NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 21
[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
Chapter 21
“New mission?”
[Yes. The details are―]
“No, no. Wait a minute. This isn’t right. I just finished a mission, so I need a break, don’t I?!”
The squirrel makes a pitiful expression.
As if to ask, do you really have to do this, in this situation?
Of course, Eloise had no intention of budging.
“I’m tired. Give me an order to return.”
[…I will tell you the details of the mission. Eloise Loengrand. Regarding this incident…]
“Ah. I don’t know. I don’t know― I can’t work. I won’t do it! Let me go home, let me go home!”
[The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already agreed to the immediate interrogation of the prisoners―]
“I worked all night on overtime to get here! Let me go home! I want to go home!”
[…If necessary, you will be given the authority to call in witnesses from your side.]
“Witnesses?”
Eloise, who had been shouting to go home, suddenly asks back.
If you think there’s a dangerous glint in her eyes, you’re not wrong.
[Yes. Find out as much information as possible that is necessary for our side and return.]
“Is that really all I have to do? If you make me do anything else, I’m going to go on strike.”
[You’re good at talking, even though you won’t listen to anything more I say.]
Tsk, the sound of her clicking her tongue is heard and the squirrel’s eyes return to focus..
Then, once again, the squirrel disappears into the forest.
“Hmm.”
Eloise sits down on a tree stump and purses her lips in thought.
In a corner of the forest, sunlight coming in moderately, a beauty with a dizzying figure sits beneath it.
A woman who seems to shake the hearts of many men, and she suddenly claps her hands.
“Okay, let’s do it.”
I’ve made up my mind. Since it’s come to this, I’ll ask that man named Karl to be a witness.
The moment I saw him, I felt something strange. I want to feel it again!
Even if that’s not the case, he’s a face I want to see again. He’s totally my type!
Anyway, he’s actually involved, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Since I’ve already been given the mission, why not kill two birds with one stone?
Eloise thought to herself as she continued to walk.
* * *
“There! Over there! It’s Sergeant Karl Adelheit!”
“Get him! We must secure the interview this time!”
“I’m going first! If I don’t get it, the team leader said he’d kill me!”
“Same here, you little punk!”
…It wasn’t chaos, destruction, or ruin. Well, perhaps it was a scene of extreme chaos.
Selena and I reconciled, and by that evening, the foursome had returned to the Academy.
I thought it was going to be a cheerful and energetic Monday morning after a long time, but it was anything but fun.
Inside the academy, reporters were still holding out, some pitching tents, others seemingly just camping out on the pavement.
Wait, what’s this? Are they really going to sleep outside?
It’s not even summer yet, won’t it be cold at night?!
Remarkable people. Are some of them veterans who endured the harsh winter more than once in the military?
‘Darn it. If they slept rough even during training, it’s common courtesy to reciprocate.’
I could have run away, but I felt weak and gave up.
Watching that sight made me think of my comrades.
When you think about it, those people are just working hard too, with compassionate hearts—
“Sergeant! Sergeant! Look over here!”
“Could you please elaborate on the train hijacking and attempted terrorism incident from two days ago?”
“Do you believe reconciliation with the elves is possible? We’re curious about your opinion!”
“Sergeant Karl Adelheit!”
Ah! Cancel. Cancel! Fuck your compassionate hearts! Just everyone, get lost!
“Some say that even though they’re enemies, they shouldn’t be treated so cruelly…”
What bullshit is this? The Late Heo Jun would probably rise from his grave to stick a needle in his head.
[PR/N: Heo Jun was a Korean physician during the Joseon Dynasty in the early seventeenth century.]
As it was a matter I couldn’t just overlook, I approached the reporter who made such remarks.
“I’ll say this here clearly. The elves who seek reconciliation with the Empire are undoubtedly allies. But those Kanfra bastards, the damn sons of bitches, can be treated as such.”
Swish!
I just had a blast. Look at them. Scribbling so much that you can’t even see it.
I wonder if I’m just adding fuel to the fire, but what’s done is done.
I’m not exactly tied down to the military anyway, might as well have some more fun. Hehehe!
“What kind of idiotic thing is it to talk in front of those who try to resolve things with violence? Respect comes from fear. I simply taught them how to respect the Empire.”
That’s enough. I’ve said sufficient. I won’t respond any further.
“Sergeant! Just a bit more! Just a bit!”
“Witnesses say you didn’t use your gun, is there a reason for that?”
Ah, that. It’s because my shooting skills are useless. Bullets and gunpowder are too precious to waste.
“The situation was urgent, so I opted for a more certain close combat. Isn’t it more tragic if Empire citizens get hit by my gun in such a confined space?”
Once again, as soon as I give my answer, the reporters scribble something down at the speed of light. I was so curious about what they were writing that I peeked at the notebook of the reporter next to me.
– Luzerne’s elves aren’t worth shooting. One greatsword is enough. –
…? Wait, what’s this reporter doing—
“Alright, everyone! Interviews are all very well and good, but don’t you think you shouldn’t be grabbing someone who has a morning lecture right now?”
“As Imperial newspaper reporters, please maintain your dignity.”
“Let’s go, Karl.”
“We can leave them to those two.”
No! Damn it! Let go! Release me! That darn reporter wrote something weird!
These guys, who suddenly volunteered to be my bodyguards and are trying to drag me away, are of course the four protagonists.
Behind me are Shulifen and Wilhelm. And beside me are Alexander and Joachim.
“Oh! It’s Shulifen! And next to him is Wilhelm!”
“Really?! Those two over there must be Alexander and Joachim!”
“I heard they enlisted as soldiers! How are they here?”
“Did they desert?!”
Shit, that’s not it either. You fucking morons! It’s because of my tear-jerking sincerity and genuine persuasion!
“Come on, let’s hurry, Karl. We are going to be late for the lecture.”
“Let go! And also! You guys are fourth-years, right? You don’t even attend the same lectures as me, so why suddenly this? I don’t need bodyguards, so please let go for now—”
“Aren’t you going to take the general education classes now?”
General education? Oh, right. But why… Oh, wait. No way. Guys?
“We’re taking that.”
“Now you’re just sitting around to fill up general education credits? What have you been doing until now?!”
“Oh. That. Actually, I mistook mandatory and general education credits. I ended up taking more mandatory classes and fewer general education ones. Hahaha!”
“…Joachim. Are you the same as Alexander?”
In response to my question, Joachim quickly avoided eye contact, then blushed and nodded his head.
Still, it’s good that he feels embarrassed, these guys. Huh? That’s really fortunate!
“Then Shulifen and Wilhelm too?”
“Yeah. We’re all the same. The four of us always attended lectures together.”
“Fuck! You guys are seriously messed up.”
I’m still bummed that you guys were the main characters.
* * *
The reporters who spent the whole day at the academy finally withdrew. If they had returned empty-handed, they would have been disappointed, but not this time.
“Let’s quickly write articles!”
“This is breaking news! Just writing it will sell out the newspapers!”
“The bonus for this month is mine! It’s mine!”
Within less than a day, various articles began pouring out. The main content naturally revolved around the train hijacking incident and Karl.
Especially, the interviews Karl conducted became a big topic.
< Sergeant Karl Adelheit. Revealing the appearance of a recipient of the Medal of Honor. >
< The 'Elf' title is a luxury for an Elf who disrupts the unity of the Empire! >
< Why did soldiers give the name 'Kanfra' to them! Revealing every detail! >
< "Bullets were even too precious for them." Concerns about taxpayers of the Empire. >
As articles about Karl poured out, naturally, interviews with his former comrades also began to emerge.
“Karl? Oh. My son has made it big. Oh, not really my son, though. He’s just my first-year successor, so I call him my son’s military number. Don’t get it twisted. Ah! Don’t write weird articles like that!”
“That guy. When he came in as my successor, he complained about why I gave him a nobleman’s uniform of all things.”
“Sergeant Karl. Oh, should I call him Sergeant? Anyway! He’s a good guy, but sometimes he has odd moments. Like suddenly dancing instead of standing guard at the outpost. When asked why, he said he was trying to warm up because it was too cold.”
The interviewees were different, and their stories varied. Yet, there was one common theme they all mentioned.
“Our boy. I remember he couldn’t shoot a gun properly.”
“It seems he didn’t shoot not because bullets were precious, but because he was afraid of missing?”
“Oh, him? Well, he was remarkably skilled in close combat, but shooting…”
To sum it up, shooting was a flop. If you fired ten shots, hitting two was considered lucky.
Upon hearing this news, Karl had to mutter a curse under his breath. What could he do? It was the truth. In reality, there were numerous instances where he only hit once.
‘I demand they make me a machine gun! Just wait and see!’
If you miss with ten shots, shoot a thousand! Then you’ll hit!
This is Avada Kedavra! You barbaric wizards!!
He was shouting things that would have horrified the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Magic.
[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr𝒆e(w)𝒆bnovel