Chapter 8 : A moment of peace

Boom!!!!

Bang!!!!

As the shell fell, dirt shot up into the sky and then fell back down onto my hat brim.

I immediately turned my head to check the rank insignia on my shoulder.

‘…CHOI.’

One rank below my rank as a First Lieutenant.

The viewpoint is one year ago. Then,

Then, it’s that dream again.

Back when the war with the vampires was at its peak.

“Captain…!!”

The dream when I lost a loyal subordinate.

The subordinate runs toward me.

‘No…’

‘Don’t come.’

I murmured that inside, but Berman didn’t stop running to me.

And so, instead of me, five bullet holes appeared in his stomach.

It was because I hadn’t drunk blood the day before.

It was all my fault.

“Ca-Captain…”

“Be-Berman…?”

“It’s a relief… Please, please defeat the vampires instead of me…”

Berman spoke those words while choking and coughing up blood.

Even though he was ambushed right after returning from the hero appointment ceremony, Berman was smiling.

‘…Please exterminate them, please, instead of me… Ugh…!’

“Captain Berman…!! Stay conscious! Don’t lose consciousness…!”

I pressed hard on the wounded area where Berman was shot.

But the bleeding didn’t stop.

Red liquid poured from the bullet holes.

However, the feeling I had while watching that scene was,

‘…I want to live….’

A strong will to survive.

I had been starving for so long.

So, so hungry for such a long time.

“Until now… gasp gasp It was an honor to serve you, Captain………….”

Berman said those words, trying to smile despite the pain.

Seeing that painful smile, I cried and at the same time—

Drip drip.

I drooled.

I could find relief.

Just that thought made me hug Berman, who was on the verge of choking.

Then my fangs pierced deep into Berman’s nape.

“…I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

“Captain… you don’t mean…”

“I’m sorry………….”

…I’m a vampire…

After saying that, Berman took his last breath.

I don’t know if he tried to curse or bless me at that last moment.

Because I couldn’t bear to look at the corpse of Berman, whom I killed by sucking his blood.

I don’t know what expression he had at the end.

“…I’m sorry………..!”

“I’m sorry….”

I just hugged the cold, lifeless Berman and muttered those words.

I cried endlessly while saying sorry.

I, who couldn’t do anything for my subordinate who sacrificed himself for me, disgustingly sucked his blood.

And so, that day, one loyal subordinate of mine passed away.

And I, once again, woke to my own ugliness.

That day’s battle ended in a great victory thanks to my rampage driven by grief.

But none of it was thanks to me.

“This victory is dedicated to Captain Berman and the honor of all the fallen victims.”

It was the merit of all who died in this battle.

If it weren’t for Berman, I would have been dead by now.

Outside, rain drizzled softly.

Listening to the rain hitting the window, I suddenly sat up.

“Haa… haa………….”

I breathed heavily.

My heart started pounding.

Cold sweat covered my whole body, making me feel uneasy.

Only after checking the peaceful scenery outside did my heavy breathing slow and the sweat stop.

Only then did I collapse back onto the bed.

The dream is restless.

Feels like something is going to happen.

To calm myself, I put a cigarette in my mouth.

Hua..

Not one stolen from Erik, just a cheap ordinary cigarette.

‘…Not good.’

Thinking that, I pressed down on the cigarette in the ashtray and crushed it before it was even half-burned.

I got up and opened the window to ventilate to regain strength.

At the same time, I took a bath and put on my uniform.

“My body feels… refreshed.”

Unlike my unpleasant mind, my body didn’t feel stiff.

My stomach didn’t hurt, rather I felt refreshed.

Probably because I indulged in blood so much that I lost my mind.

I looked at the girl reflected in the mirror and adjusted the medal so it wasn’t crooked.

After straightening my hat, I looked at the girl again.

A terrifyingly expressionless face, deep dark circles under the eyes.

I looked at that girl and put a cigarette in my mouth.

My new self, now so familiar.

‘…My height is too short.’

My growth phase was already over, so I wouldn’t grow any taller.

Honestly, it’s a bit unfair, but it can’t be helped.

Because I refused to drink blood.

“…I’m hungry.”

I muttered that and prepared breakfast.

I put on an apron so my uniform wouldn’t get dirty.

I tied my hair back and took off my hat.

“Today, I don’t have to sprinkle pig’s blood.”

Usually, it’s better to sprinkle it just in case, but today I didn’t want to.

Human blood is efficient.

Moreover, it’s not from a corpse, but living human blood that can sustain me for a long time in small amounts.

That’s why vampires kidnap humans like that.

Because it’s efficient and the taste is less disgusting.

“I should thank Erik.”

After saying that, I sat down in front of the finished meal.

French toast, golden brown and crispy, something I can’t taste on the battlefield.

Next to it were eggs and bacon.

In a small teacup, there was coffee.

“Because she doesn’t like bitter things.”

I said that and dropped two sugar cubes in.

After a leisurely breakfast, I put a cigarette in my mouth and headed to the office.

As I walked down the hallway, my subordinates saluted me one by one.

I faced each of them and received respectful looks in return.

There used to be some who looked down on me, thinking I was just a kid.

“…M-Major…!”

“Yeah.”

I dealt with each of those trembling rookies just ahead.

The scenes of them getting beaten while crying their eyes out are still vivid in my mind.

Normally, I would have gone into my own office.

“…Ugh.”

“Salute.”

“…Loyalty.”

Now, I had to do my work in the office of the person I disliked most.

It’s raining again today.

I took out my raincoat at my desk.

Today was a training day, so I planned to watch the training.

‘…Jenny, Kyle, Kriha’s training is today.’

It was the day for those three to train.

“…Let’s go together.”

“Did I hear that wrong?”

“No, you heard correctly. Vampires have especially sharp hearing.”

Erik glared at me, emphasizing “vampire.”

I felt uneasy looking at him, but I couldn’t refuse.

After all, Erik was my superior on the surface.

“…Yes, let’s go.”

When I said that, Erik started organizing papers and grabbing an umbrella.

“Why bother taking a raincoat?”

“…I can’t bear to see my subordinates get hurt.”

“……”

“I’m worried. What if they get injured and die pointlessly.”

I don’t like seeing my subordinates get hurt.

The Empire’s training is harsh.

Even delicate girls have to pass the same standards to become true soldiers.

I almost died passing those tests with my small body.

If I weren’t a vampire, I probably would have died.

I’m worried about my subordinates who endure such training every day.

Well, maybe watching like me, a high-ranking officer, is more of a burden.

Erik walked beside me matching my pace.

I looked up at him.

“Why aren’t you walking faster? Why match my pace?”

“There’s something I must tell Major.”

Erik said while looking at me.

I stared at him expressionlessly.

“It looks like the war is about to start again.”

“…!!”

‘…Could it be, you didn’t know?’

The war is about to start soon, this fast?

After conquering the vampires in Glory of Victory 1, the next scene was supposed to be…

‘…The medal awarding ceremony three months later.’

That was definitely the scene, but something felt off.

I felt a sense of discomfort just then.

[The story of Glory of Victory 2 will start soon!]

[In the holy war to elevate the empire’s prestige, make your name known.]

[Survive and find the meaning of life.]

[Whatever happens, survive this time too..!]

[May the glory of victory be with you.]

The system, silent for 5 years, notified that the world had entered a new phase.

And the aftermath soon reached us too.

“Major, the higher-ups want to create an elite unit with you and me at the forefront.”

“Major Valentine, will you once again

BOOM!!!!!!

Bring glory to the Empire?”

The question asking for agreement was drowned out by a massive explosion.

A huge explosion.

Erik and I looked at the place where the explosion sounded simultaneously.

‘…A civilian residential area?’

An air raid is underway in the Baharental Republic!! Ah!!

Alert level 1…! The unit immediately enters wartime status. Emergency.

Announcing once again. This is not a training scenario but a real situation.

An imperial command orders “All troops immediately arm and prepare for anti-air defense.”

“…Let’s go.”

I nodded at Erik who said that.

I quickly grabbed my black sword and started running.

The drizzling rain carried the smell of blood.

The puddles of water were inevitably dark red.

That was the brief peace we were given.

“Argh…!!”

“My leg…!!”

“Medic!! Medic!!”

“Hey, rookie…! Get a grip…!!”

It ended.

Where I arrived was a scene of hell.

Yet, my mind was strangely clear.

“All troops!! Attention!!!”

I shouted to the gathered soldiers.

“Move the wounded to the medical unit!!”

“Magic soldiers and artillery, quickly identify and shoot down enemy planes! To your positions!!”

Only then did the chaotic soldiers start moving in unison.

“…Well done, Major Valentine. Not bad for a vampire.”

“…Is now the time for that?”

Hell had unfolded, yet the so-called protagonist was spouting nonsense like that.

“Contact the royal family immediately. We’re under air raid.”

I spat on the ground and passed Erik to look for my subordinates.

‘…Kriha, Jenny, Kyle, please be safe.’

I was responsible for protecting those who were comrades of Berman.