A War Hero With No Regrets

27 – Letters carry memories (4)

Leah Gilead stared blankly at the somewhat creepy phrase.

Don’t send me letters, Rani.

No matter who saw it, it was a phrase that sniped at himself.

Then do you know to whom you are sending the letter?

After checking the contents, Julia seemed to get goosebumps as well, so she trembled and tore the letter to pieces.

“Who, who is playing such a vicious prank?!”

“… I don’t know.”

“Let’s go check the CCTV. The executive dormitories are all equipped with CCTV. How dare you do something like this in our unit without fear?”

Julia pointed to the CCTV hanging in the corner of the hallway.

Maybe he’s a vicious stalker.

Is Leah just pretty?

There are many instances of people picking up numbers while walking down the street, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they were caught by a strange flying insect.

However, when I went to the management office to check, unfortunately, only the camera that illuminated Leah’s hallway was broken.

“Manager, how did this happen?”

“Oh, no! Obviously, there was nothing wrong during the routine inspection this morning!”

“How could the CCTV break down at such perfect timing? Are you an accomplice?”

“Regimental commander! “What are you saying?”

It was a situation that made no sense in common sense.

This is impossible unless someone does it intentionally.

“Look at the CCTV in the other hallway. Doesn’t exist?”

“Yes! In the first place, all access records are managed here! There’s no way I missed it. That Wesley! “I put my hand on my heart and have never committed a single act of dereliction of duty!”

“… It’s really driving me crazy. “Are you a ghost or something?”

Julia was holding her head in frustration.

And what’s more, didn’t he leave within a few minutes after hearing the knock?

Even if you somehow avoid CCTV, you cannot completely avoid people’s gaze.

The ghosts will cry.

“Leah, I can’t do it. Come stay with me today. “Something is ominous.”

Julia said, holding Leah’s hand.

It was then that her cell phone buzzed and vibrated continuously.

“Sleep, wait a minute…” .”

Leah took out her cell phone and checked her contents.

It was a large text message.

Lea, who was slowly reading the contents of the message, soon becomes startled.

[Emergency outgoing message]

’22:30, Sewing Protocol issued, recipient of the message must urgently return to Graveyard Fortress.’

‘Direct orders from the fortress commander, compulsory implementation procedures in case the fortress commander goes missing or is in critical condition.’

‘Sacrifice your life for the victory of mankind.’

-Commander of Fort Lutheran Ethan-

Not only was it a text message of a type I had never seen before, but more importantly, the sender was retired Lutheran Ethan.

Commander Luther Ethan, why?

This suddenly?

What is the Sewing Protocol? What is this thing about coming to a closed fortress?

When I checked the GPS, which automatically records the sending location, the sending location of the text message was clearly the Graveyard.

There is no doubt.

A truly award-winning letter.

Unintelligible text message.

If she had received them one by one, it would have been nothing more than an unpleasant occurrence, but since both arrived almost at the same time, Leah Gilead could not help but be confused.

Furthermore, sacrifice your life for the victory of mankind.

It was a slogan I had never heard before while I was at the Graveyard, but it was a sentence that somehow caught my eye.

Something, just hearing it makes my heart sink.

The feeling that I had forgotten something precious gripped my entire body.

As Leah’s expression became serious, Julia, who had just finished managing her lodgings, approached her.

“Leah?”

“… !!”

“Why, what does the text say?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. “It’s just like spam.”

Leah hurriedly put her cell phone in her pocket.

Julia looked at her with suspicion, but Leah answered while trying to hide her expression.

“It’s really okay. Really. “Commander, since it’s so late today, shall we have a late-night snack together later?”

“… “Are you okay?”

“Yes, it’s okay. Do not worry. Even after all this, he is a hero who survived for five years on the front lines!”

I tried my best to pretend to be nice, but I couldn’t hide her slightly darkened expression.

Julia thought for a moment about what she should do, but then she sighed and grabbed Leah’s shoulder.

“Is there any connection between the current letter and that text?”

“….”

I cannot answer hastily.

As soon as she saw the text, she felt like she shouldn’t respond randomly.

Of course, Julia also knew what Leah’s reaction meant.

Sometimes there are secrets that are not told even to those closest to us.

Yulia nods her head and smiles.

“If that’s the case, it’s okay if you don’t. Well then, get some rest today first. If anything strange happens, don’t hesitate and tell me right away.”

“Yes, thank you. “Regiment commander.”

“Oh my, my pretty girl.”

Tuk-tuk-tuk, Yulia patting Leah’s butt.

He was approaching his mid-thirties.

Leah, who is now in her early twenties, is considered nothing more than the youngest sibling.

“I brought this late-night snack for you to eat. “You can eat it.”

Yulia said that and left the junior executive dormitory.

And at the same time she started calling someone.

“Uh, Colonel Raven. It’s me, Julia. Long time no see. Ah, it’s no different… Do you know something about Graveyard Fortress? ? Oh, there’s one officer I really care about….”

***

Leah Gilead returned to the room.

Her mind was complicated.

But one thing is certain.

You have to go to the Graveyard right now.

The reason was unknown.

I felt it instinctively.

Her subconscious began to yell at her that if she didn’t go now, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

Immediately Leah packed her luggage.

She stuffs clothes, hygiene products, and first aid medications into her bag for emergencies.

I had to go to work tomorrow, but I took care of all the urgent matters a long time ago, so there won’t be a problem if I take my annual leave tomorrow.

I pack my bags and use the program installed on my phone to find the fastest military flight.

Not even a year has passed since the war with the Titans ended.

If you were a soldier working for the Empire, you could use military aircraft at a low price, assuming you could fit the flight schedule.

Although the sun had already set long ago, she booked her earliest available time slot without hesitation.

At 1 a.M., A flight departed from Branberg Military Airport and headed to an air defense position located near the Graveyard.

Without even thinking about putting away the unpacked late-night snack, Leah leaves her dorm and catches her taxi.

“Please go to Branberg Military Airport!!”

“It’s too far away…” .”

“I’ll give you double, double!!”

If a young woman says this even though it is late at night, something urgent must be happening.

Even taxi drivers who would normally reject customers accepted long-distance customers today.

‘What is this feeling?’ ‘What on earth do you want?’

My heart was pounding.

Leah bit her lip as she watched the night street passing by at high speed.

It was a familiar feeling.

This feeling she felt in every dream she had.

I’ve been able to sleep soundly recently since exchanging letters with Captain John Hobbs, but that doesn’t mean the feeling has faded.

Sadness, fear, and guilt.

Her endless self-loathing and feelings of shame for never being able to help her loved ones.

The reason why I felt exhausted and had tear stains every time I woke up in the morning.

You will know everything when you go to the grave.

A 30-minute taxi ride, a 3-hour flight, and an hour and a half walk to the Graveyard.

Leah Gilliard finally arrived in her old home.

A gray fortress made of dull concrete.

She didn’t know it at the time, but now that she was living in the Eastern Military District, she realized how rough it was.

It was already time for the sun to rise.

Beyond the air defense control tower erected like a tombstone, a red light is creeping up along the horizon.

Perhaps because it was a closed fortress, there were no special locking devices.

Leah passed the guard post, where traces of the guards had disappeared long ago, and looked at the parade ground, which had already become overgrown with weeds.

5 Years.

A place filled with memories of a long period of time, and a short period of time if it is short.

She had a campfire here with other people and danced together.

One day, they brought all the village residents and held a grand festival.

It was thanks to the suggestion of Luthers Ethan, who was alert to the threat of gangs around the village.

It was also the largest open space in the fortress, so it was perfect for holding a festival.

In addition, since it is a large open space, it is also possible to commemorate comrades who died in battle….

“…… Ugh… ?!”

Instantly, Leah clutched her chest as the pain felt like it was piercing her heart.

Breathing becomes difficult.

When I raised my head with difficulty and looked at the parade ground, instead of weeds, I saw white cloth laid out so that it filled the parade ground.

White cloth… ?

“Ugh, wow!!”

At the same time, nausea began to rise.

The ones covered in white cloth are comrades.

The Graveyard parade ground, which was full of happy and enjoyable memories, suddenly became a cemetery.

“It’s strange, it’s strange! What’s this… !!!”

Leah screamed.

This is an illusion.

Otherwise, this cannot happen.

There was not a single death in the Graveyard.

Although there are some injured, no one is dead.

But Leah clearly remembered the faces wrapped in that cloth.

Kelly of the 3rd Combat Company died with his throat torn off by a titan.

Openturk of the communications battalion lost his upper body after being crushed by an antenna that collapsed due to a titanic bombardment.

Scarlett of the General Staff Intelligence Department fell into a trap and disappeared during a target reconnaissance mission. All that could be recovered was the roughly severed head.

Eujin of the supply company could not even find his body due to the ammunition depot explosion.

Bella of the 5th Combat Company was crushed to death by a large titan. Ibelstein died from excessive bleeding.

Rox, Limon, Irkhia, Koltos, and Kaisa entered the highly concentrated radiation zone and died with blood pouring out of their bodies. Zachary, Ralph, Lawrence, Sasori, Anna, Karlsten, Jane, Otro. They died by beheading, burning at the stake, or dousing themselves with acid. Kate, who had a pretty smile, died after her eyes were removed by a titan. I am sorry for not being able to protect the precious members of my supply unit who died or went missing during the operation. That operation shouldn’t have gone out. I’m sorry for sacrificing you because I was distracted by you, Commander. Major Leah, don’t worry, who are we? Isn’t the major’s place next to the commander? Mom, Mom, I was actually bluffing. I’m sorry. Major, please save me. Commander, you have the ability to undo the past? Luthers, you f*cking idiot, if you have that kind of ability, you should do it right. Leah Gilliard, you too, you f*cking idiot. Catch that bastard! Contaminated with filarial infections! Major! Avoid! Major! Major! Please kill me! I can’t live like this. A titan has laid an egg in your body. I can feel my insides being eaten away.

A terrible feeling as if the brain is being forcibly massaged.

-No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My own voice screaming desperately resonates in my ears.

“Wow!!”

In the end, Leah could not overcome the pressure and had no choice but to vomit up everything she had eaten.

“Wow, wow… !! Fuhu, huh, huh, huh….”

I was glad I didn’t have a late-night snack.

A sore throat rose up from the tip of my throat.

Even though I’ve already emptied the rest of my stomach, I can’t even breathe due to the overwhelming disgust.

“Cough, so bad…” Ugh, sigh… Wow!!”

However, Leah held on to her wobbly legs and supported them properly.

You cannot fall.

Because it was clear that if I fell, I wouldn’t be able to get up.

Leah looked at the black, shimmering gray ivory tower of the Graveyard.

Akasha.

Because there would be memories she had forgotten and should not forget.

It was scary and scary, but I had to do it nonetheless.

Leah moved forward, dragging her legs with difficulty.

Finally arrived at the deepest part of the Graveyard.

No matter how many times she stumbles, retches, and tears in her clothes, she moves forward.

And as if welcoming her, her huge quantum computer let out a low roar.

[Sewing protocol emergency procedure completed]

[Refreshing Leia Gilead’s memory information.]

[The highest priority recovery record is the 34th record.]

Wow.

At the same time as her vision became brighter, Leah Gilliard opened her eyes in her familiar room.