Chapter 9

2. Disappointment

It was the first time he saw Christa Palmaril. No, Ragnar first met her during the Battle of Logolian Gorge, the last battle of the Three Kingdoms Unification War.

At that time, they were stranded for days near the Logolian Mountains due to supply delays. It was already the second day since he learned that the supply unit was attacked by enemy troops from the rear.

Perhaps because his legs were tied up in a position where he might be attacked at night, the tension of his subordinates was at its peak. The most serious problem was the shortage of supplies. There was a lack of water, food, and stamina.

During this period, Logolian Gorge was warm and humid before entering the rainy season. It was scorching hot even though it was morning. The lack of water in such heat was a serious problem.

The fourth unit consisted of ten skirmishers. She was the commander-in-chief who led them.

“The skirmisher team is off to find a water source.”

Christa Palmaril didn’t seem to have the skills to take the helm of the rearguard at all. She had a completely unreliable appearance and atmosphere. She was a terribly thin woman who looked like she had been bleached white and was not like a soldier.

Above all, her face seemed to collapse at any moment. Her red eyes, as if they had dropped blood droplets, could not be seen in spite of their intense color.

Ragnar’s beautiful brows frowned. He moistened his dry lips with his tongue.

It’s already been days since the water ran out. Three days have passed since the water conservation began to dry. Everyone suffered from burning thirst.

Ragnar did not enjoy that right, despite being the supreme commander in chief. He was drinking water sparingly, just like the junior knights. Some of his men took their pee and drank it, but he couldn’t drink water alone.

He distributed water mainly to the injured. Thanks to this, Ragnar himself suffered from thirst all night. He could drink his wine, but then he would be more thirsty, so he didn’t drink it.

“Even if she looks like that, her skills are good. She’s a Class F, also an Esper.”

The Chief of Staff Mervin Ferride was a vassal who served the Argonod family for generations. Mervin, who has been assisting and watching Ragnar’s every move since childhood, closely noticed his master’s distrust and defended her.

Christa Palmaril was quick to recite the fact that she had made a mark in some big battles and that she had good capabilities. And the fact that she’s an Esper who has a better temperament than ordinary people.

But such a defense never reached his ears.

“It doesn’t suit her.”

She didn’t belong in this war zone at all.

It’s not like he’s in a war, but he has to rely on a skinny woman who can’t seem to be able to kill a single ant cub like that. It was hopeless.

Recently, a new group of talented people called “Esper” stood out. Their physical abilities were superior to those of ordinary people, but instead their mental state was poor.

Although Ragnar himself awakened as a “guide,” unlike Esper, who has new abilities, a guide was seemingly no different from before their awakening. Therefore, there were many cases where they were not aware of their abilities.

The woman in question, Christa Palmaril, came close to the barracks where they sat and saluted.

Therefore, he couldn’t trust an Esper, who was always on a rampage. Therefore, saying that it is okay because she is an Esper only fueled his distrustful feelings.

“Crista Palmaril, the 10th Captain of the 4th Cavalry. I see Chief Argonod and Chief of Staff Mervin Ferride. We will leave at 07:00 today.”

A calm tone that was neither high nor low; a tone that was neither tense nor exalted. She spouted a word in a businesslike manner and swirled around.

It was impulsive even to Ragnar’s mind. He was suddenly holding her hand before he knew it.

“Wait a minute.”

“…….”

“Your badge is out of place.”

She was silent. She didn’t even rush to answer. She just looked at his hand with no expression.

The single-winged eagle-shaped badge made of iron was a sign that she was the head of one of the Golden Knights. One wing because she is a decadent. It didn’t really matter how, but he pointed it out.

He wanted to try holding her hand. He didn’t want to make a sexual contact, he just wanted to make sure she was really alive.

Because her face was like a corpse on the verge of death.

It was a cold hand. Even in the face he saw up close, he couldn’t find any color. He didn’t mean to guide her, but he guided her lightly.

“Are you nervous? Your hands are cold.”

“My body temperature is naturally low.”

A dry answer came right back. She was not at all disturbed when her immediate boss suddenly grabbed her hand or tried to guide her. Then something came to mind.

His guide rating was S-class, the highest level in existence. A low-grade Esper said he did not even recognize whether he received guidance if the gap in the grade was large. That’s why she doesn’t even know she’s being guided.

For a moment, he thought he did something useless, because she  just didn’t recognize it, and he thought it was okay because the guiding would have worked.

“I see. I wish you good luck, Captain.”

Then Christa bowed her head slightly and saluted. At that moment, Ragnar was following her silver thread-like hair with his eyes. And at the same time, he was under the illusion that a cool wind was blowing from her. The freshness was pleasant.

Even though it was still early in the morning, the cruel sun was in full swing to show its dignity. Knights wearing tens of pounds of iron armor could experience what it is to be boiled alive.

But where does this coolness come from? It was coming from her. His frowned face straightened. It felt like a cold frost was flying.

Perhaps the place where she should be is not this scorching battlefield, but a far northern ice castle. The idea that the place was the best fit for her was rich in his head.

Ragnar recalled the northern frozen Wiscious, the fief of Argonod. Standing on the endless white snowfield, she seemed to fit perfectly with the snow-fluttering landscape.

“I’ll leave now.”

She saluted again and turned back and went her way. And exactly half a day later, she found a water source and came back.

In addition, the third unit that went hunting was found and led the supply unit. The morale of the knights, who were exhausted both physically and mentally, rose at once.

After water and food were secured, he was energized. The water-saving ordinance was also lifted.

A small banquet was held that evening. While waiting for water and supplies, the hunted animals were dismantled. It’s been a long time since he’s had a rough meal that he’s soaked in order to provide proper nutrition.

In the meantime, Ragnar saw Christa Palmaril sneak up and leave.

Ragnar approached Christa.

“It’s been a while since you had a proper meal. Aren’t you going to eat?”

In any case, she was the biggest contributor today. It was a job deserving of praise.