Chapter 4 : The end of the war

Hua.

Sweet.

A hazy smoke shot out from my mouth.

The smoothness as it went down was truly exquisite.

I endured my hunger by sucking on the symbol of victory.

I didn’t skip eating, though.

“…Ugh, dizzy.”

I was low on blood.

As long as I couldn’t absorb nutrients, food was nothing more than waste entering my body.

It’s already been four days since I came from the front to the rear for the banquet.

If I don’t head back to the battlefield soon, it will become dangerous.

…Damn, if only I had drunk blood on time.

Would my body have grown a bit more?

I looked at my plain body.

My height was too ambiguous for a soldier who runs through the battlefield.

My body was incredibly weak, though I wasn’t too skinny, maybe due to the system’s involvement.

“…I guess I have the luxury of thinking like this because I’m still alive.”

I chuckled softly and started preparing to return to the battlefield.

“I don’t want to starve to death.”

I pressed the short cigarette down in the ashtray.

The cigarette hissed and went out.

I pulled out a new one and lit it.

“Hua………….”

Right now, I can’t survive without cigarettes.

I’m so hungry that I need to hold onto this at least.

In such a situation, eating food would only make the hunger worse.

Fasting is actually better.

At that moment, as I was puffing out cigarette smoke…

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door of my office.

For a moment, I thought about putting my legs down from the table, but…

‘…Eh, never mind.’

Feeling lazy, I just adjusted my cap.

“…Come in.”

As I said that, a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes entered my office, smiling brightly.

“Greetings…!”

“Kriha, what’s the matter?”

“Didn’t you say you were going to quit smoking?”

“…Not this again.”

Kriha.

She had been a loyal member of my squad since I was a platoon leader.

I dragged her around here and there, but she never complained.

Though, there was a part of her that worried about me a little too much.

“…Really, how many times do I have to tell you this is bad for your health?”

“Kriha, Lieutenant, stop worrying about it and just tell me your business.”

I said, making a grumpy face.

Kriha then started asking for a salute.

“…Just say it. Let’s assume you’re guilty of making me quit smoking.”

“Sir… please…”

“…Huh?”

“Ugh…!”

Anyway, she was definitely crazy.

“…Even as a lieutenant, do you still treat me like a private?”

“How long do you think I need to keep watching your back, officer?”

I got up from my chair and blew out cigarette smoke next to the lieutenant who had bent over.

“CHEF.”

“I’m sorry…!!”

This is the problem with Kriha.

Whenever she sees me, she always says how cute I am and loses her discipline.

Back when she was a corporal, she used to call me “Yosa” when I became the Major, and she really got beaten to dust for it.

Of course, that habit never changed.

“…It’s a miracle that you even got a promotion.”

Such a foolish golden retriever also has a rank.

A mad hunting dog of the Black Sword.

For reference, I am the Black Sword.

I got the nickname because I was running around with a sword in a place full of bullets and magic.

“Excuse me.”

I said as I sat on top of Kriha, who was still bowing her head.

“Ugh………….”

“Get your posture straight or you’ll get 10 lashes.”

If you lose discipline on the battlefield, it means only one thing—death.

I hope she realizes she’s a lieutenant.

“…So, what’s your business?”

I said, blowing out cigarette smoke.

Then Kriha opened her mouth.

“…Tell them it’s impossible.”

The young lady from the family has requested an interview… Behamunt.

“But this is already the fifth time you’ve refused.”

…The war is nearing its end, and I need to gather as much blood as I can, but these nobles just won’t leave me alone.

It was a mistake to inject some heroism into that failing family.

“Tell them I’ll go next time.”

“…Answer me.”

“Yes, understood…!”

Kriha’s legs were trembling slightly as if she were getting exhausted.

15 minutes was quite a long time to endure.

I jumped off Kriha, and she collapsed on the floor with a thud.

“Tomorrow, I’m returning to the battlefield.”

“Huh? But the banquet isn’t over yet.”

If I wait any longer, I’ll probably die.

But I couldn’t say that, so I just narrowed my eyes and said,

“…Do you think the vampires will wait for us?”

“While you were busy flattering those old pigs, your company is crossing the front lines.”

“…You need to hurry and return.”

I said, and as I placed the cigarette in my mouth, Kriha jumped up and saluted.

“Go.”

“Yes!”

I smirked and stuck a cigarette into Kriha’s chest.

“…Sir? I don’t smoke.”

“Give it to him. He’ll like it.”

“Captain Kyle and I decided to quit smoking until we get married.”

Hearing the death flag, I clicked my tongue and glared at Kriha.

“…Didn’t I tell you not to talk about marriage in front of me?”

“Ah… sorry, sorry.”

“Forget it, get out.”

I said, kicking Kriha’s butt.

The silence returned to my office.

I looked at the rainy view outside.

Drip, drip.

I gazed at the cloudy sky.

“…Now, the story I don’t know begins.”

I’ve removed all threats.

I’ve gotten close with the nobles and have solid connections with the royal family.

‘…Erik.’

I even put a leash on the most unstable wild dog.

I’m ready to enter a story I don’t know.

When I close my eyes and open them again, I will face the ending of Glovik 1.

In this world, I will erase all history of the Vampire Kingdom.

“…The last vampire.”

“Not bad.”

I muttered, then tried to sleep to forget my hunger.

Of course, I couldn’t fall into a deep sleep.

‘…Sir.’

“…Ah, Kyle.”

“The carriage is ready.”

Kyle, a man with red hair and a scar on his left eye, spoke to me with an indifferent expression.

“Did you get it?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Kyle said thank you with an expressionless face.

I yawned as I looked at Kyle.

“…Sir, with all due respect, you seem to have lost more weight.”

“…Captain Kyle, since when have you been paying such close attention to my body?”

“I’m sorry. I just… I’m concerned.”

Kyle, maintaining a parade rest without meeting my eyes, said that.

“…Mind your own business.”

I answered a bit irritably and felt a headache coming on.

My vision started to spin.

“…Haa… Let me go.”

“Yes.”

Breathing was difficult.

I had to return to the battlefield quickly.

I checked the time.

‘…Did I sleep for an hour and a half?’

An hour and a half—too short for a deep sleep.

But after five years on the battlefield,

I’ve gotten used to surviving on naps.

“Let’s go, my other self.”

I murmured as I picked up my black sword.

A pitch-black sword made especially for me.

Despite its size, similar to my body, it’s extremely light.

Just slightly heavier than the mop I hit Erik’s head with last time.

I opened the bottom of the hilt that fit perfectly in my hand.

Inside was blood—maybe about 50ml.

It’s been over a week, so it’s not in good condition.

“Urgh..!”

I dropped the blood on my tongue and swallowed it, suppressing nausea.

Fresh blood is the worst.

But old blood—

The taste is utterly disgusting.

It’s fishy, bitter, and reeks of rot.

Revolting—utterly revolting.

Still, blood is blood. The hunger started to subside.

Soon after, the nausea faded, and a sense of calm began to settle in.

Only then could I eat something simple.

‘I need to eat quickly and get going.’

Even so, the small amount of blood won’t digest much.

But it’s enough to hold on until I reach the battlefield.

Thanks to my small body, I have decent energy efficiency.

“It’s delicious…………”

The sandwich I put in my mouth after a whole day tasted so good I almost cried.

I saw my reflection in the mirror—crying over a single sandwich.

A fragile-looking girl.

Seeing that, I muttered,

“Damn it.”

We arrived at the battlefield in less than a day after departure.

“Major..!!”

A woman with gray hair and golden eyes came running to me the moment we arrived.

“Salute.”

“…Salute. Captain Jenny, start the briefing.”

Jenny, who had taken command while I was away at the fortress, began the situation briefing.

“Currently, due to your absence, the soldiers’ morale has dropped significantly.”

“With the commander gone, we halted the advance and focused only on defense, so the troops are physically at their limit.”

“They are resting now, but…”

“It seems the defensive line will collapse soon.”

A more desperate report than I had expected.

I crushed the cigarette I was smoking.

“…Haa… This is why you can’t trust those damn pigs…”

It’s not a big problem.

Morale can be raised.

And the more sacrifices, the better for me.

“…The operation will proceed.”

After saying that, I picked up a megaphone and headed to the trench on the front line, where shells were falling.

BOOM!!!!

BANG!!!!!

Soldiers trembled as bombs dropped nearby.

They were already at their mental limit.

But they’re soldiers.

Soldiers must charge when ordered.

So, at the very least—

I must take away their fear.

The magic stone in the megaphone reacted to my magic and glowed red.

[Soldiers!]

[The Empire wants your lives!]

[They wish to drive out those filthy vampires using your lives!]

It must be infuriating—surviving this long,

Only to watch comrades die while the higher-ups drink.

[The pigs of the Empire want your sacrifice!]

[So, will you die here for them?]

The battlefield grew cold.

Looking over it, I shouted—

[No!! Survive, and prove it!]

[Prove that your life is noble, that your life feeds those pigs!]

[Soldiers! Shout it out!]

[Let the vampires know—we will set history right!]

[Respond to the deaths of our comrades with victory!]

[To the fallen, grant glory through victory!]

[Grant honor! Give their deaths true meaning!]

[Be enraged!] Soldiers!

[Charge!] Soldiers!

[End this!] Soldiers!

[All troops! Raise your swords and guns!]

Right after saying that, I was the first to charge at the enemy, sword in hand.

-WAAAAAHHH!!!

-For the Empire!!!!

-Dirty vampires!!!

-Exterminate the bloodsuckers!!!

With booming shouts, my troops began to charge after me.

There will be heavy casualties in this operation.

But we will win.

‘…Because I will make sure their deaths are not in vain.’

I will make sure their deaths mean something.

That is the only atonement I can offer for the soldiers I’ve killed with my own hands.