrageous things that shake people's minds that I'm sick of them, so I thought I wouldn't be surprised by anything like that from now on.
[What's with that funny look of yours? Hmm... Looking closely, it seems to fit a little.]
As I faced the owl chattering excitedly in front of me with the princess's voice, I felt an indescribable feeling.
As far as I know, there's only one magic that allows you to do this.
Familiar.
It was a magic that allowed the caster to make a contract of mana with a non-human entity, allowing that entity to display mystical abilities that surpassed its natural abilities.
"You're not making this guy your servant?"
I know it's a very difficult advanced magic that even skilled magicians would shake their heads at, so how on earth did you pull it off?
It was clearly just an ordinary eagle owl until a few weeks ago.
I decided to just accept it since I knew I would get another absurd answer if I raised my doubts.
[Yes! Snow was a child who had grown up with me since I was little, so she readily accepted it. But is that all you have to say?]
Although Alicia only showed me her sloppy side in front of me and was a pervert with an unbearable sexual preference, she was still His Majesty the Emperor's legitimate daughter.
It wouldn't have been strange if she had shown one or two talents that surpassed common sense.
I spoke in a warm voice to the pure white eagle owl that was turning its head sharply with its arms folded like a human before my eyes.
"I've missed you so much."
Although others might think I'm a madman, my real identity is a mercenary captain from the southern barbarians.
For them, who are in harmony with nature, having a friendly conversation with a bird was a natural act.
[I miss you too. I want to do this and that with you again… That, come back quickly!]
"I'll come back as soon as I'm done with everything."
Still, it was fun to talk to her in this unfamiliar way.
Alicia doesn't know exactly what mission I'm on.
I just told her that I'm going a little far away. That must be why she's trying to contact me like this, even if it's half-forced.
So, since it's come to this, shouldn't I ask Alicia once?
As far as I know, she's the princess of the empire, and she's often appeared at various external events since she was young.
So her knowledge of social circles must be very extensive, surpassing even the most expert.
"Since it's absolutely necessary for my mission, could you teach me how to dance?"
Of course, as a woman, it was unlikely that she would know how to dance like a man, but since I couldn't lose anything by asking, I figured I'd just grab onto straws.
[Dancing? Yes, of course I can teach you. I haven't danced with a man yet... but I have a rough idea of what the opposite sex dances like. I don't want to step on each other's feet when we dance together]
"Is that so? That's really fortunate. Then, if we can just dance a simple waltz right now..."
[Wait. Before that, if we have to dance a waltz, you'll have a partner... who on earth is that?]
"That's... Deputy Commander Agnes. It's an unavoidable mission."
[What?!]
As a result, thanks to the unexpected and welcome guest, I was able to quickly acquire basic knowledge about dancing.
[Huh! You've been playing with that female cat. You, be prepared when you come back.]
While learning to dance from the princess, I had to sweat profusely because I kept seeing the sharp eyes of the pure white eagle owl, a bird of prey.
The day of the operation.
All preparations were complete, and now all that was left was to move.
"Did you send all of our troops' weapons inside the castle?"
"Yes. We swapped not just a few boxes, but several whole wagons, so there's no chance of getting caught. We've already bribed all the people involved or replaced them with our own people."
"I'll trust you."
"Then, I'll go first."
Since there's no way the party could enter armed, all of the weapons and armor were already stored in the warehouse inside the castle.
In addition, the structure of the castle had already been figured out by Lord Randolph and the agents of the Counterintelligence Agency.
In addition, inside the castle, priests of the Celestial Church disguised as scholars had already attended the party, observing the enemy's movements and making advance preparations.
The only variable in this operation was that those with keen senses could read the momentum and notice our true identities.
Even as I was going over the flow of the operation in my head, the line heading to the banquet hall was getting shorter and shorter.
The priests of the Celestial Church were already wearing artifacts that suppressed divine power, so it was fine, but the problem was us.
It is widely known that warriors from the southern barbarians are stronger than average knights, so there is no need to be suspicious about whether or not they use mana.
However, if there were someone in the enemy camp who was skilled enough to figure out the nature of mana or the type of training method just by looking at it, the plan would immediately go awry.
I can only hope that doesn't happen. It was never pleasant to be in an all-out battle in the middle of the enemy camp.
"It will be our turn to go in soon."
"W-This is really quite shaky…"
I glanced at Vice-Captain Agnes, who was blushing beside me.
The contrast between my large body, which was forced into a terribly ill-fitting straitjacket, and her pretty appearance in a bright blue dress was striking.
"Let's go now. Please take care of me, ma'am."
"Yes, yes… honey…"
Now it was really time to go into the middle of the enemy lines. I held the vice-captain's hand tightly once more and strengthened my resolve.
As we entered the banquet hall, the host wearing a funny-looking half-mask introduced our party with extremely loud gestures.
"The great warrior from the Black Wolf tribe from the south, Garros, and the third daughter of Sherwood Trading Company, Irene, are here! Oh, and behind them are a group of fearsome barbarians!"
They were treated as clowns to liven up the party, but since they weren't really here to enjoy the party, it didn't matter anyway.
Originally, it was a party that only nobles or those of similar power could attend.
Considering that, the fact that they let not only me and the vice-captain but also all of their subordinates into the party was probably to treat us as spectacles rather than as guests.
Since it had already come to this point. Rather, I wish they would let their guard down and make fun of us.
"Oh! Is that the leader of that southern mercenary group that's been rumored everywhere lately? Falling in love with her employer and settling down in the center? Isn't that a pretty romantic story?"
"I wonder how that woman ended up falling for a barbarian. No matter how beautiful she is, she's just a commoner born with lowly origins."
"Oh my... Look at all those people following behind. Are they all brothers? How can the culture of the southerners be so bad..."
I was able to at least keep up appearances, but my subordinates were still wearing their uniquely bizarre outfits, so they all looked at the group and made their own remarks.
The veins on the temples of some of the people were rising at the arbitrary evaluation that was almost insulting.
Everyone, since we're almost here, I wish you'd be a little more patient. All of this would be over in a few hours at most.
I walked slowly to the ballroom in the center of the hall with the vice-captain.
"That bearskin cloak, is it made from game you've caught yourself?"
"All these people are brothers... Is it metaphorical, or are they all really related by blood?"
"Do all conflicts in the South really end with duels?"
The subordinates who followed behind were being held back by the loudmouths and were being harassed by countless requests for attention.
—♩♪ ♫ ♬
As the party gradually became accustomed to the atmosphere of the banquet hall, a simple waltz began to flow out and the men and women began to dance.
First, I had to adapt to the atmosphere of this banquet hall.
It was necessary to attract the Count's interest and enter the private room filled with key figures.
I grabbed the vice-captain's hand and wrapped my arms around her waist, and began to squirm slightly.
"Well, the Huudae seems plausible. But the dancing skills are really bad."
"A commoner and a barbarian are together, so it's only natural that they lack dignity."
The reactions of those around them were as expected.
Not only were their dancing skills really bad, but the height difference was so great that it just didn't look good.
I was barely holding back the urge to turn everything upside down right away, but the vice-captain seemed surprisingly quite pleased with the current situation.
"This is making me feel pretty good. Uh, don't you feel the same way…?"
"Hmm. If you like it, I like it too."
But.
—Churup, churp…
Was a ball originally such a place for such depraved sexual desire?
When a slow, sticky melody started flowing out in the middle of the waltz, the men and women who were dancing normally suddenly got entangled in each other, hugged each other tightly, and began sucking and sucking each other hard.
Among the many lovers, only we were looking at each other and trembling, so naturally, the suspicious gazes of those around us gathered.
"Hmm, a southern savage decided to settle down in a strange land because of a woman. Why do they look so awkward?"
"They should be in a relationship where they can't live without each other. It's a little suspicious. Are we a fake couple?"
I didn't expect this to happen. It was definitely a crisis.
"Uh, uh..."
In the end, Vice-Chief Agnes closed her eyes with an expression that didn't suit her and stuck her lips out to me.
I didn't want to share my first kiss with the Vice-Chief in a place like this with my full consciousness.
So instead, I just rubbed her stuck lips against my chest and roughly kneaded her breasts instead.
As expected, the sensation was great, befitting its enormous size.
"Huh... Gyaaak?! Hey, honey?" "Hold on, ma'am. Isn't this more exciting?"
—Whew! Whee!
"Hey, it's hot?" "Yes! That's right! I believed you, barbarian leader!"
At the extremely barbaric act, the surrounding gazes were instantly filled with favor and heat.
There was no longer any suspicion about our relationship.
As the waltz somehow ended, a man who had been watching us carefully approached us.
"Come this way. Count Fersen would like to meet you in person."
The ordinary banquet where anyone could attend, eat, drink, and chat was taking place in the grand banquet hall over there, but I heard that the leaders of the counties and members of Eclipse were gathered separately in a separate room.
"Here it is. One piece of advice: Don't be surprised no matter what happens. Then…"
The man who was presumed to be the butler who guided us to the private room quietly left after leaving a meaningful remark.
—Squeak!
When the private room door opened, a terrible stench wafted out from inside.
It was the smell of drugs, or something equally bad. I couldn't help but frown.
"It smells terrible."
"Ugh, what kind of air is that…"
The private room was larger than I had thought.
At a long table, several people wearing dark robes and the vassals of the count's estate were sitting side by side, and at the head table, Count Fersen was staring blankly into space.
Unlike the handsome appearance I had seen in portraits, his sharp eyes and bony features were extremely unfamiliar.
"You must be the savage who's been rumored around the castle. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, Count. Your beard is also very nice."
"Huh! The way you speak is... well, I can understand that much due to cultural differences. Anyway, thank you for the compliment. Sit down."
Is this finally the beginning?
The real story was about to begin. There shouldn't be any mistakes.
I shook my head as if nothing had happened and looked around.
Even though I only looked around briefly, I could easily tell that there were enemies everywhere.
Then there was no need to hesitate.
"But the air here is very dirty."
—Kwaang!
As planned, I immediately swung my fist and blew away all the unpleasant groups wearing pitch-black clothes in one blow.
-----------------------------
You can read +110 Advance Chapters on my Patreon
p@treon(.)com/NightNovels
•TIER 1 you'll get +20 ADVANCE CHAPTERS
•TIER 2 you'll get +40 ADVANCE CHAPTERS
•TIER 3 you'll get +70 ADVANCE CHAPTERS
•TIER 4 you'll get +110 ADVANCE CHAPTERS