30-71

EP.71 The Red-Haired Lady General 

“From now on, we’ll be moving to the location Lady Milleille told us about! Everyone, get ready!” 

It had been a week since Teus had stayed with the beastkin. 

Milleille’s promise was kept quickly. 

Today, news arrived that preparations for a settlement and resources were complete. 

“Got it, boss!” 

“It’s sudden, but good news is good news.” 

“If we have a place to settle, we’d better pack quickly!” 

Every beastkin wore a smile. 

The worries that had plagued them for so long were gone. 

Some even looked up to the hero, Teus. 

“It’s all thanks to the hero.” 

“Of course! If it weren’t for the hero, we’d still be bandits, right?” 

“But don’t you think the hero and the boss have gotten a bit close?” 

No one took it seriously. 

It was just something they said because the two were standing together. 

“It wouldn’t be bad if they got married.” 

“Realistically, it’d help the beastkin’s position... and besides, the hero’s the hero! He’s not lacking compared to the boss!” 

“Hey, have you forgotten the boss has never shown interest in any male?” 

“Well, you never know what’ll happen in life.” 

They all joked lightheartedly. 

But none of them could have guessed. 

No one imagined their boss had already married the hero. 

Even with wild imaginations, it was hard to picture. 

‘Surely... we haven’t been found out, right?’ 

Despite her calm face, Aliya was anxious inside. 

The week Teus stayed was anything but light. 

Teus visited Aliya’s tent every day. 

Each time, he demanded different kinds of play. 

Without her companions knowing, Aliya’s body had come to fully recognize Teus as her master. 

“Somehow, Aliya seems different than usual...” 

“She must have something to be happy about!” 

“Is that so...? Well, maybe.” 

It was hard to notice the change. 

Aliya had erased all traces thoroughly. 

“Everyone! I have some business to attend to, so please prepare as I instructed until the time comes!” 

“Yes! Hero! Leave it to us! We’ll always be here to help you!” 

The area was filled with enthusiasm and cheers for Teus. 

Only Aliya wore a subtle expression. 

As she felt her complicated emotions, Teus quietly reached out his hand. 

“I’ll call for you later, so make sure you wait.” 

From an angle where the others couldn’t see, 

Teus roughly grabbed her large butt. 

“Ugh...! Y-yes, yes... M-master...♥” 

Her final whisper was tinged with affection. 

The Lady General of the East, Eriz. 

A vassal was reporting to her, who was known for her unique nickname. 

“Lady Eriz.” 

“Continue your report.” 

“There’s been suspicious movement in the south.” 

“The south... Has the Demon King attacked?” 

Eriz’s guess was reasonable. 

The south had long been noisy with wars against the Demon King. 

Recently, things had quieted down, but people whispered it wasn’t a good sign. 

“No, that’s not it.” 

“Then what’s the suspicious movement?” 

“It’s... the hero’s movements.” 

“The hero... you mean Teus.” 

“He fought a bloody battle with the Demon King, but was said to be regrouping.” 

The hero’s presence was influential. 

In the past, Eriz had tried to contact him. 

She’d thought of proposing rebellion, but the security was too tight to even try. 

“It’s been a while since I’ve heard that name... There must be a reason you bring it up?” 

“Yes. My personal guess is that he’s plotting rebellion.” 

“The hero is rebelling?” 

Eriz’s eyes widened. 

She’d seen him from afar before. 

He didn’t seem like someone who’d rebel without a special reason. 

“Perhaps... it’s true the king tried to purge him.” 

“I think so as well.” 

“He didn’t tell me because I wasn’t trustworthy.” 

“There are also rumors that he absorbed the bandit group the royal army struggled with into his own forces.” 

That could be good or bad news. 

It was definitely good news that the king’s enemy had grown stronger. 

But what kind of relationship that enemy would have with her was still unknown. 

“It would’ve been nice to have a chance to talk in advance.” 

“It couldn’t be helped. The king’s surveillance was too intense at the time.” 

“But just absorbing a bandit group isn’t enough for rebellion, is it?” 

“Lady Milleille of the south is supporting the bandits.” 

Joining hands with a southern noble. 

At first glance, it seemed like a reasonable plan. 

But the person she’d joined with was anything but ordinary. 

“Milleille... I remember she always had headaches because of the Demon King’s army.” 

“Well... things have been quiet lately. Maybe the hero’s battle with the Demon King had an effect...” 

“The hero... the Demon King... Could it be...?” 

Eriz felt her mind racing. 

It was like the scattered puzzle pieces were starting to fit together, however roughly. 

She couldn’t be sure yet, but a plausible theory formed. 

“Did they join forces...?!” 

“W-what?! Those two joined forces?” 

“If Milleille and the bandits, and even the Demon King’s army join in...” 

The vassal swallowed hard without realizing it. 

It meant the worst possible force had been born. 

“If that’s true... maybe we should cooperate with another country, or propose a temporary alliance with the king...” 

“No.” 

“Pardon...?” 

“Actually, this might be a good thing.” 

Eriz was smiling. 

To her vassal, her red hair seemed to shine even brighter. 

It was the look she had when planning victory on the battlefield. 

“Do you have a good idea...?” 

“If I join forces with the hero, I can achieve my goals easily.” 

“Certainly... if you joined, the king would have no options left... but how can you be sure they’ll cooperate?” 

“I am. The hero isn’t someone who’d want to be king. He’s the type to reject that role.” 

Even though she’d never met him, she’d researched thoroughly. 

She already knew he had no interest in power. 

“Come to think of it... you were planning to recruit him because he had no interest in power, right?” 

“In the end, I couldn’t make contact back then, but I didn’t expect it would turn out to be so helpful now.” 

“But what if the Demon King’s army tries to take over the kingdom?” 

“The Demon King’s army can’t swallow the kingdom. Would humans accept being ruled by monsters? More likely, other countries would intervene, claiming to help.” 

Being ruled by the Demon King was something people couldn’t accept without prejudice. 

Even a puppet king was still necessary. 

“If I cooperate and become queen, things will go smoothly.” 

“Even if cooperation goes well, becoming queen won’t be easy.” 

“Hm... I’ve never really sought out men, but if I become queen, having a child wouldn’t be so bad.” 

“...?” 

The vassal looked confused. 

Seeing this, Eriz gave a deep smile. 

“If I take the hero as my consort and become queen, who could stop me?” 

“Ah!” 

The vassal looked at Eriz respectfully. 

Anyone could see she was a striking beauty with red hair. 

Even a hero wouldn’t easily pass her by. 

“So you plan to use your charms.” 

“I’ve never tried it before, but if the reward is big, it’s worth a shot. It’ll also help me find out what kind of man the hero is.” 

Eriz saw marriage as a means to an end. 

But it wasn’t that she had no interest in Teus. 

“If he’s a decent man... he wouldn’t be a bad match.” 

Eriz was a virgin. 

Her noble status and bold personality were the reasons. 

Especially with her frequent clashes with the king, no suitor had come forward. 

Achieving her ambitions was important. 

But after that, she’d need an heir. 

“If it’s the hero’s child, there’d be nothing lacking.” 

“Even if the Demon King’s army isn’t an ally, there’s much to gain from this plan. I’m impressed by your wisdom, Lady Eriz.” 

“The problem is how to make contact with the hero...” 

“At this point, the king will try to keep you two apart as much as possible.” 

In fact, the kingdom was growing suspicious. 

But they were being deceived by false information from Milleille and Flora. 

Because of the information gap, they were always a few steps behind. 

“If we move openly, it’s as good as declaring war...” 

“I’ll send a message so the hero can approach secretly...” 

As they were discussing their plans, 

someone knocked loudly on the door. 

Bang bang- 

“Lady Eriz!” 

“What’s the commotion?” 

“Someone claiming to be the hero has appeared! Judging by his skills... even if he’s not the hero, he’s extraordinary...!” 

Eriz and her vassal exchanged glances. 

It was the look of someone who’d just received unexpected good fortune. 

“Looks like things are going better than expected.”