Published at 25th of March 2019 11:09 pm

Chapter 87: A complicated victory

I reunited with guys I’ve missed, and we won the war.

We should be spreading our happiness with smiles…………… but we couldn’t do that.

“Velt. You should not forget this scene.” (Forna)

“This, how, how many people are there?” (Velt)

After enjoying my reunion with Forna, she made a serious face after some time and returned to the capital while pulling my hand.

Taken by Forna, who just silently headed to the centre of the capital from midway, we reached the plaza, where I became speechless.

Other than the huge water fountain established in the middle, it’s a completely open area.

However, seeing all the stretched out people filling up that plaza took my breath away.

“Uu-, sheet, sheet, sheet!”

“Liar! You promised me that we would graduate together! You, liar!”

“Uoooo, why! Why! Why did you have to die!”

“Hic, he, he protected me, and instead of me…… I was the one that was supposed to die!”

There are hundreds of sobbing, new soldiers. In front of my eyes, all I see are people next to the remains of new soldiers whose bodies tragically became only a shadow of their former selves.

“Humanity won, right?” (Velt)

“Yes, we won. Due to their sacrifices.” (Forna)

“How many of them are there?” (Velt)

“There were around six hundred victims. We had this war result against a regular army of one of the Seven Great Demon King armies, despite our army being mostly configured of new soldiers. By tomorrow, the news of humanity’s great victory should spread throughout the Humanity Continent.” (Forna)

A great victory with six hundred victims?

In other words, the number of students in a whole high school died today.

“Although there are people whose bodies were played with by the cyclopes to the extent that not even any remains were left behind, I do not think it will take much time for the collation of the people that died in action.” (Forna)

Forna indifferently talks while grasping my hand. Her eyes were straightforward, without any waver.

This might be something natural to her.

She’s not the woman that was crying in my arms so much from just before.

This is probably the face of humanity’s great allied forces’ Golden Comet, Forna.

“Don’t think that the princess and we don’t care about it just because of that.” (Barts)

“This is the world that we are in right now.” (Shalt)

At that time, a voice called out to us from the back.

As I turn around, I see Barts and Shalt.

Shalt doesn’t seem to have many injuries, but Barts has bandages wrapped all around his body and it looks pretty bad.

“Barts, Shalt. Well done. You two have left behind outstanding achievements in this battle. It would not be an exaggeration to say that you both contributed to our victory, as Barts defeated a powerful general in the enemy army and Shalt splendidly led the army after the general’s death. I am looking forward to the medal awarding.” (Forna)

Medal, huh. So there really is stuff like that.

Well, without something like that, some people might not even know what they’re fighting for after all.

“Velt, you’re getting one too. No, you guys, including the prince, will get one.” (Barts)

“Hah?” (Velt)

“You appeared in an unfavourable situation for humanity’s great allied forces, splendidly regained the army’s morale and overturned the war situation with your power. Above all, you even captured the mastermind villain, Mackey Mouse, in a one to one fight. You won’t get a status raise since you’re not a soldier, but your reward will definitely be amazing.” (Barts)

Reward, huh. Well, I’ll take what I can, but I can’t really jump up and down in happiness about it.

There are people mourning for their comrades’ death right in front of me after all.

However, sensing my complicated mental state, Shalt put his hand on my shoulder.

“Barts and I experienced days like today faster than everyone else. We had seniors and officers who helped us, and people that looked after us like siblings. I was told to powerfully salute them off if we lost them, rather than crying, and if tears still come out, then I should drink alcohol with my comrades and cry while smiling.” (Shalt)

“…………… Ho~, a rich, young master like you sure do say some militaristic condolence ways. But can you really keep on going like that?” (Velt)

“Hahaha, Velt…………… there’s no way we can keep on going like that. Growing accustomed to the death of your comrades is not something you can do so easily.” (Shalt)

“Yeah……………” (Velt)

“But you know, Velt. The enemy will still come attacking. We need to attack too. We need to fight too. That will never change unless war completely disappears from this world.” (Shalt)

His eyes are strong. Those are eyes that the weak-ass Shalt from the past couldn’t make.

“So, I cry when I need to cry. But if we gained achievements through my comrades’ sacrifice, then I will be happy about it together with them. And, even if I cry, sinking in sadness today, if the enemy comes again tomorrow, we will swiftly run to battle. That is us, humanity’s great allied forces.” (Shalt)

At that time, I noticed something. They didn’t just become stronger or sturdier.

Not only Forna, but these guys have become bigger than how I remember them to be.

“Keh, this is why I can’t stand these prideful, great elites with strong hearts.” (Shipp)

Once again, someone called out to us. I look back and see my old friends gathered up with worn-out expressions.

“Shipp, huh.” (Velt)

“It’s been a while……… hasn’t it, Velt. Well, I might’ve been laughing like an idiot and high-fiving if it wasn’t this kind of situation.” (Shipp)

A man who’s usually always selfish is making quite a meek face.

It seems he received a considerably big emotional scar in his first battle.

“It’s nice to see you, again.” (Pett)

“I really am glad that you came.” (Chett)

Pett, the daughter of a duke family and her twin brother Chett, who brought us here, gave me a superficial greeting.

“I agree. I didn’t think we would ever be saved by you though. But, really, thank you……… is what I should say.” (Hawk)

“……………… Hmph………” (Hau)

Hawk, the glasses committee chairman who was raised in the church, and Hau, the taciturn cool girl.

“Ggu………………uu, u.” (Sannu)

And Sannu, the high-class, cutest girl in the school who’s always smiling, isn’t saying anything right now and is just crying.

This is everyone.

These are my classmates that skipped a grade five years ago and headed to the empire.

“Hey, Velt. Do you remember Gau and Sea?” (Shipp)

Shipp asks me that. And, I nod. I wasn’t that close with them though.

“They didn’t get brought here. They were killed so cruelly in front of Sannu and me, that there weren’t even any remains of their body.” (Shipp)

“Yeah. I saw the reflection in the sky while coming here.” (Velt)

“Since we’ve become soldiers, it wouldn’t be weird for us to turn out like Gau and Sea. No matter how much we bawl or fall into a trance, as long as we don’t retire or die in action, we have to fight in wars. And yet, Velt. You’re probably going to say you’re not interested or something, and go off somewhere.” (Shipp)

Even though we’re risking our lives for the world, are you just going to run away? It seemed like he was asking me that.

“Come on, Shipp! Even if you say something like that to Velt, there’s nothing you can do about it. The path he took had been different since five years ago.” (Shalt)

“Look, Shalt. Do you still think remarks you made when you were ten years old are still valid? Not to mention the fact that Velt was called a dropout with no talent, and yet is strong enough to defeat Mackey Mouse in a one to one fight. This guy, and prince Farga too.” (Shipp)

These guys might’ve gone to the empire with aspiration in their hearts as kids. However, after studying to be a soldier, learning the reality of being a soldier and the harshness of war, it’s understandable for them not to feel good about Farga and me who live how they want to.

Then, as if clinging onto me, Shipp held my shoulders and shed tears.

“Velt, I’m……… scared! I don’t want to die! Gau and Sea’s last moments keep flickering in my head! I just thought that entering humanity’s great allied forces would make me rich, let me live easily and make me popular with girls……… but I don’t want to fight anymore! I don’t want to see any more of my friends dying anymore!” (Shipp)

No one called him a ‘coward’ after listening to Shipp’s scream-like, crying voice.

It’s because everyone in this place understood those feelings.

“But you know, we……… have no choice but to fight.” (Shipp)

Those were very frail and helpless words.

His heart seemed like it would break into pieces from just a poke.

However, even so, Shipp talked.

“Because I don’t want my mum, dad, and tiny little sister that I haven’t met in five years, to experience something like that………” (Shipp)

By the time I realized it, the guys from my former class and the new soldiers in the plaza were all crying to his words.

These guys all understand.

Even though they’re scared, don’t want to fight and want to run away, they have to fight.

“Keh, I ended up saying something pathetic. Even though there’s no point saying this to you.” (Shipp)

After shouting for a while, Shipp wiped his tears away and made a really fleeting smile.

“Velt……… thanks……… for coming to save us.” (Shipp)

That small thanks pierced my heart greatly.

Why are each and every one of them making such understanding faces………

Even I was moved to tears.

However, since I didn’t want to show my crying face………

“Uooooooo, ryaa!” (Velt)

To not let them see it, I raised a big voice and jumped into the water fountain.

The water in the fountain made a noise and it splashed everywhere.

“Sheet, shiiiiiiit! Ahh, damn it!” (Velt)

I splashed the water everywhere.

My old friends and the new soldiers are all dumbfounded by my strange behaviour.

I threw water on Forna and the others.

“Urya!” (Velt)

“Wai-, Velt! What are you doing at a time like this!” (Shalt)

“You wet me!” (Forna)

As if I care! I continued throwing it everywhere.

And then………

“Uooooo!” (Barts)

“Damn it allll!” (Shipp)

Barts and Shipp ran up too, diving into the water fountain.

“Damn iiiit, we won! They died, but we won!” (Barts)

“Sheet, I’m not going to die! There’s no way I can die! I can’t die for their sake too!” (Shipp)

We just made a racket, kicked up the water in the fountain, hit it and threw it all over everyone.

“You guys, what stupid……… how dare you put it on me! Take this!” (Hawk)

“Guys, you’re all being weird! Aren’t you sad? Sea and Gau got……… uuuuu!” (Sannu)

“That is exactly why……… good grief, playing with water at this age?” (Forna)

“Wait, even princess is……… uu, uwaaaaaan!” (Pett)

“You did it now……… stupid boys.” (Hau)

By the time I realized it, we had all jumped in the water.

This is just bravado? Even so, we’re going to keep making a racket.

“““““Uoooooooooooooooooooo!””””” (Everyone)

Trying to spill out everything they had kept in, we made a racket like idiots and just tried to desperately send our sadness flying. Our tears were hidden by the water.

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