A Brighter Future (Kuroinu)

After a day’s work, Claudia returned to see Rhodes, exhausted from training, being cared for by Chloe. Her expression changed slightly, surprised that Chloe had taken on this role.

“Let me handle this from now on. You can leave,” Claudia stated without hesitation, approaching Chloe, who was massaging Rhodes’s stiff muscles. Chloe glanced sharply at Claudia, then continued her task as if she hadn’t heard.

Claudia clenched her fists, frustrated. She had tolerated Celestine’s presence, but now even a dark elf slave seemed to be challenging her for Rhodes’s attention.

“Ah, Claudia, you’re back,” Rhodes noticed her, especially the tense atmosphere between her and Chloe, and quickly spoke up.

“Yes, just got back,” Claudia softened her expression upon seeing Rhodes awake.

“Rhodes, you must be sore from today’s training. I know Celestine usually uses magic to help you recover, but I’m not versed in healing magic. However, I do know how to help muscles recover quickly, so let me assist you,” she offered.

Rhodes glanced at Chloe, noticing her displeased expression. He wanted to decline Claudia’s offer, but the situation made it difficult to refuse.

“I understand. Chloe, you can just be my pillow for now,” he said.

“Alright,” Chloe agreed, slightly stiffening as Rhodes lay in her embrace, his head on her chest. Claudia saw Chloe’s mocking gaze, suggesting that her actions had only brought Chloe closer to Rhodes. This realization made Claudia’s expression sour, but she quickly masked it, pretending not to care, which surprised Chloe.

Rhodes, meanwhile, was enjoying the moment, relishing Claudia’s massage and Chloe’s embrace. He mused that life would be just as the goddess Lelantia described, if not for the looming complications.

Just as he was settling in, Grave and Claus approached. Claus paused, observing the scene, especially Claudia massaging Rhodes, but ultimately remained silent.

“Rhodes, since you’re here, let’s discuss the dark elves. You should start getting involved in these matters,” Grave said.

“Has the war started already?” Rhodes tensed up, knowing the significance of the dark elf issue.

“Not yet, don’t worry. Even if it did start sooner, I wouldn’t let you join the battle just yet,” Grave reassured him.

“However, there’s been movement from the dark elves. They seem eager to start the war. Particularly at the border, we’ve spotted black orcs, but scouts have noticed dark elves among them,” Grave continued.

Grave scoffed, “Obviously, the dark elf queen plans to use those brainless black orcs to cause problems for us, forcing us into conflict before we’re fully prepared.”

“So, do we need to send people to deal with those black orcs now?”

“Certainly, if we let those black orcs run rampant, the destruction they cause would be significant. They could even create opportunities for the dark elves to exploit. However, this move by the enemy might also be a trap to lure our forces into an ambush,” Grave explained the situation, then turned to Rhodes, “What are your thoughts on this?”

“Me?”

Rhodes was caught off guard by the sudden question. He felt ill-equipped for discussions about warfare. A wrong suggestion could have dire consequences, not just a simple apology, but potentially costing lives.

“Yes, you. I’ve told you, haven’t I? With your talent, becoming a general is inevitable, so I need to train your leadership and command skills. This is a test for you,” Grave said encouragingly, while Claudia looked at Rhodes with a supportive gaze.

Rhodes, however, felt completely blank, lacking any foundation in military strategy.

“Well… I…”

He felt like a student caught off guard by a teacher during class, bewildered under the gaze of the teacher and classmates, staring at the blackboard, clueless. That was the best depiction of Rhodes’s current state.

“I’m sorry, I can’t answer that.”

Before Grave could respond, Claudia stepped in to comfort him.

“Rhodes, it’s okay to be like this. You don’t understand these matters yet, and not speaking without knowledge is commendable. Acting on ignorance can lead to worse outcomes. I’ve seen many who pretend to know when they don’t. Admitting your lack of knowledge is far better than that. So, in the future, if you face such situations, it’s best to ask and learn from those more experienced around you. That way, you can avoid many mistakes.”