NOVEL NEXT Charlotte
"Forgive my rudeness, you might not recognize me after all this time."
The big green woman raises her head, and isn't she way too polite for an Orc? She's not wrong though. I've no idea who she is, and the System remains silent.
She wears the same rough leather loincloth and bra as yesterday. Her body is like a Greek statue, except bulkier, and those muscles are like bundles of steel.
She has huge tusks and a masculine face, but she's clean, even if tiny scars cover her skin from head to toe. She looks like a fearsome warrior and must be a head taller than me.
"I'm Charlotte, daughter of Charles, Your Majesty." Not a very Orcish name. "I'm the Vice Commander of the Thirteenth Battalion now."
"W-what happened with Charles?" I ask on a whim, and her face darkens.
"The forces of the other Brides routed him after your disappearance. The tribe challenged him for his post, and he paid with his life."
Okay, this does sound more like what you'd expect from these brutes. Do I say my condolences?
"It pains me to say, but the Thirteenth Battalion is not the way as you left it, Your Highness. We still guard your Banner regardless."
Come on, drop a hint, what is the Thirteenth Battalion? It sounds like some military organization, but what does it have to do with Brides?
And why would I care about a flag?
Didn't the System talk about this earlier?
[Notice: The Demon Lord gifted a Banner to every Bride around which they could gather their forces.]
[It's more than a flag, they have magical properties, and symbolize the strength of their holder.]
[The Standard Bearer of every Battalion is the strongest, and most respected warrior.]
[To lose one's Banner would be a disgrace, disqualifying you from your Harem Bride status.]
Oh, right, this psychopath again.
Now the System won't even shut up, dumping exposition on me.
Yeah, Charlotte recognized the body and thought I was the Thirteenth Bride. It's one of the titles as Alexandra introduced herself.
This means I'm busted. She doesn't seem hostile though.
Let's run some math. She looks a bit older than me, let's say twenty-five. That means when the Goddess disappeared, she was only fifteen.
Okay, it makes sense that I wouldn't recognize her after all this time, so let's lean in on this, and pretend I'm Alex. She will return in a week, we swap back, and nobody will ever notice.
It would have been much worse if the Inquisitors found me, whoever they were.
"Give me a report about my current forces." This seems important, so let's start with that.
"We are down to fifty men and their families, My Liege, but they are ready to give their lives to you at any moment." She claims, still on her knees, but looking fierce.
I'm not a military genius, but isn't a battalion supposed to be like a thousand people? Plus the non-combatants. All I have is fifty?
And why do the Brides even have armies? A Harem sounded sexier in my mind. It's about pleasure and breeding, not fighting, right? What's wrong with this world?
And why am I disappointed?
The loud grumble from my stomach reminds me of the more important things at play.
"All right, how about you fill me in on the details while I check out what you cooked?" Try to act as confident as possible. If they call her a Goddess, I can't be shy.
"Of course, Your Highness, please follow me." She's on her feet and leads me out of the shack. Why though? There is something delicious on that fireplace.
I want it. It's enough to stand up to feel dizzy.
She catches my longing looks and this is the first time I see her smile.
"That's a mere wolf, not worthy of your greatness. We prepared a proper meal in the mess hall. That's where the rest of your men wait to greet you at last."
Oh no, they want me to eat in front of a crowd? Ugh, I don't care, I could even eat them too. Let's hope I don't make any mistakes while I'm postponing starving to death.
Once outside, I realize how nice and cool that earthen shack has been. The sun scorches the earth, and the long black hair sucks in all the heat immediately.
Their village is in a wide clearing in that pine forest, and there isn't much to cast shadows. It's not the weather I'd expect in September.
Who knows what season they have in this world with the time dilation? The worst part of summer would be an easy guess.
Ugh, right, this is why I never grew my hair out this much. Two steps in, and I'm sweating.
The fluffy tail doesn't help either. If it weren't for all the curious eyes in this village, I'd strip naked right away.
For some reason, even with them around it's tempting.
No, bad girl, don't act like a pervert, or Alex will kill you when she's back. There seem to be children around too. She wasn't kidding when she said the soldier's families were here.
That's a boomer, and everyone stares at me as if they saw a ghost.
Come on, you give me anxiety. I know I look hot, I'm still in Alexandra's body.
"I BEG FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS!"
The shouting shakes me, and even the ground rumbles as a huge Orc throws himself at my feet.
"If I knew it was you, I'd never dare to hit you in the head. I wouldn't even dare to talk to you in that tone. Please, Your Highness."
Once I'm past the heart attack, something clicks in my mind.
Hey, I know this guy. It's the largest dude from yesterday, who wore a bra like Charlotte, the weird one with the spear.
So that's what that bump was on the back of my head? I can't blame him, but I don't know how to react now that every eye is on us.
If only I knew who this guy was.
[Notice: pleading in front of you is Hank the Butcher. The Thirteenth Battalion's Standard Bearer.]
Oh boy.