Chapter 39


    [Trantor – Angel Dust]


    [Proofreader – Prototype]


    Chapter 39


    Ugh, it’s so exhausting. And I’m still embarrassed! Joachim screamed inwardly.


    I still couldn’t get used to this weird, ridiculous outfit.


    The body was that of a yellow fish, so why was the head my own?


    I want to cover it up, whatever it is, and make it unrecognizable.


    But Karl didn’t allow Joachim to do that.


    No masks, no sses, not even a change of hairstyle.


    He wanted me to be ‘me’, no matter what.


    “Ugh! Please help me, you guys!”


    Unable to bear it any longer, Joachim finally asked for help from the other three.


    Since they were taking turns doing this, I thought they would also help out.


    However, it was a mistake. And a miscalction.


    “Oh. It’s okay, it’s okay. We only have to do this for 30 minutes, you know?”


    “Yeah, that’s right. We’re not here to roast or cook like others.”


    “How nice it is to receive everyone’s attention. Don’t you envy us? So let’s cheer up, Joachim.”


    “You sons of bitches! Are you even my friends?!”


    “Just endure today and tomorrow.”


    Joachim realized thoroughly that he was alone. It was an unavoidable path.


    Of all things, they were all good at ‘cooking,’ but wasn’t I the only one who was miserable?


    If I had known this would happen, I would have be more familiar with fire and smoke.


    “Sigh….”


    Sighing, Joachim headed towards the booth again today.


    I began to bounce around, drawing attention to myself.


    Hmm. It’s kind of funny… No, wait. Am I going crazy?


    Less busy than the first day but still, today, like always, I heard people saying, ‘Isn’t that senior Joachim over there?’


    ‘Yeah, it’s me. It’s me, so stop whispering like that. Don’t point at me with your fingers…’


    In the midst of this, I suddenly noticed a peculiar guest.


    ‘…Army uniform?’


    If I’m not mistaken, that’s right. That red-haired woman is definitely wearing a uniform.


    I remember it clearly because I’ve seen it from afar at military events and in training.


    Moreover, she had a very shy silver medal hanging on her chest.


    ‘Is she here to find Karl because of what happened yesterday?’


    If so, she wouldn’t be a wee guest. It would be better if they didn’t bother him.


    Even though Karl is usually a kind guy, he can be really scary when he gets angry.


    With a worried heart, I observed the red-haired guest.


    “Master.”


    …Master? Wait a minute. Who’s the master here?


    Are there professors here? But there aren’t any, right?


    “I’m here.”


    The woman said so, surprisingly, to Karl, who was just handing over the bungeoppang.


    Watching that scene, I unintentionally nced at Selena.


    She had a very beautiful appearance that didn’t match her army uniform.


    And on top of that, a voice that gives off a very familiar feeling as soon as you hear it, and even an honorific title.


    If Selena’s reaction is good in this situation, then that’s truly unbelievable.


    “….”


    Uh, um. This seems really bad. I have a bad feeling about this.


    * * *


    “Rav?”


    At first, I didn’t recognize her immediately. At that time, we were both pretending to be unfamiliar with each other.


    Moreover, back then, she had really short hair, unlike now.


    Oh, by the way, at that time, some of the unit members actually thought she was a man and made some vulgar jokes.


    But when we asked her gender because her face didn’t look very good, twe found out she was a woman.


    “Yes. It’s me.”


    Rav Lavrenti. A person from another unit whom I met briefly.


    After that, we were separated because we were assigned to different areas, and we never met again.


    It wasn’t someone I held deep in my heart because our meeting was so brief.


    It was just anotherrade I hoped would live if news of a sh came from that front line.


    But never did I imagine that I would see her again like this in this ce.


    “I was worried you might have forgotten, but it seems you remember?”


    “I remember vividly from back then. Our guys made a mistake… But anyway, what brings you here?”


    “I’ve been discharged. As a sergeant, like you.”


    And this, too, I received. It’s much lower in rank than a sergeant, but still.


    Rav said with a shy smile, pointing to her chest.


    “Uh….”


    If I didn’t see it wrong, that shining thing, it’s the Silver Medal of Military Merit.


    She said it was much lower than the medal I received, so she fiddled with her hands.


    But in reality, that Silver Medal is also very difficult to obtain.


    Moreover, Rav is not even a nonmissioned officer from the beginning, she’s just a soldier like me.


    The fact that a soldier who was sent to the battlefield once received such a medal?


    It’s not something that’s easy to aplish. It’s clear that she must have done something remarkable.


    For me, who was far from the front line she was on, it was something I didn’t know much about.


    “The Silver Medal of Military Merit.”


    “Yes.”


    I didn’t congratte her. Instead, I conveyed my thanks for her hard work.


    Anyone who returns from the battlefield. Anyone who receives a medal doesn’t want to hear congrattions like that.


    “This medal is also thanks to you, Master.”


    “What did I do?”


    “Well, actually…”


    “Cough! Cough!”


    Just as Rav was about to speak up, a loud cough suddenly came from behind.


    I turn to see Selena ring at me, arms crossed.


    “Karl.”


    “Oh? Uh, Selena. What’s up?”


    “Let’s save the small talk forter. Don’t you see the people waiting behind? They’re all pretending not to say anything, but you can tell they’re ufortable, avoiding eye contact and all.”


    Ah, right. I was in the middle of doing business. Geez. What am I doing with all these guests?


    “Rav. Sorry, but let’s continue our conversationter. So, what’ll it be?”


    “If it’s your idea, I’m all for it. Just give me the whole menu.”


    I filled the bag with bungeoppang ording to Rav’s preferences. Taking it, Rav said she woulde back at closing time and disappeared.


    “Hmm….”


    But why on earth is she calling me a master?


    What’s with the talk about the medal being because of me? I have so many questions to ask.


    “Alexander.”


    “Oh, Selena. What’s up?”


    “Switch seats with Karl.”


    “Huh?! I just switched with him and was taking a break.”


    “Switch. Right now.”


    “Okay.”


    I was back in my chair ten minutes after switching with Alexander.


    I’m sorry, Alexander. I’ll do some more for youter.


    “Here.”


    Selena, who’d invited me to sit down, plopped her ass down across from me.


    She crosses her arms over her chest, leans forward slightly, and opens her mouth.


    “Now, let’s talk properly. Who was that person just now?”


    Though I wondered why Selena was suddenly acting this way, I decided to answer obediently.


    Judging from her expression, deflecting with ‘why do you ask?’ wouldn’t work.


    “Lavrenti. Someone I briefly met from another unit during the peak of the Luzernes War.”


    “Is that all?”


    “Unfortunately, that’s it. We only met once because our units were different.”


    “…Then why did that woman call you master?”


    Would you believe me if I told you that’s what I’m most curious about, Selena?


    A master refers to someone who gives good teachings to another person like me.


    But I’ve never taught or passed anything on to Lavrenti. I even apologized for covering up the mistakes our unit made! I just lowered my head.


    Ha, suddenly I feel unjustly used. Why do those idiots cause the ident, but I’m the one held responsible?


    Stupid bastards. They know there are women in the Imperial Army, yet they still act like that.


    “…I don’t know.”


    “You don’t know?”


    “It sounds like a joke, but seriously. I really don’t know.”


    Upon hearing this, Selena made a bewildered expression.


    “You say you can’t remember, but that person was addressing you very politely as a master. Does it make sense that you don’t remember?”


    “Right now, I know how ridiculous I must look. But I really don’t remember.”


    “Unbelievable….”


    At first, it was a slightly scary atmosphere, but now Selena has returned to her usual self. She seems to be subtly sympathizing with Lavrenti. She even says I’m being too harsh.


    Looking at it this way, could it be that not knowing the reason is a blessing from the heavens granted to me?


    “…By the way, she mentioned that the medal was because of me.”


    “The medal?”


    “Yeah. The Silver Medal of Military Merit.”


    In terms of rank, it’s a medal thates after the Imperial Medal of Honor and the Order of the Cross.


    But all three of them, no, all the medals below them are items that prove exceptional bravery and pride as a member of the proud Imperial Army.


    Rav said she’s much lower than me and feels embarrassed, but there’s no need for her to feel that way at all.


    “If she was just a fellow soldier like you, she may not be as high-ranking as Karl, but she still contributed quite a bit… Do you happen to know anything?”


    “I don’t know. Since my frontline waspletely different from hers.”


    “Any rumors?”


    “Why would I care about rumors among soldiers rolling around on the battlefield? I’m more curious about outside news.”


    Oh, they say someone from the adjacent unit gets awarded for doing something well~ News like that? I couldn’t care less.


    Just what’s for today’s meal. Whether there have been any reported ambushes separately.


    I hope the rumor is not about an enemy ambush, but about a friendly one. That’s the only thing I’m curious about!


    [Trantor – Angel Dust]


    [Proofreader – Prototype]