Chapter 105: Ragnarok (End)

Seven years was by no means a short time.

Especially when it followed the loss of the one who had supported them all. 

But even the bitter and painful years eventually passed. 

They carried on, somehow soothing the emptiness in their hearts.

The Emperor of the Empire, Leifen, helped the kingdom rebuild.

Some argued that they should take advantage of this opportunity to absorb the weakened kingdom, but for some reason, Leifen fully supported the kingdom in every possible way.

“It’s surprising. I thought Your Majesty would seize the opportunity to absorb the kingdom.”

“…I was hoping that if the kingdom was successfully rebuilt, she might return…”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind.”

Though Leifen carefully hid the reason, most people who knew him could easily guess the truth.

Some nobles tried to advise him under the guise of loyalty.

Before long, those nobles and their families vanished from the Empire without a trace.

The Vendetta Corps also wandered across the continent in search of their missing leader, Wolfgang Leonhardt.

Yet, nowhere could they find even a single trace of Wolfgang.

As time passed, their longing only deepened.

But what was most remarkable was that not a single one of them gave up.

“Aren’t you about ready to give up? You hate humans, don’t you?”

“I think that applies to you too. Just a mere wolf talking big.”

“What did you just say? Do you have a death wish?”

“Try me.”

“Tsk, tsk. If the Captain saw this mess, she’d be thrilled.”

Even after seven long years, they still acted as if their captain was alive.

Not a single one of them ever questioned it.

Of course, some within the Empire had started to give up and attempted to repurpose the Vendetta Corps for other uses.

For some reason, however, most of those people ended up retreating to their hometowns, never to be heard from again.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that they moved purely on the strength of their unwavering belief.

But that did not mean they were without struggle.

Even monsters could grow weary.

“I miss the Captain.”

“…Idiot, don’t say that.”

“But it’s true.”

“….”

At Jackal’s words, none of the Vendetta Corps could deny it.

The world still saw them as monsters.

Even though the public enemy known as the Winter King had been completely eradicated from the continent.

Yet peace had still not come.

Instead, tensions remained high as factions constantly kept each other in check, ready to wage war at any moment.

This was the current state of the continent.

“If the Captain is dead… what happens to us?”

“Shut up.”

“….”

“Don’t ever say that again.”

The first to react to Jackal’s feeble voice was Natascha.

She glared at him with fierce eyes and issued a stern warning.

Jackal nodded in understanding.

But seven years had already passed.

Though they all tried their best not to show it, the emotions that had built up over time continued to eat away at them.

A cold chill seeped deep into their bones.

Was this proof that even monsters were no different from humans?

Or was it simply that their hearts had weakened, allowing the cold to creep in…?

“It’s freezing. So much.”

“Yeah.”

“…Do dragons feel the cold too?”

“And you’re a wolf, aren’t you?”

They all burst into laughter at their own circumstances.

Just then, Jackal, who had been staring blankly at the sky, suddenly stood up.

And he wasn’t the only one.

Golden flames fell from the sky to the ground.

There was only one thing in their minds when they saw those flames.

And the moment they came to their senses, they were already sprinting toward the falling fire, without anyone needing to say a word.

When they finally arrived at the landing site of the flames, the Vendetta Corps found themselves staring blankly at a woman lying within them.

White hair, an eyepatch covering one eye—an all-too-familiar face.

“…I want to retire.”

The moment they heard that sleepy mumbling, they all leaped at the woman lying there with her eyes closed.

Even as she woke up from the sudden pressure and pain, they did not let go.

The woman—no, their eternal leader—

Wolfgang.

They clung to her, refusing to let go.

◇

Shit. I really thought I was going to die.

Finally free from their grip, Wolfgang could only sigh in relief at having narrowly escaped death again.

Damn it, I barely made it back alive, only to almost suffocate to death the moment I returned.

What kind of joke is this?

But Wolfgang’s frustration didn’t last long.

Because the long-awaited day had finally arrived.

The goal every soldier dreamed of from the day they enlisted.

That’s right.

The day had finally come.

Discharge day.

Of course, it wasn’t a discharge handed to her on a silver platter.

Though Wolfgang hadn’t realized it, more than seven years had passed outside.

Her absence couldn’t be left unaddressed for that long.

And thanks to that damnably competent Leifen, the gap she left had been filled far more efficiently than expected.

Naturally, since she had completed her mission and returned, they offered to reinstate her position.

But of course, there was no way Wolfgang would accept that.

Was she crazy? 

They already had a replacement, and she was supposed to go back and suffer again? 

What a joke.

She had endured nearly 25 years of absolute hell.

Wolfgang barely suppressed the grin threatening to spread across her face.

She was so overjoyed that she felt like she could fly straight into the sky, but this wasn’t the place to show it.

“Captain, it’s time.”

“I told you, I’m not the captain anymore.”

“Once a captain, always a captain.”

“Yeah, yeah. Do whatever you want.”

Maybe because discharge day was so close, Wolfgang wasn’t bothered by the small things.

The Vendetta Corps had gathered in one place, waiting for her.

Those little punks, they even came to greet me.

“You didn’t have to come all the way out here.”

“It’s your discharge day, Captain.”

“As long as I’m with you, anything is great!”

“Yeah, yeah. Do whatever you want!”

Truthfully, she wanted to discharge immediately.

But back then, she had been on the brink of death.

It had taken six months of rehabilitation before she was finally fit to attend her own discharge ceremony.

Of course, by the time she reached discharge day, her excitement was sky-high.

As she strode confidently onto the parade ground, she saw the Eastern Defense Army lined up in perfect formation.

“Jeez, no need to put the kids through all this trouble.”

“But you don’t seem to mind it too much, do you?”

“Well, a good thing is a good thing! A little suffering on a day like today is fine! Absolutely!”

Considering all the hell she had gone through, she figured she deserved at least this much.

Wolfgang strode forward confidently.

Not far ahead, she spotted Leifen standing there.

“You can’t stop smiling, can you?”

“You noticed?”

“Well… after all the hardship you’ve been through, you deserve it.”

“Of course I do. Do you have any idea how much hell I went through?”

“Then let’s begin.”

Leifen pulled out a parchment and started reading its contents.

It was basically a summary of all the contributions she had made to the military.

It brought back memories.

She had survived not just once, but twice, through a war so brutal it could drive anyone insane.

She had made countless mistakes, lost many comrades because of them.

There were times she wanted to give up.

But every time, she gritted her teeth and pushed forward.

If she gave up, she wouldn’t be able to face the comrades who had died in her place.

Somehow, she had clawed her way to victory.

Damn.

Maybe it was because all the memories of her hardships were flooding back.

She almost teared up.

No, not today. Not on such a good day…

“…For these reasons, the five individuals here shall serve as Leonhardt’s personal guards, pledging to protect her with their lives. Do you solemnly swear?”

“We swear.”

“We swear—wait, hold on. What?”

In her shock, Wolfgang missed her chance to object.

As she stared in disbelief at both Leifen and the Vendetta Corps, her aide, Galina, spoke up with a grin.

“Did you really think we’d stay in the Imperial Army after you retired, Captain?”

“That’s nonsense, Captain.”

“I’m going with you too.”

“Big sis, don’t be so cold! Do you not like us anymore?”

“Honestly, aren’t you guys sick of each other?”

They had been stuck together for years.

It wouldn’t have been strange for them to finally go their separate ways.

But despite what she said, Wolfgang realized she was smiling.

As much as she didn’t want to admit it…

She had grown attached to these idiots.

Well, what could she do?

No one else would take them in anyway.

Naturally, Leifen had wanted to join them as well.

But unfortunately, he had too many responsibilities to just leave.

Besides, if some left to explore, someone had to stay behind to keep their home safe.

“What will you do now?”

At Leifen’s question, Wolfgang grinned.

“I’m going to travel the continent. The world is vast, and there’s so much to see.”

She had finally gained her freedom.

And this was a fantasy world, after all.

There were countless new and exciting things waiting to be discovered.

And this time, there would be no gods interfering.

So now, it was time to enjoy herself.

To write a new story.

A story written by their will alone, untouched by anything else.