THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

"Huh?" Yup, she thought I was checking her out after all.

"Don't pretend you don't know what I am talking about. You were checking me o-"

"And?" One of the guys stand up with a bone in his mouth and an angry face.

"And I don't like perverts. So you either apologize or I will make sure you do." 

"Why don't you kiss my a-" The girl tries to slap him but he grabs her hand and with a simple movement, she finds herself on the floor, with her stomach touching the grass and the guy on top of her.

"Argh! You are hurting me, you brute!!" 

"Yeah, that's the point. Don't interrupt people when they are eating. Weren't you taught manners?" 

"Release me!" 

She starts screaming and a bunch of soldiers come to us. 

"Hey, release her! What are you guys doing?!" 

They grab him and throw him off her. Two of the soldiers are holding him then when another one tries to hit him.

"Uagh!" Hendrick punches him right in the nose. And just like that, a brawl engages between us and the soldiers. 

***

"This is the exact reason why I said mercenaries aren't reliable."

After the brawl, we have been obviously called in the commander's tent. The girl who called me a pervert and another guy are there as well. While the guy has his nose broken, the girl isn't really hurt. The only noticeable thing is her hair which are a mess now.

Making all of us stand in front of him, the commander is reading something while holding his forehead with his hand.

"Four broken noses, five bone's fractures, numerous bruises as well. Are you guys really soldiers?" 

Instead of looking at us, the commander looks at his men with a disappointed look.

"Sir…" The guy with a broken nose tries to speak but his voice sounds so nasal he stops by himself.

"Sir, we aren't the ones who started this." The girl is the one to defend their group.

"You aren't the ones who started it?" 

"Yes, Sir. It is becau-"

"And do you think I give a damn?" 

"Sir?" The commander stands up with a gnoll face and walks to the girl who looks really afraid.

"Do you know what you are?" 

"I-I…I am a member of the eternal army." 

"And what is the eternal army?" 

"The absolute vanquisher. The one who only knows one word: victory." 

"Does what you guys did there looks like victory to you?"

"…" 

"Answer me!!" His voice resounds like a drum and the girl shivers in fear. Though the guy is even more afraid than her.

"N-no, Sir. "

"Why are you making excuses then?" 

The commander raises his hand. He looks like he is about to hit her. But right as he lowers his hand, a blue light appears inside the tent. When I open my eyes back, Rebecca and doggy are here.

"S-saintess." Hendrick seems surprised and while I turn my head to look at him, everyone is kneeling. Even the commander. 

In just a few seconds, I am the only one standing in front of them.

"I am sorry for not being able to receive her holiness even though you announced your arrival."

The commander speaks with his head lowered. Meanwhile, doggy is firing one hell of a glare at me. I would rather die than killing in front you two. Rebecca smiles at me gently then claps her hands once.

"There is no need for you guys to kneel. Please stand up." 

"Thank you, your holiness." 

Everybody stands back up then like a silent order was given, leaves the tent. Even Willhem seems overwhelmed by her. When I turn around to leave as well, Rebecca speaks.

"Farner said you will have your neck and legs broken once you get back." Oops. So, Frankher didn't handle that matter.

"Just tell her I will apologize when I come back."

"I wil-"

"Do you think the Saintess is your message carrier?!!" 

I leave without a care for doggy's usual demonstration of stupidity and affection. This guy really gets pissed off easily as long as it concerns Rebecca. Well, then again…

"She is his wife after all." 

***

During the night, a small party is organized for the Saintess and although there is no songs or dances going on, the mood is light and carefree. Rebecca is sitting at a campfire near the commander's tent. Doggy is standing behind her. The only people sitting with her are the commander, Eduard and another woman who seems to be a priest as well.

"Damn, that woman is really something else." 

Ever since we have come back to our tent, Hendrick has been going and on about Rebecca like crazy. It somehow feels weird to hear somebody talking about my mother with such passion. 

"Why don't you go and confess then?" You are annoying.

"Yeah right, like she would even hear something from a guy like me."

"Why not? She is the Saintess. It's her duty to listen to the people."

"Nah, man. Yu don't understand. She is like a flower in the wilderness. If I cut it and bring it back to my house, it will lose that wild and eexciting touch that makes me fantasize about it."

"I see." Well, I think I do. The explanation is kinda roundabout.

"Just seeing her like this is enough. But you don't seem to like her though." 

"I don't." 

"Me neither." It seems is also an anti-Rebecca member. Good. But why?

"Why don't you like her, Willhem?" 

We can't have the same reason after all. Or maybe I wasn't the they abandoned. Could it be that I had an older brother all this time without knowing? Maybe Willhem turns into a psychopath because of them as well.

"Because she is forcing her smile."

"Eh?" Like I thought, our reason are way too different. "What do you mean?" No, actually, why do you care?

"I mean that this is a fake smile, a fake attitude, a fake behavior. She is forcing herself to act like somebody she is not. And I hate that more than anything. You should always be true to yourself." 

"Hm-mhm."

"Yeah, we don't care after all. Right guys?" That's a good one, Hendrick.

"Oh." 

"Will is a pervert for blood anyway so." 

Munch…Mm-mm."

"You fucking bastards!" He jumps on Hendrick but is evaded at the last moment.

"Ahaha!! Yeah, get him!" 

Willhem and Hendrick start fighting. I say fighting but it is more about grabbing each other by the shoulders and trying to push the other to the ground. A kid's fight so to speak.

Sadly for us, we have caught unnecessary attention. I notice Rebecca standing up after seeing them fight and coming over to us, followed by doggy and the rest. When they arrive, Hendrick freezes in place seeing her and falls to the ground because of Willhem.

"Aha! I got y-" Willhem was the only one who didn't see them coming because he was looking our way but when he notices we are all looking silently behind him, he understands and comes back to sit as well.

"I am sorry if I have interrupted you during your free time." 

"Oh no, don't worry. It is always an honor to behold your bea..Ahem, your presence." 

"Tch." Yep, I agree with you there, doggy.

"Fufufu. My, thank you. I have heard that you guys allowed our troops to have a smooth sailing afternoon by taking care of the kirsurks. I want to thank you for this."

"It's nothing, you know. We are just doing what we can. Right, lads?!" 

"Yeah!!" You all look stupid right now. Especially you, Hendrick.

"No, it isn't nothing. Your efforts are a great help to us and I hope you will all survive to the end of all this so that we can all share a meal."

"WITH PLEASURE!!" All of us look at Hendrick who just screamed out of nowhere. 

"Sigh…" This guy is really fond of you, Rebecca. I wonder if that's how…No, it is clear that doggy is the same as well.

"I-I am sorry."

"Fufu. Don't worry about it. Then, I hope you will have-"

"You said you wanted to reward us." Right as Rebecca was about to leave, Willhem brings another topic. And he is not wrong, she did promise to reward us.

"Hey. Watch your tongue. You don't-" Doggy tries to shut Willhem off but Rebecca prevents him from speaking any further.

"Ah, indeed. It is true. I am sorry that I forgot. Is there anything in particular that you would like?"

"Tell me why-"

"A song!" Hendrick once again blurts out something unnecessary. Can't control yourself a bit more?

Rebecca looks at Willhem with an interrogative face. She surely wants to know if this is what he wants as well.

"Sigh…Yeah, sing us a song please." With all the eyes looking at him, willhem doesn't get any other choice but to accept Hendrick's request. But we will get him for that later, don't worry, Willhem.

"I see. Well, I haven't done that in a long time so my voice is a bit rusty. I hope you won't be too disappointed." 

"Of course not!" 

"Then. Ahem…Ahem…La, la, lalala… The flowers of summer opening to the sunshine, the birds of spring flying through the sky, the meadows and forests, all so beautiful. And all of this: is thanks to your smile." 

This song…Why this song of all things?