"......If you’re not going to merge with Agavert, then disband Tregava already. At least take that off. At this rate, you’ll end up with a serious injury."

Tesetan clenched his fist under the table.

Ever since the duel ended, he had shut himself inside the base and done nothing.

Maybe it was because for the past several years he had been running without a single day of rest. Sitting still like this felt unfamiliar.

"You were shouting that you’d never merge even if it killed you. But now that it’s come down to disbanding Tregava, it looks like you’re hesitating after all."

In the end, Tesetan glared fiercely at Allerik.

"Out."

Allerik shook his head.

"I was leaving anyway."

He set food and drink down on Tesetan’s table, then stepped back.

Once outside, Allerik let out a heavy sigh.

"What are you even planning to do..."

But as he went down the stairs, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Seriously? Two more came yesterday?"

In front of the long-neglected, cluttered entrance.

Ribia, slightly crouched, was talking to someone.

Her conversation partner was the King of the Dead.

'......Cute?'

Ribia thought, watching Astie chirping in front of her.

"So I just came to tell you that. Agavert only needs one more person now, and it’ll become a large mercenary squad. The one who came yesterday is Uncle Rio. We decided his nickname will be Nemo."

"I see?"

"Yeah! Well then, I’ll be going."

It was obviously ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) a disguise, but honestly, for this level, it was pretty good.

Suddenly she recalled how, on the Northern Continent, Allerik had disguised himself while dealing with the order’s fanatics.

Back then, Allerik had dressed as a woman. Ribia had been so disgusted she’d nearly thrown up.

While she was thinking about that, the King of the Dead bent deeply at the waist, gave a polite bow, and turned around.

But immediately caught on the scattered junk in the entryway and staggered badly.

"What a mess... how many holes are there."

Before she realized it, Ribia grabbed his hand to steady him.

Coming back to himself, the King of the Dead looked at her with unexpected embarrassment.

"Th-tha... tha... thank you, auntie!"

And then he bolted outside.

"Auntie...?"

Ribia stared at the closed door when Allerik approached from behind.

"Already betrayed us?"

Ribia flinched and jumped up. Then, with an offended expression, she said:

"How is that betrayal?"

"The squad leader is locked in his room like that. And meanwhile you’re getting friendly with the one who put him in this state. That’s betrayal."

Ribia opened her mouth.

Allerik lightly pressed his palm against her forehead.

"Act normal, Ribia."

Watching Allerik walk away, Ribia suddenly snapped out of it. She immediately ran after him and grabbed his arm.

Allerik slowly turned around.

"What."

"Allerik."

Ribia lowered her voice and whispered. Allerik frowned.

She pulled him toward the corner of the kitchen. Food left by squad members was scattered everywhere.

Allerik grimaced at the smell, while Ribia quickly continued:

"You don’t actually mind either, do you?"

"......Mind what."

"Living together with Agavert."

Allerik, who had frozen for a moment, let out a sigh. Shaking his head, he looked Ribia in the eyes.

"And what if we don’t mind? The squad leader is fiercely against it."

"But you too, right? You like the King of the Dead."

Allerik fell silent.

Did he like the King of the Dead? Honestly... a little, yes.

All this time, the one going mad had been Tesetan, not the King of the Dead.

"Do you know what he said today? That if they recruit just one more person, their squad will become a large one."

"......"

"And do you think he only came today? Yesterday too, the day before, and even earlier."

In truth, Allerik knew that as well.

For some reason, the King of the Dead kept climbing over the fence and coming into Tregava’s base almost every day.

Once, someone from Agavert—Bale or whatever his name was—climbed over the wall and dragged the King of the Dead back.

And the bases were practically next door.

The conversations in the garden between the King of the Dead and his squad were far too easy to overhear.

"Do you even know what you’re doing?! Is that house smeared with honey or something? You should be taking care of your own squad members like that! There are plenty of rookies who can’t adapt!"

"Ayy, Bale oppa, why are you always nagging?! Nagging is bad! Kids have rights too!"

"Rights?! Hey, I already respect you plenty, what more do you want! We do everything you ask, and you’re still upset!"

"Tie is upset too! Do you know what turns a good child into a bad one? Adults who nag!"

"Where did you even pick that up...!"

The conversations between the King of the Dead and his people were quite strange.

And the fact that they didn’t call him "squad leader." And that they kept calling him a baby, a child...

But as usual, they didn’t think much of it.

The King of the Dead being obsessed with hiding his identity was nothing new.

"The King of the Dead, you know... he’s very friendly toward us."

Allerik snapped out of his thoughts.

"Honestly, after the squad leader declared there would be no merger, all of this should’ve ended."

"......"

"But he still keeps coming and acting friendly."

"......"

"And from what I heard, they’re increasing their numbers because our squad is bigger—so we don’t lose face."

"......Did he say that?"

"No. That’s just my impression."

For a moment, Allerik was at a loss for words and fell into thought.

Then Ribia tugged on his sleeve.

"Listen, Allerik."

"......What."

"Let’s try persuading him."

"Who."

"The squad leader! Let’s try to change his mind."

Ribia nodded toward the stairs.

"Have you ever seen him like this? He always charges straight ahead no matter what. Just think about the duel."

"......"

"And now that same person says, ‘No merger! Only disbandment!’—and drags things out? And clearly racks his brain while locked in his room?"

"......"

"He’s not sure. He’s hesitating—whether disbanding is the right choice, or if they should merge."

"......"

Ribia cupped Allerik’s face with both hands.

"So let’s do it."

"......Do what."

"Take responsibility and turn his opinion around. Even if, after merging, the position of squad leader goes to the King of the Dead—so what? Who told him to fight him?"

Allerik removed her hands from his face and frowned.

"Fine. But were you cutting up meat again?"

An awkward expression appeared on Ribia’s face.

"Huh? Well... the guys wanted pork, so I just... broke it down a little."

"You can’t go a single day without breaking something apart, can you?"

"......There haven’t even been any raids lately. You know that’s the only thing I’m good at. Anyway."

Ribia wiped her hands on her clothes.

Then stepped closer to Allerik again.

"I think we need to create a situation where the squad leader and the King of the Dead can talk calmly."

"Talk? Calmly? Our squad leader? With the King of the Dead?"

"Hey! That’s exactly why we need it! Why is he refusing to merge? Because he just doesn’t like the King of the Dead. Well, maybe there are other reasons too."

"......"

"We need to force them together. Whether they want to or not—make them sit down and talk. Maybe then his opinion will change. It’s better than dragging this out and wearing down his wrist on that contract ring."

Allerik’s face darkened. He pressed his lips together, then let out a deep breath.

After a short pause.

"......Fine. Let’s try."

He gave a slight nod.

A few days later.

Sunlight hitting his face woke Tesetan, who had been dozing in a chair.

As he stood, his body ached unpleasantly.

"......Damn it."

Just looking out the window, he could immediately see Agavert’s base.

With a stony face, he habitually reached for his sword, leaning against the wall.

But.

"......Where is it."

It wasn’t there. He had definitely left it there last night.

Tesetan opened the door and stepped out.

As he went down the stairs, he saw Ribia, Allerik, and Victor standing awkwardly in the entrance.

"You. Have you seen my sword?"

He asked just in case, and Ribia cleared her throat loudly.

Victor averted his gaze for some reason, and Allerik, who had been silent until now, answered:

"Ah, that."

"......"

"The King of the Dead took it."