Chapter 223: A Familiar Face(2)
Chapter 223: A Familiar Face(2)
There is a saying: nothing is more sorrowful than getting injured in the military. This is half right and half wrong.
To a soldier, their body is their only asset. If they suffer an injury to a part that significantly affects daily life, like an arm or a leg, their combat power plummets.
Therefore, if someone among the ranks is injured, the priority should be protecting them and letting them focus entirely on recovery. If they try to work in that state? You should stop them, even if it means swearing at them.
Stepping up while injured only increases the likelihood of a more severe injury, which inevitably leads to a massive loss in overall strength.
It is normal to scold them for overexerting themselves while waiting for them to return to their original state through focused recovery; dragging them along in that condition is abnormal.
Unless the situation is the absolute worst of the worst, the injured are generally not dragged to the front lines. However, I witnessed countless instances in my past life where people failed at even this simple task, causing all sorts of scandals.
In that regard, the army of the Minerva Empire—especially special forces like the Navy Knights—can be considered to have a passing grade. According to Nicole, she was injured toward the end of the entrance test, and the instructor told her he’d pass her anyway and ordered her to sit out.
Actually, the reason she got injured was something the instructor found quite satisfactory. While the other recruits were flagging, Nicole had preserved her stamina until the end of the test. She ended up getting hurt while helping her struggling comrades.
"It was just an accident. A pack of Orcs ambushed us during the march. Fortunately, the instructors were prepared since it’s an area where monsters frequently appear, but there were just too many of them. That’s how this happened."
Nicole explained in a nonchalant voice, tapping her splinted right arm with her left hand. She might truly be fine, but as her younger brother, I couldn't help but worry.
It wasn't just any part of the body; it was her arm. For a knight, it’s one of the most devastating places to be injured.
It was lucky she received emergency treatment; she said the bone had snapped clean in half at first. If things had gone wrong, she could have lived with a permanent disability.
Perhaps she saw the look on my face. Nicole let out a small chuckle, then slowly reached out and gave my cheek a light pinch.
"Don't look at me like that. Even if I'm just an apprentice, I'm a knight now. A knight must be prepared for unexpected situations anytime, anywhere. An injury like this is nothing. Besides, getting injured in the first place just means I still have a long way to go."
"Noona. Human bodies are much more fragile than other races."
"I know. I'm just telling you not to worry so much."
Nicole flashed a cheerful smile to ease my concerns. Perhaps because of that, I also felt a warm smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
One way or another, she was strong. She had performed her duties as a teaching assistant at the Academy alongside Adelia without a hitch, and she had inherited great talent from our father.
Though she was injured, the fact that she had passed the Navy Knights' entrance test with ease meant that as long as she was careful, she wouldn't suffer any more major harm.
"If you say so, Noona. Did you visit the mansion before coming here?"
"Yeah. I heard some pretty interesting things happened while I was away. Starting from a Demon princess to that incident with the Elves. It’s only been a month, but a lot of things have exploded."
"So you've heard everything."
It seemed she had been fully briefed on the events that occurred while she was taking her entrance test. There was no need for a separate explanation.
"But you seem to have changed a lot in the meantime? Your hair is longer, and you look taller. Are you wearing perfume?"
"It's not perfume. I went to the temple and received divine power, and I've had this scent ever since."
"Really? Then it must be the scent of lilacs. They say the believers favored by Lord Luminous smell like lilacs."
A month is longer than one might think. In other words, just asking about each other's recent lives leads to a flood of stories.
Even if Nicole had heard about the incidents at the mansion, I knew nothing about her recent activities.
Thanks to that, I got to hear about what kind of entrance tests the Navy Knights maintain and just how grueling they are. The intensity was enough to make one shudder just by listening.
Additionally, I heard stories about our older brother, Dave, who had headed to the Navy Knights first. Since there had been no news from him, it was only natural to be curious.
"Dave has already shed his apprentice tag. They're pushing him within the Knights, saying his future is promising. He has Father's halo, of course, but he's also constantly striving."
"I see. But why hasn't he come home on leave? Tell him his third sibling will be disappointed if he doesn't visit later."
"Oh, you. I'll tell him, but it'll be hard for him to get leave. The Navy Knights are a small elite force, so every single person counts."
As I listened to the explanation, I stole a glance at Nicole. Being part of the Navy Knights, the pride of the Minerva Empire, even her uniform was immaculate.
Furthermore, the navy-blue uniform complemented Nicole's hair color, making her look even more striking. The uniform alone was cool enough to be a reason to join the Navy Knights.
"The uniform is really cool, though. Don't people admire you whenever you pass by?"
"A little?"
Nicole tilted her chin up boastfully, clearly proud of herself. Since it was the Navy Knights, her self-esteem must be incredibly high.
And Nicole was more than qualified. Even back in her days as a teaching assistant, she was a talent among talents, possessing skills no less than those of a knight.
I looked at Nicole with admiration before glancing at the clock. We had been talking for over thirty minutes, and it was already past four.
Staying in the dormitory like this wasn't ideal, but it was too early for dinner. Still, I wanted to spend some quality time with my sister whom I hadn't seen in a while, so I planned to have dinner with her.
"How many days are you planning to stay?"
"I have to head back after about three days. It takes quite a while to get from the capital to the border region."
"That's good. Then let's have dinner together today. I'll tell the others."
"No. Just eat with your acquaintances today. I have time tomorrow, too. Before that..."
Nicole trailed off slightly and began to steal glances at me. She clearly looked hesitant, as if debating whether to say something or not.
At first, I was puzzled as to why she was acting that way, but I understood immediately when the next words left her mouth.
"Um... how is Adele? Is she doing well as your guard knight?"
"Ah."
It was about her close friend and my guard knight, Adelia. Seeing that reaction, it seemed Nicole also knew that Adelia had feelings for me.
Nicole was probably the one with the most complicated feelings. After all, I had not only Mari but also Cecile by my side now.
And even though she hadn't said it outright, even Leona had boldly declared she would become my wife. If Nicole heard that, she wouldn't just sigh; she'd be clutching the back of her neck in shock.
Still, I planned to accept Leona after Adelia, so I was quietly waiting for now. I didn't know when I would reveal my identity, but as long as things stayed like this, there was no problem.
"...She's doing her job well."
"T-That's good. She might be a bit of a tomboy, but her skills are..."
"I even got a confession."
"I admit she... whaaat?!"
Nicole, who had been speaking with an awkward smile, cried out in shock. Her gaping mouth and wide eyes spoke volumes about her emotions.
I flinched at her reaction, then scratched my cheek with an embarrassed smile. After the duel with Hiriya, Adelia, who had been comforted in my arms, had directly expressed her feelings.
Although I couldn't readily accept her due to the circumstances, the fact that she confessed meant our relationship had moved beyond the ordinary.
Even when we exercised together on weekends, the frequency of physical contact increased, and she showed feminine sides she hadn't shown before. We were walking a tightrope, yet she hadn't crossed the final line.
"She... she actually confessed?"
"Yeah."
"Oh boy. What are we going to do..."
Nicole groaned, covering her face with one hand as if she had received a significant shock. Perhaps she thought Adelia had crossed a line.
Seeing her react like that, it seemed she also knew something about Adelia's circumstances. I had a feeling the conversation would proceed easily.
I waited patiently while Nicole was lost in thought. Her mind must be a mess, so I had to give her time to sort it out.
After some time had passed, Nicole, who had been pursing her lips, slowly raised her head and looked me straight in the eye.
Her shimmering golden eyes were etched with all sorts of turmoil.
"...So, what are you going to do? With not just one, but two women already there."
"What do you think, Noona?"
"You might not know, but that girl is prepared to even be a concubine. But knowing your personality, I don't know if you'd treat a concubine as just a concubine... No, before that, do those two know?"
"Roughly."
Mari's intuition was so sharp that she had long since noticed the unusual atmosphere between Adelia and me. She even asked about Adelia's well-being from time to time, so that said it all.
Cecile... she just didn't care. Whether I had more women or not, she was satisfied just being connected to me.
She had even been the first to suggest giving a seed to Kate to establish a connection. Although political reasons were mixed in, she didn't mind other women being by my side.
"But you know, Noona. If I get together with Adele-noona, I'll naturally have to reveal my identity. Do you know that Adele-noona is an illegitimate child of the Ters royalty?"
"...The Kingdom of Ters? Wasn't she just an ordinary noble?"
Nicole asked back, her eyes wide. I thought she knew this much, but apparently not.
"You only knew half of it."
"No. Before that, is she really an illegitimate child of the Ters royalty? That romanticist who doesn't even take concubines and only looks at the Queen?"
Nicole questioned me in a slightly urgent voice. Friedrich, the King of the Kingdom of Ters, is well known to the public as a romanticist.
Furthermore, he implements good policies, so he remains a good king in the eyes of the people of Ters.
But while he might truly be a romanticist, he is a failure as a father. Seeing the deep trauma etched into Adelia, it was highly likely he had just stood by and watched without intervening.
When I nodded calmly, Nicole let out a hollow laugh and a sigh. Then, shaking her head, she spoke in a voice drained of energy.
"...Then it'll be even more troublesome. If you reveal your identity, it'll definitely affect her too. They might even try to use her. No, they definitely will."
"Exactly. That's why it's hard to accept her."
"Ugh... This is so frustrating, so frustrating."
Nicole pounded her chest hard enough to make thumping sounds, clearly frustrated by the current situation. I felt the same way about my relationship with Adele, but there was no clear solution.
First, I had to talk to Mari, and further, I had to reveal my identity. The first step was already a hurdle, and with one mountain after another, my progress with Adelia was bound to be as slow as a turtle.
"So my position is to wait a little. Anyway, later..."
"Wait, even after you got a confession? Are you crazy?"
I tried to fix things but only ended up getting scolded. I flinched and shut my mouth as Nicole glared at me with narrowed eyes.
She stared at me, now a mute who had eaten honey, for a while before taking a long breath and jumping up from her seat.
As I watched her with a bewildered expression, not knowing what she was doing, she asked me with a look that said, 'What are you doing?'
"Isaac. As your sister and Adele's friend, I'm going to ask you one thing. It's a serious question, so I want you to answer properly."
"Huh? Uh, sure. What kind of question..."
"Do you want to remain a scoundrel who took a concubine without his wife's permission, or a piece of trash who played with a woman's heart?"
No matter what I choose, both are the worst. When I looked up at Nicole in disbelief, she spoke in a stern voice.
"Answer me. My actions will change depending on your answer."
"Wait. Don't both of them hurt people's feelings?"
"Because you're needlessly kind, you won't be able to push away those who come to you. In times like this, don't hesitate indecisively; push forward firmly. Either be a scoundrel who accepts all the women who like you, or be a piece of trash who plays with them as you please. Which will you choose?"
"W-Wouldn't being a scoundrel be better?"
Nicole's pressure was so intense that I couldn't even argue. Come to think of it, a scoundrel seemed better than a piece of trash.
At my reluctant answer, Nicole looked at me with cold golden eyes before issuing an order.
"Lead the way."
"H-Huh? Where?"
"Lead me to Adele. Since things have come to this, we have to see it through."
I had absolutely no idea what her plan was. After a moment of daze, I stood up and began to lead the way as she instructed.
Somehow, we ended up outside the dormitory, but I still didn't know Nicole's intentions. She was just following behind me, radiating a chilly atmosphere.
'But if I tell her about Leona too...'
I couldn't bring myself to say that. It wasn't an exaggeration to say I might get beaten up by Nicole.
No matter how much she loved her younger brother, she was the type to correct what needed correcting. Though I didn't know what exactly she was correcting.
After walking for a while with a restless heart, we finally arrived right in front of the dormitory where Adelia resided. Upon arriving, the gaze I felt from behind became even more intense.
Under the silent pressure to open the door, I swallowed hard and knocked lightly. Adelia would be waiting in the dormitory until I called for her, so she should be inside.
After a short while, I heard a voice from inside saying, "Coming~" followed by the sound of Adelia approaching the door. My heart was pounding with a sense of nervousness.
Creeak—
"Who is i— Oh! Cutie?"
When the door opened, Adelia, dressed in a dress shirt and shorts, welcomed me with a bright smile. Seeing her come out immediately, it seemed she had finished her workout and was resting.
"What brings you here so suddenly... Huh?"
Adelia stopped mid-sentence as she spotted Nicole standing behind me, her eyes widening. Her sky-blue eyes were filled with surprise and delight.
Perhaps because she was meeting a close friend after a long time, Adelia wore a brighter smile than before as she stepped out of the dormitory to face Nicole.
"Nicole! How long has it been? But your arm..."
"Isaac."
"Y-Yes?"
Nicole didn't even return Adelia's greeting; she just called my name. Judging by her low, sunken voice, she seemed quite angry for some reason.
Adelia also seemed to sense the subtle atmosphere, as she began to shift her eyes around while worrying about Nicole's injury. She had a look of someone trying to grasp the situation.
Thump—
Then, Nicole forcibly pushed my back. Because she pushed quite hard, I had no choice but to collide with Adelia.
Fortunately, Adelia caught me, but I couldn't help but be flustered by the sudden close contact. As Adelia and I stood there bewildered, Nicole spoke in a chilling voice.
"Now, both of you, get inside."
"N-Noona? Explain what's going on..."
"Yeah, Nicole. What is this all of a sudden?"
Adelia also asked with a flustered expression at the sudden situation. Sensing something unusual, she was hugging me tightly to protect me.
"Sigh..."
Regardless, Nicole looked back and forth between the two of us and let out a deep, heavy sigh. Then, she pulled her uniform cap down low and spoke quietly.
It was a tone and voice mixed with various complex emotions that were hard to describe in words.
"I can't stand watching this anymore. Seriously..."
Having said that, Nicole spun around and slowly began to walk away.
"You two, whether you kiss or have sex or whatever, just make a decision already."
She added one last remark.
"I'm going to go prostrate myself before my sisters-in-law."
Adelia and I could only stare blankly at Nicole's retreating back.