The rank-and-file soldiers and sergeants definitely wouldn't stick their noses into conflicts between senior officers, and the commandant's "entourage" only numbered around thirty men. At most, maybe a third of them would fight to the bitter end. The rest? Hard to say.
But even if all thirty came at us, my squad and I could handle them without much trouble.
I slipped back into camp at full sunrise and nearly walked straight into the sentries. After all, I'd been on my feet for nearly a full day, including an energetic sprint through mountain trails. My stamina had held out, but fatigue was finally making itself known. My attention and reflexes had dulled, and that could become dangerous.
Still, whatever. It was over now.
At last, a tent, a warm bed, and at least a couple hours of sleep awaited me.
"Oh, you're back!" Suki greeted me, sounding unusually pleased about something. "How'd it go?"
"About as expected. Our new friend isn't nearly as devoted a patriot concerned with the people's welfare as he likes to pretend," I muttered, stripping off my armor and yawning. Bed… just wait a little longer, I'm almost there. "In a couple days, we'll officially inform him of that fact. So, how's the alibi? Everything alright?"
"More than alright. I took your advice, so feel free to sleep until noon if you want. I doubt anyone will dare disturb you."
"Suki, you're amazing. I love you," I informed the girl in a half-asleep mumble before wrapping my arms around the graceful waist of the beauty lying in my bed and instantly passing out—completely failing to realize that the warrior's voice had come from the armchair, not the bed.
"Morning" promised to be entertaining.
***
I woke up around ten, and the first thing I saw was Dandan's stunned, embarrassed face.
"Hmmm…" Well, what else was there to say in a situation like this? "Suki, you've changed quite a bit overnight…"
"H-Herald, I…" At that moment, the hand that had been wrapped around the girl's waist drifted higher and closed around something pleasantly soft. "Eeep!" Her quiet squeak immediately drew attention.
"Quite a bit indeed," I mused. Her chest was slightly fuller, though just as firm.
"And after this you still claim you 'weren't doing anything improper'?" the valiant commander remarked from the armchair, clearly expecting… what exactly? Embarrassment? Denial?
Yeah, no. She'd brought this upon herself. She still didn't know my nature nearly well enough.
"There's a beautiful girl in my bed. The truly improper—and frankly alarming—signal would've been if I hadn't done anything." Squeeze-squeeze.
"M-Master Chan…" The warrior tried to squirm away somehow, but who was going to let her?
"By the way, how exactly did she end up there, in your rightful place?" My relationship with Suki wasn't exactly a secret, so we could talk about it openly enough. Well, assuming one ignored minor details like the presence of other people. Personally, I couldn't care less, and watching the "commander mom" slowly boil over in embarrassment was honestly pretty enjoyable.
"For your information, under your direct orders, which means you're shamelessly abusing your high position right now!" the girl snapped, planting her hands on her hips. "And maybe you could stop groping her while I'm right here?"
Oh, yes. Her boiling point had definitely risen. And those jealous notes in her voice…
Though perhaps I really was going a little too far.
Or maybe not?
"So it's fine when you're not around?" I summarized with perfect "logic."
"Grrrrr!"
She launched herself at me.
"Eep! Master Chan, Suki, stop it!" Dandan squeaked helplessly, caught in the middle of our scuffle.
The entire scene gained a special sort of spice from the fact that all three of us were in bed and, to put it mildly, not especially dressed. I wore only underpants, my "captive" had on nothing but a nightgown, while the leader of the warriors was clad in a thin house kimono that didn't leave much to the imagination either.
At the most critical moment—Suki sitting on top of me trying to strangle me, Dandan torn between concern for her beloved commander and her commander's beloved commander, and therefore wedged between us trying either to separate us or accidentally smother me with the breasts that kept bumping into my face—a fourth participant entered the tent.
Ju had brought "breakfast" and was now staring in shock at the tangle of bodies sprawled across the bed.
"I-I'll probably come back later," the warrior managed weakly before sloooowly retreating toward the exit.
"STOP!"
Suki and I barked the command in perfect unison.
"Eek!" The poor girl froze mid-step.
"Alright," I said, "how about we all calm down a little, think this through, and then somebody explains what exactly is going on here and how a certain someone ended up in my bed. Not that I'm particularly against it, but this is a bit unexpected."
"Fine," Suki muttered after catching her breath. Leaning back against my chest, she cast suspicious glances at the other girls. "Long story short, I really didn't feel like putting on a performance half the night. People need sleep regularly, you know? So I split the watch between Ju, Dandan, and myself. While the other two slept, the third would, um… provide sound effects." She averted her gaze awkwardly.
(End of Chapter)
🙌Bonus chapter for 300 power stones!
🔥The next bonus chapter will be for 500 power stones.