"Hey, 3rd Squad! Get your heads on straight and get those tents pitched, now! Anyone who slacks off misses dinner tonight!"
At Gunther's barked orders, the 3rd Squad soldiers scrambled into motion.
Just then, the other squad leaders approached me.
"Lieutenant Jaeger."
The first to speak was Walter, the 1st Squad leader. He smoothed his mustache, looking back and forth between Kardor's corpse and me with an expression of genuine admiration.
"Just what kind of eye do you have? How did you find that monster's weakness so fast? If you hadn't aimed for the eyes, we might have just wasted all our ammunition."
"No matter how tough an orc's body is, its eyes aren't. I got lucky, spotted it just as the thing staggered."
I brushed it off modestly, but Walter didn't seem convinced.
"Right, the eyes. For most living things, they're a fatal point. But to think of that in such an urgent situation and give a flawless order... honestly, too much modesty can be a poison. Your command today was flawless. Frankly, when you yelled out, I almost ended up following it myself."
Franz, the 4th Squad leader standing nearby, chimed in, his eyes sparkling.
"Exactly! The moment we heard your voice, Lieutenant, I saw the look in the soldiers' eyes change. It was as if you had cast a spell on them."
Calling the effect of [Captivating Eloquence] a spell was a surprisingly accurate analogy. I gave a wry, inward smile.
And behind them, Erika stood. She had her arms crossed and was pretending to look elsewhere with feigned indifference, but I could see her ears were perked up.
'Status Analysis.'
[Name: Erika von Stahlberg]
[Status: Excitement and fatigue from battle]
[Emotion: A sense of inferiority compared to Max Jaeger's overwhelming combat achievements, and a vague, bothersome recollection of 'that scene'.]
A sense of inferiority and discomfort about that scene. To still be bothered by that even after coming all the way here. I chuckled softly and approached her.
"Lieutenant Stahlberg, is the 2nd Squad alright? It seemed like the enemy swarmed your side quite a bit earlier."
She flinched and looked up at me.
"Hmph! Who's worried about who? My 2nd Squad is perfectly fine. ......Well, thanks to you... because you held the flank so well, we didn't take heavy losses, but...."
Her voice trailed off as she avoided my eyes. But her fidgeting fingers and burning earlobes plainly revealed her honest feelings.
'She does have a cute side to her.'
It was then. A messenger came running urgently from the command tent.
"The Company Commander has summoned all squad leaders to the command tent! It's a situation report and a briefing for future operations!"
"Understood."
We left the aftermath to the soldiers and headed for the hastily set-up company command tent. Inside, a makeshift table and a map were laid out, and Seraphina stood before them.
'Status Analysis.'
[Name: Seraphina von Reinhardt]
[Status: Suppressing a mana reflux seizure with formidable willpower, elation from the victory]
[Emotion: Deep trust in her subordinates (especially Max Jaeger), satisfaction with the report to higher command]
"I've just completed communications with regimental headquarters."
She pointed to the radio on the table.
"The Regimental Commander personally commended us. He was particularly full of praise regarding the Kardor kill."
"Ooh...!"
Franz let out an exclamation.
"But don't get carried away. This is only the beginning."
Seraphina calmly settled the buoyant atmosphere.
"We've pushed back the enemy's main force, so now we enter the phase of occupying and fortifying the forest. We will camp here and maintain the front line until supply routes are secured. This operation is going to be quite a long one."
"Understood."
"Each squad will divide its area for sentry duty. Off-shift personnel are to get as much rest as possible. And today's company duty officer will be Lieutenant Max Jaeger. Dismissed."
The meeting concluded. Walter, Franz, and Erika saluted and exited the tent. Erika glanced at me on her way out, but said nothing particular and turned her flushed face away.
Once her subordinates had left, Seraphina seemed to relax, sinking deeply into her chair. The tips of her fingers, pressed against her pale forehead, were trembling faintly. She was surely enduring pain even at this moment.
'Status Analysis.'
[Status: Relaxing, causing the suppressed pain to creep back up. Deeply contemplating when to seek out Max Jaeger.]
I kept Seraphina's last appearance in my mind, then turned my back and left the command tent. Outside, the forest was already steeped in heavy darkness. The giant trees blocked the sky, allowing even starlight to filter through sparingly. The heat of the day had cooled, replaced by a damp, chilly coldness that hung in the air.
When I returned to the 3rd Squad's area, Sergeant Gunther had already finished organizing the camp. Since the orcs' huts felt unclean and posed a risk of booby traps, the soldiers had pitched two-man tents in the nearby clearing or dug foxholes to cover themselves with ponchos.
I adjusted my uniform collar and strapped on the duty officer's armband. The night air grew colder, and the forest's characteristic dampness clung to my skin.
The encampment was silent. The heat of victory had subsided, and the soldiers were lying down their weary bodies to sleep. The only occasional sounds were the footsteps of night sentries and shift changes, or the wind rustling through the leaves.
I slowly patrolled the perimeter of the camp.
"Halt. Gunpowder."
"Flash."
"...Loyalty. Keep up the good work, sir."
"Good work to you all too."
The sentries in the darkness saluted. I tapped their shoulders and checked my [Minimap]. There were no red dots. The orcs had just suffered a crushing defeat, so tonight would likely be quiet.
I finally headed back towards the 3rd Squad's section. There, a single shadow melted into the darkness.
"Corporal Hanna."
I called out to her, deliberately pretending to mistake her rank.
"C-Corporal Hanna Meyer...?"
"Heh, you're still a lowly corporal?"
"......"
Hanna put on a feigned look of hurt at my teasing.
"That's too mean, Lieutenant. In terms of army time, haven't I been around longer?"
"Oho? So are you daring to suggest your squad leader is greener than you?"
"...Yes."
"What...?"
"...Just kidding."
Pfft. As she said that, Hanna flashed an innocent smile. Finding the sight utterly lovely, I approached her and opened my arms wide.
Then, as if staking a claim to that spot as her own, Hanna smoothly slipped into my embrace. In the midst of the cold night air, her warmth felt especially vivid.
Peck.
I kissed her and activated a skill.
'Status Analysis.'
[Name: Hanna Meyer]
[Emotion: Overwhelming affection, a desire to be praised, a thrill at this moment alone together]
[Hidden Desire: I hope the Lieutenant stays safe throughout this operation. I want to stay by his side forever.]
"Forever, huh..."
I chuckled softly and wrapped my arms more tightly around Hanna's waist.
"Sergeant Hanna, you act like you're not, but you're secretly quite greedy."
"......?"
Her expression of confusion lasted only a moment.
"Then... do you not like it?"
She mumbled, her face buried in my chest.
"No way."
I gently stroked the back of her head with one hand. The white nape of her neck, visible through her brown hair, shone seductively in the darkness. I pressed my lips there and breathed out hotly.
"Hnng...!"
Hanna's body trembled with a jolt. I whispered into her ear.
"Your performance today was perfect. Detecting Kardor, reporting the threatening target to the Captain so appropriately—all of it."
"You flatter me.... I was just...."
"Don't be modest. You deserve to be praised. And..."
I subtly surveyed our surroundings. The patrol troops were far off, and the tree shadows perfectly concealed us. According to my minimap, there were no other dots nearby.
"...you deserve a reward, too."
I slipped my hand inside Hanna's combat uniform top. As my hand, chilled by the cold night air, touched her hot inner flesh, Hanna flinched in surprise and swallowed a moan.
"L-Lieutenant... we're outside...."
"So you don't like it?"
"......"
Hanna fell silent for a moment. Her hazel eyes carefully scanned the area. Soon, confirming that no one else was around, she opened her mouth.
"......No...."
She was honest. I swept my hand up her side and activated a skill.
'Hand of Attunement.'
Ting-
[Skill 'Hand of Attunement (Lv.1)' is activated.]
[Sensitizes the target's senses and induces a mild, pleasant sensation.]
The energy flowing from my fingertips stimulated her nerves. A sensation on a completely different level from a simple caress—it felt like being tickled by a feather yet also like a jolt of electric current.
"Haaah... nhh!"
Hanna's legs gave out, and she collapsed against me, clinging for support. Pretending to support her, I pressed down on the area near her ribs with my thumb, adding stimulation.
"Huuk, ah...! It's strange... wherever the Lieutenant's hand touches... it feels weirdly tingly and ticklish...♡"
"Quiet your voice. Someone might hear."
At my playful warning, Hanna hastily covered her own mouth. But she couldn't hide the gasping breaths leaking out or her dreamy eyes.
I moved my hand higher, gripping the soft flesh just below her bra cup. Her body, made extremely sensitive by the skill's influence, overreacted to my every touch.
"Nnnh, mmph...!"
Tears welled up in her eyes. It wasn't pain. These were physiological tears brought on by an overwhelming intensity of pleasure. Enjoying her reaction, I slowly withdrew my hand.
"That's all for today."
"Ah...."
Hanna let out a sigh full of longing. The way she looked up at me with her flushed face was utterly pitiable.
"There might be another battle tomorrow. Save your strength."
I spoke as I tidied her disheveled clothing.
"And... Hanna, come to my tent later, at dawn. After I'm off duty, I'll give you a massage or something."
At those words, Hanna's expression brightened instantly.
"Yes...! I'll be waiting, Lieutenant♡"
She planted a surprise kiss on my cheek and then scurried away into the darkness. I wiped her saliva from the corner of my mouth and chuckled.
'She's cute, alright.'
The night deepened, and the forest was still. But inside my head, my mind was busy calculating what was to come next. My time with Hanna was good, but a more important conquest target remained.
I told the remaining sentries I'd catch a quick nap and returned to my tent. On the minimap, a green dot was already moving from the command tent towards my tent.
I sat inside the tent for a moment. Shortly after, a voice called out to me from outside.
"...Lieutenant Jaeger, are you inside?"
It was Seraphina.