45 – Abacus’s Unrequited Love (2)
Titus Libra erupted with frustration.
“Love is difficult. It’s a profound emotion, Abacus!”
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“What…what is it?”
“Love requires stages. How do you think it would feel if a woman you don’t know confessed her feelings to you right from the start?”
“…Is she pretty?”
Blanca tilted her head. Titus Libra sighed.
“Hopeless.”
“It feels like falling into a pit.”
“No, seriously, what’s with all this nonsense? Can’t you ask if she’s pretty? Hey! Drakan! What would you do if a woman you don’t know confesses her feelings to you?!”
Me?
Well, if it were me…
“…I’d find it a bit strange.”
“You bastard! You just gave a fake response after seeing me! Step back, hotshot!”
“You’re the strange one.”
“He’s the normal one. You fool.”
Abacus growled.
“Then what if a damn good-looking guy comes and boldly confesses? How about that?! Huh?!”
“The headquarters is not at a point where we can start dating.”
“You coward!! That’s just an excuse!”
“Hey, enough with the rage. What’s important is the stages. Stages. First of all, Abacus, you’re not even that good-looking.”
Abacus blinked, unable to comprehend sincerely.
“Aren’t I good-looking enough?”
“You damn idiots. I’m the good-looking one.”
“Calling that pillar-like guy good-looking!”
“If you could be that pillar-like guy, then go ahead and say that. It’s not like you’re good at farming…”
“You’re the one!”
“Well, I’m on the pretty side. In many ways. Objectively speaking, I’m not lacking in that department. Isn’t that right?”
Blanca flicked her hair aside. Abacus looked at me.
He gave a speech.
“Women! It’s not all about the looks! Drakan! Women, it’s not all about the looks! Drakaaan!!!”
“What does it matter if you’re smitten by her looks?”
“Love is difficult. To evoke those complicated emotions, thorough destiny must intervene. It cannot be manipulated by artificial actions. Love is like fate…”
“What’s with that nobleman getting so absorbed?! I knew it from when he started carrying around weird books!”
“W-Well, romance novels are not weird books! They are a legitimate form of literature…!”
Avakusa slumped into his chair.
“Just leave me alone… please…”
“A skilled commander who assists subordinates suffering from the fever of love. Don’t worry, even fate will provide assistance.”
“How about starting with improving your appearance? That’s what I think. You should tidy up your messy hair, for starters.”
“That guy hasn’t tidied up his hair either.”
Why do they constantly depend on me?
Blanca looked at Avakusa with cold, piercing eyes.
“Avakusa, people are born with something they possess since birth.”
“So what does that have to do with anything?”
“Those who don’t possess it even a little should struggle and make an effort. Got it?”
“Well, I’m above average…”
“Where exactly is this average point? Anyway, since I’ve decided to help, I’ll genuinely lend a hand. Let’s start with fixing your hairstyle.”
Blanca raised her scissors. She neatly trimmed Avakusa’s hair.
“Should I cut your front bangs in a V-shape?”
“Please! Please!”
“Hee-hee, I’ll completely shave the back of your head.”
“Eek!”
“There, done.”
Blanca clicked her scissors. She quickly showed Avakusa a handheld mirror.
“How is it? My craftsmanship. Quite impressive, don’t you think?”
“…Hmm?”
It was only a partial improvement to his untidy hair. However, even with just that, his image had changed considerably.
Avakusa looked into the mirror. His expression was subtle.
“It feels like something has changed, yet nothing has…”
“Now let’s tidy up your eyebrows.”
Ssukssak ssukssak.
Eyebrow grooming was quickly done. Avakusa took care of the rest of the fur.
A worried expression on her face. Tetis Libra pondered.
“Avakusa, what should I apply after cleansing?”
“I don’t apply anything.”
“It’s understandable that your skin is rotten.”
“What nonsense?! No, this brat doesn’t apply anything either!”
“……..”
“Stop giving me those sharp looks!”
“Lend me my cosmetics. At least apply something to your face. My skin texture is on the verge of cracking and falling apart.”
Ssukssak ssukssak.
Avakusa’s face became noticeably more moisturized. Blanca moaned.
“You’re almost like a different person.”
“This is good enough.”
“Next comes the clothes, right?”
“I have to wash these dusty military uniforms first.”
“If you straighten up a bit, maybe they’ll give you some leniency.”
Avakusa sent me a distress signal.
“D-Dracon… How should we handle these brats… The atmosphere is awkward…”
“I will handle the straightening. Captain.”
“Oh. Leave it to me.”
“This little brat!!”
…
Finally, a fairly band-aided Avakusa was completed.
The next step was the rehearsal. Tetis Libra was assigned as the lead.
“Set an example. As a commander. Now, start. Avakusa. I will be sitting here, conceptually meeting you again.”
“What the…-“
“Oh! Immerse yourself!”
“Ugh…”
Avakusa scratched the back of her head. She discreetly whispered something.
“I, excuse me over there…”
“Disqualified.”
“I haven’t even spoken yet!”
“Don’t act like a newborn animal. You’re not cute. You’re a minus.”
“Why are you being so strict?!”
Abacus challenged multiple times.
“I came to return the handkerchief…”
“Why didn’t you give it back then and giving it now?”
“Well, I was trying to give it back then…”
Faltering, disqualified.
“Oh come on!”
It took Abacus half a day to become perfect.
“I came to return the handkerchief, miss.”
Tetis Libra muttered something under her breath.
“Why do you touch me? It’s creepy.”
“Didn’t you ask for it?”
“I didn’t know he’d actually do it.”
“This scoundrel!”
Blanca poked my side.
“What’s the possibility of success?”
“He said she had the handkerchief first… If that’s true, it’s about 50%.”
“But if she hasn’t returned it yet, isn’t she just really kind?”
“We’ll find out tomorrow.”
“Want to bet on snacks?”
It’s been a while since our company dinner. I want to eat good meat.
“The loser buys some pork belly.”
“Pork belly? Why? The meat here is all tasteless. What’s the point? Let’s just buy some snacks.”
Tetis Libra and Abacus both turned their heads.
“Is this really a company dinner?! Dracon, you better buy! The headquarters will pay the bill, do as we did last time!”
“This idiotic woman! How dare she make a mockery of Drakan-nim! Stop talking nonsense!”
“What did you feed her to make her act like this?!”
“Do you want to fight or not?”
“…Then I bet on Cha.”
“I bet on Success.”
Blanca looked at me intently.
“…You know this is a fight you can never win, right? Why bet on the side that deliberately loses?”
“Somebody has to buy it.”
“Why?”
“If the result leaves a bitter taste, we should at least melt it with meat.”
“…Damn it. Who is the adult here?”
Abakusa growled.
“These damn bastards! Don’t discuss success already! “
“Look at this hothead. I will definitely win this.”
“Shut up! You b*tch!”
…
We watched Abakusa from a distance. A decent number of people gathered around him, listening to his stammering speech.
The woman accepted a handkerchief somewhat reluctantly. A brief conversation took place, but that was the end of it.
Abakusa returned weakly and disheartened.
“What did she say?”
“She said thank you.”
“And?”
“Unfortunately, she said I’m not her type…”
“There are plenty of women in the world, Abakusa. Look at me. There must be such top-tier beauties around, right?”
“I don’t like women who are rotten to the core…”
“You can look at the headquarters as well. I’ll allow it today.”
“I don’t even want to see a lump of iron…”
Late in the evening, we grilled some meat simply. This time, instead of Tetis bringing the meat, he handed us money.
“The food you made tastes better than delicious meat. Drakan, use that money to buy more alcohol and meat.”
“Isn’t that your expense?”
“When situations like this occur, if I don’t use it, my capabilities as a commander would diminish.”
Blanca, who tasted the seasoned meat, was astonished.
“What, what madness is this?! Why is it so delicious?!”
“Avacusa, have one more.”
“It’s so noisy…”
Still, judging by the way she gobbles it up, she seems to have recovered somewhat.
Avacusa, who used to pour a drink that was only good for getting drunk from the market, muttered under her breath.
“She looked similar to Lady…”
“Is this idiot drunk?”
“Forget it. Leave her be.”
Avacusa grumbled.
“Fine! Just leave me alone! Please!”
“Are you trying to dig a hole all by yourself? Hey, that’s not good for your health. I’ve experienced it firsthand, having someone by your side makes you feel more stable.”
“……”
“I told you earlier too, there are plenty of women in the world. Idiot. But how many of them will be those guys who laugh and joke with you by your side? Huh?”
Blanca chuckled with a flushed face. It was a laugh that revealed her fangs.
“Even if we quarrel a dozen times, they’ll still mock us the same way in this place. That’s why, Avacusa, rise above failures! Let’s scheme for the next potential lady!”
“Command agrees as well.”
All eyes were on me. Avacusa also glanced at me briefly.
It seems like I have to say something too.
I cleared my throat unnecessarily. Tilted the glass.
“Even if I don’t have a girlfriend, as long as I have friends here…”
“…Ah damn it. It gave me goosebumps.”
“Commander’s persistence is astonishing.”
“You little brat… now I know how it feels for the words that come out of my mouth. It’s just like a rotten egg.”
“Get out and die. All of you.”
I laughed it off.
That was enough.
. . .
From Noble mtl dot com
“The weapon artisan’s contact has arrived. Our squad will move the next day.”
“Oh, finally!”
“Is this the graduation from this rotten weapon?”
Abakusa and Blancar exclaimed in joy. I, too, was very pleased with the news.
Just getting away from these outdated military supplies would make a big difference in the situation.
“Aren’t you receiving armor?”
“No way. They won’t go that far. But I’m satisfied with the new equipment. hehehehe. A cool rifle with a grenade launcher… Twa-aang!!”
“And besides that, there is another piece of news.”
Tetis Libra stared at me intently. Now, seeming to know somewhat, she let out a sigh.
“I heard that Elliot Moot, who was taken to the internal ward due to injury, is returning to the frontlines. Drakan.”
Elliot Moot?
“…Is that the guy who lost his arm?”
“Yes. I recommend you stay out of his way, if possible. No… I heard he muttered your name several times even when he was in the ward. I heard it in a tone as if mistaking you for an enemy.”
That piece of an inferiority complex.
“It doesn’t really matter.”
I shrugged off lightly. Besides, he’s not a subordinate I have to be wary of anymore.
It’s been a long way from when I first arrived in the resistance and was clumsy.
“If he provokes me, I’ll retaliate.”
“…Just try not to make it too severe. Resolve it within the limits of what can be solved.”
Abakusa chuckled mischievously.
“Oh, punk. You’re a man.”
“I’ll handle the back. Drakan. I’ll deal with Abakusa, who speaks with an annoying tone.”
“Why are you picking on me! You crazy woman!”