Chapter 100
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: The Pinnacle of Reinhardt's Technology (6)
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Hic.
Lumia had no idea whether the alcohol was going down her nose or her throat. The candlelight flickered gently on the table, and across from her, Enok Levandel was savoring his wine.
It was a scene straight out of a play, and Lumia's eyes sparkled as she watched.
"You worked hard, Lumia."
"Ah... I didn't do anything, though."
"Even if I took charge of the guests, you were the one helping me out in so many ways from behind the scenes. If it weren't for you, I never would have been able to meet this many influential people."
That was the truth.
While she had been invited in conjunction with the Baron Petrinant's exhibition, Enok had managed to exchange contact information and build friendships with people whose connections couldn't be bought with money.
In order to save Ukran from the storm of war that was about to sweep across the entire continent, close cooperation with neighboring countries was absolutely essential.
For Enok Levandel, this was more than just a network; it was a reward beyond price. If Lumia hadn't actively arranged these meetings or prepared refreshments for each one, he wouldn't have been able to leave such a good impression on them.
"Is... is that so..."
At the pure praise, Lumia scratched her cheek. It was unclear whether her skin was flushed from the alcohol or for some other reason.
Now that she thought about it, were the Captain's lips always this moist? As the sour scent of wine tickled her nose, her mind was filled with audacious fantasies.
Sharing a glance, she would lean in and kiss Enok. Then, embracing each other, Enok's rough fingers would trace the length of her spine. His other hand would undo the front of her uniform.
The kiss, starting from her lips, would slowly travel downward, his blond hair tickling her chin. The sensation of his lips against her soft skin, the lewd sounds, made her heart stop.
'I've gone crazy!'
Slap, slap!
Lumia slapped her own cheeks to come to her senses. She felt that if she kept this up, she would get far too drunk and cross a line she absolutely must not cross.
"Lumia, are you very drunk?"
"Ah, no! It just suddenly got hot, haha..."
"It is indeed stuffy in here. It must be strong, since they said it was a high-grade fruit wine."
"I'll open the window!"
Lumia shot up from her seat and opened the window. A cool breeze swept in, instantly driving away the sweltering air.
"That's nice."
As he said that, Enok drained the rest of his glass. The wine, which had once filled the bottle, was now nearing its end. He had certainly drunk a lot.
"Lumia."
"Yes?"
"Thank you, always..."
Enok said this. Upon closer inspection, his eyes were slightly unfocused. Was he drunk? Lumia carefully returned to her seat and looked at the Captain.
His face was red.
His breathing was also longer than usual.
"If it weren't for you and the platoon members... I never would have made it this far..."
"No, Captain. It was all because of your ability."
"I'm not as great a man as you think. In fact... I'm closer to trash. Everyone has their own story, don't they?"
Enok let out a hollow laugh and tapped the empty wineglass with his finger. With a clear *ting*, Enok Levandel's head wavered.
Ah, he's drunk. Lumia was certain of it. She had drunk with him several times before, but this was the first time she had seen him react like this.
He was always the type to go home before getting completely drunk. But now, he was in a completely defenseless state.
"Hmm, I seem to have had a bit too much. When I'm with you, I find myself unconsciously relaxing."
"Ah... It's fine. You can relax."
"I rely on you a great deal."
That one sentence pierced Lumia's heart. *Thump*. The emotion that shot through her entire nervous system made her shrink back in surprise.
"There will be many difficult things from now on. More than you can possibly imagine."
"What do you mean?"
At her question, Enok Levandel started to speak, then stopped and closed his mouth. He made a troubled expression for a moment.
'Lumia will be fine,' he muttered to himself, then looked her straight in the eye. His focus was blurry from the alcohol, and his expression was slack, but there was a certainty glimmering deep within his eyes.
"Ukran will be destroyed."
"...What?"
"Following the full-scale invasion of the Sovye Empire, the Free Republic of Prü and the Reinhardt Empire will invade as well, and Ukran will completely lose its sovereignty."
It was an unbelievable story.
Just like last time, one could excuse the Sovye Empire, which was always engaging in local skirmishes, but the Free Republic of Prü and the Reinhardt Empire as well?
If anyone else had said this, she would have dismissed it as the delusion of a drunk man.
But because the speaker was Enok Levandel, Lumia could not simply brush it off.
"I have been running nonstop to prevent that tragedy. Fortunately... I met you and our battalion members. But we are still lacking."
"Captain."
"That is why your role is extremely important. You must not give up."
"Captain!!"
"You can do it, Lumia. Because you are the vice-captain I trust and rely on the most."
Thud.
With those final words, Enok collapsed onto the table. It seemed he had reached his limit.
Just moments before, Lumia had been feeling the effects of the alcohol, but now, it had completely vanished.
She had heard an incredible story. The destruction of Ukran, and in four years? Her mind was in chaos.
But this was Enok Levandel. Wasn't he an incredible ability user who always accomplished things no one else could even think of? Perhaps... the subtle sense of disconnect she had felt until now originated from this.
His vision, which always looked to the far future. His resolve, which did not shy away from bold and pioneering choices. The reason he had truly cherished and nurtured them, even when they were a squad of failures.
If that was truly a desperate move to prevent the disaster that would strike in four years...
"...So all this time, you were suffering alone, without telling anyone?"
Lumia spoke to Enok, who had collapsed onto the table. No answer came.
"My god."
Enok Levandel had been fighting a lonely battle. To prepare for a terrible future that no one else dared to predict.
Who in the world would have seriously listened to such a story? Lumia herself had been suspicious, let alone the high-ranking officials buried in red tape.
That was why he might have chosen the 5th Platoon of Failures. Because they were a squad that had been abandoned, and therefore, free.
Lumia slowly approached Enok. Then, she took his limp hand in hers. It was warm.
"Down Weight."
The word of power flowed from her slightly parted lips. As a faint green mana enveloped Enok's body, Lumia lifted him effortlessly.
Then, she laid him neatly on her own bed. She considered changing his clothes for him, but decided against it, thinking it might be a bit much.
Lumia stared down at him as he slept soundly. Then, she carefully lay down on the bed next to him.
Had he been hiding such a story behind his always kind and warm smile? Lumia gently raised her hand and touched Enok's cheek.
The man who had saved her. The person to whom she could never repay the debt of gratitude. And the first man to make her realize the emotion called love.
"You've been through so much. And you'll have to go through even more from now on."
Lumia wriggled closer, pressing her body against his. Now, Enok's breath tickled her nose.
"From now on, I'll fight with you. So it won't be a lonely fight. As a comrade-in-arms who will stop that future with you, and as your subordinate. I can't live without you anymore, Captain."
It was a voice that would never reach him. Her silver hair, shimmering in the moonlight, spilled over Enok's fingers.
"So, stay by my side. Always. I'll always be by your side, too."
Whether it's war or anything else. As long as you're by my side, I can overcome anything.
Lumia thought this as she slowly closed her eyes.
My head hurt. I carefully got up from the bed. How much did I drink yesterday? I can't remember anything after my fifth glass.
Crazy, is this high-end alcohol for a reason? The speed at which it's absorbed into the body is on a completely different level from the beer or cheap liquor sold at taverns.
But something felt off.
The texture of the bed was different, and upon closer inspection, the layout of the room was slightly different...
"?"
I turned my head to the side, and a vivid silver hair came into view. Following my line of sight, I saw what looked like soft skin, a defenselessly disheveled uniform shirt, and a hint of black underwear peeking out from in between.
"Uwaaah!?"
As my consciousness, which had been paused, came rushing back, I rolled out of the bed.
"Mmm..."
"L-Lumia!?"
I tried desperately to recall my memories, but I couldn't think of anything. No way... in my drunken state... did I cross a line I shouldn't have??
The stuffy hangover that had been weighing me down vanished in an instant. My slightly hazy mind became as clear as if I'd been struck by lightning.
"Captain...?"
Lumia, rubbing her eyes, got up from her spot. As the white shirt draped over her shoulders slipped down, the black silhouette that had been supporting a heavy mass was completely exposed. The fabric looked incredibly high-quality.
"Ah."
Lumia, too, only realized the situation belatedly. Her face turned as red as if it were about to explode, and I fled her room on the spot.
Many thoughts flashed through my mind, but the one thing I was certain of was this:
"I'm totally screwed!!"
I had the feeling that I would never be able to face Lumia again.