I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 78

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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After Returning, I Proposed to My Childhood Friend
Chapter 78
‘What is he saying right now!’
Beatrice, who had meant to trick Clyde, found herself startled instead and quickly pulled her body back.
Or rather, she tried to pull back—if Clyde hadn’t seized her ankle first.
“Ow!”
“Ah, it seems reasonable to call that painful. There’s quite a bit of heat in your calf, wouldn’t you say?”
“N-no, that’s not—!”
“And your muscles have gone quite stiff.”
That’s because you’re the one touching them, you lunatic!
Biting back the shriek she couldn’t quite voice aloud, Beatrice tensed her legs and pulled with all her might.
Of course, it was futile.
Clyde’s grip on her leg with his gloved hands was far stronger than her attempt to wrench herself free.
Feeling the pressure through the thin fabric, Beatrice thrashed her legs and quickly surrendered.
“No! Stop! Actually, thinking about it, it’s fine. I can just have someone else look at it when I get back—”
“Have someone else attend to it when you return?”
He adjusted his Spectacles slightly as if troubled, his eyebrows rising as he continued.
“Surely you wouldn’t leave your devoted attendant for the day feeling neglected?”
“…”
Was he actually out of his mind, moving his face in this close in a moment like this?
Clyde hadn’t missed the instant Beatrice faltered at his sudden shift in approach.
Before she could properly object, he lifted both her legs above the thigh and began pressing slowly along her calf with his fingertips.
Press.
As he found the tense knots without hesitation, Beatrice flinched, her face flushed scarlet.
“…Mm.”
“Feels better than expected, doesn’t it?”
“…Don’t talk.”
Beatrice, stubborn enough to pout at Clyde, covered her mouth with the back of her hand and glared out the window.
Whether it was embarrassment at the heat flooding through her entire body, or annoyance at how Clyde accepted it all so calmly without being thrown off-balance—or perhaps both—she couldn’t say. Maybe it was something else entirely.
‘…Or maybe it’s nausea.’
Now that she thought of it, the carriage did seem to be jolting rather badly today, didn’t it?
Beatrice was attributing the queasy feeling in her stomach to motion sickness when—
With a bump, the carriage slowly came to a stop.
“We’ve arrived, you two!”
At Dain’s voice from outside, Clyde answered briefly.
“Understood.”
Despite his tone suggesting he’d leave at once, Clyde took his time working through each of Beatrice’s muscles until the end.
Only once he was satisfied they were sufficiently relaxed did he gently lower her legs, adjust his Spectacles, and nod.
“And how is your leg feeling now, Miss? The one that was troubling you?”
“Go on, get out!”
Beatrice reacted like a cat with its fur on end, quickly drawing both legs toward her body.
The way her expression demanded he leave immediately struck Clyde as amusing, and he found himself biting his lower lip to suppress a smile.
“Well then, I’m glad you seem to be recovering.”
“…”
“You’re certainly regaining your strength—you threw the Cushion at me with such vigor.”
He caught the Cushion Beatrice had hurled with practiced ease, brushed it off lightly, and straightened his clothes.
Then he bowed lightly toward Beatrice, whose expression still showed signs of irritation.
“Then I shall be away for a brief moment, Miss. Once I’ve confirmed this point, I believe I can determine what the Princess Elodi intends to accomplish with this wedding.”
“Ah.”
Beatrice remembered what had happened at the shop earlier and started to stop him, then quickly shook her head.
It seemed better to wait until all the pieces were gathered before discussing it.
“What, is something wrong?”
“No. Nothing. I’ll tell you when you return. Just hurry back.”
For a moment Clyde’s brows had furrowed in curiosity, but her brief goodbye at the end of her words made his eyes crease softly again.
“Very good.”
With a brief answer, he opened the carriage door and stepped outside.
Left alone in the quiet carriage, Beatrice kicked her legs at the air and buried her face in the Cushion.
For some reason, her calf still felt oddly tingly.
* * *
As Clyde stepped out of the carriage, he spotted the sign of the Mercenary Guild—a shield and spear emblazoned on its face.
The Mercenary Guild he was about to enter was officially registered with the Empire, and in certain respects, it handled areas where the Knight Order couldn’t easily extend its reach.
‘For instance, maintaining public order, moving large supplies like relief goods, construction work, and defending villages in the event of war or raids—those sorts of areas.’
In many ways, it played a role similar to the Defense Corps of the Downer Marquis Territory.
The only real difference was that while the Defense Corps operated under the command structure of House Downer, the Mercenary Guild maintained its own independent system.
‘After all, taking on certain Knight Order duties was purely in the form of Outsourcing Contracts.’
In other words, the Mercenary Guild contracted with anyone so long as they met appropriate compensation and qualifications above a certain level, and accepted most requests without discrimination.
‘Even the work that doesn’t fall into that majority… there are places that handle those too.’
Recalling memories from before his return, Clyde walked forward and pushed open the guild’s door.
The creaking hinges, rusty from lack of maintenance, sang as the interior of the guild came into view.
‘Perhaps it’s the hour. It’s quieter than I expected.’
Taking a numbered ticket to file a request, Clyde surveyed the people inside—or rather, the mercenaries, excluding those who had come to make requests.
‘Three people gathered in front of the request board, five preparing their equipment for departure, and another three sitting at the bar eating… I count roughly eleven.’
As Clyde was taking stock of the smaller-than-anticipated number of personnel, the receptionist called his ticket.
Approaching the desk with the composed bearing of a butler, he spoke without hesitation.
“I’m looking for someone to escort a noble lady. The period would be roughly ten days beginning early next month, if possible.”
“Welcome to the guild. Hmm, escorting a noble lady, you say? Two experienced combat-specialized mercenaries should suffice, wouldn’t they? One to command, one to stay close for personal protection. Will the location be fixed?”
“Ah, I see. I wasn’t quite clear enough in my explanation.”
Clyde adjusted his Spectacles with practiced precision as he continued.
“Our young lady will be returning to her territory soon, and the route is somewhat treacherous.”
“Ah, a traveling escort, then?”
“Yes. We must pass through mountain roads, and Monsters occasionally appear along the way. So rather than simple escort work, I’d prefer to station personnel with actual combat experience. We’re not particularly concerned about costs.”
“That means…”
“Yes. As long as the ability is certain, I’m prepared to match whatever compensation level you require.”
The guild employee’s expression brightened momentarily before darkening again.
“You mentioned the period would be early next month for about ten days?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… I’m afraid personnel won’t be available.”
“Is there some difficulty?”
“Ah, you see, a major patron came to us and contracted with most of our people. Would it be possible to push the schedule to mid-next-month instead? At that point… well, even with rotating contracts, I believe I could assemble two teams of mid-rank or better for you.”
“Mid-month, you say…”
Clyde tapped the desk thoughtfully with his index finger, then nodded in acknowledgment and stood.
“For now, I’ll leave the request form here. Would it be possible to hold it in reserve? I’d like to confirm a few other matters before making a final decision.”
“Very well. Let’s do that.”
The receptionist marked the form as pending and was about to send Clyde off cleanly when he casually tossed a parting comment after him.
“If you’re thinking of going to see Gerbin, don’t waste your time. I’d advise against it.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’ve heard she’s also swamped with work. Same as we are.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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