«Riehen! Here, water!»
«Oh thanks.»
While the explorers, including me, took a short break and quenched our thirst with alcohol or water, the palace staff walked inside the ship to inspect those on board.
«Once we disembark, the ship will be decommissioned, so make sure you don't leave any items behind!»
Once the inspection was completed, we were transferred one by one to small boats and transported by water. At the water's edge, the troops who had already landed were arranged in orderly rows. Well, it was still a disaster compared to modern times, where soldiers walked with their left foot aligned.
«Fortunately, it seems they weren't waiting for us here».
«It appears his side is completely avoiding a fight between the main units», Erwen said.
«It's true, if we hit them head on, it will be harder to lose to this army».
Anyway, while we were waiting according to instructions, it wasn't long before the leader started marching. Of course, we don't follow him. That was because we were on the third class ship. On paper, ship 3-21's mission was to escort the Third Magic Corps. Unfortunately, this body belonged to the Third Corps, whose main mission was to ensure the retreat. Simply put, once the main unit left, their role in this war was to build a garrison and protect this place.
«Now now! Let's set up the barracks first!»
When the remaining Third Corps ships landed after that, it was officially time to build the fortress. The scouts set up the barracks provided to them and the magicians moved busily to draw various magic circles. A lot of time passed like this.
Shaaaa!
Thanks to the magic, the deafening sound of the waterfall calmed down and the fog obscuring our vision cleared.
«Ugh, that's much better now».
«Everyone, eat some of this food and rest! Barracks will soon be assigned and tasks announced!»
Once the garrison installation was approximately complete, we were assigned the barracks where we would stay. It was a barracks for six people located on the east side of the lake. We may have been under military control, but the three of us were not separated due to the custom of grouping team members.
«Haha, let's introduce ourselves, since from now on we will work in the same group».
Three people were added that I had never seen before. Apparently we were not only going to share the barracks, but from now on we also had to move as a group standing guard and patrolling.
I guess this happened because there are three of us.
Whether it was a clan or a team, five people (no, after the union magic was updated, six people) were the minimum unit. Since there were three of us and the numbers didn't add up, they automatically matched us.
However, it appears that it is not fully automatic.
I looked at the man who was smiling in a good mood and leading the conversation. He wore an elegant uniform and even had a sword at his waist, but he was a magician. The Magic Body emblem on his chest attested to this.
«Oh, by the way, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Alex Halo, assistant deputy commander of the Third Magic Corps».
«Assistant deputy commander?»
When I murmured quietly, Amelia whispered in my ear: «It means report to the deputy commander».
Oh, so it's Raven's right-hand man?
It was obvious why he sent his right hand here: to control and watch over us, Erwen, to be exact.
«The six people assigned to this barracks will belong to Group 3-17 from now on and will carry out various missions. I, as the team leader, will help—»
«Team leader? Who says?» Erwen did not hide her displeasure and a crack appeared in the man's smile.
«Haha... I was aware that there may be dissatisfaction with that part. But since it is an order from above—»
«You smile as if you are relaxed, but you are very nervous».
«... Sorry?»
«Why do I make you feel uncomfortable?»
The man shuddered at Erwen's question, but shook his head. «...Of course not. On the contrary, I feel calmer.» Anyone could say those words were common. If he really thought that way, he would have had no reason to avoid Erwen's eyes.
«Now, enough». Knowing that this man was also here only on orders, I intervened quickly.
«But the three of us are enough...»
«It's good to have more people».
«But team leader?»
«Someone from the army could be the leader of the team, why are you so upset?»
«...Okay. I'll stop.» Erwen pursed her lips.
Did that sight leave any impression? Only then did the man look away at me. «You are...»
«Riehen Schuitz.»
«Oh yeah... I know. Nice to meet you. And the person next to you is Mrs. Emily Raines?»
«Yeah.»
The man approached me to greet me and then introduced us to the other two people who were observing the situation without understanding from afar. «These people were aboard the third class ship that sank on the way here. Fortunately they were rescued, but unfortunately their other companions were not».
No wonder, it didn't look like these two were taken from another team. So that was the reason. When our eyes turned to the other two people, they looked a little nervous.
«I-it's an honor to meet you, Spirit of blood. Oh, of course, the rest of your teammates too. I am the rank 5 Lykion Elt» scout.
His first impression was not bad. He seemed polite, and since he remained silent until he was given time to introduce himself, he also seemed witty. Rank 5 meant he would do his part too. Furthermore, their situation was quite unfortunate.
«I will do my best not to be an inconvenience! I'm H-Hans Caesar».
«What...?»
When I let go of that involuntarily, the man kindly revealed his name once again. «Hans Caesar!»
Are you kidding me?
I pondered this for a moment. What happened the last time I met Hans? I remembered it quickly. Hans J, whom I met on Farune Island, was a traitor.
After meeting him, I was absorbed by the past.
I spent six full months there, and when I returned, two and a half years had passed in my original time period. And that was not all. Not only were my clanmates scattered, but they also branded me an evil spirit.
«Ha ha...»
When I laughed in disbelief, Hans K tilted his head and asked: «Um... what's wrong?»
There was no reason for me to go so far as to exchange words with him. That would only bring me bad luck. «Erwen.»
«Yes forward.»
«You said the three of us were enough, right?»
«Did.»
If you did.
«Hmm...» I really contemplated this. If I just said one word to drive her crazy, Erwen would scream at the top of her lungs and tear the group to pieces.
But if I do, the news will reach Raven.
That part bothered me. Raven knew of my hatred for Hans. Once he heard the details, his suspicion of me might grow.
Uh, but that means I have to make it look like I kicked him out for more than just his name. Now that I think about it, that's right. Okay, I've decided.
«You are all trash».
«... Sorry?»
«I said having them here will only set us back». When cold words of contempt left my mouth, their faces hardened. I figured they never thought I'd say something like this, not Erwen.
«Haha... what does it mean? Mr. Schuitz, you just said that it is better to have more people».
Ah, about that.
«I changed my mind.» Hans was serious business. When I asked him to remove those two or remove us from the group, Alex seemed perplexed.
«How ridiculous. Do you think you are someone special now?»
«Forget it, we'll go. There is no reason for us to stay after being treated like this. Instead, tell your superiors that the cause is with them, not us».
I figured I really hurt their pride since they declared their withdrawal and left the barracks.
Wow, this solves that...
«How dare they say that? Should I follow them?» -Erwen asked.
«Okay, don't even talk to them».
«Good!»
Anyway, while we were talking, Raven's right-hand man, Alex, looked at me in disgust. He was sure he was informed about Raven's misunderstanding. I should have seemed normal at first, but now I was like a pathetic bastard who trusted the power of others.
«So what are you going to do now? The group of six is now a group of four».
«...I will first report this to the deputy commander and then inform him of his treatment».
«If you say so.»
When Alex also left to recount this situation, Erwen carefully asked: «But why did you do that all of a sudden?»
«His name was Hans».
«... What about Hans?»
Oh, she doesn't know about my Hans curse? Hmm, I don't think I remember telling him...
Just as I was about to do so, Amelia smiled and spoke for me. «Were you his clanmate and you didn't even know it?»
«... So you know?»
«Of course.» Amelia shrugged and briefly explained my Hans spell. In Amelia's case, she knew the weight of the name from the incident in which Hans Lee called me.
Erwen seemed furious at being the only one who didn't know about this. «Hans...» He muttered the name in a truly murderous voice, then clenched his fist determinedly. «Come to think of it, the traitor on Farune Island was Hans Aulock. I'm sorry. I won't forget this from now on».
«Uh... s-sure.» I was worried that I would end up embedding an arrow in every Hans I found, but I decided not to think about it too much.
So what? It's Hans, anyway. If you look for it, they must have done something wrong. The problem is that I already met a Hans...
Although I quickly expelled him from the group, I spent too much time with Hans K in the same space. This barracks was even poorly ventilated. Considering we were in the middle of the battlefield on the seventh floor...
«Sir, your hands are shaking...»
Ugh, I'm going to go crazy.
What the hell was about to happen in the future? As my hands shook with anxiety, Alex came back and told us what was going to happen with our team's problem.
«Your treatment has been decided».
Nothing had changed much. The group was going to advance as four people, and he would take on the role of team leader anyway.
«Afterwards, you... no, we will be on personnel escort service instead of external patrol or sentry service».
Our group's task was revised to protect Raven, the deputy commander of the Third Magic Corps. Of course, this was not a problem. While Commander Sir Kyle had gone to support the First Corps special forces, Raven was the most important person in our unit. They may have called us escorts, but she was probably just planning to keep an eye on us before we caused an accident. There were no problems until that moment.
Kabooommmmm!
Until a mana cannon rang out somewhere.
Baby yummy! Baby yummy! Baby yummy!
Alarm magic was activated and sounded throughout the garrison.
«An ambush!»
«Everyone prepare for battle!»
This occurred less than two hours after meeting Hans K.