THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

I didn't want to think too much about it because it wasn't so bad at the beginning but…

"You guys smell."

It's has been six months since the beginning of the war against Floras and Titanium. I thought it was going to end quickly seeing how we were conquering the big cities of Titanium rapidly but no, not at all.

Unlike what I was thinking, it became increasingly difficult for us to advance. There was more and more resistance from both cities and villages alike. Worst yet, Obarion that we put so much effort and so many lives to conquer got taken back by the Longinus. I don't know how, I don't why. All I remember is how panicked Eduard was when he came to announce it to us. Though the guys just took it with a smile since that means more work and more money for us.

Now, we aren't going there, however. We were requested as backup to help the heroes clear out a Longinus's nest in Floras.. I don't know why us specifically and I also don't know why we are heading there by carriage but the fact of the matter is that we are going like this. It was supposed to take four days to get there but it ran yesterday so the road isn't good. So it will take a bit more time.

Now, we are resting in the carriage while waiting for the coacher who is taking a piss. But I can't sleep. Those guys smell. They smell so badly I can't stand it. K'nor is outside and I perfectly understand why. Well, yeah, there is not enough space for him here but I am sure it is mostly because it smells so badly.

I leave the carriage but the rain which is pouring out immediately greets me. I would like to say that it is better but those guys are the ones who should take a bath right now, not me.

K'nor is trying his best not to get wet by staying under a tree but he still looks pretty wet to me. I go to stay with him and can you guess what he does? He freaking showers me.

"What the!"

"Woof!" Oh, if it wasn't you…I try my best to stay calm and he just lowers his head and his ears.

"Anyway, the rain sure doesn't stop today." And this guy is taking really long for somebody who is just doing his business.

I can't hear his heartbeat with the noises of the rain unless I concentrate a lot but I know he is still there. Could it be that he betrayed us? Then who will take the reins once we kill him? I don't think any of them knows how to do that? And I sure as hell don't know how to either. What can we do then? Torture him to make him bring us to our destination? It could work but…

I suddenly hear something cracks, then the coacher appears, running while covering his head with his shirt.

"Fucking rain!!" He is drenched. But he doesn't look like he betrayed us. I should really stop thinking that everybody is just going to betray me.

***

"Finally."

"That was way too long. I hope they didn't start without us."

"Can't you hear the mortars shooting? They are already having fun."

It took three more days but we made it to our destination: Naspe. A city not too deep inside Floras but not too close to the borders either. The city has been taken back by the eternal army already and they are now using it as a base to launch assaults on other places.

From what Eduard told me, they discovered a cave that was used by Veronica's people as a secret base for researches and are trying to reach the place, hoping to find whatever could help us in the war. The only problem is that so far, whenever something like this happened, I always finished as a complete wreck. So, I don't really have any expectations from all this.

When our carriage enters the city, followed by K'nor, the soldiers look at us like garbage. Hatred and disgust fill their eyes. The hatred effect is really strong here, it seems. But that's not the only reason. They have the same look whether they look at me or the others mercenaries. Wait, they hate us all the same? Even with everything we did so far? Or maybe it is because of that?

"Look at them acting all coky just because they won a few fights. Fucking Cowards."

"Don't worry. They have it good in Titanium so they think they are strong. They will die first thing tomorrow, trust me."

Okay, it is because of that. They are jealous.

"So pitiful."

"What is?" Willhem looks at me with a joyful face. He isn't bothered by this at all.

"Their attitude. I find it stupid for adults to be jealous."

"The same way they find it absurd for mere mercenaries to achieve more than them trained soldiers ready to give up their lives. Don't bother with the small fries' looks or you will end up with a heart attack."

"Right."

"Hey, guys!"

I hear Samson's voice from afar.

"Hey!" I greet him back by shaking my hands.

When the carriage reaches his level, we stop and I get down. Then, he takes me into his arms and embraces me.

"Huh…"

"I am so glad to see you, man." I would like to say that your armor is hurting me but since I can't feel pain, it wouldn't be a good excuse, right?

"Capt', I didn't know you swing this way. I should watch out from now on."

"Hey, leave the couple alone."

Hearing the other mercenaries making weird comments, Samson finally releases me but he is blushing. Don't go blushing now!! This will be even more confusing!!!

"Woah! Look at the shy maiden!"

"Shut up, guys!" I should put a stop to this before it goes too far.

"You are so noisy. Someone would think you hold the place."

I hear her voice from behind and when I turn around, Lanuvel wearing her armor and standing beautifully with her hair tied with a ponytail almost blinds me. I like ponytails. I love ponytails. No, no, no. This is not the time.

"Hello, Lanu-" Before I can finish greeting her, she walks and embraces me just like Samson.

"Wow, capt'!! You swing both ways?!!"

"Such a daring man!!"

"Wouhou!!"

You are guys are such idiots. Still, I guess I should erase any misunderstandings just in case. I raise Lanuvel's face by lightly pulling up her chin. She looks at me with an interrogative and red-blushing face.

"What are you-" I try to kiss her but before our lips can connect…"Kya!!"

She punches me with all her might and I am sent flying to the carriage.

"W-w-what are you doing?!! You pervert!!"

"Ahahaha!! Captain, you got rejected!!"

"I guess we know one thing the captain isn't good at!!"

I stand back up under the mockery of the others. I can also feel other people looking at us like we are making a show for them. But more importantly, Lanuvel has almost dislocated my jaw. I forgot I was dealing with a gnoll.

"You could have just said no."

"What did you do that for in the first place?!"

"I just wanted to…" I look at Willhem and he just sneers at me. "I just wanted to do it."

"D-do it? Do what exactly?!"

"Kiss you."

"W-w-what?!!"

I suddenly feel somebody pushing me from behind. When I look, I see Hendrick's hand retracting. Oh, you are in for it this time. I bump into Lanuvel and as she loses her balance, I grab her back, pulling her close to me.

Her sweet and light smell hits my nose and I start feeling weird. The weirdest part is that Lanuvel doesn't reject me and instead looks away with the reddest and cute face of the world, she also hides her mouth with her hand close like she is forming a fist. Is she going to hit me again?

"So, can I?" It's not like I especially want to but since I initiated it, I better do it to the end or I will be the laughing stock of our group for a while.

"I…I don't know. I am not used to this." The shy maiden speaks with a barely audible voice. If anybody told us that this girl can break your jaw with a single punch, I am sure you wouldn't believe it.

But I wonder as well, since did I become such a pervert that I want to kiss her in public? It is true that doggy was doing it with Rebecca in front of me like nothing. They also did it once or twice when we were at the market or outside the mansion. But do I want to do the same? Shouldn't we be more reserved about this? Kissing should be something special right?

"You…You can do it if you want to." Right when I come back to reality from all the thinking. Lanuvel whispers to me once again. But then I release her.

"Nah, it is better if we don't do it after all."

"Eh??" Everybody around us let out a weird noise. Lanuvel's face also changes. The shy red changes into another red. A red that I know very well.

"You…You idiot!!!"