MISS PAINTER, YOUR ART HAS COME ALIVE!-Chapter 26 : Chapter 26 - Loyal people

“Have you eaten?”
“Hmph!”
Seeing that the first thing Kaelis said upon waking up wasn't an apology for leaving them waiting for so long, but instead this strange question, the commanders all showed displeased expressions.
If it wasn't for the elder's order to let Kaelis rest properly, they would've already summoned her out to greet them.
Only the leading elder and his attendant beside him remained expressionless.
“Eaten? Haha, I really didn't expect that someone who could capture the vanguard centurion with just a hundred people... would be someone like this.”
The elder spoke without malice, his face filled with admiration as if looking at some treasured prodigy.
He stood up and gave Kaelis a slight nod.
“I am Tyron, commander of the First Legion of Kerkor Kingdom's army...”
The elder began, clearly stating his purpose first.
But to his surprise, upon hearing his title, Kaelis didn't show any afraid expression. Instead, she seemed deep in thought.
'A ten-man squadron, hundred-man centurion, thousand-man battalion... a legion would be ten thousand men? And First Legion means elite legion commander, military rank should be Legion Centurion.'
The elder's rank was very high, two full levels above Kaelis's current standing.
According to prior agreement, Kaelis, having earned the vanguard reward, would be promoted to Battalion Commander, commanding a thousand-man unit.
Although still inferior to the elder, she shouldn't immediately bow upon hearing his title, this defied logic, and more importantly, defied Kaelis's character.
Kaelis hadn't shown it much before, but deep down she possessed her own pride.
There were only two types of people who could make Kaelis bow, first, someone truly righteous and loyal, and second, someone who could draw better than her.
Higher rank alone might make Kaelis look twice, that's all.
“So... what do you want?”
“Insolent!”
The surrounding commanders began to stir.
Commander Tyron being friendly toward Kaelis was his own affair, but Kaelis should still maintain proper subordinate attitude.
Everyone knew that Lord Tyron was one of the rare high-ranking officers in the entire kingdom who possessed both ability and strength, head of the noble Michael family, and a battlefield leader saved by the older generation of soldiers!
Although His Majesty had inexplicably appointed him as commander of the First Legion this time, even the Supreme Commander who led ten legion centurions wouldn't dare show the slightest disrespect towards Tyron.
How could this mere commoner, this ordinary centurion Kaelis, speak to Lord Tyron like this?!
“Quiet...”
Tyron remained silent for a moment before speaking suddenly.
Although others in the room gradually fell silent upon hearing Tyron's words, their eyes still looked unfavorably at Kaelis.
This made Tyron somewhat helpless.
But after glancing at Kaelis a few times, he suddenly changed his tone.
"Centurion Kaelis is indeed the top contributor in this siege, and her tunnel tactic was brilliant. Such talented youth having some personality is normal, but..." The elder paused, then shifted again. "Although the army values battlefield achievements, ultimately war is fought by people. Speaking is also a skill. Battlefield talents don't necessarily need eloquence to shine, but those who can speak will certainly have more opportunities to showcase their battlefield abilities."
The elder's words were subtle, but Kaelis blinked her eyes.
Although seemingly protecting Kaelis, he was also reprimanding her while calming the other commanders, the elder knew exactly what he was doing.
Regardless of effectiveness, at least others would feel the elder remained aligned with them.
After all, the other commanders were defending Tyron. Whether their actions were right or wrong aside, their loyalty was genuine. The elder certainly wouldn't let them feel wronged because of his appreciation for Kaelis. Someone who commands ten thousand troops must possess more than just battlefield tactics.
Knowing how to make subordinates feel their leader is trusted, that's also an art.
This single sentence alone made Kaelis realize the elder before she was indeed no simple man.
But this didn't concern Kaelis much personally.
After blinking, Kaelis looked around at the slightly calmer commanders, pondered briefly, then bowed respectfully to the elder.
Although she wasn't afraid of trouble, she had no interest in provoking it. This simple bow was both proper etiquette and a temporary ceasefire of the conflict.
And the elder hadn't come here deliberately to argue.
He simply smiled and nodded at Kaelis.
“This time... you and your men have truly earned great merit. I've come specifically to deliver the vanguard reward promised by the three kingdoms...”
As the elder spoke, he waved his hand.
The attendant beside him lifted a leather case he was holding.
Opening it simply, three items were inside.
A promotion decree, a drawing inscribed with strange patterns, and a scroll of contract.
The elder gestured, and Kaelis curiously took them.
But after examining them briefly, Kaelis suddenly looked up and asked the elder a question.
“What about the others?”
“...?” The elder was taken aback by Kaelis's words, but after a moment, he slightly nodded.
“The rewards for regular soldiers and senior soldiers aren't as substantial as yours, but they will all be promoted one rank. Although they won't immediately receive their own units, their military pay will increase starting next month, along with a substantial bonus as reward...”
“What about Officer Seren?”
“...Seren?”
The elder was momentarily stunned, but after a young man beside him whispered a few words, he turned his head.
“Due to her past mistake, she won't be included in the merit-based rewards list...”
“...That's unacceptable.”
Hearing that Seren was excluded, Kaelis paused for a moment, then frowned.
Although Kaelis had only interacted with Seren for ten days, she quite liked her, she was beautiful, fun to be around, and exceptionally capable at work.
Kaelis sincerely hoped she could continue assisting her.
Moreover, even if Seren couldn't continue serving under her later, as someone who had spent time together, Seren had participated in that decisive night raid and vanguard assault. She deserved proper recognition.
But the elder meant... military merit would completely skip over the girl?
Kaelis found this hard to accept.
At the very least, she should fight for this.
Seeing Kaelis's persistence, the elder was momentarily surprised, but after a brief pause, he finally spoke.
“Why do you care so much for her?”
“For no reason. She fought and bled alongside me. She deserves fair treatment.”
Kaelis shook her head, looking at the elder's slightly troubled expression. After pondering deeply, she suddenly pushed the rewards she held forward.
“If it's really impossible, take these things back... exchange for something else. Seren and I can split it equally.”
Kaelis didn't fully understand this world's military regulations, but she clearly knew she disliked unequal treatment.
Seren was her comrade, someone who had fought beside her. She deserved at least some reward.
Even if it was just ordinary monetary compensation?
“...This?”
Seeing Kaelis's decisive action, the elder was stunned for a long time, while the commanders beside him erupted in astonishment.
Although there weren't many items in this case, each was something no amount of gold could buy. And Kaelis... was willing to abandon them so easily?
Just for one of her subordinates?
After a long silence, Tyron finally smiled.
“Loyalty and righteousness!”
This was his final assessment of Kaelis. He had merely wanted to see what kind of centurion could foil the other two nations' plans, but Kaelis had proven through action that she possessed not only extraordinary strategy.
Her character was equally admirable!
Whether she could shoulder greater responsibilities... still required further evaluation.
“Seren... you must properly assist this one.”
The elder suddenly spoke, addressing the conference room that contained only them.
Under Kaelis's puzzled gaze, he slowly stood up.
“I'll check her records. If it's truly not a major mistake, I believe my influence can lend some help.”
Having said this, he nodded at Kaelis.
Kaelis also seriously bowed again.
The elder simply smiled, then turned and left. The other commanders' eyes no longer held hostility toward Kaelis, but instead deep admiration.
Many ruthless people could abandon wealth, but very few could discard things that couldn't even be bought with money.
Let alone doing so just for a subordinate they'd recently met?
People like Kaelis might not necessarily be outstanding, but they were absolutely trusted and worth being friends!
Soon, everyone left.
Kaelis silently sat down, looking at the items beside her, muttering slightly.
“That old man's words just now... Seren? Were you here?”
“...I've always been.”
A complex voice came from behind Kaelis.
Kaelis was startled, then turned toward her room's entrance.
She had come straight here after going out earlier, immediately drawn by those people's attention, completely failing to notice Seren standing in the corner.
So when Seren spoke, she was slightly frightened.
At this moment, Seren's expression was extremely complicated.
She silently approached Kaelis, deeply gazing at that adorable little face before her.
Her heart pounded wildly, reverence, gratitude, devotion, desire... multiple emotions surged into her mind at once. The fact that Kaelis had truly fought for someone like her, even without knowing she was present... meant everything.
She remained speechless for a long time, then knelt on one knee before Kaelis.
But Kaelis simply reached out, gently lifting the girl up. Seeing the other's complicated expression, Kaelis suddenly showed that honest, sweet smile again.
“Seren~ I'm hungry~”
The coquettish voice was soft and melodious, melting bones and dissolving flesh...
“...Yes, I'll prepare dinner for you immediately.”
Seren didn't waste words. After responding, she turned and left the tent quickly, with no hesitation or delay.
‘You treat me with such kindness, I shall repay you with all my strength!’
Only after Seren left the tent did Kaelis stand in place for a moment, then suddenly squat down, covering her face with both hands!
“Waaah...”
A strange sound came from her small mouth. Kaelis's face was bright red.
Although speaking up for Seren before the elder and others had felt cool and righteous, having it witnessed by the person herself was completely different!
So embarrassing!
...
When Seren returned to the command tent, Kaelis had already composed herself and started examining her rewards.
Unfortunately, two of the three items were written texts. Since Kaelis couldn't read this world's writing, she couldn't understand them. As for the strange patterned drawing... besides sensing a peculiar power similar to her own drawings upon it, she couldn't perceive anything else.
“Centurion, are you troubled about something?”
Seren stepped forward, standing beside Kaelis. Her tone wasn't stern anymore, but had become gentle.
As if she'd suddenly matured, possessing a unique charm.
“More important... how are you doing?”
Kaelis slightly shook her head, suppressing her thoughts.
Compared to her own gains, Kaelis actually cared more about how Seren was faring.
The elder's promise was that he could help with minor matters, but what exactly constituted “minor,” Kaelis had no idea.
Upon hearing Kaelis's inquiry, Seren's eyes suddenly dimmed for an instant, but she quickly rallied.
“Most likely impossible.”
“Hmm? Why?”
“...My charge is... murdering a centurion.”
“Hmm?!!”
Seren now withheld nothing from Kaelis, quickly explaining her past.
Before Kaelis's arrival, several previous centurions were petty nobles who greedily seized military achievements, recklessly sending troops into combat. From beginning to end, they never saw their soldiers as comrades, but merely as expendable resources.
What they found most intolerable was that everything they fought and died for never reached their hands, even a single drop, while these officers took everything.
They got promotions and advancements, while the soldiers could only endure increasingly worsening rations and equipment, fighting desperately over and over.
After repeated deaths and replacements, Seren and others finally couldn't tolerate it. During a suicidal charge order that even a fool could recognize as certain death, she defiantly disobeyed orders and killed him.
“Murdering nobility, murdering a centurion... though I was lucky enough to be allowed to live due to my previous battlefield merits, I'm destined to remain a mere officer for life.”
Seren's smile was somewhat bitter, clearly not what she wanted. But Kaelis frowned.
“Still, they were wrong first, weren't they?”
“...The army doesn't have much time to manage such matters. Our primary goal is maintaining military discipline and achieving victory.”
Seren slightly shook her head, her gaze toward Kaelis growing increasingly tender.
That Kaelis would stand up for someone like her, she was truly satisfied... she didn't dare hope for more.
Honestly, meeting a superior like Kaelis made her feel incredibly fortunate.
Kaelis also frowned slightly, but seeing Seren's acceptance, she sighed deeply.
Then, she slowly described her own issues.
Upon learning that Kaelis was actually illiterate, Seren was momentarily stunned.
Kaelis looked barely under twenty, she had assumed Kaelis became a centurion due to special status, but she couldn't even read?
This was somewhat laughable.
But naturally, Seren wouldn't laugh at Kaelis now. After briefly advising Kaelis that learning writing might be useful, she began examining Kaelis's rewards.
The first item was the contract scroll.
“It's a deed to a mansion within Kerkor Kingdom's capital. Holding this, you'll gain one hundred years of residency rights, completely exempt from land taxes and miscellaneous fees...”
“This is good.” Kaelis raised her eyebrows, somewhat excited, but then immediately looked disappointed.
The item was indeed valuable, but she currently had no means of taking these things out of the simulation... nor did she know whether reality would recognize this simulation.
Perhaps in actual history, someone like her didn't exist at all?
She could only hope the system had some correction ability.
“And the second one?”
Kaelis said, curiously lifting the strange patterned cloth.
Seren seemed unfamiliar with this as well.
After carefully examining its attached manual, her eyes suddenly widened slightly.
“This item... is a Spiritual Item!”
“Hmm?”
"Just as humanity's first spiritual user was born naturally, through rare circumstances, certain items and beasts can also become spirit users... though they have different names. Beasts with spirit are called Rare Monsters, while items are called Spiritual Items. Their ranking system is the same as humans.
Some of these items have special properties, they can be mass-produced... When Dias Empire was founded, there was a secret treasure, a pen, a fifth-rank Spiritual Item... Its function allows users to manifest special abilities when wielded.
This patterned drawing is its creation. Simply paste it on the body and trace it, then you can obtain its ability... It can generate a small-range second-stage Ascender protective barrier... Although the range is limited, it can activate passively and be reused... Recommended locations: neck, head, or near the heart..."
Seren explained Kaelis's rewards step by step, like a gentle teacher.
Kaelis listened obediently, then blinked her eyes.
Head, neck, heart...
These locations weren't too far apart, but marking all three meant the defensive coverage couldn't overlap between them.
This made Kaelis somewhat regretful.
But since it was a life-saving item, after pondering briefly, Kaelis immediately prepared to use it.
“So where do you plan to imprint it?”
Seren stood aside, ready to assist... The manual stated this couldn't be traced alone, recommending reliable companions to help.
Who was Kaelis's reliable companion?
‘That would naturally be me!’
In fact, Seren had already started considering where this pattern should be traced on Kaelis.
On the forehead? But Kaelis's face was so pretty, tracing it there would ruin her beauty...
On the neck? Not ideal either. This was a long-shaped pattern, and Kaelis's neck was quite slender. Tracing half a circle might look like some necklace... Actually, that could be quite charming...
Seren pondered, while Kaelis playfully blinked at her, then gently wriggled in front of Seren's suddenly crimson face.
Clothing slid past delicate shoulders, revealing ample curves partially hidden.
The girl slightly closed her eyes, tilting her neck back, muscles outlining beautiful collarbones and soft curves.
One hand held the nearly-falling garment, the other gently touched her heart area.
Right there... just beside the upper side of her ample curves.
“Here...”
The girl whispered, skin slightly flushed, like honeyed fruit.