CH 156

Act 9: We’re Not In Any Relationship

On our way back to Nochtentoria Castle, I asked the others to keep silent about Mayer’s holy power. “It just so happens that all the elite members are here. There are no further people who need to know about his holy power. Any more than this and rumors will be leaking out.”

“Would that be troublesome?” Axion asked, puzzled. When thinking about the morale of the Dark Knights and my standing, it might be better to promote the matter as my merit instead of keeping it secret. It wasn’t such a good thing, however.

“The Dark Knights are the strongest even as things are. There’s no need to make the other expedition corps’ feel helpless, right?”

As I told August before, it would spell trouble if the other corps lost motivation and gave up on raiding dungeons. Going by some rough mental calculations, we needed to keep Mayer’s power a secret to some extent. I cast a sweeping gaze over each squad that had participated in this expedition. “Squad Darkfall is well known for being tight-lipped, and I trust that Axion will reign in the Red Wolves well. As for squad Purity…”

“W-we’ll never speak of it. Please trust me, Vice-captain,” Squad Purity’s leader said, gesturing hastily with his hand. He seemed afraid of falling out of favor with me since his squad had the lowest ranking of those who had joined here.

I laughed at the sight of him panicking and eased his worry. “Squad Purity’s trustworthy as well. In the first place, I wouldn’t have brought a squad I didn’t trust for the dragon-slaying.”

“Vice-captain…!” Purity’s leader teared up, seeming moved at my surprising show of trust. To be honest, though, the most worrisome out of us was the special unit. I glanced at Tragula. Whether he could keep a secret or not, the man’s trustworthiness was questionable. Then I saw him put on an ambiguous smile, one I could only interpret as a signal that he was going to be talking behind our backs. I may as well put a watch on him if need be.

After a firm warning to everyone, our expedition returned to Nochtentoria Castle. Even if we didn’t reveal that Mayer had manifested holy power, the dragon-slaying was quite a prominent achievement. Those who had remained at the castle happily welcomed us as we pulled in a load of loot: dragon bone, dragon scales, and so on. As for why they were happy, that was because the rich Dark Knights didn’t put the dungeon loot on auction to sell. Instead, the loot became equipment to be distributed among the corps members. The participating members of an expedition would get something each, while any leftovers would be for the others of the corps. Of course, the others would have to compete for those leftovers, but that was expected within the Dark Knights. Although not comparable to artifacts, weapons and armor made of dragon materials were also rare since they were so hard to get.

As our expedition had been a large one, a homecoming ceremony awaited us. Once everyone was assembled, Mayer said, “If not for the vice-captain insisting on the Furka dungeon raid, we would not have made today’s achievement. As such, the best set of equipment to be made from the dragon materials shall be awarded to her.”

Hang on, he had never told me about that! I shot a bewildered look at Mayer as the man hadn’t even consulted me about this. I felt I had already received enough gifts for the Furka dungeon raid. He had given me artifacts, and the Dragon’s Orb as well. Of course, I had no intention of refusing presents. But what equipment would I need considering how I was pretty much draped in artifacts? Even if I were to have two pairs of boots, I only had one pair of feet, didn’t I?

I decided then to give whatever surplus equipment to the special unit members. Even if I didn’t need them, that didn’t mean the others were the same. But what was I to do if the other participating members of the expedition protested…?

Feeling troubled, I hastily surveyed the atmosphere among the Dark Knights. Then I saw the dragon expedition’s members all nod in agreement as if I deserved the best set of equipment. Since the high contributing members agreed on the matter, there was no way the others of the corps could complain. At this point, I felt that they too acknowledged that my position as the vice-captain was firmly secure.

And so, the homecoming ended without problems, but a problem remained.

“I must ask you, Sister. Do you even intend on shaking off the scandalous rumors with His Excellency?”

“Of course I do… I do, but…” I fell into reflection, head hung before August. The Dark Knights had asked various things about me from the dragon expedition members. They had plenty of curiosity about the half-year spent in the dungeon along with the special unit, no doubt. Since they found it hard to ask me, they tried asking the others that had joined the dragon-slaying. They mainly went for the easiest ones to talk to, which was squad Purity.