100m before meeting you (4)
"Are you going to Whitefield?"
"I heard that they are looking for volunteers tomorrow. I need Anton's help."
"It's not like here. It's a real war zone! You could die!"
"I know that. That's why I'm asking you."
"What's going on? There's no reason to risk your life."
It's all about money. But what came out of my mouth was something else entirely.
"There's someone I need to meet."
"If you need to meet someone... Is he a lover?"
I didn't bother to answer. Anton, who was staring at me, sighed.
"Even if I refuse your request, you're going to go anyway."
"That's right. I'm going to swim down the river."
"So much?"
"That's what I want to see."
Anton, who had been silent for a while, smiled faintly.
"I'm jealous. Someone important enough to risk their lives."
"..."
"I'll tell the administrator. Instead, promised me one thing. You're going to be safe."
"Thank you, Anton."
I quickly cleared the barracks, turned around, and left.
In two days, I will be able to see Ian. My heart was beating wildly.
***
For the first time in a long time, the stagnant Whitefield was revitalized. Smoke was seen from the rear.
In the rear, they always signaled by smoke just before sending supplies. Supplies will arrive tomorrow.
Kalit pressed his tired eyes at the report.
"If only we could cross the river safely."
As soon as supplies were cut off, meat was procured through large-scale hunting, but it was not enough.
Nor was it an area where there were many beasts in the middle of winter. It was impossible to feed that many Allied Forces by hunting.
Supplies quickly ran out, and the fourth battle was fought in that situation.
Two bowls of thin soup were now all the soldiers had for the day.
They can't starve and fight the monsters. It wouldn't be strange if deserting soldiers came out.
"We must be replenished this time."
Prime Minister Hallstail clenched his fists.
Other commanders rushed to give their opinion.
"Let's withdraw our troops and support the rear. It's really dangerous to lose supplies again."
"Let's do it! Instead of waiting for supplies to come, why don't we go first?"
In the excitement, Kalit slowly opened his eyes. He couldn't eat properly, so he was skinny and had only a look in his eyes.
"No, sir."
"Commander-in-Chief!"
"Twice we have already withdrawn our troops to receive supplies and have been attacked. And yet you are going to divide the forces again?"
One of them was the fourth battle.
Remembering that day, a shadow fell over the command staff's face. Kalit continued.
"They cut off our supply lines in part to dry us out, but more so to disperse our forces. I can't fall for their schemes anymore."
"Yesterday, a few soldiers were caught trying to roast monsters. We need a way."
At Hallstail's words, Kalit spat out. He didn't know that the soldiers were starving enough to roast monsters, even though they knew they would be poisoned if they ate them.
Then, a calm voice broke the silence.
"I'll go."
Kalit looked at Ian.
"No, we can't divide the troops."
"I'm going alone."
Ian and Kalit's eyes crossed.
"Commander, would you like to talk to me for a moment?"
As the commanders slopped out of the barracks, Kalit frowned, shattering his composure.
"What are you doing?"
"Isn't it a problem that will be solved if I go alone?"
Kalit's eyes turned cold.
"Did I keep quiet because I didn't know that?"
Millenia predicted Ian's disappearance.
So far, that hasn't happened. In the first place, Ian can't disappear alone from the crowd.
However, if Ian were the one competing, it would be a different story.
What if there is a top-tier monster waiting for him?
"Have you ever thought about why they didn't hit the rear, but just cut off the supplies?"
The other commanders had told him it was to disperse their forces, but Kalit knew what they were up to.
"From the beginning, the purpose was you. To lure 'the Protector.'"
"I know."
"You know say that? I promised Milleania that I would return to you safely. No, I can't allow it."
Ian stared at Kalit. Kalit's silver-gray eyes narrowed to the inability to read.
"May I ask you just one question?"
"What is it?"
"Why did you deceive her? As if you had your back treated by her."
"That's it..."
It was a lie that popped out without realizing it because he wanted to win her favor.
But why doesn't his mouth drop? Instead of a hesitant Kalit, Ian replied.
"If, as Millenia prophesied, I am missing, Your Highness can be that boy."
"What? Nope! Why would I think that..."
"Isn't that true?"
Kalit's face turned white.
In fact, he had that kind of desire at the bottom of his heart. When he noticed that Millenia was looking for someone. And from the moment he realized that that boy had a lot of place in Millenia's heart.
Kalit wants to be him.
"I can't make love anymore. So don't try too hard."
By the time Ian had left the barracks, Kalit couldn't lift his head. It was horrible to feel like the basic things he never wanted to be found out about.
***
Dozens of speedboats moored at the dock were loaded with luggage.
It would have been convenient to move them to one huge ship, but it seems that it was difficult to operate the ship due to the lack of depth in the river.
During the shipment of the luggage, the Whitefield applicants had to go through a final supplementary screening. It was a procedure that made a small scratch on the back of your hand.
I was bandaging the back of my blood-stained hand when Baba approached.
"What the hell did you do?"
"What?"
"People like us who have only been here for a few days will be eliminated even if we apply. Especially women."
"Baba passed, too."
"Did that work for Mr. Smith? I thought he was a bit of a jerk."
"He's weak in that way. His sister died when he was young."
"...How did you know that?"
"I asked Rufus."
"Who else is Rufus... No, that's it."
"So what?"
"It's not a big deal. I just asked Anton for a favor."
Baba's eyes widened.
"Did you ask the Second Grand Duke?"
"Is this a surprise?"
"No... The master asks for something from others, and you're not good at that."
"Then there's no way, what can I do? I didn't want to go around the river."
I said it bluntly, a little uncomfortable, and Baba laughed and distracted my head.
So far, Baba's only emotion has been flesh or amusement.
He didn't imitate someone but showed his feelings from the bottom of his heart.
I looked at Baba in surprise. He was looking down at my hand in dismay.
"Hey, what's this?"
"Why do you ask me that?"
"Ugh, that's weird..."
Baba rubbed his hand against his pants as if to erase the sensation.
It's strangely unpleasant. I frowned, and then the flag was raised on the ship.
"Get on board."
A shout echoed across the dock.
Baba glanced in that direction and placed the suitcase on his shoulder.
"Let's go."
The volunteers boarded the boat in small groups. The boat that Baba and I were to board was about halfway to the dock.
The wind whips. I fastened my collar and turned my gaze on the other side of the river.
In the distance, a flock of birds was flitting around the river.
"That's a flying monster."
It looks like a fingernail here, but it's huge. Even though it was clearly a threat, I was strangely unafraid.
"Aren't you burning?"
"Get on."
This is because longing is greater than fear.
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