Chapter 0 Prologue

The strong wind blew me away, throwing my body like a leaf in front of a storm, but the momentum carrying me soon ran out, leaving my body to crash into the ground.

“Tsu…!”

My vision blurred and my body burnt with pain.The clear blue sky above me stood in stark contrast to my consciousness, which gradually grew hazy.

“Theo ….. -kun …..?”

A panic riddled voice called out to me, …. and soon, I realized that the voice repeatedly echoed into my ears.

“Theo-kun…..!”

It was a desperate call, sounding closer to a screech than what would be described as a normal voice.

“Why… just why did you have to …… to sacrifice yourself for me?”

I could feel the blood pouring out of my body, along with a scorching pain from my back.

The horrid sensation spread through my entire body, causing pain to every inch of me.

“—Why did you do something so reckless……?!”

I could see the eyes staring at me from above, surrounded by tears, full of regret.

That pair of eyes belonged to an enchanting beauty, with dazzling red hair which shone in one’s eyes like the Sun.

She was a field commander, fighting for humanity on this battlefield.

Ignoring everything around her, she focused her attention onto me, forgetting how we were still on the battlefield.

“I — I don’t know, I — just did it…”

— I struggled, trying to push the words out of my mouth but my body refused to let me.

This was a battlefield, one full of bloodshed, where humanity constantly fought against demons, putting their lives at stake in an attempt to defeat their enemy.

Low and mid-grade demons flew in the sky, attempting to attack the humans, while they halted their charge and pushed them back.

Meanwhile, in the middle of the battlefield, a humongous demon stood right in front of us, leading the demon army.

– it was one of the highest-ranked demons who was titled the Supreme Star General — Agaliarept. (TN: アガリアレブト, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agaliarept)

It was a rare occurrence for a Supreme Star General to appear at the forefront of the battlefield.

So I took the lead in the mission, trying to take him down.

Killing him was all that was left, and despite our small numbers, we had a chance to defeat him, to kill a Supreme Star General.

……………………………………….

It was a vicious blow from Agaliarept, before he started retreating.

Being one of the strongest warriors of our camp, Instructor Miya was out on the front lines, searching for other enemies, when he snuck behind her, and released a powerful attack.

It was at that moment that I turned around, to see that attack at the edge of my vision.

My body reacted before my mind could understand the situation.

“Why would you do that for me?”

Instructor Miya cried out, her voice carrying her confusion, anger, desperation and regret, while her teary eyes only added upon this feeling.

There’s only one reason. I… just want you to …….

“I’m o-okay …… don’t worry about me, and quickly finish Agaliarept.”

You are our commander, all others may die but you must never look down.

You are a warrior, you must prioritize your mission over anything else.

As if my thoughts were conveyed to her, she nodded silently, not to me but to herself, steeling her eyes, as she slowly stood up.

“…… alright ….. but don’t you die on me.”

She caught a medic who was running around the battlefield in an attempt to heal the injured, handing me over to him.

“Theo-kun, with this life you saved, I will lead us to victory. So wait for me. Stay awake, don’t even think of dying. Do you understand?”

“I’ll do… my.. best.”

“Don’t just say it, you better follow up on those words, you better stay alive. This is an order.”

Instructor Miya headed towards the Supreme Star General, leaving me with those words.

Her red hair lay pulled back, like magma flowing down a volcano, emanating a ferocious sense of dependability, that all following her felt.

She slaughtered her through the front lines, using her trademark bayonet, clearing a path in a manner befitting the name of the <<Red Hornet>>.

Her concentration reached heights she was never capable of before, with all her senses on high alert.

It’s this state of hers, that raises the morale of everyone, knowing that the one leading them would slaughter anything and everything that came their way.

With this, I felt a sense of surety within my heart, knowing that we would defeat Agaliarept.

But still……… I’d never known that staying awake could cause so much pain.

My body eventually grew numb, dulling the pain that previously engulfed my body, being replaced by drowsiness which slowly overtook my conscious.

“……”

Excuse me… Instructor Miya… please let me rest for a bit.

I’m sorry….. if I don’t wake up.