***READ THIS AFTER THE MAIN STORY AND EPILOGUES***
[These are the translated portions of light novel exclusive content. This takes place 20 years after the war ends. The light novel is framed as someone discovering Touri's diary and reading it. There are major spoilers in the first few volumes of the light novel for events that occur in future arcs.]
Part 1
[Start of Volume]
The scars of the World War still linger.
In the height of summer, I traveled to a rural town along the border in Austin.
It's a place that seemed to gather all the best parts of the countryside: free from the bothersome noise of bustling cities and unclouded by factory smoke.
The air is clear, the famous local wine is delicious, and the town thrives with vibrant energy.
I was visiting this town as part of a sightseeing trip during my extended vacation.
They say this town had been one of the fiercest battlefields during the World War.
If you ventured a little way out of town, you could still find empty shells scattered all around.
In this time of peace, I wanted to experience firsthand the remnants of a world war that claimed so many lives.
Living in this peaceful era, I wanted to physically experience the remnants of a war that had claimed countless lives.
"Oh, if it's the battlefield you're looking for, just go straight down this road."
"Thank you."
Following the directions of a local, I headed toward the plains that had once been a stage for the World War.
After walking along a well-maintained path for about 30 minutes, the battlefield finally came into view.
…The atmosphere there is undeniably different.
Among sparse patches of overgrown weeds, rotting wooden stakes jutted out as if piercing the ground.
The thickly trampled black soil had been messily dug up in places as if moles had passed through.
This area is supposed to have yellow soil rich with sulfur, so why was the soil on the battlefield so ominously black?
It felt as though the malice of history itself hinted at the tragedies that had unfolded here.
"Are these the remains of a trench?"
I felt overwhelmed by the unique atmosphere but decided to take a few steps through the churned-up clumps of black soil.
Many soldiers once hid inside this hole, which is called a trench.
Looking closely, I noticed the remnants of military bootprints embedded in the wooden stakes driven into the ground. They were likely traces left by someone bracing themselves to face an advancing enemy.
My heart raced as I gazed at those footprints. It felt as if I could sense the breath of the heroic spirits who had perished on this battlefield.
"…Alright."
Even now, they say you can uncover bones and personal effects if you dig into the soil around here.
Over 10,000 soldiers went missing on this battlefield, and not all of their remains or possessions have been recovered.
I began digging into the soil with the shovel I had brought with me.
If someone discovers a personal effect on the battlefield, they are required to report it to the police.
And usually, it's history enthusiasts like me who take it upon themselves to make these discoveries.
This poor rural town lacks the resources to fund recovery efforts for the personal effects of fallen heroes.
Instead, the collection of these items relies on people captivated by the stories and eager to connect with the spirits of the past.
"Hmm, I hit something."
As one of those enthusiasts, I had hauled my heavy shovel all the way to the battlefield with the intention of volunteering to recover personal effects.
What could be buried beneath this black soil? What emotions might be tied to whatever was left behind?
Breathing a little harder, I immersed myself in the excavation.
"…Hmm?"
After hours of digging into the remains of the trench, it was early afternoon when I was just about to break to eat. At that moment, I felt something solid at the tip of my shovel.
I frantically dug through the soil with my bare hands and came across something glistening black.
A personal effect.
I felt my heart beating faster.
From there, I slowly and carefully excavated the area around the A personal effect.
These belongings will be delivered to one of the family members. It would be rude to the owner to unearth it in poor condition.
After spending nearly an hour, I successfully retrieved the black, glossy item without damaging it.
"It's a notebook."
The black sheen turned out to be the cover of a notebook.
The paper is quite old, but it appears to be in good condition protected by the leather cover.
…It must have been from the time of the war.
"…"
I gulped and slowly opened the cover with great care.
There was an unpleasant peeling sound, but the notebook opened without tearing.
I could read it. The notebook contained a diary written in a careful, legible Austinian.
Several carefully folded, discolored photographs were tucked inside.
In one of them, the gaze of a girl with an expressionless face met mine.
I felt my heartbeat quicken, a deep thud echoing in my chest.
There's no doubt that the traces of someone who had dashed through the battlefield are recorded inside this notebook.
Everything I had wanted to see, everything I had longed to know is right here.
I lost myself at the moment, sitting down on the spot under the glaring sun, and opened the first page.
First, a sentence written on the inside cover of the notebook caught my eye.
"Dearest Touri Noel, I do not ask for much, but please return safely."
────Isaac Fenn, Director of Noel Orphanage.
***
[April 1st]
I am going to keep this diary as my memento.
I apologize to the director who sent such warm words, but I truly cannot imagine surviving this battlefield.
And should someone find this diary after my death, I would be grateful if it could be delivered to Isaac Fenn, the director of the Noel Orphanage.
Please grant this modest wish of a deceased person.
Also, I intend to pour out the pain and emotions that I can no longer bear in this diary. I would appreciate it if you would not show it to other people.
Now then…
This might be sudden, but have you ever heard of the game genre FPS?
[Leads into WN Chapter 1]
Part 2
[Starts after WN Chapter 12. The part about Sylph in the WN is cut in chapter 12.]
"Is it already evening?"
Before I knew it, I had been so absorbed in reading the diary I had unearthed that half the day had passed.
Looking up, I saw the sky dyed in the colors of sunset, casting a red glow over the black soil of the battlefield.
"I got so lost in it… This is exactly what I was looking for."
I was deeply excited by the contents of the diary.
This is undoubtedly the diary of a medical soldier mobilized during the East-West War.
This diary is filled with the realities of the soldiers that aren't recorded in history books.
"This is an amazing discovery…"
Next, my curiosity turned to the year this diary had been written.
Unfortunately, only the date was listed, and I couldn't pinpoint the exact year.
However, I'm intrigued by the entry that mentioned, "The enemy offensive has gradually intensified."
"Could this refer to the April Offensive by the Sabbatian Army?"
Since the date on the diary was in April, it's very likely.
The April Offensive was a large-scale continuous attack led by the Sabbatian government.
The author of the diary likely didn't know, but the April Offensive had no deep strategic reasoning behind it. It was an "unnecessary offensive" driven by politics.
At this time, the Sabbath was plagued by public discontent over the prolonged war, and the citizens had been repeatedly protesting against it.
To quell the unrest and demonstrate military dominance, they launched this offensive to make it appear as though the end of the war was near.
It had no tactical value but was a political maneuver to improve the public image.
"If that's the case, then this diary was written in that pivotal year of history…"
I already knew this backstory from reading newspapers and military records.
The Sabbath sacrificed over 10,000 young soldiers just so that politicians could create the illusion of superiority.
The April Offensive was heavily criticized after the war. The anger of the soldiers' families never truly subsided.
"This is an incredible discovery."
I'm sorry to the owner of this diary, but I'm going to read it to the end.
If this was indeed the April Offensive, then "her" name might appear soon.
She is more infamous than anyone else—the arrogant and foolish young officer who is mocked as the most foolish commander in history.
The most foolish and pitiful soldier of this era, Sylph Nova.
I want to experience the shock of her rise to prominence through the eyes of a soldier.
"…But it's getting too dark to continue reading."
As I was about to turn the next page, I suddenly realized that the sun had set.
It's growing too dark to read the text anymore.
I had been so absorbed in the diary that I completely missed the time I was supposed to leave.
I have a bad habit of losing sight of my surroundings when I get excited.
"Guess it's time to head back to the hotel."
I'm very curious to know what happens next in the diary, but staying on the battlefield any longer would be dangerous.
Reluctantly, I closed the diary and walked down the increasingly dark path back to my hotel.
***
"Listen to this, I dug up something amazing today."
That evening,
At the dinner table, I proudly boasted about the diary I had unearthed that day to the Austinites staying at the same inn.
"It's a diary written by a soldier who served in the East-West War. This could be a historical artifact."
"If that's considered a historical artifact, my grandfather's diary should be displayed in a museum."
However, no one seemed to grasp the significance of the diary.
In a county like Austin, which had seen many wars, diaries from soldiers weren't rare.
"More importantly, you should report that personal effect to the authorities. That soldier's family might have been searching for it all this time."
"I know, I know. But wouldn't it be alright to check the contents before handing it in? I came to this town to connect with the real experiences of soldiers from the war."
"Oh man, I'll never understand the way history buffs think."
Disappointed by the lukewarm response from the Austin locals, I returned to my room.
I was the only one at the hotel who truly understood the value of this diary.
I lit a candle, ensuring I had enough light, and reopened the diary.
Part 3
[Starts after WN Chapter 20]
The offensive described in the diary indeed matched the conclusion of the April Offensive I knew.
The Sabbatian Army's April Offensive ended in a major failure.
Their defensive strength became thin due to the continuous offensives, and they were counterattacked, pushing the front lines back significantly.
When the battle reports reached the Sabbath's homeland, public dissatisfaction grew even more.
Radical anti-war sentiments began to gain ground, and the security situation rapidly deteriorated.
This April Offensive could be said to be the first major blunder of the nation of the Sabbath.
"After this, there will be a period of calm. It seems that the Sabbatian Army's offensives ceased after this day."
The Sabbatian Army stopped launching offensives after the April Offensive.
This was because the Sabbatian military commander, Alex Efert, had decided to go on strike against the government.
The Austin counterattacks were fierce, and it's possible that they were only a step away from breaking through the front lines.
The soldiers on the frontline were already fed up with being manipulated by the government.
After the failure of the April Offensive, Alex judged that the country would perish if they continued to follow the government's unreasonable orders.
"The diary's contents are now mostly filled with complaints about training and friendship with comrades."
For about six months after this, the Western Front was peaceful.
In this diary, after the defensive battle on April 19th, the writer began to write about peaceful daily life.
Alex refused all orders to launch an offensive from the government and laid down a strong defensive line on the Western Front.
Austin's troops were unable to launch an offensive due to the strong defensive network he had set up.
Thus, there would be no fighting for about six months.
"Hmm… There's no doubt that this diary was written during that terrible year."
Having read this much, I'm now certain.
The content of this diary matched the history I knew.
And starting from this year, history will begin to take a major turn.
***
[You can skip this part. It's also in the webnovel but just narrated by Touri]
The politicians of the Sabbath Federation at the time believed that with nearly double the enemy's military strength, they could win by simply throwing bodies at it regardless of casualties.
There were no firearms before the East-West War, and hand-to-hand combat on the plains was the norm.
Politicians who lived in such times always criticized the military for not being able to break through even when they had double the troops.
However, if you have even a little knowledge of trench warfare, you will probably feel like saying, 'What a stupid thing to say.'
Fighting across trenches causes the attacking side to suffer enormous losses.
It's not uncommon for the defense to remain almost unscathed while the attacking troops are utterly decimated.
A difference in military strength of twice the number is nearly meaningless in trench warfare.
Commander Alex, who knew the realities of the battlefield, advocated for a cautious strategy, using the strength disparity to advance slowly and steadily.
But the Sabbatian politicians could not accept such a slow, careful proposal.
At the time, dissatisfaction among the Sabbatian citizens was growing daily, and it was uncertain when it would erupt.
"The war will soon be over, and a wealthy life awaits us if we win". There was a limit to how comforting such sweet words could be given to the people.
Alex was finally dismissed after a few months of striking, and General Brustav Nova, the Commander-in-Chief, was sent to the front line as the replacement commander.
Brustav was a man loyal to the General Staff and well-known among front-line soldiers, making him the perfect person to replace Alex.
As the rift between the government and the front lines deepened, Brustav came across an outlandish paper.
The author of that paper was Sylph Nova. She was Brustav's daughter, a girl who graduated at the top of her class from officer school.
In her paper, she claimed that by executing a specific operation, they could break through the Western Front and win the war in less than a month.
Of course, no one took such a fantastical paper seriously. It was naturally rejected, and it lay discarded in her room.
But that paper caught Brustav's attention.
At that time, the situation in the Sabbath Federation was worsening day by day, and the military had conducted a strike, leaving the government with no leeway.
In such circumstances, Brustav received unreasonable demands from the General Staff: "It's fine if there are some casualties; just resolve this within the year."
While struggling with this impossible task, Brustav came across his daughter's paper and read it casually, thinking it might add to his ideas, but he soon began to seriously consider its contents.
There was something in her argument that made him think, "Maybe this paper is hitting the mark."
After making some minor revisions and discussing the plan with the Chief of Staff, it was determined that there were no flaws in Sylph's paper and that there was a good chance of success.
Then, as autumn arrived.
The General Staff finally made the decision to carry out an operation based on the paper of a 15-year-old girl, led by Brustav.
Sylph, the author of the paper, was also to be dispatched to the front lines as one of the staff officers.
The content of the operation she proposed would likely make any sane soldier faint.
────It was a simultaneous invasion operation across both the Eastern and Western Fronts.
Such a wide offensive range means there aren't enough magical stones or mages, so magical attacks can only be performed for a brief moment.
The plan was to advance flatly against our nearly unscathed army's three defensive lines without concentrating any fighting power.
Sylph Nova argued that by doing so, the enemy would be unable to cope with the vast range of attacks, and if any part of the front lines were breached, the enemy would be defeated like a punctured balloon.
The offensive side is at a disadvantage when it comes to attacking trenches.
Charging toward a defense force that has hardly been depleted without magical support is the height of foolishness.
When the frontline personnel heard this plan, they turned pale and vehemently opposed the decision of the General Staff.
They tearfully pleaded that if such a thing were to happen, the corpses of 180,000 soldiers would be lined up on the front lines and the capital would be occupied in one fell swoop.
One of the frontline commanders reportedly even disemboweled himself on the spot to admonish Brustav.
However, Sylph saw the commanders' behavior and simply said;
"If you think a breakthrough is impossible, it just means you've been negligent in your fighting up until now."
She is said to have ridiculed the frontline commanders.
Thus, Sylph Nova, the foolish commander whose name shines brightly in the annals of war, finally takes to the center stage of history.
The demonic strategy, known as the Sylph Offensive, was quietly being refined behind the scenes, even as peace seemed to be approaching.
***
"…But I think the Sylph offensive started in September. It's still a long way off."
I tried to read through to the diary entry about the day of the Sylph offensive, but I was getting sleepy.
When I glanced at the clock, I saw that the date had already changed.
There's no need to rush to finish reading such valuable material.
I still have plenty of vacation time left. Let's just enjoy it.
With that thought in mind, I let my consciousness drift to the comfort of the bed.
***
"No, you should deliver it quickly."
The next day, a hotel guest scolded me as I was eating breakfast and reading through the diary.
"You never know how long the family will be alive. They might die while you're lost in that book."
"That's not something that happens often. Besides, I'm just getting to the good part."
"In the first place, I wouldn't want someone to read the diary of a family member who died in the war out of curiosity. Shouldn't you get permission from the surviving family first?"
The guest's scolding turned out to be spot on.
I had lost respect for the deceased in my eagerness to satisfy my curiosity.
This diary should have been delivered to the director of the orphanage where she grew up.
And if I wanted to continue reading, I should have gotten permission from the orphanage director first.
"Noel Orphanage, right? Noel is pretty far from here."
"If you deliver it to the government office, they'll send it for you."
"I see…"
The person to whom this memoir was to be delivered was the director of Noel Orphanage.
That's what it said at the beginning of the diary.
Can I travel to Noel during my break and come back in time?
It's unlikely, given the tight schedule.
"…You're right. I'll take it to the government office. The family should read it before I do."
"Well, well. You're a reasonable person after all."
"I do intend to show respect to the heroic spirits who fell in this land."
With a heavy heart, I decided to give up and deliver this memoir to the bereaved family.
I'll just attach a letter and ask if they'd mind letting me read it.
That is the proper course of action for someone who has found such a personal item.
"Can you tell me where the government office is?
"Sure, just head straight down Main Street."
"Thank you."
***
Reluctantly, I headed toward the government office, the diary in hand.
The building is old and made of stone, resembling a tavern.
It has a makeshift reception desk at the entrance and is surprisingly busy.
Looking around, I saw people here and there reporting belongings of the deceased.
I guess filing personal items isn't uncommon here.
I followed the receptionist's instructions and submitted the diary.
"If the family can't be found, This item will be available for you to claim. If you'd like that, could you provide us with your contact details?"
"With pleasure."
Following the receptionist's advice, I gave them my contact details.
Normally, I would have hoped for the item to reach the bereaved family safely.
But deep down, I found myself wishing that the family wouldn't be found.
I realized how shameless I was and laughed at myself.
"Thank you for your cooperation in recovering the belongings."
I waved goodbye to the female official at the counter who bowed to me and left the office.
I still have plenty of vacation time left. Maybe there are other wonderful personal effects waiting to be discovered.
And so, I once again strapped on my shovel and headed to the battlefield site.
As I walked, I reflected on the peaceful diary entries I had read the day before.
Part 4
It's the last day of my enjoyable vacation.
"Here, I brought more personal effects."
"Oh, it's you."
Once again, I brought the personal effects I had unearthed to the office today.
My excavations have been quite successful over the past week.
I had found bodies too, but since I couldn't move them, I had placed flags with the names from the dog tags instead.
I figured that way, they wouldn't be lost.
"Yes, thank you. We appreciate the information on the bodies and the retrieval of the personal effects. We will provide the details to the relatives right away."
In this excavation, I had managed to find the bodies of two soldiers.
I don't know who they were, but I only hope that they will be returned to their families safely.
"Also, regarding the diary you brought with you…"
"Yes?"
However, I hadn't found anything that could surpass that diary during this week. A diary revealing a soldier's inner thoughts is certainly not something commonly buried.
To be honest, I had regrets about that diary.
"Oh, that? Has it already been sent to Noel?"
"No, about that…"
The official's face darkened as she answered my question.
Was there some sort of issue?
"Well, it's unclear whether Director Isaac of Noel Orphanage is dead or alive. However, if he is still alive, he would be over 80 years old."
"…Ah, I see."
Now that I think about it, it makes sense. The East-West War has been over for more than 20 years. Her relatives should be old now, and it's possible they're no longer alive.
"Then will I be able to keep that diary since the relatives are missing?"
"No, we were able to find her relatives when we searched through her military records. Touri Noel had also registered another recipient for her belongings."
"I see… well, that's good news."
The way the official had phrased it made me feel a little hopeful, but it seems that Touri's family has been found.
The diary will be returned to her relatives after all.
It's a little sad, but I should be happy if the wishes of the deceased have been fulfilled.
"Umm, if possible, could you tell me the names of the relatives?"
"Well, I can't normally do that, but…"
"Please, if that's impossible, could you at least include a letter from me?"
I persisted with the official, feeling regretful and desperate to read more of the diary.
Though I knew it was inappropriate, I couldn't help but feel a strong desire to continue reading.
With a sigh, the official handed me the diary.
"…Here, take it."
"Eh?"
I stared blankly at the diary she had handed me, still confused, but I accepted it.
"Umm, what's this about?"
"You're Sedol Weber, aren't you?"
"Huh? Y-Yes. I am Sedol."
I confirmed, still unable to understand what was happening. I had written my name on the forms on the first day. Why is she only verifying it now?
"This diary belongs to Touri Noel… and she has registered your name as the recipient for her belongings."
"…What?"
As if to answer my question, the female official said this and handed me the paperwork for claiming the deceased's belongings.
"Do you really not remember the name Touri Noel?"
"No… I really don't."
Thus, my wish came true and I was able to get a hold of the diary.
But rather than feeling happy, I was more confused.
I couldn't understand why Touri had registered my name as the recipient.
"Maybe you're a distant relative. She was from an orphanage, and maybe she found and registered a distant relative."
"I see, that sounds possible."
In fact, like Touri, I had lost both my parents in the war before I could even remember.
Afterward, I was adopted by someone from the same village and raised by them.
In other words, I don't know my own relatives.
So there is a good chance that Touri was my relative.
"I want to investigate the relationship between Touri and me. Would it be possible to get her family records?"
"If you're a relative, that's possible. It will take some time for the request to be processed, as it will come from military records."
"I don't mind, I would really appreciate it."
Though I had never met her, she might have been a relative. If so, it would be my responsibility to pray for her peace and hold a memorial service for her.
***
After requesting the information from the office, I carefully took the diary back to my hotel.
"Hey, didn't you already deliver that diary?"
"Yes, I got it back today."
"I see. Well, if that's the case, do as you like."
After returning to my hotel, I went straight to my room and opened the diary.
It wasn't out of curiosity; it was out of a sense of duty.
I had to know. The life of the woman who could be my relative, who ran bravely through the battlefield.
With resolve, I opened the page to September.
The turning point of the war, a moment that would shake history, would be recorded here: the day the Sylph Offensive began.
The page for September 4th was stiff and crackled as I opened it.
─────The entry for that day is written in trembling, timid handwriting. Here and there, sweat and tears had soaked through and blurred the ink.
Part 5
[Starts after WN Chapter 23. Volume 1 ends right after that chapter]
"Marshdale…"
The fortress city of Marshdale.
I knew the name of the city well.
As the name suggests, Marshdale was once known as an impregnable fortress city.
With three thick bastions, it was a solid and sturdy stronghold. It was also the site of the famous Marshdale Retreat Battle.
As the name suggests, Marshdale was once known as an impregnable fortress.
A strong and sturdy fortress with three thick bastions. It's also the city where the famous Marshdale retreat took place.
The Austin Army, holed up in this fortified city of Marshdale, made a desperate stand against the invading Sabbatian forces.
Then Touri was involved in that Marshdale Retreat Battle.
"I know that city well."
I felt a chill run down my spine the moment I heard the name of the city.
Of course I know Marshdale.
After all, before my parents passed away, I was born and raised in this city of Marshdale when I was young.
Fleeing the approaching flames of war, my parents took me and escaped from Marshdale.
And then, my family fled the country of Austin.
"…Who is it?"
I felt like I was about to remember something.
I realized that there was something I had forgotten.
I met someone there.
What was their face like?
They had a strange, doll-like expression, always staring into the distance, with a mysterious aura about them.
"Mm, mmm…"
Cold sweat began to pour from my forehead nonstop.
I can't remember. I'm so close to remembering her face.
I may know her. I may have met this Touri Noel before.
But I can't remember anything.
Fragments of something flashed back in my mind.
Her warm breath. The touch of the delicate skin of the girl as she embraced me tenderly after I was covered in mud.
"…You can't do that, Sedol. You shouldn't get your clothes dirty like this,"
A voice echoed in my mind.
It was a gentle, pure, and slightly nagging voice.
"Please eat all your vegetables. You won't grow strong if you don't."
"That's right, you're a good boy. You did a good job eating everything."
"I'm sorry. I'll have to go far away again soon."
"If I make it back alive, at that time… please show me your grown-up, healthy face—"
A piercing headache made my heart race.
An indescribable nausea welled up, and dizziness made it impossible for me to stand.
"Mr. Weber?! What happened?"
"…"
Unable to take it anymore, I rushed out of the room and into the hotel's medical office.
My heartbeat and headache were making me feel like I was losing my mind.
***
"Please calm down. It's alright, there's nothing wrong with your body."
"I see."
"Take your time to regulate your breathing. Take deep breaths."
"Okay."
I knew it.
I knew the person who wrote this diary.
"Just take a moment to breathe slowly, without thinking about anything."
"…"
Thinking about it further made my head hurt so much it felt like it was going to split.
Lying down on the bed in the medical room, I lost consciousness.
End of Volume 1***READ THIS AFTER THE MAIN STORY AND EPILOGUES***