Chapter 67

"J-J-J-J-J, Chief!"

Philip hurriedly followed behind Enock.

"What."

"Since the deployment, you haven't even taken a minute to rest. How about getting some sleep before moving to the next area?"

"You."

Enock, who had stopped, looked down at Philip.

"Are you tired?"

"Excuse me?"

"Go home, then."

Enock snatched the map from Philip's hand.

"No! No, I'm not!"

Philip fumbled to take the map back from Enock's hand.

"What could I be tired of? I haven't even drawn my sword yet. I thought I came as the Chief's personal secretary, not as part of the extermination team…."

"Then keep going. We don't have time. We need to finish within a month."

"Ah, right."

The reason Enock mentioned a month was that he planned to complete the extermination in time for his daughter's graduation from the training institute.

"But thinking about the training institute, it took me half a year to graduate, even though I was one of the faster ones…."

"Are you the same? Our daughter is a genius. She'll really be out in a month."

"Right, right. That's true. Lilius is a genius. There were rumors that the Tower Master had his eye on her."

Philip nodded vigorously, like a loyal servant.

"Still, when the rank is announced, it's going to be a mess. The atmosphere has been tense for years because Doss hasn't come out, and Lilius is just…!"

Philip's mouth slowly closed as he spoke excitedly.

Enock's expression had suddenly darkened, as if a storm cloud had rolled in.

'You insensitive fool.'

Axion, who had been walking silently beside him, clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Enock, who had given his daughter an incredible rank, was already suffering internally.

Lilius was a Doss, a 1st-class, without needing any verification.

Upon graduating from the training institute, she would be immediately drafted into the Imperial Army as a young soldier.

Enock had even been prepared to endure the invasion war to get his daughter exempted from military service.

"Huh."

Enock, who had stopped, tilted his head back and closed his eyes tightly.

"Have you eaten?"

"No, I haven't eaten yet!"

"Not you."

"Ah?"

Philip laughed awkwardly.

"Lilius?"

"Is the food at the training institute good these days? When I was there, it was terrible."

Enock sighed and started walking again.

He then stopped, pressed his hand to his forehead, and frowned.

"Damn... I'm forgetting my daughter's face…."

"Hey."

Axion, who could no longer bear to watch Enock's constant outbursts, gritted his teeth.

"It's only been a day since she enrolled. Just one day."

"What? Only that long?"

"Are you crazy, really?"

It's disgusting.

"You have a problem. Separation anxiety."

"Right."

Enock said seriously.

"Our princess will feel the same. What if she cries, saying she misses her dad?"

"I don't think that will happen. She's probably enjoying her first taste of freedom, being away from a father like you."

"What do you know?"

Enock flared up.

Philip, who had been watching the two of them with a chuckle, said:

"Chief, if you love your daughter this much, how will you send her off to marriage later?"

"What?"

Enock turned sharply, and Philip flinched.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"..."

After a moment, Enock stroked his chin with a serious expression.

He had never once thought about sending his seven-year-old daughter off to marriage.

"Come to think of it, I'm worried. My daughter doesn't want to be away from me at all. I wonder if she can get married…."

Muttering to himself, Enock nodded lightly and came to a conclusion.

"Well, there's no choice. If she says she won't get married, I'll have to keep her with me for life."

A father's wish, completely ignoring his daughter's opinion...

Axion and Philip shook their heads in disapproval.

* * *

The next morning.

I received a mountain of snacks and a letter.

The sender was my twin brothers.

Even before opening the letter, I felt a lump in my throat, remembering my college friends from my previous life who had gone to the military.

'Oh, guys. Now I understand the feelings of those who sang "Letter, Letter" in the training camp.'

I had only been in the training institute for four days, but the letter and gifts made me so happy that I felt like crying.

[Dear little sister Lilius!

It's Theo. Leon is here too.

I'm writing because I have better handwriting.

We miss you so much that we're almost in tears.

Without you, the house feels so gloomy. Everyone is talking less.

How is the training institute?

Have you made many friends?

Leon insists that if anyone bullies you, you should write down their names.

I'll tear them apart.

The above is from Leon. Ignore it.

Are you eating regularly?

I remember the food at the training institute was terrible, so I'm worried.

I'll send you your favorite snacks. Share them with your friends.

I sent some to César separately, so don't worry.

Even if the food is bad, don't skip meals. Be strong and come back after your training.

I'll be waiting for you. I love you!

P.S.: Ah! Father has returned to the capital. He's very disappointed that he couldn't see you.

He says he can't wait until your graduation and wants to come see you!]

"Wow, I'm so jealous, Lilius."

"Is this really from the Antresse princes?"

"You're so loved."

My roommates looked at the beautifully packaged snacks with envy.

"Let's eat them together!"

"Really?"

"Yeah! There's plenty."

I watched my friends excitedly opening the snack packages with a smile, then reread the postscript of the letter.

'Antresse Duke! My uncle has returned!'

The news of my uncle's return, who had left to cure Theo's illness and neglected family affairs, was significant.

In the original story, my uncle only appeared after Theo's death, but he had a strong presence.

Well, he was a high-ranking officer in the revolutionary army, so it makes sense.

'But how can he come to see me?'

Visits were not allowed at the training institute.

If you didn't graduate within a year, you would be held back, and only those who had been in the institute for over a year were allowed to go on leave.

'Well, I can't figure it out even if I think about it.'

I neatly folded the letter and put it away, then took a chocolate from the snack bag and approached Gem, who was still lying on her bed with her back to us.

"Gem, are you sleeping? Don't you have morning classes?"

Gem always went alone. Even when I invited her to the dining hall, she ignored me.

When she came back to the room, she would immediately lie down facing the wall, making it hard to talk to her.

"Lilius, you really keep talking to her even though she doesn't answer."

"Lilius is an angel. Just leave her alone. She's annoying."

Alicia and Michelle grumbled.

I turned around and mouthed "Don't" to them, then placed the chocolate by Gem's pillow.

"Let's eat snacks together. The chocolate is delicious. I have to go to class, so... I'll leave it here?"

* * *

In the chaotic classroom, 10 minutes before the start of the class.

I was sitting on César's desk, rolling my short legs while deep in thought.

'No matter where I look, I can't find him. Where could he be hiding?'

In fact, as soon as I enrolled, I had been searching for one of the main characters from the original story.

An incredibly powerful commoner mercenary!

His name is 'Jemyan Traha'!

He has an event that must happen at the training institute with César.

"César, do you know any boys in other rooms who you've become friends with?"

"No friends."

"...That's impressive."

"Why are you asking?"

"I'm curious about someone. His name is Jemyan Traha. He's in the same martial arts club as you, has a white badge, and red hair. He's probably your age and quite tall…."

"And good-looking?"

"Eh?"

Suddenly?

"Is he not?"

"I don't know what he looks like?"

"Then why are you looking for someone you don't know?"

"No, wait. Your tone is a bit strange. Are you saying I'm looking for him because he's good-looking?"

"...Because you like good-looking people."

"..."

"Wasn't that why you tried to be friends with Gerard Schmidt?"

I was so flabbergasted that my mouth dropped open.

Of course, who doesn't like pretty and good-looking people?

But I tried to be friends with Gerard Schmidt for other reasons!

"It's a misunderstanding."

"Okay."

"It's a misunderstanding!"

"Got it."

"What do you get! Don't lie! Your eyes are cloudy! It's written all over your face that you don't believe me!"

I felt wronged to be suddenly treated as if I had a crush.

"It's fine. I understand."

"No, wait, mister. What do you understand? I'm not like that."

"Okay."

César stared at me.

"...Why did you say you liked me after seeing me just twice?"

Oh, right.

I did.

I found César once and went to his mansion, and after meeting him twice, I said, "I like you."

'But how could I not like the protagonist? I watched you closely throughout the original story's 8 volumes!'

But César, who didn't know this, naturally misunderstood.

He might think that all the precious time we've spent together, from becoming friends to coming to my house, would not have happened if I didn't find him attractive!

'No way!'

I had to correct this misunderstanding.

In a hurry, I hopped off César's desk and faced him.

Then I slapped my palms on the desk with a thud.

"What?"

"Listen carefully!"

I looked César in the eye, hoping my sincerity would come across.

"I don't like you because of your looks. I like you as a person. Even if your face turned into a burnt pancake…!"

"..."

"I would still like you!"

César's eyes widened.

And then.

"Wow, wow, wow."

"Wow."

Clap, clap, clap.

I flinched and turned around at the sound of applause filling the classroom.