While preparing for the first expedition, Hans was also busy dealing with the duties of the Commander. Of course, this doubled his workload, but it was something he had to endure.
Getting help from Yuren, the former Commander, was an option, but she was focused on training the other members. That was indeed helpful.
At this point, pulling Yuren away was out of the question, so Hans had no choice but to handle all the duties alone with Cluna. So, this was bound to happen.
In fact, there were signs. Maybe it was because he had pulled three all-nighters in a row, but suddenly, blood started pouring from his nose. Hastily, he pinched it, but it was too late.
Cluna’s gentle touch brushed against Hans’s left cheek. She was looking at him with a worried expression. Feeling burdened, Hans turned his head away.
“You’ve overdone it, Commander.”
“But if I don’t do it, nobody else will.”
“Still, rest is important. Especially in situations like this before an expedition.”
“…I know that.”
But her face was too close. Uncomfortably so. For someone like Hans, who was immune to women, even just meeting her gaze made his body tremble.
However, Cluna had her reasons. Seeing the commander with blood flowing down his face triggered something unknown rising in her chest. What could it be?
Is she craving blood? No, that can’t be it. She’s not a vampire. But if it were the Commander’s blood, perhaps she’d want just a tiny taste. At that moment of mental disarray…
“Cluna?”
“…Huh!”
“This is way too close.”
“I’m, I’m sorry!”
As Hans pointed it out, there was only a slight distance left between them. In fact, if she just stuck out her tongue, she could reach him easily.
Cluna, flustered, hurriedly took a step back. Yet, it was just like her to cast a healing spell on him. Soon, an awkward silence settled.
Hans scratched his cheek. He wanted to break the distance with words, but if things got awkward like this, that would be troublesome. After all, they were partners.
He didn’t want to work in such an awkward environment. Naturally, productivity was bound to drop. Hans pondered how to diffuse the tension.
“I don’t know why I suddenly had a nosebleed.”
“Oh, speaking of which… I forgot something important.”
“Well, that does happen.”
“W-Well, let’s just put that aside. You need rest, Commander.”
Not only did he double his workload right after returning from a warrior’s festival with the Rust Tribe, but he was also preparing for the expedition. In short… he was overworked.
Cluna’s diagnosis was spot on. They had been working nonstop. Furthermore, Hans’s body was forced into a rampage due to time slipping away without him realizing it.
The fatigue accumulating in Hans’s body was beyond imagination. But he wasn’t concerned about it. No matter what happened to this body, he didn’t care much. What was important now was the expedition.
“Once I finish this, I’ll take a break.”
“But….”
“Don’t worry too much. I know my body’s valuable.”
“…Is that really true?”
“Of course.”
Even though he had forgotten his goals under hypnosis, that instinct didn’t vanish. The Royal Knights had been rebuilt, and their name was revived by repelling the Blood Demons.
Yet, the proof of that power was still lacking. But it was more accurate to say it was due to having too many achievements rather than too few.
Blood Demons are monsters.
That’s a fact, but those who have witnessed them up close and lived to tell the tale are few and far between. Even the leaders of the various tribes are only aware of the dangers.
Sure, some leaders have encountered Blood Demons, but most of the heads filled with information are still in the dark. What about their followers?
Furthermore, because they had racked up extraordinary achievements, some began to envy and undermine the Royal Knights. Thus, the Royal Knights needed to prove themselves.
They needed to show they were still thriving and demonstrate what it meant to repel three Blood Demons. This expedition would be the first step towards that, so it was natural for Hans to focus on work.
“Besides, this expedition is another opportunity for them, but it arouses trauma as well.”
Just a year ago, the Royal Knights lost most of their members on a reckless expedition. Everyone, including the rookies Clara and Ruby, suffered tremendous wounds.
Hans was grateful that they chose to remain in the Royal Knights after such an experience. But he couldn’t shake the thought that he might hurt them again.
However, it was a necessary step to move forward. They couldn’t be content with just protecting their territory forever. They had to seize the opportunity.
“I need to have an audience with the Human King.”
“Who should we send as a messenger?”
“I should go myself.”
“But isn’t that a bit beneath your station?”
No matter how much the Human King had invested, their statuses weren’t equal. Especially from Cluna’s perspective, she didn’t think anyone was on Hans’s level.
But Hans thought differently. After all, the Human King didn’t hold back on support during the Royal Knights’ most difficult times. Thanks to that, they barely managed to get by.
If it hadn’t been for the Human King’s investment, they might have been living on the streets by now. So, it was only right to show minimum courtesy to the king.
‘And I’m bothered by what I heard before.’
The Human King was said to have ambitions beyond imagination. At first, Hans thought he aimed to be the core of the Racial Alliance, but even after reaching that position, he was not satisfied.
Hans kept working.
Thus, it was only natural for him to collapse from overwork.
*
Hans collapsed five days after that. It was just like any other day. He headed to the dining hall for a meal, received his food, and suddenly felt dizzy.
In the end, Hans lost his balance and fell. Unfortunately, he collapsed in front of everyone during meal time, leaving no room for excuses. Hans lost consciousness.
On the other hand, the reactions of the comrades witnessing Hans’s collapse varied widely. Particularly, Helia rushed over as soon as she saw him falling and swept him into her arms.
“Teacher! Are you okay?! Teacher!!”
For a moment, everyone in the dining hall had a bad feeling as they watched Hans slowly collapse. Because they had already experienced loss before.
They were ones who lost precious family, friends, and comrades. Thus, their reactions were bound to be intense. Hans was quickly taken to the infirmary.
Once they learned it was merely overwork, things calmed down a bit, but that was only the surface. It triggered a rampage.
‘What the hell is going on?’
‘Thank goodness it was just overwork. What if it was more than that? What if Commander Hans never wakes up again?’
‘I don’t want to lose again.’
It was a kind of delusion. However, for each individual, their past experiences of loss triggered hypochondria. And it was the same this time. Hans collapsed due to overwork.
But what if it wasn’t just overwork? What if Hans truly faced death? Naturally, everyone gathered felt a deep fear.
The first to take action was Cluna. Having worked in the infirmary and being knowledgeable in medicine, she stayed beside the collapsed Hans.
“Are you feeling alright?”
There was no response. Perhaps it was the backlash from working non-stop. Hans had his eyes closed and was sleeping. Even Helia unusually distanced herself from him this time.
The reason was that she didn’t want to make Hans more tired. Thanks to that, Cluna was able to move. She slowly approached. She knew she shouldn’t.
But the moment she saw the Commander fall, the anxiety she felt poured out like a waterfall, and it was the same now. Something, something was needed. Something she couldn’t erase…
“Is there anything uncomfortable?”
Cluna’s face drew slowly closer to the sleeping Hans. Eventually, her lips brushed against his. It wasn’t a kiss, just a very brief peck.
Realizing what she just did, Cluna immediately stepped back. What did I just do? It was an act she performed without thinking, and she was shocked, but oddly, it didn’t feel bad.
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