At Ruai, the team filled in what Roland had missed. He was still pale and recovering, his head leaning(because it was pulled) against Brewary's shoulder. I don't care. Stroke my hair some more. Fuck that battle. Fuck the Frontier Army. Fuck my bow that went missing. Fuck orc arrows. I wanna fuck after this. Ouch. Maybe not. I'll sleep.

After the gate broke and the enthusiastic Frontier Soldiers rushed in, they ran back to the archer line but wasn't there. He was found at the understaffed field hospital (which was better equipped than the one Kajiko set up), his bleeding stopped and left with the arrow still stuck to his chest. Roland was lucky, he was told. That expensive Lamellar Armour he wore stopped most of the arrow, with his rib doing the rest. His lung puncture wasn't too deep, but the rib was broken. He had lost his bow when he was dragged away to safety. Luckily, he only brought coppers to the battle which were looted alongside his food, water, and good bodkins. To make things worse, the boss kill support was claimed by a Mage that uses lightning magic. Fireteam Alpha protested, but they were told by a smug Frontier Army Soldier that 'Volunteers were to assault the East and West walls and claiming to be elsewhere was treason'. Demit insisted the archers in the line were asked but no Hunter stepped up. A Volunteer Archer outperformed them after all. That's a good elemental arrow. They were shooed by threats of imprisonment and bounty, for not honouring the contract by leaving their post. If there was a bounty for that orc boss, they wouldn't be getting it.

"So Waters is returning to the mainland to report his spectacular victory", said Brewary. They shook their heads and drank a bit.

"He came to the Lodge, did you know? Every Pimpernel wore regular clothes. None of us were properly dressed and we looked absolutely dreadful. We had quiet parties in our rooms instead. Even Sweet Bobo was paid and given the night off. So he threw gold at the bordellos - the one you two use, by the way, how sweet -", he said. Demit raised an eyebrow at the other 2.

" - so he threw a wild orgy anyway, but lost his temper because everyone knew he ran away. They couldn't roleplay 'Victorious Noble Returns from War' because no one could look him in the face". Demit shook her head, still glaring at the other 2.

"Paprika, they're paying customers and what they do is none of our business. So you fix that pretty face before I tell them what you're up to at night". Demit looked at Brewary angrily, who only adjusted his pomaded hair.

"We all need company, darling. Stop pretending otherwise. And just like you, they're cultured about it."

"What she do at night?", Jakson began to question. Demit held a finger at Brewary.

"Don't."

"Anyway, according to the Pimpernels on site, the bounty for Zoran Zesh was claimed by Puppy, Kajiko and… Team Haruhiro", he said excitedly. The others looked in surprise.

"What? How?", asked Demit. Jakson laughed and ordered more drinks.

"Good and bad luck, Paprika. They were in the right place. Teams gambled and searched tower by tower, but it was Puppy and Haruhiro that found Zesh first. Also, Haruhiro himself killed the Sorcerers, even after he was swarmed by insects. Kajiko joined the fight later when she cleared her tower. Bad luck is that Sugar was right. The casualties were high, especially among the newer teams. Team Haruhiro's Warrior, Moguzo, died", he added sadly. So that's his name, Moguzo… , thought Roland.

"You want hear more bad news?", asked Jakson.

"Fuck it. Let's get it out in the open now", said Demit.

"Ranta urod is good fighter", Jakson said. Brewary laughed and nodded.

"NO!"

"He is, Paprika. We saw him in action on the wall. He's actually the best fighter in the team, even when Moguzo was around."

"No. I refuse… shut the fuck up", said Demit. Roland agreed. That asshole?

"Pimpernels didn't believe it too. According to them, during the big fight he knew exactly where to place himself. He's just… loud. Which helps of course, when he distracted Zoran so it could be surrounded", said Brewary. Jakson agreed.

"He even dodged Zoran's attacks, which was something Moguzo or Puppy couldn't really do, and he toppled the lead Sorcerer so it could be taken down", he added.

"We're changing topic right now", said Demit, her hand on her forehead.

"I was thinking we expand the team. There's only so much 4 can do. I got a battle-tested Paladin for the front lines…"

"Oh, the one that takes up those quiet nights…", said Brewary.

"Shut… fuck…". Jakson and Roland laughed. Demit just raised both hands in frustration. She threw a bun at Brewary across the table.

"Well in that case, Slyvester is among the finest, a fire-wielding Mage and a man of unbridled passion. He'd love to be support with Honey here."

"Da. Now have 6", said Jakson.

"Sounds good. So we recruit both?". Everyone nodded. Roland sighed. He still felt a little tired. Demit looked like she figured something out.

"Hold up. You're a whore?", asked Demit. Brewary tutted impatiently.

"Woman, whores service everyone that pays. Someone I don't like could shower me with gold, and I'll deposit it in Yorozu with thanks. At best, he gets to dine with me and I play with his hair. If he gets rough, the Pimpernels start a smear campaign. And when the Scarlet Pimpernels start a smear campaign, the fires of hell descend."

"And you two fuckers know this?". Brewary cut through before the men could answer.

"Of course they do. A man of fine standing offered his girls free as a treat in my stead, but they declined. Also, our… associates… of the Bordellos has no negative report of the two. That's why the Scarlet Pimpernel will always have a soft spot for fine men like Honey and Sugar". Demit cringed visibly. Brewary laughed, still stroking Roland's hair. Roland still didn't give a damn. Orc arrows shouldn't exist. My chest still hurts. Demit changed the topic again.

"There's bounty on the Sorcerer too, right? So how much do they get?"

"Not too sure, dear. 50 or 60 gold maybe?". There was a few seconds of silence before laughter broke out.

"Well done, Goblin Slayer. For once, they earned more than we did", said Roland. He raised his mug.

"To the Goblin Slayers". Cheers.

"To victorious dead". Cheers. Mugs were refilled.

"Fireteam Alpha, now 6. Hooah!". Three 'Hooah' and an 'Ura'.

"Finally, to Honey who turned the tide at south gate. To Roland, The Archer!"

Cheers.