CH 142

Even if the position was forced on me, I had a duty to fulfill as the second in command of the Dark Knights. While I pondered on how to ease Mayer’s mood, the camp was set up and dinner readied. Each squad gathered up in a circle. Sitting like this, the characteristics and ranks of each group were clearly visible. Squad Darkfall shared a solid atmosphere of their own. To the side, the Red Wolves were raucous like they were holding a college drinking party. On the other side, squad Purity was busy being careful around the rest. As for the members of the special unit, each one was doing as they pleased.

“Vice-captain, over here! We were waiting to eat with you!” Sevi called out to me, hand raised high. It was a kind of custom for squads to have meals by themselves. But as I was on my way to where the kids were, I caught sight of Mayer’s tent. It was set up by itself; unlike the others, the captain would eat alone. For some reason, though, I felt he was more like an outcast than a leader enjoying his special privilege. Although I didn’t know who was leaving out who… The man usually exuded an atmosphere that didn’t welcome others, after all.

I sighed softly. Anyone could tell that this wasn’t a desirable situation at all. I considered bringing him out to have his meal with everyone else, but bringing out the superior who was in self-quarantine…? It would be too horrible for the others. They’d end up suffering indigestion, no doubt. I couldn’t sacrifice the other corps members for Mayer’s sake, or else everyone might end up in a terrible condition due to belly aches. Making up my mind, I said to Sevi, “Nah, you guys eat by yourselves.”

“What?”

“I’ll be having dinner with the captain.”

As soon as I spoke, the merry-making atmosphere died, replaced by a dreadful stillness. Axion forgot to even swallow the bread in his mouth as he asked, “…With His Excellency?”

“Yes. It feels a bit wrong to let him eat alone, you know,” I spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, but the others didn’t seem to agree. They looked at me as if I were some champion standing before a decisive battle. Come on, it was just having dinner. Why were they acting like I was walking into a lion’s cage or something…?

The leader of squad Purity foolishly scratched the back of his neck. Deeply concerned, he asked, “V-Vice-captain. H-His Excellency must be in the middle of his meal… Wouldn’t it be better not to disturb him?” He looked genuinely worried about me in case I ended up provoking Mayer’s ire. I did choose Purity’s squad leader because he looked like a nice person, but… It had been a long time since I felt goodwill from someone I wasn’t familiar with.

“He’s right. The captain looked cranky all day long too…” Axion added. Everyone seemed to think that Mayer would chase me out. Still, to beard a lion, you had to go into his den.

“Mm… I’ll try asking once.”

With an awkward laugh, I took my meal tray and headed over to Mayer’s tent. The attention following me was making me embarrassed. After clearing my throat with a small cough, I carefully called out, “Your Excellency. It’s me, Jun. May I come in?”

There I stood, before a lion’s cage, or a tiger’s den… There was a moment of silence from the foreboding tent. Everyone held their breaths, waiting for the voice that would come out. Before long, Mayer answered, “…Come in.”

“Yeek!”

All the doubters who were sure I’d get a fierce reprimand looked between me and the tent in amazement. Meanwhile, August, the special unit, and Vegan were calm as if they had seen this coming. They had all seen how Mayer acted up around me.

“Well… The vice-captain even drinks together with His Excellency. He probably won’t even mind having his meal interrupted much,” Sevi remarked with a spoon in his mouth.

“Right. I bet he’ll be happy if she suggested eating together,” Robur added in agreement. Julieta nodded quietly as well.

At that moment, a member of Darkfall who had been eating quietly interrupted to ask Sevi, “A moment, please. Will you tell me more about that?”

“Sorry? What are you talking about?”

“Uh, about the vice-captain drinking together with His Excellency.”

Squad Darkfall didn’t get along well with the others and that could be why they were unaware of the rumors going around Nochtentoria Castle. I glanced their way in anxious worry. It would be bad if Sevi said something strange and I ended up in Darkfall’s bad books.

“Jun?”

But Mayer was waiting for me inside the tent. As I couldn’t delay for long, I could only walk in, hoping that Sevi would deliver the story with some sugar coating.