Tilea's Worries

"Uwoooo, I'm gonna do it! I'm gonna become the Grand General!"  

Orutissio let out a fierce roar as he raced through the underground tunnels. He ran and ran, pushing himself to the limit. The words of Tirea-sama echoed in his mind.  

"If I master Zenonese, I'll be appointed as the Grand General!"  

He chuckled to himself. Who would’ve thought such a simple way to gain Tirea-sama’s favor existed?  

Once I become the Grand General, I won't have to deal with that damn advisor or Myuhhen anymore. I'll rise straight to the top of her trusted inner circle.  

Zenonese…  

The native language of the Great Magic Nation of Zenon, originally a derivative of the magical language created by Camilla-sama.  

How many words were in its vocabulary? Ten thousand?  

It had verb forms like the "be" verb and the five Ws and one H, right?  

I can't remember all the details, but it's a degraded language anyway. If I set my mind to it, learning it should be a breeze.  

First things first, I need to study.  

I need to find reference books on Zenonese, read them, understand them, and memorize the content.  

Then…  

Wait, what comes next?  

Crap, it's been so long since I last studied anything that I've forgotten how to do it!  

No, wait... It's not that. I've barely studied in my life. I never knew how to begin with.  

What should I do?  

I always thought a warrior just needed to sharpen their skills in battle. But that's not what Tirea-sama wants from her generals.  

A general needs brains as well.  

Damn it! The price for neglecting my studies is catching up to me.  

If I try to fumble through it by myself, it'll take too long.  

Self-study is a bad idea. The fastest way to learn is to get someone to teach me.  

The perfect person... of course, it's got to be Gil, my right-hand man.  

The brain of the Second Division.  

All the complicated stuff gets dumped on my vice-captain, Gil.  

Interrogating prisoners...  

Inventorying supplies...  

Coordinating our expeditions...  

Gil's list of duties goes on and on. He’s definitely the best person to teach me.  

Right, Gil should be inspecting the food storage now.  

I’ll go find him.  

"GIIIIIIIIILLL!!"  

With a mighty shout, I ran once again down the underground corridors.  

… A few minutes later, I arrived at the food storage.  

There was Gil, meticulously checking off the supplies that had just been delivered.  

"Gil!"  

"Ah, Captain Orutissio."  

Gil replied while scribbling something down on his notepad.  

"I need to talk to you. Do you have a moment?"  

"My apologies, Captain. Could you give me a minute? I’m overseeing the storage of perishable items into the *reizouko*. I want to make sure they’re properly stored first."  

I can’t let Tirea-sama’s precious ingredients spoil.  

"Understood. Prioritize your work."  

After hearing my approval, Gil quickly and efficiently gave orders and began sorting the food.  

Impressive, as always.  

He knows exactly what’s most efficient, and everything gets done swiftly and perfectly.  

Within a minute, all the ingredients were stored in the *reizouko*.  

What an outstanding subordinate.  

But I remembered—food inspection wasn’t his only task. After this, Gil had a mountain of other responsibilities to tackle, like securing funds for our supplies and overseeing the Beastman suppression plan.  

Gil manages most of the operations in the Second Division. Taking up his time would definitely hurt our performance.  

Should I ask someone else…? No, all of my other subordinates are just as busy. If I ask any of them to be my Zenonese tutor, it’ll hinder our unit’s work.  

Hmm, none of my subordinates are suitable.  

"Captain Orutissio, I’ve finished. You may command me now."  

As I mulled over my options, Gil returned and knelt before me.  

"Never mind, forget it."  

"Are you certain?"  

"Yes, just continue with your duties."  

"Understood."  

Hearing this, Gil got up and returned to his tasks.  

It’s true. We already have enough on our plates. I can’t take Gil away from his responsibilities.  

Fine. I’ll look for someone from another unit.  

Who’s smart enough to teach me Zenonese?  

Maybe Belnandes.  

Belnandes Bo Macdo, Commander of the Fourth Division...  

He’s the head of our intelligence unit. During the Great War, he infiltrated deep into enemy lines to gather crucial information. His analytical skills are unmatched within Camilla’s forces.  

He’s a clever guy, probably good at teaching Zenonese too.  

Yeah, I’ll go with Belnandes... No, wait.  

On second thought, Belnandes reports directly to that damn advisor. If I ask him for help, the advisor will definitely find out.  

And if the advisor gets wind of this, he’ll do whatever it takes to block my path to becoming Grand General.  

Yeah, that settles it. The entire Fourth Division is out. Nothing good ever comes from crossing into the advisor's territory.  

Camilla-sama... is definitely out of the question.  

If I even dared to ask, she'd probably have my head chopped off on the spot. I can already imagine her saying, "Kukuku, Orutissio, to think you’d spout such nonsense. Let me stir up that rotten brain of yours!"  

So, no. Asking my lord is obviously not an option. Same goes for Nielsen, the Supreme Commander. I can’t bother my superiors with such trivial matters.  

Then maybe I can ask someone from the First or Third Division?  

But since they’re not part of my unit, I’d need to ask permission from their commanders first.  

And considering how Myuhhen and Muram have been a thorn in my side during our demon hunts, I’m not sure they’ll willingly lend me their men.  

Ugh, isn’t there anyone who’s smart, has time to spare, and knows Zenonese well enough to teach me?  

I kept thinking about the available personnel in the Evil God Army...  

…  

……  

………  

Then, it hit me like a flash of divine inspiration.  

Kukukuku, yes! There *is* someone!  

Someone I can work to the bone without hesitation, a half-demon who won’t stop even if I run them into the ground!  

I left the food storage and made my way toward the Evil God Army’s vampire battalion headquarters.  

---

"Edim! Edim!"  

A booming voice echoed through the room.  

Edim froze. That was the last voice she wanted to hear right now.  

She didn’t respond.  

The last thing she wanted was to get involved with that idiot.  

"Edim! Are you there? Hey, Edim!"  

She pretended not to be home.  

No matter how much he shouted, she wasn’t going to open that door.  

"Ediiiiiim! Ediiiiiim!"  

The door rattled violently as he pounded on it. The hinges creaked as if they were about to break.  

Is this guy a debt collector or something?!  

This is way too aggressive.  

Nope, I’m not opening it. Not gonna happen.  

I’ll outlast you. I don’t care how long it takes; I’ll hold out until you give up and leave.  

I’m not budging.  

But, of course, the fool was not the kind to give up easily. Eventually, he forced the door open without permission and barged in.  

What a nightmare.  

"Edim, there you are! You heard me, didn’t you?"  

"..."  

He came right up to me and started shouting.  

"Hey! Say something!"  

At this rate, I’m going to have to give in to avoid further trouble.  

"Oh, Orutissio-sama. Sorry, I was so focused on my duties that I didn’t hear you."  

"Focused? Ha! If you missed the voice of your superior, you clearly weren’t focused at all, fool!"  

"Ouch!"  

I got a fist to the head.  

This bastard is really pushing it.  

Rubbing my head, I stood up and got into a fighting stance, fists raised.  

I’ve had enough of this.  

Just seeing his face was making me furious. I could feel the anger burning in my eyes.  

"What’s with that look? Got something to say?"  

Do I have something to say? Of course I do! I want to tear you apart!  

"You’re seriously clueless, aren’t you? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten what happened last time."  

"Last time?"  

"The demon hunt!"  

The last mission was a disaster. We barely completed it, but I nearly died thanks to this idiot. Worse, I almost lost Camilla-sama's trust because of it.  

If curses could kill, I would’ve cursed him to death a hundred times over by now.  

"Oh, that? Of course I remember. It was your fault we nearly failed that mission. Honestly, I should punish you, but I’m feeling merciful. Consider yourself lucky."  

"Gah... y-you... you..."  

"Hmm? What’s that, Edim? Are you so moved by my generosity that you’re trembling with gratitude? Hahaha! Yes, it must be hard being such a

 screw-up. But don’t worry. You can make up for your mistakes. I have a job for you—"  

"DIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!"  

Before I could think, my body moved on its own.  

I threw a full-force right hook at the idiot’s face.  

No holding back.  

I poured all my magic into the punch, aiming to kill.  

"What are you doing, you fool?"  

"Ow! Hold on, wait!"  

Orutissio caught my arm, twisted it behind me, and locked me in a submission hold.  

Owww, it hurts!  

My arm was completely immobilized. The strength he was applying was unreal.  

"St-stop it! You’re gonna break my arm! Let go, you idiot!"  

"Idiot, am I?"  

"Guhhhhaa!"  

Orutissio cranked up the pressure.  

"It hurts! It hurts! Okay, okay, I give up! Just let go!"  

"Seriously, keep your little tantrums in check!"  

Finally, he released me.  

Panting heavily, I rubbed my aching arm.  

Damn him and his brute strength... My arm almost snapped.  

Ugh, this is so frustrating. I want to kill him, but I can’t match his raw power.  

I’ll just have to bide my time for now.  

"...So, what do you want?"  

Rubbing my arm, I asked the idiot what he needed.  

"Actually, I’ve decided to study Zenonese. Edim, didn’t you attend some human magic academy? You’re going to teach me. That’s an order!"  

What the hell is this idiot talking about?  

Studying Zenonese?  

In the middle of our campaign for world domination, this moron wants to study a foreign language? And the way he keeps sprinkling Zenonese phrases into his speech is just irritating.  

"Are you serious?"  

"Of course I am! I’m perfectly normal. Now, hurry up and teach me!"  

Oh, no. He’s actually serious.  

For some unfathomable reason, this fool genuinely wants to study Zenonese. What on earth has gotten into him?  

I always knew he was a colossal idiot, but it seems he’s completely lost his mind now.  

...Wait, this could be a golden opportunity.  

"Orutissio-sama, understood. You want to learn Zenonese, right?"  

"Why the sudden change in tone? You’re creeping me out."  

Ugh, I want to kill him!  

But no, I’ll keep my cool.  

This idiot makes me lose my temper so easily, but this is my chance to get rid of him. I need to stay calm.  

I took a deep breath.  

"My apologies, Orutissio-sama. But you can leave it to me! I’ll have you fluent in Zenonese in just one day!"  

"Oh? Just one day? Well, of course. With my natural talent, it’s only to be expected."  

"Yes, yes. Now, let’s start with the basics. Please recite the alphabet: A, B, C, D, and so on."  

"What? That’s all? You’re starting me off with something that easy?"  

"It’s just a refresher. Even the longest journey starts with a single step, after all."  

"Hmph! You underestimate me. I already know the alphabet! Give me something more difficult."  

"No, no, we start with reciting. Or are you saying you’re not confident enough to do it?"  

"What?! Don’t insult me! This is child’s play! Listen up! A, B, C, D..."  

"Your voice is too quiet. Speak louder. Or is that the best you can do?"  

"What did you say?! Fine! Witness my booming voice! A! B! C! D..."  

And so, the idiot began loudly chanting the alphabet.  

Seriously, what an idiot.  

Kukuku, I’ll report this to Camilla-sama immediately.  

An idiot chanting the Zenonese alphabet at the top of his lungs... This disgrace of a man dares to call himself a commander in the Evil God Army.  

If Camilla-sama witnesses this, Orutissio will be beheaded without a second thought.  

Leaving the vampire battalion quarters, I headed for Camilla-sama's chambers.  

I can’t wait to tell her about this.  

I practically skipped down the corridor, but then...  

"Orl, where are you~?"  

I heard Tirea-sama’s voice.  

"Orl, you lost little lamb, where are you~?"  

It seemed Tirea-sama was searching for Orutissio. As a subordinate, it was my duty to inform her of his whereabouts.  

Hmm, I really wanted to report this to Camilla-sama. If she saw Orutissio, she’d undoubtedly execute him.  

Tirea-sama, on the other hand, might not punish him so harshly.  

What should I do?  

No, what am I thinking? My lord is in need. It’s my duty to assist her immediately.  

"Tirea-sama!"  

I called out to her as she walked down the hallway.  

"Hello, Edim! Have you seen Orl?"  

He-hello?  

Wait, what? Tirea-sama’s acting… strange.  

"Hey, Edim? Are you listening?"  

Ah! I spaced out! I can’t believe I let my thoughts wander while Tirea-sama was speaking to me!  

"My deepest apologies, Tirea-sama. Orutissio-sama is currently in my quarters."  

"Oh, so he’s with you? Thanks, Edim! Lead the way!"  

I led Tirea-sama to the vampire battalion’s quarters.  

When we arrived, I opened the door and presented her with Orutissio's shameful display.  

"Please look, Tirea-sama. Orutissio-sama is neglecting his duties to fool around like this. He’s shouting nonsense in Zenonese, as if he’s lost his mind. I suggest convening a court-martial or perhaps, Tirea-sama, you could personally execute him."  

I quickly suggested his execution, but...  

"Wow, Orl is really motivated! I like this energy!"  

"Wh-what? T-Tirea-sama?"  

To my shock, Tirea-sama was praising Orutissio.  

"Um… what exactly do you mean by that?"  

"Edim, you’re teaching Orl Zenonese, right?"  

"Y-yes, well, uh..."  

"I want in, too! I’ve been meaning to study Zenonese. Can you teach me as well?"  

Guh!  

So that’s what this was about.  

Come to think of it, every time something strange happens, Tirea-sama is usually involved.  

Of course Orutissio's sudden burst of enthusiasm had to be because of her.  

I asked Tirea-sama for confirmation, and, yep, I was right.  

Honestly, Zenonese has nothing to do with our campaign for world domination. This is all just for her hobby restaurant.  

...To be honest, I really don’t want to do this.  

As the commander of the vampire battalion, I’ve got more than enough on my plate. But Dryas-sama always says that Tirea-sama’s orders take precedence.  

Looks like I have no choice.  

I’ll just have to commit to teaching them Zenonese.  

So, I sat Tirea-sama and Orutissio at the table and prepared to give them a formal lesson.  

"Alright, first, I’d like to ask how much Zenonese you already know. Feel free to be honest."  

"Let’s see, I can handle basic Zenonese. Like 'This is a pen.'"  

"I can also manage simple conversation. Like 'I'm strong.'"  

Wow. That’s… basic. Very basic.  

There’s a lot I could say, but one thing stands out. Both Tirea-sama and Orutissio’s pronunciation is way too similar to Common Tongue.  

I’d better check.  

"Could you both repeat after me? 'How are you?'"  

""How are you?""  

"Next, 'I’m OK.'"  

""I’m OK.""  

"Alright, one more. I..."  

We went through a few phrases, but...  

As I suspected.  

Neither of them can pronounce Zenonese correctly. Their pronunciation is too rooted in Common Tongue. Fixing this won't be easy.  

I sighed.  

"Is something wrong, Edim?"  

"N-no, it’s just that your pronunciation..."  

"What, are you criticizing our excellent pronunciation?"  

"N-no, not at all."  

"Hey, Orl. Don’t be rude. Edim is teaching us, so be respectful."  

"But, but Edim was—"  

"Orl, I’ve been meaning to tell you—your pronunciation of 'R' is off. You need to roll your tongue more."  

"Roll my tongue?"  

"Yes. You have to roll your tongue for 'R'. Like this: Raaaabbit!"  

"Oh, as expected of Tirea-sama! My pronunciation is nothing compared to yours!"  

"Right? Right? Now, you try it. Raaaabbit!"  

"Raaaabbit!"  

Then Tirea-sama and Orutissio started practicing with exaggerated rolled tongues.  

Their pronunciation was muffled, and while it sounded sort of right...  

That’s not correct. At all.  

What should I do?  

Tirea-sama seems so confident.  

**Would it be disrespectful to correct her?**  

But I have to. If I don't correct her, it would be equally rude, right?  

"Um, excuse me, Tirea-sama. That pronunciation is actually incorrect. The proper pronunciation of 'rabbit' is more like this: *rabbit*. You need to focus on creating the sound in the back of your throat, not by rolling your tongue."  

"Oh, really?"  

"Yes. It should sound like *rabbit*. Could you try saying it again?"  

"Rabbit!"  

... Nope, it sounds exactly the same.  

Tirea-sama looked so pleased with herself, as if she had completely mastered it.  

"... Umm, Tirea-sama, Orutissio-sama, could you both try repeating this vowel sound for me? Say, *æ*."  

"Ah!"  

"Eh!"  

Oh no, this is bad.  

Orutissio's pronunciation was completely off, and Tirea-sama's wasn’t much better either. Both of them were still stuck with sounds closer to Common Tongue.  

What am I supposed to do now?  

"Hey, Edim! What’s the holdup? We’ve got the basics down. Move on to the next lesson already!"  

What?! Are you serious?! You're nowhere close to getting it right!  

Your *æ* sounds more like an "eh"! Why can’t you hear that?!  

"Orl, listen to Edim. You’re still pronouncing things incorrectly. We need to fix your pronunciation first before moving forward."  

"Oh, is that so? Then, please correct me, Tirea-sama!"  

"Your problem is with the *R* sound. Try again: *Raaaabbit!*"  

"*Raaaabbit!*"  

I can't... I just can’t.  

Orutissio’s *Raaaabbit* sounds like some strange beast call, and even Tirea-sama's is still not quite right. This is... hopeless.  

Maybe I need to change my approach.  

"Uh, Tirea-sama, Orutissio-sama, if I may... What is your end goal for learning Zenonese? Like, how fluent do you want to become?"  

"Hmm, I don’t need to be *too* fluent. Just enough to handle basic day-to-day conversations at the restaurant. Like explaining dishes to customers or asking what they’d like to order."  

"Same here. I don’t need to master it. I just need enough Zenonese to interrogate Zenonese spies on the battlefield."  

I... I see.  

That’s a tall order. A *very* tall order.  

Considering their current level, the amount of work it will take to get them to that point is staggering. How on earth am I supposed to accomplish that?  

It looks like I’ve once again been handed a task with only a slim chance of success.  

"Very well," I said, forcing a smile. "Let’s continue our lesson. We’ll take it step by step..."  

And with that, I braced myself for what was sure to be a long, challenging journey.