Ch.9Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

“Yes. What brings you here?”

“Lieutenant Pippin told me that you had woken up, Major.”

“Ah, yes. I see.”

“Why did you change your clothes?”

“They had some soot on them.”

“…Shall we take a walk?”

Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

Camilla Lowell, who had suddenly appeared, led me to the rooftop of the building.

It was a place where you could see the city’s night view and the stars in the high sky.

She was dressed neatly while I was in my drab military uniform. She handed me a drink, which I politely accepted as I took a seat.

And so a civilian and a soldier sat facing each other on a rooftop bench.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m better now…”

Camilla Lowell nodded. As she moved, her auburn hair flowed down past her shoulders, partially covering her face. Her expression was quite somber.

“I’m sorry about what happened. It must be troubling for you.”

She didn’t respond.

As the Colonel said, being far from home makes one uneasy. But how would it feel to be dropped into another world and experience a bomb attack?

“Aren’t you angry?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked if you’re angry. Usually after experiencing something like this, people feel numb at first, then suddenly get angry. Indignant, I suppose?”

“You seem familiar with this… Major…”

It certainly was familiar. This is a place where bombs go off whenever things get too quiet. Of course, today was my first time experiencing terrorism here directly.

“This is my first time experiencing it too.”

“Yet you’re so calm?”

“Perhaps I witnessed many explosions in a past life.”

Camilla Lowell sighed as she took a sip of her orange drink.

Her current demeanor was in stark contrast to her excited appearance during the official schedule. I noticed subtle differences: the intensity of her tone, the pitch of her voice, the movement of her facial muscles, and the state of her pupils. She seemed very troubled.

“I’d heard there were guns here, but I didn’t know there would be bombs too.”

Her mind seemed quite complicated. Come to think of it, I recall Europe having occasional terrorist attacks as well. It seemed Camilla Lowell, who lived in England, wasn’t accustomed to this kind of terrorism.

Anyway, setting aside these reflections, I needed to check on the hero’s condition first.

“Why did you come looking for me?”

“Just… just to see if you were alright…”

“Fortunately, I wasn’t injured. I was far enough from the blast center.”

“You seemed to have fallen… What happened?”

Should I tell the truth or hide it?

Given how much attention the situation had drawn, any lie would likely be discovered quickly. So I revealed the truth.

“I was attacked by an assailant. I wasn’t injured. I fell because I was startled when they suddenly struck and ran past.”

“I see. That’s a relief…”

Though Camilla Lowell carefully chose her words and actions to hide her true feelings, I could see right through her psychology.

She was anxious right now.

I tapped my calculator, considering my options. The benefits of helping her regain her spirits. The advantages of being someone she liked. The information I could gain through her. And my assigned missions.

After weighing everything, I thought it would be helpful to win her favor. But I didn’t know what to say. I was someone who read and analyzed information, not someone who empathized with and comforted others. The conversational skills I’d picked up haphazardly weren’t helping in this crucial moment.

Suddenly, she looked up from staring at the ground and pointed at my chest.

“What’s this medal?”

She was pointing at a decoration.

“This? I received it when I was at the front lines.”

“For what?”

For killing many people.

Of course, saying that would make me sound insane, so I packaged it appropriately.

“Just for fighting well, they said.”

“You did something good. It’s patriotic. My father was also in the military, so we had medals at home…”

That was news to me. I hadn’t known her father was in the military or that they had medals at home. It seemed she was hiding quite a lot from me. I needed to find out more, but how? As I was pondering this…

She smiled with sorrowful eyes.

“Dad always said… that protecting your country is a good thing…”

I’m not so sure.

Since I wasn’t someone who loved the kingdom, it was difficult to call myself a patriot.

And since I wasn’t someone loyal to the king, I wasn’t a loyal subject either.

The country I had devoted my life to and truly loved didn’t exist in this world.

So I was neither a loyal subject nor a patriot, but someone in between.

In the end, since I didn’t consider myself a patriot, what came out of my mouth was neither affirmation nor denial, just an ambiguous response.

“I see.”

“Major.”

She called me with a plaintive voice.

“…Am I really the hero?”

Deep sadness and unmistakable trembling flowed through her lips.

It didn’t seem like a simple question. So I couldn’t give a straightforward answer right away.

She turned to me, urging a response, but I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

Looking into her blue eyes visible through her auburn hair, I couldn’t think of anything.

I, unable to say anything, merely uttered words I didn’t mean, as if stating a fact.

“Yes.”

*

“-That’s what happened.”

After completing my extensive report, I moistened my throat with the drink. It was the one Camilla Lowell had given me earlier.

-‘It seems the hero is more troubled than I expected.’

“Well, a bomb went off right in front of her. She won’t be sleeping soundly for a while.”

I looked down at the city’s night view with self-deprecating words. Perhaps because of the terrorist attack, the atmosphere in the city center wasn’t very good.

-‘Are you alright, Major? You were caught up in it too.’

“The psychological shock from being attacked was greater than seeing the bomb right before I passed out.”

-‘I see your point. According to reports, there were no injuries. Is that correct?’

The injuries the Colonel was referring to weren’t about civilians caught in the terrorism.

“No injuries, sir. But judging by the state of my subordinates, I think it would be best to exclude them from duties and let them rest for a while.”

-‘I’ll accept the field commander’s judgment.’

“Thank you, Colonel.”

-‘I’ve already contacted the Foreign Ministry to clear the schedule for about three days. Tell your agents that. And you should rest without thinking too much as well.’

“Is that really okay, sir? We need to find the terrorists, monitor candidate Lucia’s movements, meet with foreign ambassadors… There’s a lot to do. And I have my regular duties too.”

A sigh came through the communication device. He seemed frustrated.

-‘Those are things other agents can handle.’

“Colonel, I’m not some weakling who falls apart this easily. Just let me work, at least.”

This stubborn bastard is at it again. The Colonel let out a brief sigh and fell silent.

“Other people have their own duties too. I don’t want to burden them with additional work.”

-‘Why are you concerned about them? And there are not only dispatched spies but also permanent ones. Is there any reason for you to step up?’

“I’d rather push my body than embarrass myself by causing trouble. If I dump all this work and return, won’t the seniors break my joints? I need to think about my knee joints too.”

-‘Still as stubborn and unreasonable as ever.’

“People don’t change easily. Anyway, please let at least me return to duty.”

It might seem a bit disrespectful,

But considering the hardships I’ve endured serving the Colonel for years, this level of stubbornness should be acceptable.

-‘It’s your choice, so don’t complain later. I’ll gather materials related to the church and send them to you tomorrow morning.’

“Thank you, Colonel.”

-‘The election-related information analysis isn’t complete yet. So I’ll only send materials related to this terrorist attack.’

“Understood. Should I hand them over to the Inquisition by tomorrow?”

The Colonel rarely hesitated, but now he fell into contemplation.

-‘Hmm? The Inquisition. Their skills are certainly reliable. Do you have any other plans?’

“I’ll either go to the Inquisition myself to deliver them, or if that’s not feasible, I’ll deliver them to the Cardinal.”

-‘Go to Cardinal Raphael, not Cardinal Raul. He used to hunt heretics back in the day.’

That was news to me.

That gentle old man who seemed like a kindly neighbor used to burn people? Fitting for a dark fantasy.

“Ah, and may I ask one more favor?”

-‘Speak.’

“Could you send a few people skilled in psychology to the embassy?”

-‘Psychological warfare agents? Is this for the hero and your subordinates? There are personnel in charge of psychological warfare in that area. I’ll send them to the embassy.’

“Thank you, Colonel!”

Even though no one could see me, I bowed my head in gratitude. The connection ended with a sigh.

I’ve addressed all the urgent matters now.

Pippin, Jake, and Camilla Lowell will stay at the embassy for a while receiving psychological counseling. And I’ll go out and do my work.

“Hmm.”

The city’s night view was quite bright. I wonder if the terrorist might be among the people moving through those lights.

It was a pointless question, but no one would provide an answer.

This isn’t a place warm enough to feed you when you cry from hunger. It’s a world where the thirsty must dig their own wells.

From now on, I’ll have to find the answers myself.

*

“Come on, just go inside already.”

An argument broke out in front of the embassy. The Holy Knights standing guard looked at us with strange expressions.

“Major! Don’t do this. Why do we have to stay cooped up in the embassy?”

“Shut up! Do you want to embarrass us?”

The tanned, blonde military thug in uniform started throwing a tantrum, clutching the embassy door like a kid who was tricked into going to the dentist when his mom promised him pork cutlet.

I felt embarrassed by the stares piercing my face. What an international disgrace.

“You idiot. Just come quietly.”

“Ah, ah, ah. Pippin, please don’t pull my ear.”

“Shut up, you punk.”

Pippin dragged Jake away while cursing under his breath. It’s terrifying. A thug being dragged away by someone much smaller than him. What a dreadful reality. Even Einstein would be shocked to see this.

As I awkwardly exchanged greetings with the Holy Knights in front of the embassy, Camilla Lowell, who had been quietly observing the whole situation, approached.

“Major.”

“Ah, Miss Camilla, what can I do for you?”

“I heard this morning that all schedules were canceled and we’re resting at the embassy, but you’re not resting?”

“Yes. I have some work to do. I’ll just be out for a bit, so please go in and rest first.”

She tilted her head as if something felt off, then entered the embassy.

Through the gently closing door, I saw her auburn hair swaying from side to side, and I exchanged glances with suspicious men in suits following behind her.

I stood still, staring at the closed door, then felt the paper inside my coat and turned away.

Now it’s time to work.

“Excuse me, Holy Knight.”

“Yes, how can I help you?”

“Where is the Inquisition located?”