145 – Interlude – Graduation
– 146 –
(1) Probation
The battle in the North Sea won several extraordinary titles in just two days.
Unlike the Eitian Civil War, in which the demons participated in the form of mercenaries, this was the first all-out war and naval battle fought by the alliance with the regular army of the demons.
A battle in which the Asmodian side lost a major port and dozens of ships, the Union lost several ships, and nearly a thousand people died.
The first battle in which the warriors participated in the latest relics.
This is the first battle in which three humanoid spirits have gathered since the Shinma War.
This is unofficial because my existence is still a secret.
The people who took part in that great battle parted on the island of Lopia, where the battle took place with a sad expression on their faces.
“The island may have been a target, so we decided to evacuate the residents.”
“I’m sorry about this. We came here just for nothing.”
“No need to worry. All you’ve done in this battle will be hunting as usual.”
The third day after the battle.
This is the story that Master Chromanium was delivered directly to the port of Lopia.
It sounded like a benevolent statement not to hold accountable for the destruction of the island, but it also sounded like a sarcasm that I had no command or control because the speaker was the speaker.
I don’t care if I don’t have that, well.
Unknowingly, when he turned his head while making a ‘heh’ sound, Chromium also snorted and turned around.
In the
Chromanium Empire, the ships from the Union turn their bows and go back to the North Sea as soon as they release strategic supplies on the island.
The goods piled up in the port go to the temporary warehouse, and then they are taken out and headed to the construction site.
As it is the closest island to the Ezel Continent, which has become the land of demons, it was a move to turn it into a military base instead of abandoning it, which is a strategically important place.
“I don’t know about ships, but what if those giants come back?”
“Didn’t you find out their weaknesses?”
For some reason, Chromianium said something similar to praise, and as Chermia and Shane approached him, he lightly shook his head and left to lead the construction.
Chromium and the warriors who greeted him approached with a fuss.
“Wow. It’s the first time I’ve seen Master Chromium-sama.”
“Oh, wait. So, have you seen all of our humanoid spirits?”
Suddenly, two eyes turned to me.
“Why? Can you give me a product? What are you going to bring from the spirit world?”
“No. Because Erif has a very different feeling from other people.”
“Because I am a bit of an unusual case.”
In the beginning, the strength was the weakest among the humanoid spirits, and even the memory was lost once and then regained.
It is absurd to expect such dignity from me as other humanoid spirits.
I don’t want to become an authoritarian adult like Chromium, so I will continue to live my life like myself.
“Okay, let’s go eat lunch. I found something delicious among the supplies.”
“Really? What was it?”
“Yes. I heard that Schwein soup was a battle food.”
“Oh, Erif really liked it.”
Like this, I want to spend time comfortably while chatting with my friends.
Although that time may not last forever.
(2) Graduation Ceremony
“… So, this concludes the 92nd graduation ceremony for Celeste Military Academy. I am sorry that the schedule has been pushed forward, but I think everyone understands the current situation.”
This is the proud auditorium of Celeste Military Academy.
That old-fashioned old-fashioned old-fashioned old man with sunglasses who speaks on stage is going to be the principal.
Like other schools, our military academy originally graduated in early February, the end of winter.
However, due to the current situation, the military is eager to commission new officers as soon as possible, so the graduation ceremony was held at the end of December when all academic calendars were completed and students were evaluated.
Short if short, long if long, the end of my school life was approaching.
“Next, the graduation ceremony will be held. The pilot squad, the command team, the operator group, and the warrior group wait in order. 3Rd graders Shane Grafol and Cermia Seine. In front of Erif Cruel, the representative of the pilot squad.”
Cutting our white uniforms neatly, we went up to the stage as we practiced beforehand.
After each exchanged glances with Curst, the graduation ceremony began.
“I was surprised that there was not one hero in hundreds of years, but both of them came from our school. And proud.”
Shane smiled modestly as her Cust shook her outstretched hand, and then she saluted him.
“I have learned a lot over the past three years. Thanks to the teachers.”
“I hope you can save mankind and the world with what you have learned.”
In return for Shane, Kirst placed her diploma in his hand.
Shane went down the stage, and Chermia stood in front of Kirst.
She also shook hands with Kirst and saluted her.
“Coming to Celeste Military Academy was the most important choice in my life. Thanks to that choice, I have been happy and happy for the past 3 years. It’s going to be difficult right now because I’m taking on a very important role, but after the war is over, if you need me, please call me anytime.”
“That word, I definitely received it. Leave one vacant seat for the pilot class teacher.”
Kurst handed Chermia her diploma with a smile.
And this time it was my turn.
Kurst’s lips curled up a bit.
“Why? Did you lose steam because you were not a hero?”
“If anyone hears it, it will be misunderstood. I was wondering if I was worthy to give you this diploma.”
Kurst waved while holding my diploma.
“You haven’t made an official announcement yet, but your identity will probably be revealed soon. Third graders at least know most of the pilot class you were in.”
“Did you do that on purpose? It would be less confusing that way, so I understand.”
“… Did you know?”
“Why don’t you know that? I didn’t even bother stopping the rumors from circulating.”
Since then, I’ve been reborn and my eyesight has improved quite a bit over the past three years.
If I wanted to keep my identity a complete secret, I would have been able to do so.
But my classmates are going to occupy quite important positions for various reasons, so I must have shed a little bit of my identity at the school level to adapt them to me in advance.
There was no way that the students who liked gossip would miss it, but the spread of rumors more than necessary was strictly controlled so it didn’t seem to leak outside.
“I’m sorry about this. But it was necessary.”
“I understand. Don’t talk too much, give it to me.”
As I point to the diploma, Kirst bursts into his wide smirk and holds it straight with both hands.
He stepped back a little, then bowed and handed over his diploma.
“Congratulations on your graduation, Erif Cruel. No, Erif-sama.”
I also bowed my head and accepted the diploma.
“I have been indebted to you for three years, Principal.”
A photo of this scene of exchanging diplomas while politely greeting each other was published on the front page of the newspaper a few days later along with an article revealing my identity.
(3) Confusion
“The only thing I noticed about this was that we didn’t know anything.”
The meeting of the leaders of the coalition took place in a gloomy atmosphere.
In response to the operation to catch the spies inside, the demons distributed their troops evenly everywhere as if to make fun of them.
Even in the places that were set as the destinations of each army, the meticulousness of arranging the troops of the highest level was seen.
It wasn’t just about deploying troops everywhere.
“The probability of having a spy in every legion and the probability that they stole information by any means. What could be higher?”
“Of course the latter… To say that, there is no possibility of the former.”
At the words of her Saint Ireana, her people looked at her with her astonished eyes.
Still young, she had a reputation for being quite strong and wise.
I don’t know if it was God’s guidance, Irena, or her own abilities, but she did not lack anything as a leader of the Union.
Everyone began to get nervous as she spoke as she scrutinized the crowd with her sharp eyes, let alone her lack.
Because her words are mixed with oracles.
“To be precise, rather than having spies in every legion, there may be a problem in the place that led this operation.”
“Well, however, this operation was devised by the leadership here.”
“Are you suspicious of us now?”
“There is no chance that any of you here are traitors.”
As the conference hall became noisy, Arumanan, who was standing behind Ireana, stepped out.
“The saint did not speak with that purpose. If there is a place where it was planned, there must also be a place where it took the initiative. Operation Chief?”
“Yes, yes!”
The operating staff, who was very nervous, responded in a cold sweat.
Arumanan’s words may cut his throat.
Figuratively and physically.
“I know where this operation was conducted by the Combined Operations Bureau. Is that right?”
“That’s right!”
“How did it go?”
The operations staff placed the papers she was holding like a lifeline on the table in the conference room.
“In the operational bureau where staffs from different countries are gathered, positions were randomly selected through a secret lottery. It is a structure that other countries do not know where the army of which country is going.”
“Don’t your staff know?”
“I don’t know exactly which army is going where.”
“How many troops were mobilized?”
“Five.”
“How long did it take from summoning to mobilization?”
“No more than ten days.”
“How to notify?”
“Delivered to the commander of each corps as a secret document… ….”
“Who delivered the document?”
“Uh, that’s… ….”
Arumanan shook his head at the appearance of the operational staff unable to answer.
She regrets not being deeply involved in this operation, as she has recently been dealing with Canael’s affairs.
It was different from the time when we exchanged strategies in a thorough manner in the past Shinma War.
From nob le mt l dot com
People still didn’t really know what the war with the demons was.
“Call the working-level officials of the Operation Bureau right away. And we have to change the way we deliver operations.”
It would be much easier to steal the secrets being communicated than to plant a spy or extract information inside each highly secure military.
Looking at the password being unlocked, the demons are probably infiltrating from inside and outside the operation bureau.
Aruma Nan began to give detailed instructions as she recalled her distant past.
(4) Next Stage
Kanbal, a huge kingdom in the southern part of the continent of Ireland.
Compared to the vast land mass, the prevailing opinion was that the national power was not as strong as that of other countries bordering on it.
Because of the huge desert in the north of Kanbal and the political problems unique to the continent of Ireland, it was also a country with very little interaction with the outside world.
Rumors are circulating that the royal family worships demons and the blood of demons is mixed, and it is said that in the distant past, demons were in the position of nobility.
The descendants of the foreigners who captured the indigenous kingdoms of this land hundreds of years ago and enslaved their people were now the upper classes of Kanbal.
A few years ago, they started taking action after receiving contact from demons who had been cut off since the Shinma War.
They formed an army to invade neighboring kingdoms and waged wars for ten years, but they were separated from those who no longer wanted to be associated with the demons.
The former was divided into the royal family and the regular army, and the latter was divided into the resistance army and had been fighting a civil war for a longer time than the Eitian, but the existence of the resistance army was hardly known because it was a country with so little interaction with other countries.
The spring of the year after I and the warriors graduate.
An urgent rescue request came from the resistance of Kanbal.
With the information that there is a base of demons inside the continent of Ireland.