Pick Me! Bear Me a Child! Part 1
1639 Words
This is but one of the many tales of a man scorned.
He was simply duped by a woman whom he thought was someone he could trust for all of his life.
She first introduced herself as a “receptionist”, or more appropriately, as a “customer care assistant”, at Emulsions Bar, which is located in Isiazeal, Matutum Prefecture – the town of pottery.
And her petite yet dazzling figure was all the more reason for the guy to hook up with her.
But later...
“How could you do this to me?! Our love was all just smoke and mirrors! You... you are like those carnivorous plants, luring unsuspecting guys like me into your trap! That's it! I'm dumping you!”
Good thing he cut off the relationship before things got even worse.
And now... there could be more potential victims of this woman.
Unless the man who was about to become her victim takes action.
***
Even with Ivanka's gradual change in attitude, I don't let that get to me.
I still have the other six I can lead to victory.
After all, demoralization has a pronounced domino effect, and it's not pretty.
The 18th of Lifemonth, 1019 CE. Moonday.
This is it. The very last of the final examinations.
Once we pass it, we're sure to graduate and be full-fledged soldiers, upholding our childhood promise.
Regarding our academic standings so far, we have no demerits, as we strive to follow everything stated in the cadet handbook to the letter.
We also fulfill the other preliminary graduation requirements, like filing formal applications as candidates for graduation with the immediate commanding officer.
Right now, we three all face the superintendent himself, Lt. Gen. Russel Alphonse Caralde, and our commanding officer, Cpl. Primitivo Ben-Kulera.
The corporal begins.
“Congratulations for making it this far, cadets. You all have one hurdle to face before you can leave this military school triumphant and become full-fledged soldiers of our proud kingdom. This final examination, like all the others, is a mission that is designed for you to apply what you've learned so far in these three years. Here is the dossier.”
We all promptly salute him before receiving and opening the dossier, which just contains the mission briefing and the profile of the target. No sphaeramnis clips are provided this time.
MISSION DETAILS
Mission ID: CDT-0954
Mission Type: Escort, Target Capture
Involved Cadets: Cadet First Class Floribunda K, Cadet First Class Santiaguel L, Cadet First Class Floribunda Y
Expected Time to Clear the Mission: One (1) week
Client: Heherson Mimigs
Mission Brief:
The client is an unemployed man who was about to be victimized by Miss Clarissa Riefenstahl, who posed as a single woman ready to commit into a long-term relationship but apparently revealed herself as a woman already engaged to her long-time boyfriend, thus almost making him the so-called “third party”, if not for his timely realization of the deception. If the client still pushed on with the relationship, she would leave him and their baby and would take advantage of existing alimony laws to further cripple him financially and mentally. However, while he escaped this deception almost unscathed, he fears more men getting victimized by this so-called harlot, which is why he consulted us to bring this woman to justice. The objective is simple: Protect the client and make the target realize her wrongdoing. As much as possible, do not bring your sabers into this mission; as the premise requires non-violent means of resolving the case, such as negotiations.
We then read the profile of the target.
Clarissa Riefenstahl
Born: 21st of Learnmonth, 994 CE
Place of Birth: Isiazeal, Matutum Prefecture
Occupation: Former receptionist / customer care assistant
She worked at Emulsions Bar, which is located in the town of pottery. Bar patrons always state her to have an aura of the so-called “nice girl” – she is well-behaved, wears modestly, and is a potential candidate for the perfect wife. However, her personality is, according to people who were once close to her, anything but nice. She thirsts for nothing but the pleasures of the flesh, and allegedly even has a long-term boyfriend just for the express purpose of satisfying those “cravings”. But in more recent months, her boyfriend could not satisfy those cravings of hers; and thus, without his knowledge, set out to have flings with other men, particularly bachelors whose relationships never went beyond mere crushes. With her manipulations, they would impregnate her, and she would then break off with them, leaving them and their own children to suffer. There are also rumors that her current double-faced personality is due to a traumatic past.
“Sir, I have a question, sir,” I initiate the Q&A portion.
“Go ahead,” answers the superintendent.
“Sir, why send us cadets to a mission that would be best handled by relationship experts or even adventurers, sir?”
“I knew you would ask such a thing. For this mission, we have also consulted actual relationship experts, as they actually forged an agreement with us to help future soldiers be more knowledgeable in, yes, matters of love. After all, that four-letter word is a result of negotiations, compromises, and understanding – things we soldiers of our kingdom all hold in high regard.”
“Sir, thank you, sir.”
The commanding officer concludes...
“If you don't have any further questions – and my eyes believe you don't – this mission, the culminating final examination, starts right now! Dismissed!”
Minutes later, we three are in our own room, discussing the particulars of the mission.
Laika opens the talk.
“As a fellow woman, I just can't help but feel sorry for that bar girl. In fact, never once did I get angry once I realized what's written in the target's profile.”
Yulissa follows, “How could that girl be so... promiscuous? I know I love you so much, brother, but not to that woman's levels!”
Yup. To be honest, what that woman apparently does is more disgusting than spreading mere rumors about what's happening between us siblings.
I then close the short meeting with the following...
“I'm sure there's a reason for her actions. I have a hunch... she can be redeemed. Alright then, we mustn't delay ourselves. We'll prepare some things and then head towards Isiazeal. Let's chop-chop!”
After packing up our necessary things (sabers excluded, since they're not required for a non-violent mission), we call upon a carriage leading to the town of pottery.
Once we arrive at the town, we can see the nearby Alphawwal-Omegakhir Cliff and its astounding beauty.
This formation of rocks is also known as “The Cliff of Beginnings and Endings”, since this is where some of history's greatest figures stood on before and after accomplishing something great.
I wonder who will stand on that structure next.
A pair of constabulary officers welcomes us at the town's entrance.
“Greetings, cadets. Please present the authorization from the superintendent before we continue.”
We do so, and...
“Very well. We will accompany you to your client's house.”
We're now at a decently-sized house perfect for a bachelor.
The officers call on the client, and a relatively tall man (around five feet seven inches) shows up and faces us three.
“Ah, welcome. You must be the cadets the relationship experts refer me to. I'm Heherson Mimigs.”
We three then do the mandatory introductions as the officers leave.
“God. Let's have a seat.”
Indeed, Heherson's house is quite a nice bachelor pad.
“If you're asking how I get to live here alone even though I don't do pottery, it's because I've purchased it via what is called the 'abandoned house bank'. People who want to live outside the capital are offered various abandoned houses throughout the kingdom that are still structurally sound, with affordable fees. That private-led initiative is even endorsed by the Royal Department of Housing.”
“That's really nice,” Laika comments. “At least people can choose to live wherever they want to.”
“Now on to the main matter. I hired you three because I want to inform everyone in this town, or the entire kingdom for that matter, to never trust that girl. She's only there for the money... and for the pleasure.”
I ask him, “Did she send you a death threat or something?”
“Nope. Even though she may be a charlatan, she would never resort to offing guys after she's had her fill of them.”
Whew. Good call for the superintendent to tell us not to bring any weapons.
Yulissa continues, “Alright. We want to hear your story.”
“Very well.”
***
It all began four months ago, as 1018 CE was almost drawing to a close.
I was so desperate to get married, and even my parents bugged me many times, just as I have resigned from my life as an adventurer and wanted to settle down, hence my stay here in Isiazeal. Good thing I still have enough money from my exploits.
In my desperation, I've asked the people if there are any eligible girls here. One of them suggested that I try the ones at Emulsions Bar, which is just three street corners away from home.
Of course, I didn't know a thing or two about bars, but they thankfully told me that they usually open at around 8 post meridiem.
Bars, taverns, beer houses, pubs – whatever the names of those establishments are, there is always at least a beautiful girl working there, usually as waitresses or the fabled 'guest relations officers'.”
That's what they always said.
- Writer
