Division 01 of the infantry Royal capital, Lindia Year: XVI
Lieutenant NIZZO Ame From Division 1, Left Wing.
Madam, Bariota Miyuri Queen of the noble land of Alyss
Time: 6 AM
Subject: Arrival in Division 1
Today, I have just been placed under the command of the Captain of the first division. Currently summoned to the royal hall during this time, I am preparing the teams for our next expedition to the city of Nizzo. We are in good spirits because the famous Captain is accompanying us.
NIZZO
I walked down the corridors after leaving that damn throne room. There's no denying it—she's really clingy. I don't think she's cruel, but I'm sure she's plotting something. I sighed, exhausted from that so-called audience.
"Finally free… from that kind of dirty viper. And that? Is she really a queen?"
— "Nice to meet you, Captain of the First Division!"
"Hm? Who's that?"
— "I am Lieutenant Ame, from Division 01. It's an honor!"
"Excuse me? Ah… nice to meet you. I am the Captain of Division 01. It's rare to see a lieutenant at just twenty years old—congratulations."
— "No! The honor is all mine. To work with the strongest woman in the kingdom is my greatest privilege!"
"Thank you, but I don't deserve so much praise."
— "No, I insist!"
I looked at Lieutenant Ame with indescribable embarrassment. Not because of his age, no… but because he reminded me of a puppy wagging its tail in front of its mistress. That's exactly the kind of embarrassment I felt toward him. I asked for a report on their preparations, fully expecting to have to correct his work. But his answer caught me off guard.
— "The Captain of Division 46 will accompany us on the next expedition, so I finished our preparations ahead of them, My Captain."
"Good."
Impressive… today's youth really are remarkably independent.
I stepped toward the carriage and gave the destination to the coachman. Meanwhile, the lieutenant summoned the soldiers of our division for the mission briefing. Those dear little soldiers—loyal, disciplined… Too bad half the officers leading them are brainless morons. I sighed, which Lieutenant Ame immediately noticed. Ignoring it, I approached him and began the briefing.
"Today we head to the village of Nizzo. I know little about the town, other than they make good alcohol. We'll stop in the village of Marmari first. Departure in thirty minutes. Break!"
Just thinking about it gives me a headache… Why can't I ever work solo? I climbed into the carriage where Ame was already waiting. The moment the wheels began to turn, the atmosphere froze. Silence, to me, is the mother of safety. The less said, the less that can be leaked.
— "So, you've never been to Nizzo, My Captain?"
What a pain in the neck this guy is.
"No, never. My last mission focused on the neighboring country, in case war broke out. But… reading your file, I saw that you're from Nizzo?"
— "Yes! The landscape is magnificent. And you'll see—we're arriving just as the trees are blooming."
"…Okay?"
I was about to sink back into my thoughts when, two hours into the journey, an explosion shattered the silence. Again? Can't I even have thirty minutes of peace? I called to the coachman for answers—but when I looked, his body slumped forward. His head was… gone. My eyes widened. Without hesitation, I leapt from the carriage, Ame right behind me.
- "Bandits!!!"
I drew my sword, scanning left. But then a heavy presence rushed from behind. I spun just in time to block a massive strike. The attacker's face was hidden behind a scarf. With a sharp motion, I countered. My blade tore through him, splitting him in two. Blood splattered across me, soaking into my uniform. I looked to the right, my annoyance growing. They weren't after us—they were aiming for the supply wagons.
"Tch."
I sprinted toward the cargo, cutting down bandits one after another, my sword carving a crimson path through the chaos.
"How sticky they are…"
Finally arriving at the cargo, I cut down the surrounding bandits and shouted to protect the supplies. A group of five men closed in on me, sandwiching me between their blades. My vigilance faltered for a moment amidst their overwhelming numbers. My hand brushed against my simple sword. With a flick of my middle finger, the stone set in the ring flared to life, igniting the blade with a fire enchantment.
Time to make a bonfire.
I slashed through the first man so quickly that all he must have seen was a blur before his body split apart. Turning toward the second, I advanced as he leapt at me. Fear gripped him; he trembled so violently that his armor rattled like broken bells. In the next instant, I stood before him and took his head clean off. Blood sprayed across me, dyeing my white uniform a deep crimson.
"Damn it… this is going to be a pain to wash off!"
I shook the severed head aside and brushed at my clothes in vain. The battlefield echoed with explosions—someone screaming, someone dying. Wherever the blood fell, I made an appearance to clean it up with my blade.
"AAAAH!"
Another bandit lunged at me. I snapped my head toward him, my glare alone making him freeze. Terror locked his limbs in place. I swung down mercilessly, splitting him open, then moved with deliberate precision, killing the others with such refined control that I avoided being stained again. The display sent a visible shiver down Lieutenant Ame's spine.
— "Tell me, Captain, do you moonlight for a tomato farm?" he asked, grinning ear to ear.
"Does that make you laugh, idiot?!" I barked, cursing his entire family tree under my breath.
But before I could strike him, a bandit emerged from behind and slammed into me, sending me crashing forward into Ame. He caught me, then instantly froze the attacker in place with his enchantment. And just like that—I was pressed against him. His warmth seeped into me before I could understand what had happened. To my own surprise, I found myself snuggling closer, almost entranced.
— "Are you alright, Captain?"
"It's nothing…"
But a huge gash stretched across my back. Embarrassed, I pulled away, while Ame scowled at his blood-soaked coat. I barely understood his complaints; a searing warmth spread through my body, followed by an unnatural chill. My left eye throbbed with unbearable pain—the pain I thought I had forgotten. The pain that should have stayed buried.
— "Captain? Are you alright?"
"Yes… yes, everything's fine."
I turned away, hiding my left eye from his sight. The ache dragged forth memories I wished I'd never relive.
— "My Captain… your back… it's already healed. How?"
"It's a gift from His Majesty," I muttered coldly.
A soldier rushed up to report.
— "No losses on our side, only two wounded. Unfortunately, the coachman has passed away. I'll take his role from here on."
"Good. We'll arrive in Marmari in two hours. We'll stop there for the night. Collect the bandits' corpses and burn them at the edge of the village. Break!"
— "Yes, Captain!"
We boarded the carriage again. I removed my bloodstained coat, leaving only my Captain's uniform. Lieutenant Ame's eyes flicked toward me, and he couldn't resist commenting.
— "That uniform… it suits you perfectly."
"Thank you. From the rank of Captain, the uniform changes. But it's too flashy, so I prefer the coat."
— "Why? I think it looks good with your white hair. Tell me, Captain… which region of the kingdom do you come from? White hair isn't common in the Capital."
"…It's a peculiarity of my family."
His endless questions grated on my nerves, and I answered curtly. Still, I caught the way his eyes lingered on my chest—where the unbuttoned jacket revealed more than I would've liked. When we finally arrived in Marmari, we headed straight for the military camp. It was 5 PM, and the soldiers' morale was already low.
"Good. I'm giving you free time until tomorrow. But first—burn the bodies before they rot."
The soldiers stayed in the camp, while Ame and the second lieutenant made their way to the inn.
— "Are you coming with us, Captain? We're going to greet the innkeeper."
"Go ahead without me. I'll check the food stock."
— "Alright. We'll wait for you there."
As I looked up at the dusky sky, the neighing of horses drew my gaze. From the road came the 46th Division, their banners flapping in the evening wind. Their Captain dismounted and approached me with a salute.
— "Did you encounter bandits on the road?"
I smirked, shrugging. "Unfortunately, they didn't survive to tell the tale."
Suddenly, he burst out laughing. His laughter was so loud it shattered my eardrums.
"Tch… shut up. You're killing my ears."
— "Well, well… you haven't changed a bit since the last time I saw you. Still got that good-student vibe with those glasses! Tell me, are you still as uptight as ever?"
His hand slipped to my backside. My sword was at his throat in an instant.
"If you don't remove that wandering hand, I'll slice you into rings."
He only burst into laughter, pulling away as though it were all a joke.
"I'm done here. I'll head to the inn. When you're finished, we'll share a drink, Captain of the 46th."
Tilti thanked me for the invitation, saying he had things to finish before joining us. I raised a hand in vague acknowledgment and left without another word. The inn stood before me—its architecture unlike anything I'd seen in years. It reminded me of an older country I once knew. I stepped inside, only to be intercepted by Lieutenant Ame.
— "Captain, would you care to join me in the common room for a drink?"
"I'll be right there. First, I need to change. I'm not spending the evening in this filthy outfit."
— "Then I'll take you to your room."
"Thank you."
As we walked down the corridors, I asked, "What do you think of those bandits?"
— "The roads to Nizzo aren't safe anymore, that much is certain."
"Do you have any idea why, Lieutenant?"
— "Call me Ame. We're off duty until tomorrow."
"…Fine. Ame, then—what's your guess?"
— "Since our kingdom conquered Nizzo's lands, many of its people have been left unemployed. Some turn to banditry."
"I see… that explains it." I glanced sideways. "But tell me—why did you act so strangely earlier?"
— "This," he tugged at his clothing. "It's a traditional Nizzo kimono. You'll find one prepared in your room, Captain."
When we arrived, I was struck again by the design. A sliding door opened onto a veranda with a perfectly kept garden. But what caught me off guard—there was no bed.
"…Where exactly am I supposed to sleep?"
Ame chuckled, pointing at the wall. "There. The bedding is stored in that shelf."
"Fascinating…"
— "You should lay it out now. Who knows when you'll return tonight."
"You might be right."
I pulled out the sheets, with Ame helping me. From the corner of my eye, I noticed a robe hanging neatly.
"What's that?"
— "A yukata."
"It's beautiful… magnificent."
— "Put it on. I'm sure it will suit you perfectly."
I looked around, but saw no bathroom. Ame gestured toward the hot springs. Without another word, I hurried off. The warmth of the springs melted my fatigue as if it had never existed. By the time I returned, Ame was gazing at the moon through the veranda.
"So, Lieutenant, are we getting melancholic now?" I teased.
But when he turned, I caught sadness in his eyes. His gaze shifted upward—only to freeze. I followed his line of sight and realized: I was standing there, lightly dressed, my robe barely fastened. His face turned crimson as he covered his eyes. I didn't ask. I simply grabbed the yukata.
"Tell me… how do you wear this thing?"
— "Pfft—hahaha! Go behind the windbreak, I'll explain it step by step."
I did as he said, lamp in hand. Behind the screen, I began to undress. A dull noise echoed. I peeked out, holding my shirt to my chest, only to find Ame staring firmly at a painting on the wall. With his clumsy instructions, I managed to slip into the yukata. When I emerged, his face was flushed red.
"And why exactly are you embarrassed?" I asked.
He didn't answer.
I was about to raise my voice when a familiar sound interrupted.
"Meow?"
"…A cat?"
The feline darted past the veranda. Its shadow flickered across the paper screen, and I froze. Embarrassed, I turned to Ame.
"…You saw everything, didn't you?"
He didn't answer. He simply stood and left the room in silence. The embarrassment weighed on me like chains. The very thought of leaving this room became torture. Still, after a moment, I forced myself out and made my way to the common room. There, I ran into Captain Tilti.
"Going somewhere, Captain? Let's head to the common room together," he suggested.
I nodded stiffly and followed. Inside, Ame and the sub-lieutenant were already drinking without us. When I approached, Tilti grinned and nudged me.
"Introduce me to these young ones, won't you?"
I gestured toward them. "This is the second lieutenant under Ame's command. And this—" I turned. "Lieutenant Ame… remind me, what's your full name again?"
Ame rose abruptly, startling Tilti.
"My name is Lieutenant Ame Nizzo. An honor to meet you, Captain Tilti."
"…Nizzo?" Tilti muttered.
Ame downed another cup of sake. Tilti laughed boisterously.
"Easy drinker, huh? Not like our dear Captain stick-in-the-mud here!"
His hand drifted toward my rear again. My glare cut him sharper than any sword, freezing him in place. Still, Ame caught the motion from the corner of his eye. Tilti shot him a venomous look in return.
"Nevertheless, that yukata suits you perfectly, Captain. A little erotic, even~"
I ignored him, tugging my robe looser as a sharp pain struck my chest. The cloth slipped slightly, baring more skin than I intended.
Tilti smirked. "Ame, if you don't act soon, she'll slip right through your fingers!"
"Shut up, Tilti!" Ame snapped.
I sat beside him and poured myself a cup. The liquid burned pleasantly down my throat.
"…What is this?"
"Sake," Ame answered.
"It's… very good."
"I'm glad to hear that."
But my worst habit resurfaced. Before I knew it, I had drained an entire bottle by myself. The world blurred, the voices around me fading into haze. Captain Tilti and the sub-lieutenant slumped over, drunk. Only Ame remained awake.
"Tell me, Captain…" his voice broke the silence.
"…What, Ame?"
"…Do you have someone in your life?"
"…Not anymore."
His expression darkened, regret flashing across his face. That pity—it made my blood boil. It reminded me of that bastard from my past. I turned, climbing into Ame's lap. His eyes widened in shock.
"Captain—what are you doing?"
I leaned closer. My yukata loosened, the fabric sliding, exposing pale skin to the lamplight. My lips pressed against his. Tears welled in my eyes, streaming down my cheeks.
Ame's hands trembled as he pulled me back.
"I… I can't."
But the alcohol stripped me of restraint. I forced the kiss again, clinging to him.
"Please…" My voice cracked as I whispered against his lips. "Help me forget… the man I loved."
For a long moment, Ame froze. Then, with a pained expression, he gathered me into his arms. His fingers brushed the edges of my yukata, sliding the cloth from my shoulders. But before his lips could meet mine again… I slumped forward.
"…She fell asleep," he muttered, his voice tight.
The alcohol had stolen away what little control I had left.