Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 31

“…What did you just say…?”

“Everyone, cease fire!”

Seizing the moment, Jerd raised his spear high and shouted with a thunderous voice. The sudden command to halt the attack threw the barbarians into confusion.

“Leader, what’s going on?”

Sensing something unusual on the battlefield, one of the subjugation force’s mercenaries approached Zester and asked. Even as he spoke, he was stunned. Zester, seated atop his horse with trembling, vacant eyes, looked like he might collapse at any moment.

“Leader…?”

“Stop. Tell everyone to halt the attack and stand by.”

“…What?”

Negotiate with a suspicious enemy leader in the middle of battle? The subordinate couldn’t believe it, was this really the same Zester Greze, the war hero known for being ruthless on the battlefield?

But in war, orders were absolute. The soldier relayed Zester’s command through the ranks, and soon the fierce battle between the subjugation force and the barbarians came to a pause.

“Where is my wife?”

Zester pointed his sword at Jerd, its tip gleaming menacingly. His eyes were hollow but his voice was laced with murderous intent.

It was as if he was saying, ‘if anything has happened to my wife, I will cut all of you down’. Even with the upper hand, Jerd felt his lips go dry.

“If you want to see her again, follow us. Negotiations should begin after we show you the hostage.”

“…You…”

Judging by Jerd’s bold demeanor, it was clear Cassia was indeed being held hostage by the barbarians. Zester’s expression darkened further.

He had been so desperate to keep her safe and was worried she might somehow get swept into battle from the castle. Just when…how did they manage to slip past his watchful eyes and infiltrate the fortress? Where did they take her? How?

His dazed gaze turned to the Mount Basque which surrounded the battlefield. He had thought the terrain was too rugged so it would be hard to get around easily but…

His eyes fell on the Rakans, the giant beasts which were huffing and glaring at him. With their powerful limbs, razor-sharp fangs, and tough hides, no terrain would be too harsh for them. If the barbarians had feigned retreat and circled the mountain while the subjugation force was distracted…

A hollow laugh escaped him.

Compared to the barbarian tribes who had lived in this area for some time, he clearly lacked familiarity with the terrain. But that was no excuse.

He had failed. He was nothing but a pathetic husband who let his wife fall into danger through his own stupidity.

How could he be this foolish?

He had boasted that he would protect her.

He imagined Cassia trembling in fear in the hands of strangers, strangers he had failed to stop. It was his fault. All of it.

Where had he gone wrong?

Maybe he should’ve listened to her when she advised against this campaign because of the poor pay. Or at least, once they arrived, he should’ve refused to act without her consent. He should’ve stayed by her side.

No…

He never should’ve accepted the fate of a poor noble’s daughter being sold into marriage. If he hadn’t accepted her, she might still be living a luxurious life somewhere else. Maybe she would have met and married a far better man.

If only…

“I’ll go.”

Still in a daze, Zester leapt down from his horse. He looked so broken and empty-eyed that even Jerd, who had taken Cassia hostage, felt a twinge of guilt.

***

“…So you’re saying, you’ll allow us to live in your territory?”

Jerome, who had been silently listening to Cassia’s proposal for quite some time, looked up in surprise.

Cassia, still holding the now-cold rabbit meat, nodded brightly with a confident smile. Jerome cleared his throat awkwardly, blushing.

“I, I don’t understand. We’ve been trying to kill your husband…”

“Then you just have to be convincing.”

Cassia lightly tapped Jerome’s arm, wrapped around his bent knees, and let her hand fall away. She seemed to have grown fond of him.

Jerome hesitated, but in truth, there was nothing to consider. Cassia’s proposal was the best possible option for the desperate barbarians.

『Become part of our territory’s military.』

In exchange for providing them with a place to live, she proposed they serve as soldiers in their troop-deprived land, a win-win deal.

Though they were a tribe cut off from civilization, and there were concerns, Cassia believed this was the most realistic solution to their dilemma.

She also genuinely liked Jerome’s temperament. Though barbarians by race, they weren’t as savage as she had imagined. Maybe not all were as gentlemanly as Jerome, but he seemed to command great respect, his words likely held weight. Reform was just a matter of time.

Even the terrifying Rakan beasts behaved like tame animals under the barbarians’ control. Each Rakan could easily be worth ten regular soldiers, and with proper handling, they’d be a formidable force.

With the Greze territory too poor to maintain a proper army, accepting the barbarians who wished to settle and training them as soldiers could be the perfect solution.

Cassia, relieved, continued persuading the hesitant Jerome.

“You’ll finally be able to live like people. And though our territory is mountainous, wouldn’t that make it feel more like your homeland? You’d be comfortable.”

“Why… why are you doing this for us? We fought your husband. We’re enemies. How can we just believe you?”

“We didn’t have to be enemies. It seems we misunderstood you. I’m saying we try to work it out. Besides, like I said, kill me and my husband, and you’ll still be fugitives. What then?”

“…”

“Will you all die, or try to live together?”

It had never been a real choice. Jerome was just about to nod his agreement when,

“Jerome!”

Voices echoed through the dark mountains as new presences approached. Cassia and Jerome stood up quickly.

Two large Rakans arrived, ridden by Chief Jerd and Tung, the subordinate Jerome had sent. Following them were a dozen or so mercenaries from the subjugation force. At the head of the group was Zester.

“Cassia!”

Zester recognized her immediately near the campfire and was about to rush forward, but was stopped by Jerd’s long spear.

“…Honey.”

Though they hadn’t been apart long, the reunion felt heavy after everything that had happened. Seeing Zester, covered in blood and dirt, her chest felt tight.

Jerome, understanding the situation, moved to hold Cassia and pressed a small blade to her throat.

Cassia, already having persuaded Jerome, remained calm. But Zester, unaware, lost it at the sight.

“Cassia! Hey! Stop that!”

Two mercenaries restrained him by the arms.

“Leader, we’re here to negotiate. Calm down.”

“Yes, provoking them won’t help.”

“What, what do you want? Just… just say what you want!”

Zester’s lips were pale and he was trembling as he spoke to Jerd, stumbling over his words.

“Tell me…please…”

What…?

Cassia was shocked. So was Jerome, who held her. And Jerd, who had brought Zester.

Zester lifted his hands to cover his eyes, unable to finish his sentence. His voice came out choked and soaked in emotion. It wasn’t a mistake, he was crying.

“H-Honey…”

Everyone was stunned, but no one more than the barbarian warriors and the subjugation soldiers, who had fought beside him.

Was this really the same terrifying subjugation leader who had effortlessly cut down three-meter-tall monsters just moments ago?

“W-want… ngh… j-just say it…”

Zester finally lowered his hands, eyes red and swollen, staring intensely at Cassia. He couldn’t bear to look away, terrified Jerome might hurt her.

“Cassia… ngh…”

“Shh!”

Everyone turned to Cassia, who cut in like a scolding mother calming a child.

What in the world is this scene?

The crying subjugation force leader… and his wife?

“Cassia…”

“Shh!”

“…Mm.”

“Good. Why are you crying? Look, I’m fine. Completely unharmed.”

Cassia smiled brightly at Zester, who nodded repeatedly.

At that moment, it was as if no one else existed. They comforted and reassured each other across the fire, oblivious to everyone watching, too intimate for anyone to interrupt.

Jerd, speechless from watching the once-fearsome subjugation leader cry, could only stare in disbelief. If the man had a tail, he’d be wagging it by now.

Jerd flinched as Zester’s furious eyes turned back toward him.

“Tell me. What do you want? What must I do?”

Their relationship must be very close…

Jerd tightened his grip on his spear, refocusing.

Whatever it was, it didn’t matter. The man before him would likely do anything to save his wife, even offer his own life.

“Because of you, many of our people have died. What I want…”

Jerd leveled his spear at Zester’s head.

“…is your head.”

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