episode_0153

Einherjar’s dinner was better than Gilbert expected.

Gilbert, who had set the range with the mana rod and was demonstrating his super regenerative ability, could feel the heated mana rod as soon as he declared the banquet. It wasn’t pain or anything like that, it was just a pleasant feeling of heat as the half-damaged mana rod was restored.

Looking at the description of the skill effect, it seems that this ridiculous super regeneration will be activated throughout the entire banquet, but even assuming it was conditional, I couldn’t believe that such a recovery skill existed.

It wasn’t immediately effective like Elixir, but was Elixir something you could get if you wanted?

Compared to Elixir, the legendary elixir that allows complete recovery in an instant as long as you can breathe, no matter what skill you tried, it was bound to be inferior.

However, Einherjar’s Feast was a skill that strengthened super regeneration that could be obtained when recovery skills were fully developed. Considering that severed limbs can be reattached the moment super regeneration is achieved, enhanced super regeneration might even be able to sprout missing organs.

Gilbert felt amazed that the mana load, which he doubted could even be restored, was restored in real time. It was unusual for the Mana Rod, which was judged to be impossible to heal even with divine power, to be healed in such a short time.

In fact, all we had to do was rely on natural healing power, and the reality was that even that could not be expected if the damage was ruined to the level of Gilbert.

Therefore, it was no exaggeration to say that Einherjar’s Feast skill had potential comparable to the characteristic skill. The level wasn’t set, and more than anything, there were abilities that hadn’t been unlocked yet.

Gilbert smiled at the unexpected achievement and looked around at the subjugation team members who were beginning to enjoy their dinner.

The dark expressions on their faces before the dinner started seemed to have improved a lot now. This was because the pressure of their first real fight and the sudden appearance of monsters put a lot of pressure on them.

It was something that could not be helped.

As I realized that the things I had thought easy until now were actually risking my life, it was natural for me to feel agitated. This was the reason why the survival rate of new pilots who were deployed for the first time in actual combat was not high.

Gilbert was a veteran pilot who had seen many such rookies. It was his natural responsibility as a senior pilot to relieve the pressure of actual combat, and it was also his role to raise their morale by suggesting a dinner like this.

War was not a matter of having quality soldiers. They were people with emotions, not chess pieces on a chessboard, and no matter how good a pilot he was, the battlefield was a place where he would end up dying over something insignificant.

In that sense, this dinner was a necessary event for the subjugation team members who experienced their first real combat.

“It was a great speech, right?”

“Is it Brynhild?”

Brynhild, holding a glass in one hand and a large bottle in the other, sat in front of Gilbert.

“How about a drink?”

“Is it the Sigurd clan’s culture to offer alcohol to the injured?”

“That can’t be possible. We are not some barbaric tribe and we do not consider alcohol to be a cure.”

Brynhild furrowed his eyebrows and filled Gilbert’s empty glass with wine. Although his words and actions did not match, he did not point it out.

“For saying that, you filled your glass before even hearing the answer.”

“What’s the point of having a drink when you come back from the dead?”

“That’s true too.”

Gilbert and Brynhild clinked their glasses together and then emptied them in one go. The sweet fruity aroma spread in the mouth, leaving behind a unique flavor.

“I was too reckless this time.”

“There was nothing else to do.”

“I know. But you could have asked for it.”

“No. In that situation, calling you was a handshake. Because you’re the only one who has achieved balance.”

“Still, I should have called. Gilbert. I think you’re mistaken, but the only reason I came here is because of you. Keep in mind that if you die, your reason for being here will disappear.”

“Even so, he couldn’t have abandoned the members he had grown attached to. Because that’s the weakness of the Sigurdians.”

“I’ve never been as obnoxious as I am today.”

Brynhild clicked his tongue, poured a glass full of alcohol, and drank it. It seemed like the purpose was to relieve frustration.

Gilbert watched Brynhild emptying her glass repeatedly and took the bottle from her. I knew that she, a great warrior, would not be this drunk, but it felt like she was drinking too hastily.

“Gilbert.”

“Why are you doing that?”

“Do you remember the first time I met you?”

“I remember.”

“I was really surprised when I lost the battle with you, who applied for the Bolsung House, which had been forgotten even in the clan, and was asked to help with the peace agreement between the clan and the empire. According to Saga’s oath, I had to carry out any order you gave me, even if it meant betraying my own clan.”

Saga’s oath was a contract that risked one’s life and soul.

The coercive force of the oath would have made her follow orders no matter what, and the moment Gilbert told her to point her sword at her family, she would have been unable to resist and would have had her family’s blood on her hands.

It was a terrible thing just to think about.

She, who loves her clan more than anyone else, has to take on the task of destroying the clan with her own hands.

Of course, that didn’t actually happen. It became nothing more than an assumption, and it was all thanks to Gilbert.

So on the day the peace treaty was signed, Brynhild cut off the hair she had grown and gave it to him. It was an action that had the most important meaning to Sigurd, but there was no hesitation.

“You were the benefactor of our clan, and as the great warrior of the clan, I have an obligation to repay that favor to you. For us, hair has a symbolic meaning, and cutting it off meant that we would stand by your side no matter what. That’s why. That’s why I cut off my hair and gave it to you.”

“Didn’t you say you would also give it to your marriage partner?”

“Of course, the moment you beat me, it became an inescapable fact. Because I decided to do it.”

In fact, the sight of him adding that it might be bigger gave Gilbert a headache.

But I didn’t bother to show it. Because I knew very well why she said this.

“So. The only reason I’m at the Academy is because of you. The reason why the great warrior of the Sigurd clan came to the center of the empire and became a cadet at the academy was because a man named Gilbert Lionheart was here. In other words, without you there is no reason for me to be here. So take care of yourself.”

It was a worry that could be raised because Brynhild is a person who expresses emotions directly and at the same time scolds him for being excessive enough to damage his mana rod.

She was telling Gilbert to stop looking for a place to die. It is good to believe in yourself, but it is important to note that this belief is only possible when Gilbert himself is alive and well.

Gilbert didn’t want to worry about that.

Because these crude worries were bound to carry remnants of the past.

“I understand. Just keep that in mind.”

“In that sense, take another drink.”

“It seems problematic to recommend more alcohol to patients.”

“So, wouldn’t drinking alcohol make you an anesthetizer?”

“Hans I always say this, but can you please think before you speak?”

Hans, who was being treated one-sidedly as usual, and Angelina, who was mistreating him, approached the table where Gilbert and Brynhild were. Lily, who was laughing while covering her mouth, Camilla, who was laughing out loud, and Ilène, who was quiet as usual, followed with only smiles on their faces.

“Umhuhu! You can’t just enjoy a dinner party for two!”

“Camilla is right. This is against the rules, Commander.”

“I agree. Mr. Gilbert.”

As the surrounding situation suddenly became more noisy, Gilbert’s eyes began to look somewhere far away.

It was a fragment of an old memory that has now faded. A scene from a cherished memory came to mind, and it naturally overlapped with this situation.

That moment that I long for and will never come again…

“Gilbert?”

Camilla looked at Gilbert with wide eyes, as if she was startled. She, who had only seen Gilbert’s blunt side while interacting with him until now, was unable to adapt to the situation that had just occurred.

She wasn’t the only one surprised to see Gilbert.

Even Lily, Brynhild, the fussy Hans, and the taciturn Illen were just as surprised as Camilla.

Gilbert, who was in front of them, was looking at them with a gentle smile that they had never seen before.

***

“You’re monopolizing a prominent role again. Who went to help?”

After Ian finished his speech, he looked at Gilbert, who was enjoying dinner, and grumbled. The reason he ran towards the monster Ogre was not to help Gilbert, but before he knew it, his mind had changed to the fact that he had rushed out to help Gilbert.

Ian’s emotional state at the time he was attacking the monster ogre was unstable, and this was expressed through sudden behavior. Perhaps his memory was distorted as a defense mechanism to avoid being reminded of being left behind by Gilbert.

Presia’s thoughts were the same. Ian distorted all the memories that were unfavorable to him and created a favorable situation for himself. Complaining like this now was an extension of that situation.

He was proud of the fact that he risked his life to save his colleagues, but he was jealous that only Gilbert played an important role.

Is this correct?

From that day on, a crack appeared in Presia’s heart.

Although my resolve to support the inexperienced Ian and make him a hero did not change, I felt uneasy after seeing the truth about Gilbert before my eyes.

Especially when I saw Ian like this, those feelings grew even more. I asked myself, but couldn’t find a clear reason. It just fills my heart with frustration.

“Precia, you think so too, right?”

[Yes… of course.]

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”

[No, nothing like that.]

“If there is any problem, please tell me. Because Precia is really precious to me.”

At Ian’s warm words, Presia felt some of her frustration go away.

It was clear that this feeling of frustration was probably due to making a hasty judgment about the person named Gilbert. It was wrong to assume that he was a scoundrel or a bastard.

Precia decided that if she had the chance, she would apologize to Gilbert. His actions were great and served as an example to everyone. I guess I feel this way because I was one-sidedly criticizing such a person.

[Thank you for your concern.]

“Nothing to say. I heard that Gilbert’s injury is so severe that he can’t participate in the next subjugation battle. This time, it’s our turn.”

Those were words full of confidence, but Precia did not point that out.

Because what he said wasn’t entirely wrong.

[okay. This time it’s our turn.]

“Don’t worry. Because I will perform better than that guy Gilbert.”

[If it’s Ian, there won’t be any problem.]

Pressia agreed appropriately and looked around Gilbert, who was noisy.

I couldn’t help but feel frustrated.