Chapter 87-88 – The Vice-Leader Who Wants to Enjoy
[POV Change]
While Rize struggled with her conflicted thoughts after fleeing from Dayke's room, Agnes returned to her own quarters, her expression clouded with turmoil.
She couldn't stop thinking about what Dayke had said—that he loved her—and the kiss that followed. Her heart wouldn't stop racing.
She knew those words weren't sincere. It was all an act, part of their plan to earn the vice-captain's trust and secure her place in the Knights. Despite knowing this, the moment still stirred something deep within her.
'Why is my heart beating like this…?'
Her surroundings felt like they were shifting—blurring, glowing with strange colors. Her body felt weightless, as if she were floating. It was a sensation she had never experienced before.
"Ha…"
If it had ended with the words, she might have been able to brush it off. But when Dayke's tongue slipped into her mouth and she realized that the kisses she had imagined were nothing like this, something inside her changed.
She was overtaken by a powerful and unfamiliar emotion—something far deeper than the resistance she'd felt before. It overwhelmed her completely, making her feel like she couldn't push it away even if she tried.
'No… this can't be happening…'
If what she felt was love, it complicated everything.
To love someone, and to want their love in return, meant seeing yourself as their equal. That desire alone felt like greed to Agnes—someone still carrying the burden of unforgiven sins from her past life.
She hadn't yet paid the full price for what she had done to Dayke back then. Her role now was to help him and ease his resentment, not to long for his affection.
'Still…'
She couldn't shake the feeling of that kiss. It kept resurfacing in her mind, vivid and consuming.
Even though she couldn't fully understand what she had felt in that moment, the desire to kiss him again was clear and undeniable. Her heart ached with a strange longing she hadn't known before.
'Is there no way? A way to kiss someone… even if there's no love between us…?'
Agnes lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, tangled in her thoughts.
No matter how late the night grew, her mind wouldn't settle. The questions kept circling, and the feelings refused to fade.
—
—
[POV Change]
Morning arrived, marking the start of the knights' self-training session.
While the elves gathered on the parade ground were busy with sparring and physical exercises, Agnes found herself lost in thought, just like the night before. She longed to kiss again but couldn't come up with a valid excuse. On top of that, she was growing anxious knowing that Dayke would be dispatched to Lake Village again the following day.
As she remained deep in thought, she noticed someone else who seemed just as distracted. It was the vice-captain. She wasn't blending in with the other elves and sat alone at the edge of the training ground, quietly sighing to herself.
Agnes couldn't ignore what she saw. Not only did she feel it was a superior's duty to look after her subordinates, but she was also concerned about the vice-captain's condition after she left Dake's room the previous night.
"Vice-captain, is something bothering you? You look troubled."
"Captain?!" Rize flinched in surprise at Agnes' quiet question.
Agnes looked around, making sure no one was close enough to overhear. She lowered her voice and asked gently, "Is this about what happened in Dake's room yesterday…?"
Rize was shocked that she had guessed so accurately. But even though Agnes was her superior, she couldn't bring herself to confess the real reason for her unease.
'How am I supposed to tell her that I'm feeling conflicted because I want to experience sex too…?'
Rize was caught between her curiosity about physical pleasure and her conscience as a disciplined elf. Agnes, unaware of the real reason behind her turmoil, looked at her with concern. Rize, trying to hide her feelings, shook her head.
"No, it's just something personal."
"If you're willing to share, I'd be happy to listen. Maybe I can help."
"I appreciate that, but it's too personal. I really can't talk about it… even with you, Captain."
"I see…"
Rize felt genuinely grateful that Agnes cared so much, but that didn't mean she could reveal what was truly bothering her. Afraid she might continue pressing the issue, she quickly tried to change the subject.
"Lately, the stress is just piling up. If there's a good way to relieve it, I'd love to know."
"A way to relieve stress…" Agnes repeated.
She actually knew a very effective method—sleeping with Dayke. Whenever she allowed herself to enjoy it with a relaxed mind, her stress and worries would disappear. She thought it would be wonderful if the vice-captain could experience the same release.
Good experiences are meant to be shared, especially with people you care about. Maybe that's why she believed the vice-captain would benefit from Dayke's help too.
Of course, she had no real intention of recommending it. No matter how good her intentions were, she knew the vice-captain, with her strict values, wouldn't easily accept something like that.
'That was a ridiculous thought…' she told herself.
But at that moment, probably because she had just imagined encouraging the vice-captain to sleep with Dayke, her own worries came flooding back.
'If the vice-captain ends up in bed with Dayke and me…'
That scenario could give her an excuse to kiss him again, under the pretense of keeping up the lie that they were lovers. It was a tempting idea for Agnes, who struggled to ask for a kiss directly due to her own guilt.
And if it helped relieve the vice-captain's stress, it would be a win-win situation.
'But will Dayke agree to it?'
Even with her moment of hesitation, the mix of her desire to support her subordinate and her childish wish to kiss again pushed her forward.
"Vice-captain."
"Yes, Captain?"
"I know a way to relieve stress… Would you like to hear it?"
—
—
[MC POV]
There was only one day left before I had to return to Lake Village.
No—after finishing my knightly duties and dinner, it was now less than a day. Once night fell, I would have to deal with that rude red-haired elf again.
I had only sampled things last time. This time, I needed to go through with it properly.
Still, I couldn't stop thinking about the vice-captain's reaction the previous night. The way she left the room, carefully avoiding eye contact with both me and Agnes—it stuck with me.
'She didn't actually get aroused by what we were doing, did she?'
As I made my way through the quiet barracks hallway, heading back to my room from the cafeteria, I found myself muttering these thoughts.
That was when I noticed someone moving around in the hallway. Aside from me, no one else was around.
Fine was sneaking along the corridor, cautiously checking her surroundings.
"Clear ahead… Clear behind… All good!"
'What's she doing?'
She clutched a book tightly to her chest, treating it as though it were something sacred. Her expression was overly serious, as if she held in her hands a secret that could change the fate of the world.
"Alright, no one's around. I'll slip by while I've got the chance."
"What are you doing?"
"Ahhh!!"
I had approached her quietly and asked the question from behind. She jumped like she had seen a ghost. Her grip on the book didn't loosen.
"D-Dayke!"
"What's that book?"
"This? Oh, this? It's nothing!"
She was clearly too flustered for it to be nothing. I was amused to see someone usually so candid and unaffected suddenly so embarrassed. That only made me more curious.
"Why? Is it important?"
"No! Not important at all! Totally meaningless!"
"If it's not important, there shouldn't be a problem telling me."
"Well, it's just…"
I knew she wasn't going to tell me easily. Given her simplicity, I figured a little emotional tactic might work better.
I placed a hand on her shoulder and looked at her seriously.
"…Fine. So this is what our relationship has come to."
"Huh?"
"Remember how I looked out for you, the youngest in the unit? I helped you a lot because I was worried you'd struggle adjusting to the knights."
"Of course I remember! You even saved my life!"
I looked at her with a hurt expression, letting her words bounce off me with mock sadness.
"And now… You won't even share a small, harmless secret with me. That really hurts."
"But I'm not supposed to talk about it…"
"So I'm not your senior, and just helping you a few times isn't enough? I thought we were close comrades, but I guess I was wrong."
"No! You're amazing! You're the best senior in the order, right after the captain! Please don't be sad!"
Fine fell right into my trap, panicking and trying to reassure me.
I knew I had her now.
"Really? Then tell me what the book is. I promise I won't tell anyone."
"Are you really not going to say anything?"
"Yes. I swear."
"Ugh… I really shouldn't… but…"
Still hesitant, Fine eventually gave in and reluctantly handed me the book.
"What's this? An adult novel? Where were you planning to go with something like this?"
"Just… please keep it a secret."
"I told you, don't worry. I'll keep my word."
Once I reassured her, Fine hesitated for a moment longer before finally beginning to speak.
"Actually…"
—
—
[MC POV]
Back in my basement room at the barracks, I walked in slow circles, still thinking about what Fine had told me.
["Actually… I was on my way to lend a book to the vice-captain."]
Hearing her say "vice-captain" at that moment had completely caught me off guard.
And what followed?
Fine claimed the vice-captain wanted to read the book because she thought it was important to study humans more thoroughly, since she was now part of the Order.
The moment I heard that, I remembered what Rize had said last night about researching human culture.
'So that research… was actually about adult novels?'
Fine might have fallen for that excuse, but I definitely wouldn't.
There's no way anyone was seriously researching human culture by reading erotic fiction.
She might act calm and serious, but clearly, she was more curious about these things than she lets on.
'She probably got caught trying to sneak into my room last night.'
And to cover it up, she pretended she was there to check on me and Agnes—right in front of my face, no less.
I'd always assumed she was a stiff, overly proper elf with zero interest in that kind of sexual stuff. But she surprised me.
And honestly?
'It's not bad news.'
Like I've said before, staying on good terms with everyone was the easiest way to make life in the Knights bearable.
If the vice-captain is curious about these things rather than being awkward or judgmental, that actually works in my favor.
Knock…Knock…
'Agnes?'
I hadn't summoned her tonight, but considering I'd be heading back to Lake Village tomorrow, it wouldn't be strange for her to come say goodbye.
The door was unlocked, so I didn't bother walking over to it. I just called out from where I stood.
"Come in."
At my words, the door opened.
Agnes walked in—just as I'd expected.
But she wasn't alone. Rize had followed right behind her.
"…Vice-captain?"
Why was she here again, after storming out last night like she'd seen something scandalous?
She must've known how strange it looked. The moment our eyes met, she turned her gaze away and hesitated.
"What's going on? Why are both of you here together?"
"Dayke… There's something I want to ask you."
Agnes hesitated, then looked directly at me as she spoke again, her voice quiet but steady.
"Can the three of us… sleep together?"