Ben was quite annoyed. He knew that his eyesight wasn't very good, but this time it was too much. He was talking about a lynx over a cat. How could he not be able to tell the difference unless his eyes were somehow damaged? The rifle he kept to chase away the wolves and real lynxes that occasionally appeared near the cattle ranch was as heavy as a piece of luggage.
As he opened the fence gate and went in, he frowned when he saw Collie twirling around, tail wagging distractedly. Is he spinning? Why is he spinning around like that? Then he found a little girl sitting in the middle of the yard, crying.
"Penny?"
Little Penny, famous for her windmill nose. Penny's hair was disheveled, and her face was covered in tears and snot, completely devoid of her usual cheerfulness. Ben quickly walked over and forcibly lifted Penny up.
“Mister... Mister... Ugh, huh, huh.”
“What’s going on!”
“Leila, ugh, squeak, ugh."
Leila pursed her lips and made a face that tried to hold back her tears, but she ended up sobbing and shaking her head. No, no, she begged, crawling to the soldiers’ feet.
“Please, spare me. Please spare me. I will do whatever you say. Please spare me. Forgive me, forgive me.”
“After I deal with this kid, I won’t leave you alone. This is a conspiracy to murder a soldier! Hey, shoot him...”
It was that moment. The moment he glanced at the woman who was crawling toward them, Aaron turned around and twisted the wrist of the soldier who was aiming his gun at me. The soldier who had been off guard slightly lost his balance and staggered, and he quickly wrapped his arms around his neck and strangled him. Aaron forcibly held the soldier who was about to collapse, as if it were his cover, and aimed the gun that had been pointed at the back of his head just a moment ago at another soldier standing on the other side. Aaron gave an order.
“Leila, go ahead. I’m fine.”
“Aaron, no, no...”
Leila stood there sobbing and unable to move a single step. He felt sorry that he couldn't hug her as she begged and cried, saying that he couldn't do it, and asking to be saved, without even knowing who he was talking to. But he also meant it when he said that it was okay.
All the way he ran, he felt a terrible feeling of dying again. The mere possibility that something might have happened to Leila brought back the trauma of his time on the terrible battlefield. He was relieved when hr saw Leila, who was slightly injured but had not been through much. He had no regrets about killing Ramrock's soldier. He regretted not being able to lie down with her when the sun rose tomorrow, but he did not care about his life at all. It was strange and comforting for a deserter to feel that way.
“It’s for Leila.”
“Why is that for me?”
As he opened the fence gate and went in, he frowned when he saw Collie twirling around, tail wagging distractedly. Is he spinning? Why is he spinning around like that? Then he found a little girl sitting in the middle of the yard, crying.
"Penny?"
Little Penny, famous for her windmill nose. Penny's hair was disheveled, and her face was covered in tears and snot, completely devoid of her usual cheerfulness. Ben quickly walked over and forcibly lifted Penny up.
“Mister... Mister... Ugh, huh, huh.”
“What’s going on!”
“Leila, ugh, squeak, ugh."
Ben looked at the door of the house, which was half off its hinges and slanted. It was rattling as if it had been torn off by a strong force, and it was shaking with a squeaking sound even in a light breeze. Aaron, who had been sitting near the door and carving wood before he came out, was nowhere to be seen.
Suddenly, Ihehad the illusion that his blood was being sucked out. Ben had a bad feeling. This ominous feeling was not good. His ears were numb, so he shouted even louder.
“What’s going on?”
Penny explained, crying.
Suddenly, Ihehad the illusion that his blood was being sucked out. Ben had a bad feeling. This ominous feeling was not good. His ears were numb, so he shouted even louder.
“What’s going on?”
Penny explained, crying.
"The soldiers, Leila, Leila, told me to find the old man, the Dubliner inside, suddenly, ran over, Leila, told me not to, to just find the old man, Leila... Leila..."
Although the pronunciation was imprecise due to the crying, Ben calmly understood. And he confirmed once again through the cold air in the empty house that Aaron had run out naked. His shoulders were shaking. He was worried about Leila, but it was clear that more problems would arise.
'This idiot!'
Aaron tried not to show it, but there was definitely something wrong with him.
To be honest, sometimes Ben had doubts. If that guy was really dangerous enough to have a bounty of 700 gold, what if he was being deceived? Nevertheless, he tolerated it because he didn't know what to do with the blind girl, and because Aaron seemed like a pretty decent person.
So, Ben firmly believed that Aaron was a deserter who had fled from battle. He could ignore it, thinking that there was no reason for Ramrock's army, let alone Dublin, to offer 700 gold for a deserter.
But whoever he was, one thing was certain. He should not have encountered Ramrock's soldiers like that. He knew very well that he should not show himself in front of Ramrock's soldiers, so he was always tense whenever he went into the city, and when Ramrock's soldiers assaulted him, he just took the beatings without protesting. If he caused trouble with the soldiers this time, there was a good chance he would be killed.
That must be why Leila came to him instead of Aaron.
'A kid who doesn't even know that!'
Mrs. Mia's house was not far away. Ben fixed his rifle and started running towards this damn daughter and son, spitting out curses at Aaron for running away instead of calling him first.
Aaron felt his breathing racing so fast that it made his eyes dizzy, but he couldn't stop. He was so angry that he wanted to kill himself. He knew that he was dishonest and that the atmosphere in the village was not good, but he couldn't accompany her. Aaron couldn't think of anything. Leila, Leila, Leila. That was all the name.
After running for a while, he heard a scream echoing from far away in the field on the other side.
Leila was a mess, as if she had rolled around on the bare ground, screaming and throwing dirt as she ran away from the soldiers. His mind seemed to be turning black. He couldn't think of anything. Anger that's been unleashed has that kind of power.
Aaron was not a conscript from the beginning, but started out as a regular soldier and became an officer when he first enlisted. Although there is discrimination based on status or family background within the military, they are fundamentally trained as soldiers. This is because those who put their lives at a high price are classified as soldiers who should not die at any time and should be protected more than civilians.
Aaron learned how to kill people. He never had any difficulty learning, especially with the special nature of his former profession as a doctor.
When he came to, he had already smashed the heads of two Ramrock soldiers. He had never lost his senses so much, even in the middle of a battlefield, and his hands were strangling the dead soldier's neck. Leila looked at him, trembling, covered in the blood of the soldier who had been hit by a stone, and finally burst into tears.
“...Why, why did you come, why! Why!”
Starting with that cry, the soldiers who had been standing back in shock came to their senses. That pitiful thing ran away and resisted until the very end, and he was furious. He felt like he had been caught and was going to take care of that girl and go back. But at some point, a man jumped out from behind and crushed the heads of two soldiers like watermelons in the blink of an eye.
The order was clear. Hit the spine at the back of the neck, then hit the sharp stone down on the face that had fallen from the impact, hit, hit, hit...
“Fuck, fuck, f*ck, what the hell is this kid doing! Killing a soldier? This crazy kid!”
He came to his senses belatedly and hurriedly pulled out his gun. The sound of the gun being loaded rang out from the back of his head. Aaron stared at Leila with calm eyes as if he couldn't hear.
“Why did you come? Why, why did you come? Why.”
Leila was crying, her pretty face distorted. But she is still beautiful. Every time she cries, it is his own heart that loses its beauty. Aaron smiled, satisfied that she was not hurt.
“Leila, listen carefully to what I say.”
Aaron whispered in a small voice. Leila tried to crawl closer to him, but he shook his head. He whispered with the shape of his lips. With the same affection he had when he kissed her.
If I move, you run.
Although the pronunciation was imprecise due to the crying, Ben calmly understood. And he confirmed once again through the cold air in the empty house that Aaron had run out naked. His shoulders were shaking. He was worried about Leila, but it was clear that more problems would arise.
'This idiot!'
Aaron tried not to show it, but there was definitely something wrong with him.
To be honest, sometimes Ben had doubts. If that guy was really dangerous enough to have a bounty of 700 gold, what if he was being deceived? Nevertheless, he tolerated it because he didn't know what to do with the blind girl, and because Aaron seemed like a pretty decent person.
So, Ben firmly believed that Aaron was a deserter who had fled from battle. He could ignore it, thinking that there was no reason for Ramrock's army, let alone Dublin, to offer 700 gold for a deserter.
But whoever he was, one thing was certain. He should not have encountered Ramrock's soldiers like that. He knew very well that he should not show himself in front of Ramrock's soldiers, so he was always tense whenever he went into the city, and when Ramrock's soldiers assaulted him, he just took the beatings without protesting. If he caused trouble with the soldiers this time, there was a good chance he would be killed.
That must be why Leila came to him instead of Aaron.
'A kid who doesn't even know that!'
Mrs. Mia's house was not far away. Ben fixed his rifle and started running towards this damn daughter and son, spitting out curses at Aaron for running away instead of calling him first.
***
Aaron felt his breathing racing so fast that it made his eyes dizzy, but he couldn't stop. He was so angry that he wanted to kill himself. He knew that he was dishonest and that the atmosphere in the village was not good, but he couldn't accompany her. Aaron couldn't think of anything. Leila, Leila, Leila. That was all the name.
After running for a while, he heard a scream echoing from far away in the field on the other side.
Leila was a mess, as if she had rolled around on the bare ground, screaming and throwing dirt as she ran away from the soldiers. His mind seemed to be turning black. He couldn't think of anything. Anger that's been unleashed has that kind of power.
***
Aaron was not a conscript from the beginning, but started out as a regular soldier and became an officer when he first enlisted. Although there is discrimination based on status or family background within the military, they are fundamentally trained as soldiers. This is because those who put their lives at a high price are classified as soldiers who should not die at any time and should be protected more than civilians.
Aaron learned how to kill people. He never had any difficulty learning, especially with the special nature of his former profession as a doctor.
When he came to, he had already smashed the heads of two Ramrock soldiers. He had never lost his senses so much, even in the middle of a battlefield, and his hands were strangling the dead soldier's neck. Leila looked at him, trembling, covered in the blood of the soldier who had been hit by a stone, and finally burst into tears.
“...Why, why did you come, why! Why!”
Starting with that cry, the soldiers who had been standing back in shock came to their senses. That pitiful thing ran away and resisted until the very end, and he was furious. He felt like he had been caught and was going to take care of that girl and go back. But at some point, a man jumped out from behind and crushed the heads of two soldiers like watermelons in the blink of an eye.
The order was clear. Hit the spine at the back of the neck, then hit the sharp stone down on the face that had fallen from the impact, hit, hit, hit...
“Fuck, fuck, f*ck, what the hell is this kid doing! Killing a soldier? This crazy kid!”
He came to his senses belatedly and hurriedly pulled out his gun. The sound of the gun being loaded rang out from the back of his head. Aaron stared at Leila with calm eyes as if he couldn't hear.
“Why did you come? Why, why did you come? Why.”
Leila was crying, her pretty face distorted. But she is still beautiful. Every time she cries, it is his own heart that loses its beauty. Aaron smiled, satisfied that she was not hurt.
“Leila, listen carefully to what I say.”
Aaron whispered in a small voice. Leila tried to crawl closer to him, but he shook his head. He whispered with the shape of his lips. With the same affection he had when he kissed her.
If I move, you run.
Leila pursed her lips and made a face that tried to hold back her tears, but she ended up sobbing and shaking her head. No, no, she begged, crawling to the soldiers’ feet.
“Please, spare me. Please spare me. I will do whatever you say. Please spare me. Forgive me, forgive me.”
“After I deal with this kid, I won’t leave you alone. This is a conspiracy to murder a soldier! Hey, shoot him...”
It was that moment. The moment he glanced at the woman who was crawling toward them, Aaron turned around and twisted the wrist of the soldier who was aiming his gun at me. The soldier who had been off guard slightly lost his balance and staggered, and he quickly wrapped his arms around his neck and strangled him. Aaron forcibly held the soldier who was about to collapse, as if it were his cover, and aimed the gun that had been pointed at the back of his head just a moment ago at another soldier standing on the other side. Aaron gave an order.
“Leila, go ahead. I’m fine.”
“Aaron, no, no...”
Leila stood there sobbing and unable to move a single step. He felt sorry that he couldn't hug her as she begged and cried, saying that he couldn't do it, and asking to be saved, without even knowing who he was talking to. But he also meant it when he said that it was okay.
All the way he ran, he felt a terrible feeling of dying again. The mere possibility that something might have happened to Leila brought back the trauma of his time on the terrible battlefield. He was relieved when hr saw Leila, who was slightly injured but had not been through much. He had no regrets about killing Ramrock's soldier. He regretted not being able to lie down with her when the sun rose tomorrow, but he did not care about his life at all. It was strange and comforting for a deserter to feel that way.
“It’s for Leila.”
“Why is that for me?”
Leila’s terrified eyes seemed to ask. Aaron nodded with a weak smile.
“Yes, for me. Leila doesn’t care.”
“Don’t, please, don’t, Aaron, please, run away.”
He turned away from Leila, who was approaching him, howling. He didn't want to show his bloody face.
The soldier who had been distorting his face and becoming the target of his comrade's gun seemed to be choosing between Leila and Aaron, who was using his unconscious comrade as a shield to confront him.
It didn't matter. They were all going to die today anyway.
He couldn't turn the tables on him for conspiring to kill a soldier. Hr had already made up his mind when he confirmed that two soldiers had died at his hands.
“Are you a Dubliner?”
Then, Ramrock's soldier, who had noticed the dog tag around Aaron's neck, pointed his gun at Aaron's head, next to his comrade's head, with an unprecedentedly ferocious killing intent. Leila screamed, 'Please, save me. Is anyone there? Please, anyone.'
The peaceful time passed by in an instant, and the farewell came too soon. Aaron felt like crying.
“I am a medical officer from the 515th Unit, 3rd Red Scissors Division, Dublin.”
“I’m the battalion commander of the 1st Division Defense Battalion of the White Hawks of Ramrock. You’re not even on active duty, are you? Are you really so desperate to die? You Dublin guys, if you catch us walking down the street and get beaten to death, no one will care.”
“I know, Leila, let’s go.”
Aaron repeated briefly. He couldn't take his eyes off the barrel of the approaching Ramrock soldier's gun. He couldn't hide his head with the unconscious soldier he was holding as a shield, lest he see Leila turning the gun instead of him.
The 'enemy' noticed that he was half-focused on Leila and laughed.
“If you behave yourself, I’ll let that woman go. If you move a finger, I’ll blow that woman’s head off.”
“...Is a soldier who threatens to kill his own people a soldier?”
“That dirty bitch who slept with that Dublin guy is a traitor.”
Aaron smiled bitterly and spoke without taking his eyes off the gun pointed right in front of his nose.
“Leila, this is my last request. Please go.”
“Please, Aaron, don’t do this to me. Aaron, me.”
“Yeah, you should run away now, pack your bags, and leave.”
“...And you're leaving with Mr. Ben. I’m sorry. Really.”
Leila, covered in tears, took a step back. She looked around and then turned around and ran, groaning. The sound of her footsteps gradually grew farther away. Aaron, who had pushed the unconscious soldier he was holding down, watched the enemy’s finger on the trigger until the very end. It was fortunate.
The enemy's objective was completely focused on him simply because he was a Dubliner.
A soldier from Ramrock taunted Aaron with hateful eyes as he slowly tried to straighten the barrel of his gun.
“Do you know that it is possible to kill a soldier?”
Aaron placed his finger carefully on the trigger. It had been a long time since he had held a gun, but at this distance.
“You bastard!”
Woof woof! The sound of dogs barking and the loud shouts of Ben can be heard from far away.
Aaron smiled sadly. As much as he felt sorry for Leila, he also wanted to say goodbye to Ben. For the silent affection he had never received even from his own blood relatives. For the gratitude he had been putting off, thinking that he would one day be able to repay.
And bang! Taang... Taang!
A piercing scream echoed through the golden fields after the harvest.
Taang again...!
“Yes, for me. Leila doesn’t care.”
“Don’t, please, don’t, Aaron, please, run away.”
He turned away from Leila, who was approaching him, howling. He didn't want to show his bloody face.
The soldier who had been distorting his face and becoming the target of his comrade's gun seemed to be choosing between Leila and Aaron, who was using his unconscious comrade as a shield to confront him.
It didn't matter. They were all going to die today anyway.
He couldn't turn the tables on him for conspiring to kill a soldier. Hr had already made up his mind when he confirmed that two soldiers had died at his hands.
“Are you a Dubliner?”
Then, Ramrock's soldier, who had noticed the dog tag around Aaron's neck, pointed his gun at Aaron's head, next to his comrade's head, with an unprecedentedly ferocious killing intent. Leila screamed, 'Please, save me. Is anyone there? Please, anyone.'
The peaceful time passed by in an instant, and the farewell came too soon. Aaron felt like crying.
“I am a medical officer from the 515th Unit, 3rd Red Scissors Division, Dublin.”
“I’m the battalion commander of the 1st Division Defense Battalion of the White Hawks of Ramrock. You’re not even on active duty, are you? Are you really so desperate to die? You Dublin guys, if you catch us walking down the street and get beaten to death, no one will care.”
“I know, Leila, let’s go.”
Aaron repeated briefly. He couldn't take his eyes off the barrel of the approaching Ramrock soldier's gun. He couldn't hide his head with the unconscious soldier he was holding as a shield, lest he see Leila turning the gun instead of him.
The 'enemy' noticed that he was half-focused on Leila and laughed.
“If you behave yourself, I’ll let that woman go. If you move a finger, I’ll blow that woman’s head off.”
“...Is a soldier who threatens to kill his own people a soldier?”
“That dirty bitch who slept with that Dublin guy is a traitor.”
Aaron smiled bitterly and spoke without taking his eyes off the gun pointed right in front of his nose.
“Leila, this is my last request. Please go.”
“Please, Aaron, don’t do this to me. Aaron, me.”
“Yeah, you should run away now, pack your bags, and leave.”
“...And you're leaving with Mr. Ben. I’m sorry. Really.”
Leila, covered in tears, took a step back. She looked around and then turned around and ran, groaning. The sound of her footsteps gradually grew farther away. Aaron, who had pushed the unconscious soldier he was holding down, watched the enemy’s finger on the trigger until the very end. It was fortunate.
The enemy's objective was completely focused on him simply because he was a Dubliner.
A soldier from Ramrock taunted Aaron with hateful eyes as he slowly tried to straighten the barrel of his gun.
“Do you know that it is possible to kill a soldier?”
Aaron placed his finger carefully on the trigger. It had been a long time since he had held a gun, but at this distance.
“You bastard!”
Woof woof! The sound of dogs barking and the loud shouts of Ben can be heard from far away.
Aaron smiled sadly. As much as he felt sorry for Leila, he also wanted to say goodbye to Ben. For the silent affection he had never received even from his own blood relatives. For the gratitude he had been putting off, thinking that he would one day be able to repay.
And bang! Taang... Taang!
A piercing scream echoed through the golden fields after the harvest.
Taang again...!
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