Chapter 375 – Climax
5 years.
A short time for some, a long time for others.
In terms of the universe, it is only a moment, but for tiny creatures that only live for one day, it is the equivalent of a lifetime.
It is also a time full of opportunity to change a person’s life.
* * *
Winter War.
When did people start calling this fight that?
Is it because it is a war started by those from the land of endless winter?
Or is it because the war, which seems to have no end, has now made people’s hearts grow cold?
War devastates everything.
“Emergency, emergency! Notify all troops! “Enemy appears at 11 o’clock!”
“Also? Really… “They are disgusting people.”
“They will see us that way too.”
“I know now. “They and we are the same.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if I died today, so that my corpse could go home?”
The morale of the soldiers.
—Cow!
“When are you going to end this? The number of people who have died so far is in the millions! “Are you really willing to sacrifice more than this?”
“General Laurent. “It sounds like you are willing to allow the north to fall into the hands of barbarians.”
“If it’s necessary, shouldn’t it be! Anyway, these are the people who use pens in the rear! Come face to face with the torn bodies and the exhausted faces of the soldiers, even if just for one day! Let’s see if that sound comes out again!”
“Kuhm! Everyone please calm down. If we continue to maintain the front line like this, the enemy army, which has less ability to sustain the war, will destroy itself first. So, if you wait a little longer… “
“Damn it, it’s already been over four years since you said the same thing! “Do you really think that in your eyes, the soldiers’ lives are just like pieces of wood?”
The composure of the commanders.
“Driver… ! John, it’s already been almost two months since we stopped receiving letters from our son. Could it be that there is some problem? ?”
“You’re in trouble if you do this, ma’am. Because letters traveling across wires inherently take a long time to be transmitted… “
“Lie! I heard this two days ago! A letter from my next door neighbor Hans, who is serving in the same unit, has already arrived! But why, why is our John still…!”
“… I will find out more separately. “Let’s go home now.”
And the patience of my family.
Now, the limit was gradually approaching.
It was the same for the invaders.
“I will offer my mantra directly to my Khagan. “Don’t stop me any longer, Sigbaldi.”
“That is unacceptable, Darka.”
“It was a ridiculous fight from the beginning. Wasn’t it like a dwarf attacking a giant? If this continues, we will all die. “You have to make a decision one way or the other.”
“Are you serious?”
“Okay. Surrender before it’s too late… “
—Sigh, phuwaak!
“Why why… !”
“It’s a shame. “I will remember your name, Darka.”
Cracks appear in the strong bond that seemed never to be broken.
[It’s noisy outside]
“…! “I’m sorry, Khagan.”
[Is this a limit?]
“No. The Children of Winter have yet more to fight.”
[Do you really think so?]
“…”
[The warmth of life that the warriors possess… Now I don’t feel even half of it. What Darka said is correct. I have to make a decision before it’s too late]
“… “That’s it!”
[I will bury the transcendent of the empire in ice and achieve a great cause by obtaining a land that does not freeze. Tell the King of Shadows as well. I will go directly]
“Yes, Khagan!”
As the final battle was being prepared to squeeze out the last of the strength.
-Smart
“Loyalty, Captain. That’s me. “Can I come in?”
“Cool… “
—Boom!
“… “Captain, are you really sleeping again?”
“Hmm… “
—Kwazijic!
“Get up. 3, 2, 1… “
“Ah… Woke up! It happened! “Sylvia!”
A command letter sent from a post on the front lines.
Wolfgang barely opened his eyes when he heard a loud noise breaking the closed door and a familiar hand shaking his shoulder.
“What is it, again…” “
It’s only been two days since he retreated to the rear after much suffering.
No matter how strong your body and mind are, you must rest when you need to. Otherwise, it will eventually break.
“Ha, don’t you always say that? “A commander must have dignity.”
“Yeah, right… “
“But is that correct now? You’re just sleeping in broad daylight. It would be better to not get caught! “You can hear your snoring all the way outside the door!”
“No, but what can I do about being tired? And the door is what you force… “
“Does that matter now?!”
But I can’t believe that the woman who is my closest subordinate behaves so terribly.
—Stare…
At some point, Sylvia came so close that the end of her tightly tied ponytail touched her face.
When I met her eyes, I suddenly thought that this was the worst.
“Captain, what did I say yesterday?”
“Well, don’t look lighthearted, don’t say unnecessary things… “
“But what on earth are you doing now? “You’re not protecting either of them!”
Even though she said it with such nervousness from her mouth.
Wolfgang could not bear to say anything and quietly surrendered himself to the meticulous hands that smoothed out his messy hair and the loose clothes of his military uniform.
A small body not much different from the person sitting in the chair.
Compared to him, I’m no better than a child, but I’m always climbing up and down.
Wolfgang had no choice but to lose to her every time.
—Swoosh, swoosh…
“Really… “Why is someone so big and clumsy so sloppy in everything?”
“You know the lion, the king of animals, right? “I heard that when they aren’t hunting, they just sleep.”
“What kind of animal are you, Captain?”
“It’s similar. “Because humans and lions are the same mammals.”
Two people having a good conversation.
This time to enjoy a moment of relaxation away from the battlefield full of blood and screams was more precious to them than anything else.
“Under… “
Wolfgang quietly closed his eyes while talking.
Then, Sylvia pretended to adjust her tie and subtly leaned her upper body against me.
A warm, fluffy feel on your back.
A pleasant feeling of weight on your shoulders.
And, the scent of a woman passing by the tip of her nose.
The distance between subordinates and superiors was too close, but neither of them found fault with that fact.
This was some kind of signal that existed between the two people.
Maintaining that subtle distance, the two remained in silence for a while.
“Captain.”
“Why.”
We can feel each other’s breathing.
At a distance so close that if you move your head just a little, your nose and lips can touch each other.
Sylvia whispered softly into Wolfgang’s ear.
“…What are you going to do without me?”
“I just need you to always be by my side.”
“…”
Although Wolfgang still had his eyes closed.
It was clear that the regular breathing sound had been disturbed for a moment.
I don’t know, but her face is probably very red too.
Because Sylvia has always been like that.
However, Wolfgang did not open his eyes.
If he had to meet her disheveled face with his bare eyes, Wolfgang would have no confidence in maintaining his composure.
If I opened her eyes like this, she would probably cross the line.
Then you can no longer remain in an ordinary relationship between a superior and a subordinate.
On the battlefield, that means death.
Because Wolfgang knew that fact very well.
—Excited, Excited… !
Close your eyes, lean in, and feel each other’s heartbeats getting faster little by little.
I had no choice but to be satisfied with that for now.
“Sylvia.”
“Yes.”
“When will this tiresome fight end?”
“…”
Wolfgang suddenly felt strange.
As usual, this is the time when you should hear an answer like, ‘That’s what I want to ask,’ or ‘Let’s ask the general for a favor.’
But no answer has come back yet.
This was an action that went against the rules they had maintained for several years.
It means that something unusual is going on.
When Wolfgang immediately opened his eyes, Silvia quickly returned to her desk, as if she had been leaning on him for some time.
“… What.”
“Captain. It looks like the war will end soon. “Look at this.”
[Joint Chiefs of Staff Command Letter No. 108]
[Operation Name: ICEBREAKING]
And it has been exactly one year since the operation was designed.
Finally, the terrible war is over.
Wolfgang, who was just an officer, was soon reborn as a great soldier who lived up to the nagging demands of his subordinates.
Who would actually praise him for that?
It had already left his side.
* * *
Black death squad.
The moment he heard that name, a beeping sound rang in his ears and Wolfgang’s mind sank into a deep place.
The symptom had almost disappeared after meeting Alicia, but it was not easy to endure it when it was mentioned directly.
—Jureuk…
A single tear flowed down his cheek without his knowledge.
Wolfgang was barely able to come back to reality when Alicia, with a surprised face, held onto his hand tightly.
“Master?!”
“… Sorry.”
Alicia wasn’t the only one who said today was the happiest day of her life.
It was the same for Wolfgang.
I can’t believe you showed such an unsightly appearance on a day like that.
What kind of disgrace is this, being the princess’s prospective husband? Wolfgang thought about this and immediately came to his senses.
‘Oh, what should I do!’
On the other hand, Alicia, seeing Wolfgang’s tears for the first time, was scared.
Wouldn’t revealing the truth in front of many people have been poisonous to Wolfgang, let alone an action for his benefit?
“Uh, uh… “Perhaps I am…”
“It’s okay, you did well.”
However, Wolfgang, who quickly returned to the way Alicia knew him, smiled slightly and reassured her.
Then, without anyone noticing, he whispered into Alicia’s ear.
“Later, when it’s just the two of us.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll tell you everything then. What happened to me then? “Even if no one else knows, you deserve to hear it.”
While the main characters of the engagement ceremony were immersed in their own world for a while.
The atmosphere of the ceremony hall, which had been in a state of shock, had returned to its original state as if it had never happened before.
“This… He pretended to be innocent and did what he did… !”
“Push… Older brother. Is that okay? “People are watching.”
The 1st prince, who was biting his lips tightly, and the 2nd prince, who was laughing at him like that, did not seem to have any problem with his remarks just now.
And.
[Then, it’s time to conclude the ceremony.]
The final person who will decorate the climax and end of the engagement ceremony.
[His Majesty the Emperor is coming. Everyone, please bow your heads]
I slowly rose up from behind the golden veil.
