304. Northern Frontline – Colonel Gracia Detmeron
***
The next morning.
ㅡNorthern frontline area.
Saaa…….
The severe snowstorm and the harsh environment of electric wires that would make you freeze just by being in the space made it a living hell.
Kooung… !
The army of monsters flooding in periodically, and the apostles that occasionally appear, greatly devastated officers and soldiers alike, and it was also one of the reasons the northern frontline was rated as the worst across all fronts. .
“Haa….”
As soon as an officer exhales, it leaves a large trace as if frozen in the air.
He was a middle-aged officer who could be called a veteran among the officers in the north, but the battlefield he saw did not change throughout the year.
Only a small breath escaped through the thick fur coat.
ㅡColonel Gracia Detmern.
He was in charge of the western wall in the north, his eyes blurred in a daze.
“It’s strange….”
The atmosphere on the front has never been good.
The number of manpower assigned to the military is gradually decreasing, and the position of having to protect the north with fewer people every year has always been inconvenient.
Maintaining the morale of officers and soldiers was also a challenge.
No matter how much the best treatment compared to other fronts and the higher wages than any other position, not many people could survive here.
As the years passed, there were many officers who begged and begged to be assigned to other places, and it was undeniable that the desertion rate of soldiers who could not even ask for it increased.
Sureuk.
Even though I received the cold wind as if the blade was standing, it felt strange recently.
I felt like we were closer than before, or something like a crisis was approaching.
And that intuition has never been wrong. Even if you want big things to happen very suddenly, there were precursors if you look for them.
And that was the most important intuition on the battlefield.
“……”
While exhaling lightly, this must be the reason why the time spent on the wall recently increased.
‘There is something.’
…But lately, I’ve been feeling skeptical about myself.
Before, I was still able to figure out what it was, or what an omen it was.
However, even after dispatching a reconnaissance team, even raising the alert map, it is difficult to find any clues.
…Like a shapeless fog approaching.
I couldn’t even see the outline of the fog or the hazy atmosphere, so I felt even more terrified.
Sureuk.
While rubbing my eyes in a daze, I am killing time on the wall where morning has yet to come.
“…Colonel Gracia.”
I could feel the approaching crowd.
“Is it Evangeline?”
“Yes. That’s right. The current boundaries between officers and soldiers are by no means loose. Shouldn’t the colonel take care of himself so that the officers and soldiers can breathe a little?”
A small smile leaked out of the officer’s voice as he spoke carefully.
He was a rare guy.
ㅡThe family of Count Evangeline.
Even as the eldest son, he is curious about working on the northern frontline, but he doesn’t even think about going out every year.
Even if I wanted to be assigned to another place, the guy who was carrying a big role in the family that I couldn’t even hold onto, managed to survive on the frontlines of this severe winter.
‘It doesn’t even show a hard sign.’
As I turned my gaze to the side, I thought that he was quite a strange guy because his long emerald hair was not manly, but his spirit was visible.
“Yes, I do want to catch my breath.”
“Then why? Are you at the wall until this early? I know it’s rude for me to say this, but I think Colonel Gracia really needs to rest.”
I knew what he meant when I saw him asserting himself with calm eyes.
In a way, the fact that the chief executive works ahead of time can be viewed as high. Because you can put yourself ahead of other officers and soldiers.
But in terms of rest, it can feel a little harsher to officers and soldiers.
I need to rest so that they can relax a little and arrange their stamina.
In fact, it was clear that the officers and soldiers waiting on the nearby wall were very nervous.
“…”
As I catch my breath for a moment, I look at the white snowfield beyond the castle wall again.
It is quiet now due to the army of apostles and monsters that stormed just yesterday. If it’s time to take a breather, I know now is the right time.
…Even so.
“You are anxious.”
“…What are you worried about? If there are any inadequacies, I will point them out properly.”
She shook her head as she listened to the voice of the Evangeline family member answering straight away.
The anxiety I feel now is not something that can be explained in words.
Intuition.
It was like the survival instinct felt by an officer who has been on the front line for over 10 years.
My skin feels more itchy than usual, and it’s not very comfortable to breathe.
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“Clack….”
A quiet laugh leaked out of nowhere.
“Evangeline, I will do as you say.”
“…Thank you for listening to me. Colonel Gracia.”
I shook my head, trying to erase my anxiety, and turned around to see the guy with his head bowed respectfully.
…He was a proud guy.
And just like that guy’s worries, I know that I’m overdoing it now.
The fact that I’m putting a bigger burden on the officers and soldiers who should be resting properly, and that I’ve been doing this for several days already.
If you do this, it would be like giving them a bunch so that they can’t prepare for a crisis.
Then it didn’t make any sense.
Chuck. Chubuck….
I open my mouth a little lightly, being conscious of the guy’s footsteps ringing in sync with mine.
“Yes, Evangeline. Are there any women you are interested in lately?”
“No. Doesn’t exist.”
The voice that answered immediately was just amazing.
The rate of support for officers on the northern front and the departure of soldiers.
It wouldn’t be strange if it accelerated rapidly, but I know that there are quite a few female officers and soldiers who remain because of this guy.
He has a tall appearance, an upright personality, and an upright core to his innate family.
Nothing is impeccable, so it must be strange that they don’t fall for this guy.
“That’s strange. I know that among the officers I have seen, there are female officers who are quite eye-catching.”
Clap.
As I went inside, I looked at him again, and he smiled bitterly.
“Yes. However, I think my eyes are high.”
“How tall is that?”
I was curious even while talking about it.
Now, there are quite a few female officers with good family backgrounds, as well as female officers with outstanding looks.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that ‘officers’ were those who had already been verified in the civil service. Even if he became an officer, he was a person without blame in the empire, and yet it was not enough.
“Does Colonel Gracia… Know about my sister?”
“I know. Then. Wasn’t she a person who served on the frontlines and showed outstanding performance? Maybe her name was… Adelia.”
“Yes. You’re right.”
I couldn’t believe it when I saw him smiling brightly as he spoke.
“This is so… Are you going to say that your sister raised her eyes?”
“Yes. After living together for quite a while, my eyes naturally grew higher. So, I think I’ll like you if you’re prettier than my sister, but…. I haven’t had a woman like that in years.”
It was absurd to see the guy who spoke as if he were asserting.
‘Adelia Evangeline.’
She did quite well as a nursing officer, and her reputation was carried all the way up north.
An officer who always performed exceptionally well in her career would promote her reputation even within her empire.
Since the current imperial family knows that officers are the most important thing to protect the empire, she was actively engaged in additional propaganda.
‘Is it natural?’
Now, the frontline is where she has to throw away her time as if she was throwing away her own life despite her harshness.
If you want to have aristocrats who have nothing to lack come to the front, the greatest value is that even the imperial family knows.
‘Honor.’
It is said to be the greatest human need, and I actually thought it had a great meaning.
“I heard that you are at the academy now. How do you feel?”
Then I suddenly became curious.
Her own sister has served for many years and she is now showing signs of settling into her academy.
She contributed so much to the empire that even so much, no one was to blame.
Anyone who stays longer than that….
“I feel fortunate.”
“I see.”
“Yes. And that’s why I think I should be on the front line a little longer.”
Seeing him answer with a soft smile, I felt that he was a good person. He was a rare talent recently, and I thought I was lucky that he was here.
“Still, aren’t you already old enough? It’s time to start a family. I will try to arrange a woman who will catch your eye.”
“…It’s okay.”
“Think of me as a little courtesy.”
I changed my mind a little with a grin.
Still.
I thought it would be soon.
It would be nice if there were more families like this, but on the other hand, the young man who contributed to the empire this much wants to live a comfortable life.
Even if I didn’t try to call him by name or give him affection, as the years went by, I couldn’t help but grow affectionate.
In the middle of the way to the office.
Chuck.
I suddenly stopped walking.
“…”
Involuntarily, as I turned my head, the mana in my whole body exploded.
ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ!!
In the midst of the vast aura of mana, my heart sank rapidly.
“Colonel Gracia?”
At the questionable voice, my heart was completely ready for battle.
“Immediately raise the level of alertness of all officers and soldiers to the maximum level. Switch to first-class alert!”
Something… ….
It was definitely there.
That’s incredibly close.