chapter 25
***
Looking at Carly, I got nervous.
Regardless of whether I am confident or not, this was not a situation that could be expressed in such words.
– Predator and prey.
Just like she and I are in that relationship right now. It was a completely different feeling to receive Carly’s gaze completely.
cold smile.
At the same time, the red eyes staring straight up were pretty…but that wasn’t as good now.
gulp.
Why does it feel so great to even turn the saliva?
And then. Carly has been asking me questions.
“Do you think the front lines of the empire are properly maintained now for Han Cheon-seong cadets? I want the cadets to tell me what they usually feel.”
The question was followed by a calm voice.
It was something I hadn’t thought of at all, but, ironically, it didn’t feel strange.
‘A question that can only be asked because it is Kali.’
Rather, it felt that way.
Kali Ishtar, one of the unique characters I felt while watching the Grand Royal Academy. She was really special.
Although he is born with characteristics and talents, he lives with the word “effort” in his mouth. And even if anyone sees it, it is strangely obsessed with ‘effort’.
And I know what the reason is. Why did she place so much importance on her efforts? Even asking about the wires now was the same.
Until this year, she spent three years on the fierce battlefield, performing great on the front lines.
bloody woman. Even the fact that she has a nickname like that exists because she has shown such a great performance.
“… … .”
after asking a question. Carly, who looked at me, did not rush to answer.
Even if I’m lost in thoughts, they just look into my eyes with a calm gaze as if they’ll wait for me.
After that, I put my thoughts together briefly and immediately opened my mouth.
“I think the front will be pushed out more and more.”
Knowing future poetry, I was able to infer the answer.
The future of this world I know.
Considering the current war situation, the front lines of the empire had been fixed for several years.
It doesn’t push the wires, and it doesn’t push any more. But then a wind of sudden change is blowing.
It’s an absolute crisis.
There must be some signs of that on the front lines now.
“The wire has been pushed out. Why does Han Cheon-seong think so? The front has not been pushed back in the last three years. Not even once.”
Was my answer surprising? Carly looked at me as if assertively.
His gaze filled with interest, and he seemed to ask why he thought so.
“The reason is that the number of cadets who want to go to the battlefield is gradually decreasing, and the number of officers and soldiers who maintain the front is also continuing to decrease, isn’t it?”
I was able to come up with the answer right away.
Several officers and soldiers fighting to defend the front line. And there were some who could be called the pillars of this world.
The reason why the current wire is not pushed and even the wire is maintained is because they are there. However, each day continues so fiercely that it has to be said that many talented people in the empire are being separated from the front lines.
Suddenly, I remembered what Carly had said.
―Now, among the instructors of this academy, there is no one who has not stood on the battlefield.
So it was only natural that Carly was looking at us coldly now.
Their gaze on the battlefield is inevitably different from that of cadets who have just entered the academy.
Even standing in the denomination of the academy was not simply teaching.
They had to ‘teach’, so they stood in the church.
The harsh reality of the battlefield. Because they faced the truth, they could not live their daily lives with ordinary thoughts.
If they don’t do that, they know that this empire has no future.
Carly, who gave a deep glance at my answer, smiled lightly and continued.
“I guess the Hancheonseong cadets were more interested in the battlefield than they thought? Most people wouldn’t want to know about the battlefield like that.”
“I just found out by chance.”
“okay? Then even that would have been known since there was minimal interest in it.”
At Carly’s next words, I simply nodded my head slightly.
…I couldn’t think of any more answers than this.
Still, I felt fortunate that my answer didn’t offend Carly.
Immediately after, Carly looked away from me.
And he gazes at the countless cadets in the classroom from a different perspective than before.
As her gaze met again, the rigid cadets relaxed little by little, and the heavy air inside was relieved even more.
At the sight, I too could breathe a little.
“Hey. Is that great?”
Similarly, when David, who was relaxed, gave out a small exclamation as if in a whisper, I just shook my head slightly and couldn’t answer.
I answered it, all I knew was that I was able to answer it.
It wasn’t really that great.
And at that moment, Carly gently wiped the smile off her lips.
“Contrary to the answer given by the Hancheonseong cadets just now, the front lines are clearly fixed. And that condition has been going on for years. Most of the people in the Empire think this entrenched front will continue. But as me, who has spent every day on the front line, I don’t feel that way at all. In the future, there is a high possibility that the front will be pushed aside as the cadet Han Cheon-seong said. And it’s not that different from the other officers on the front line right now.”
Let Carly speak slowly. All the cadets listened to her.
overwhelming momentum. There was not a single cadet who lightly listened to Carly’s words after showing a light skill exercise a while ago.
And knowing that… I felt like my ears were tickling for nothing.
‘I don’t think I’m in the words.’
Because my name is completely included in the heavy remarks. It felt like heat was rising on my face.
“And all the cadets here now are endowed with battle-related traits, and have been admitted to the Grand Royal Academy. But now I want to ask you guys. How many cadets are there now who will stand on the battlefield in the future? In that sense, if there are cadets who wish to graduate and stand on the battlefield, please raise your hand.”
As soon as Carly finished speaking, the cadets started raising their hands one by one.
Some seemed to raise their hands as if they had felt something from Kali’s words, and some cadets raised their hands as if they were not afraid to stand on the battlefield.
And there were cadets who did not raise their hands as if they had no intention of standing on the battlefield.
Shrek.
That’s when even David, who was right next to him, raised his hand.
I… inadvertently started to think.
‘The goal I set out to live in this world after falling from this world.’
I thought that it was just enough for me to be in good health and to be sympathetic.
After entering the academy and graduating with suitable grades, he was chosen by a high-ranking nobleman and lived as a knight or something that suited his character.
You just have to live like that… … .
By the way.
After many thoughts repeated with Carly’s words, I felt that those thoughts were very easy now.
Because the basis of that thought was simply the belief that the main character would do everything.
Numerous crises and adversities to come.
There was a belief that Leonhardt would get through all of that with his indomitable will.
His heart can only be broken, and Leonhardt’s heart is not broken even in the face of many misfortunes.
’cause I believe in it I thought so.
I’ve read all of the novel Grand Royal Academy, and that’s the reason why I looked good.
The novel certainly had some attractive heroines, but that wasn’t the main reason. It’s the main character’s attitude. posture. It was because I liked the indomitable will the most.
Not succumbing to adversity and hardship. You can get through it with a strong will.
Although the legendary character possesses outstanding qualities and overwhelming talent, the protagonist does not despise or take others lightly.
It was really ideal.
And such an ideal figure… strangely attracted me.
It’s like watching a boy cartoon that was popular a long time ago. Because it touched my heart much more than other novels that deal with hardships and crises lightly and solve difficulties.
By the way.
Now this world has changed.
If there were some things that I knew, there were other things that were completely different.
Immediately, Glecia was assigned to the same class as Leonhardt. In addition, the reality that Luna and Milia, who can be seen as assistants of the main character, were assigned to the same C1 class as me, not the B class.
And just yesterday I had a battle with the main character.
All of them are heterogeneous, and there was nothing in the original original.
‘okay. The world has already changed.’
In a completely different direction from the original I thought… .
Then I felt a lot of gazes, and my thoughts were cut off.
“……”
“……”
Suddenly, many cadets in the classroom were looking at me. And it wasn’t long before I realized why so many cadets looked at me.
Carly standing in the church was looking at me with a deep gaze.
Obviously, I wasn’t the only cadet who didn’t raise his hand right away. Still, Carly just looked at me without saying a word.
Unlike before, with eyes full of obvious ‘disappointment’.
And even when she didn’t open her mouth, it felt like she was giving me time.
It’s as if your eyes are telling me to raise your hand even now… that kind of feeling.
“…”
Breathing in, I slowly raised my hand.
To be honest, I don’t even know what it is anymore.
How am I supposed to live? I wondered if it was right to live only thinking of my own comfort as I first thought… Now I was confused.
‘If this world is really… different from what I knew.’
How can I live my life thinking like that?
Can it be seen that Leonhardt can overcome all that lies ahead?
ㅡThings like that echo countless times in my heart and resonate with my heart.
Is my attitude of trying to live while ignoring what will happen in the future is correct?
And in that thought, I could see.
Carly slowly rolled up her lips and smiled.
As if she thought I’d raise her hand like that, her smile looked so satisfying… I felt embarrassed for nothing.
‘If that’s the case, I would have raised my hand earlier.’
I wasn’t forced to raise my hand.
To the other cadets now, it would have looked as if I was forced to pick it up because I was pushed by their gaze.
Shrek.
When I completely raised my hand, Carly swept her red hair down once, and nodded her head.
“More than half of the cadets now raise their hands to stand on the battlefield in the future. It’s okay to put your hands down now. Although there are probably many cadets who raised their hands right now because of my gaze or being swept away by the atmosphere. As time goes on and the academy graduation approaches, I don’t think a tenth of those who raise their hands now will be on the battlefield. Still, I’m quite satisfied with this look. this attitude. Even if you don’t stand on the battlefield, just thinking about the battlefield has its own meaning.”
…Everyone seemed to be impressed by Carly’s words as she looked at the cadet with a slightly soft gaze.
You just need to think seriously about it right now.
It’s okay to just be interested in what’s going on on the battlefield of the Empire.
That’s what Carly was talking about now.
You don’t have to stand on the battlefield.
“…”
But those words sounded like they were aimed at me.
I can’t do that at all.
I felt strangely that way.
For me who knows the future of this world… .
Because her words were not taken lightly.
For a moment, I was lost in thoughts for a moment.
“In that sense, Hancheonseong cadets?”
“…Yes. Instructor.”
When I answered the sudden call blankly, Carly suddenly smiled a very strange smile.
“After today’s lecture. Let the cadets follow the instructor.”