Chapter 26 – 2. Street That Shouldn’t Be There (6)
I walked down the dark hallway and entered the room. After briefly washing my body, I immediately lay down on the bed. The air in the quiet room was very heavy, but I forced myself to close my eyes. But I couldn’t fall asleep until a full hour had passed.
It was because of the things that made my head complicated.
If it’s insomnia, I’m used to nightmares, so I stretched out my hand. I pressed the button on the chest of drawers and turned on the light above the bed. The light that spread softly soon chased away the darkness in my room and warmly lit up a corner of my cold heart.
Of course, just having that wasn’t enough. At times like this, I needed the small radio I always listened to.
I pulled out a wooden tabletop radio from a chest of drawers. It was an object rich in emotion with the brown ring drawn on it. Needless to say, it is perfect for those who suffer late at night.
“A radio for you on this sleepless night. I, Hildegard, greet you at Bernharde Belle. Don’t worry though. The songs and music I selected today will be by your side.”
One of the Bernhardt state broadcasting channels, Bernharde Welle, has been quite popular throughout the place, despite its relatively young existence. Of course, it was because on the state-run channels, which were only used for propaganda, any banned song was played as long as Hildegard selected a song.
“I wish you a good night.”
Censorship in this country is quite stricter than that of the Yusin regime, so even if it deals with a peaceful subject like harmony, it has the injustice of being treated as a disturbing song the moment it denies the superiority and inferiority of the tribe.
I really hated that. It was distasteful to ban so free and beautiful melodies solely on the basis of ideas. So, one day, when I heard Hildegard’s broadcast by chance, I fell in love. She was in charge of a program on a private broadcasting channel, and she was fighting a small but wonderful struggle.
An artistic struggle that re-arranges the melody of a forbidden song and introduces it with lyrics I put on.
Even then, Hildegard was not yet a singer. It is not that there is no recognition, but the sales volume of the album was also mediocre. But it was only for a short while. Less than a year after I met her, the new singer who had been protesting against her totalitarianism had evolved into a singer with her demonic charm.
Beatrix, quick-witted, quickly figured out who the girl I had a crush on was. She made Hildegard belong to the state without his consent and increased her reputation by mobilizing him in all sorts of events. On the other hand, she staged an encounter with me pretending to be a coincidence.
At the time, I was a fairly successful pianist with the nickname of the Prince of the East. He did not live confined to the official residence as he does now, and he was not regarded by the people as a male prostitute who sucked the blood of the Führer. Rather, it was only praised as a match made in heaven.
– Jungwoo, look.
A night spent in an unfamiliar world is always depressing. Despite my weakness, I became weaker. Even though I needed to be stronger, when I was left alone, I suffered from obsession and denial like this.
― People face each other, but status doesn’t matter.
Victoria, the face of her wife, seen at the Parthenope, came to mind. I couldn’t protect her, but the thought of her remained in my heart and gave her pain.
It was after the incident in Partenope, Campania, that the Prince of the East became the Führer’s male prostitute. Victoria and Cecilia died, and I, who was taken to Brullin, had to stick to my life locked away in the official residence amidst the sway of public opinion.
Damn nightmare. Damn blows. Damn panic. Damn depressed.
I want to stop shaking. I don’t want to show weakness to the things that bother me anymore. But the fearsome queen just won’t let my obsession go away. It imprinted my existence so much that it makes me feel fear even after emptying the official residence.
I hugged the blanket and curled up. I listened to the song on the radio and pursued the terrible memories. He tried to forget the massacred Victoria and Cecilia. Those who were purged or annihilated in front of me also tried to forget.
Even though it wasn’t that easy, several times.
Even though it took quite a long time, several times.
Then, the phone in the room rang. Sweating and struggling, I got out of bed and picked up the receiver. It was as if the coldness that covered his whole body was already telling him, but it was the phone call from the woman I hate the most.
“This is Seo Jeong-woo.”
“It’s me.”
“…… Beatrix.”
I rather thought it was good. I was still unable to sleep, so I wanted to hold on to the incoming phone call. In infinite solitude, even someone who hates cancer wants to talk to her, and her phone wasn’t a call she could end even if she wanted to.
“Where are you?”
“It’s Cherniysk in the northeast.”
A beautiful heavenly city. Chernysk had come across it several times in books. It was a country that attracted the most tourists until a war broke out between the two countries, overflowing with brilliant ancient cultural heritage.
Although now it is only the fiercest battleground of the maddened front.
“Why did you go there?”
“Kalinin and his stars have fallen here.”
Indeed, it seems that Anton Feininger really had a fight between Kalinin and Beatrix.
“How many did you kill?”
“Seeing that you’re obsessed with numbers, I don’t think you’re curious about your major.”
From the looks of it, it seemed like the conversation would be long. I took the whole phone and sat down on the bed. There was a long wire attached to the back to use it when needed, so there was nothing to worry about.
“Would you like to know how many people you will turn to for your hatred?”
“When a person dies, grief must precede bitterness. The reason I asked you that question is in the hope that fewer people will die.”
「Mure. If it’s a wish that’s hard to come true, you can embrace it even bigger.”
“Don’t look up. I know it’s stupid to want no one to die over a war.”
In the media, there are many cases where people’s deaths are treasured or sublimely packaged. As if to awe it.
“I’m not an idiot who can’t see reality.”
As a perhaps unique experience, I say that death is not so wonderful. It’s not pleasant, and it’s not sad either. The emotions we feel at the moment we are dying are all of life.
Death is futile That’s all.
“War is terrible because people inevitably have to die. Death is irreversible, and it is the problem of those left behind.”
I don’t like war fanatics who pretend to be crazy or talk about something else. They are psychopaths or extreme egoists. It is trash that turned away from the fear of death and blinded itself.
“Is it really so?”
“That’s right.”
“Well, I don’t know about the others, but I disagree with you on one thing.”
“What do you mean?”
“Death is not irreversible. It’s just that you haven’t overcome it yet.”
There was the sound of something rustling through the receiver. I guess she was also sitting on a bed or something like me.
“In the past, it was expressed as death by leaving someone whose heart had stopped. Even if a knight was resurrected by chance, it was considered a miracle from God. But what about now? How to resuscitate the heart and lungs has become the basis of the educated gentleman and lady.”
“It’s just a little delayed. Even after being resuscitated like that, there are still people who die, and the fact that you and I will meet our end someday does not change.”
“You must have the concept of immortality or immortality. It is difficult to make something that does not exist exist, but it is not so difficult to materialize something that already exists.”
“Why are you talking about that all of a sudden?”
“Realize the possibilities this universe contains. Indeed, endless options are in front of you. Death will never be overcome, and I will look down on you forever.”
Beatrix’s voice, which had always sounded sharp, was somehow warm today.
“So please don’t suffer. The anguish in your voice is very pitiful.”
“…….”
I was surprised, but not embarrassed. Because she had enough insight to gauge my condition just by my voice. She used to worry about me sometimes, contrasting with her cruel temper.
“Are you saying that you even understood my feelings?”
“It was always like that. Even if I say this, you’ll think I’m mean.”
Couldn’t she have shown that kind of mercy to others?
“The people I killed in Chernisk today were seven in all. The star of the federation and Kalinin’s seven disciples.”
“Zvezda…….”
“Chernisk is now in my hands. There will be upheaval sooner or later. Kalinin will run amok and Baker will consider declaring war.”
“Baker, are you referring to President Bella of the United States?”
“Okay.”
“You are completely crazy.”
March 1942 is the time when the occupied territories in the west and the government in exile are still unorganized. Cities in each country occupied by Bernhardt will still suffer from simultaneous terrorism. Where is that? It is true that Chernysk in the east is a strategic point, but it is only a small city when compared to the territory of the huge Commonwealth.
If the United States also participated in the war, the size of the chaos would not be guessed.
“Are you going to war against the world?”
“There’s nothing I can’t do.”
I was afraid. If it’s this woman, I think she’ll do it for real. And I think she will win.
“Beatrix.”
Zvezda, Star of the Federation, is an insane group consisting of 7 ranks or higher. Considering what a mage of such high rank can do, they are indeed weapons. It is also a weapon used for mass destruction.
“You can’t really use that power for good, can you?”
“A night without you is very boring.”
“Aren’t you afraid of ruin?”
“I’m not even afraid of death, so should I be afraid of downfall?”
The fact that she wiped out such a monster in just one night gave us an idea of how unapproachable Beatrix’s inaction was. Moreover, if you listen to what she says at this moment, her progress is even faster than in her previous life.
“When are you coming back?”
“According to your mind. However, I plan to return on the promised date if possible. If you return home too early, you might be frowned upon by the lover you love.”
“…… I miss you.”
Had to stop I am not anyone else.
“You say all kinds of wonderful things.”
“Are you going to kill Kalinin?”
“He’s not someone you can kill so easily.”
“If you do, don’t try too hard and come back.”
When the Federation collapses and the United States collapses, Bernhard will rule the world. What is left after that It’s my hometown. This woman’s conquest does not end so easily. The same goes for evil.
We must slow down this contagion of madness at all costs.
“How long has it been since you voluntarily clung to it?”
“…….”
“Sometimes this isn’t too bad.”
I’ve never felt so relaxed, but now I have a reason to hurry. If you have Feininger’s intelligence department in your hands, there’s no reason to do that, but you can’t let the queen go to the battlefield anymore. Because this woman’s power is too overwhelming.
Rather, I should let myself enjoy the risky tug-of-war without using my hands like before.
“I will tell you something in return for your affection.”
“Tell me.”
“I received a report that one of the employees of the official residence was doing something unsavory.”
“…… !”
Sneaky! Beatrix knew about the infiltrator in the official residence. Judging by what he said, it seems like he heard it from someone, and even if he couldn’t pinpoint who it was, he was at least certain of its existence!
“Originally, I planned to find out and kill him as soon as he returned.”
It was difficult to contain the trembling voice. I struggled to open my mouth and speak out.
“If so, now?”
“If you favor it, I won’t harm it. But before that, you have to find it yourself.”
I didn’t even have time to thank him for the favor. Beatrix will brutally execute the snitch no matter what. I had to stop her awareness reaching Feininger and her intelligence department. In order to do that, you have to restrain the certainty of this matter.
First, consider the identity of the informant. It would not be an official from the Ministry of Information or an informant himself. There’s no reason for that, and including them would make the story too complicated. The first is to calmly narrow down the candidate pool using assumptions and elimination.
“…….”
The most suspicious suspect is a disturbing organization that may also be using infiltrators.
“Will you accept the offer?”
“It’s kind of a game.”
“Depending on your point of view, you might see it that way.”
“Okay, Beatrix.”
I will gladly respond.
Until you return, I will identify and find not only the infiltrators but also the disquieting organization.
I will find it and deal with it my way.
I will not condemn you to death unconditionally without thinking about the seriousness like you, but I will judge you in my own way and give you an appropriate punishment.
“I will accept it.”
You’d think this was fair game. Absolutely not. Even if the cost of losing is the same, the reward of winning will be more than you can imagine.
“Great.”
I will not only stop your purges, but I will also get my hands on the intelligence service. In this way, I will secure your movement outside the official residence and take a step forward toward your death.
Even if you have to endure many humiliations and failures in the process.
“I look forward to your performance.”
Saxony, a street that shouldn’t exist.
“I hope, Jungwoo.”
I’ll have to look there.
“I wish you a good night.”
Even at the cost of one’s life
