A War Hero With No Regrets

35 – Postwar Summit (5)

What happened in the banquet hall was quickly concluded.

After a short period of time, Lieutenant Edward went to Drake Brown in person and apologized.

Anyway, it was the worst.

This was possible because Edward was the one who caused the downfall in his previous unit.

If it were Karin Maven, all she would have done was tremble and pull Werner’s sleeve.

If that had been the case, Drake Brown would have backed down without making any more provocations.

Spilled water cannot be picked up.

I just wiped it away.

“I’m sorry, Colonel.”

“….”

However, if the action was to protect one’s superior, the story is different.

Furthermore, if you think about it that way, didn’t Drake Brown also commit the worst misdeeds to Luthers several times?

I gave a straight answer to the brigadier general with the rank of lieutenant colonel, so to be honest, I feel like I was dishonest.

In the end, Drake had no choice but to accept the apology with a shocked expression.

There was no need for him to insult the Argen Orca in the first place.

From the lieutenant’s point of view, it would have been a situation where his superior was being insulted right in front of his eyes, so his anger was not understandable.

When I thought about it that way, it actually wasn’t that bad in some ways.

Again, let alone whether Luthus is truly a respectable person.

There is no change in the fact that he was a hero and an outstanding commander who led the war to victory.

‘I’ve always taken good care of my subordinates.’

This is true even in the Graveyard.

All of them were like people arranged by God to save mankind.

‘It wasn’t like that from the beginning, but….’

In his dormitory, Drake recalled his days as a second lieutenant when he had just moved in.

Even when humanity was being destroyed every second by the Titans, the absurdity of the damn barracks showed no signs of disappearing.

That time when Drake Brown had no choice but to gnash his teeth and sink his head into the pavement.

-Gagging, gagging! Wow!

-Hey, you bastard! You are the worst! Assault on superior!! Ugh.

-Isn’t it really boring every time? Why are these bastards who are not even my direct superiors so damned? Wake up, Drake.

Drake recalled the image of a second lieutenant defeating his predecessors with one hand.

Luthers Ethan.

The former commander of Graveyard was a crazy person from back then.

How could I think of beating up my senior officers from day one even though they were not my direct superiors?

-What is your name?

-Luthers Ethan. Feel free to call me Luthers, Drake Brown.

-How did you know my name?

-I saw the list by chance. There’s no way I could forget my one and only motive.

-Really? What should I do with them?

Luthus Ethan said, waving his hands as if it was nothing.

-I’m so embarrassed that I can’t even say anything. Except for Gao, they are corpses. Let’s go have a drink.

– Alcohol in this situation? Kyaaa~ Lutus, you look so slim, you’re such a cool bastard! Let’s go!

When did this begin? When did you start to become so confrontational with him?

It seems like he often shared drinks in the beginning.

-Hey Luthers… No matter what, this operation is a burden on my subordinates….

-Captain Drake, this is your order. And who told you to sing without hesitation? During the operation, be sure to strictly protect public and private matters.

-… Okay, Major.

It was obviously from the time when Luthus was given a special wartime promotion as a major due to his achievements in battle.

He became a completely different person from the time he received the rank of military officer.

Perhaps it was the scars of war that distorted him and him like this.

The battlefield against the Titans was a place that ordinary people could not endure in their right mind.

And (though Argen would never admit it), Luthers Ethan’s determination without blood or tears was able to save everyone in the Graveyard.

I had to put aside my personal feelings and acknowledge his abilities.

No, what was Luther’s Ethan fighting for in the first place?

Only the victory of humanity.

Drake Brown recalled the story that Luthus told him whenever he drank alcohol during his time as a lieutenant.

He can do anything to win.

That was true.

The harsh reality was such that even Drake Brown, his closest friend and comrade in arms, got sick of it and left him.

-Exploring a minefield? Two of my men’s ankles were cut off because of an order like this! I became an asshole for the rest of my life!

-If not, you would all have been annihilated. The ankle can be replaced with a prosthetic leg.

-Hey f*ck… ! You!!! Can you say the same thing to your subordinates who have become idiots?!!

-If it weren’t for that, escaping the siege would have been impossible. I assure you, your battalion was annihilated, Colonel. You can replace your ankle, but you can’t replace your life.

Bah!

It was the first time.

Drake’s punch hit Luther’s Ethan in the face.

Even when they talked about mental strength and told me to hold on in the besieged trench, I didn’t get this angry.

At least I didn’t cross the line back then.

But isn’t this time different?

Other people’s lives are not something that can be easily weighed.

Even in the Graveyard, the forefront of human survival, sacrificing someone should not be handled with a few words or a few pieces of paper.

But Luthus’ counterattack did not come.

He didn’t even utter a groan of pain.

Luthus Ethan just silently accepted his punches.

Why did it look like that?

Why did he have sad eyes even though he was covered in bruises from being hit?

Drake Brown still couldn’t understand even a year later.

But what if all of that was Luther Ethan’s extreme sacrifice?

What if he only killed himself to save the members of the Graveyard?

If the front line was forcibly held up even while collaborating with evil.

Drake looked out his window, drooling.

“It’s complicated.”

There is nothing ‘impossible’ in the world.

So what kind of person is Luther Ethan now that all the war is over?

Could it be that he was a commander who was blinded by major achievements and abused his subordinates arbitrarily?

Or are they victims of war who accept the end of the long war and heal their broken hearts?

Dang.

Dang.

At that moment, a clear bell was ringing, signaling midnight.

During this journey, he thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to improve his relationship with him.

***

Contrary to the concerns of Colonel Drake Brown, commander of the 808th Security Group, the post-war summit was taking place normally.

20 Years.

After over 20 years, the President of Bostania set foot in the Republic of Bostania and gave a performance of kissing the land of the Republic.

“Glory to mankind who overcame the Titans! “Only today, we humanity has become one once again!”

It was indeed the President.

Every time he completed his given schedule, he delivered a very strong message to the people of Bostania.

“I, Mikhail Bismarck, offer my sincere condolences to the heroes of the country who died while protecting Bostania. I am here because of their sacrifice. If the Republic had collapsed, the burden on the Empire would have inevitably increased. Maybe the front line was down. In other words, the people of Bostania worked with us to protect my homeland and the empire where my loved ones are located.”

“We, humanity, must absolutely become one. We faced a very powerful enemy. 15 Years ago, the day the existence of titans was first reported in ‘Vorslava’! “If we had not rejoiced in other people’s misfortune and remained silent, this would not have happened!”

“We must cleanly put an end to the past where we were at odds with each other, and move forward for a better future. I believe it. “We who have overcome the fierce storm will become even stronger, and even if a force like the Titans appears once again, we will be able to overcome it!”

It was a move that stood out among the leaders of the five countries.

Even the president of Bostania, where the summit was being held, was robbed of the spotlight.

This may be because Fuhrer Michael Bismarck was preparing for the future one step ahead of others.

He knew better than anyone else the power of public opinion.

He has a young and tall appearance that clearly stands out compared to the leaders of other countries.

A strong voice and an appealing message.

It is not for nothing that the people of the empire were captured by the Fuhrer.

Mikhail crossed borders and even captivated citizens of other countries.

But such things were of no concern to Werner Greim and others in the Security Strategy Bureau.

“It’s delicious!”

“Wow… This too! “This is really delicious too!!”

The Republic of Bostania was called a melting pot of races where various races lived together even before the great war with the Titans.

There were many countries that were unable to overcome the invasion of the Titans that swept the entire world and were destroyed.

Naturally, the Republic of Bostania became the last bastion of their culture.

And what is the cultural heritage they developed?

It also included a variety of foods that could not be found in the empire.

Thanks to you, Second Lieutenant Karin Maven was able to capture a truly happy daily life on a food trip.

“Karin, you’re a glutton more than I thought… “You’re strong.”

“Ah.”

Karin stiffened at Edward’s pure admiration.

“No no no! Eat and eat! I meant it well. It doesn’t match my previous self well….”

“I don’t want to eat anymore.”

“… Sorry!”

Werner Grime looked at the two people and smiled faintly.

It was a very different atmosphere from when I first came to Forbidden Lake Fort.

At that time, they all seemed like people who couldn’t die but were now living in their eyes.

Are we slowly fully accepting that the war is over?

As a result, Werner also felt at ease.

He was Werner, who still could not escape his past.

This was because of the covenant he had engraved deep in his heart.

Peace achieved by trampling on the bodies of countless comrades and seeing terrible scenes.

Because they are making endless sacrifices even now to protect their eternal peace.

But when I was with people from the Security Strategy Bureau, I felt strangely calm.

Is it because they all have the same wounds?

No, the most fundamental reason may be that the war is over.

The people we need to protect may still exist, but we are not in a situation where we are keeping them in our arms.

In particular, being able to understand situations at home and abroad in advance as the director of the Safety Bureau was very helpful for my mental and physical stability.

There is no longer an enemy as powerful as the Titans.

Even if they do not face death, there will still be problems that they can solve on their own or with their secret help.

That’s what life was like.

As long as you don’t die.

As long as you do not lose your life, you can look to the hope beyond.

Forty regressions were never in vain.

“Director!”

“Hmm?”

“What are you thinking like that? “It’s the most free time I have.”

When she turned her head, she saw Karin smiling lively at herself.

An expression that could not have even been imagined just a few months ago.

It was beautiful.

Enough to make you forget the past, even if just for a moment.

Werner looked at her and took her cigarette in an awkward manner.

“I was just thinking of a good idea.”

No.

It’s just a vain hope.

You are destined to suffer forever.

Face reality, Luthus Ethan.

No matter what happens, these people will never be able to carry your burden for you.

Follow the duty given to you.

Lamb of war. Take up that cross.

Beepeee.

Hearing his own voice echoing continuously, Werner raised his pistol.

It has been four days since I arrived in the Republic of Bostania.

A suicide bombing occurred in a park commemorating the victims of the Titans.

Werner Grime was also right there.