As If asked to change, Moore threw pants and a short-sleeved black shirt from his combat uniform to Rudmila and quickly disappeared into the shower room.
"─What a boring man."
Even though she was confident in her body, having taken care of various things, it showed no signs of a healthy reaction. It was a bit frustrating.
The clothes thrown at her were clearly meant for his tall frame. They wouldn't fit the slender Rudmila.
However, having traveled for three days, the clothes she was wearing were dirty. They would probably dry by tomorrow on the way back, but until then, these thrown clothes were the only option.
There was also the option of borrowing someone else's clothes in the dormitory, but─
"...Well, whatever."
She peeled off the single towel that had covered her body, absorbed the moisture from her slightly wavy blond hair, and started to hear the sound of warm water from the shower room.
She had expressed her desire to clean up, and Commander's personnel Rapi had recommended the shower room in the commander's office, so she used it without hesitation, but unfortunately, she didn't have spare clothes.
Folding the towel and placing it on the sofa, Rudmila began to put on his clothes that were thrown at her─
"...It's big."
As expected, the digital camouflage pants' waist was naturally too loose for her. The hem also had to be folded. Her legs were long, but he seemed to match her.
The short-sleeved shirt surprisingly had some room, but it wasn't too loose. Rather, Rudmila's slightly vertically divided abdominal muscles and navel were faintly visible. Perhaps it was due to the influence of her ample chest.
Although it was a breach of manners to rummage through someone else's belongings, it was difficult to walk with such a loose waist. Rudmila approached the closet, opened the door, took out a belt, and threaded it through the waist of the pants, fastening the buckle.
Now it should be a bit easier to walk.
Still─
"...Strange outfit..."
In the room of Moore's subordinates, Rudmila, who saw her figure in the mirror attached to the closet with the clothes he had given her, shrugged her shoulders.
Wearing white boots with high heels, she sat on the sofa, crossing her long legs wrapped in camouflage fabric.
Since she was a guest, it would have been nice to offer a cup of tea or something, but Rudmila didn't think Moore was the type of person to pay attention to such things, so she decided to forgive the rudeness with a generous heart.
On the low table were his belongings: identification, mobile terminal, cigarettes, oil lighter, and so on. She had arranged all the small items that had been inside the military uniform before disappearing into the shower.
Rudmila's gaze fell on the soft pack of cigarettes and the oil lighter among them, but for some reason, she didn't feel like smoking.
It was strange that she didn't feel like reaching for a cigarette that he had once touched.
Before she knew it, the sound of water from the shower room had stopped. The faint sound of clothes rubbing against skin reached Rudmila's ears, and soon the door must have opened. She heard the footsteps with boots firmly on the floor.
"─You're fast."
"─Because I have short hair."
With just one soap, you could wash your hair and body together, saving time. Moore, who had returned to the room, was wearing camouflage pants and boots similar to Rudmila, but his upper body remained exposed. He approached the refrigerator and took out two bottles of mineral water.
Placing one in front of Rudmila on the sofa, he sat down facing her and cut the seal of the cap, swallowing a few mouthfuls.
"Looks like you've got injured again."
"...I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk as if I'm always getting injured."
The thin part with a black gloss that circled his left upper arm was probably the joint of the prosthetic arm. Remembering Moore's appearance before the memorable reunion with her, where his left arm was almost completely lost, she could now understand that he had indeed attached a prosthesis.
The tribal tattoo on his left arm, resembling a black wolf, suited him well. She thought it was appropriate for the king of the wolf pack, but her gaze was drawn to the surgical scar on his left side more than the tattoo.
"─It must have been painful."
"...To the point of death. But... the suffering was worth it, I suppose."
His throat moved as he swallowed water, and he shrugged his shoulders. The outcome of the total war in the distant north, where Rudmila was on a mission, had also reached her ears.
"...You saved her."
He was truly a reckless servant. How many lives did he need? She couldn't shake the feeling that he was neglecting his own life even more than Nikke.
Realizing that his subordinates would always be struggling, Rudmila stood up, holding the bottle, and moved around the low table to sit on Moore's left side, holding the bottle.
"...Well done. And... you worked hard."
"I'm honored to be praised by Her Majesty."
He shrugged lightly, reached out with his right arm, picked up the soft pack on the table, shook it lightly, and picked one out. He lit it with the oil lighter. Shortly after the purple smoke began to rise, a thin white hand reached from the left, plucking one from him.
The cigarette, once again taken away, moved to Rudmila's lips, where it was held and possessed by her.
This was the third time.
Why did he keep taking her cigarettes? There were many questions he wanted to ask, but it seemed like a waste of time.
Biting the new cigarette and lighting the oil lighter again, two thin streams of purple smoke rose towards the ceiling side by side.
"...Is Alice doing well?"
"Yes, she's fine. It's lively now that Neve has returned recently. Well, Neve sleeps almost every day, though."
"...Neve?"
The unfamiliar name drew Moore's deep brown gaze to Rudmila. Holding the cigarette between two slender fingers, she exhaled a thin, short puff of purple smoke.
"Neve is one of our squad members. She's often absent because she's looking for the Polar Bear, so you haven't met her."
"...When you meet her, please say hello to me."
"Oh? Does that mean you'll come back to the North?"
"If there's a mission."
It was an uninteresting response. What kind of upbringing led to this?
A sense of rivalry and mischief toward him, who showed uninteresting reactions, seemed to have sprouted in her. Rudmila tried narrowing the distance between them, leaning her still-moist head on Moore's left shoulder.
Now, what kind of reaction would he show? She thought, but Moore, without much reaction, continued to smoke the purple smoke calmly.
In addition to being uninteresting, he was a boring man.
He looked older than his appearance and atmosphere suggested, but if he showed reactions appropriate for his age, he might have some charm.
She lightly snorted, and with not even half of the cigarette smoked, reached out to crush it into the ashtray at about 1/3 left, but─
"...Aren't you going to smoke anymore?"
"Yeah, that's right."
Having already smoked almost to the filter, he exhaled a large puff of purple smoke and, ahead of her, crushed her own cigarette into the ashtray. He gently took the cigarette from her slender fingertips, and as if it were slightly dry, he placed it between his lips and took a deep inhale.
"...You can continue to smoke quite well."
"...Rather, it tastes better from the second one."
While talking, purple smoke leaked out simultaneously with his speech. Rudmila, with her head resting on his left shoulder, cut the seal of the water bottle.
Trivial conversation with a man who only gave uninteresting reactions, yet it strangely felt comfortable.
Even the purple smoke had a strangely calming scent.
Perhaps because she had just taken a shower and her body temperature was slightly elevated, there was a faint smell of sweat. It wasn't unpleasant. Rather─
"...Hehe."
"...What?"
"It's nothing."
Not bad. She couldn't have imagined feeling such emotions back when she was of the wealthy royal class. It might be too late now, but as she swallowed a sip of mineral water, she──
"─Excuse me, Master... huh?"
"─Excuse me. Commander, I've finished the simulation training at Elysion, and come b..."
─The door to the commander's office opened, and two figures entered. Neon and Marian. The reason his disciple was absent during today's mission was that she accompanied Marian on the simulation training at Elysion. As the two who had just returned looked ahead, there was a completely unexpected sight.
Next to the half-naked Moore, there was a Nikke, exuding an exotic and alluring atmosphere, leaning against his shoulder with her wet golden hair still clinging to her body, and she was wearing his clothes.
In plain words──It was the scene of aftermath
"Ah. Welcome back, both of you. Marian, this is the first time you have met. She's Rudmila, a member of the Unlimited Squad."
"─Wha, wha, wha...!"
Trembling all over, Marian, with her face covered in the pale Goddesium skin that turned red, widened her crimson eyes.
"─What?"
Moore, still with a cigarette in his mouth, tilted his head at Marian, who seemed to want to say something. Lips trembling, she finally spoke.
"─What are you wearing!?"
"...Huh...?"
Marian's loud voice shook the commander's office. The wolves outside, drying their fur, all lifted their heads at once, but that's another story.
On the other hand, Moore, who was taken aback, still holding the cigarette in his mouth, seemed to have no idea what Marian was angry about. Trembling shoulders──Marian, who seemed to be enduring some impulse, extended her trembling fingertips towards him and Rudmila.
"In, in such attire...!"
──What kind of attire?
Marian, who seemed to be angry for some reason, Moore tilted their head, and for the time being, Moore, who had crushed the cigarette on the ashtray on the table, seemed to have no idea of the reason. He shook his shoulders──Marian, who seemed to be enduring some impulse, extended her trembling fingertips towards him and Rudmila.
Rudmila, leaning against his left shoulder, seemed to sense something in Marian's demeanor. She casually moved away from Moore, who was seated nearby, with a meaningful expression, and stood up.
Holding a half-empty bottle in one hand, she approached Neon and Marian, clad in Moore's combat uniform and shirt. Nonchalantly observing her departing figure, Moore couldn't help but think that a beautiful woman looked good in anything.
"Neon, it's been a while. Let me introduce myself. I'm Rudmila from the Unlimited Squad. And he──is my servant and also the queen of him."
"Stop with the misleading phrasing. Marian might get the wrong idea about my weird hobbies."
"S-Servant...!? Wait, what are you doing, addressing the commander like that!!?"
"Master, is this what they call a catfight? Anis saw a similar scenario in the drama she was watching the other day..."
"...What the hell is she watching?"
The disciple, who had discreetly distanced herself from the two glaring at each other, approached her mentor and threw a question.
While he had no intention of meddling in the personal preferences of subordinates, Moore couldn't help but be curious about the content of the drama Anis was watching.
"He allows himself to be called a servant? What's wrong with that?"
"Due to the relationship between Nikke and the commander, Nikke will never be superior!"
"Is that so? What do you think, servant?"
"...According to the rules, that may be the case, but... depending on the situation, Nikke's judgment on the field might be more accurate. Deciding that outright..."
"─Commander!!"
"Don't make such a loud noise. It's indecent, you know?"
Rudmila is the type to speak her mind. Her original noble character, combined with Marian's angry voice, seems to be inconsequential.
With her hands on her hips and her chest puffed out, Rudmila looked at Marian with a leisurely gaze. Responding to that gaze, Marian, who seemed to want to say something, squinted her droopy eyes and prepared to counterattack, but unexpectedly, Rudmila closed the distance, whispered something to Marian, and then suddenly returned to Moore.
"──Rest assured. I won't take your commander away. At least, not now."
Marian's eyes widened in response to the whispered words. In other words──the moment she sensed something, Rudmila turned back to him and returned to his side.
"Servant. Lend me your coat. It's a bit embarrassing with just the shirt."
"...Embarrassing?"
"Oh, can't you see this?"
What she pointed at was the half-sleeved shirt Moore was wearing, which Rudmila had put on. The large, swollen neckline of the shirt, with its peak slightly lifting the fabric.
"...Ah, I see."
He realized it just now. As if to say so, he raised his hips and took out a coat of the same pattern from the closet, throwing it to Rudmila.
Rudmila put on the coat she received, slipping her arms through the sleeves. It was also quite loose and had extra sleeves. However, it was a decent size.
Wearing the coat, Rudmila passed through Marian's side. At that moment, she smiled meaningfully at her and left the commander's office. He watched her departing figure, and just as he was about to pick up his third cigarette──
"...Commander... Could you please put on some clothes?"
"...Can't you let me cool down a bit more?"
"RIGHT . NOW!"
---
"─Commander, why aren't you eating this splendid meat menu?"
"─I'm not in the mood."
In the lively dining hall of the barracks where even the mass-produced Nikke staff gathered, Moore's presence was unusual. Moreover, he had been sighing heavily since earlier.
Separated by dividers and placing a sautéed deer meat on a single rectangular food plate, he shrugged when Anis, sitting next to him, asked a question. He opened a can of beer and took a sip.
"...Ask Neon or Marian for details."
After swallowing the distinctive bitterness, he turned his gaze to two members of the squad who were having dinner at the same table.
Neon hesitated about how to explain, but Marian drank from a canned juice with a gloomy expression, a permanent pout on her cheek. Sensing that she was still upset, he didn't press the matter any further.
"...Well, let's not ask then."
"That would be appreciated."
"──But, this is delicious. We should occasionally go hunting in the North."
Rudmila was also present at the table. The meat had a different texture from cultured meat, and although it retained a hint of the beast's scent, it was flavorful enough to satisfy even the Queen.
"Well, for the sake of our livelihood, we might go hunting... Can you handle the butchering?"
"I watched the servant's way today, so it should be fine."
Thinking it might not be so easy, Moore raised an eyebrow with a question mark, but even he, who only had knowledge, could do it, so he reconsidered his thoughts.
As he was about to bring a forkful of venison to his mouth, the mobile device he had in the breast pocket of his coat, which he put on earlier, vibrated.
It was some kind of incoming call. Stopping his meal, he reached into the breast pocket and pulled out the mobile device.
Unlocking the screen with fingerprint authentication, he checked the incoming call, and immediately, a vertical crease appeared on Moore's forehead.
"...Rapi. Sorry, come here for a moment. The rest of you can stay."
Politely inviting Rapi, who was dining with them, Moore stood up. Rapi, who stood up after him, followed him as he left the dining hall. As soon as they reached the front of the lodge, Moore lit a cigarette with an oil lighter.
"What's the matter?"
Standing beside him, Rapi asked, and Moore showed her the screen of the mobile device that was still unlocked. The liquid crystal screen displayed a mail that had just arrived. The sender was──
"...Central Government...?"
"The content... you can see for yourself."
Handing over the mobile device to Rapi, Moore reached out to the six wolves that had come up to him. Stroking their dry fur, one by one, they lay down and exposed their bellies.
While Rapi, who had caught sight of him petting the wolves with their vulnerable bellies exposed, scrolled through the content of the email on Moore's mobile device screen with her fingertip, a frown appeared on her brow.
"...Training with the Central Government... The commander is going?"
"Apparently. It's an official order."
The training period was 10 days. The email stated that it was for the necessary education upon promotion to Major.
"...At this time, huh."
"...Yeah. Moreover, with the Central Government."
He didn't know what kind of education it was, but it could have been done in the Nikke Administration, their current affiliation. He couldn't understand the reason for conducting it separately or in a different faction. Rather than a reason, it was difficult to discern the true intent.
"...It smells fishy."
"...Yes."
"...If it's an order, I'll follow it, but I'll be absent for 10 days. While I'm away,I'll leave the squad leader position to Rapi, but..."
Exhaling a sigh and a puff of purple smoke, Moore looked up at Rapi.
He expressed his concern for them, despite heading to an environment akin to Rapture stomach. Unintentionally, she let out a wry smile to Moore, who showed his gratitude.
"...Leave it to us. We'll defend the outpost until you return. Of course, Marian too."
"...I'm counting on you."
Despite expressing his gratitude to Rapi, he seemed to be a little exhausted at the thought of going to such a demon's den. Even stroking the wolves didn't improve his mood.
----
Author's Note: Something's Moving.
As If asked to change, Moore threw pants and a short-sleeved black shirt from his combat uniform to Rudmila and quickly disappeared into the shower room.
"─What a boring man."
Even though she was confident in her body, having taken care of various things, it showed no signs of a healthy reaction. It was a bit frustrating.
The clothes thrown at her were clearly meant for his tall frame. They wouldn't fit the slender Rudmila.
However, having traveled for three days, the clothes she was wearing were dirty. They would probably dry by tomorrow on the way back, but until then, these thrown clothes were the only option.
There was also the option of borrowing someone else's clothes in the dormitory, but─
"...Well, whatever."
She peeled off the single towel that had covered her body, absorbed the moisture from her slightly wavy blond hair, and started to hear the sound of warm water from the shower room.
She had expressed her desire to clean up, and Commander's personnel Rapi had recommended the shower room in the commander's office, so she used it without hesitation, but unfortunately, she didn't have spare clothes.
Folding the towel and placing it on the sofa, Rudmila began to put on his clothes that were thrown at her─
"...It's big."
As expected, the digital camouflage pants' waist was naturally too loose for her. The hem also had to be folded. Her legs were long, but he seemed to match her.
The short-sleeved shirt surprisingly had some room, but it wasn't too loose. Rather, Rudmila's slightly vertically divided abdominal muscles and navel were faintly visible. Perhaps it was due to the influence of her ample chest.
Although it was a breach of manners to rummage through someone else's belongings, it was difficult to walk with such a loose waist. Rudmila approached the closet, opened the door, took out a belt, and threaded it through the waist of the pants, fastening the buckle.
Now it should be a bit easier to walk.
Still─
"...Strange outfit..."
In the room of Moore's subordinates, Rudmila, who saw her figure in the mirror attached to the closet with the clothes he had given her, shrugged her shoulders.
Wearing white boots with high heels, she sat on the sofa, crossing her long legs wrapped in camouflage fabric.
Since she was a guest, it would have been nice to offer a cup of tea or something, but Rudmila didn't think Moore was the type of person to pay attention to such things, so she decided to forgive the rudeness with a generous heart.
On the low table were his belongings: identification, mobile terminal, cigarettes, oil lighter, and so on. She had arranged all the small items that had been inside the military uniform before disappearing into the shower.
Rudmila's gaze fell on the soft pack of cigarettes and the oil lighter among them, but for some reason, she didn't feel like smoking.
It was strange that she didn't feel like reaching for a cigarette that he had once touched.
Before she knew it, the sound of water from the shower room had stopped. The faint sound of clothes rubbing against skin reached Rudmila's ears, and soon the door must have opened. She heard the footsteps with boots firmly on the floor.
"─You're fast."
"─Because I have short hair."
With just one soap, you could wash your hair and body together, saving time. Moore, who had returned to the room, was wearing camouflage pants and boots similar to Rudmila, but his upper body remained exposed. He approached the refrigerator and took out two bottles of mineral water.
Placing one in front of Rudmila on the sofa, he sat down facing her and cut the seal of the cap, swallowing a few mouthfuls.
"Looks like you've got injured again."
"...I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk as if I'm always getting injured."
The thin part with a black gloss that circled his left upper arm was probably the joint of the prosthetic arm. Remembering Moore's appearance before the memorable reunion with her, where his left arm was almost completely lost, she could now understand that he had indeed attached a prosthesis.
The tribal tattoo on his left arm, resembling a black wolf, suited him well. She thought it was appropriate for the king of the wolf pack, but her gaze was drawn to the surgical scar on his left side more than the tattoo.
"─It must have been painful."
"...To the point of death. But... the suffering was worth it, I suppose."
His throat moved as he swallowed water, and he shrugged his shoulders. The outcome of the total war in the distant north, where Rudmila was on a mission, had also reached her ears.
"...You saved her."
He was truly a reckless servant. How many lives did he need? She couldn't shake the feeling that he was neglecting his own life even more than Nikke.
Realizing that his subordinates would always be struggling, Rudmila stood up, holding the bottle, and moved around the low table to sit on Moore's left side, holding the bottle.
"...Well done. And... you worked hard."
"I'm honored to be praised by Her Majesty."
He shrugged lightly, reached out with his right arm, picked up the soft pack on the table, shook it lightly, and picked one out. He lit it with the oil lighter. Shortly after the purple smoke began to rise, a thin white hand reached from the left, plucking one from him.
The cigarette, once again taken away, moved to Rudmila's lips, where it was held and possessed by her.
This was the third time.
Why did he keep taking her cigarettes? There were many questions he wanted to ask, but it seemed like a waste of time.
Biting the new cigarette and lighting the oil lighter again, two thin streams of purple smoke rose towards the ceiling side by side.
"...Is Alice doing well?"
"Yes, she's fine. It's lively now that Neve has returned recently. Well, Neve sleeps almost every day, though."
"...Neve?"
The unfamiliar name drew Moore's deep brown gaze to Rudmila. Holding the cigarette between two slender fingers, she exhaled a thin, short puff of purple smoke.
"Neve is one of our squad members. She's often absent because she's looking for the Polar Bear, so you haven't met her."
"...When you meet her, please say hello to me."
"Oh? Does that mean you'll come back to the North?"
"If there's a mission."
It was an uninteresting response. What kind of upbringing led to this?
A sense of rivalry and mischief toward him, who showed uninteresting reactions, seemed to have sprouted in her. Rudmila tried narrowing the distance between them, leaning her still-moist head on Moore's left shoulder.
Now, what kind of reaction would he show? She thought, but Moore, without much reaction, continued to smoke the purple smoke calmly.
In addition to being uninteresting, he was a boring man.
He looked older than his appearance and atmosphere suggested, but if he showed reactions appropriate for his age, he might have some charm.
She lightly snorted, and with not even half of the cigarette smoked, reached out to crush it into the ashtray at about 1/3 left, but─
"...Aren't you going to smoke anymore?"
"Yeah, that's right."
Having already smoked almost to the filter, he exhaled a large puff of purple smoke and, ahead of her, crushed her own cigarette into the ashtray. He gently took the cigarette from her slender fingertips, and as if it were slightly dry, he placed it between his lips and took a deep inhale.
"...You can continue to smoke quite well."
"...Rather, it tastes better from the second one."
While talking, purple smoke leaked out simultaneously with his speech. Rudmila, with her head resting on his left shoulder, cut the seal of the water bottle.
Trivial conversation with a man who only gave uninteresting reactions, yet it strangely felt comfortable.
Even the purple smoke had a strangely calming scent.
Perhaps because she had just taken a shower and her body temperature was slightly elevated, there was a faint smell of sweat. It wasn't unpleasant. Rather─
"...Hehe."
"...What?"
"It's nothing."
Not bad. She couldn't have imagined feeling such emotions back when she was of the wealthy royal class. It might be too late now, but as she swallowed a sip of mineral water, she──
"─Excuse me, Master... huh?"
"─Excuse me. Commander, I've finished the simulation training at Elysion, and come b..."
─The door to the commander's office opened, and two figures entered. Neon and Marian. The reason his disciple was absent during today's mission was that she accompanied Marian on the simulation training at Elysion. As the two who had just returned looked ahead, there was a completely unexpected sight.
Next to the half-naked Moore, there was a Nikke, exuding an exotic and alluring atmosphere, leaning against his shoulder with her wet golden hair still clinging to her body, and she was wearing his clothes.
In plain words──It was the scene of aftermath
"Ah. Welcome back, both of you. Marian, this is the first time you have met. She's Rudmila, a member of the Unlimited Squad."
"─Wha, wha, wha...!"
Trembling all over, Marian, with her face covered in the pale Goddesium skin that turned red, widened her crimson eyes.
"─What?"
Moore, still with a cigarette in his mouth, tilted his head at Marian, who seemed to want to say something. Lips trembling, she finally spoke.
"─What are you wearing!?"
"...Huh...?"
Marian's loud voice shook the commander's office. The wolves outside, drying their fur, all lifted their heads at once, but that's another story.
On the other hand, Moore, who was taken aback, still holding the cigarette in his mouth, seemed to have no idea what Marian was angry about. Trembling shoulders──Marian, who seemed to be enduring some impulse, extended her trembling fingertips towards him and Rudmila.
"In, in such attire...!"
──What kind of attire?
Marian, who seemed to be angry for some reason, Moore tilted their head, and for the time being, Moore, who had crushed the cigarette on the ashtray on the table, seemed to have no idea of the reason. He shook his shoulders──Marian, who seemed to be enduring some impulse, extended her trembling fingertips towards him and Rudmila.
Rudmila, leaning against his left shoulder, seemed to sense something in Marian's demeanor. She casually moved away from Moore, who was seated nearby, with a meaningful expression, and stood up.
Holding a half-empty bottle in one hand, she approached Neon and Marian, clad in Moore's combat uniform and shirt. Nonchalantly observing her departing figure, Moore couldn't help but think that a beautiful woman looked good in anything.
"Neon, it's been a while. Let me introduce myself. I'm Rudmila from the Unlimited Squad. And he──is my servant and also the queen of him."
"Stop with the misleading phrasing. Marian might get the wrong idea about my weird hobbies."
"S-Servant...!? Wait, what are you doing, addressing the commander like that!!?"
"Master, is this what they call a catfight? Anis saw a similar scenario in the drama she was watching the other day..."
"...What the hell is she watching?"
The disciple, who had discreetly distanced herself from the two glaring at each other, approached her mentor and threw a question.
While he had no intention of meddling in the personal preferences of subordinates, Moore couldn't help but be curious about the content of the drama Anis was watching.
"He allows himself to be called a servant? What's wrong with that?"
"Due to the relationship between Nikke and the commander, Nikke will never be superior!"
"Is that so? What do you think, servant?"
"...According to the rules, that may be the case, but... depending on the situation, Nikke's judgment on the field might be more accurate. Deciding that outright..."
"─Commander!!"
"Don't make such a loud noise. It's indecent, you know?"
Rudmila is the type to speak her mind. Her original noble character, combined with Marian's angry voice, seems to be inconsequential.
With her hands on her hips and her chest puffed out, Rudmila looked at Marian with a leisurely gaze. Responding to that gaze, Marian, who seemed to want to say something, squinted her droopy eyes and prepared to counterattack, but unexpectedly, Rudmila closed the distance, whispered something to Marian, and then suddenly returned to Moore.
"──Rest assured. I won't take your commander away. At least, not now."
Marian's eyes widened in response to the whispered words. In other words──the moment she sensed something, Rudmila turned back to him and returned to his side.
"Servant. Lend me your coat. It's a bit embarrassing with just the shirt."
"...Embarrassing?"
"Oh, can't you see this?"
What she pointed at was the half-sleeved shirt Moore was wearing, which Rudmila had put on. The large, swollen neckline of the shirt, with its peak slightly lifting the fabric.
"...Ah, I see."
He realized it just now. As if to say so, he raised his hips and took out a coat of the same pattern from the closet, throwing it to Rudmila.
Rudmila put on the coat she received, slipping her arms through the sleeves. It was also quite loose and had extra sleeves. However, it was a decent size.
Wearing the coat, Rudmila passed through Marian's side. At that moment, she smiled meaningfully at her and left the commander's office. He watched her departing figure, and just as he was about to pick up his third cigarette──
"...Commander... Could you please put on some clothes?"
"...Can't you let me cool down a bit more?"
"RIGHT . NOW!"
---
"─Commander, why aren't you eating this splendid meat menu?"
"─I'm not in the mood."
In the lively dining hall of the barracks where even the mass-produced Nikke staff gathered, Moore's presence was unusual. Moreover, he had been sighing heavily since earlier.
Separated by dividers and placing a sautéed deer meat on a single rectangular food plate, he shrugged when Anis, sitting next to him, asked a question. He opened a can of beer and took a sip.
"...Ask Neon or Marian for details."
After swallowing the distinctive bitterness, he turned his gaze to two members of the squad who were having dinner at the same table.
Neon hesitated about how to explain, but Marian drank from a canned juice with a gloomy expression, a permanent pout on her cheek. Sensing that she was still upset, he didn't press the matter any further.
"...Well, let's not ask then."
"That would be appreciated."
"──But, this is delicious. We should occasionally go hunting in the North."
Rudmila was also present at the table. The meat had a different texture from cultured meat, and although it retained a hint of the beast's scent, it was flavorful enough to satisfy even the Queen.
"Well, for the sake of our livelihood, we might go hunting... Can you handle the butchering?"
"I watched the servant's way today, so it should be fine."
Thinking it might not be so easy, Moore raised an eyebrow with a question mark, but even he, who only had knowledge, could do it, so he reconsidered his thoughts.
As he was about to bring a forkful of venison to his mouth, the mobile device he had in the breast pocket of his coat, which he put on earlier, vibrated.
It was some kind of incoming call. Stopping his meal, he reached into the breast pocket and pulled out the mobile device.
Unlocking the screen with fingerprint authentication, he checked the incoming call, and immediately, a vertical crease appeared on Moore's forehead.
"...Rapi. Sorry, come here for a moment. The rest of you can stay."
Politely inviting Rapi, who was dining with them, Moore stood up. Rapi, who stood up after him, followed him as he left the dining hall. As soon as they reached the front of the lodge, Moore lit a cigarette with an oil lighter.
"What's the matter?"
Standing beside him, Rapi asked, and Moore showed her the screen of the mobile device that was still unlocked. The liquid crystal screen displayed a mail that had just arrived. The sender was──
"...Central Government...?"
"The content... you can see for yourself."
Handing over the mobile device to Rapi, Moore reached out to the six wolves that had come up to him. Stroking their dry fur, one by one, they lay down and exposed their bellies.
While Rapi, who had caught sight of him petting the wolves with their vulnerable bellies exposed, scrolled through the content of the email on Moore's mobile device screen with her fingertip, a frown appeared on her brow.
"...Training with the Central Government... The commander is going?"
"Apparently. It's an official order."
The training period was 10 days. The email stated that it was for the necessary education upon promotion to Major.
"...At this time, huh."
"...Yeah. Moreover, with the Central Government."
He didn't know what kind of education it was, but it could have been done in the Nikke Administration, their current affiliation. He couldn't understand the reason for conducting it separately or in a different faction. Rather than a reason, it was difficult to discern the true intent.
"...It smells fishy."
"...Yes."
"...If it's an order, I'll follow it, but I'll be absent for 10 days. While I'm away,I'll leave the squad leader position to Rapi, but..."
Exhaling a sigh and a puff of purple smoke, Moore looked up at Rapi.
He expressed his concern for them, despite heading to an environment akin to Rapture stomach. Unintentionally, she let out a wry smile to Moore, who showed his gratitude.
"...Leave it to us. We'll defend the outpost until you return. Of course, Marian too."
"...I'm counting on you."
Despite expressing his gratitude to Rapi, he seemed to be a little exhausted at the thought of going to such a demon's den. Even stroking the wolves didn't improve his mood.
----
Author's Note: Something's Moving.
