Chapter 13 : Holy War (2)

Erik let out a deep sigh as he looked at Valentine, who was sleeping soundly.

“…Get a grip, you vampire.”

Though he said that out loud.

Instead of shooting the sleeping vampire, he covered her with his coat.

He even held the coat from slipping off beside her.

“I’m out of my mind…”

Thinking that, Erik looked at Valentine, who was leaning on his shoulder without even realizing it.

When the vehicle jolted and Valentine nearly fell, Erik barely managed to support her head.

‘…Even if she hit something, I doubt she would’ve woken up.’

Seeing Valentine sleeping like she was unconscious, Erik was lost in thought.

A small figure, a vampire who looked no different from a human.

She didn’t want to hurt people, and every time she drank blood, she piled up guilt.

Just like a human feeling guilty every time they eat a meal — that’s how that vampire seemed to Erik, and he couldn’t bring himself to strike her.

But the more he thought that.

“…Mother, Father.”

His family came to mind.

His family, brutally murdered by vampires.

“Brother, ha…!! Save… cough!”

His younger sibling, torn apart right before his eyes, still vividly lingered in his vision.

“…Guh…!!”

As pain welled up in his chest, Erik let out a faint groan and clutched at his shirt.

At the same time, his grip tightened on Valentine’s shoulder.

“…Ugh.”

“…!!”

Valentine winced and furrowed her brow.

Startled, Erik quickly removed his hand.

“…Hah.”

It was painful.

He hated himself for feeling sympathy toward a disgusting vampire.

He hated himself for not being able to save his family, and for foolishly chasing vengeance later on.

All of it churned his insides with nausea.

The stress piled up, his chest unbearably tight.

“…Valentine, why is it…”

Why is it that she keeps catching my eye?

He wanted to ask that.

Even though Valentine was just slightly larger than his little brother.

Seeing her shoulder burdens no one else wanted made Erik swallow his discomfort.

Maybe, deep down, he wanted to help her.

Even before knowing she was a vampire, there was something about her that caught Erik’s eye.

But he never said it out loud.

Perhaps it was because Valentine had kept a strange distance ever since her commission.

He could only guess.

She kept catching his eye.

Seeing that small body move across the battlefield, commanding thousands — it was pitiful.

What kind of feeling must it be, ruthlessly cutting down your own kind?

Erik was about to find out.

Because the vehicle they were in was already racing toward the frontlines.

As he felt the scent of gunpowder and blood creeping in.

“…Smells like cigarettes.”

“…Should I quit?”

Hearing Valentine mumble, Erik murmured back.

In a way, he was relieved that Valentine smelled his cigarettes instead of the scent of gunpowder and blood.

Because soon, those smells would stab at their noses and soak into their bones.

When she had fallen asleep, her body had been cold.

But the warmth around her let her drift into a deep sleep.

“Hey.”

An irritated man’s voice stabbed into her ears.

It was unpleasant enough to wake her.

“Are vampires sluggish too? After cutting down humans like that, I hope you’re not about to complain you’re low on blood.”

“…If that’s the case, you’d better bow your head and beg forgiveness from those who died for you.”

Erik stood there glaring at her as she said that.

“…I’m sorry.”

“We’ve arrived. Move it.”

Erik clicked his tongue at me and tapped my head.

Because of that, I straightened my tilted cap and sluggishly got out of the vehicle.

As soon as we stepped out, the stinging smell of gunpowder and burning filled my nose.

And the vast gray wasteland greeted us.

‘…How horrible.’

I’d heard it used to be a green meadow.

Now, not a single blade of grass remained.

Thinking that, I pulled out a cigarette and placed it between my lips.

It wasn’t fancy — just cheap tobacco, but enough to calm my nerves.

The hazy smoke drifted out, along with my frustration.

“Let’s hurry.”

“Understood.”

Nodding at Erik’s words, I followed behind him.

He had such long legs that for every three steps I took, he took just one.

‘…Couldn’t he slow down a bit?’

Grumbling internally, I picked up the pace to keep a reasonable distance.

Then, off in the distance, I saw the trench.

Jenny, Kriha, and Kyle stood in front of it.

“Oh, here they come.”

Kriha ran toward me like a retriever.

“Lieutenant Colonel!!”

“…Honorifics.”

“Oops!!”

Here we go again.

There’s a Lieutenant Colonel right in front of her, and she comes running to me shouting ‘Lieutenant Colonel’.

Doesn’t even salute — is she a soldier or just a girl?

“Still don’t grasp the weight of your rank as a captain, do you…”

I sighed as I said that.

I was starting to regret wasting my cigarette, stomping it out when I got here.

‘…Should’ve taken one last drag before tossing it.’

Muttering that, I spat on the ground.

Kriha looked deflated.

Erik said nothing as he watched her.

‘If it were me, he would’ve hit me for sure.’

Thinking that, I stared blankly at Erik.

“…Lieutenant Colonel, what are you staring at so intently? Want me to give you some extra training?”

“Sorry.”

There it is.

‘…Crazy bastard.’

Cursing him silently, I received a report on the battle situation.

There were about two companies in the trench.

So, the operation was to split — Erik commanding one company, me the other.

Kyle was placed under Erik’s command.

Because when he was with Kriha, she became even more of a mess.

Jenny was needed to keep Kriha in check.

The reason we were still keeping Kriha around was simple.

“…Make sure that retriever is never put under my command.”

“Yes, understood.”

It was because of such an order from Erik.

Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he dislikes overly cheerful people.

Erik tended to avoid those with a bright disposition, which made Kriha a bit overwhelming for him.

And with that, all the preparations were complete.

Next came Jenny’s report.

“…Over the past few days, the front lines have been significantly pushed back due to the allied forces’ all-out offensive.”

“According to reports, it was originally a single regiment’s worth of troops.”

“…Originally just one regiment?”

“Yes, but their supply lines were cut, and all the reinforcement troops were wiped out midway.”

Ah, come to think of it, I recalled just how dreadful the trenches had been.

People struggling just to scoop out the water.

Wounded soldiers with festering wounds.

Starving soldiers too weak to even hold their personal firearms properly.

As I recalled those scenes, I reaffirmed my belief that the empress was a madwoman.

Cut-off supply lines and trenches filled with the wounded.

And yet she turned them into a new unit, thinking the remaining numbers were just right.

“…Hah.”

“Lieutenant Colonel, hold your tongue.”

As I let out a dry chuckle, Erik shot me a sharp glare, warning me not to slip up.

I ended my complaint with just a dissatisfied expression.

“Alright, good report. What’s the enemy’s current situation?”

Lighting a cigarette, Erik asked in that manner.

Jenny, looking a bit nervous, responded.

“…Yes, the enemy’s current status is unclear. Aside from the bombing reported yesterday.”

“And where was their original position?”

As Erik spoke, Jenny pointed at a spot on the map.

“…Originally, it was here.”

As she spoke, her hand slowly moved downward, tracing a path far below.

“They are currently located here. And even this position is precarious.”

Erik’s face darkened.

But he didn’t voice any complaints.

“…We have to make this work somehow.”

“After all, Her Majesty the Empress must have sent us here for a reason.”

Erik’s expression grew complicated.

He too must know that a retreat is the right move here.

But right now, there is nowhere left to retreat to.

This frontline has already been pushed as far back as it can go.

“I’m sorry for the soldiers, but it looks like we’ll have to hold out just one more time.”

“After that, maybe we can request reinforcements…”

It was then, as Erik mumbled to himself.

-BOOM!!!!!!

“…!!”

“…!!!”

“…!!”

“…!!”

“…!!”

The enemy’s bombardment had begun.

“Aaaargh!!!”

“My leg…! My leeeeg…!!”

The soldiers’ screams turned into death cries amidst the bombardment.

Endless screams echoed from within the trenches.

Shaking lights, falling dirt.

I felt a wave of terror, the kind that sinks into your bones, mixed with the overpowering stench of explosives, as I wondered if this trench, too, would collapse.

After the first round of shelling subsided,

Erik, myself, and the other three quickly scrambled outside.

We had to turn the soldiers into warriors, and fast.

The reason was simple.

After a barrage like that,

• “Waaaah!!!”
• “Down with the Empire!!!”
• “Die, you demons!!”

The enemy always charges.

“Damn it…!!”

“All soldiers who can still fight, grab your weapons and resist!!!”

“Drive out the demons!! Protect the glory of the Empire!! If you fall, our homeland is next!!”

With those words, I quickly drew my black blade.

Running through a battlefield with bullets raining down while wielding a sword is madness.

But right now, it was necessary.

“…I will survive…!!”

“I don’t want to die here…!!”

I still don’t want to die.

For the sake of happiness, I throw myself into the misery once more today.

A smell I can never get used to, no matter how often it washes over me.

The stench of gunpowder and the metallic tang of blood envelop me once again.