Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 15: Blowing Wind (3)
Extreme embarrassment knocked a person down faster than thought.
Erwin, after the wine glass broke, couldn't utter a few more words and relaxed her body just like that.
As if drunk, no, to look like she was drunk, she dropped her head with a thud, and slowly closed her eyes that were open dreamily.
Although the series of processes were extremely unnatural and awkward, Erwin praised herself inwardly saying it was excellent acting.
Iden reflexively caught her.
"Ca, Captain?"
There was no answer.
Her breathing was even, and her body was limp.
It seemed she had fallen asleep unwittingly due to intoxication.
He shook her a few times, but perhaps because she fell into deep sleep, there wasn't a single movement.
Iden hesitated for a moment, then eventually decided to carry her on his back.
She was lighter than he thought.
Like she was robbed of something from the heavy responsibility.
That fact bothered him strangely, but he didn't think deeply.
The fragrant smell of her hair tickled the tip of his nose, but likewise, he let it fly away in the wind.
Fortunately, the banquet hall and the Engineering Unit main building were close.
Step, step—
Before he knew it, the city was full of only silent darkness.
The sound of footsteps walking on the stone road broke the silence, and the cold night air blew away the intoxication.
Iden moved his steps silently.
Afraid the sleeping Erwin might wake up, he chose the flattest places possible to walk.
'...Ugh.'
Without knowing that Erwin, carried on his back, was struggling to separate her chest that was completely pressed against him even a little.
Arriving at the bedroom behind the Captain's office like that, Iden carefully laid her on the bed.
He killed even the sound of shoes touching the floor as much as possible.
He arranged the red dress hem so it wouldn't get disheveled, and covered her with a blanket.
Only then, stepping back and looking down at her, the scene from just before remained vividly in Iden's head.
As soon as he conveyed the possibility of the Northern Alliance Tribes' advance to Erwin, the wine glass broke, and he considered she did so simply because she was surprised.
It was understandable.
Because information thrown at a point less than a month before the war outbreak was never light.
There was no reason to hide it now.
The flow was already starting, and the flow riding the wind was running towards the end.
And that was a part Erwin and Melissa always wondered about too.
Why on earth go to this extent.
Why use the Official Wintel Recommendation Letter in a place like this.
He was thinking of giving a hint to Melissa too tomorrow.
Then the doubts above would be resolved.
That was courtesy to comrades who shared joys and sorrows, shared meals, and sweated together.
And Erwin made a promise first.
'If there is something you want, say it'.
Before looking for courtesy, it couldn't be denied that those words acted decisively.
Because after the victory, there was work that needed Erwin's help.
Even for that, he thought it was right to inform the prelude of the war.
He didn't want to buy resentment and misunderstanding by treating them with lies.
To answer sincerely to a person speaking sincerely.
To Iden, that was closer to a principle than calculation.
"Good night."
Iden greeted the sleeping her so low it was almost inaudible, then left the bedroom.
After the sound of the door closing receded and the presence of footsteps completely disappeared.
Erwin's eyes opened smoothly.
Staring blankly at the ceiling, she slowly raised her upper body.
And the next moment, she smacked her head with both hands.
Thud!
"Ugh......"
It was a soundless scream.
Wrapping her face, she curled up on the bed.
Haa—
She was so ashamed of herself who promised alone, imagined alone, and rushed ahead alone.
Where did the cool-headedness as a soldier go, why did the judgment as Engineering Captain evaporate at that moment.
Erwin repeated self-reproach and reflection while inhaling deeply, then slowly looked around.
The empty bedroom felt coldly today.
She also had an illusion that the area seemed wider.
Erwin pulled the blanket up to the top of her head and laid her body on the bed again.
Her head was dizzy due to excessive drinking after a long time, but closing her eyes, she ruminated on Iden's words.
'There is a high possibility that the Northern Alliance Tribes will advance to Hamelon sooner or later.'
Whether that is truth or a rumor spat out in intoxication, she would know tomorrow, but Erwin's belief in Iden was solely pointing to the former.
Erwin sank into deep sleep like that.
Next morning.
As soon as Erwin entered the office, she lifted a water glass.
The previous day's events, no, the memory close to a disgrace of the previous night was intentionally pushed out of her head.
She had to start a day no different from usual.
Because the Engineering Captain shouldn't be shaken.
It was that moment.
Knock, knock.
Knocking sound was heard from early morning.
Erwin looked at the door holding water in her mouth without any thought and... at the sound heard from beyond the door soon after, she just.
—Captain, it's Iden.
Pfft!
She spat out the water she was holding just like that.
"...!!"
Erwin froze with her eyes wide open.
Water scattered onto the desk, onto documents, and onto the sleeve end of her uniform.
"...Ca, Captain?"
Turning only her pupils to where the sound came from, she could face Melissa who froze in the posture of rummaging through documents looking at her.
A moment of silence.
Next, she looked alternately at her hand and the wet desk with an expression of disbelief.
'...Me?'
As the dignified Engineering Captain and honorable soldier, she had never shown such clumsiness even once.
She was always calm, always cool-headed, and always unchanging.
But to spray water at just a single knock sound.
And to spray it where a junior adjutant is watching.
It was an impossible thing, and an unacceptable disgrace.
Just hearing Iden's voice felt like yesterday's disgrace was being replayed again, and slight irritation surged.
At the same time, a strange emotion of unknown reason also rose.
It was a strange emotion melting the surged irritation.
"...My, my stomach isn't feeling well."
Spitting out a plausible excuse, Erwin clenched her teeth and hurriedly wiped the desk with a handkerchief.
Only after clearing the water glass, tidying the uniform sleeve, and catching her breath did she speak low.
"Come in."
The door opened and Iden entered.
Erwin reflexively dry coughed.
Avoiding his gaze for no reason, she turned over documents as if nothing happened.
As soon as Iden approached, Erwin opened her mouth first.
"...I owed you yesterday. Sorry."
Iden raised his head.
"Since you were intoxicated, Captain—"
"I have no memory."
Erwin cut him off firmly.
"At all."
That tone was neat and firm like her usual self, but her earlobes were slightly red.
The gaze that escaped to the letters on the document was wavering, unable to find a hold.
"However."
She continued again.
"Regarding what you did for the Engineering Unit, I will definitely repay. Since I didn't forget even the promise."
And a brief silence followed, and Erwin continued speaking again to change the topic.
Only then did the wandering gaze head to Iden.
"What you said at the end yesterday. Tell me in detail about the Northern Alliance Tribes' air raid."
Iden opened his mouth as he had organized in advance.
It was something he had planned since starting the Engineering Unit work.
"It is a story I heard when capturing the Northern Barbarian Chief alive. That the foreign tribes of the North are uniting to grow their power, and a war that will lead the North to ruin will begin."
His voice was calm.
"And that the start of that war will be Hamelon."
Erwin's expression hardened.
A face that seemed to know the reason without hearing.
"Hamelon is vulnerable in defense."
Iden continued.
"But at the same time, it's a city where milk and honey flow. Merchant guilds, resources, population. To them... it's a city like a well-set feast table."
The exact date was still unknown.
But the flow was clear.
"Circumstantially, the air raid will happen within a short time."
Iden spoke calmly.
"That is why I hurried the defense line repair and trap construction."
Erwin thought for a moment and asked.
"If there was such information, shouldn't you have informed the Lord first?"
Iden didn't hesitate.
"I didn't have time and leisure to waste on persuading about a danger of when it might strike."
At those words, Erwin had to nod quietly without even a speck of thought to refute.
She knew better than anyone.
What kind of person her father was.
A person intoxicated by the sweet milk and honey flowing in the city.
A person blinded by immediate profit and unable to see an inch ahead.
To such a person, showing with results rather than persuasion was the right way.
At that time, Melissa, who was listening from the side, carefully opened her mouth.
"...Wa, war. Can Hamelon block the Northern Alliance Tribes' air raid? Isn't it right to inform the people even now and help evacuation?"
It was a rational judgment.
However, a judgment not applicable to Iden.
The Northern Alliance Tribes do not devote all their power here.
Judging from the war starting in various places in the Northern Territory at intervals of a couple of months, they must have dispersed their troops, and trusting Hamelon's flimsy walls, smashed traps, dried up moats, exactly as seen, they will march with the minimum troops needed for capture.
Because the camouflaged Hamelon outer castle would look like it's ready to offer milk and honey smartly.
Erwin met Iden's gaze.
For a moment, a very short moment, she stared intently into his blue-black pupils.
Deep eyes, unwavering eyes, eyes now containing resolution not calculation had the talent to make something boil just by facing them.
Erwin smiled faintly.
And as Engineering Captain, as a superior, she commanded.
"Our Engineering Unit fulfills its responsibility and protects the people."
That word was a declaration, a command, and a vow.
Time flowed again, and that day also seemed no different from any other day on the surface.
Deepest part of Hamelon Main Castle.
The ultra-luxurious banquet hall prepared for Lord Valewin was taking on a more decadent light as the night deepened.
The ceiling was covered with curtains embroidered with gold thread, and expensive magic lamps on every wall vomited subtle purple and gold lights alternately.
Rare marble found only in the North was laid on the floor, and rugs with exotic patterns were spread in layers on top.
The sensation sinking softly every time bare feet stepped clearly revealed that this space was irrelevant to labor or responsibility.
On the long table, delicacies piled like mountains were placed.
Spiced meat procured from the South, silver fish caught from the North Sea, even alcohol made by mixing rare herbs collected only in snowy mountains.
Just the price tagged on each bottle was enough to repair one outer castle defense wall sufficiently.
And in between.
Flashily dressed women were placed.
Those wrapping their bodies with expensive accessories and thin silk, faces trained not to lose laughter.
They danced to music, filled glasses, and caressed and licked Valewin's body.
Excessively blatant and obscene appearances, the atmosphere was such that anyone could recognize what kind of seat this banquet was.
Lord Valewin was sitting leaning in the center.
Half-loosened clothes, redly flushed face.
A wine glass was constantly held in his hand, and laughter was excessively loud and loose.
Here, borders, people, and signs of war seemed not to reach.
At least he believed so.
"Haha, the alcohol is good today!"
It was when he raised his glass high and laughed.
Bang!
The banquet hall door opened roughly as if to break.
Music cut off, and all gazes focused on the entrance.
The aide who ran cutting through those gazes bent his waist as if kneeling.
There was no blood in his face, and his lips were trembling as if terrified.
"Lord...!"
Valewin waved his hand as if annoyed.
"Tsk, what is it. Just when the excitement was rising."
However, the aide didn't retreat.
Rather lowering his voice, and catching his trembling breath, he reported.
"A long procession of Northern foreign tribes gathered was detected at a point about 10km west."
Instantly, the air in the banquet hall froze sharply.
Those quick-witted began to wear stripped clothes, and the venue began to become noisy gradually.
"Predicting by the direction of the vanguard and geographical path, the arrival point is..."
Valewin's gaze, which was clouded by alcohol, shook greatly only then.
What would attach to the end of the clouded words could be known just by looking at the aide's pale face.
"Ha, Hamelon."