The Wandering Samurai and his Beloved General (BL)

That night, Haruki and Lanling climbed into bed, instinctively tangling their limbs around each other like octopuses, seeking comfort amidst their hazy, alcohol-fueled minds.

The next morning, Haruki was surprised to find himself free of the mind-splitting hangover he'd expected after drinking so much. Lanling later explained that the alcohol had been enchanted with a conditional mind-clearing spell. No matter how much someone drank, as soon as they fell asleep, they would only wake up feeling refreshed.

It was remarkably convenient.

For the next few days, the army thoroughly enjoyed their well-deserved break. Though some continued to work in the camp, their once strained minds now found peace. During this quiet time, the army began to notice the subtle changes between their general and Haruki.

Speculations grew wild, and those who had witnessed their interactions became temporary storytellers during meal times, surrounded by groups of gossiping comrades—a fandom inevitably formed.

Their fascination only deepened when a certain book received approval.

It was on the second day, during Haruki and Lanling's breakfast, that they heard a female soldier requesting an audience. Haruki was a little confused—he had never seen a female soldier enter Lanling's tent before.

Lanling paused for a moment, blinking as though guessing her purpose, then nodded calmly, granting her permission to enter.

The female soldier stepped in, escorted by the tent guard. Cradled protectively in her arms was a freshly bound brown book. Her silver and blue robes, engraved with intricate runes, along with her light armor, immediately told Haruki she was a mage.

"Speak," Lanling said curtly.

The female soldier's enthusiasm seemed to skyrocket, her cheeks flushing a bright pink. "T-That—um, General, would it be okay for me to spread this around?" Shyly, she pushed the book forward with both hands.

Haruki, out of habit, took it from her without thinking. It had become part of his unofficial role—Lanling jokingly called him his assistant, and Haruki, eager to be useful, had happily gone along with it.

He opened the book and quickly leafed through its pages.

Instantly, his hands froze mid-motion, and his entire body stiffened. He stared at the contents, his mind racing, then snapped his gaze to Lanling, whose curious expression only made Haruki's situation worse.

Panicking, he shoved the book behind his back, as though that could erase what he'd just seen.

Lanling tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You're only making yourself look suspicious, Haruki."

Haruki shut his eyes tightly, his face burning as he tried to muster some semblance of composure. "This—this book—what the fuck..." He stammered, struggling to articulate his thoughts.

In truth, he didn't even know what he was embarrassed about.

It was just... their naked bodies. Tangled in all sorts of positions.

... It was basically porn.

In his hurried glance, he'd even noticed dialogue bubbles, suggesting some kind of storyline. The sketches were absurdly detailed—too detailed. And, judging by the female soldier's behavior, she had been watching them closely for some time, making the illustrations disturbingly accurate!

How was he supposed to react to this ah?!

Haruki heard a rhythmic tapping on the table. Reluctantly, he opened his eyes to see Lanling's outstretched hand. The general wore a playful smirk, as though he had already known exactly what Haruki was hiding.

"Give it to me."

"Urgh..."

"Come now, Haruki~"

The drawn-out tone of his name left Haruki with no choice but to comply, though the urge to cry grew stronger.

Slowly, he handed the book over with both hands, his face burning like fire. Defeated, he planted his forehead onto the table's surface, hoping the cool wood would somehow ease the heat radiating from his cheeks.

It didn't help. Especially not when he heard the telltale sound of pages being leafed through.

"Oh~"

Lanling's voice was laced with mild amusement, tinged with genuine admiration. "Hm, these sketches are familiar. Are you our cartographer?"

The flustered female soldier immediately straightened her back, adopting a serious expression. "Yes, General! I'm one of them!" she declared with a sharp nod.

But her professionalism couldn't entirely mask the obvious fangirling that bubbled beneath the surface. The urge to scream almost overwhelmed her, and she clasped her cheeks, her gaze flickering between Haruki and Lanling.

She was already etching their earlier interaction into her memory.

She had to draw what happened later! She must!

Her sisters would kill her if she didn't!

Conveniently, in her mind, she had labeled everyone in the fandom as "sisters," regardless of their actual gender.

Lanling continued to calmly flip through the book.

It wasn't very thick, and most of the dialogue was based on overheard conversations—snippets from the previous encampment or their brief time in the swamp. The only inaccuracies were in the sex scenes, where the artist's imagination had clearly filled in the gaps.

...Though they somehow got the location right.

Was someone listening?

Lanling paused, amused by the thought, and chuckled softly. "I'll approve it—but only for the army." With a light flick, he tapped Haruki with the book, prompting him to reluctantly lift his head, his face still flushed red.

"Well?" Lanling asked with a playful smirk. "I'm not the only one who needs to approve this." He waved the book teasingly in front of Haruki's face.

Haruki groaned before slamming his forehead back onto the table, steam practically rising from his head. His hands fell limply at his sides as he whispered, "I... I approve..."

Lanling heard him loud and clear, laughing as he handed the book back to its eager owner. "Go tell the idiots reading this not to overstep their boundaries. If I catch anyone eavesdropping during our private moments, I'm confiscating this."

The female soldier vigorously nodded, her smile practically splitting her face. "I'll make sure they don't!" she chirped before happily saying her goodbye and dashing off to share the good news with her "sisters."

Haruki suddenly jerked his head up, his eyes wide with shock. "What do you mean... Did someone listen?"

Lanling's smile deepened, his eyes curving teasingly as he watched Haruki's delayed reaction. "That's right. What do you think?"

"W-What do I think..." Haruki stammered, his mind blanking.

"Mn, isn't the idea... hot?" Lanling pressed, his tone both playful and suggestive.

"O-Oh... Uh—" Haruki coughed, feeling his entire body heat up as an unmistakable wave of arousal hit him. "...Yeah..."

He answered honestly, unable to lie to his beloved general.