Chapter 11

The content and perspective of the protagonist in Chapter 06 are almost identical. If you don't like it, please skip it.

When the Northern Demon Castle came into view in the distance, Yuri, cradled in my arms, was sleeping soundly.

Her small body must need rest.

Once everything is done, I should have her checked by the medical team, I added to my mental notes.

As expected, Letz is fast when he flies through the sky.

I wish I could think that the溺爱 (doting) behavior towards Yuri in the 'Deep Forest' was just a bad dream.

It was far from the Tygas that is generally known.

Although it has been about 100 years since Letz became a mount, it feels like I'm seeing him for the first time.

When we reached the main gate of the Northern Demon Castle, I put away Letz's reins and lifted Yuri into my left arm as I dismounted.

My left arm has become Yuri's usual spot.

As I started walking, Letz began to walk beside me on my left.

"Captain Dilnan, good work!"

One of the outer guard team, who was on duty at the castle gate, noticed me and greeted me.

The outer guard team is a unit to which knights responsible for the security of the entire castle belong, and it is the largest unit in the Northern Demon Castle.

"Thanks. Can you issue a pass for one person? My purpose is to meet Elies."

As I returned the greeting and informed him of my errand at the gate, the one I asked noticed Yuri.

"...Captain Dilnan, you can't kidnap children, you know!"

"Peek!?"

Of all people, this guy screamed right in front of me! And worse, his scream woke Yuri up.

"...You, you woke Yuri up, didn't you? Huh?"

"AAAAAAH!

Captain Dilnan, no way, I'm dying.

Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!!"

This made me angrier than when a new recruit made a mistake.

Without thinking, I grabbed the idiot's head with my free right hand and squeezed it with all my strength. I wouldn't allow any resistance.

Fortunately, there was a height difference of about 10 cm, so I lifted him slightly to keep him from escaping.

After a while, I was suddenly hit hard on the back from behind.

The shock made my grip loosen, and the guy I was holding by the head fell to the ground.

"What are you doing? Dilnan. The child is scared."

"...Elies."

The sound of Elies, the captain of the document team who handles all the application procedures in the Northern Demon Castle, made me snap back to reality and turn around.

When I calmed down and looked at Yuri, she was trembling. ...Damn, I scared her.

Yuri, who was trembling, looked up at Elies as if asking who she was, and Elies noticed Yuri's gaze.

"Hello."

Elies greeted Yuri with a gentle, sweet smile that she rarely shows to anyone.

Yuri's trembling stopped. As expected, it worked.

She possesses a beauty that rivals that of women and is known as one of the most beautiful in the Northern Demon Castle.

In this workplace, where there is almost no feminine atmosphere, she is like a flower on a high hill. She is well aware of the reactions around her, so she deliberately lets her hair grow long, hides her figure with her robe, and speaks in a polite manner with a smile.

This makes her appear to be a gentle and beautiful woman, but in reality, she does this to enhance the value of her appearance and to manipulate and exploit others to the limit.

It's quite ruthless.

Naturally, when it comes to work, she shows no mercy at all.

Even when she smiles during work, it's often a dark, mocking, or sarcastic smile. Her presence is so overwhelming that some say it would be better to be scolded.

Well, if it weren't for that, she wouldn't be able to handle the paperwork for the entire castle and manage the document team, which has many clerical staff.

"Hi."

Yuri also greeted Elies properly but clung to me, blushing. She seemed embarrassed.

"Hehe, she's so cute."

"She is, isn't she?"

I relaxed along with Elies at the cute reaction of the young child.

However, the way she immediately asked what had happened with her eyes was impressive. She must have been referring to the situation just now.

"Yuri was sleeping soundly, but this idiot screamed without listening to anyone and woke her up. It's a capital offense, right? I was squeezing him, but you hit me and stopped me."

"Ah, so that was the kidnapping scream I heard just now. Waking a sleeping child is indeed a capital offense. However, you shouldn't scare children. If you have to do it, please do it where no one can see. It's bad for their education."

As I explained the situation briefly, I got angry again.

Elies's smile turned into a sneer as she listened, and it was directed at the guy on the ground.

The guy, who was holding his head in pain, turned pale when he saw Elies's sneer. He got what he deserved.

Fortunately, Yuri was clinging to me, so she didn't know what was happening.

"Can I do it now, where no one can see?"

Seizing the opportunity, I stomped on his back hard, and I heard a crack.

"AAH!"

"It's fine."

Hearing Elies agree with my action, I moved my foot, and this time Elies stomped on him and added her weight.

Despite her slender appearance under the robe, she is a well-built man. Being tall, she has considerable weight.

The bones creaked more than when I did it.

"GYAAH!!"

His scream was even louder than mine.

"Ugh..."

"‘Ugh’?"

As I was thinking 'serves him right,' I noticed a small voice from Yuri, along with Elies.

"It hurts, you know."

Although she didn't see it directly, she must have heard the sounds clearly.

I panicked for real as Yuri started to cry. I should have covered her ears!

Elies also moved away from the guy she was crushing and came over immediately.

"Ah, no one in this castle is so weak that they would be hurt by this, Yuri."

"That's right. He'll be fine by tomorrow, so there's no need to cry."

While Elies and I comforted Yuri, I patted her back, and Elies stroked her head.

At the same time, Elies gave a threatening look to the other outer guard team members who were watching from a distance, ordering them to destroy the evidence. They trembled at her presence and hurried to carry out the order.

Without leaving any evidence, it would be easier to convince Yuri.

The idiot was carried away at an incredible speed, probably to the medical team.

After a while, Yuri lifted her head, still sobbing.

Her face was a mess from tears, but I couldn't help but find her cute in her childlike state.

I took out a towel, as I did when she was licked by Letz, and wiped her tears and blew her nose.

Once she calmed down, she looked around.

She must be worried about that guy. What a kind child.

However, the evidence had already been destroyed by Elies's order, and Elies was still using her dark smile to threaten everyone around to keep quiet.

The more experienced members responded with smiles as if nothing was wrong, while the newer ones averted their eyes.

Yuri, confused by the reactions around her, finally looked at Elies. Elies seized the moment and gave her a perfect smile.

This guy, without explaining, used her smile to completely dispel Yuri's doubts!

Moreover, she casually charmed the outer guard team members as well!!

...I'm not the only one who thinks I don't want this guy as an enemy.