Chapter 40 - Going Undercover

Then, suddenly, Wipera put his hand on my shoulder in a show of intimacy as he asked, “What’s the matter, reserve vice-captain? Is there a problem?” 

Fearing that Mayer’s identity would be discovered by chance, I swerved my head away from him, but I didn’t miss his face twisting into a frown. I furtively removed Wipera’s hand from my shoulder with an uncomfortable laugh and replied, “…No, nothing that you’d call a problem.”

“You’re not unhappy that I’ve dropped courtesy, are you? See, this is how I always talk to my subordinates,” Wipera said with a purposeful, sly glint in his eyes. He was clearly implying that if I didn’t like it, I could leave whenever, but I couldn’t do that. 

I put on a foolishly bright smile and answered, “I don’t mind it at all, just do as it suits you. I understand that a somewhat vertical relationship is necessary to survive a dungeon safely.”

“I like that our reserve vice-captain is quick on the uptake.” Wipera snickered and exchanged looks with several of his team members. The man was acting just as suspicious as a certain captain I knew… Did he think there was no way he’d be found out? Or was it that he didn’t care either way? Either way, while I pondered about it, we arrived at the gate of the dungeon and began to make careful progress. The Blue Flames worked quite well together, perhaps due to their long companionship. Spearman Wipera in particular possessed a powerful attack. While the team leader was penetrating the heart of the enemy, Mayer fired his bow to keep the other nearby monsters in check.

“We got a better shooter this time.” 

“You’re right. The last one wasn’t that good.” 

Mayer did tell me he was proficient with the bow, but I didn’t expect him to be so good with it. And so the captain fit into the team without drawing much suspicion. Me, on the other hand… 

“How moronic!” Wipera shouted. “What were you thinking, doing that there? Do you have a death wish!”

I had loitered just within the margin of not being a complete hindrance as it would be terrible if they noticed something wrong and laid low. I needed to provoke Wipera a little more to draw out his true intentions, after all. “Blast it! How is a shrew like that supposed to be the vice-captain?” he spat. “His Excellency must’ve lost it.”

I did tell him to speak comfortably, but that didn’t mean he could be so vulgar… 

Upon entering the dungeon, Wipera had turned into a complete tyrant. It was almost as if he had become a different person. Judging by the escalating degree of his cursing, I was sure this dog intended on burying me in this dungeon— otherwise, there was no way he’d be so obvious about it. However, the man’s blatant attitude put me at ease; the mutt’s incoming betrayal was as predictable as the day coming after the night. I silently shrugged off his insults and apparently, Wipera assumed I feared him because he cursed me even more enthusiastically with his cronies.

My actual source of concern was, in fact, Mayer. The man-turned-boy would clench his small hands with increasing intensity every time Wipera spat venomous words, and it was nerve-wracking to see his veins popping, as if ready to shoot his bow at any moment. 

“Get a blasted move on already, you lazy dolt!” Wipera shouted, kicking me in the back. His rough, armored boot sent me rolling to the ground. Staggering back to my feet with a groan, I couldn’t contain my anger from showing on my face. He was stepping over the line!

“What’s with the look, eh? Got a problem?” Wipera glanced at me with disdain, his brow raised, and when I didn’t reply, he passed by as if I were trash on the floor. Unfortunately, his actions were still at the level of pulling rank, therefore I needed more evidence. I could only meekly lower my eyes as I couldn’t afford to explode here… But wasn’t there a saying of how plans existed to be changed?

As Mayer suddenly took a step forward, I instinctively realized I had to stop him. “You unholy son of a—” 

“Ma—uh, Sevi,” I hurriedly interrupted him. “Thanks for helping me up.” I clung to Mayer’s arm, crying out in an artificial tone. To my sadness, even though he looked like little Sevi on the outside, his stats remained unchanged. In the end, I failed to hold him back and ended up flopping to the ground again.