Chapter 109

Chapter 109 - Distress (3)

A bird of prey maintains its elegance even when rolling in the sand.

Even among the female warriors who looked like beggars due to the grueling siege, Cassandra exuded a special presence.

The tall beauty approaching with her back straight and moving her long legs was reminiscent of a secretarybird.

An arrogant figure who seemed like she would fight with a sword but execute with her feet. She was a lady who suited that haughtiness better than anyone else in the world.

"Thank you for the rescue."

"We came as soon as we heard the chieftain's request. I am glad we were not too late."

Those amethyst-like eyes trembled slightly.

Dark Elf tribes that chose to settle are particularly hostile to humans. Cassandra, who inherited that blood, was the same.

Her mind was complicated having been saved by a human she usually looked down upon, and a knight who was the root cause of the faction opposing her at that.

Furthermore, it was an arrangement by Alessa, whom she considered a rival in her heart and often rebelled against.

However, it was clear she owed a great debt, so now was the time to express her gratitude. Cassandra politely bowed her head and placed her right hand on her chest.

"You must be Sir Eugene, correct? I have heard a lot about you."

"And you must be Cassandra. I have also heard a lot about you."

"The source of that must be Vice Chieftain Rex standing behind you."

She bit her lip. She seemed to find it difficult to endure showing a failed, trapped, and messy appearance.

Showing her naked body would probably be less shameful than this. That was the kind of woman Cassandra was.

"I do not know what you have heard, but please do not believe it entirely. If there is anything you wish to know about me, I will tell you from my own mouth. As much as you like."

Rex looked at Cassandra with an intrigued face.

Even though she was saved from the brink of death, she was the one most contemptuous of humans in the clan. It was an attitude far more polite than Rex had anticipated.

Homi approached holding a box filled with ice and cups. Eugene filled a cup with water from a canteen, floated some ice in it, and handed it to Cassandra.

Just seeing that refreshing sight made her swallow her saliva.

"We will talk later. Drink this first. You have truly suffered a lot."

"...Thank you."

Cassandra only picked up the cup after seeing her subordinates also receiving their share of canteens.

"What about Oriel? If it is safe, I would like to treat it right away."

After waiting for her to finish drinking, Rex carefully asked about Cassandra's warhorse.

"It is dead. I killed it with my own hands."

"As expected. That is a shame."

Cassandra glared at the small number of captured mercenaries with burning eyes.

It was a situation where they were surrounded without any way to obtain food or water. Killing horses to obtain meat and blood was an unavoidable choice.

As a commander, she decided on the slaughter, and as the horse's owner and friend, she personally cut its neck.

Cassandra was present at the very spot Oriel was born. Having grown up, trained, and fought together, it was a relationship akin to family. That resentment must be indescribable.

Gurgle gurgle.

At that moment, the loud noise coming from her stomach poured cold water over the mood.

Homi's ears twitched, and Cassandra's sculptural face flushed with shame.

"Will you have a meal first? I will present those prisoners to you as a gift to commemorate our first meeting."

"...!"

"What is the matter? I thought it was something you eagerly desired."

"Because I have already been saved from losing my life. It is troubling to only keep incurring debts."

"As I said, it is merely a gift. I do not consider it a debt."

"If that is the case, I will thankfully accept it."

The one who offered salvation in a desperate situation. Since such a powerful warrior continued to soothe her, Cassandra had no choice but to let her guard down.

"There shouldn't be a need to rush now, right? You are safe, and the prisoners are yours now."

"That is indeed true."

"Revenge is a luxury. You must enjoy it when your body and mind are at ease for it to taste better. Fill your stomach first."

"Revenge is a luxury, huh..."

Did she like those words? The corners of Cassandra's mouth rose, and her shoulders hitched.

"Those are nice words. There was no one in the clan who said things like that to me."

Cassandra repaid Eugene's favor with a smile. Somehow, a strong scent of snake venom seemed to emanate from within her beauty.

The smell of chicken soup being boiled by Eugene's subordinates gently wafted over.

Rumble-!

The sound of thunder was heard once again, but neither Eugene nor Homi pretended to hear it.

"I will treat you to better food at the castle. Since you have starved for a long time, it would be best to soothe your stomach with something light first."

"The Moving Castle. Did you come via the magic of that castle?"

Cassandra scanned the warhorses gathered around.

"Otherwise, there is no way you could have led a cavalry force all the way here. Most would have died before even arriving."

"It is an incredible authority, just as I heard."

When Eugene personally handed her the finished bowl of soup, Cassandra accepted it without declining. Seeing her begin her meal, Rex whispered.

"I was right, wasn't I? I told you that you would handle Cassandra well, Sir Knight."

"Handling her well, you say..."

"If I had offered her a meal, she would have swatted it away with the back of her hand and tried to wring the prisoners' necks first. I know that temper of hers well."

"She seems tamer and somewhat more polite than what you described, though?"

"That is all because she is in front of you, Sir Knight. You will find out soon enough."

* * *

After finishing her meal, Cassandra stood in front of Jericho, the Condor mercenary captain.

"Damn it."

Stripped naked, he had a dog collar clasped around his neck and both arms held down by the female warriors.

"If you're going to kill me, do it quickly."

Jericho is a man who has not only gone through all sorts of hardships but also harbored every kind of malice.

-Someday, I'll die a miserable death.

Although he pretended to be strong in front of his subordinates, when he was drunk and buried his face in a prostitute's bosom, he often poured out his weak thoughts.

And he accepted that right now was that fateful moment. Since his life was already forfeit, he wanted to at least preserve his pride as a warrior.

"As you wish."

Crack.

Cassandra smiled brightly while cracking her knuckles.

Smack!

When she struck with the back of her hand, Jericho tumbled onto the ground.

"Hurry up and stand up."

"Fuck you."

Cassandra's foot, wearing a leather sandal, pinned down Jericho's abdomen.

"Aaaargh!"

"Oh, my!"

She pulled back her foot and stood like a crane. Alternating her gaze between the sole of her shoe and Jericho's hairy belly, she frowned.

"You humans have far too much hair. Even the sensation felt through my shoes is disgusting. If it were me, I would rather hang myself than live with such a hairy, beast-like body."

Cassandra, sprouting malicious remarks with her eyebrows raised, stealthily turned her gaze away.

She seemed mindful of Eugene, who was directing the securing of spoils and searching the ruins a short distance away.

Spit!

Spitting out saliva mixed with blood, Jericho grinned.

"Hmph! A bitch busy reading the mood of that lowly human is pretending to be aloof."

"Your mouth is still alive even in the face of death."

Cassandra swept a satisfied glance over the heads of the mercenaries cleanly severed from all directions who had begged for their lives.

"A hairy wild boar is more my type than a smooth domesticated pig. Because the former is more manly. At least they do not beg for their lives, do they?"

"Just like you, I also prefer a fragrant woman over one smelling like rot."

Cassandra was still beautiful even in her beggar-like state, but the smell couldn't be helped.

Sniff sniff.

The foul odor wafted up as she brought her nose to her arm. Even she ended up laughing.

"Hufufu. Hahahaha!"

While her appearance, personality, and skills were all those of a mature female warrior, her laughter somehow gave off the impression of a young girl.

Cassandra clenched both fists.

Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!

And then she beat Jericho as if bombarding him. His nose collapsed, his teeth broke, and blood splattered everywhere.

"Aaaargh!"

Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!

"Please just kill me! You dog-like..."

"Am I not doing just that? It is just taking some time."

Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!

"Ahahahahaha!"

Amidst the silence of the battle's end, the sounds of a person slowly breaking and cheerful laughter echoed.

"So she had that kind of personality."

"Didn't I tell you? She was only tame for a moment because she was in front of you, Sir Knight."

Looking at Eugene who seemed fed up with it, Rex scratched his head.

"Are you letting us go?"

"Y-You promised, after all."

Seeing that scene, the prisoners acting as guides looked at Eugene with pleading eyes.

Because the gazes of the female warriors slowly falling upon them one by one were chillingly terrifying.

* * *

The female warriors led by Cassandra were thoroughly raised as infantry rangers.

Capable of holding out with less water and food compared to men, their light yet flexible bodies could overcome even the worst terrains and locations.

Having focused on their capabilities as mountain troops, they were arguably the best warriors in the clan when it came to rough terrain traversal, ranged combat arts, and various sleights of hand.

"I am sorry. To take a warrior's horse."

"Save that for later. Let's hurry back to our nest."

The mounted archers who yielded their horses to the weakened women grabbed the reins and led them.

"Are there rooms for everyone to enter?"

"Rooms?"

The male Dark Elves unconsciously burst into laughter.

"An even larger and more comfortable sanctuary awaits than whatever you imagine. You can trust me on that."

"I-Is it to that extent?"

The women lent an ear with faces mixed with surprise and anticipation.

Their long ears, which had drooped constantly from severe fatigue and starvation, were slowly perking up.

"It's true. It doesn't matter if the destruction the prophecy speaks of is an army of a million, a dragon spewing fire, or a rain of fire destroying the world. That castle will safely protect us from the dangers of the whole world."

The tribal warriors, who now completely considered the castle their home, spoke in a tone full of pride.

Cassandra, riding the horse handed over by Rex, aligned her horse's head with Eugene at the front.

Hind glared at her in disapproval, finding her arrogant, but she didn't even bat an eye.

"Have you relieved your resentment sufficiently?"

"Thanks to you. It is very refreshing."

Cassandra finished her revenge quickly. Because in a situation where she was heavily indebted, she couldn't keep her saviors lingering in a backwater area just for personal feelings.

"I will definitely repay this debt."

"Hearing such words after seeing what you did just now makes me feel more anxious than pleased, though?"

-Sir Knight! You promised to let us go free?!

-I certainly did.

-Aaaarrgh!

The female warriors had skinned the soles of the few survivors' feet with poisoned daggers and released them into the desert.

"What would a powerful warrior like yourself be anxious about?"

Contradictory to her words, Cassandra seemed pleased by Eugene's joke.

-Captain! It's a rescue force from the clan!

-We must respond...

The cavalry that appeared at the most critical moment. The sight of a knight leading them and crushing all enemies had made the female warriors stop in their tracks.

The black whirlwind raised while swinging a massive polearm ground up every enemy caught in it.

Shields shattered, people flew, showers of blood erupted, and the hastily formed square formation was destroyed in an instant.

To receive the anxiety of such a mighty knight was an honorable thing as a female tribal warrior.

"I wondered why everyone changed factions in an instant, but it was understandable."

"It is thanks to the castle, not me."

"Because not just anyone can obtain a castle like that."

"Do you still dislike the Moving Castle?"

"Not at all."

Cassandra placed her index finger on her lower lip, making a peculiar expression.

"I've realized that the things I pursued were trash. In that case, one must quickly seek the next best alternative. Because that is the virtue of a leader."

Eugene didn't think the 'leader' she spoke of merely meant a centurion or a part of the opposition faction. It sounded as if she was subtly revealing a greater ambition.

Cassandra pointed to her own chest with her left hand, and to the female warriors following behind with her open right hand.

"Although we are lacking, would you please accept us?"

"That is exactly what I wished for. I guarantee you will like life in the castle."

Seeing the silhouette of the Moving Castle slowly appearing in the distance, Cassandra's eyes sparkled.

* * *

"This is..."

Cassandra, who had maintained her composure from a distance, couldn't help but marvel when facing the castle up close.

A colossal fortress reigning heterogeneously over an environment uninhabitable for humans. Its appearance made one feel a power that confronted the laws of nature head-on.

"The Lord has returned!"

As the castle gates opened and they passed the well-armed Dwarf guards to enter inside, all the female warriors swallowed their breath.

The massive hall, Wendigo trophies, and the newly added stuffed Giant Gnoll.

The finishing touch, the intimidating signboard binding them all as one.

'No one can foresee us.'

The new guests were completely overwhelmed right from the start.

"We will postpone the interior tour or formal welcome for later. First, relieve your accumulated fatigue."

At Eugene's gesture, the tribal maids who had been waiting in advance ran over.

"Ladies. We will serve you."

Guided to the large bathhouse inside the castle, the female warriors took off their armor, clothes, and shoes without anyone needing to say it first.

Whooosh.

Closing their eyes, they fully bathed their entire bodies in the streams of water pouring down like rain.

Sharp noses and broad shoulders, deep-set navels and slender waists, buttocks like full moons, agile yet firm legs, all the way down to smooth Achilles tendons and insteps.

Dirty water ceaselessly flowed down along the curves of their beautiful female bodies.

"Oh my goodness! It's raining indoors."

"Is it really okay to use water so recklessly like this?"

The women exclaimed as they gazed at the water pouring from all directions.

Even when staying with the tribe, they had washed with water drawn in buckets; bathing while being showered with water like this was something they couldn't even imagine.

"The Lord has conveyed not to worry at all and to fully enjoy the coolness and refreshment to your heart's content. There is enough water stored in this castle to fill a small lake."

"Oh my!"

Because this was a reaction always shown by those visiting for the first time, Eugene had even dropped a hint beforehand.

"Ahaha! What is with you?"

"Do you think you don't look funny yourself!"

The sound of giggling laughter echoed everywhere.

A sight where everyone, who had been pitch black together from dirt and grime, regained their original skin colors one by one after being struck by water.

Because there was somehow a comical aspect to that.

This stood out even more because Dark Elves possess the most diverse skin colors even among Beastkin.

Water droplets sparkled brightly on various skin tones such as silver-gray, pale blue, dark brown, pale purple, and rarely, onyx-like black.

"Ooh! Warm water comes out when I do this?"

"How?! How?!"

Cassandra quietly watched that noisy scene.

Even just this morning, they were drinking urine and gagging at the smell of their own bodies.

-Lady Cassandra. Rather than dying of thirst like this...

-I will take at least one more of those trashy bastards with me!

The sight of them requesting a final charge filled with despair and anger completely disappeared.

'Has everyone already crossed over.'

Despite it being less than an hour since they entered the castle, her subordinates already seemed completely captivated.

"Rex, there was a reason that annoying young master was pouring so much dedication. Always being so shrewd."

Cassandra stretched out her intertwined hands above her head. The abdominal muscles carved like a shield on her abdomen pulled tautly.

She organized the things she had to do for her life here from now on, one by one in her mind.

"Miss. Please close your eyes."

Cassandra received bath service from her aide warriors. They were maids and escort warriors dispatched by the kingdom that made up her other half.

"It is refreshing. Thank you always."

"Don't mention it."

The cool streams of water and the touches of her subordinates massaging her scalp while washing her hair made it much easier to organize her thoughts.

Cassandra grabbed her revitalized, beautiful hair and brought it to her nose.

Instead of the smell of rot, a fresh soap scent dug into her lungs.

She recalled her mother's teachings learned in the royal court when she was young.

-Beauty and fragrance. Do not forget them, my beloved daughter.

The two weapons one must equip first when starting anew in an unfamiliar territory.