Chereads / the smudged man / Chapter 19 - ch.19

Chapter 19 - ch.19

"What on earth just occurred? Why is Commander Bera sprinting?"

"Forget about that. What is that revolting liquid coating her whole body?"

"I have no idea. It passed by so rapidly; I thought my senses would have abandoned me from the stench alone."

The commander neglected to shut the door behind her, hence I could hear the truck crew's voices clearly. I endeavored to peer out from the corner of my eye or shift my head, yet the constraints upon my head rendered that task nearly unattainable. Those restraints were specifically crafted for my captivity.

"Hey, why is that door open?" Damn, someone has noticed the door is open, but it's not like I'm attempting to flee or even capable of doing so. I merely want some light in the room; what harm could it cause?

"Should we shut it?" One of them inquired in a concerned tone. He dares not approach my room; after all, even Commander Bera had exited in a fright, uttering panicked cries. What could he possibly do? Perhaps he fears that I'm already free. I give him credit for not immediately running away.

"Go ahead and close it yourself. I will not engage in actions that woman did not instruct. I have no desire to be reprimanded in front of everyone merely for closing a door." One of them spoke before moving away, distancing himself from the incident and responsibility.

As my laughter echoed through the room, I struggled to contain my amusement. I wasn't the lone person who loathed her domineering demeanor. Everyone around appeared to share my disdain for her. I had anticipated that she be beloved because she was pretty and hailed from a distinguished family, which would afford her an easy life in the base. Yet, it appeared that's may be wrong.

As their voices reverberated through the room, my laughter became louder, reaching their ears. Following that, a chorus of startled screams and the thud of a falling person echoed throughout. Ha-ha-ha... Who could have anticipated such unexpected amusement solely from listening to their voices? It was a delightful audio, one that might bring me laugh when am under the guillotine.

The voices swiftly faded away, and I doubted anyone would return anytime soon. The crew had fled in a state of panic, leaving the door wide open. They were now quivering in their rooms, fearing the emergence of a monster to devour them.

"One, two, one, two, microphone check."

A voice echoed from a microphone situated somewhere within the truck.

"Commander Bera has ordered the entire crew to calm down and has stated that the smudged man remains tied up. She also mentions that she has some duties to attend to at the moment and will not vacate her room until we return to the base, where she will personally supervise the transfer of the smudged man."

Ah, it seems someone went to her and tattled. She was intending to come to me anyway, so it doesn't make much difference. The voice mentioned she wouldn't pester me until we reach the base, so I'll simply relish this moment of tranquility.

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"Truck No. 1 has reached Eighth Base. Soldiers are requested to exit in an orderly fashion."

Ah?! We've already arrived? Time truly flies when you're at peace. It was hardly only half-hour. and they're really bringing me to the eighth base?

I highly doubt the commander has finished her shower; women tend to take their time with these things, don't they?

I elected to rest, but unsurprisingly, sleep evaded me. Over the course of half an hour, I heard the crew's footsteps quietly exiting the truck. Only a handful of technical crew members remained, responsible for checking the truck's condition and ensuring my transfer before shutting down the systems and functions. I couldn't help feeling sorry for them; they were being subjected to a delay due to my hot saliva. They would no doubt be required to remain an hour longer at least.

Ah, yes, speaking of liquids with an unsavory odor, I must mention that the contents the commander evacuated, although not as putrid as my saliva, are undeniably unpleasant. The stench has infiltrated every corner of my room. One can only imagine the extensive clean-up efforts that will be required in this space following the execution, before it can be assigned to another individual.

**one hour**

Just as predicted, after an hour had passed, I heard the distinctive sound of high-heeled footsteps echoed through the empty truck. The reverberating sound of her steps reached me.

I found myself drenched in sweat, and my thoughts raced through my mind. have I gone too far? Despite the certainty of my imminent execution, why did my entire body seem to shudder at the approach of her footsteps?

Should I consider reconciling with her? No, there was no point. Her dislike for me was unyielding, and the saliva incident had shattered any possibility of resolution between us.

Should I shoot my saliva at her again? My first success was merely the result of favorable circumstances and her lack of attention. Nevertheless, it's worth a try. Even with a guaranteed failure rate, my saliva may still have a useful impact. Directly hitting Bera's face is uncertain, but even a near miss serves a worthwhile purpose.

"Did you miss me?" I heard a voice dripping with hatred before hearing the sound of the door closing with a 'clink'.

She's here.

"I instructed the remaining crew to vacate the truck, leaving us alone," she muttered, her voice filled with both authority and menace.

If any young man had heard such words from a beautiful woman, they would forever cherish this moment as a lifetime memory. For me, however, the significance of this statement was quite different. It was a memory I would carry alongside me as I prepared to face the short remainder of my life.

With the door securely shut, darkness enveloped us once more, suggesting that the Commander had planned for us to enjoy a secluded moment where we'd remain undisturbed. She still stood by the door, making it challenging to discern her figure clearly with just a glimpse from my peripheral vision.

"You smell lovely, Commander. Is it a new perfume you're wearing?"

I knew it likely wouldn't achieve anything, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.

"I wasn't aware that smudged men possessed good taste and could discern a quality fragrance," Commander Bera responded with a tone dripping in sarcasm.

"Oh, I must confess, I know little about perfumes, my Commander. However, the scent emanating from you is undeniably pleasant."

This was the first occasion in my life when I lamented not being proficient in flirting. Yet, can you truly blame me? Considering my towering stature, any potential romantic partner would barely reach my knees at best, so why bother acquiring such a trivial skill?

 

"Oh....we're going to have so much fun," she spoke with a manic excitement in her voice.

Surprisingly, however, she didn't take a single step toward me, still glued to her position by the door. Was she waiting for the perfect moment to begin?

"No way, I can't stand this stench. It's too much!"

The Commander abruptly opened the door and stepped out, gasping in fresh air. Ah, now I understood her delay in starting the torment. The combined nauseating odors of saliva and vomit had rendered the room uninhabitable for any ordinary human.

I couldn't see the Commander after she had left the room, but the sound of her footsteps had come to a halt near the door. All I could hear was her labored breathing, a clear indication that she was attempting to regulate her breathing.

"smudged man, we shall proceed elsewhere," the Commander announced, followed by the sound of buttons being activated. Gradually, the shackles began to loosen, freeing me and the bed from their intertwined state.

Wait a moment, why is this crazy woman setting me loose? What about my scheduled execution? Does her thirst for revenge surpass the need to eliminate a monster posing a threat to humanity? Surely, she understands that even though she may be stronger than me, there is a chance for me to escape, right? Or has hatred blinded her judgment.

I wish Commander Timo were here to witness just how brilliant his sister is as a commander.