Plain Girl Hero of Darkness
Strongest Chess Pieces - (2)

The middle of the day had just passed, and the sun was heading west.

Special Platoon Olivia finds an open space to set up camp and rest. It is not at Olivia's behest, but Ashton who advises her that if they use Olivia's seemingly endless stamina as the standard, the men will be exhausted before they reach the fortress.

All the new members thanked Ashton with tears in their eyes. Guile even asked exaggeratedly: "Are you a god?"

Ashton laughed out loud with a smile, and did not respond. To be honest, the main motivation is just to take a break. And now, he would never say that out loud. Ashton found a place to sit with guilt in his heart, and Olivia sat next to him as if it were a common thing to do.

"I'm sorry, I'm not tired at all, so I didn't notice. As expected of Ashton."

Olivia then clapped her hands twice for him.

"Haha, I already knew Warrant Officer Olivia wasn't tired when I gave her advice earlier."

Ashton said to himself in mockery. Olivia suddenly opened her eyes in surprise and said:

"Maybe, you asked me if I was tired... To signal to me, a platoon leader, that we need a break? And you want me to give the order to rest in person? But I don't understand what you mean. So Ashton asked me to stop for a break in person. That so?"

You're absolutely wrong - Of course Ashton wouldn't dare say that. He averted his gaze from Olivia's sincere gaze, and saw the new member who was eating staring at her. He clicked his tongue in his heart. If he were to tell the truth, the recruits would look at him with condescending eyes. In this case, there is only one option.

Ashton gulped, and nodded slowly:

"H-Haha, you caught me. I apologize for breaking my boundaries. "

Ashton replied exaggeratedly, and Olivia nodded happily, saying: "I finally understand how humans feel." He does not know what he is talking about, but it is helpful for the subject itself to interpret it in his way. Let's just say that's the problem.

Ashton was relieved, and caught the attention of the recruits. They all smiled and saluted.

"That's not a problem. It's noon, let's have lunch. "

Ashton whose back was drenched in cold sweat pulled out bread and jerky from his ration pack, and a bottle of mustard he had made. As Olivia watched curiously, Ashton used a knife to cut the bread in half, put the jerky in, and add mustard on top. He then bit him, then his spicy and sour taste immediately felt.

"Hmm, appreciable. I am grateful to have brought my own mustard. "

Olivia looked at Ashton who was talking to herself hungry. He looked like he was almost drooling, but he did not take out his rations. Ashton asked confusedly:

"Warrant Officer Olivia, aren't you going to eat?"

"Well, I've eaten my share. So I'm gonna hunt some birds. "

When he heard that, Ashton became stiff. Eating a five-day ration or hunting a few birds to eat, too many things to avenge. Despite what she said, Olivia did not move to hunt birds, and turned her gaze to Ashton's hands. He continued to do so until Ashton finished eating.

(Sigh ... How else to do.)

Unable to say anything from Olivia's behavior, Ashton repeats the steps to make another sandwich, and offers it to her.

"Ehh! May I?"

"I'm not going to give it to you if you don't want to. What if you were attacked by a wild beast while you were out hunting? "

"The beast doesn't matter at all... But thank you for worrying about me. As expected, Ashton is a good human being!"

Olivia then bit her sandwich, then shouted with a carefree face: "Enak!"

(I wonder how much more food we can eat ..)

Ashton thought as he looked at Olivia's happy face. Right now, a shout came from behind him.

"W-What happened !?"

Ashton turned around and saw a four-legged beast covered in yellow fur, with white horns on its forehead - a horned beast.

"-- !?"

Ashton's hair stood up straight in fear. One horned beast was known to be ferocious, and its horns gave it incredible attack power. It is omnivorous, and will even eat humans.

The one-horned beast quickly attacked the surrounding recruits. The recruits were scattered all over the place.

"- hm? Oh, it's true! Maybe here to play around with humans. "

Olivia who was still eating happily said calmly. A recruit whose eyes were red with anxiety shouted:

"Huh !? Are you daydreaming!? Please look at the situation! That thing is attacking us! "

Olivia who was reprimanded by the recruit finally realized the seriousness of the situation, and glared at the One Horned Beast with narrowed eyes. For a moment, Ashton thought Olivia was even scarier than the One Horned Beast.

"Oh, that thing, yeah. It's a rare hunt, but it doesn't taste good when eaten ~ "

"Huh !? It doesn't taste good !? Ahhhh !? That's not the problem !! We gotta get out of here !! "

Ashton grabs Olivia's arm, and tries to pull her to escape. But his trembling knees did not let him move, and he stood there as if his feet were stuck to the ground.

(Hey, are you kidding me!?)

He kept trying to move his legs, but his legs were against his orders. The One-horned beast was probably aware of Ashton's situation, and pointed its horn towards him. The One Horned Beast who was drooling howled, then charged towards Ashton.

(- Here it is. To think that I would die in battle, I would be eaten by the One Horned Beast instead. It's a bad joke.)

With that thought, Ashton gripped his spear with trembling hands. He took a deep breath, then pointed it at the One Horned Beast.

Ashton knew it was for nothing. Ordinary humans could not face these death avatars head-on. This is just his last fight.

When Ashton was overwhelmed with despair, something ridiculous happened. Maybe she was very frightened, but Olivia walked casually towards the One Horned Beast.

"- !? Quick run! Olivia, it'll kill and eat you too! "

"Ahaha, Ashton, you like to joke around."

"This is no time for jokes! Run away!"

"It's okay."

With a faint smile, Olivia unsheathed her sword, and disappeared. More precisely, he attacked on the One Horned Beast. At least for Ashton, he suddenly disappeared.

When he saw Olivia suddenly attack him, the One Horned Beast pushed its horn. Olivia parried the horn with the sword, then stabbed the sword into the One Horned Beast's jaw, piercing through its head.

"Yeah ...... !?"

The one-horned beast fell down with a shout. It all happened in an instant, and it shocked everyone. They all looked at the scene with dumbfounded faces.

Olivia turned around and ran towards Ashton. The black sword in his right hand let out a black mist. When Ashton realized it, he was already sitting down.

"Well, didn't I tell you that beasts aren't a problem?"

Olivia stood in front of Ashton and said nonchalantly.

"Hiye! I-That's right. Warrant Officer Olivia, you're absolutely right. "

Ashton stopped talking after that.

*******

[Three days after Olivia Special Platoon departed from Fort Gallia.]

"Platoon Leader Olivia, are you hungry? Please eat my jerky! "

A recruit happily presented his jerky. After he started, others gathered around Olivia, saying "Let me give mine too" "I also", and offering them bread and their dry food. Olivia thanked them as she ate the food with a smile.

...****************...

...To Be Continue's...