Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 32

Zester stood frozen at Jerd’s demand, but the mercenaries of his subjugation force exploded in protest in his place.

“What? Is this bastard insane?”

“You think we’re idiots just because we followed you here without resistance?”

“Silence!”

At Zester’s shout, the rugged mercenaries fell silent.

He had no intention of provoking the barbarians. With a blade still pointed at Cassia’s neck, the one at a disadvantage was himself. Seeing her, bound and looking at him with such pitiful eyes, made his heart ache. Zester bit his lip.

“Ahh…”

Should I really just die here? He covered his eyes, which were starting to tear up with sorrow.

Zester knew perfectly well why his life, which he had never once considered precious while fighting on the battlefield, felt so precious in this moment. It’s not that dying in Cassia’s place filled him with regret. But the fact that he would die without ever being able to enjoy the love and happiness of life in a castle with his beautiful, kind, and gentle wife, and it was heartbreakingly sad.

At that moment, Cassia, who was seeing Zester’s endlessly pitiful face, secretly poked Jerome in the side.

“Hey. Please do something already.”

“J-just a moment…”

Although Jerome held a leadership role among the barbarians, his half-brother Jerd was the actual chieftain. Jerome had never gone against Jerd before. Even though he knew Cassia was right, he lacked the courage to defy him.

Clang!

While Jerome hesitated, Zester pushed his subordinates aside and threw his sword far away.

“Send my wife over here.”

Sniffling, Zester muttered and began walking straight toward Jerd, Tung, and the fearsome Rakans without a hint of hesitation.

“H-Honey?!”

Cassia flinched in shock.

Wait, how was she supposed to interpret this mindset of his where he threw his own weapon away without a shred of hesitation? Cassia was dumbfounded.

Of course, judging by his actions so far, she assumed he would try to save her somehow. But even that depended on the situation. Is this something you just nod to when someone asks you to exchange your life? Since when did they become that kind of couple?

She couldn’t understand what Zester was thinking, yet at the same time, she felt a pang of guilt.

It was because, even after going back 10 years in time, she harbored a deep resentment toward Zester due to memories of the past.

She looked at this foolish man who boldly offered to lay down his life to save his wife’s life. Just what about him resembled a merciless war-monger who only cared about money?

Jerd tightened his grip on his spear, leveling it toward Zester. Cassia cried out in surprise.

“Honey! Don’t be stupid! What are you doing?!”

Cassia shouted urgently, staring at Zester’s tightly clenched jaw.

That was the exact expression her son Rael used to have on his face. When he was scolded, he would pout sulkily like he was holding back tears and Cassia couldn’t help but stop and hug him, unable to scold him any further.

She felt the same way now. What was it about his face that made her want to hug and pat him?

“Ngh. Cassia… our territory… it’s not…it’s not good enough for you anyways…”

He’s crying! He’s crying! His tears are falling!

Cassia, the barbarians, and the mercenaries all stared at Zester, watching his lips quiver and his eyes turn red. When a tear fell from his reddened eyes, they all looked like they were about to cover their mouths and gasp.

“Ngh…You can go back to Ruberno… live the life you want…hic.”

“Shh! Stop crying!”

“Cassia, I was wrong… ngh. I should’ve listened to you…”

“It’s okay. It’s okay. Don’t worry. You won’t die.”

One of Zester’s mercenary subordinates, facing this scene which made it hard to decide whether to laugh or cry, finally covered his mouth. While the situation was clearly tragic, the sight of a noblewoman comforting the subjugation leader like a ten-year-old boy made it hard not to laugh. No one could tell whether the man covering his mouth was laughing or sobbing with Zester.

Jerd, who was both bewildered and appalled, stared intently at this scene, annoying that he couldn’t rush over and take Zester’s head. Then he heard Cassia confidently state, ‘You won’t die’ and his temper flared.

“We will get his head. It is unfortunate, but there is nothing I can do.”

“Jerd!”

Right at that moment, Jerome, who had been silently observing the situation, stepped in and his eyes grew firm with determination.

“Let’s not kill him. Let’s negotiate instead.”

“…What?”

“I…There is a better way. For them and for us. Our enemy isn’t this subjugation leader. It’s the lord who framed us and rejected us.”

“What are you even talking about?”

Jerd’s sharp tone made Jerome flinch, but Cassia stepped in smoothly.

“We heard you invaded residential areas and threatened the Viscount. In that case, you were considered dangerous marauders and that’s why we launched a subjugation campaign. If we had known your tribe simply wanted to ask for a favor from the Viscount and live in peace, we never would have come to this territory for a subjugation.”

“You think we threatened the viscount?”

“Yes. That’s what we heard. Not just us but most of the northern territory. The Viscount has spread rumors that you are ruthless barbarians. You were probably thinking of moving on to another territory if the Viscount rejected you but I’m not so sure you can. How can you possibly do that when every territory in this vicinity considers you a vicious tribe that must be subdued?”

Jerd bit his lip. The reality was entirely different. The barbarians had actually maintained peaceful relations with the neighboring villages. Some of the villagers they were close to had even subtly advised that they should ask the lord to accept them as citizens of the territory.

Yet what was this he was hearing?

Even though he had never met the Viscount, he was filled with disgust. Perhaps the man was so desperate to save his life that he even sold the wife of subjugation leader, who happened to be in the castle, to them as a hostage. He was truly a vile and evil man.

“Still, even if I say we didn’t know, it is an undeniable fact that our subjugation force has killed many of your precious kin. For that, I sincerely apologize.”

“W-We also inflicted significant damage on the subjugation force! There’s no need to apologize like that!”

Jerome, who had been listening quietly, shouted.

Jerd’s eyes widened, as did the mercenaries of the subjugation force. It felt as if the man who was supposed to be the most dangerous person holding Cassia hostage , was also her most loyal pet. What was going on?

One of the quick-witted mercenaries shuffled to the side and retrieved Zester’s discarded sword. Zester accepted the sword with a dumbfounded expression as he tried to make sense of Cassia’s words.

The barbarians were not as vicious as he’d heard, and the Viscount had spread false rumors to drive them out. Still, the barbarians who had infiltrated the castle and threatened Cassia…

“Even if you kill my husband here, none of you will survive. The Viscount is likely in the process of sending new reinforcements to wipe you out. I know that all you wanted was to settle down and live peacefully, and I find it very unfortunate, but like this, the only fate left for you is death.”

Jerd’s eyes wavered. The woman wasn’t wrong. It would have been different if the foolish Jerome had captured the Viscount, but instead, he gave us the man a chance to prepare and took an unexpected hostage.

Moreover, even if they had taken the Viscount hostage, the situation likely wouldn’t have changed. It seems the Viscount had already devised countless plots behind the scenes to crush the barbarians, and he’d likely still backstab them while pretending to negotiate.

And his people, as naïve and uneducated as they were, would have fallen for the Viscount’s schemes before long.

Was there really no place for them to live in peace?

Cassia fearlessly took a step towards Jerd, whose face had fallen. The small noblewoman, the size of a Rakan’s paw, looked utterly unafraid. Instead, it was the big men gathered around who flinched and looked more alarmed on her behalf.

“I will help you. I will provide a place where you can live like human beings.”

Jerd and everyone else’s puzzled gazes turned to Cassia. They all paused for a moment, taken by her beautiful, smiling face.

“Join hands with me.”

***

Who could’ve imagined?

He stubbornly insisted on deploying as reinforcements for a measly compensation. He wouldn’t listen even when she told him to negotiate the reward. Yet his resolve to never put her in danger was shattered when his wife was taken hostage. In the chaos, his thoughtless decision to save her was to have his own neck cut instead. Cassia nearly became a widow just two months after their wedding.

Zester absentmindedly recalled the situations he created, which could not been more worse, then he looked down at Cassia’s round head, safely cradled in his arms.

Watching her swaying back on the rocking horse, he felt a lump rise in his throat again. Zester gripped the reins with one hand and pulled Cassia close with the other.

“Honey?”

Even after all that had happened, her face still looked so bright. What if something had gone wrong? Zester’s lips quivered again.

“Again?”

Cassia let out a heavy sigh, twisting her waist slightly to look back at Zester. Though he was moving at a snail’s pace for her sake, Zester still seemed flustered and worried.

“M-Moving like that is dangerous.”

“Then hold me tight.”

“Of course. I will, but…”

“Why is your mouth all pouty again? Don’t embarrass yourself. You’re a grown man.”

Cassia’s hand gently pressed against Zester’s lips, which were still pursed into a frown.

This was a full-time job now, soothing him. Watching Zester’s eyes quickly redden, Cassia let out a soft laugh.

“It’s all my fault, Cassia.”

“Ah! Tears? Is it falling? Can I catch them?”

Why was he so cute? It felt like seeing a giant version of Rael. Cassia teasingly cupped her hand under his eye.

“I’m not crying…

Zester, barely able to swallow back his tears, tightened his arms around Cassia.

She was here. She was safe and sound, unharmed in his arms. Zester was so grateful for that fact that he almost cried. Contrary to his slurred words, his lips curled into a pout, as if he were about to cry.

“Everything ended fine. Stop crying so foolishly.”

Ended fine…Yes, it did end well. Zester agreed with Cassia.

He had made a complete mess of everything, and yet Cassia had turned it all around beautifully.

She had not only returned unscathed but resolved everything. Now they were returning peacefully and worry-free, thanks entirely to her.

Zester raised his head, looking dazed as he slowly scanned the massive force trailing them. It wasn’t just his trusted mercenary companions who had fought alongside him in countless battles, but also barbarians and their beasts that had just been hostile to him.

The poor Greze territory, which had no means to train an army, now had one. Considering Cassia’s plan to build a small force after receiving the compensation, this was a good thing. The worst situation had become the best in an instant.

The new forces guarding his back was reassuring, but right now, Cassia, who was in his arms, felt like the most precious thing of all. Too precious for someone like him. Just holding her felt like a sin.

‘But I don’t want to let go.’

Don’t want to? You have the nerve to not let go? Ridiculous.

His face flushed involuntarily at his selfishness.

Zester hugged Cassia tightly as she turned forward again and muttered.

Hugging her tightly again, he murmured:

“Cassia, I was wrong. I admit I acted like a fool. From now on, I’ll listen to you. I’ll do better.”

It felt shameless to keep her by his side, pretending like he didn’t know anything but he had no other choice.

“So please don’t leave me, hm?”

I don’t think I can survive without you.

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