Chapter 42

Chapter 41

The Corpse That Defies the Natural Order - 4

I looked around in silence. Apart from one ragged corpse sprawled out as if unconscious, there were still many others who could provide information. Of course, there might be secret information known only to the leader, but that didn't matter. With this number, even if their quality was somewhat lacking, it was sufficient.

It was fine even if only the leader knew the mastermind or collaborators behind the Third Glory. After all, they were delusional about the revival of Afel and had shown their fangs to the Empire. They would certainly try something else, and I could just find and kill them.

Yes, there was no problem at all.

'Killing them wouldn't be a problem.'

With that conclusion, I walked towards the ragged corpse. The two Mokgwang agents who had been holding his arms quickly stepped back, and the heads of the 1st and 4th divisions followed behind me.

To wake the unconscious man, I grabbed his head, but something was off. His eyes were rolled back, showing only the whites, his jaw was mashed beyond recognition, and blood was flowing from his facial features.

"He's dead."

At my words, the Mokgwang agent in front of me trembled. He was already dead. It seemed the 4th division head had lost control of his strength when he kicked him in a hurry.

After staring at the ragged corpse's eyes for a moment, I applied force and burst his head. It was a meaningless act since he was already dead, but I needed to vent this damn feeling somehow.

I roughly shook off the filth on my hands and turned around to see the 4th division head at a loss and the 1st division head darting his eyes around.

'What should I do with this?'

The 1st division head had deliberately slowed down the torture, and the 4th division head had killed a key interrogation subject without permission, regardless of the reason. If I made an issue of it, I could certainly reprimand them.

After alternating my gaze between the two, I sighed slightly. Their trembling and deeply bowed heads were somewhat disconcerting. Normally, it wouldn't be a big deal. I had expected the 1st division head to be distracted by the new toy, the Afel Revival Army, and I knew the 4th division head was proactive in matters related to me.

Still, I hadn't pressed the 1st division head earlier, and I had let the 4th division head act impulsively. It would be a bit unfair to reprimand them now.

Although I heard something unexpected from an unexpected source—

'Fuck.'

Even thinking about it again, it's damn frustrating. Feeling stifled, I tried to wash my face but stopped when I realized my hands were still wet. The 4th division head, who had been cautiously watching me, cautiously offered a handkerchief.

"Director, if you're okay, at least take this..."

His voice was unchanged, but his hand holding the handkerchief was trembling slightly, which made me completely lose the urge to reprimand him. Yes, it was just bad luck. What just happened was just bad luck.

"Thank you."

I wiped my hands with the 4th division head's handkerchief and returned it. To show that I had calmed down, I patted his shoulder a few times.

"Still, it seems only Penelia cares about me. Thank you for taking my anger."

Although you took my job, you stepped in to handle the situation when I was angry, so it's fine. It was a kind gesture, so I can let it go.

Leaving the 4th division head, who bowed deeply, I approached the 1st division head. He was shaking more severely, probably thinking that the anger meant for both of them would now be directed solely at him. Don't worry, you'll be let off too.

"Erzsebet?"

"Y-Yes! Director!"

The 1st division head's response, full of tension, was a bit amusing. I chuckled and patted his shoulder like I did with the 4th division head.

"Just a mistake earlier, right?"

"No, I should have done it faster..."

"It was a mistake. Erzsebet has done well so far, so it's okay to make a mistake occasionally."

With that reassurance, his trembling gradually subsided. How many superiors care about their subordinates like this?

"Can you do better this time?"

"Yes!"

His enthusiastic response made me somewhat satisfied.

"Thinking about it, since you know about the Northern affairs, it seems there is definitely a mastermind or collaborator."

"I'll find out everything!"

"Good, do your best. Got it?"

Nodding repeatedly, he seemed determined to succeed this time. Sincere people like the 1st division head produce satisfactory results.

"Then I'll be back to the booth for a bit. I need to show my face before the operating hours end."

If someone who left to see someone doesn't return until the booth closes, it might seem suspicious. I need to go and show my face, then return to the forest.

***

Watching the director's back as he headed to the academy, I barely calmed my racing heart. When the director touched my shoulder and called me by my name, not my title, my heart raced wildly, almost to the point of bursting.

Hehe...

'Fuck.'

Really, fuck.

He's just suppressing his anger, his mind is completely off the rails.

Most people who have been in battle develop their own superstitions. The director was one of them. He never called officials by their names, always by their titles, both in public and private. For the director, calling someone by their name was a superstition.

During the two years in the North, he lost many people he had called by their names and treated informally. He was the only one who survived the elite squad created to kill the Kagan and the Yektian.

For the director to call someone by their name, it meant his mind and body were acting separately, to the point where he couldn't even think about his superstition. This only happened when he was truly enraged.

'Fucking hell.'

I glared at the headless leader of the Third Glory. I had treated him as a new toy, but I didn't expect him to commit such atrocities. Fortunately, the director didn't express his anger, or it would have been worse. No, it was even more terrifying because he suppressed it.

"Penelia, are you okay?"

I turned my gaze from the headless bastard to Penelia. The director, who had always favored the 4th division, had also called the 4th division head by his name. I couldn't imagine the shock Penelia must have felt.

She was still bowing and muttering something. For Penelia, who lived for the director, it must have felt like the sky was falling. I sighed slightly and approached to comfort her.

"Director is the only one, Director is the only one, Director is grateful, Director called me by my name, Director is the only one..."

"Ah."

I seem to have worried unnecessarily.

Leaving the slightly scary muttering Penelia behind, I approached another member of the Third Glory.

I gestured to a few still frozen Mokgwang agents, and they quickly followed. They seemed to have regained their composure, and their steps were more forceful. They were angry too, probably because they saw someone cursing the director in front of him.

"Bring that one over."

"Yes."

Pointing to a conveniently unconscious man, they immediately brought him to me. He needed to be awake for interrogation, so I slapped him to wake him up.

As soon as he opened his mouth to scream, a Mokgwang agent gagged him. Yes, they are quick to catch on, making it pleasant to work with them.

"I didn't plan to go this far, but your leader has greatly disrespected us. It's a shame."

As I pulled out a dagger from my coat and spoke, I suddenly thought it was strange. Why was I apologizing to him? We were the ones who suffered unilaterally, and wasn't it his fault for not managing his leader properly?

"Thinking about it, there's no real shame."

I could do this without any guilt.

Nodding, I checked the blade of the dagger and cut a small piece of flesh from the Third Glory member in front of me.

How many times can you endure this? Hold on as long as you can.

***

I avoided becoming a troublesome superior who vents personal anger on subordinates. Still, I seem to have more patience now than before. In the past, I would have immediately lashed out upon hearing something.

"A guy who rose to power on the blood of his comrades."

The words that kept circling in my head made me frown. No matter how much patience I have, some things are just damn frustrating. Even more frustrating is that I can't deny the statement. It's not entirely wrong.

Still, I tried to shake it off as I arrived at the academy. I saw the booths being cleaned up. Oh, I'm a bit late. Speeding up, I reached the pastry club booth, which was empty. It's definitely late.

"Ah, big brother!"

Just as I was about to return to the forest, I heard Louise's voice from behind. She had been crouching in a corner of the booth, poking her head out.

"What is it? Why are you still here?"

"Since I'm the director, I should wait for big brother."

I chuckled at Louise's innocent smile. How did she know when I would come and just wait?

"What about the others? They didn't just leave, did they?"

"They were taken by the people from the Three Kingdoms."

Louise's simple answer made me feel the effort Villar must have put in. Taking Louise and the others to their accommodations must have been difficult. Who orchestrated the departure of Erih and Ainter, who couldn't be left behind, along with the foreign trio? A form of mutual restraint?

'They do a good job of restraining each other.'

No one can get ahead, but no one can let anyone else get ahead either. Strangely balanced kids.

"Big brother, can I have your hand for a moment?"

"Hand?"

I extended my hand without thinking, then realized it might be a bad idea. I had wiped my hands, but the smell of blood might still be there, and it's not a good smell for a child who should only see good things. But Louise didn't seem to mind and placed a small bag in my hand. Thankfully, there was no smell.

"I made a lot of sweets this time!"

"Really?"

"They say eating something sweet is good when you're tired."

Her worried words made my body stiffen for a moment.

"Big brother looks very tired. I hope this helps a little."

"Sure."

"Th-That... Big brother? As I said before..."

"Tell me if anything happens, anytime?"

"Hehe..."

Seeing her embarrassed smile, I looked down at the bag in my hand. Eating something sweet when you're tired is a common saying.

"Thanks. I'll enjoy it."

"Yay!"

I smiled at Louise's bright smile.

After confirming that Louise had returned to her accommodation, I left the academy to return to the forest.

'Eating something sweet when you're tired.'

I opened the bag Louise gave me and took out a cookie. The neat shape suggested she had put a lot of effort into it. I couldn't have imagined such neat cookies back then.

"Kal! I brought something good!"

"Ta-da! How about it? When do you get to eat such a luxurious dessert in the North?"

"Did you look in a mirror? Your face is covered in fatigue."

"Eating something sweet is the best when you're tired! I made it for you, so eat it!"

"And don't brood alone, little one. Tell me if anything happens!"

Ah.

"Shit."

Maybe it was because I had just heard similar words from a ragged corpse, or maybe it was because Louise had said something similar. Suddenly, memories from the past came flooding back.

I looked down at Louise's cookie for a moment and carefully took a bite.

"It's delicious."

Yes, it's delicious. Louise's cookies are delicious.

The cookies I ate in the North were also delicious. They were the best I had ever tasted.

So, Louise's cookies are delicious too. Just like back then in the North.

Yes, Louise's cookies will definitely be delicious. They will be.

Author's Note

Today is Children's Day. Although our bodies may no longer be those of children, our hearts still hold the pure memories of our childhood, so we can still be considered children, right? Or not.

By the way, a reader suggested that I post the profiles of the characters. I think it's a good idea. I sometimes get confused by the full names, so it would be helpful to have them.

During the contest, I can cautiously post a summary of the settings, as long as I don't include images. I'll post a simple summary of the settings mentioned in the story, not just the characters.

Thank you for reading this chapter!