喵绅HCMOIC士网页版

Chapter 37

Chapter 37

“….”

Sitting on the bed, I stare out the window at the commotion.

Despite the events of yesterday, the festival was proceeding smoothly.

Of course, the Academy wasn’t simply ignoring the situation.

The administrative department even considered halting the autumn festival immediately due to the recent incidents.

They deemed it risky to continue as planned after such occurrences.

However, it could be precisely what the sneaky Kanfra agents wanted.

By preventing their plans, the Empire needed to demonstrate its resilience.

With such opinions, the decision was made to proceed with the festival as usual.

What do I think? It’ll be fine. There’s no other choice.

In reality, there was a good reason why fewer Special Forces personnel were deployed yesterday.

While the Kanfra agents were focusing on the Academy, the Special Forces launched surprise attacks on suspected Kanfra hideouts. They simultaneously raided over a dozen locations.

As a result, most of the Kanfra leadership, who had dared to establish themselves in the Empire, could be captured.

They probably didn’t anticipate such swift and simultaneous strikes.

In other words, the Special Forces had handled their job exceptionally well.

“‘Some of them managed to escape, but they’ll likely be caught soon.”

Was this the operation where you come back home only to find your house gone? Either way, those who were targeting my first festival were quickly dealt with.

‘A few got away, but they’ll be caught sooner or later.’

So this is Operation “I looked elsewhere and my house is gone!”?

In any case, there are no more of those who were after my first festival for now.

“I’m sorry, sir. Sergeant Karl Adelheit. It’s obviously our mistake.”

In the morning, the Deputy Minister of Special Affairs himself came by to apologize.

Their mistake? They had inadvertently missed a Kanfra member, causing the disturbance.

Taking responsibility for the mishap caused by field operatives, they promised to bear the consequences. They hoped for leniency, and I extended my hand in agreement.

Who would have expected it? Even I felt completely powerless in the face of such events.

The smoke grenades the Kanfra had prepared—or should I say CS grenades?

[PR/N: CS grenades/gas – Type of tear gas used for riot control and crowd dispersal.]

The moment you inhale them, anyone would be forced to retreat. It’s a devilish item.

I don’t know how these bastards managed to develop such a thing.

If they used it on the battlefield… it would be quite a headache for the Imperial Army.

Fortunately, it turned out that they had relatively few of these items.

They quickly dissipated, allowing us to pursue them immediately. It seemed like they didn’t have enough in stock.

“Don’t bother apologizing, this is something I volunteered for anyway.”

“Still….”

“The Ministry did enough to wipe out their base, so don’t do it. If you’re sorry, please see to it that nothing else happens during the festival.”

The vice minister agreed, promised to do just that, and left.

And sure enough, less than an hour later, special forces agents began to be secretly deployed.

At the slightest hint of suspicion, they were ready to step in.

More importantly, why am I lying on the bed? I’m not even injured.

It felt a bit unfair to be treated as a patient when I’m perfectly fine.

…Ah, no. I was injured, actually. When I pulled out the Kanfra dagger, my hand got a bit cut.

But this was a minor injury that could easily be healed with healing magic.

Despite the expense of healing magic, I am a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

I am qualified to receive such treatment anywhere. It can be done immediately if needed.

Yet, here I am, playing the role of a patient—

“Karl, may I come in?”

Just in time. That’s the reason.

When I agreed to her entry, the door opened cautiously, and Selena peeked in.

In her hands, she had ointment for the wound, alcohol for disinfection, cotton, and bandages.

Right. Because of Selena. Well, it’s more accurate to say she wanted to tend to my wound.

At first, I was going to refuse. I’m sure it’ll heal with a little magic.

Then we’d have to go out together and check out the food booth that was almost a mess.

But Selena insisted on tending to my wound herself.

It seemed like she had been quite shocked when I confronted the Kanfra.

Maybe she wants me to calm down a bit.

‘…Selena would have been quite surprised. She was shook as fuck.’

It wasn’t a scene fit for a typical noble lady. No, even as a person, it’s better not to see such things in one’s lifetime.

Honestly, even I, upon reflection, got overly excited and nearly caused trouble.

When I saw the guy holding a dagger and the wound on Selena’s arm, scenes that I had seen many times on the battlefield flooded my mind.

After that, I don’t exactly know what happened. When I came to my senses, Selena was trying to stop me.

Was this what they meant by ‘something snapped’?

“Give me your hand.”

“It’s fine. I’ve been wounded like this hundreds of times on the battlefield….”

“Give me your hand. Karl”

I didn’t think she was going to back down so easily, so I held out my hand obediently.

Unlike Selena’s white and fair hands, I’m a little embarrassed at how rough and ragged mine are.

How many times have I washed my hands? I’d have to wipe them ten times if they were bloody.

“Good. I don’t think I need to disinfect it anymore. I just need to put some medicine on it and bandage it.”

Quietly, she spread the medicine on the wound and wrapped a clean bandage around my hand.

I wondered how I was going to help her with the booth, but I decided to suck it up.

I could already see what Selena’s response would be if I said it here.

“…The four of you in the cooking booth are doing a great job.”

I wonder if she even realized what I was saying, but Selena’s face lit up.

“Yes, it happened yesterday, but the four of them managed to cover it up, and since then they’ve been taking turns doing silly acts, and the snacks they’re selling have been pretty popular.”

“Good to hear.”

“Yeah. Good, so the other students won’t be gossiping about you, Karl.”

“I’ll have to thank them later.”

“I should be the one thanking you. If it weren’t for you, Karl, We’d be selling weird stuff.”

Mmm. That’s true. Probably would’ve made it to the front page of the school newspaper, after the festival.

The Academy Four. Attempting to sacrifice demonic vomit at the festival! Like this.

“Done.”

I repeatedly clenched and unclenched my fist. The bandage was applied quite well.

For a noble lady, you’re remarkably skilled, as if you learned professionally somewhere.

“I learned from my brother. And I got used to it because I had to do it for my brother.”

Come to think of it, her brother was also in the army. That makes sense.

After expressing my gratitude to Selena, I was about to start moving, but then she spoke up after a brief silence.

“Karl.”

Selena, who had been sitting quietly beside me, finally spoke.

“There’s something my brother used to say. To a brother who returned from war, who seemed to have changed a lot.”

“What do you mean…?”

“It’s okay, Karl. It’s not your fault. You did your best.”

For a moment, my body trembled, my chest heaving, my heart racing.

Those words, ‘It’s okay,’ and then… that it wasn’t my fault.

And… that I did my best, something I couldn’t even do for myself.

“Sometimes, I heard him sobbing in the garden late at night. When I went to check, he was crying. A person who used to be so strong, occasionally broke down like that after returning from the war.”

“…”

“At first, I didn’t know why. But then, I found out by chance. From my brother, who muttered some people’s names and apologized while he was half asleep in the carriage.”

I don’t exactly know what happened to her brother.

But, I understand. Everyone who participated in that brutal war must be carrying scars.

Perhaps it was a curse they had to bear even until their last breath.

“I used to comfort him by patting his back and saying those words. ‘It’s okay. Whatever happened at that time… it was none of your fault. And he was grateful every time.”

“…”

“The same goes for you, Karl. It’s okay. You did your best. It’s not like you didn’t do anything, It’s not your fault. There’s nothing to blame you for.”

Selena slowly gets up from her seat. She suggests resting a bit more and meeting in the afternoon.

As she’s about to turn away, I find myself grabbing her without realizing it.

“…Really.”

And then, before reason could stop me, my mouth moves on its own.

“Really, is it okay? Is it… not… my fault?”

Whether it was the Medal of Honor or not, that rescue from that day. Selena’s brother and his unit survived. But my squadmates, who were barely rescued, all perished in the next battle.

This time, I couldn’t save them. I survived, but those bastards died without even experiencing the hardship of being rescued.

They said it wasn’t my fault. Forget about the dead and find a way to survive, they said.

If you get weak, you’ll die. Don’t I have to survive too? They shook me violently like that.

It would have been better if I had some certainty. Really, I hoped they didn’t die because of me.

Not knowing made it even more terrifying. I couldn’t help but constantly question myself.

If I had gone sooner, maybe they would have lived.

“Yes. Karl.”

Because I wasn’t sure. No. No… because I was scared. So I couldn’t give myself the answer.

That it wasn’t my fault. That I really did my best. That they wouldn’t blame me for it.

Those words, as Selena stroked my head with a gentle smile, comforting me.

“Because you did your best. You tried. And thank you.”