A War Hero With No Regrets

7 – People who want to be forgotten (3)

Even after that day, Luterus and Karen’s strange dinner continued.

We didn’t make any promises.

We just went out and cooked, and Karen came to eat.

Luterus just took his share and went back to his room.

Sometimes, when Luterus was having dinner with John Hopes, Karen would bring the food.

At first, it was just a coincidental meeting, but the dinner Luterus made became one of the schedules for just the two of them.

In fact, it was one of the schedules at Ford Lake.

Since the one who used to prepare meals for the combat rations was also Luterus Edan, the facility manager.

He even took over the responsibility of preparing ingredients in addition to the cleaning duty.

That’s why, naturally, the rest of the personnel except for Karen Meyers gathered for dinner every evening.

Edward, Dante, Auto.

These three were not originally from Ford Lake Command since the beginning.

They were driven out of the original command of the fortress for some reason.

Edward was a rebellion against the commander who gave him a mission that was suicide.

Dante lost a precious person due to someone else’s will.

Auto lost a leg due to an accident during the operation.

In fact, it was a gathering of people who were left behind.

But a hero of the empire’s guard, why are you in such a place…?

There must be some circumstances.

Luterus responded with a sigh of wine, “But have we become a strategy department now, after changing our affiliation to that?”

Maybe.

…It seems that it’s alright to leave it as it is and say such a thing, but it’s extremely unpleasant.

Edward grumbled in response.

He had a posture that wasn’t suitable for the presence of the department head, but Luterus didn’t mind.

What’s the advantage of asserting authority in a place like this?

There’s no need to make a speech that’s necessary to avoid for a while.

Since we have to live together for a while, it’s not necessary to make a speech that’s not necessary to avoid.

So, exactly what does the strategic planning department do?

It’s exactly that. A department that plans strategies for national defense. It was set up by selecting personnel directly by the Supreme Commander himself.

I have already confirmed the relevant documents.

It is a special organization that is under the direct command of the Supreme Commander, not the highest command of the military.

All reports are not only for the Supreme Commander, but also go directly up to the Supreme Commander, and Arthur Phillias was just a supervisor on paper.

Just thinking about it makes my stomach churn.

Ruthers seemed to have vaguely understood the reason why Arthur Phillias chose him as the head of such an organization.

So, what strategy are you talking about? After all, the war with Titan is over…

The immediate fire has been put out, now it’s time to look back at the past. Even the conflicts that I couldn’t suppress…

…

Don’t you all come here for the same reason?

At least, no one here failed to understand the meaning of Ruthers’ words.

Yes.

John nodded in response.

Although he had roughly fitted into the position of a facilities officer, it didn’t mean there were no secrets behind John Hopes, a private first class.

He was an internal whistleblower who had exposed the corruption of a commander while in service.

He had managed to survive the attack because he was under investigation by higher ranks due to that case.

In fact, he was one of the individuals who had been in dispute at their original place, including Karen.

Even the war hero, Ruthers, was not highly evaluated by his subordinates.

The organization they gathered in the strategic planning department was no different from a group of problems within the imperial army.

Those who wanted to be forgotten quietly were finally coming back in this way.

However, the name “strategic planning department” made them seem more special.

It was impossible to erase the feeling that Ruthers had intentionally gathered those who were ostracized in the army.

…Well, it will work out for the best, right? If it’s a draw, then it’s a draw.

Then, for the first and last time, Autho, who had been silent all day, spoke.

There was no answer in return.

Ruthers simply nodded his head.

Wasn’t that the very essence of the army?

—-

After that, the days at Fort Biden Lake passed one after another.

Since it was not a normal fort to begin with, it took more than a month just for maintenance work.

As soon as the facility maintenance was completed, essential supplies for operation were quickly acquired, and it took a few months more to turn the Fort Biden Lake into a proper military base.

As a result, Fort Biden Lake was gradually regaining its appearance from the days of the Emerald Lake Fortress.

Thanks to that, the empty weapon storage that had been empty was filled with various weapons.

The most obvious change was the rooftop garden.

Was it really true that the gardener, Private John Hopes, had said? The small garden that had been a jungle was quite neat and tidy.

Isn’t that not a lie?

Ruthers nodded his head.

The lake appeared to be calm, which pleased him.

The five of them seemed to adapt quickly to their new lifestyle, now that the fort was being repaired.

Maybe they needed someone to guide them, after all.

Sure, Karen Mayven still didn’t wander around during the day, but at least the sounds of ghosts crying were no longer heard.

At that time, he was busy with additional maintenance of Fort Poebyden Lake and with recruiting additional personnel, excluding the five of them.

When the highest commander, Arthur Phillias, visited the fort.

It had been just four months since Luterus Edan returned and became the head of a peculiar organization called the Antispectral Bureau.

Definitely, his figure was sturdy. I thought he was a miserable person last time.

There’s nothing different…

He shaved his beard and tidied his hair. The atmosphere changed a few months ago, and the atmosphere.

Arthur Phillias took out two elegantly packaged boxes as he spoke.

What’s that?

That’s the same liquor I drank last time. I bought two bottles for the soldiers, he said.

He chuckled as he put the box in front of him.

Every time he visited the fort, he would bring expensive liquor. This habit was the same as last time.

Valentin 30-year old whiskey.

Is he going to open it right now?

I don’t have a hobby of collecting liquor.

It was like this every time.

Sometimes, it seems that he just came to find someone to drink with, doesn’t it? As a commander, Arthur Phillias was quite a generous host.

However, Luterus didn’t seem uncomfortable.

After all, the commander-in-chief knows better than anyone else how heavy the responsibility is in this position.

Slowly.

This time, Luterus gave the liquor to Arthur.

He accepted the glass, took a whiff of the smell, and then took a sip.

Ah… It’s definitely a Balentain. It’s great that it’s both deep and sophisticated.

Arthur Phillias smirked towards Luterus as he laughed.

Every time he laughed, his sweaty beard twitched.

Still, you’re adapting well, aren’t you? It’s good that you’re just checking in.

Is that the only reason you’re visiting?

That’s also convenient. It’s a place where my memories of my era as a commander are stored. It was a ruin when I last saw it, but now it’s definitely in its old form.

Have they been doing nothing all this time?

Luterus swallowed his words and shook his glass.

But that’s not the only reason, you know.

Suddenly, there was a gleam in Arthur’s eye, which had been peaceful just a moment ago.

Oh? The order from the cannon fuse has been issued. It’s the first order issued directly to the Strategic Planning Bureau.

What?

A conference is going to be held in the Eastern Command District, which will be held soon.

Eastern Command District, conference.

As soon as he heard the two characters, Edan Lutherus realized the meaning of the command issued by the artillery officer.

“You’re saying you’ll root out the impurities within the army, right?”

Even without hearing the correct content, Lutherus managed to grasp the exact point.

Seeing this, Arthur was somewhat surprised.

“…You really are quick, huh?”

The Eastern Commander of the Empire was a noisy place in many ways.

Currently, the Empire was in a state where the Emperor’s power was completely handed over to the Commander-in-Chief, and had transitioned from a hereditary emperor system to a constitutional emperor system.

Therefore, the relationship between the Eastern Commander and the Commander-in-Chief, which had been occupied by the majority of the Emperor’s faction, could not be described as good just because it was quiet.

Perhaps if the worldwide invasion by the Titans that occurred suddenly had not happened, the conflict between the Eastern Commander and the Commander-in-Chief would have grown uncontrollably.

This content was something that could be known by Lutherus, who had occupied the position of the Supreme Commander in the previous round.

However, he couldn’t help but think that it would continue until after the war.

Arthur looked straight at Lutherus and sighed.

“Yes, you’re right. It seems the Commander-in-Chief is making himself look powerful in a time when the army is completely victorious.”

Lutherus recalled the face of the Commander-in-Chief.

The dark circle under his eyes, the somewhat anxious eyes, and the firm posture and shoulders standing upright.

He was a dangerous man.

A person who would do anything for his power.

That’s why Lutherus could naturally come to a conclusion.

“You’ve been recommended for the position of Supreme Commander, haven’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Was that… to protect you from the Commander-in-Chief’s suspicion?”

Arthur couldn’t answer immediately.

Lutherus instinctively knew that it was the right answer.

“…You’re really quick, aren’t you? You should have talked to me earlier, more often.”

Even getting discharged unexpectedly.

Being appointed as the head of this strange organization called the Strategy Planning Bureau.

If everything was as intended by the Supreme Commander, it would make sense.

Even if he was demoted voluntarily and swore to join beneath him, the Supreme Commander’s hero…

He was doing an excellent job of escaping from the Commander-in-Chief’s suspicion.

Arthur Phillias looked at the cup in his hand and, after a moment, poured himself another drink and added,

“Whether East or West, great war heroes are always sacrificed by power-hungry people. Even if they don’t have a power lust themselves.”

“….”

“You’re no different, Lutherus Edan.”

The Supreme Commander sighed.

“A war hero who retired without leaving any human traces, you can disappear without a trace, can’t you? It’s too good a situation to disappear without a trace.”

Lutherus silently emptied his cup.

He had been aware of it vaguely, but it didn’t feel good to really hear it.

Even in the last round when he became the Supreme Commander of the Empire, the Commander-in-Chief’s restraint had always come as expected.