Taimanin: The Weakest's Resolve

Between The Line - 04

"Ingrid-sama! Ingrid-sama!"

Surprised, Ingrid turned to look at the source of that cheerful voice. From a distance, the young demon girl was running along a bustling street. She stopped with a minor gasp in front of the Hell Knight and showed the advertisement letters in her hand.

"Look, Ingrid-sama! I found these while we were cleaning up the old storage!" Lina enthusiastically said.

A quick glance at the postcard attached on the outside cover, the image of a large tree caught Ingrid's attention. But Lina hadn't finished talking about it. The covers looked old, the light shade of colors other than white had taken over it throughout the years. When the content inside was read, Ingrid realized the original owners of these letters was not from the Dark World since they were written in human's language. If these items were found in the old storage, they could have been collected during one of the many raids Nomad carried out from a long time ago, the time when the organization was still trying to assemble its power.

"Also! Hot spring!" Lina pointed at the specific term. "I looked it up. It's good for your health, Ingrid-sama! Let's take a short break from duty and replenish our strength with this!"

"I appreciate your concern, Lina." Ingrid said. "However, I have no need for a vacation. There're still more works to be done before we can officially relax."

"But you have been working non-stop. Paperwork, training sections, disciplinary tasks. You've been doing everything a lot lately so I believe Ingrid-sama has the right to earn yourself a well-deserved rest! Even Black-sama would approve of your case."

Ingrid coughed into her hand. The young Hell Knight trainee just made a slight mistake in her words.

"Lina, we do not use Black-sama's name so casually. As he is currently busy with important matters, it is our responsibility to lessen the burdens and support him wholeheartedly."

"But at this rate, you'll overwork yourself. We don't want that."

"It takes more than this to drag me down. Worry not."

Lina pouted, the letters held close to her chest. However, the expression instantly switched to a mischievous smile. The change startled Ingrid for a bit.

"Fufu. I know you would be persistent about this so I came prepared, Ingrid-sama." The young demon girl pulled out a document folder. "Here! Me and my unit has made this for you!"

Ingrid accepted the folder and opened it to see the content. An organized list of papers consisting of weekly sale reports, statistical analysis of low and high-demand branch products of this month were carefully done and thoroughly observed. Ingrid was impressed, she was able to understand everything from this list Lina and her unit had created.

"I didn't expect this. You really want me to take a break from duty that much?"

Lina did a pose, hands on hip and a triumphant smile.

"All for your well-being, Ingrid-sama!"

"Thank you, Lina." Ingrid hesitated. "But, I'm not so sure about leaving my works at the moment."

"We had a discussion, the others can take care of it." Lina reassured. "They'll manage the position in your place."

"Working with Black-sama demands a competent mind and resourcefulness. You really believe they are capable enough to answer his expectation?"

"I do! After all, we've been working under your guide. Those documents are the proof of our capabilities!"

"My position requires more than just this, Lina. It's not so simple to manage multiple branches at once. I doubt Black-sama would approve of my absence."