episode_0073
by fnovelpiaTick, tick.
The wall clock in the room is making noise. It’s probably the only thing making noise in the room.
Listening to it, I slowly close my eyes and lose myself in thought.
Time passes. For humans, for dwarves, and for elves.
Moreover, time passes even in the presence of God. How arrogant and omnipotent is this being.
Time was flowing. Like a river that bursts its dam during the rainy season, with a frightening momentum. When this flow of time passes, what will be left in the end?
An empire in ruins? A wasteland of dwarves with nothing left? Or a world tree of elves reduced to ashes by fire?
I didn’t know. That’s why it was even more scary.
A world that has been caught up in the cruel flow of time. And, the destination that the flow of time will take you to.
He was unbearably afraid of the future where he could happily watch his wife, whom he loved more than anything in the world, drinking brandy and his two lovely daughters laughing and running around the yard of the mansion, falling apart.
Maximilian just hoped that the destination this time flow would take him to would not turn into the worst situation. He sincerely hoped so.
In many ways, this was a time of patience, Maximilian thought.
– Smart.
Maximilian was awakened from his thoughts by the sound of someone knocking on the door.
“Come in.”
As soon as Maximilian gave his respectful permission, the door opened as if it had been waiting. Maximilian opened the door and glanced at the face of the person coming in.
“Brigade Commander.”
The one who opened the door and came in was Lieutenant Karmendorff, Maximilian’s personal adjutant.
Lieutenant Karmendorff, with his thick, rough eyebrows and manly, square jaw, looked like a natural soldier. Maximilian adored him for that.
After entering the room, Lieutenant Karmendorff quietly closed the door and saluted politely. Maximilian waved his hand to stop him.
“ It’s done. More importantly, what’s going on?”
Maximilian’s personal adjutant, Lieutenant Karmendorff, immediately lowered his hand. He searched his bosom for a moment, then took a few steps forward toward Maximilian.
“These are the operational orders that arrived today.”
“… Operational orders?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Maximilian stared blankly for a moment at the document that Lieutenant Karmendorf handed him. An order, an order? So suddenly?
“What is this order about? I haven’t received any separate information. ”
“This is an order from the Ground Defense Command. I don’t have a Level 2 secret clearance, so I don’t know the details, Brigade Commander.”
Maximilian, still dumbfounded, took the order handed to him by Lieutenant Karmendorf. A tightly sealed envelope with a red seal that read “Top Secret” was placed in his hand.
“… Thank you. I’ll go now.”
“Yes. Then.”
Just as he had come in, Lieutenant Klemendorf left the brigade commander’s office with a ceremonial salute. The clock began to tick again.
Maximilian moved his hand slowly. Following his hand, the envelope opened, and the sealed documents were exposed to the fresh air.
Eventually, Maximilian was able to slowly read the order in his hand.
“… … .”
Maximilian, who was reading the order, looked into space with a bewildered expression.
“… Is this true?”
Maximilian stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment, unable to believe the contents. He quickly regained his senses.
He put on his usual hat, grabbed his overcoat, and hurried out of the brigade commander’s office. In the distance, he saw Lieutenant Klemendorf standing with his back to him.
“Lieutenant Clemendorf!”
Lieutenant Klemendorf, who had been talking with his comrade in the hallway, suddenly turned around and took a salute. The comrade who was talking with him also saluted with a thoughtful face.
Maximilian gave them a cursory salute and passed Lieutenant Klemendorf, who observantly followed behind him.
“Brigade Commander. What’s the matter?”
“Assemble the staff. Right now.”
“Okay. Shall I summon you to the command and control room?”
“Please do so. As soon as possible.”
Maximilian clenched his teeth at the unbelievable news that came from headquarters, news that could possibly change the course of the war in an instant.
“Fuck… .”
Meanwhile, time continued to flow, like a winding river whose destination no one knew.
Yes, in a way that no one expected.
* * * * *
I looked.
I just looked at the man standing in front of me. He was the type of person I really hated and loathed.
“Why on earth… .”
Why did you show up here? What is the mean and dirty intention behind your actions? What are you trying to do this time?
I felt my head getting hot and slowly closed my eyes.
Calm down. Calm down.
How did you get here? It doesn’t really matter. If you have the social status of Duke Adelheid, it wouldn’t be a big deal to set foot in the training ground.
But, what I really want to know is.
“… … .”
That’s why I showed up here in person, even though I knew I would be here.
The fire in my heart that was burning hotly gradually died down, and a cold, gentle flame took its place. I slowly opened my eyes.
And then I could see why he had come all the way here.
“Laura? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“No, Father…. What brings you here? ”
“Hehehe… As a father, shouldn’t I at least see my daughter win?”
Duke Adelheid’s gaze was directed only at Laura.
As if I wasn’t even a part of his gaze, the anger that had cooled down began to flare up again.
Anger that comes from thoughts and has a low flashpoint is extremely scary. Biased thoughts bring about heavy thoughts, and anger eventually comes from there.
However, my thinking is biased in a right direction. If it were a hundred percent, everyone would think that way, and it would be too right to call it a biased thinking.
So, my anger that was about to boil over again was also justified. I believed that. No, there was no room for doubt.
Should I approach him? Or should I just yell at him right here and now? Or should I just run out and punch him in the jaw instead of just standing there?
That was when I was contemplating what course of action I should take.
“Chief Priest… ?”
Suddenly, I heard a voice calling me from next to me. I turned my head toward the direction from which the voice came.
Green eyes that sparkled like emeralds. Those pure, clear eyes were shaking slightly as if they were anxious about what was going to happen next. I stared blankly down at those eyes.
I can see it. Me reflected in that green. A slightly different expression than usual, with my facial muscles twitching without restraint.
“Are you okay?”
And then, the voice of Deacon Sophia followed. I slowly calmed my breathing.
“… Yes, that’s fine.”
“Are you okay?”
“It’s really okay. Chloe, and Professor Esther. I have something to do, so I’ll go first.”
“Oh, yes… Have a nice day.”
Leaving Professor Esther behind with a bewildered expression, I started walking forward, looking straight ahead. The direction I was going was the passage leading out of the training grounds, and in the end, I had no choice but to pass by Duke Adelheid.
Laura and Duke Adelheid are embracing each other warmly. I had no intention of interfering with their relationship, so I just passed by.
“Father Antonelli.”
I had just passed by Duke Adelheid, who was getting up from his embrace, when I heard a hateful, heavy voice. Instead of just ignoring it and passing by, I stopped walking.
A deep voice continued from the right side behind me.
“Long time no see. How have you been?”
“… … .”
“Are you still upset about that?”
I didn’t answer at all. I just moved my legs that had been stopped.
As I started walking again, Deacon Sophia belatedly followed behind me. I quickly walked away from there.
The last day of the annual duel at Chaldea Imperial Academy.
Today, when I was supposed to be congratulating the students I teach, seemed like it would be the worst day ever.
* * * * *
The sun will rise tomorrow, just as it did yesterday, last week, and last year. It is a simple law of the world.
Yesterday someone’s life was cut short, the day before yesterday someone’s life ended, and tomorrow someone will eventually die.
And, there are some people in this world who cannot accept that fact.
Maximilian did not think that the deaths of the soldiers who fell because of his orders were in vain. Rather, he thought that their deaths had created the empire that exists today.
But that was it. Shouldn’t the living live?
It was a war. A war where the living kill the living, and death was given equally to everyone regardless of status. Naturally, the blade of death could be pointed at anyone.
Maximilian looked at the back of a man walking away from his eyes. His back was straight and he was wearing a short-sleeved shirt, but there was a dark shadow behind him.
“… That’s right.”
Maximilian was truly sorry that he could not accept that fact.
Laura, who heard Maximilian’s muttering, looked at him with an expression of confusion. Maximilian was still looking at Father Antonelli.
“Father?”
“… Yes, Laura. I won’t be staying long, but I’ll come back when the finals start. I have some business to take care of around here, by the way.”
Maximilian patted Laura’s head once, then turned his regretful gaze away from her.
‘…Father Antonelli.’
I knew that he had been appointed to the Chaldea Imperial Academy, but I never thought we would meet like this. Maximilian clicked his tongue without realizing it.
‘You were a bit out of your mind right after the war ended… But you seem to be feeling better lately. Poor friend.’
Looking back, he was a pitiful young man, but to Maximilian, Father Antonelli was just that. Responsibility is not something that should be borne by an individual.
Maximilian took a step forward.
Thinking that I should finish my work quickly so that I can watch my beloved daughter’s sparring.
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