008
I lay there, staring at the night sky. Stars twinkled beyond the shoulders of the dead guardsman who was kneeling.
It was the first time I had seen such a clear night sky. It was a sight not seen in the imperial capital, Akbaran.
The stars in the night sky are beautiful.
Perhaps this scene will be the last scene of my life. My body has been trembling since a while ago. As soon as the excitement of battle subsided, pain and death came rushing in like a lump of debt.
“Ha, damn it.”
It was only then that I saw that my side was torn long and blood was gushing out. I felt like my internal organs might be exposed to the outside world.
My body was in no condition to rise and move on its own. I tried to cover my torn side with my broken hands.
Creak, creak.
The tattered fingers were malfunctioning. It seemed as if the wound would open up even more. Let’s stop, damn it.
I blinked. Whether I died or not, the stars twinkled. Beyond that sea of stars, there must be the Earth where our ancestors lived.
Thud, thud.
I heard footsteps. I lifted my head slightly and looked ahead. There were other survivors besides me. I smiled weakly.
“You’re alive, Luca.”
Ilay, who had lost one arm, was staggering towards me.
“What about the other guys?”
When I asked, Ilay shook her head slowly.
“It’s split in two, left and right or up and down.”
It seemed like the Paladin’s swordsmanship had taken effect. The only survivors were Ilay and I.
Illei stood by my bedside. He knelt down, stared at the dead guard, then pushed him backwards, knocking him over.
“… …Luka, your wounds are bad. If you keep going like this, you’ll die.”
“I know even if you don’t say it.”
Illei checked my condition. But the guy’s expression was strange. His eyes kept glancing eastward.
Yes, Ilay Kartika. Your heart is in your direction. Now is a good opportunity. If you deal with missing persons during a mission, the aftermath will be clean. It wouldn’t be strange if you couldn’t find one body.
“Luka, I… … .”
Ilay closed his eyes tightly and opened them. He turned his head and stared east. I knew the meaning of that gaze. Our empire was in the west. The east was the territory of Cora and Bellato.
Ilay always wanted to leave the Empire. I could tell without him saying it.
“If you’re going to go, go quickly. Don’t even think about treating me. The follow-up team will be here soon.”
I lay there and stared at Ilay. Ilay looked at me with blurry eyes and then averted her gaze.
Damn it.
Ilay walked past me. His footsteps were moving away.
I couldn’t understand Ilay’s thoughts and actions. He had both the abilities and background that any imperial subject would envy. His life was guaranteed to be successful.
Illai is ready to abandon everything and leave the empire.
‘No matter how much I think about it, I can’t understand you, Ilay.’
But I could respect it. I wanted Ilay to live her life the way she wanted.
If I’m lucky, I might be able to hold out until the next generation arrives.
‘If you’re unlucky, you go to the afterlife.’
I took a slow breath. I closed my eyes and opened them, staring at the stars. It didn’t feel so bad.
Thud, thud.
The footsteps that had been distant were gradually coming closer. I let out a sigh mixed with laughter. Ah, it hurts when I laugh.
“What are you doing, Deungshin-ah?”
I looked at Ilay who had returned and said. Ilay knelt down and applied emergency measures, stopping the bleeding on my side with one hand.
“I guess I’m as tall as you say.”
Illai said with a bitter smile.
* * *
As soon as I recovered after being taken to the empire, I was called here and there. It seemed that the reconnaissance of this historic site was also considered a major agenda item by the higher-ups.
Even high-ranking officials whose titles alone make your head hurt came to hear my report. They talked about complicated politics in front of me. There was talk that there would be diplomatic friction with the Holy Nation of Korra.
One guard was killed, and three cadets were killed. But that wasn’t the cause of the uproar. It was a daily occurrence for Imperial soldiers to die.
I was looking at a catalogue of cybernetic products. What I am wearing now are temporary prosthetic limbs and arms. They are not designed for combat use, so they are only good for everyday life. The sense of inertia is so strong that it feels like my limbs are chained.
“There was a relic discovered at the site we visited. There’s a lot of talk about its ownership.”
Ilay said. As expected from a noble family, he was well-informed about various matters. It seemed like he had a lot to learn.
Arcane relic.
I pictured the cube spinning around in the center of the ruins. I thought it was something unusual, but I didn’t know it was a relic.
“What about the recovery?”
“We’re forming a recovery team of experts. For now, the Royal Guard is guarding the site. It’s worth it. Some relics are even strategic resources for the country… … .”
Ilay was rambling on about relics. Unfortunately, I was not interested, so I just turned a deaf ear.
“… … If the Holy Nation does not give up this historic site and relics, a fairly large battle may break out. It won’t escalate to an all-out war, though.”
All-out war was something each country was avoiding.
The Accresia Empire, the Holy Nation of Korra, and the Bellato Federation.
If two of these countries engage in a full-scale war, the other country will gain a great advantage. Therefore, each country only repeated local wars with losses it could afford.
It’s not really my story. No, it does have something to do with me. But I wasn’t interested. In the end, it’s the job of high-ranking politicians.
I just fight as I am ordered to do. That is what it means to be a soldier and enlisted man of the Empire.
‘household troops…….’
I thought of the guard who met his end at the ruins. He moved like a ghost even though his head was blown off.
‘Phantom phenomenon caused by residual signals.’
The captain of the guard dismissed my report. It was an obvious answer. And it wasn’t the answer I wanted.
‘Even after he died, he listened to me and reacted. It wasn’t some kind of phantom phenomenon.’
The question remained in my heart without being resolved. But I am not foolish enough to delve into something that has not been answered by my superiors.
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I was lost in thought, unable to turn a single page of the catalog.
“Luka, I recommend the F-24 Reus model prosthetic arm. It will have a short adaptation period, so you’ll be able to recover quickly, and its performance will be better than what you were using.”
Illai tilted his head to the side and pointed to the catalog.
I glanced at Ilay. He looked calm. He chose to save me instead of running away from the Empire.
“Ilay, you… … .”
“I don’t regret it. Because to me, you were worth it.”
Illai read my intention and answered. I said no more.
* * *
It was about time I got used to my new prosthetic arms and legs.
I stepped into an unfamiliar space.
It was a bright space, unusually for a cadet training facility. The walls were a warm white, and there were potted plants here and there on the shelves. Thanks to the sunlight streaming in through the glass windows, the interior was bright even without the lights.
‘Interview room.’
It was a place where students’ acquaintances and families could meet. It was a place that had absolutely no connection to me, as someone from an orphanage.
“what…….”
I scratched my neck and stared ahead. I didn’t know what to say. The girl who had come to see me was sitting in front of me.
The interviewer’s identity was already known.
‘Lillian Ramones.’
She was the younger sister of Claude Ramones, who had recently died.
Lillian was still wearing her black mourning dress. She noticed my presence and stood up. Her slightly closed eyes looked drowsy.
“It’s our first meeting… right?”
Lillian said cautiously. I nodded and sat down in front of her.
“Because I saw it at Claude’s funeral.”
I felt uneasy in many ways. After all, I was the leader of the mission in which Claude died.
‘It would be polite to accept it even if you question me.’
I prepared myself mentally and waited for Lillian to speak. Lillian was looking at me quietly.
“I’ve heard a lot about you from Claude, Luca.”
That was unexpected. I tilted my head slightly to express my doubt.
“About me?”
“He said he had a talented friend among his peers. He asked me if I wanted to date him.”
Claude tried to link Lillian and me. It seemed like he had already mentioned me to Lillian several times.
“Do you know where I’m from?”
“So it’s actually a good thing.”
It was even more puzzling. Lillian Ramones could have married a nobleman from a better family. In this vast empire, there must surely be someone with a better background and ability than me.
“Better?”
“Because it reduces unnecessary procedures between you and me. What about you?”
Lillian leaned forward and rested her chin on both hands.
The more she came out, the more uncomfortable I felt. I would rather be at ease in a battlefield where bullets were flying.
“I don’t know much about you, Lillian.”
It was the most polite rejection I know. My tongue was already itching as I was having a conversation that didn’t suit my taste.
“Can’t we just start getting to know each other now? I don’t know much about you either.”
This woman is not easy. Contrary to her relaxed expression, she was persistent. If I pulled her away roughly, it felt like my flesh would fall off along with her.
“… … I need some time to think.”
“I think it’s a good deal for you. I think other people would be jealous too.”
I flinched. Conditions that even others would envy… … .
If you think about it carefully, Lillian’s words were not wrong. It was a chance to get involved with a woman from a good family.
If I wanted to make it big, I needed connections and family power. Lillian would provide that.
‘Not ideal.’
A man in my situation would want a woman like Lillian.
… … But that’s what other people want. It’s not what I want.
Suddenly, I thought of Ilay Kartika. He was born with enviable circumstances, yet he wanted to escape the Empire. I always thought that was a really stupid thing to do.
‘So that’s what it was.’
It would have been foolish to turn down Lillian’s offer, but right now I wanted to do something foolish.
“Luca?”
Lillian tilted her head at me. I gave a definitive answer.
“I refuse.”
I spoke briefly without adding any pretext. Lillian’s eyes fluttered for the first time. She must have had a thousand thoughts running through her head.
Druk.
I stood up. I couldn’t help it even though Lillian felt insulted. If I spoke politely and indirectly, she would probably stick around until the end.
Thud!
Lillian grabbed my wrist as if she was grabbing it. She was stronger than I thought.
“I guess I was in too much of a hurry, Luca.”
“No… … .”
Lillian cut me off with a smile.
“Let’s start with our friends! I’ll come see you again.”
She said, letting go of my wrist. Before I could answer, she turned away and walked out of the interview room first.
“… … It’s not easy.”
I muttered. She was a difficult woman in many ways.
