22 – Our Sister
“…Is this really acceptable?”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, holding a rapidly spreading newspaper, stood at the War Castle.
He pressed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
Damn it. The atmosphere is already tense, and the final article is what now?
Provocative headlines are necessary, but isn’t this crossing the line?
Suppressing a throbbing headache, he looked at War Castle’s boss, Asim.
“War Castle is going to have a tough time. Just when the war is over, if the public sentiment deteriorates like this, we might end up in another war. We don’t take lightly the kidnapping and attempted terrorism, but if a full-scale war breaks out again in this state, our empire could be greatly shaken.”
At these words, Boss Asim shrugged his shoulders.
He wasn’t just an ordinary soldier; surely, he would know. If he didn’t have some political sense as a soldier standing at the pinnacle, he wouldn’t be entrusted with battlefield command.
“Don’t worry too much. The newspapers stirring things up like this will not create a sinister atmosphere but rather serve as a factor that firmly holds our citizens together by highlighting the overwhelming superiority of the empire.”
“Do you really believe it will turn out that way? Even if so, on the side of the elves…”
“On that side, we should be thankful. It’s a great opportunity to thoroughly crush those hardliners and have a perfect justification. There hasn’t been any official apology from the elves in the Foreign Ministry immediately condemning the actions of the elves.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, deep in thought for a moment, had to nod in agreement.
If the elves were to express discomfort with the excessively offensive language, what would happen?
He continued to maintain a conciliatory posture, apologizing on behalf of the Rosen Elves for the atrocities.
And that posture was naturally turning the anger towards the hardliners.
‘Using this incident to solidify the internal atmosphere more firmly, is that the plan?’
As the Minister of Foreign Affairs stroked his chin, lost in thought for a moment.
Crackle—
Boss Asim unfolded the newspaper, confirming that the article he desired had been well-received.
Good. Very good. With this, the trust in the army, which could have easily wavered, has been preserved.
“Although it’s been said that Karl had already discharged, fortunately, it hadn’t been more than a few months.
The discharge certificate hadn’t even dried its ink, so it was permissible to proudly exclaim, ‘Hail the mighty Army!’
The prestige of the Army hadn’t risen, but at least it hadn’t diminished.
‘As if I’d want to add more medals.’
In fact, this matter had long been under serious discussion with the Ministry of Law.
The feat of preventing terrorism and rescuing imperial citizens was as impressive as before.
However, there was no provision in imperial law for ‘duplicate conferment of honors.’
The possibility of receiving such a difficult-to-attain medal again hadn’t crossed anyone’s mind.
Should it be the Cross of Valor, or perhaps the Silver Merit Order to substitute?
It was a time of deliberation for Boss Minister.
“Oh, have you heard the news? Someone from the Special Forces infiltrated the Hizens.”
“Yes, I heard. They call her ‘that woman.’ Is it true?”
“Yes, that woman.”
Commander of the Annihilation Unit. A fearsome elf who even her own kind openly revealed.
A considerably dangerous individual stepped forward to investigate this incident.
“By the way, do you know why they summoned Corporal Karl Adelheid as a witness?”
“…That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
“That’s how it is. They say they’re sending someone by the end of today.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs’ words made sense. Boss Minister nodded in acknowledgment.
Suddenly, a conversation Karl had with him not long ago came to mind.
“If you expect more from me here, that’s not going to happen. I’m just an ordinary academy student now.”
Frankly, for us, conscientiously excluding ‘ordinary’ seems more appropriate, Corporal Karl said.
Who in the world would expect an academy student to suppress terrorists and be decorated with an honor medal?
Inwardly, he almost wanted to subtly suggest re-enlistment.
As luck would have it, he hadn’t discharged as a sergeant. Re-enlistment as a soldier was impossible, but as a non-commissioned officer, it was feasible.
Wasn’t it a pity to keep a talent of that caliber as just another academy student?
“Well, this is just wishful thinking anyway.”
Boss Minister himself was an Army veteran. Therefore, he understood well that suggesting re-enlistment was madness.
If it truly happened, Karl might even take up the Great Sword and infiltrate the Warfront.
*
“If you ask me for more here, it won’t do. Now, I’m just an ordinary academy student returning, you know.”
Yeah, right. Quite the bluff. Why did he go and plant flags by doing something like that?
They say the tongue is the door to calamity and worry, and the body is the axe that ruins itself. Is my Yin and Yang too weak?
“Ranshtark. Came from the Special Operations, student Karl. Due to the incident involving train hijacking and attempted terrorism, we’d appreciate it if you could accompany us for a while.”
Yesterday it was journalists. Today it’s Special Operations officials. Quite the spectacle.
The only thing that somewhat pleases me is that it’s not ‘Corporal Karl Adelheit’ but ‘Student Karl.’
If we treat them as soldiers, I’m worried about how much they want to puff up. But if they see him as an academy student, they should keep it reasonable and finish it.
“It won’t take long, will it?”
“Yes. We’re planning for about one to two hours. I can confidently assure you that you have nothing to worry about since you’re just a witness.”
If it’s coming from Special Operations with that attitude, I’ll accept it. There’s still one lecture left, but I think Special Operations will speak well of it.
But if not… well, skipping one class won’t hurt. After all, it’s okay up to three times.
“Karl.”
As I was about to board the carriage, a familiar voice came from behind.
Huh? I quickly turned around, and the person I expected was standing there.
“…Nuna?”
Rikata Adelheit. Three years older than me, she becomes my sister-in-law.
She’s the next Countess Friedrich. She will become my family’s leader someday.
But I heard she’s quite busy lately. Why is she here?
Tap-tap—
With a cold, rigid expression, Rikata stood quietly in front of me.
It’s unusual for her to act like this. I wondered if something happened at home—
“Kaaaarl!”
“Sigh.”
Her expression immediately collapsed, and she hugged me tightly.
There were Special Operations people around, so it was a bit embarrassing, but I couldn’t bring myself to push her away.
Considering her personality, if I push her away here, she’ll sulk for a week.
“Sis, sis. What brings you here?”
“This is too much! How could you not contact me at all?! You didn’t even tell me you’re receiving an honor medal! Even after catching terrorists, you kept it quiet! Do you know how worried I was when I heard the news?!”
“No, that’s not it. I’m just too agitated…”
“Hate you! Hate you, Kal! You kept it a secret even when you went to the military. You make me worry every day!”
“No, listen to what I’m saying first, please.”
Sister. Breathe. Breathe! Don’t hang yourself by the neck! Your brother is dying! He’s dying!!
“Are you hurt anywhere? Huh? Those damn Kempf guys didn’t hurt our Kal, did they?”
“I’m not hurt at all. No injuries, sister.”
“Then what’s this! This wound here! What is it? Tell me!”
“This? It’s a wound I got from celebrating on my discharge day, got too excited, banged into the bed, and got hurt.”
“No way? Tell me the truth. Those Kempf guys did this?! Tell me! I’ll go right now and…”
Whoa, calm down, sister. If you keep going like this, you might spill the secret.
“…Hnng, sniffle—”
No, why is she crying again?!
“Why, why! Why are you crying?”
“While our Kal is suffering like this, it’s so sad that I didn’t know anything…”
“It’s natural that you didn’t know! I didn’t say anything! It’s my fault, it’s mine!”
“I’ve been discharged, but all I do is suffer… Look at our Kal, he’s so thin now…”
If this is thin, then really thin people are chopsticks, sister…
Can we stop this now? The special forces guys are starting to look at us strangely!
“Sob… but, but where are you going? Aren’t there still lectures today?”
“I’m going to the special forces temporarily as a witness… No, for a moment. How do you know there are lectures left?”
“Have you forgotten who your sister is? Anyway, going to the special forces?”
When I nodded, my sister grabbed my hand with a snap!
“I’m going too!”
“…What?”
What are you saying, sister? I’m not going to play.
It’s as a witness! I’m going to tell them how our Kempfs were defeated.
Even the special forces personnel seemed puzzled.
The one who seemed to have the highest rank among them stepped forward.
“Um, sorry, but Kal is a student requested by the elves as a witness, so we can’t take any additional people…”
Unfortunately, his words stopped there.
As she pushed something towards the man, he stepped back with a grunt.
“Is that okay?”
“Ra, Ranshtak! Yes! It seems alright for you to come with us!”
“That’s what she says. Let’s go then! Kal!”
Rikata, chuckling, swiftly hopped into the carriage. She patted the seat beside her, drumming her fingers, seemingly still seeing me as a little kid.
“Sis, please… I’m a decorated honor recipient… I used to be a Kampf, notorious for neck-chopping… “
I wanted to say that but held back. Truth be told, maybe it was right that I couldn’t speak.
Her treating me like a child was perhaps expected.