Just Watching
Since there's no relationship at all, right? Since there's no relationship at all, right?
Since there's no relationship... no... no relationship... do... dooo—
If Karl were there, he would have tilted his head with a puzzled expression, thinking 'What the hell is this echo effect?' That was the feeling Selena was experiencing right now. Clearly and unmistakably.
A sticky, dense something that I wanted to shake off but couldn't.
「……」
What should I say? I want to immediately deny it. It's not true that there's no relationship at all.
Although I rejected his confession three years ago, that wasn't done with sincere intent.
On the contrary, now that we're closer than before, and we're doing well!
Hey?! You just met Karl! From what I heard about Karl, you met him less than a week ago! Moreover, Karl didn't remember you properly! But I received a confession from him! Hey?! I have a favor privilege too!
I was dying to shout that out loud. I was about to yell it right there.
But Selena couldn't do it. Lavrenti's words were ultimately correct.
If we were to be honest, Karl and I have no relationship. At best, it's a motive. A bit more, and we're friends.
Yeah. That's all there is. In this situation, more than that is impossible. The reason is obvious, because I'm full.
No matter what, it became a bad memory for both of us.
Although I regret it now, changing my thoughts doesn't matter.
More importantly, if I ask if that part applies to Karl as well, I have no answer.
The one who was most hurt was Karl. If he doesn't allow it, I can't dream of it.
Yeah. Just like that day, when Karl confessed to me, I rejected it myself.
No, Karl...! If I had just done it normally, I wouldn't know. Why did he do a public confession...!
Suddenly, a bit of resentment tried to rise. Honestly, it was hard to hold back.
I was already suffering from confessions for more than a month since entering as a freshman.
If I quietly asked for his intentions there, but he did it in front of everyone!
But Selena shook her head. I can't blame it on Karl.
If Karl really liked me, he would have accepted the public confession or whatever.
The one who came late and is doing this now deserves Karl's resentment.
“Selena-nim?”
Whether he knew or not what was in her heart. Honestly, he seemed to know very well.
Upon Lavrenti's urging, Selena was silent for a moment, then slowly opened her lips.
“The secret is…”
Wait a minute. How did we get close to Karl again? Thinking about it, it's a bit surprising?
We had an uncomfortable relationship with each other. But somehow, now we're getting along very closely.
What was the catalyst? Or, to begin with, was there a catalyst?
If I have to think about it... probably that.
Selena hesitated for a moment, then continued as if she had decided.
“The Academy.”
“...Huh?”
“Nothing special. Just, both Karl and I. Because we're at the Academy. Because we're Academy students. We meet, greet each other. And as we talk, we get closer. As Lavr said, even though there's no relationship.”
Academy. Academy. Lavrenti muttered the word as if she had been cursed by some magic for a while.
The secret is the Academy...?
From Selena's perspective, it was a completely thoughtless answer, which was embarrassing to call a reason.
But to Lavrenti, it felt completely different. Rather, she thought it made sense.
Yeah. Actually, since I met Master that day, I haven't seen him since. And Master originally wanted to return to the Academy.
Although there were comrades, and the military was clearly an important turning point in life.
Honestly, no one would want to stay there forever. If they could leave, they would want to leave.
Karl left the military and entered the Academy, where he met Selena.
The person he met in the place he wanted was bound to feel different. He would have become close quickly.
With a good atmosphere, their relationship would naturally become closer.
Indeed, the Academy is the answer.
Lavrenti turned her head and looked at the Academy for a moment.
Academy life. I don't know how it would be for others, but for me at least, it's a dream-like story.
How many family members do I have to take responsibility for right away? I have to repay the grace I received from my parents.
On top of that, the money needed for Academy life wouldn't be small, how would I prepare it?
Thinking about the living expenses going into my younger siblings, it would be too tight.
Moreover, it's embarrassing to say this, but I'm a person far from learning.
I can read and write letters, but that's all. I never thought of learning more than that.
If it weren't for Karl, I might have really driven a stake into the military. Surely it would have been.
It's tough. The Academy. I want to get closer to Master, but…
Lavrenti fiddled with her lips, lost in thought.
And looking at her, Selena was also lost in thought.
Finally—
“How does it look?”
“Previously it was very sharp, but now it's calm again.”
“Hmm... I'm curious how it will develop!”
“Karl is a completely blessed guy.”
The Four Idiots hiding secretly around, eavesdropping on the conversation between the two women a bit at a time.
Now, if only the protagonist Karl appears here, it would be the perfect....
“What are you doing squatting there? Are you peeing?”
As if the tiger comes when called by its name. From behind the Four Idiots, Karl appeared.
I heard he went to the palace. It was quite an early appearance.
“Karl?”
“What? You're already here?”
“I heard you went to the palace?”
“What did you do there?”
“Whoa. Calm down, you Hydra guys. Ask one by one. One by one.”
You have four mouths but I have one mouth!
*
To get to the result, I ended up doing one thing with the Crown Prince.
I don't know why the Heigens side asked me to accompany them to the meeting hall.
...Is it okay? It's not like I'm worried about dying in the meeting hall or something?
What is needed on the battlefield is only one thing. The act of distinguishing between enemy and ally.
Even if it's the same person, if they're a traitor, kill them, and if they're elves who fought together, treat them as comrades.
From that perspective, the Heigens side, although elves like Luzens, since they have the perception of 'ally', it was somewhat forgivable.
But inevitably, in the end, both are elves. From my perspective, Gganfs are rampant.
The Heigens side would say not to look at them as the same as the ignorant hardliners like Luzens... but what can I do. When I see elves, I reflexively look for a fight first.
The Crown Prince also seemed to be aware of that part and added, 'If it's too much, just say so. I'll do my best to reject that proposal.'
It was a bit of a dilemma, but in the end, I shook my head. I can't stay buried in the past forever. Moreover, Heigens is a clear enemy, and they are comrades I fought with.
“I will go. To the meeting hall.”
Upon giving the immediate answer, the Crown Prince laughed with gratitude. He said if I need his help later, tell him. He received a promise that he would do everything he could on his own.
Hmm. I should have saved the favor privilege and use it later when the Crown Prince becomes Emperor?
“Anyway. In this way, I received one more Medal of Honor. End.”
The meeting with Heigens was brushed aside, and only the Medal of Honor ceremony was told to the Four Idiots.
Then, the eyes of these Hydra looking at me suddenly became strange....
“This, this crazy guy.”
“Is this a person? Hey, Karl. You're not a person, are you?”
“Receiving two Medals of Honor... what nonsense...”
“Could you at least sign one?”
Hah. This guy's popularity. As expected, popularity is a pain. ...No, wait.
“Honestly, I'm surprised too. I retired from the military, but how can I get a Medal of Honor?”
It's known that the Empire's Medal of Honor is awarded only to soldiers or combatants.
To honor their bravery and spirit of sacrifice, expecting more heroes to come out in the future.
And I retired. Although there are people still calling me Sergeant, strictly speaking, it's the position before retirement. Now, I'm just an ordinary Academy re-enrollee.
I was so curious about this part that I asked the Crown Prince how I could receive the Medal of Honor. Isn't this against the war department's opposition?
Then, the returned answer was quite interesting... or should I say amazing?
“I said it. Karl-soldier.”
“Your Highness?”
“Ah. Don't worry. I didn't push it with my status. When Karl-soldier did heroic deeds, he was still a soldier. There is a law that Imperial soldiers can be conscripted into the reserve for similar incidents within three months after retirement.”
So, to be precise, even if I have a slight soldier status, you're still a soldier! Hey? Even though I retired, since I'm a bit of a soldier, I can get the Medal of Honor! What kind of talk is this.
It was absurd. At the level of half-forced. If so, it doesn't differ from saying that the other guys who retired with me are still soldiers.
I swear, if I tell that to the retirees, a riot will break out immediately. 'Uwaaaak! You're still a soldier! Gyaaaak!!' while shouting.
Of course, this was just a setup to award me the Medal of Honor.
Seeing him bring up such a half-forced legal interpretation and offer it to me, it was clear that the Crown Prince accepted it with a big smile not just by pushing, but because it was good for the war department too! Good!
“Think positively. Receiving it again is good.”
“Yeah. The first person to receive two Medals of Honor.”
“This record won't be broken forever, right?”
“I won't break it, so tie my tail to it.”
Among them, these seemed just amazing. And Joachim. You don't have a tail, you bastard.
“By the way, our Hydra... what were you doing?”
“Us? Just watching over there.”
“Watching?”
When I secretly turned my gaze to the place Schlippen pointed...
“...Selena and Lavr? No, why did that guy come back to the Academy again?”
“We don't know.”
“Of course we don't know.”
“But, Karl.”
“We do know one thing.”
From behind, the giggling laughter of the Four Idiots could be heard.
What? Why. Why are you laughing, you guys. It's annoying.