Chapter 50

For over a month, there were no major movements. The rebel army disappeared without a trace, and there were no significant updates from intelligence agents.

During that month, Yuichiro spent his time with Goat organizing and training the Goddess Squad.

“Can’t we change the name of the Goddess Squad?” Yuichiro complained. He felt embarrassed, almost like he was playing the role of a clown in front of everyone.

Goat, however, responded with a nonchalant smile, “Simple and easy to understand is always the best. Humans tend to have pure emotions towards things that are straightforward. The name Goddess Squad will eventually strike fear in our enemies and admiration in our allies without any confusion.”

“I see…” Yuichiro sighed, accepting Goat’s answer.

“If it’s an affirmation you want, then that’s what it is,” Goat said, laughing at Yuichiro’s silence and twisted lips.

With the recruitment of soldiers, the number of soldiers in the Goddess Squad exceeded one thousand. At the same time, all squad leaders were promoted to platoon leaders. Kiki also took charge of the Yellow Tribe’s civilian team as a platoon leader, with Kuku as her assistant. However, only Evelise showed reluctance towards her promotion.

“Evelise believes that she is not strong enough to be responsible for the lives of hundreds of people,” Goat explained while supervising the training soldiers.

Yuichiro asked him briefly, “What do you think?”

“Evelise’s skills are unquestionable, but being a platoon leader requires the ability to use soldiers beyond one’s line of sight like limbs and the fortitude to abandon them at times. She doesn’t seem to have that mindset,” Goat replied.

Yuichiro frowned at Goat’s response. “It’s a waste to let her remain just a squad leader,” he said. As he murmured these words, Yuichiro turned his gaze towards Goat. “Where is Evelise right now?”

“If it’s now, she should be at the shooting range. Shall I guide you there?”

“No need. You watch over the training of the squad. I don’t need to say much, but don’t be lazy. Weed out the weaklings without hesitation. Cowards will only be a burden on the battlefield.”

Uttering those harsh words, Goat nodded with a grin as if to show his agreement. “Of course. I’ll train them hard and make everyone puke their guts out.”

“Leave only those who crawl out from the vomit.”

Leaving those words behind, Yuichiro walked with a wide stride. Immediately after, he heard Goat’s booming voice from behind.

“Run faster! After running twenty more laps, we’ll have practical training until night! Don’t think you can sleep just because we’ll be punishing the bottom ten until morning!”

At that sadistic voice, Yuichiro chuckled quietly to himself. As he approached the shooting range located at the edge of the training ground, he could hear voices arguing.

“Um, really, you don’t have to worry about it.”

“No! No, I will take responsibility properly!”

The weak voice belonged to Evelise, while the earnest loud voice sounded like Kiki’s.

“But, responsibility…I think getting hit by an arrow in that situation couldn’t be helped, so I don’t think it’s your fault at all…”

“It’s not like that! I hurt your body, so it’s my fault! Please, let me take responsibility for that!”

It seemed like they were repeating a strange back-and-forth argument.

Peeking his face out from the edge of the wall, Yuichiro saw Evelise being cornered against the wall with Kiki standing in front of her, slamming the wall with her hand. Evelise shrunk her body as if she was intimidated and huddled between Kiki’s arms, which were against the wall.

Yuichiro was momentarily surprised by the posture which were not typical of two women together, but since in this world there is no distinction between genders, it might not be so unusual.

“I keep telling you, I’m not the kind of person who pushes responsibility on others…,” Evelise muttered in a troubled tone, but Kiki shook her head vigorously.

“Don’t say that! I…I think you’re very beautiful,” Kiki said in a passionate voice, causing him to almost fall over.

In fact, Yuichiro’s hand slipped from the wall, causing his upper body to protrude out.

Instantly, Evelise let out a surprised voice, “Goddess…!” Her voice sounded somewhat relieved. In a fluster, Kiki released Evelise’s arms that she had been holding onto the wall.

Yuichiro then approached them with slow and sluggish steps and spoke in a casual tone, “Well…I won’t say not to try to woo her, but stop forcing yourself on her.”

At Yuichiro’s clumsy advice, Kiki blushed and turned away from him, whispering in a small voice, “I apologize for the unseemly sight.”

With a serious face, Kiki bowed her head to Yuichiro, then turned to face Evelise again.

Evelise flinched for a moment, her shoulder shaking.

“I’m serious. I really want to marry you. If you’re not opposed to it, please give me a chance,” Kiki said, then bowed her head once more to Evelise and Yuichiro before walking away quickly.

Evelise, left behind, stood motionless in a daze for a while.

As Yuichiro scratched the back of his head, feeling itchy, he opened his lips, “How did things end up like that?”

When he asked, Evelise shrank her shoulders once again as if intimidated. “Well…when I was injured during our escape from Am Yisu, Kiki-sama was concerned about me and offered to take responsibility by marrying me.”

“So that’s why she came on so strongly?” Yuichiro exclaimed in disbelief.

If that was the case, Kiki should have approached Evelise with more affability. Her almost forceful approach was like that of a virgin before his first sexual experience.

With her shoulders hunched, Evelise muttered, “I think Kiki-sama couldn’t abandon the woman who had become a wounded person because she has a strong sense of responsibility.”

“Nah, it’s not about responsibility. I think she just genuinely likes you,” said Yuichiro, recalling Kiki’s intimidating demeanor from earlier. It seemed like she was running on personal emotions rather than just making excuses for her sense of responsibility.

However, Evelise answered firmly with a strong tone. “It’s impossible for someone like me to be liked.”

Yuichiro stared at the woman in front of her intently.

When Evelise noticed his gaze, she lowered her head again with a meek expression. Then she began to mutter as if talking to herself. “A noble person like Kiki-sama would never want to marry a hideous woman like me.”

Evelise referred to herself as a hideous woman, but Yuichiro couldn’t quite understand those words. It was true that her uncombed hair was tangled and messy, and her bangs were long enough to cover her eyes. However, Evelise’s face was by no means ugly. On the contrary, when she held a gun, her appearance exuded an intense beauty with a strong, unwavering core.

“I’ve never thought of you as a hideous woman.”

Hearing that, Evelise quickly lifted her face. Her expression was somewhat distorted with sadness.

“I am grateful for the goddess’s kindness. However, I am a hideous person.”

Upon hearing the stubborn reply from Evelise, Yuichiro leaned his left shoulder against the wall and asked her, “Why do you think that?”

“Why…?”

“Who made you believe that?”