Ch.9595. Brynhild

Born into a strict knight family, Camilla had lived a life bound by chivalry and discipline since childhood.

“Maintain your dignity.”

“Know honor.”

“Protect the citizens of the Empire.”

These were words she had heard countless times since she first began to toddle.

Of course, she didn’t dislike these sayings.

She fully understood and recognized that these were principles she needed to uphold.

However, for Camilla, whose natural temperament favored running about freely, her restrictive family simply felt stifling.

At least, being the adorable youngest of four siblings and under the protection of her doting father, Count Tristitia, allowed her to live under somewhat looser rules than her brothers.

Had she not received such special treatment, she might have run away from her suffocating home.

Perhaps because of this upbringing, what mattered most to Camilla was always interest.

Whether something trivial or something grand, if it piqued her curiosity, she would pursue it without restraint.

Because of this, Count Tristitia and her brothers constantly worried about Camilla getting hurt, which led to their frequent overprotectiveness of her to this day.

Camilla herself recognized this was her own fault, so she tried to satisfy her curiosity without causing them undue concern.

Even someone as notoriously carefree as Camilla didn’t want to worry her family.

As she grew up, moderating her desire to pursue her interests, the reins came loose when she entered Demeia Academy.

Demeia Academy, known as one of the safest places in the world, had so many elements that could capture her interest.

In this win-win situation where she didn’t have to worry her family while still pursuing her interests, no one could stop her.

And among everything there, one person appeared who left the strongest impression in her short life while also capturing her greatest interest.

Gilbert Lyon Hart.

The very man once called the scoundrel of the Hart County family.

Creating a stir from the moment he enrolled, he distinguished himself more and more as the semester progressed.

From eliminating the Resistance terrorists who attacked Demeia Academy to winning the competition tournament.

Ultimately, he prevented an unprecedented attack on the academy.

With his track record so far, no one could still call him a scoundrel.

That’s what captured Camilla’s interest.

She was intensely curious about what change of heart had led Gilbert, who was notorious as a scoundrel, to act as if he had become a different person.

This was a first for Camilla.

Never in her short life had she wanted to know someone in such detail.

Even for someone who had always chased after exciting events and interesting happenings, change had come.

That made her want to know even more.

She wanted to understand what caused Gilbert’s occasional anxiety and concern.

She wanted to know all his thoughts and goals.

Following him to Bismarck during this break was also to discover these things.

But once she actually followed Gilbert to Bismarck, the situation changed.

She found it fun to have trivial conversations with Gilbert, and she enjoyed drawing out his annoyed reactions.

Camilla, who had always sought interesting things, now found it enjoyable simply getting to know one person.

Even she couldn’t clearly explain what this feeling was.

She was simply following where her interest led, as she always did.

However, her lighthearted attitude changed when she heard that the Sigurdians might wage war.

Even for someone as carefree as Camilla, the mention of war couldn’t help but jolt her to attention.

That’s when she finally understood why Gilbert had shown anxiety and concern. He had already known that war with the Sigurdians was imminent.

Realizing this, Camilla bit her lip.

The pranks she had played on him while coming to Bismarck now seemed so childish.

She felt utterly pathetic for thinking about how to tease Gilbert while he was agonizing over the possibility of war.

Unable to bear her self-loathing, Camilla expressed her intention to help Gilbert by participating in the war.

After all, she was a member of the great Tristitia County family.

Although her skills might be inferior to her brothers due to neglected training, she was more than capable of lending a hand.

But Gilbert refused her participation with an extremely firm voice.

His position was that he couldn’t involve her as a guest of the Hart County family.

However, Camilla knew that wasn’t the real reason.

The privileges enjoyed by those born into county families weren’t simply granted by birth.

Of course, such families surely existed, but the Tristitia County family certainly didn’t fall into that category.

“Know honor.

Fulfill the debt for what you enjoy.”

A passage that every direct descendant of the Tristitia County family must know.

The meaning that if one wishes to protect their rightful privileges, they must bear the corresponding responsibilities.

The Tristitia County family was the foremost upholder of noblesse oblige.

Therefore, if Sigurdians were to attack the Empire, it was their destiny to meet them with sword and shield in hand.

This was an immutable rule that even Camilla, who lived a life driven by interest, never violated.

She didn’t think Gilbert would be unaware of this fact.

If so, there was only one reason why he excluded Camilla from the military formation.

“He must think I’m substandard.”

Camilla bit her lip again as she watched Gilbert’s giant mech leading the troops at the very front.

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand.

Objectively speaking, Camilla had no war experience, and her giant mech piloting skills weren’t particularly outstanding.

It was evident that having Camilla in the army wouldn’t be of much help.

Even if she had a duty to fulfill as a member of the Tristitia County family, from Gilbert’s perspective as commander-in-chief, he only sought victory in the war.

That realization made Camilla feel something.

Something boiling deep in the bottom of her heart.

Biting her lip and reflecting on her feelings, she could understand what that emotion was.

It was frustration and helplessness.

Frustration at not being able to help a friend and helplessness about her own wasted time.

And that feeling sprouted the moment she saw Gilbert winning the war through an extraordinary method.

Camilla wiped the blood from her lip and made a vow as she watched Gilbert standing proudly.

That she would definitely stand by his side.

“He really doesn’t give me a moment of boredom.”

As she made her vow, her complicated feelings suddenly turned to joy.

As she always felt, Gilbert was a puzzling person.

Just when she thought she understood him, he would show another side.

This time was no different.

He had ended the war in an unexpected way. And without a single casualty.

Camilla smiled brightly as she thought about how she would tease Gilbert when he returned.

– BOOM!

“Gilbert!”

Until he was suddenly attacked.

***

Watching Gilbert at the forefront of the troops, Lily had to admit it.

He had changed.

While he might not be able to completely erase his days as a scoundrel, he was definitely not the Gilbert of before.

Standing at the front of the most dangerous battle line was not something just anyone could do.

Moreover, Gilbert was the commander-in-chief.

Regardless of how he might be as a commander, his character was evident just from this sight.

If everyone deserved a second chance, Gilbert certainly qualified for that opportunity.

And Lily finally accepted this.

Recalling all his actions since she came to Bismarck, she couldn’t help but accept it.

Lily decided that when Gilbert returned, she would tell him she forgave him.

She had given him a second chance, and he had seized it impressively.

The reason for his transformation didn’t matter.

In the end, Gilbert had become a better person than before, and the kind-hearted Lily simply chose to accept that.

Of course, deep in her heart, the wound from that day remained.

It might be branded there for life, but she felt that the wound could finally begin to heal.

“You’re still so disagreeable.”

Lily smiled as she looked at Gilbert for the first time in over a decade. With the thought that he was truly a man of many sins.

Gilbert, at the forefront, was again doing something bizarre. After starting something incomprehensible called “Volsung Saga,” he had subdued the Sigurdians.

While she couldn’t understand what “Volsung Saga” meant, she was greatly surprised that it alone could end a war that could have caused terrible casualties.

He looked natural standing before countless Sigurdians and behind numerous Imperial soldiers.

He didn’t waver at all, as if this was exactly where he belonged.

“Is this also because you’ve changed?”

Lily let go of the Gilbert from her childhood and took in the current Gilbert.

While she hated the previous Gilbert enough to want to kill him, she quite liked his changed appearance.

“Still, I should say something when he returns.”

Lily muttered to herself and smiled wryly.

If he couldn’t take that much complaint, he wouldn’t be human.

Somehow, Lily thought she might sleep soundly tonight.

If it weren’t for the unexpected bombardment.

– BOOM!

“Gilbert!”

Only after hearing Camilla’s scream-like shout from beside her did Lily finally come to her senses.

What, what happened?

The last scene she saw was one of the Sigurdian soldiers firing at Gilbert.

She had thought the war ended before it even began, but that seemed to be just an illusion.

The screen broadcasting the battle situation was filled with dusty haze. At the same time, soldiers on both sides drew their weapons, ready to charge at each other.

And between them stood the giant mech that had dueled with Gilbert. It seemed to be trying to prevent the war from restarting.

Lily hurriedly looked toward Gilbert’s giant mech. The thick dust still made it impossible to confirm whether he was alive or dead.

I was too complacent…!

The problem was thinking too hastily that the war had concluded.

Even with a good strategy, there could always be someone who would resist.

Overlooking this point had come back to haunt them painfully.

Camilla shouted at Dorothy, whose face had turned pale. She seemed to be thinking of jumping into the battlefield herself.

“No, you can’t.”

“Why not? Gilbert is in danger right now!”

“That’s exactly why! Before departing, my eldest brother asked me to prevent both of you from entering the battlefield no matter what. No matter what happens.”

“Is that what you should be saying right now?!”

Camilla’s face contorted in a way unlike her usual self.

Lily almost made the same face involuntarily but held back and began to calm the overly agitated Camilla.

“Camilla, calm down first. We can’t act recklessly here.”

“Don’t stop me, Lily! You saw it too! Gilbert was attacked! By a giant mech’s bombardment!”

“I know. And I feel the same way you do. But if we intervene right now, Gilbert might be in even more danger. So… just hold on for now.”

“But…!”

Camilla was about to shout something more but closed her mouth when she saw the blood trickling from Lily’s lips.

She had sensed the feelings with which Lily had restrained herself.

Once her sharp edge had been blunted, she noticed Dorothy trembling with a pale face.

Only then did Camilla realize that Dorothy was the most devastated here, and she silently embraced her.

“I’m sorry, Dorothy. I should have thought of you.”

Dorothy shook her head.

“No, it’s understandable. I want to rush out there too.”

But the reason she couldn’t was because she knew she would be of no help in the war.

Suddenly rushing onto the battlefield would clearly create troublesome situations.

The troops were already organized, and they were trained regular soldiers.

No matter how rapidly Dorothy’s skills were improving, fighting in a war as part of an army was a different matter entirely.

But… brother.

Dorothy was terribly worried about Gilbert, whose survival was still unconfirmed.

Logically, it would be difficult to survive unharmed after being hit by magical armaments.

Withstanding magical armaments designed to combat giant mechs with a human body was unthinkable.

But just thinking that way made Dorothy feel like collapsing. After all, Gilbert was her family.

How long did this tense situation continue?

[Stop making such a fuss.]

A monotone voice echoed throughout the valley through the general communication magic.

Dorothy collapsed on the spot as soon as she heard that voice. It was the all-too-familiar voice of her eldest brother, Gilbert.

Thank goodness. He’s alive.

Dorothy let out a long sigh of relief as she saw Gilbert standing proudly as usual in the gradually settling dust.