Chapter 4: The Four Idiots' Meeting
4. Are you guys for real about this?
Guys, aren't you all graduating seniors? Don't you have enough credits? From my perspective, it seems like you might not.
Unlike me, who isn't yet enslaved to credits, you all have to cram extra classes for your professors.
The Four Idiots from the protagonist group, or rather, the Four Kings who got dumped by Selena, were sitting on my side, chugging coffee.
...Wait, but. Two. No, one of you sitting next to me makes sense, right?
If all four of you are sitting there, the picture becomes weird, you bastards.
It's not like a 4:1 meeting or something. And I'm not the heroine either.
It's not like Selena is your little sister and this is an interview for a future brother-in-law!
“Long time no see, Karl.”
“Uh, yeah. Long time. Hey, call me senior?”
“It's fine. Seniority is more about student number than year.”
“Student number first? Not year?”
“Student number first, you idiot.”
“I think year comes first.”
“Student number, idiot.”
“…”
Why are these guys sitting in front of a person and then bickering among themselves?
Especially with all four of them like that, it feels like Cerberus having a self-criticism session.
Ah, Cerberus has three heads. So let's call it Hydra.
“Anyway, Karl.”
Schlippen, who claims our student number first, changes the topic.
“Don’t beat around the bush. Why is student number more important than year? Schlippen?”
Wilhelm seems unable to agree with Schlippen's claim.
Because he's clinging to every word, the conversation can't continue.
In the middle, Alexander, who subtly sides with Schlippen and says maybe year first, is there.
It's interesting. Even Joachim, who was pretending to be the judge and then collapsed, is there.
Why did these guys become male protagonists in the romance novel? I'd ask the author.
...Ah, yeah. Because their faces are delicious. Yeah, yeah. I get it.
But since they're delicious, wouldn't it be better if their brains were delicious too?
“Hey, guys. Can't we just get to the point quickly?”
Finally, unable to bear it, Joachim, who was dreaming of being the judge, stops the other Hydra heads.
Thanks, Joachim. You were the most useful head after all…!
“Sorry, Karl. We were too noisy among ourselves.”
“It's fine. So, why are the busy graduating seniors of the 4th year holding me, a 1st year, captive.”
The reason we only hear this after 10 minutes with them.
“Actually…”
“That’s it.”
“Uh, there's Selena, right?”
“Amazing.”
“…”
All four of them are talking about it separately. Are you guys really Hydras?
“Please. Summarize it neatly, and let one person speak as the representative… No, don't.”
You bastards. When asked to pick a representative, they immediately start competing with each other.
The fight for physical control is about to start from head 1 to 4 under my lead!
Stop it! If you leave it like that, you'll definitely be held here for another hour!
“Schlippen.”
Pointing to head 1. No other reason. Just because he's the leftmost by my standards.
“You speak. Summarize it neatly. Short and clear.”
“Hmm. As expected, the conscripts are different.”
“Why the military service talk there… Wait, how do you know I did military service?”
“I just met the drill instructor a moment ago. Anyway, as a conscript, short and clear. Very good posture. Basically, men pursue extreme practicality from simplicity…”
“Enough. Wilhelm. You speak.”
Head 1, who adds unnecessary explanations, is out. Now, head 2. Your turn!
Meanwhile, Wilhelm, who seems to want to be out, starts with a fake cough.
“So, we're doing this because you're amazing.”
“What’s amazing.”
“Getting dumped by Selena and casually talking to her like this.”
“…”
I was actually hurt badly just now. Wouldn't this be self-defense if shot with a gun.
Why did that woman's name come up at this timing, you bastards!
“We haven't even properly greeted Selena yet.”
“Eh?”
“If I see her from afar, I immediately turn around and run away.”
“Hah?”
“Even though it's been two years since the breakup, or at least half a year… because the nightmare from back then comes to mind.”
“Tsk.”
“However, by chance today, I saw you being very comfortable with Selena.”
“…”
“So, I'm curious. I want to ask. How can you do that?”
I feel like I know why Selena is still single. It wasn't supposed to be like that.
Even though dumped, the guys who should have stubbornly stuck around are cowering like scared puppies.
This is why, even though graduation is approaching, they're acting like they woke up from a dream.
I don't know how everything got twisted, but it's not my problem.
In fact, even if these guys' lives are taken care of, it doesn't change my future.
This isn't reincarnation; it's rebirth. If anything, memories from previous life are added.
“So, that's why it's amazing. That's why I'm curious, that's why we're doing this now.”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah.”
“True.”
“Tell me.”
Hydras, if I point to one head myself and ask, at least let one answer.
I'm getting a headache now. Please, you Four Kings. Huh?
“Yeah. Good. I'll tell you. Get ready to take notes.”
Curious? Amazing? Want to know? Huh? You want to know so bad?
Then I have to tell you. As an extra, what power do I have when the protagonists are curious? Huh?
“Enlist.”
““““…Eh?””””
You bastards. Whenever this happens, the reaction is the same as if it was the Great Unification.
“Enlist. Since you're going to do it, better to do it as a soldier like me. If they assign you as an officer because you're a noble, and you say ‘I want to work with the soldiers who have been struggling day and night for the Empire!’ they'll be happy and assign you, so no need to worry.”
“Eh…”
“In that place, confidence that you can do anything in the future will sprout like a tiger's aura. There are people from all over, so it's best for building rapport. Plus, your body and mind will become healthier. As an experienced person, I can say it's believable.”
Hey. Join the army? Come on, come on! You can do it! If it's you!
I really want to recommend enlisting as a soldier without fail!
“Hmmm…”
“Enlist…”
“This is…”
“…”
Of course, I thought they'd scream ‘Ah, no way, no way! Where are you selling drugs!’ but seeing them seriously considering it, it seems the shock of being dumped was quite big.
Thinking about it, maybe my past self enlisting as a soldier was inevitable too….
No, no. No matter what, that can't happen. It shouldn't have.
“You’ve been told the method you wanted. Can I go now?”
“…Karl.”
While everyone was stunned, head 3, Alexander, lifts his head.
Did he really escape from the status of being the first one to confess?
“If I do this, will my heart really be okay?”
“At least I did.”
Whether it's because of enlisting or enduring hardship.
Or maybe because remembering the previous life diluted it.
There's nothing clear. Honestly, I don't know either.
One clear thing is that it's too unfair for only me to have enlisted as a soldier.
I'll give you the duty to protect the country…! Go! Become national heroes!
‘Did he really go?’
I didn't know at the time, but our Four Kings are more sane than me.
Even though it's been two years since the breakup, or at least half a year, they should have healed.
How else would they do something as crazy as this.
*
“Did you hear? Schlippen suddenly skipped class.”
“Wilhelm also said he skipped class?”
“Alexander and Joachim too!”
“From yesterday, they haven't shown up at the academy at all!”
…These crazy guys aren't really going to enlist, right?
*
[Lena?]
“Op-pa.”
[What's going on all of a sudden. Calling like this.]
“I have something I want to ask.”
It's a bit awkward to call after a long time and immediately get to the point.
But Lena was too urgent, so I had to continue.
“Op-pa. There was a war with the Luzens elves, right? You also participated there.”
[ …Yeah. ]
“Can you tell me more in detail? There are people among the returning classmates who are similar to you, and to have a better conversation, I think I need to know something.”
The man beyond the magic communication device shows a hesitation.
Recalling an unpleasant, unwanted nightmare is always painful.
At that moment, Lena was about to say ‘If you don't want to, you don't have to say it.’
[ I don't know about other things, but I'll tell you this story, Lena. During the height of the war, our unit was surrounded in the middle and almost wiped out. Nearly 300 Empire soldiers who couldn't even fight properly were about to lose their lives. ]
“…”
[ But there were people who broke through that encirclement. Like our unit, there were other encircled people, and someone who resolutely stepped forward to save them. ]
“Re, really?!”
[ The Luzens guys saw that their encirclement was broken and judged that a large-scale counterattack was imminent, so they hurriedly withdrew the encirclement. Thanks to that, hundreds of our comrades could live. ]
It's surprising. Even hearing it directly from the person involved, it's unbelievable. Yeah, a miracle.
“Could it be that the person who did that….”
[ I don't know. Not just the name, but even the appearance. Everyone were too shabby at the time, so I couldn't recognize them. ]
The eyes of the survivor, as if recalling that moment, are a bit dazed.
[ …Ah. Yeah. I know one thing. He was a soldier. The hero who saved hundreds was an ordinary soldier. ]
A soldier who saved so many people. What a great person.
Lena thought that later, she would ask Karl about it too.
Since the person who enlisted because of her, it was with a sense of obligation to get closer.