Ch.148End of War (2)

Erich Lohnstein. He was alive. Everyone who knew him was surprised. Tedman was no exception.

Tedman was doubly shocked.

“You slept with my daughter?”

“I have nothing to say.”

“How bold of you to say that.”

After several months, his daughter had changed a lot when they met again. No, it would be more accurate to say she had returned to her original self.

There’s something there.

Now wasn’t the time to worry about Erich and his daughter. He was on official duty.

“We’ll talk later.”

Step.

Tedman took a step forward. As he moved, the admiral from the Republic on the opposite side also stepped forward.

The two men silently saluted each other.

Then they shook hands.

“I am General Giford, Commander of the Magic Kingdom Air Force.”

“I am Admiral Orbon, Commander of the Pinar Republic’s Ocean Fleet.”

The soldiers gulped nervously. It was quiet. It felt like being in the eye of a storm. Even the officer in charge of interpretation trembled with tension in the overwhelming atmosphere.

“Let me ask you directly. I’ve heard that you, General Giford, were politically opposed to your country’s president, opposing escalation even before our Republic joined the war. Is that true?”

“If it’s true, then yes, it is.”

“This meaningless war has dragged on, continuing to spill the blood of young people from both countries. I think we need to reach a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible… Ah. This isn’t just my opinion but also that of the elders. Do you agree?”

“Are you suggesting that we surrender to the Allied Nations?”

“Yes.”

Tedman shook his head.

“We have our position as well. I cannot accept that proposal.”

“I expected you would answer that way.”

Orbon pointed beyond the fog.

“I have something to show you.”

“You mean the secret of the Tatangkur Islands.”

“Yes.”

A faint crack was forming where Orbon’s hand was pointing. It was a monster barrier thinly disguised with elven spirit magic. This was where Erich and his group had escaped. The Allied forces were thoroughly controlling it to allow safe entry and exit.

“Let’s go see it with your own eyes.”

“You could have set a trap and be waiting for us. How can I trust the enemy’s words and just walk in?”

“You’ve come deep into enemy territory and you still joke well.”

“Haha.”

To be honest, Tedman wanted to end the war as soon as possible. There was more to lose than gain by fighting. He even questioned whether the Holy Spirit Kingdom had actually launched a preemptive attack that day.

Tedman was no fool. He was a commander who could quickly assess and judge the atmosphere around him. He could distinguish between recklessness and courage.

Since he could make that distinction, all that remained was to make a decision.

“Please lead the way.”

Now was the time for courage.

Fortunately, his concerns didn’t materialize. Tedman spent several hours verifying what had happened inside the hidden barrier. His subordinates did the same.

“…It’s hard to call this a fabrication. Evil mana remains like an afterimage.”

That wasn’t all. He also confirmed specimens of monsters preserved alive and the magic circle of the altar. Records written in Incantation and evidence of collusion between the Monster King’s army and the Magic Kingdom came out one after another.

“Hmm.”

“What do you think?”

Tedman didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. His mind was already made up. Evil dark arts, living abominations, documents stamped with the president’s seal.

The ignorant believe what they want to see, while the wise believe what they actually see. And mages were a group founded on the latter principle.

“Men.”

Tedman addressed his soldiers.

“What happened here today must never be revealed outside. If you are patriots, you must keep silent forever.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“This must not be known to the world. If this is revealed, the morale of the entire army will drop, and we will naturally be defeated.”

The answer was already in Tedman’s words. The soldiers who had witnessed this scene had lost their will to fight. Their faces were all dark. Those with weak stomachs were retching.

They could no longer understand what they had been fighting for all this time. The power of the Pledge of Jeriem was too great to simply hate the Holy Spirit Church.

“Understand? Under no circumstances should this be revealed. If even a small rumor spreads in the unit, I will find whoever spoke and deal with them according to military law.”

“Sir, with all due respect, this is unacceptable. This is a truth that must be revealed!”

“Sometimes it’s better to cover things up. The victorious countries will take away our homes and clothes—are you prepared to handle that?”

“Surely they wouldn’t go that far?”

“You’re all too soft. History belongs to the victors. If we lose this war, who knows what will happen to Hazkhail. The economy will collapse, and the territory will be torn into several pieces. If the Holy Spirit Church suppresses magic, mages like you will all be sent to the execution block.”

“…”

“It’s a very good attitude to boldly express your opinion to your commander, officers. Very well. If you want to be martyred according to the laws of magic, I won’t stop you. Step forward. I’ll personally send you to Jeriem’s side.”

Tedman drew his pistol from his waist. At his intimidating presence, officers and soldiers alike cowered.

Looking at it coldly, he wasn’t wrong. What kind of relationship did the Holy Spirit Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom have? More precisely, what kind of relationship did the Holy Spirit Church and the mages have?

They were mutually exclusive. They hated each other. The Holy Spirit Church did not acknowledge the achievements and history that mages had established hundreds of years ago. The mages had also reached out to the Holy Spirit Church several times, but after realizing that communication was impossible, they turned their backs completely.

In such a situation, would the Holy Spirit Kingdom be lenient with the Magic Kingdom after the war?

That was too convenient a story.

However, despite Tedman’s words, there was someone who stepped forward.

“Shoot me.”

It was Erich.

“Major Lohnstein, do you want to die?”

“I cannot bear to see the war continue. Rather than watching my seniors, juniors, and peers continue to die as prisoners, I would rather be martyred first according to the Pledge.”

“You’ve got guts.”

Tedman’s gun barrel pressed against Erich’s forehead. The soldiers of the Republic also aimed at Tedman. In an instant, the situation became explosive. A chilling wind blew, bringing silence.

“What is patriotism?”

Erich spoke.

“True patriotism is speaking up when your country is heading down the wrong path.”

He expressed his opinion in a low, measured tone.

“If the Magic Kingdom surrenders, there is still hope. At least innocent young people won’t all die. Think about it logically. Although the Holy Spirit Kingdom still rejects magic, do they conduct witch hunts like they did hundreds of years ago?”

“…”

“If we continue the war, the opposite will happen. Young people from the Holy Spirit Kingdom, the Magic Kingdom, the Republic—from every country—will die. Many more than now.”

“Major Lohnstein, step aside.”

“I’ll probably die too. Everyone here, including you, sir, will one by one, randomly selected, say goodbye to this world before the war ends. Rather than that, I would prefer to meet a righteous death here and now.”

Adora clicked her tongue. She smiled at the corner of her mouth and stood beside Erich. Tedman’s eyes widened.

“Adora?”

“If this man dies, I’ll die with him, Dad.”

The miracle began from there. As the two stood side by side, the hesitant soldiers of the Magic Kingdom all stepped forward one after another.

Some were moved by the nobility of the moment.

Some were pushed by the tide.

Some had coldly assessed the situation.

Though their motivations differed, the result was the same.

“…So you all want the war to end.”

“Yes.”

“You want to surrender?”

“No.”

Erich said.

“We want to fight.”

To know who the true enemy threatening the homeland is, and to correct a wavering nation. To stop meaningless actions now, without shame before history.

Tedman met Erich’s gaze. For a moment, he saw the founder of the Magic Kingdom in this steadfast young man. Somehow, he felt this was what Jeriem would be like if he were alive.

“What a bunch of fools. My daughter, my son-in-law, my subordinates. All of you.”

Tedman smiled wryly. He lowered his gun and replied.

“I’m the same.”

***

Tedman rejected the Allied Nations’ proposal. At least for now.

For the Magic Kingdom to remain an independent nation, a revolution from within was desperately needed. To this end, Tedman took photos and videos of the war crimes committed by the Magic Kingdom and publicized them widely.

It was like smashing the heads of the blinded citizens with a hammer, no—an anvil.

No matter how much they disliked the Holy Spirit Church, the citizens of the Magic Kingdom were educated to uphold the Pledge of Jeriem. It was a universal perception. Such perception could not take precedence over hatred for other religious orders.

Of course, there were those who didn’t feel this way, but at least the higher-ranking mages and the intellectual class began to openly express their dissatisfaction with the cabinet led by the president.

And as a result.

“Mr. President. The Southern Fleet… has unilaterally signed a ceasefire agreement with the enemy.”

“General Wagner is coming this way with tanks! He says he’s going to blow all our heads off!”

“Rallies denouncing you are being held at universities across the country! There are so many skilled mages among the protesters that the police and Seven Swords forces cannot control them!”

“Sir! The Minister of Magic Science has opened the main office and fled! Now first-class mages are gathering, saying they will summarily execute you!”

The president took a deep drag of smoke. He sighed heavily and muttered like a fool.

“…I’m an idiot, I was an idiot. I should have made it so high-ranking mages couldn’t use their summary execution rights at all before starting the war.”

“Why not prohibit it now?”

“Why hasten my death?”

The Allied Nations were still far from reaching the capital. The front line itself was thick.

However, as the corps in charge of that front line divided or betrayed, the president and the Eight Shadows found themselves in a very serious disadvantage.

“There’s no choice now.”

[“What, are you going to perform a forbidden spell?”]

“Yes. Even if it costs me my life, I’ll drag a fragment of the demon god to earth. It won’t last long, but to suppress the rebels…”

The president’s rambling words stopped with a shock. He and his aides in the office all turned their heads at once.

A woman was sitting by the window.

She was a woman wrapped in a black robe. Her hair was white like cobwebs, and her jawline was slender. Her clothing covered her entire body, making it difficult to even guess her height.

But the president recognized the woman’s identity.

[“You…!”]

[“Shoot.”]

Seconds later, there was no one alive in the president’s office. Only a curtain fluttering in the wind was weeping pitifully.

Step, step.

Salvira staggered on her still unfamiliar legs and hid in a back alley. Looking up at the sky, she uttered a regretful remark.

[“…I’m sorry, my disciple. It seems this master cannot escape the shackles of being a monster.”]

Killing is easier than saving. It was a method ingrained through hundreds of years of repeated slaughter. Although she wasn’t sure if what she had just done was the right action in such a situation, one thing was certain.

It was the best choice.

She had dramatically prevented the nightmare from returning to the capital of Hazkhail. That alone had significance.

With this, the leadership of the Magic Kingdom would fall into confusion for a while. But that’s okay. It will get better soon. Just as flesh fills in after a wisdom tooth is extracted, Hazkhail would become healthy again after removing the cancer that was the Eight Shadows.

As Salvira predicted, the Magic Kingdom overcame the great shock and formed a new cabinet.

***

The war ended. The newly established interim cabinet signed a peace treaty, bringing an end to the long tragedy.

At the same time, prisoner exchanges took place. Adora and I returned to our country after just over three months as prisoners.

But that didn’t mean everything was over.

Complete freedom was still far away. Not just me, but all officers who had held significant positions were gathered in government quarters and kept under surveillance.

In the midst of this, I was living in the Giford family quarters because I was essentially Adora’s husband.

Thanks to having a good wife, the facilities were nice, but I had to be mindful of my father-in-law’s mood.

“Lohnstein, no. May I call you Erich?”

“Yes, father-in-law.”

“I haven’t acknowledged you as my son-in-law yet.”

“Yes, father.”

Tedman, who was about to fall backward, straightened his back. Despite his words, he was treating me quite well. Why else would he join us for every meal?

In the Giford family, where premarital chastity was a principle, this meant I was receiving special treatment.

Anyway, while being detained, I couldn’t go home or synthesize magic stones. With nothing to do, I sat playing cards with my father-in-law.

“It’s too early to relax.”

“I know.”

“As you probably know, the Magic Kingdom has signed an agreement with the Allied Nations. All officials involved with the Eight Shadows will be put on trial.”

“The Holy Spirit Kingdom is taking it a step further. According to someone I know, the church is being extreme, saying they’ll drown all first-class mages.”

“Are they at it again? They never tire of trying to tear us apart. They should know when to be lenient…”

“So your daughter and I will stand trial together.”

“Aren’t you afraid?”

“No, because I have many cards I can play.”

“Cards?”

My father-in-law snorted dismissively.

Tap tap tap tap.

Cards falling to the floor all at once. Four cards with the number ‘4’ of different suits lined up in a row. It was a rare arrangement.

“What do you think of this? ‘Four of a kind.’ Most games end at this level. Unless you have a better hand, this is my victory.”

“We’ll see.”

I smiled and laid down four cards just like him. They were all queens.

Swoosh.

“I have ‘four wives.'”

Adora, who was judging the game from the side, muttered.

“He’s talking nonsense.”

“Adora, don’t use bad language. Cards are like life. It’s extremely rare for luck to follow your thoughts.”

“No, Dad. That’s not it. I’m just going to tell you now.”

Adora stroked her lower abdomen as she spoke.

“First, I’m pregnant.”

“…”

“And this guy has gotten three other women pregnant besides me.”

“…”

“He really does have four wives.”

My father-in-law looked at me.

[‘Just accept that what was coming has arrived.’]

And that’s how I was screwed.