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“Yes. What brings you here?”

“Lieutenant Pippin told me that the Major has awakened.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Why did you change your clothes?”

“I got a bit of soot on me.”

“…Shall we take a walk for a bit?”

—

Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

Out of the blue, Camila Lowell took me to the rooftop of the building.

It was a place where the city lights could be seen, and the stars in the high sky were radiant.

She was dressed neatly, while I was in dull military garb. She handed me a drink, and I graciously accepted it as I sat down.

Thus, a civilian and a soldier sat face to face on a rooftop bench.

“Are you feeling any better?”

“Yes. I’m feeling a bit better now….”

Camila Lowell nodded. As she moved, her scarlet hair cascaded down past her shoulders, lightly covering her face. Her expression looked quite dark.

“I’m sorry that you’re worried about what happened this time.”

She didn’t respond.

As the colonel said, it’s unsettling to suffer far from home. But what must it be like to experience a bombing in another world?

“Aren’t you angry?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m asking if you’re not angry. Usually, when something like this happens, people go from dazed to suddenly furious. It’s as if they feel wronged, you know?”

“You seem familiar with this… Major.”

Indeed, I was. This place often had bombs go off if it wasn’t careful. Of course, today was the first time I faced terrorism directly.

“This is the first time I’ve experienced it today, too.”

“But you seem so calm about it?”

“I must have seen bombs going off in my past life.”

Camila Lowell sighed as she sipped her orange drink.

Currently, her demeanor contrasted starkly with her previously lively self during official duties. Only subtle changes were visible: the tone of her voice, the pitch, the movement of her facial muscles, and the state of her pupils. She looked quite troubled.

“I heard there were guns here, but I didn’t expect there would be bombs too.”

She seemed quite confused. Now that I think about it, I recall occasional bombings in Europe. It appears Camila Lowell, who lived in England, is unfamiliar with such terror.

Anyway, I should set those thoughts aside for now and check on the state of the hero.

“Why did you come to see me?”

“Just. Just to see if you were okay….”

“Thankfully, there are no injuries. I was far from the blast zone.”

“It seems you fell… What happened?”

Should I tell the truth or keep it a secret?

Given how eye-catching that situation was, I felt any lies would be quickly revealed. So I confessed the truth.

“I was attacked by a mysterious thug. No injuries, just surprised and fell when he suddenly passed by.”

“I see… I’m glad to hear that.”

Camila Lowell tried to hide her true feelings, being cautious in her words and actions. But I could clearly read her mind.

She was anxious right now.

I played with my thoughts, calculating the benefits I could gain by winning her favor: gaining her goodwill, the information I could obtain through her, and my assigned tasks.

After considering these various points, I thought it might be helpful to win her favor. But I didn’t know what to say. I was someone who reads and analyzes information, not a person skilled in comforting and empathizing with others. The communication skills I learned haphazardly weren’t helping me in this crucial moment.

Suddenly, she pointed to my chest while looking down.

“What’s that medal for?”

She was pointing to my medal.

“This? I received it while on the front lines.”

“For what reason?”

“For killing a lot of people.”

If I said that, I’d probably be labeled a madman, so I phrased it differently.

“Just. They said it was for fighting well.”

“You did a good thing. That’s patriotic, right? My father was also a soldier, and we had medals at home….”

I didn’t know that. I was surprised to hear her father was a soldier and that there were medals at home. She seemed to be concealing quite a bit from me. I needed to find a way to learn more. While I was pondering this, she smiled sadly, tilting her head.

“My dad always said… protecting the country is a good thing….”

Well, that’s a tough one.

I wasn’t someone who loved the kingdom, so calling myself a patriot was difficult.

And since I wasn’t loyal to the king either, calling myself a loyal subject was out of the question.

The country to which I devoted my life and truly loved no longer existed in this world.

So I was neither a loyal subject nor a patriot, merely an ambiguous individual.

In the end, because I didn’t think of myself as a patriot, what came out of my mouth was neither affirmation nor denial—just vague words.

“I see.”

“Major.”

She called me softly, her voice carrying a hint of sorrow.

“…Am I truly a hero?”

A deep sadness, an uncontrollable tremor escaped her lips.

It didn’t seem like a simple question. Hence, I couldn’t simply respond.

She turned to me, urging me for an answer, but I didn’t reply. I couldn’t.

Looking into her blue eyes visible between her scarlet hair, I felt no thoughts arise.

I could only utter words that lacked sincerity, as if merely stating a fact.

“Yes.”

—

“- That’s how it went.”

After finishing a lengthy report, I quenched my thirst with the drink Camila Lowell had handed me earlier.

-‘It seems the hero has quite a burden of concern.’

“Well, it was a bomb right in front of me. I can’t sleep soundly for a while.”

As I muttered wryly, I looked over the city lights. Perhaps due to the terror, the atmosphere in the downtown area was quite grim.

-‘Are you alright, Major? You weren’t caught up in it, were you?’

“The psychological shock from being attacked is greater than the bomb I saw just before fainting.”

-‘I see. According to my report, there were no casualties. Is that correct?’

The casualties the colonel was referring to weren’t civilians caught up in the terror either.

“There are no casualties. However, considering my subordinates’ conditions, it would be wise to temporarily relieve them from duty and let them rest.”

-‘I’ll accept that call from the field commander.’

“Thank you, Colonel.”

-‘For the time being, I plan to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and clear the schedule for three days. Let the agents know. You should take it easy and not think too hard.’

“Can that really be done? We need to find the terrorists, monitor Lucia’s movements, and also meet with foreign ambassadors. Isn’t there a lot to do? My original duties are still there, you know?”

I could hear a sigh from the other end of the communication device. He seemed exasperated.

-‘That’s something the other agents can handle. Why do you feel it’s your responsibility?’

“To create more burden out of embarrassment is worse than overexertion. If I leave the work and come back, won’t I get slammed by the seniors? I have to think about my knee joints too.”

-‘You really are a stubborn one.’

“Can a person change that easily? Anyway, just let me return to work.”

Though I might seem a bit rude, considering my years serving the colonel, I thought this level of a tantrum was acceptable.

-‘This is your choice, so don’t complain later. Tomorrow morning, I’ll send over the cult-related materials.’

“Thank you, Colonel.”

-‘The election-related information isn’t finished being analyzed yet. I’ll only send over the material related to this terror for now.’

“Understood. Should I pass it on to the Inquisition by tomorrow?”

The colonel fell into a rare silence, lost in thought.

-‘Hmm? The Inquisition. They’re certainly reliable. Do you have any other plans?’

“Then I can either go to the Inquisition and pass it directly, or if need be, I could hand it to the cardinal.”

-‘Go see Cardinal Raphael instead of Cardinal Raul. He used to be the one dealing with heretics.’

I didn’t know that.

That kindly old man next door was once someone who dealt with people in the past? He fits well within this dark fantasy backdrop.

“Oh, and may I ask for one more favor?”

-‘Go ahead.’

“I need a few experts in psychology sent to the embassy.”

-‘Psycho-warfare agents, huh? Because of the hero and your subordinates, I suppose? There’s indeed someone responsible for psychological operations in that region. I’ll send them to the embassy.’

“Thank you, Colonel!”

Though no one was watching, I bowed my head in gratitude. The line was disconnected with a sigh.

For now, all the urgent concerns were covered.

Pippin, Jake, and Camila Lowell would stay at the embassy for psychological consultation, and I could go about my work outside.

“Hmm.”

The city lights were exceptionally bright. Could there be a terrorist among those moving between those lights?

It was a pointless question, yet no one provided an answer.

This isn’t a warm place that can feed you even if you cry out from hunger. In this world, the thirsty must dig their own wells.

The answer must be sought personally from this point onward.

—

“Hey, hey. It’s fine, so just go in already.”

A tussle was unfolding in front of the embassy. The Knights stationed as guards were watching us with strange looks.

“Major! Please don’t do this. Why do we have to hang around the embassy?”

“Shut up! Just be quiet, will you?”

The blonde tanned punk in military garb was throwing a tantrum like a child who ended up at the dentist after following his mom for a pork cutlet.

I felt the gazes prick my face, making me embarrassed. What an international disgrace this is.

“Hey, you fool. Just quietly follow along.”

“Ah, ah, ah. Please don’t pull on Pippin’s ears!”

“Shut up, idiot.”

Pippin whispered curses at Jake, pulling him inside. It was terrifying. A punk being dragged around by someone much smaller than him. What a dreadful reality this is. Einstein would probably be shocked to see this.

As I awkwardly exchanged greetings with the Knights at the embassy, Camila Lowell quietly approached, watching the whole situation.

“Major.”

“Oh, what is it, Camila?”

“I heard all engagements were canceled to rest at the embassy this morning. Aren’t you resting?”

“Yes. I just have some work to do. I’ll be out for a moment, so please go in and rest first.”

She tilted her head, seeming a bit uneasy, before entering the embassy.

As the door closed softly, her scarlet hair swayed left and right, and I exchanged glances with the suspicious Suit Man following her.

I stood there blankly, staring at the closed door, feeling the texture of the paper I held in my pocket before turning away.

It’s time to get to work now.

“Excuse me, Knight.”

“Yes, how can I help you?”

“Where is the Inquisition located?”

 

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