Muscle soreness had me completely immobilized from the morning on.
Thinking back, there was the fighting, the horseback riding... and then things with Ferio.
All of it was stuff I'd never done before, so it would've been weirder if I didn't end up sore the next day.
Ferio, on the other hand, was not just fine—she was downright intimidating.
Who could understand the terror of a scrawny middle-aged guy getting toyed with by a girl who looked like a high schooler? No, college student maybe?
"Pony, you're all I've got to lean on. Ugh... ack!"
I slumped over Pony like a sack of luggage.
Even the slightest bump as she crossed a low hill pulled at my muscles.
Getting up on her in the first place had been a nightmare.
I never could've done it alone.
Embarrassing as it is to admit, Ferio had dressed me, propped me up, dragged me over, and hoisted me aboard.
It was a side of Ferio I'd never seen before—gentle, caring.
Normally, she'd have chewed me out like one of her soldiers: "Don't be such a weakling—crawl up if you have to!"
"I know what the others think of me."
"To lead soldiers, that strictness was necessary."
Ah. Looks like some of my muttering slipped out again.
"But I've learned there's someone who doesn't need that from me."
"Is that so?"
Don't stare at me like that. That look is too much right now. I'm in sage mode today.
Sage time!
"Kirgil, what would you do if I ended up unable to move like you?"
"I'd soak you in hot water, then knead and press and rub you down. You'd probably let out some pathetic squeal."
"...."
"Hey, don't go imagining weird stuff! What kind of indecent fantasy is this for a noble knight!?"
"I wouldn't know if there's another meaning. Isn't it just you saying you'll tease me to get revenge?"
"No way—you don't even know about hot packs and massages?"
In our world, cold compresses after overexertion and hot ones for recovery were common sense.
Though bathhouses aren't exactly everywhere here, so maybe that's why. Still, you'd think she'd at least know about massages or stretching.
When I explained the effective remedies for soreness, she reacted like she'd truly never heard of them.
"Rubbing sore muscles on someone lying still just sounds like torture."
"When muscles keep hurting, you should move more and exercise instead."
"That's how we train the soldiers too."
Whoa, a young know-it-all right here!
Wrong knowledge gets passed down, and even young folks turn into boomers.
The problem is, she's half-right. To build muscle, you break it down and super-recover.
But push too hard, and it backfires.
"If it's really bad, just get healing magic."
Ahh, right. This is an isekai world, after all.
With reliable alternatives like that, proper knowledge can get dismissed.
The village chief had acknowledged massages, though.
Probably because she's open-minded and curious about new ideas.
Guess I owe a thanks to that "noona" for guiding an ignorant guy like me.
Soreness was one thing, but I had a real worry nagging at me.
I'd been debating whether to even ask.
This wasn't my old world.
"Ferio, you're a knight with some rank, right? I don't know the details, but you've got status."
"Is it really okay for me to just head back to the village like this?"
In a sense, a rootless vagrant like me spent the night with a precious unmarried young lady.
In a class-based society, wouldn't a guy like me be executed to protect the family honor and cover for her "mistake"?
"I was just about to bring that up myself."
Good, she gets it.
No matter what others say, we both had a good time—at least that's how I see it.
Still, to avoid trouble for both of us, we'd need to get our stories straight or dispel any suspicions.
"I should've said this first. Sorry for worrying you."
"Hm?"
"Last night and this morning—it was all my responsibility. My mistake led to the situation, and I let myself get carried away."
"Eh? Really??"
"I wasn't calm, couldn't hold back, and my honest feelings slipped out before I knew it."
What do I do? Hearing her like that makes me feel like she took something precious from me or...
Wait, what!? Is this...?
"No matter what happens to you—or to me—I'll take full responsibility. So don't worry, Kirgil."
Ferio said it with a blush, but in that manly way somewhere.
Even the cheesy line felt macho.
No, wait—this is an isekai world.
Here, "one-night stands" probably mean the man did something to the woman, by their common sense.
Back home, the vibe was that men take the lead in guy-girl stuff.
Definitely different common sense here. Yeah, gender doesn't dictate the relationship.
Thinking coldly, she's the one with power and status—not me.
I worried about rumors that I jumped her, but she thinks she jumped me.
"...."
Not entirely wrong. It really could've happened, and just imagining it sends chills down my spine.
A frail middle-aged guy getting devoured by his young female boss...
Makes me wanna ask for her employee number.
This truly is an isekai. I still don't get this world's sexual ethics.
But some things should be universal.
"It was a good memory for me. Too good to leave as just that."
"...I-is that so?"
Ferio's giving me that burdensome look again.
Don't do that. I'm a loner! A sage!
Hey, Pony, don't you side with her too.
Damn, it hurts. Can't move. No strength or muscle left to even hold the reins.
Pony! Now I see who your real master is!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇We returned to the unit's camp together as the sun dipped toward the west.
The remaining goblins and orcs in the cave had all been dealt with.
Even the job of gathering and burying the bodies was done.
"Just one night away, but it was quite unbecoming."
Liard politely chided her for chasing the goblins alone.
No matter how much she led by example, the commander leaving the unit for so long was too much.
"Sorry, Liard. I only felt safe leaving because I knew you were here. I'll be more careful next time."
Liard smiled in satisfaction at Ferio's response.
"Miss—no, Captain. It's the first time I've heard such a dignified reply from you."
"Liard, for you to misspeak like that... I'm honored."
Liard's satisfied smile turned to surprise.
"Is that really you, Miss Ferio? You've matured astonishingly overnight."
"You've always judged by your own standards."
"Apologizing only for your own faults, crediting only your own efforts."
"You're better than those who deny their mistakes and slack off,"
"but a leader must think beyond that."
"Today, you thought of yourself and me."
"That's how you could apologize and show consideration at once."
"Don't forget it. Never lose that mindset."
Wow. A second-in-command lecturing the commander.
Now I get their relationship.
I'd pegged Liard as the shrewd, strict adjutant propping up a young, inexperienced leader.
But this showed it was more than that.
Ferio was truly from a fine family, and while Liard was her adjutant, he was also her teacher.
Like the "perfect butler" from manga.
The kids of good families get capable butlers or tutors, right?
"Sir Kirgil."
Finally, Liard turned to me.
Whoa, his eyes suddenly shifted to that protective perfect-butler glare.
Did he sense something from the mood and decide to defend the family honor?
"I am truly grateful for your support of Captain Ferio."
Liard bowed deeply, ever polite... Wait, now he's grabbing my hand?
"I know."
Eek! The hairs on my body stood up.
What does this guy know?
"If Captain Ferio had chased alone, she wouldn't have made it through the night."
"By now, I'd have organized search parties with the soldiers."
"And confirmed the hopeless truth."
His eyes were misty—he really seemed moved.
Truly thankful to me.
"Of course, I know."
Wait, hold up! What else does this guy know!?
Stop knowing things! This is actually scary now!!
Butler or not, he's got that veteran insight.
"Liard, enough. Like you said, without Kirgil, I'd have gotten lost in the forest, shivering to death."
"I don't want to burden my benefactor. Look—his legs are shaking."
"He pushed himself that far to chase me down and help."
But my shaking legs weren't just from soreness. Over half was Liard's fault.
"I see. My apologies. You look like even standing is hard."
"I have much to do preparing the unit's return."
"Will you support Sir Kirgil yourself, Captain?"
"Perhaps visit Chief Agnes directly to express your thanks."
Do adjutants assign work to commanders here?
Or is the chief that important a figure?
"Fine, no choice then. I'll do it myself."
Hey, Ferio. Your words are smoother now.
But hiding your expression? Still a ways to go.
Well, I don't mind.
Though Liard's pleased grin is getting to me.
It hit me anew: this world is an isekai.
Even with school and random internet trivia from my old life,
here I could be a barbarian who doesn't grasp basic male-female ethics or common sense.
Best to stay quiet, watch cues, and be cautious with words and actions.
If you don't know, shut up and loner it up. Yeah.
I'll ask the chief later.
...But.
I didn't mess up with the chief in some way I don't know about, did I?
Suddenly feeling anxious.
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