Lord of Disease (JP-GL) 186

186: A Reunion in the Magical Beast Stables

“Lathus-sama! Welcome… huh?”

We were led to the magical beast stables. And there was a feline beastman girl with reddish-brown hair and fur, and cute cat ears. Curly hair, green eyes. And for the first time, a smile.

I knew her name.

“Ah! Aithys-chan, how have you been?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she looked at Lathus. The adorable smile was gone. She was frowning, annoyed.

“Lathus-sama?”

“Well, I didn’t expect her to come here, after what happened.”

I had been almost killed by her and the beastmen who had sympathized with her. If Lathus hadn’t stopped them, I would have been killed.

We had no direct connection. Except… her brother, Eithys, had been a member of the Sixth Army’s assassination squad… and had died in the field.

That was our only connection.

Aithys glared at me.

“Don’t call me ‘chan.’ And are you an idiot, to come back here after what happened?”

Wow, she’s direct. She had a point, but I couldn’t just stand there and take it.

“—‘Nothing happened.’ That was the official story, wasn’t it? Or do you not understand Lathus’s consideration?”

“Huh…”

“Aithys. I didn’t know you were here. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful. And I’m not here to reopen old wounds. I am here—on official military business. Surely, you, of all people, understand the weight of that?”

“…” She gritted her teeth.

“…It’s because you said something crazy. To call someone by their name with ‘chan’… is that a military duty? Is that how a supreme commander is supposed to behave?”

She glanced at me, and then at the others, from second to fifth in command, who stood behind me.

And Lathus, and everyone else, quickly looked away.

“…Hmm?” Aithys blinked.

Liz stepped forward, her expression serious.

“Aithys.”

“…Ah. Lizlit, was it?”

“About Eithys… could we put that aside for now?”

“…Yeah. I know. …That’s the plan.” Her muttered words were still filled with pain.

As a sister… I could understand.

I wasn’t his enemy… but I was, without a doubt, partly responsible for his death.

“But I’m not taking back what I said about her being crazy.”

“Yes. You may continue to think that.”

“…You… are a vice-commander… right?”

“Yes. I hold the second rank in the Sixth Army.”

“…Your superior—a supreme commander—was just called crazy by a subordinate from another unit! Aren’t you angry? Shouldn’t you be angry?!”

“Oh, you understand that?”

“Don’t underestimate me.”

Rebecca stood beside Liz.

“Aithys. May I say something as well?”

“Rebecca Stagnet…?”

“I’m honored that you know my name. Though this is difficult to say.” Rebecca glanced at me and sighed.

“In the Sixth Army, it is a common understanding that the first in command is insane.”

“You two? Isn’t that a little rude? In front of the Third Army?”

“A little rude… is an understatement.”

“Aithys, you think so too, right?”

“Well… wait, why are you on her side?!”

“I’m just doing my job, seriously.”

“You say too many crazy things in your downtime.”

“I won’t deny that.”

“No, you should deny it.” Aithys said, her eyes cold.

“It’s a fact, so I can’t. I may say some strange things, but I don’t lie.”

“You… are a supreme commander… right?”

“It seems you’re not familiar with the military regulations, Aithys.”

“…Are you still holding a grudge about what happened before?”

“That’s not it.” I shook my head.

“The regulations for a supreme commander do not specify how they should behave.”

“…Are you sane?”

“I get that a lot.”

“Then how are you a supreme commander?”

“I just said there are no regulations, and I believe I said so before.” I smiled.

“The Sixth Army has destroyed the Dragon Knights and the Imperial Guard. We lured the Order of Evangel into the Lital Mountains and, in a joint operation with the Third Army and others, annihilated them. —Do you really want to question the sanity of the one who led them?”

It was an unparalleled military achievement. I added,

“Of course, it was thanks to the hard work of my cute subordinates.”

“…Cute… subordinates.” Aithys muttered.

“Was Eithys… cute?”