The Porter Has No Interest in the Hero’s Party

“There isn’t much information about Daemon. This is because he’s the type of general who only commands from the rear and uses his subordinate officers for combat. According to rumors, he’s handsome and very popular among female demons.”

After arriving at the camp, we entered a meeting before resting. We felt the need to organize information about the individual called Daemon, and Commander Randolph had said he needed advice.

Considering the fact that the front line was full of female officers, Daemon, who was clearly the supreme commander in charge of the front lines, seemed to be placing his women at each front line and playing house.

“So he filled his army with his women too?”

Everyone nodded at Lena’s comment. It seemed irrational, but based on the contents of the letters that had emerged so far, Daemon was a womanizer who couldn’t resist women. Or perhaps he was a fearsome demon who had created even this image through sophisticated image-making.

“The possibility of this being a deception is probably small. All the demons we’ve encountered so far also seemed to really like Daemon, and Daemon consistently sent meaningless letters containing declarations of love.”

Randolph nodded upon hearing the hero’s words. He pointed to the map and said:

“Thanks to our victory in this battle, we’ve gained the upper hand at the front. Judging by the consecutive victory reports coming from other fronts, the morale of the troops commanded by Daemon must be at rock bottom. In this situation, to scatter women around and play house, what a pathetic fellow.”

No one objected to the description “pathetic fellow.”

Along with Randolph’s contempt, the emotion that crossed my face was anger toward Daemon. The fact that a demon realm general who slaughtered humans and devoured land showed such a pathetic and incompetent appearance felt like an insult to the Empire I had lived in.

The fact that my country had been destroyed by demons commanded by such a general.

That fact was making my heart race madly.

The war situation Randolph showed was more favorable than expected. Besides the front line we had advanced on, victory bells were ringing consecutively on various fronts, and on some fronts, they had already advanced to Imperial territory and expanded supply routes.

“At this rate, we can push forward and capture Daemon as well.”

“That’s not as easy as it sounds. This is because there have been consecutive defeats on the upper front line. Look here.”

There was a red X mark where Randolph pointed, shaking his head.

The hero examined the area marked with an X and contorted his face.

“This was a unit that had been winning consecutive victories just a few days ago, but suddenly retreated.”

“That’s because the commander was assassinated. They’re employing skilled assassins.”

No defeat reports had come in from the defeated allied camps. Only reports of retreating due to commander assassinations or terrorist attacks on important facilities had been coming in consecutively. In one of these units, after consecutive victories, the entire unit was annihilated due to the sudden death of the commander.

“As long as these assassins are running rampant, we cannot actively operate our troops. This is because commanders are essential for maintaining the front line. I hear that they slit the commander’s throat even if there’s just a slight gap in the defenses. Warnings have already come from above, and the commanders are preparing in their own ways, but we can’t properly cope with these vicious and cruel fellows. Hero, is there any countermeasure?”

The hero said nothing. He touched his face and suddenly looked at Lena. She, who had been talkative initially, had at some point closed her mouth and had a serious expression. Both Ashuria and Mille blinked in surprise at the subtle atmosphere, and Randolph blinked and asked the hero again.

“Hero?”

Lena nodded to the hero. The spider tattoo on her neck seemed to shine especially black. The hero exhaled and then opened his mouth.

“The assassins are from the Black Society.”

Randolph blinked widely. Ashuria and Mille all turned their heads with surprised expressions. Lena looked at the ceiling, rolling her eyes as if she had expected this. I nodded and sat silently in my place.

“The Black Society, is that the assassination group I know? Those notorious for their cruelty, who kill their targets regardless of who they are.”

“That’s right. Some members of the Black Society, who had not been involved in the war, recently gave in to the demons’ persuasion and joined the demon camp. The whereabouts of those who didn’t defect are unknown. We’ve already informed the superiors of this fact.”

Black Society.

A secretively operated assassination organization with a very deep history. They were also famous for always succeeding in their missions if paid, no matter who the target was, and for killing anyone who pointed a knife at them. Lena was also a member of that Black Society, and the black spider tattoo on her neck was proof of her affiliation.

Lena had a depressed and irritated expression as she listened to the hero’s explanation. Randolph glanced at the tattoo on Lena’s neck but made no particular comment about her.

Lena said:

“One member of the Black Society openly tried to persuade me. He said they didn’t want to kill me, so I should come under the demons like them. He said assassins would spread not only in this region but also on other fronts, and even carry out operations in the kingdom’s capital. He also said that the demons’ victory was just a matter of time.”

“We’re not a country weak enough to collapse because of a few assassins. That’s just bravado.”

The hero reacted somewhat sharply to Lena’s words. Lena didn’t seem particularly swayed or intimidated by those words, nodding and letting it slide.

As soon as she finished speaking, Lena checked our reactions and then closed her mouth again.

At that moment, I recalled the figure of the large man conversing with Lena. The man with the toad tattoo was making statements close to threats to Lena, and Lena refused the man’s proposal while taking a fighting stance. The information Lena had heard was probably what she had heard then.

Lena laughed off my question saying it was nothing, and only conveyed this betrayal to the hero who absolutely needed to know the truth.

I could vaguely understand why the hero hadn’t shared this important information with us.

The hero looked at the map and said:

“Looking at the map position, the next front line the assassins will pass through is here.”

There was a place where two camps met, separated by a winding river. But this camp, which looked flat on the surface, was a fortress climbing rugged rocky mountains, making it a place where demons couldn’t easily approach. The hero continued:

“But even if the commander dies, this fortress can’t be easily conquered. From the assassins’ perspective, attacking this fortress with strict surveillance and limited escape routes is not a good strategy either.”

The hero’s hand went down again. Going down straight past the rocky mountains, his finger touched the Edels front where we were currently located. The already red-marked camp and the Edels front.

The two camps were exactly in the middle of the fortress.

“If I were them, I would rather collapse both upper and lower fronts, surround the fortress, and then cut off the supply route. That’s the way to minimize unnecessary sacrifices and gain the most benefit by utilizing assassins. Moreover, now that Commander Randolph has knocked down a demon general and gained an opportunity to expand the front line, they will somehow try to kill the commander and push the front line back.”

Randolph groaned while touching his neck. The fact that the assassination, which he thought was someone else’s problem, was actually aimed at his own neck was quite shocking.

The hero looked outside the tent. A plain full of reeds grown to waist height. Because it was a plain, the two forces could clash purely with their martial skills to determine victory or defeat.

And because it was a reed field with lots of miscellaneous items to hide bodies, Randolph was essentially in danger. The hero said:

“The assassins dispatched here won’t try to confront us. Tomorrow morning, have a few soldiers change into the same attire as us and send them to another village. We will change our attire and wait here until we resolve these assassins.”

Randolph nodded. The hero’s strategy certainly made sense. If Randolph died here and the line was pushed back, the fortress in the middle of the two camps would be surrounded by enemies. No matter how sturdy a fortress is, it can’t withstand being surrounded by enemies.

For both us and the enemies, this was a formation that couldn’t be abandoned.

“I would be grateful if the hero could do that. Tomorrow we plan to reorganize our battle line and rest well, so I hope the hero can also rest a bit during the mission.”

Randolph was indeed a warrior. He cared about the hero’s comfort first, even in an operation where his own neck was at stake. After discussing the details of the operation, we came out of the barracks.

“Having to pretend to be soldiers for days… Soldier clothes are stuffy and not great.”

“Will there be clothes in my size?”

“It would be better if we all change clothes separately, right? One by one.”

The main issue for us after coming outside was the clothing problem. Ashuria, who usually wore a nun’s habit, and Mille, who had a small build, seemed to find it unfamiliar that they had to wear soldier’s uniforms. For some reason, the hero was deeply concerned about how to decide the changing location.

“If changing separately makes it too obvious, wouldn’t it be better to hang curtains in the middle of the barracks and change? It’s better to do these things quickly.”

“But, that’s a bit… S-someone might peek. So other personnel should keep watch…”

“Um, hey.”

Just as the hero was about to complain. Lena interrupted. She had been unusually quiet today. Her usual cool and optimistic demeanor was gone, and she spoke, standing on her tiptoes like a girl who had broken a water bottle.

“Um… Are you not angry with me? I only told the hero about a really important piece of information. And I’m fr-from the Black Society. And the Black Society betrayed…”

I shrugged and smiled at her. Mille and Ashuria looked at each other and then back at Lena. Both were smiling.

“I don’t care. Even if Lena is from the Black Society, there’s no way you’d betray us.”

Ashuria nodded and said:

“Lena. I understand why you kept it secret from us. I sometimes worry about being despised by others too. Even if you belong to the Black Society, you, Lena, are our comrade who fights alongside us. You don’t need to try to hide yourself so much or worry.”

I nodded and said:

“Who would play with me if Lena weren’t here? I guarantee that Lena is the best person in this party.”

“Wait, the ‘best’ person?”

Ashuria objected to my statement. I rolled my eyes and said:

“Did I say that? Rather than that, let’s talk again about how to change clothes. The hero said we should change separately…”

“Porter. Shouldn’t you say that I, as a cleric, am obviously the kindest? Lena would agree with this part, and I’m curious about the intention behind your words. Come over here.”

“Oh my! Then I’ll go change first!”

“Stop right there!”

Ashuria chases after me. Behind, Lena was standing with an expression that was impossible to tell whether she was crying or laughing.

From afar, the hero’s voice could be faintly heard.

“See? Right? Lena.”