Chapter 68

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: A Fiery Disguise
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Nirua tried out the disguise as a test.

Nirua’s special effects makeup skills were a cheat code in their own right, completely separate from elemental abilities. With just a paste made from certain ingredients, he could create any color or texture he wanted.

He disguised Rick and his troops to look like completely different people.

To any observer, they would have looked like a band of mercenaries who’d been roughing it for a good twenty years.

To think he had transformed Rick’s otherwise sharp features into the face of a drunk old man.

“...Truly, seeing it in person is even more amazing.”

As I muttered, Nirua bowed his head.

“You’re too kind.”

But there was one thing that couldn’t be hidden.

“It’s like I’ve become a new person. Artifacts that change one’s appearance make it difficult to fight because a strange magic flows through the body, but this…”

On Rick’s face, as he clenched and unclenched his fist in admiration…

“...If Sir Rick just doesn’t smile, the disguise will be perfect.”

…a radiant smile was plastered on his face.

Well, a disguise couldn’t hide a smile.

At my words, I saw Pielle bow her head.

I could have sworn she was just smiling a moment ago.

And behind Rick, the legion of mercenary look-alikes—no, his subordinate intelligence agents and enforcers—were visibly trying to suppress their laughter.

In that moment, Rick’s smile vanished as if by magic, and he turned to look at them.

“You’re laughing in the presence of the Lord and Lady?”

At his quiet voice, order was instantly restored. The enforcers stared straight ahead, their faces hardening.

And Rick once again became a cheerful old man.

The lord he mentioned, Diello, simply watched them with curiosity, saying nothing.

Of course, the same was true for me.

“...The disguise is finished. If you bake this lightly with fire, it will last a long time, but with too strong a flame, you could get burned, so with dying embers—”

Nirua was continuing his explanation when it happened.

Rick raised his hand.

—*Fwoosh!*

A flame briefly flared up on Rick’s face and disappeared.

“Like this?”

Setting his own face on fire with such a bright smile.

It was only for a moment, but I instinctively squeezed Diello’s hand.

“Croire?”

Diello, who turned to look at me with a questioning gaze, seemed unfazed.

…This man is bold in strange ways. Is it because he’s used to it?

“…I was just a little surprised.”

At my words, Diello took a step in front of me, as if to shield me from Rick.

“It’s okay, Diello.”

“Croire shouldn’t be uncomfortable.”

Diello whispered, then turned to look at Rick.

“...!”

But Rick, whose eyes met his, flinched.

Like a herbivore encountering a predator.

Before I could wonder why, Rick gave a sharp, silent bow.

“I will be more careful in the future, my lady.”

His attitude changed so suddenly it was like he was a different person, and it felt jarring.

“…Diello?”

I took a step forward and looked back at Diello. He wore his usual gentle expression.

“Yes, Croire?”

He probably didn’t freeze up seeing this expression.

“Did you just make a scary face?”

At my words, Diello blinked. Then he narrowed his eyes and looked at me.

“Are you perhaps talking about this expression?”

“…”

That was the face of someone dissatisfied with their meal that I saw last time.

“No.”

I waved my hand. What was important now wasn’t how Diello had scared Rick.

“Heat-treat the makeup yourselves so it lasts as long as possible, and be careful it doesn’t come off on the day of the operation.”

At my words, Rick bowed his head.

“I will keep that in mind.”

And the men behind him, all at once…

—*Fwoosh!*

…set their faces on fire.

I couldn’t help but flinch again.

I clearly saw Diello’s eyes narrow at that moment.

So this was the expression Rick saw.

It certainly looked like he was angry, but…

…it’s still Diello.

“…I told you I was just a little surprised. Don’t be angry.”

It seemed I was the only one here who was surprised. That meant I was the one being sensitive, not that they did anything wrong.

Diello smiled warmly at my words.

“If you are this merciful, I worry that some will take you lightly, Croire.”

I couldn’t bring myself to retort in front of the servants.

Shouldn’t Diello be the last person to have that concern?

Just then, someone muttered beside me.

“…They’re setting their faces on fire.”

I wondered who else was surprised besides me, and it was Nirua.

He had a bewildered expression.

It must have been a bizarre spectacle even for a former assassin who had seen it all.

“Oh, it seems to get harder the more you bake it.”

In front of him, Rick started to set his face on fire again, saying he would test its limits.

Perhaps conscious of Diello, he turned away from me. But I could still clearly see his hand flaring up.

“…”

The nickname ‘the cheerful psycho’ wasn’t for nothing.

While I was having this realization, there was someone else having a similar one.

“…Are all of Argenta’s swords like that?”

It was Nirua. And beside him, Pielle spoke.

“No.”

She said it in a very firm voice, as if she really hated being lumped in with them.

“Rick is the peculiar one.”

As she said that, Pielle glanced at me.

As if asking me to believe her.

* * *

The Kin Merchant Guild secretly handled Argenta’s supplies.

They quickly carried out the order from Argenta.

The new supplies they prepared looked truly massive on the outside.

The number of wagons mobilized was incomparable to the last time.

And among them, a few of Rick’s enforcers, disguised as mercenaries, joined the convoy.

We had prepared a sufficiently tempting bait for those who sought to disrupt our supply lines.

And in addition to that.

“Prepare the goods in advance so that we can deliver them immediately after dealing with the enemies.”

I sent them a separate order for the herb supply.

“As you command.”

This way, even if it was later than usual, we could prevent the supply from being excessively delayed.

Or so I thought, but a few days later, a problem arose.

“It seems a problem has arisen because of the changing seasons as spring approaches.”

An intelligence agent reported with a troubled face.

“There is someone who has been continuously taking medicine for an inflammation that won’t subside, but due to this supply issue, the medicine was delayed and the inflammation has worsened.”

I frowned at those words.

“He needs a stronger herb, but it happens to be in the blocked supply shipment…”

He trailed off with a troubled expression.

Nias, who had gone to see the man personally under Diello’s orders, also had a grim look on his face.

“The recent weather has had large daily temperature fluctuations, which seems to have taken a toll on the patient.”

He said with a troubled face.

“If he doesn’t get the medicine in time, the inflammation will spread.”

It was an inflammation caused by a monster’s mana, so it tormented a person horribly.

“Then…”

Nias said in a calm but heavy voice.

“He could die.”

“…”

I looked at Diello. He also had a serious expression.

“Of course, the Argenta members receiving the supplies also understand the situation. They said they would humbly accept the circumstances,” the intelligence agent said then.

In short, they wouldn’t resent us even if he died.

I frowned at his words.

Saying it like that only made me more concerned.

He was an Argenta member loyal enough to want to defend the 7th Sector from the northwest even with his ailing body.

Moreover, he had even sent a message saying he was fine, lest the lord and lady worry.

According to Nias, the pain was so bad he could barely open his mouth.

“Croire.”

Just then, Diello took my hand.

“…Ah.”

Only then did I realize I had been clenching my fist tightly. He took my hand, which had turned white where my nails dug in.

My somewhat cold hand was enveloped in warmth.

“I think there might be a way.”

At those words, I looked back at Diello.

Diello looked at me with sparkling eyes.

“Since Croire taught me, I should put it to good use.”

…I taught him what?

While I gaped slightly, Diello stood up.

He brought a map and spread it out in front of me.

Everyone’s gaze gathered on the map.

“I heard the necessary herbs are in the wagon that’s supposed to follow after we deal with the enemy. If we can just supply those herbs separately, the urgent problem will be solved.”

He pointed at the supply route.

But it was impossible to deliver the herbs in time without crossing the large swamp in question.

And we couldn’t change the plan to melt the swamp and wipe out the enemies all at once at this point.

“…If we could freeze the swamp again.”

My eyes suddenly widened. Diello smiled brightly.

“That’s right, Croire.”

His eyes sparkled.

“We just need to take the enemy’s artifact and use this swamp ourselves.”

The Alloje who would freeze the wide swamp solid with that artifact was none other than me.

“Diello!”

I hugged him, the one who had presented the perfect solution, without even thinking.

“Did I learn well?”

Diello asked with a low laugh.

“Of course.”

The question of whether I had taught him something like this vanished in an instant.

The important thing was that something heartbreaking didn’t have to happen.

That we wouldn’t have to watch a loyal man die helplessly.

Diello smiled at me with satisfaction. Then he placed a short kiss on the back of my hand.

“I’m so glad I have you, Croire.”

Truly.

He whispered in a soft voice. Another short kiss landed on my hand.

Warm and sweet.

“…”

I could see the others studiously looking elsewhere.

…It was only then that I realized I had grown used to Diello’s physical affection.

I also realized then that my cheeks were already flushed.

Goodness.

I shouldn’t get used to this. I covered my cheeks with both hands.

Diello burst out laughing.