Alex returned to the inn with some bread and fruit he had bought on the way back, hoping to share it with everyone.
When he entered the room, he saw that Cloe was already awake.
Sophia was sitting beside her, helping her drink some water, as Cloe still seemed too weak to sit up properly.
On the other side of the room, Marci was still asleep, with Clara quietly sitting next to her.
When Ms. Sophia noticed Alex coming in, she turned to him with a warm smile.
"Welcome back! Lieutenant Cloe finally woke up," she said happily.
"But she's still recovering… Since she's a beastkin, it'll take about one or two days for her to fully heal."
Alex slowly walked over and placed the food he brought on the table next to Cloe's bed.
Sophia then glanced at Marci with a sad expression.
"Marci, on the other hand… will take longer."
"…I see," Alex replied softly as he looked at his resting companion.
Then Cloe spoke.
"For now… we've found Lady Clara. I'll write a letter to inform Lord Willson later on.
For now, we should all focus on resting and recovering."
She kept a calm expression, but it was clear she was in pain and struggling to speak.
Both Sophia and Clara smiled, clearly relieved that Cloe was awake and that the mission had been a success.
But then Cloe looked down, her voice quieter.
"…I couldn't protect Sir Hex… or Sir John… I'm so incompetent," she muttered sadly.
"Not just them… but everyone. I was careless… I didn't expect to run into dark elves."
She pressed a shaky hand to her forehead.
"No, no… you did a lot,"
Sophia said gently, reaching out and holding Cloe's hand.
"And Alex saved us!" she added, smiling and glancing at Alex.
Cloe slowly turned to look at him.
Alex stood there, unsure how to respond.
He felt a quiet sense of reward… but also didn't know what to say in moments like this.
Cloe, on the other hand, looked uncomfortable, ashamed even.
She struggled to meet the eyes of the person who had saved her… someone she hadn't treated kindly before.
"…It's okay," Alex said with a small smile, scratching his head.
"As long as I'm useful to everyone, that's enough."
Then his tone shifted slightly as he remembered something.
"Oh.. Lieutenant Cloe, I'm sorry… but something came up at the Adventurers' Guild when I went to deliver Lady Clara's letter."
Cloe opened her eyes more fully.
"The letter? Did something happen to it?" she asked quickly.
Lady Clara also looked concerned, clearly worried something had gone wrong.
"No.. Lady Clara, the letter was delivered successfully.. But "
Alex began explaining everything that had happened at the guild.
"…accompany an A-Rank party as a baggage carrier?"
Sophia blurted out in surprise.
"I tried to explain that I couldn't," Alex replied, "but I'm still listed under the Labor Guild… so I couldn't refuse."
"…That can't be helped,"
Cloe added, her voice calm but serious.
"As a soldier under Lord Willson, you may look like a soldier—but as long as you're tied to the Labor Guild, you're still seen as a slave."
"…But I'm not a slave,"
Alex said quietly.
"I'm a commoner."
His words made Clara, Cloe, and Sophia freeze in shock, their eyes widening.
"Why didn't you tell us?!"
Cloe said sharply.
"We could've given you a proper soldier card!"
"…He's not a slave!"
Sophia gasped as she rushed over to Alex and grabbed his shirt, pulling it up slightly to check his left chest, the spot where all slaves were marked with a crest.
"Ms. Sophia, what are you doing!?"
Clara's face turned bright red as she quickly looked away, covering her eyes.
"A-Ah! I was just checking!"
Sophia stammered, flustered as she realized she had accidentally exposed Alex's muscular upper body while searching for a crest.
Her face turned pink as she jumped back in embarrassment.
"…I'm sorry!" she said quickly, avoiding eye contact.
Alex stood there, confused by everyone's reactions.
"…I see. I was careless again,"
Cloe muttered, lowering her eyes.
"I didn't properly check everyone when we formed the team… I'm sorry, Alex.
When we return, I'll make sure you get a proper soldier ID,"
Cloe said with regret in her voice.
"For now… you can escort them tomorrow. We're still recovering,"
she added.
"Are you sure, Alex? Will you be okay?"
Sophia asked, looking at him with concern.
"It can't be helped,"
Alex replied with a small smile.
"I'll finish the job quickly and come right back to you guys."
Alex then glanced at Marci, who was still asleep, and turned to Sophia.
"Ms. Sophia… is Marci a slave?"
Sophia lowered her eyes slightly before answering.
"…Sadly, yes."
"…I see,"
Alex replied softly, his eyes drifting to Marci.
He looked at her with quiet sympathy, the weight of her situation settling in his heart.