Chapter : 185
After each student was assigned a tent, they changed from their school uniforms into martial arts attire and gathered again.
And, well… it was chaos!
Even in this bitter winter, our feet were sweating from moving all the supplies.
As soon as the wagons that brought us left, the relief goods Ingrid had provided started arriving without pause.
We had to move them into the huge warehouse tents, stacking them, while also doing a preliminary sorting.
It was relatively simple work, but both students and professors quickly grew exhausted, physically and mentally.
After all, chores require different muscles than those used for swordsmanship or horseback riding.
Sigh. Yeah… honestly, doing something you’ve never done at home is bound to be tough.
But for me? This is different!
“Don’t space the items too far apart. It just slows down movement efficiency. But don’t cram them together too tightly either. You might end up in a situation where you can’t do anything properly. It’ll be hard to find what you need quickly.”
“Um, Asha, how should we sort this?”
“Hmmm… these are light and likely to be used frequently, so put them on top…”
Just a bit of experience from managing maid duties and convenience store stock, and already the professors were seeking my advice.
Almost half a day passed like this.
The kids, having collapsed to the ground, complained.
“Ugh, this is exhausting… do we really have to do it this way? Can’t we just deliver it directly to the village?”
No, we can’t. If we did that, some people might not get the relief supplies.
Besides, our task isn’t just delivery. We’re here to help the village survive the harsh winter.
We need to split the stacked firewood properly, provide warm meals daily from these ingredients, and even regularly wash the blankets and clothes assigned to each person.
Why go this far?
It’s simple: in places like this, disease keeps circulating because the people there simply can’t maintain hygiene and cleanliness.
Mercedes, who had stopped at the tent entrance and stared across the village for a long moment, murmured:
“…As expected, it’s only the elderly and infirm.”
To be precise, it’s the elderly without caretakers.
Weak, sick, with no family to support them—people in that state.
Mercedes, witnessing firsthand what she’d only known theoretically, did not look happy.
“Don’t be too upset. You just have to do well from now on, right?”
Cheer up, Your Highness. You are the future.
I playfully patted the shoulders of the future leader of this country.
I had to quickly jump away as a red alert light went off in the distance.
Whew… I need to be careful. Can’t let the bright future of this country be ruined.
“Asha, we’re done with the firewood.”
“Ah, Sophie. Good work.”
Sophie, carrying a heavy load of firewood on her shoulders, reported with a smile.
Sophie, just as experienced with chores as I am, maintained her smile until she dropped the firewood. Behind her, Hilbert, now clearly worn out, appeared clutching a log.
“…Tch, weren’t you good with physical work?”
“Ugh, I can lift heavier than this, but… it’s exhausting. I respect servants. They’re incredible.”
The kids sitting around nodded in agreement at Hilbert’s words.
Honestly, what fragile little nobles we are.
At least we got a glimpse of the hard work the staff do.
When we go home, we should treat them well—maybe even give a vacation or bonus.
“Let’s see… now, the remaining items are…”
Blankets, I thought.
I looked up from the checklist of supplies just as a familiar face approached carrying a pile of blankets.
I hid behind the paperwork and winked at him. On that normally sharp-faced boy, a soft smile appeared.
Heh… whoever his husband is, he’s quite charming.
I examined Levi from head to toe, noticing he seemed taller.
‘Has he grown again…?’
He’s always been like a pine tree, growing straight up, but recently it feels like he grows almost 1cm every few days.
Growth peak, perhaps.
Makes sense—he’ll soon turn sixteen, and I’ll be fourteen. Statistically, our growth peaks should be around now… yet I still feel close to the ground.
I frowned and tapped the sprawled Hilbert with my foot.
“…Hey.”
“What?”
“How old did you think I was when you first saw me?”
Hilbert looked up, puzzled by the sudden question, and answered honestly:
“Hmmm… definitely not middle school.”
Nice way to say I looked like an elementary kid.
Annoyed, I pressed his finger down without another word. At that moment, Levi arrived.
“Um, good work. Put the blankets over there.”
“Got it.”
Levi effortlessly placed the blankets on the high shelf I pointed to.
Ah… he’s definitely grown.
How can I be sure? Normally, if I hugged him like this, the top of my head would barely reach his shoulder…
“Well, now it doesn’t reach at all.”
No chin either.
I clicked my tongue and let Levi go.
Yet, for some reason, even after the hug ended, Levi froze in the same posture as he had when placing the blankets.
Wait… is he even breathing? Is he alive?
“Ugh… please, Asha… don’t make this harder for me…”
Honestly, he could be less alive and it’d be fine.
I patted the trembling Hilbert’s back, noticing a bit too late that Levi’s neck and earlobes were perfectly ripe like fruit.
“Your Highness, smiling is a good thing. Especially a smile from someone as handsome as you.”
Wolfgang wiped the sweat from his face with the back of his hand, raising one eyebrow.
Ignoring the blatant disdain, Peter, deputy captain of Casador and the team’s morale booster, insisted on his opinion.
This wasn’t just for him but for all of Casador.
“…But if you keep laughing while tearing apart a giant monster, we get chills, you know?”
“Nonsense.”
Wolfgang laughed again, teasing Peter.
Yes! That expression of “I’m having too much fun” is terrifying!
All of Casador shivered.
Of course, we understand Wolfgang’s feelings too.
“Feels so good seeing those priests act like puppies needing to poop.”
“There’s no reason not to enjoy it.”
Well… yeah. Honestly, we love it too.
Peter, who hadn’t properly looked at the small monsters and had just gestured to handle them, glanced back.
Once a year, during the short winter survival period, do these pests behave this calmly?
The priests and paladins standing quietly in the back avoided Peter’s narrow gaze.
Hilarious. Usually, they’d make a big show cleaning up the monsters’ filth and show off as if they did all the work.
But now…
“Reminds me of when Dalia challenged us to spar,” said Peter.
“What?”
“See? Everyone’s fidgeting to avoid being singled out.”
And at that moment, Captain Dalia dashed out swinging a terrifying crescent sword.
So, a good analogy:
“Like students desperately avoiding the professor’s gaze at the academy.”
Nervous, trying not to stand out, and unwilling to prove anything.
Peter, sighing, looked down at the semi-rotted ground.
Perhaps… until now, I dismissed it, but maybe…
“Ha ha.”
That was the moment.
Hearing the word “academy” triggered Wolfgang to laugh aloud, lost in his own world.
Crazy… the apocalypse is near. They say when a demon laughs, doom follows.
Peter let everything go, his mouth moving slightly, as Wolfgang muttered:
“Failed after all…”
Ah, that’s the source?
Peter realized the true “laugh bell” of their master and grabbed his weapon with relief.
Our little lady could make even the Demon Lord laugh uncontrollably.
Yes, a good day indeed.
The pests were subdued. The master’s mood was perfect.
Peter would later think countless times how wonderful it was that this year’s extermination ended smoothly.
