BXBX NOVEL Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Chapter 27
[Brother, do you really have to come?]
On the other end of the comm, Selena appeared quite worried.
[Well… you see. Karl didn’t exactly look like he wanted to be reminded of that time.]
“…Is that so?”
Deonik bit his lip slightly, looking troubled.
Selena’s brother. The eldest of the Ifrit lineage, the minor head of the Marquis of Nafplion.
In the recent Luzerne War, he was a platoon leader in the 7th Infantry Division. And one of the hundreds of imperial soldiers saved by Karl.
After a moment of contemplation, he cautiously spoke up.
“Selena.”
[Yes, brother.]
“Still… will you say it just once?”
[Alright.]
The conversation between siblings ended there for now.
Deonik disconnected the communication link and buried himself deeper into the back of his chair.
Closing his eyes, the past situation vividly replayed in his mind.
“We’re all going to die here or die on the way. Isn’t it the same? Since we’re going to die anyway, wouldn’t it be better to go a little closer to home to die?!”
At the time of receiving the medal of honor, Karl had simply said it was just his luck.
In reality, some of those who hadn’t seen combat in the war would argue that was all there was to it.
‘Nonsense.’
What luck was, it was when God smiled upon someone.
And God doesn’t help just anyone. He helps those who deserve it.
And in that respect, Karl deserved it.
When everyone else gave up, Karl didn’t. He persuaded us to turn back. He volunteered to lead from the front.
As if entranced by that pull, we were able to escape a place that felt like hell.
‘Karl. We all thought we were as good as dead until you arrived.’
Those who haven’t experienced it wouldn’t understand even until the brink of death.
When death is right in front of you. When you can’t resist at all.
When you can only watch those who’ve shared life and death with you die.
How terrifying and bitterly sad the helplessness and self-loathing that come at that moment are.
That’s when Karl came. He grabbed the hands of those who had given up hope.
It didn’t matter why he came, whether we could really survive or not.
He came to save us. He didn’t abandon us. That was more than enough.
And he truly did save us. Not a single one of us was left behind.
‘I want to say… Thank you. I really want to say it. I have to say it.’
This isn’t just a thank you to the hero named Karl.
It’s also a tribute to my past self, still floundering in that hell.
That’s the only way I can hope to find some peace and sleep a little easier.
[Brother.]
Time passed, and Selena contacted me again.
[They said it’s okay to come.]
“…Alright. Thanks, Selena.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Deonik activated the communication link again.
A while later, the faces of his comrades appeared on the other side.
[Sir? What’s going on?]
“Gentlemen, take a moment. Let’s go meet the man who saved us.”
Back then, it was so chaotic. I even doubted if we really survived.
I couldn’t even say hello because I’ve been hiding my identity ever since.
[Oh, got it!]
We must express our gratitude. We must say that it’s because of you that we’re alive.
Being alive, we must show that we’ve met our families and formed new ones.
Because then, we might feel a little less guilty towards our fallen comrades.
Even for those who died in our place. We had to express our thanks.
* * *
Deonik, my brother, it’s not often that he asks me to do him a favor.
On the contrary, I myself has asked my brother for more favors.
So, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse his request this time.
Despite thinking that Karl might not like it, I eventually asked him.
Fortunately, Karl agreed to my brother’s request.
“…But you never said anything like this before, brother.”
“Sorry, Selena.”
“You should be sorry to Karl, not to me! I thought you were coming alone?!”
It was embarrassing. Behind Deonik, near the Academy, there were dozens more.
What made me even more bewildered was my brother’s next words.
“I tried to keep the numbers as small as possible.”
“No, really…!”
I told you. Karl is uncomfortable recalling those times.
It’s not just a matter of embarrassment, but he simply doesn’t want to remember.
Still, I thought it would be okay to ask just my brother.
But if you act like this without consulting me in between, what am I even for?!
With a silent scream inside, Selena grabbed Deonik’s hand.
“If it’s going to be like this, just go. Brother. An if Karl feels uncomfortable―”
“Selena?”
Oh no. What should I do? He’s already here.
“Ka- Karl. You’re here?”
“Oh. The person standing behind… ”
Steps―
Deonik passed by Selena and approached Karl.
In response, Selena hurriedly followed and stood by Karl’s side.
“…”
Silence. And more silence. Deonik, with Karl before him, remained wordless.
He just stared right through him. He didn’t even bother to greet him.
“Oh, brother. What on earth are you doing! It’s rude to stare like that…!”
To not even exchange greetings at a formal first meeting?
It’s like they’re inviting a fight from the other side. It’s beyond acceptable.
As Selena started to feel anxious and was about to intervene,
“…That’s right.”
With a trembling voice, Deonik spoke up.
“He was right. Back then, that person, who came running towards us when everyone else had given up. He said, ‘Let’s go together, even if we die, let’s die a little closer to home.’ He was really right.”
Selena saw it. The tears welling in her brother’s eyes.
The soldier who held them back and extended his right hand.
“I’m Deonik Ifrit. At that time, I was a platoon leader in the imperial army.”
“…It’s an honor to meet you Marquis of Nafplion. I’m Sergeant Karl Adelheit.”
Brief greetings. Hands shaken and withdrawn.
Silence fell once again. Deonik purses his lips, unable to say anything more.
Selena doesn’t know the reason. She can’t understand.
But Karl, standing before Deonik, another survivor of that war, he understands the reason.
Perhaps he’s still contemplating the hell of that moment.
“…Sergeant Karl Adelheit.”
Deonik finally managed to speak again.
“Thank you. For rescuing us from that hell back then.”
With these words, Deonik gestured, and his comrades who were behind approached.
There were junior officers of noble descent and common soldiers among them.
Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible for them to mix like this.
But they were all in a special situation—comrades.
“These are the members of my platoon that you saved. We selected only those who said they’d all come.”
“…”
“I’m sure you feel burdened. Just as much as we do, I’m sure it’s difficult for you every time you remember that day, Sergeant. I’m sorry. Truly sorry. But I felt like we had to express our gratitude somehow.”
At those words, Karl looked slowly at the survivors.
They were all people who had lived on someone else’s life as a guarantee.
Those who had returned home instead of those who hadn’t come back.
Certainly not sinners, but souls who considered themselves sinners.
“Thank you. For saving us.”
Deonik bowed his head, and his platoon members followed suit.
“…”
Observing them for a moment, I said,
“I, too, thank you all.”
Facing them, I bowed slightly and expressed my gratitude.
“Sergeant…?”
Confused, Deonik tried to reject the thanks, asking why he was being thanked.
But I nodded gently, then smiled softly.
“I’m grateful to see those I rescued again. Seeing you all, I remember my fallen comrades who saved me.”
“Ah… I, I’m sorry. Truly sorry…”
“No, no. That’s why I’m grateful. Thanks to all of you, I can feel a bit more dignified in front of those fellows. Because of me, those who died. Because of you, I can say that their deaths weren’t in vain.”
This is a gratitude and apology to each other and to our departed comrades.
Your sacrifices were not in vain. I’ve repaid them like this, and I’ll live diligently to match it.
So, when we meet again someday, won’t you be a little less angry?
[PR/N: The feels…]
“Sometimes I have nightmares. Other fellows I couldn’t save come to me. They cry out in pain, and I wake up drenched in cold sweat.”
At my words, Deonik and his platoon members all nodded subtly.
They were all the same. They were all shuddering with guilt.
“But at least today, I don’t think I’ll have those nightmares. Because you’re all here. Because there’s evidence that I didn’t fail to save anyone.”
Having heard this, Deonik took a deep breath and stepped back.
Then, assuming a formal posture, he saluted gracefully.
His comrades also followed suit, showing respect to their benefactor. their comrade-in-arm.
To the man who saved their lives. And for the other heroes standing behind him.
“….”
Returning their salute, I smile and said, ‘Let’s go.’
“I didn’t expect so many of you to come. Dinner might be a bit early, so let’s have a cup of coffee or tea before you go. I’ll pay. I have a good pension because of the medal of honor, you know.”
“If it’s a medal of honor recipient’s treat, I’m sure even plain water would taste good.”
“You are so different from our leader. Our platoon leader, what a fucking bastard he was! Ugh!”
Even though it was only today that they had truly met for the first time.
They were casual with each other, as if they had known each other for a very long time.
“…”
Selena, watching the scene from a distance, fidgeted with her hands.
I want to help him with that bitterness, I want to understand.
When he tells me he’s struggling, I want to comfort him, even if I don’t know him well.
I want to care for him with all my might.