Chapter 10 : Command

In the office beneath the bunker, Erik picked up the receiver.

A telephone directly connected to the Imperial Palace.

The voice of the Emperor came through from the other end.

[Is Valentine safe? Nothing has happened to the Major, right?]

“Nothing happened, Your Majesty.”

Erik answered, frowning.

That damn Valentine. He already knew she was close to the Emperor, but to check on her right after an air raid?

Feeling the familiar disgust rising, Erik braced himself for the Emperor’s orders.

[…From this moment, we will declare war against the Republic Alliance.]

“…!!”

[Major?]

“A declaration of war…you say…?”

[Yes. For the Empire that has fought against the vampires for the sake of humanity to be treated like this… Clearly, the other nations coordinated this in advance.]

Indeed, the air raid from the Republic of Baharental had been executed with near-perfect precision, as if prepared beforehand.

And right after the raid, the Prime Minister’s declaration echoed across the continent.

[‘We must defend freedom and bring liberation to all those oppressed in the Empire.’]

The Emperor muttered the Prime Minister’s words in a voice seething with rage.

“…Ridiculous.”

[Lieutenant Colonel, I expect you to follow the orders I give. You remember them, don’t you?]

“Operate a new small unit alongside Major Valentine………….”

[We need a unit that can function with just you and her.]

The Emperor continued, saying it was fine even if it was just for show.

[…I, as Emperor, know better than anyone that the two of you don’t get along, so I won’t force it.]

[However, what the Empire needs right now is a symbol of justice. Heroes with an image comparable to mine.]

[As always, I believe you will do well.]

With that, the Emperor hung up.

“…Valentine.”

In the dark office where the lights flickered, Erik clenched his teeth.

Looking at his reflection, he saw a man helpless against the vampire he despised.

Watching his country being controlled by vampires, and unable to do anything about it, he stared at himself in the mirror.

“…Who are you to feel pity? Is there anyone who isn’t miserable in a war like this?”

He approached the mirror and spoke to himself.

“No, there isn’t. I just hate that vampire bitch with every fiber of my being.”

With those words, Erik pressed his military cap firmly down.

The shadow of the cap darkened his expression.

“…Valentine.”

Muttering her name again, Erik clenched his fist tightly and vowed,

“Someday… someday, without fail………….”

After leaving the shelter, we immediately began the relief operations.

“Move it! Move it!! Would you still crawl like slugs if your family were trapped under there?!”

Wearing a poncho and scowling, I shouted at them.

Only then did the soldiers respond with a loud “No, sir!” and scramble into action.

It was horrifying. The bombers were already gone, but the aftermath was the real problem.

“Uugh….”

“Please… save me…”

“Aaagh! My leg! My leg!!”

“Medic!! Bring morphine!!”

The rain fell in a steady drizzle, washing away the blood of the soldiers — along with their lives.

“…He’s already cold. Pulse?”

“…None.”

“Take his dog tags. Retrieve the body and make sure his family gets it.”

Saying this, I closed the eyes of the soldier who had died with his eyes wide open.

In some places, body parts were scattered.

The training grounds were particularly horrific.

Soldiers crawling after losing both legs, others vomiting blood from holes torn through their abdomens.

“…If only the Magical Medical Corps could help.”

I muttered to myself as I lit a cigarette.

The Magical Medical Corps.

A special unit composed of soldiers specialized in healing magic, unlike the regular medical corps.

But they were few in number, and you needed to be at least a Captain to receive treatment.

Because healing magic puts a huge strain on the caster, regular soldiers couldn’t use it.

That’s why so many died so meaninglessly today.

“…What’s the point of all this?”

What meaning could there be in any of this?

In a war between humans, what possible purpose could there be?

Ideology, money, religion, power.

For all those things, people who might have been friends were now at each other’s throats.

And the ones who started this war?

They still sit at political tables, enjoying tea parties.

Traveling between the front lines and the homeland during this war, the only thing I felt was disgust.

‘At the front, everyone dies. In the slums, people starve because there’s no food.’

So why do the nobles’ banquet tables get more extravagant by the day?

“…What meaning does any of this have?”

As if he was thinking the same thing, Kyle, who had come up beside me at some point, asked me.

I wanted to sympathize. But instead—

“Don’t think about it.”

“…

“Captain, you are a soldier.”

“…Yes, sir.”

“Then abandon thought.”

We are soldiers.

Soldiers loyal to the Empire — to those filthy pigs.

That means we’re not like the conscripts who died here today.

“When I call them filthy pigs, I hope you don’t truly believe that’s all they are.”

“……”

“Because it will cost you your life.”

“Understood.”

A soldier simply follows orders.

No thinking. No questioning. Only loyalty to the Emperor.

That was the absolute rule of the Imperial Army.

“Want a smoke?”

“Thank you.”

I lit a cigarette for Kyle, who had just received one.

He lowered his head for a long moment.

‘I wish I were a bit taller.’

I thought as I let out a sigh.

The rain keeps pouring without a hint of stopping.

My small body is slowly growing colder.

“…There’s no point in continuing the rescue operation.”

“Yes, too much time has passed.”

It’s unfortunate for the soldiers who are still alive, but the rescue must end here.

When someone’s body temperature drops from blood loss in this relentless rain, they are already as good as dead.

I can’t risk soaking the healthy ones to save those already lost.

‘Regrettable, but…this is the end.’

With that thought, I gave my command.

“All units!! End the rescue operation! Release your guilt!”

I spoke with a firm tone.

“From now on, those begging to be saved are all drowned spirits! Monsters trying to drag their comrades down for their own greed!”

It pains my heart.

To abandon my loyal subordinates.

“Release your guilt, you are not murderers!”

As I said this, I resolved to carry the burden of all their sins.

“…Even if they’re alive, just collect their dog tags and move out! We don’t know when the bombardment will start again! Move quickly!”

“The war has already begun! Hurry, hurry!”

It is unbearably painful to order my subordinates to leave their comrades to die.

This is why one must discard their emotions.

In the brutal chaos of war, emotions are nothing but a hindrance.

“All companies, return to base immediately!”

After giving my orders, I watched the soldiers move with disciplined precision.

“Captain, you should return as well.”

“Aren’t you coming back, Major?”

Kyle asked me, catching me slightly off guard.

After all, I had plans for a meal soon.

‘…I need to replenish before the effect of Erik’s blood wears off…’

As soon as I realized that Kyle, Kriha, and Jenny had all survived this air raid, I felt a small flicker of hunger.

Though I didn’t show it on the outside.

Though the guilt kept me from confronting that hunger directly.

Now, starvation felt horrifying.

“…I’ll finish collecting the dog tags.”

Though I was momentarily shaken, I managed to maintain my composure.

Kyle saluted me in acknowledgment.

Will there come a day when I drink Kyle’s blood as well?

For a moment, Kyle’s face overlapped with Berman’s in my mind.

‘…I feel nauseous.’

My stomach churns, deeply nauseated.

I know better than anyone how revolting I am.

Yet I cannot stop this wretched impulse that makes me a monster.

As I watched Kyle walk away, I pulled my hat low and stared at the ground.

I couldn’t tell if the moisture on my cheeks was rain or tears.

Or perhaps, I just didn’t want to know.

Whether I was mourning or not, I simply didn’t want to see it.

So, I trudged through the piles of corpses.

“Ugh!!”

“Bleh!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

‘…Ugh!!’

“I mustn’t vomit…”

I managed to keep the blood down.

Which only meant I had to drink more.

Even if my tears mixed with the rain, they would never reach those fallen soldiers.

When I finally finished drinking, when I felt I couldn’t take another drop,

I found myself holding around 15 dog tags.

“…I need to head back.”

As I wrapped my freezing body and started walking,

“Valentine.”

“…!!”

A voice called from behind me.

“…Tch, still indulging in your vile habits?”

“…Yes, sir.”

Erik.

Damn Erik, scowling at me as he approached.

‘…I know, I know all too well how revolting I am… So please, just stop…’

I screamed silently within, but my face remained emotionless.

Erik stared down at me for a long while.

“…Won’t you return my salute?”

When I spoke up, looking up at him, he tossed a blanket at me.

“…Don’t die before I get the chance to kill you. Once this war ends, your life is mine.”

His face twisted with a complex expression.

He added one final line.

“This is an order.”

I just stared at him, dumbfounded.