“Honoured summoned; there’s no report of any activities from the other side from our scouts for today.”

The guard representative was sitting in front of us as he addressed us from there.

Katarinova, who was our leader for this group made a sour expression. I guess her battle hunger was starting to itch. Even our combat training was not satisfying her even when she was sparing with Kiefy.

We all nodded without saying anything back and saluted. We left the rest-house.

Now, we got nothing to do except to fulfil our parts and obligations.

As we reached the centre of the village, suddenly Katarinova stomped really hard on the ground. There was a subtle vibration from the stomp itself. Oh ye gods, this woman is no one you want to trifle with.

“Combat training is a little challenging with Kiefy, but I felt like he’s not giving his all. That bastard is holding back and not for any good reason.”

She gritted her teeth in frustration. I guess for a battle-maniac like her, being deprived of a good fight is like Erganisu being deprived of any good reading material.

Vassilinov was openly checking out the local girls with a perverted smirk. Some of the girls were shying away blushing, while a few were disgusted.

Ever since we grouped up, at first he was quite overbearing and down-right arrogant, but as one thing lead to another we became fast-friend. However all he talks about are girls, and girls. It’s like his life is centred on the opposite gender. His entire existence to my understanding had validated that men think about sex every seven seconds, but Vassil took it a further up a notch by saying he might think about it every second that counts or he might be the type that hides his insecurity by doing such things. He even called me comrade in the struggle of achieving man’s oldest and primal desire.

“Vassil, have you ever heard something called ‘inconspicuous’?”

“I have heard of that, but to hide one’s desire is unworthy of being call a gentleman. One must shine through by disregarding the notion of shame in terms of our fairer sex.”

After he answered my question with a questionable statement, I subconsciously stepped away from him in one step.

“Watching you two bicker reminds me of Akujin. Ah, I wonder how they are doing over there.”

August chuckled to himself.

Hearing that, I almost forgot. Today was the day when a relay messenger would come with letters and orders from the central of Tchekaz.

Since we were separated, our group opted to keep in touch by letters. Since I was appointed as the group writer, I also hold onto all the letters. I had sent letters that I wrote three days ago and I expected some letters from them today.

Although there’s Eomancy that can send long distance communication, it’s on the advance level and even though it’s called ‘long distance’ the limit of the distance is about one kilometre or so.

“You guys go back first, I’m gonna wait here for the messengers.”

“Aye; see you later, Ruigne.”

Katarinova curtly said as such.

“Oh, can you get me some of those cookies they’re selling usually in the noon? You can take like five for free right?”

August requested me to find the strange cookies that he had been craving for two days already.

“Give my regards to some of the girls here; tell them where they can find me!”

Vassilinov spouts out some crap that I half-hearted listened to.

The three of them went off and then teleported back to the watchtower. All of us were imprinted by Krolve [Bond] so it’s easier to go back.

Hanging around the village while observing all the walks of life, a dot of Ethka had passed.

Just as the dot had appeared, the messenger arrived in a timely fashion. Everyone who had business with him had flocked to his side.

I was the first to approach as the others had given the way. Even after three months, I was treated with the utmost respect from the natives.

“Hey there Ruigne, here’s the letters and some orders from the upper command.”

Fadriz the Messenger with a smile had gave me a stack of letters.

“Morning Fadriz, I’m still envious towards you. Are you sure we can’t switch places?”

“No can do, am born here, not summoned although I’ll do anything to trade privileges.”

We joked with each other quite easily. Fadriz was one of the natives that didn’t seem to be intimidated by any of the Tenth Summoned. Technically speaking, most if not all of the natives are actually descended from the summoned, so logically speaking, they shouldn’t fear or gave too much respect and obedience to us.

“Anything happen?”

“Same old same old, been like this since we came. I wanted to see an incursion up close with my own eyes but nothing happened, not even a whiff of Mal’eur.”

There was only one incursion but I couldn’t be part of it due to Katarinova and Kiefy had finished them that quick.

“Be careful what you wish for you know. You might chew more than you can handle and you wouldn’t wanna be here when that happens.”

Leaving with such an ominous remark, I nodded in the end. I couldn’t chat with him any longer as he needs to give the other letters to everyone else that was waiting for us to finish.

Before I leave, I told the girls that Vassilinov was eyeing to not approach the watchtower for there was a predator- A sexual predator lying in wait over there.

I decided to cock-block Vassilinov every day until we finished the assignment.

After confirming that there was nothing else to do, I teleported back to the watchtower.

--

Dear Ruigne,

I hope you’re doing fine. Over here it’s kind of cold, not sure why. We had few incursions but nothing we can’t handle. I heard that you fell into the woman bathhouse from the roof. My brother told me. I heard it was caused by Vassil when he invited you to peep on the girls. I don’t know why you accepted the invitation but you gotten your just reward-

I was reading the letter that Vefal had wrote for me. I felt reprimanded by the bathhouse part. Oh damn it, Kiefy, I should have told you to keep it a secret.

As I read on, she described how Erganisu accidentally saved Annastasha from falling from the top of the watchtower, how Akujin replicated two precious objects to settle an argument and wound up earning enmity from the both parties and so on.

From that side, at least something happened.

I read on and felt satisfied with the content. I then took out a quill and an ink jar and started to write back a response.

We have few rooms inside the watchtower, so I was given a room all to myself while others was sharing but we rarely use the rooms except this one. That was why when it was night time, we usually just sleep at the ground floor near the entrance because just like the saying: ‘There is safety in numbers.’

As I had wrote nearly half of the reply, someone knocked on the door.

I turned and look as the door opened.

It was August. He had a nostalgic expression on his face.

“I’d just read the letter written by Akujin. He seems quite content over there as a lot of the Guards and Warriors requested his service in repairing their armours and weapons. And the letter from Fralein was exquisite! I can literal feel her voice through the letter!”

I nodded absentmindedly, trying to ignore the elephant in the room. I had known his fetish three months ago. I had thought it was just something he just had inside but I realized it was cultivated. It seems that he was the youngest amongst his siblings of four elder sisters and he was bullied by all of them but also at the same time was doted by them.

Nurture over nature.

Well I know why he is here.

“I’ll prepare some drafts for you and later on, you can go review them. You can adjust the one you like.”

“Thanks, Ruigne. I had wanted to ask but are you sure you weren’t a writer back on earth? You have a knack, you know!”

“Nope, barely could string words into resembling a proper statement. Can’t be a writer that way right?”

“Yeah whatever, I’ll come back.”

After I told him that I would prepare drafted letters for him, he closed the door with a cheerful expression.

A few more minutes and the door swings opened without being knocked.

“Ruigne, how should I write back to Ghozano?”

Vassil trotted near me. I took the letter from his hand and reviewed it.

It was like an official report but the content was about the plus of the girls in this village and the speculation of their three sizes.

……

“Yeah, this looks good but why write it in a way like it was written for battle report?”

“Ghozano wrote letters like this so I thought I should emulate as such.”

-He answered.

Well, can’t argue with that logic. I gave it a glance and nodded. Everything is in order.

I took the letter and gave him the thumbs up.

He saluted briskly and left.

After minutes passed, the door swung violently. Katarinova stood there with a proud smile. She’s lack the finesse in writing so she quite depended on me on this part.

“So who is it for?”

“Both of the princesses!”

Turns out Annastasha and Kristalisha were from a royal lineage in their world. Supposedly Katarinova and Vassilinov were both in something called Royal Guards or something. Katarinova herself was actually descended from great nobility so she was close to both of the princesses.

“So, it’s the usual sort of letter, formal or intimate?”

“Yes, intimate, Annastasha seems to be doing fine but Kristalisha sounds quite detached. She really hates us huh…”

She mumbled the last part.

“I’ll prepare for both later on.”

“Aye, thanks Ruigne. Are you cooking today too?”

“Well I supposed so.”

“Good, looking forward for the foods then.”

She closed the door and left.

After I finished the reply letter for Vefal, Someone knocked the door.

“Ruigne, it’s me, Kiefy. I’m here to submit my letters.”

“Come in.”

I turned my head and what I saw confounded reality. On top of his head was a piece of god’s mistake, an abomination that should have not been brought into the daylight much less this world.

It was like a mutated snake that coiled itself on top a discoloured food plate or a dish but in the process had done damage to its own skin.

It was the ugliest piece hat that I had seen in my entire life.