***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]
─────Noel Orphanage.
It was an orphanage in Touri's hometown, Noel, that was mentioned in the diary I unearthed.
The orphanage is located about two hours ahead by horse from the station at Marshdale, along a road lined with blooming dandelions.
It's a small orphanage in a remote rural area, requiring an entire day just to visit from Marshdale.
"Isaac Fenn?"
"Yes."
The main building of the orphanage is relatively new and sturdy.
It's a stylish, modern facility surrounded by a slightly whitish concrete wall.
The voices of young children echoed from inside the orphanage, and cheerful shouts of excitement could be heard here and there.
"That's quite a nostalgic name you've mentioned."
"Oh, you know Isaac?"
"Yes, of course."
After I stated my purpose, I was promptly guided to the director's office.
There, a mature woman in a nun's habit welcomed me.
Her clothes were tattered and covered in mud, likely from being pulled around by the children.
"Director Isaac was like a father to me."
In truth, my vacation should have ended long ago.
However, on the very last day of my extended vacation, I accidentally lost consciousness at a hotel during my travels and ended up being hospitalized.
According to the doctor, the dizziness had been caused by accumulated fatigue from prolonged excavation work.
When I honestly explained the situation to my workplace, I received a bit of a lecture but was granted an additional three days of leave with the instruction, "Recover fully before returning to work."
…Using the extended leave, I made my way to Noel by train and horseback.
"The director was a very kind and courageous person."
"Courageous?"
"Yes. When I was a child, he confronted the soldiers of the Sabbatian Army to buy time for the orphanage children to escape the enemy troops during the East-West War. He was killed in the process."
"I see… That's truly unfortunate."
Unfortunately, Director Isaac had been killed in the war.
If he were still alive, I had intended to show him Touri's diary.
"If it's anything related to Noel Orphanage, I'll do my best to assist you as the current director."
"Oh, no. My business was specifically with Isaac himself."
"Ah, I see."
Currently, the director of Noel Orphanage is the kind-looking nun in front of me.
She looks to be in her late thirties, with gentle laughter lines at the corners of her eyes.
"I'm really sorry you came all this way only to be disappointed."
"No, it's alright. To be honest, I didn't really expect to meet him."
I came to Noel Orphanage knowing the likelihood of Isaac still being alive was slim.
Even so, I had made the journey in hopes that I could hear his thoughts about Touri if I could meet him.
Feeling a deep sense of helplessness, I lightly gripped the diary I had brought with me.
"Sedol, may I ask what kind of relationship you had with Director Isaac?"
"Oh, I never met him directly… I simply wanted to return this diary that I found at a battlefield site."
"…I see. This is definitely the director's handwriting."
Feeling resigned, I showed the nun the inside cover of Touri's diary.
Upon seeing the handwriting there, her eyes narrowed with a nostalgic expression.
"The owner of this diary must have been from Noel Orphanage, correct?"
"…If you'd like, would you like to take a look inside?"
"Thank you… Yes, I would very much like to see it."
"Of course, I don't mind."
Without hesitation, I handed the diary to the nun.
She took it gently, tracing the handwriting of Isaac on the inside cover with her fingers, her expression steeped in nostalgia.
"Director…"
I could see tears welling up in the nun's eyes.
Isaac is a stranger to me, but he's evidently much more than that to her.
"By the way, do you recognize the name Touri Noel?"
"Touri Noel?"
After handing her the diary, I asked her about the name that belonged to the girl whose melancholic smile lingered at the edge of my memory—the very reason I had lost consciousness that day.
"If anything, she's the main reason why I'm here."
"Touri Noel…"
"I came to Noel Orphanage today to hear any stories you might have about her. Even the smallest detail would mean so much. Do you know anything about her?"
At the mention of her name, the nun's face grew troubled, and she fell silent.
Maybe she knew something.
"If you were acquainted with Director Isaac, surely you must have met Touri as well, no?"
"Ah…"
For days now, my heart had been burdened with an inexplicable heaviness.
The frustration of being unable to remember someone I must not forget made my heart race uncontrollably.
"I need to remember her right away."
"Ah, wait a moment, Sedol."
Before I realized it, I had moved close, pressing the nun for answers.
Overwhelmed by my urgency, she eventually opened her mouth in astonishment and murmured,
"Could this really be… Is this Touri-nee's diary?"
She whispered those words in disbelief, then blankly began to flip through its pages.
[No date]
Burning. Burning. The Noel Village is going up in flames.
I think I can hear voices—the final screams of my friends, like younger siblings, who should have been safe at the orphanage.
No, I can hear them. Someone's screams are coming from Noel.
If I run now, I might still make it in time.
If I rush over, I might be able to carry at least one person to safety.
Director Isaac might be calling for help.
Everything I hold dear is still in that village…
─────There is no date on this page.
The black ink is smudged, as if stained by tears.
Part 2
[Starts after WN Chapter 26]
"Such a nostalgic name… I miss her."
As she murmured this, the nun flipped through the pages of the diary for a while, reading intently.
Then, she closed her eyes as if lost in thought about its owner.
"Director, do you know Touri?"
"Yes. At the time, there wasn't a single person from Noel Orphanage who didn't know her."
When I asked the nun this, she smiled gently.
Then, glancing toward the window, she cast a fleeting look at the children running in the courtyard.
"She was someone I looked up to."
"Looked up to?"
"Yes. I might have confessed my feelings to her if I had been a boy."
She said with a tone that was both proud and bittersweet.
"Touri-nee was usually a quiet person. She would sit under the shade of a tree, reading a book while keeping an eye on the little ones to make sure they didn't get into trouble."
"She sounds like a caring person."
"I still remember the nights when she would perform puppet shows to help us sleep."
The nun stood up and began to rummage through a shelf in the corner of the room.
After a while, she pulled out an old, dirty fox doll.
"Here it is. This is the puppet we used back in the old orphanage before it was rebuilt. It was her favorite."
"It's quite the antique."
"Even though it's so cute, they don't sell these dolls anymore."
The doll had a strange charm.
Its face was peculiar, with a chipped nose and faded yellow fabric.
"…Seeing this doll still brings back memories of the old orphanage. Although we were poor back then, we lived happily and peacefully."
"It must have been a wonderful place."
"Oh, it truly was."
The nun handed me the fox puppet.
…Decades ago, this was something Touri Noel herself once held. Somehow, I felt as if her warmth still lingered in it.
"I remember her using that doll for a puppet show during the harvest festival."
"Oh, a puppet show."
"Despite her quiet demeanor, Touri-nee loved celebrations. During festivals, she was unusually enthusiastic and lively."
The nun's eyes sparkled as she spoke.
She looked like a fan talking about her favorite celebrity.
"But even she was taken to the war when she was just 15."
"…"
"I remember crying my eyes out the day she left. Just because she had a talent for healing magic, they conscripted her as a soldier. I never saw her again after that."
The nun smiled sadly.
She must have been very close to Touri.
"Then, about half a year after she left for the front, the 'Sylph Offensive' began."
"Ah, that great offensive."
"That day was hellish for Noel. Even now, I can't stop trembling whenever I think about it. All of my friends at the orphanage were mercilessly murdered."
The nun bit her lip in frustration, perhaps remembering the events of that time.
The Sylph Offensive refers to the simultaneous multi-point breakthrough operation led by Sylph Nova, the Sabbath's most infamous commander.
This strategy threw the previously stalemated battlefield into utter chaos.
"Just hearing Sylph Nova's name makes my blood boil. That woman should never have been born into this world."
"There's no way there's anyone in Austin who likes her."
"Yes, really."
She's the most foolish commander in the history of the Sabbath, and a female staff officer who is Austin's sworn enemy.
She is despised not only in Austin but even among her own people in the Sabbath.
If Sylph had never been born, the post-war population might have been nearly double what it is now.
She is, without exaggeration, the most infamous "cursed child" in human history.
"…If you don't mind, could you tell me what happened during that time?"
"Of course, I'd be happy to."
I asked her to share the story of the Sylph Offensive.
At the time, I was too young to understand what was happening, and my memories of it are faint.
"By all means, I hope the story will be passed down forever—what happened at that time, and how cruel humans can become."
"Yes."
The nun responded firmly, looking directly into my eyes with unwavering resolve.
Part 3
[Starts after WN Chapter 30]
I listened to the nun's story for a few hours.
As she flipped through Touri's diary, she told me about her vivid and harsh war experiences.
Sabbatian soldiers massacred civilians as if it were a game during the Sylph Offensive.
She hid and survived while her fellow orphans were killed right in front of her eyes.
The nun's words had a weight that only someone who experienced that era could possess.
"…So that's what happened when this diary was written."
"Yes."
I was completely absorbed in listening to the nun's story.
To hear firsthand accounts of the Sylph Offensive is an invaluable experience for me as a history enthusiast.
"Oh, my apologies. It's almost time for prayer. I need to call the children."
"It's already that time?"
"I'm glad you listened so attentively. Are you staying the night, Mr. Weber?"
"Oh, no, I've booked a place in Marshdale for tonight."
She had suggested I stay, but I wasn't so forward as to impose on her hospitality after arriving unannounced.
The day is still bright. I gave the nun a polite bow and started preparing to leave.
"Marshdale's quite a distance, you know? It'll be dangerous once it gets dark."
"Don't worry, I've rented a horse."
"Ah, I see."
Noel is a remote village.
There is no railway and no regular carriage service to and from the town.
That's why I borrowed a horse in Marshdale.
I'll be charged extra If I don't return it today.
"I would've liked to read more of her diary, but… I apologize for my rudeness. Would it be possible for me to keep it?"
"I'm sorry, but I haven't finished reading it myself. I'll bring it again next time."
"Is that so? That's a pity."
The old man who rented the horse had a somewhat troublesome personality.
It will take about two hours on horseback to get to Marshdale, and it's getting close to dusk.
"Oh, that's right. Then I'll show you that place at the end."
"One last place?"
"Yes, since you've come all the way to Noel."
As I packed the diary into my bag, ready to depart, the nun clapped her hands and pointed toward the orphanage's garden.
"I think Touri-nee is waiting for you here."
Looking in the direction the nun pointed, there were numerous crosses evenly planted in the ground.
Surrounding them were brightly colored flowers blooming in abundance.
"…A cemetery."
"Yes. Why not go and pray since you're here?"
The nun's words made my heart pound.
"Touri Noel."
The grave had a worn dog tag hanging from it.
It's rusted and covered in scratches, making the letters difficult to read, but…
I can just make out the name "Touri."
"They said she died a year after the Sylph Offensive."
Then I heard her say,
"Since Touri-nee's body was never found, the grave is empty. The dog tag was discovered, but the damage to the bodies was so severe that no one could tell which one was hers."
"…Is that really what happened?"
"Missing persons are declared dead after six months. While the year of death is listed as the following year, I believe she actually died during the Sylph Offensive."
I had learned the year of the diary owner's death.
Part 4
[Starts after WN Chapter 32]
"Come to think of it, someone connected to Touri-nee should be living in Marshdale."
The nun told me as I was leaving Noel.
This diary was written during the war.
Though it wouldn't be surprising if Touri had already passed away, seeing her grave in person still hit me hard.
Filled with a sense of despair, I mounted my horse and headed toward Marshdale.
Deep in my memory, I could still hear Touri's gentle, quiet voice.
The thought that I would never hear that voice again was unbearable.
***
"The stable's closed now. I've already locked up, damn it."
"Sorry."
I arrived in Marshdale just before nightfall.
While riding, I continued searching for memories of Touri.
"Really, no one's around now. Here, take the collateral gold coins."
"Thanks."
When travelers rent horses, they are required to leave collateral equivalent to the value of the horse in case the horse is stolen.
I had to hand over five gold coins as collateral.
"Don't be late next time."
"Yes."
After returning the collateral with an irritated look, the stableman quickly retreated to his house.
I was left alone on the streets of Marshdale with nothing but a bag of gold coins in my hand.
────I never thought I'd be so shaken.
Since hearing the nun's story, I had been dizzy, almost overwhelmed.
A lot had happened today.
I was able to hear about Touri from a nun.
And I had been able to visit her grave.
Why did she entrust her diary to me?
Surely, I will find something that explains it if I keep reading.
"I think I read up to the point where she was left behind in Marshdale."
I continued walking down the dark road at night thinking about Touri.
If the diary is accurate, she had been in Marshdale decades ago.
Maybe there are still traces of her presence in this town.
The very street I'm walking on could be the one she walked down about twenty years ago.
Considering that, even though it was just a dark, empty road, I couldn't help but feel a deep, inexplicable emotion.
"Gomuji, huh?"
His name was written in the diary.
I recognized the name of the soldier, Gomuji.
"…"
According to the diary, she had walked through the streets of Marshdale, where gunshots rang out, about 20 years ago.
She was surrounded by enemies in a dire situation with the unreliable man, Gomuji, by her side.
"Maybe she died here in Marshdale?"
Back then, Marshdale must have been filled with horrifyingly brutal scenes.
I heard that the Sabbatian Army's assault left corpses littering the city, and Austin's forces retreated without even time to mourn.
If she had been killed here, it wouldn't be surprising if only her dog tags were found, leaving her fate unknown.
"…"
My chest feels uneasy.
The reason isn't just because I'm curious about what happened to Touri.
It's all because of the man named Gomuji.
"It can't be…"
Unpleasant thoughts began to swirl in my mind.
It's the worst possible scenario I can imagine, and yet it feels strangely plausible.
"But, maybe…"
I don't know my father's face.
Both of my parents had died in the war before I even had any memories of them.
But I do know their names.
I had been told by my adoptive mother who had raised me after I became an orphan.
Gomuji Weber.
Golmuji was my father's name.
"Could this man be my father?"
He was originally from the Sabbath, but he had been raised in Austin.
According to my adoptive mother, my father was warm-hearted, friendly, and well-loved by everyone.
He was also gifted with a sharp business sense and had left me a considerable fortune.
I am grateful to my father.
Because of his popularity, I had been well taken care of by various people in my childhood, even though I didn't know who they were.
Even though I had never met my father, I respected him.
But if the Gomuji in this diary is my father…
"Would Touri leave her belongings to me?"
I want to believe it's not true.
I don't want to believe that the despicable person in the diary is my father.
And I can't understand why Touri chose me as the recipient of her belongings.
I had heard from the nun that she had died during the Sylph Offensive.
If that's the case, there's no reason for her to register me as the recipient of her possessions, someone with no connection to her.
Rather…
"If my father changed the recipient of Touri's belongings without permission…"
Could it be that after Touri died, my father had altered the handling of her possessions?
My father had left me a large inheritance.
But from what I read in the diary, he was just a regular citizen making a living as a guard.
It's strange that he accumulated so much wealth.
If he had obtained that wealth in Marshdale…
The most plausible explanation is that he secretly took Touri's inheritance.
"I need to read more."
The unpleasant thoughts kept growing, and my heart twisted with unease.
I didn't want to tarnish the memory of my beloved, respected father.
But the "Gomuji" in this diary is too far removed from the image of the man I have been told about.
If this man is my father, would Touri really try to leave her inheritance to his son?
Part 5
[Starts after WN Chapter 35]
"…"
After reading the diary up to this point, I was holding my head.
I'm convinced that the person referred to as Gomuji in the diary is my father.
According to my adoptive mother, my father Gomuji lost both legs in the war. He was unable to escape from the bandits that attacked him and lost his life.
Everything lined up too neatly to be a coincidence.
"Touri didn't die in Marshdale after all…"
Afterward, it's likely that Touri lost her life for some reason.
And following her death, my father must have tampered with the documents to alter the recipient of her inheritance.
Otherwise, there's no way I would have been named the beneficiary. Normally, the beneficiary should have been the Noel Orphanage.
The thought of reading any further filled me with dread.
Even though it was during wartime decades ago, uncovering a possible crime committed by my father was unsettling.
"Time to sleep.."
I closed the diary, flopped onto the bed, and groaned softly.
The idea that my father had falsified the documents is just my speculation.
Maybe after this, he and Touri formed a genuine bond.
…I'll let myself believe that for now.
"I still have someone to visit tomorrow."
Staying up too late would only hinder me the next day.
I surrendered my consciousness, drinking cheap wine in one go as I sprawled onto the bed.
***
"…Are you an acquaintance of Chief Medic Touri?"
The next day.
I visited the home of an old man who, according to a nun, had known Touri personally.
"I remember her well. She saved my life by treating my wounds."
"You were injured during the war?"
"Yeah. As you can see, I lost my arm. If she hadn't intervened, I would've bled to death."
The man who emerged from the house was an old man, his body bearing rugged scars.
He is now enjoying a peaceful retired life under the care of his son and daughter-in-law.
"She was really small. I'll never forget how striking it was to see a cute girl like a Flamer doll working hard at the front of a line of men crowded together."
"Yes. From the picture, she must have been quite short."
"Oh, this is her. Without a doubt, it's Chief Medic Touri…"
After his arm was blown off in an enemy charge, this old man lined up at the medical headquarters, enduring the pain.
He was lining up with his arm tied up, but little by little blood was overflowing and wouldn't stop.
Eventually, his consciousness became hazy, and just when he thought he was going to die…
"Please lie down immediately."
"H-Huh?"
"My name is Touri, a field medic. …I'll administer emergency care. Please relax."
Touri had noticed his condition and saved him from the brink of death.
"Even though she was small, she was very aware of her surroundings. She quickly tied my arm tightly with a cord and poured disinfectant on the wound. It hurt like hell, but at the same time, I was so relieved, thinking, 'I'm going to live.'"
"I see."
"It's thanks to her that I'm alive today. I even went out of my way to look into her and visited Noel Orphanage. I was heartbroken when I heard she had passed away."
The old man spoke casually, as if sharing an old story.
Touri Noel has already left this world, but the proof that she lived still remains.
"If she were still alive, I would have brought her a box of sweets."
The young medic Touri seemed to have been beloved by many.
…Renewed, I resolved to read the rest of her diary when I returned home.
I need to understand what my father had done. Only then can I properly honor her memory.
Depending on what I learn, I might even need to apologize on my father's behalf.
"Sir, do you know where she died?"
"Ah, I'm sorry, but I don't know. Maybe the nun at Noel Orphanage knows."
"No, she didn't know either. She said she wasn't told because the body is missing."
"I see… Sorry, but in that case, I've got no idea."
I had asked on the off chance, but this old man didn't know where Touri had passed away either.
"Do you know anything else about her?"
"Hmm, let me think…
I won't have many opportunities to come to Marshdale.
I want to ask him everything I can while I still have the chance.
"Now that you mention it, I once heard that Touri was quite fond of dolls."
"Fond of dolls?"
"Yeah."
Hearing that Touri loved dolls made me smile without thinking.
From her diary, she came across as very earnest. I'm surprised to learn she had such an endearing hobby.
"A friend of mine from the military opened a toy shop in Marshdale after retiring. Apparently, he gave her a doll as a gift when Touri passed by the shop. She was delighted."
"I can imagine. A doll would suit her very well."
"My friend said it was worth the effort just to see how happy she was.
The girl in the photograph still had an air of youth that made it easy to picture her playing with dolls.
It must have been very cute to see her happy when she received the doll.
"…Hmm?"
Still, it's a bit strange that Touri had a chance to pass by a toy shop in Marshdale.
According to the diary, she arrived in Marshdale during the height of the Sylph Offensive.
A toy shop wouldn't have been operating at that time.
"Sir, could it be that your memory is mistaken? If this story is true, it would mean Touri passed by the toy shop during the Sylph Offensive."
"Eh? Well, I can't say for sure since I only heard it secondhand, but my friend was certain it was Touri he saw."
"When was this supposed to have happened?"
"Let's see…"
Sensing something off, I pressed the elderly man further. The answer he gave was:
"My friend didn't open the toy shop until after the war. I think he must have met Touri again after the war."
"…What?"
Part 6
[After Chapter 37]
Someone encountered Touri after the war.
That information threw me into great confusion.
The nun at the orphanage said that Touri died in battle the year after the Sylph Offensive.
Her dog tag was delivered to the Noel Orphanage, and she received a death notice.
If that's the case, it's highly likely that the old man is mistaken.
…But the nun also said this: "She was missing for about six months and presumed dead."
In other words, no one actually confirmed the body of Touri Noel.
This means there's no contradiction if Touri didn't return to the military and instead survived, blending in among civilians.
There's a chance Touri might still be alive—
"What's wrong, Sedol? You suddenly fell silent."
"…No, it's nothing."
I could feel my heart beginning to race.
I might be able to meet the girl in that photograph.
I might discover the nature of the relationship between us.
…If that's the case, I want to meet Touri.
I want to meet her, talk to her, and deliver this battlefield diary to her directly.
Every photograph tucked between its pages contains her precious memories.
This diary deserves to be back in Touri's hands.
"Sir, I have a favor to ask of you."
"What is it, Sedol?"
"I plan to search for Touri's whereabouts Starting today. I want to meet her and talk to her."
I said, handing the old man a piece of paper with my name and address written on it.
"…? But isn't Chief Medic Touri already dead?"
"I believe there's a chance she's still alive somewhere."
The man gave me a puzzled look but silently accepted the paper.
Afterward, I bowed to him and stood up.
"If you learn anything about her, please contact me here. I'll make sure to provide a reward."
"Uh, alright… but why do you think she's alive?"
"I don't have any evidence. I just want to believe it myself."
"I see. That's good."
After hearing my words, the old man who had lost his arm broke into a smile and said:
"The idea that she's alive… that's a hopeful story. I'll check with some connections and look into it."
"Thank you. "
"Don't get your hopes up too much, though."
He said, shaking the hand I offered.
***
After exchanging contact information and thanking him, I parted ways with the old man and returned to my hotel.
I had only about half a day of vacation left. By this afternoon, I planned to board a train and head home.
On the way back, the main street of Marshdale was bustling with activity.
A woman who looked like a housewife was walking around with her child buying groceries, and a group of half-naked men were carrying large pieces of iron.
This must be the everyday life of Marshdale.
"Hmm?"
Glancing at the corner of an old building, I noticed a small crack.
At the center of the crack was a neat circular indentation.
"…It's a bullet hole."
I heard that Marshdale had suffered significant damage during the Sylph Offensive, and traces of the war still remained here and there.
The bullet hole I found is apparently not uncommon in this town.
I felt a little moved that traces of their lives can still be found in the present day.
The tragedies recorded in that diary suddenly felt vividly connected to reality.
"…"
I should hurry back to the hotel.
After tracing the bullet hole with my finger, I made up my mind.
I want to read more of the diary.
I want to meet her. I want to know more about her.
This longing grew steadily within me, swelling in my chest like budding love.
Part 7
[After Chapter 38]
"Hmm…"
After parting with the old man, I returned to the hotel and immersed myself in reading the next part of the diary.
The scene described was precisely when Touri heard the "rejection of unconditional surrender" broadcast on Austin's public radio.
The sudden deterioration in her handwriting made it easy to grasp how shaken she was.
This broadcast is historically famous. Most Austin history textbooks include a photo of this very moment.
It was taken by a newspaper reporter stationed in the capital at the time, capturing an overhead view of the main street.
The photo shows citizens in the capital city of Winn rioting upon hearing the broadcast that "our unconditional surrender was rejected."
It perfectly captures the despair, panic, and cries of anguish among Winn's residents in a striking composition.
Touri Noel was on Winn's main street during this historic moment.
She might even be captured somewhere in that miraculous photograph that made us feel the threat of war up close.
I vowed to look back at the photo later.
***
[This part is pretty much the same as in the web novel. I'm just going to copy the webnovel version. You can skip this.]
Why did the government of the Sabbath Federation take such an outrageous action as refusing an unconditional surrender?
After the war, high-ranking Sabbatian government officials from that time offered two possible explanations.
Their first defense was this: "We couldn't translate Austin's language and mistranslated it as a peace negotiation, not surrender. We rejected 'peace talks,' not the surrender."
But this was clearly denied by a frontline commander who claimed he'd received orders to "cease advancing, as Austin has issued an unconditional surrender."
Due to backlash, the explanation shifted to: "Since we were intercepted at Fort Muson, we thought the unconditional surrender was an enemy ruse."
This explanation was also criticized as being far-fetched given the battle situation in Austin at the time.
Nonetheless, this has been officially accepted as the government's stance at the time.
However, there is a certain rumor circulating among the citizens.
The government officials refused unconditional surrender due to receiving bribes from major corporations.
This rumor claims that: since the war ended abruptly, the companies would face countless canceled orders and be left with an enormous amount of unsold military supplies.
At the time, the people of the Sabbath Federation were heavily taxed and their wealth was allocated to weapons and arms.
Indeed, wartime was a lucrative period for companies dealing in military supplies. Despite heavy taxation on Sabbatian citizens, most of the funds flowed into the military-industrial complex.
This means the government was able to purchase all wartime products with public funds.
It was a favorable situation where companies continued to expand their production lines as the war dragged on for ten years.
However, the Sylph Offensive unexpectedly pushed the war toward an end.
For those companies, this was disastrous. They had invested massive amounts to scale up, only for demand to vanish overnight.
Facing impending losses, it's rumored these companies bribed the government, asking them to extend the war long enough to clear their stock.
What a nasty rumor.
Another theory claims Sylph Nova wanted to continue the war.
Sylph allegedly advised, "We've made too many enemies. To prevent Austin's citizens from rebelling, we should thin the population."
This absurd suggestion supposedly influenced the military.
However, Sylph herself has denied this claim.
At the time, she was merely an aide to General Brustav and likely held no such power. The theory probably arose from her later reputation.
In any case, the reasons why the Sabbatian government at the time made such a decision are unclear.
***
"…"
I checked that I had enough time before my train and turned to the next page.
As I read, I felt a rush of excitement, as though I were touching a pivotal moment in history through Touri's diary.
Part 8
[Things are structured differently in the LN. This is after the Sabbatian Army retreats]
That day's entry in Touri's diary ended here.
After the unconditional surrender was rejected and the city sank into despair, the news of the victory on the Southern Front of Austin was brought, and Winn was in festivities.
She likely joined in the joyous crowd as well.
This day would undoubtedly go down in Austin's history as one of our greatest triumphs.
However, while the victory of the Southern Army was undoubtedly a stroke of fortune for Austin, by "winning" here, the war would inevitably descend into even deeper chaos.
At the very least, had an unconditional surrender been accepted by the Sabbath, many more lives would have been spared.
Furthermore, Sylph Nova would not have been so heavily criticized in later generations.
Sylph, who is now mocked as the "most foolish commander in history," had not made any mistakes at this point.
It's possible she would have been remembered as the "Savior Saint" of the Sabbath.
In that sense, she too may be a victim of history.
─────In any case, the Sabbatian government officials made a grave mistake.
There's an old saying, "A cornered rat will bite the cat."
No matter how dominant they were, the Sabbath Federation should never have underestimated their enemy.
"…"
The tale of the Austin Southern Army's victory is famous.
[This part is pretty much the same as in the web novel. I'm just going to copy the webnovel version. You can skip this.]
Going back one day before we retreated to Winn:
There was a time lag in transmitting information from the capital, and it was at this moment that the Sabbatian forces declared their refusal of unconditional surrender and resumed their invasion.
The Sabbath Federation, with a surplus of ammunition and weapons, poured them generously into all fronts and started their offensive.
"Requesting permission to enter."
"Ah, you're here."
About 10 days before their offensive began.
A certain male officer had been called to the command room on the Southern Front.
"It's nice to meet you, Lieutenant Colonel Henry."
"Thank you for your hard work, Lieutenant Bern."
His name was Lieutenant Bern Valou.
Lieutenant Bern had graduated from the military academy with decent grades and was allowed to work as a staff officer apprentice.
However, for a certain reason, he was branded as incompetent a year ago and was demoted to an administrative role.
The reason for this was…
────Only a year earlier, he had proposed the exact same "simultaneous multi-point breakthrough operation on all fronts", as Sylph Nova, and was seen as a staff officer incapable of realistic operational planning.
Bern was able to handle administrative tasks, so he spent the past year performing menial duties at the Southern Front instead of working as a staff officer.
But two weeks ago, when Lieutenant Colonel Henri heard of the complete annihilation of the Austin Army due to Sylph Nova's multi-point breakthrough strategy, he remembered Bern and hurriedly called him to the headquarters.
"Our judgment was clouded. Please allow me to apologize for the past oversight; the plan you proposed was never off the mark."
"Heh, thanks for that."
"…Now, I'd like to hear your opinion. What should we do from here?"
Lieutenant Colonel Henri apologized for demoting Bern and asked for his advice.
Meanwhile, Bern showed no concern about his demotion and laughed freely, saying, "I had a year of easy work."
"Well, I can't say we'll win for sure, but I do have a plan that would give us a good chance."
"Really?"
When asked about his strategy for overcoming the current situation, he replied:
"You know, Lieutenant Colonel Henri. When playing consecutive rounds of rock, paper, scissors, do you know the method to increase your chances of winning?"
"…No, I don't know."
He casually spoke to the commander as though having a casual conversation to explain his strategy.
"Apparently, people tend to want to choose the hand that beats the one they just played."
"…And?"
"If you remember what hand they used previously, doesn't that increase your chances of winning?"
"…I'm sorry, could you please be a bit more specific? What are you trying to say?"
"This is just normal for people, you see. But the people we're fighting against aren't normal."
With a carefree and relaxed tone, Bern Valou continued his monologue, seemingly oblivious to the growing impatience of the soldiers around him.
But no matter how long they waited, the core of the strategy still hadn't been revealed.
"We're playing rock, paper, scissors with the enemy's staff officers. Their thought process is completely different from ordinary people."
"…I'm sorry, are you still continuing with that analogy?"
"Yeah!"
But Bern didn't show any sign of noticing the frustration growing among the soldiers.
He continued his monologue with a relaxed smile, as if he were talking about plans for a picnic.
"Basically, you're saying to anticipate what the enemy staff officers will do. It should be obvious without saying—"
"Ahhahaha, you don't even need to think about that. After all, their thought process is simpler than that of commoners."
"…"
"'Since I won with this hand before, I'll win with it again.' That's the kind of stupid thing staff officers seriously believe, and they wear a smug face about it."
At this point, Lieutenant Bern grinned widely and said:
"With such a successful experience, the enemy will surely repeat the same hand."
"…"
"Well then, why don't we just wait for the other person to attack with the same tactic?"
The Sabbath Federation should have given this possibility a little more thought.
The possibility that, just as they had Sylph Nova, a hero who would lead the new era would appear in Austin.
Sylph was a genius who catapulted the East-West War towards its advanced stages and brought her country to the brink of victory.
In response, the young genius Bern, who was promoted as if he were an extension of her brilliance.
In the upcoming war, these two would engage in a battle of wits, constantly testing each other's strategies.
***
The day unconditional surrender was rejected.
The only part of the Western Front where no movement had taken place in a long time was the Southern sector, and the Sabbath Federation's offensive began first thing in the morning.
A new commander of the Southern Sabbath forces named Niwem had replaced the previous commander Avem, who had resigned for not carrying out the Southern assault during the Sylph Offensive.
Niwem was eager to launch an offensive in the South, saying that he "wanted to achieve military success of his own."
"We'll completely annihilate Austin. At the same time, we'll use up the surplus military supplies."
At this point, the Sabbath believed that Austin would no longer be able to maintain its fighting spirit, and victory would come as easily as twisting a baby's arm.
At the time, both Niwem and the Sabbaths' General Staff must have been optimistic.
The preliminary bombardment was over in just a few minutes. Then, without even a moment to catch their breath, the Sabbatian troops let out a battle cry and charged at the Austin soldiers holed up in the trenches.
As expected, the Austin side collapsed, abandoning their trenches and fleeing in panic.
The strategy adopted by the enemy commander, Niwem, was exactly the same as the Sylph Offensive, a rehash of the multiple-point breakthrough tactic designed to invade a large area in a short period of time.
As a result, the enemy abandoned their trenches and began a full retreat. This was once again a repeat of Sylph's strategy.
"See? They're coming at us with the same move."
The Sabbatian Army no longer considered the Austin forces to be a serious threat.
Believing this, they charged enthusiastically into Austin territory.
The Sabbatian soldiers charged forward, their hearts pounding with excitement at the prospect of the rewards of battle: plunder, destruction, and feasting in the Austin countryside.
As they had done in the Sylph Offensive, the Sabbatian forces broke through the rear trenches and were about to flood into surrounding villages when—
"Isn't it about time?"
"Yeah."
They suffered tremendous damage from concentrated artillery fire from the Austin forces, a southern force that had been patiently waiting for more than 10 days for the enemy to launch an offensive.
It was the perfect bait-and-switch.
By allowing the enemy to break through the trenches, exposing their position, the Sabbatian forces were hit with a concentrated barrage from infantry and mages.
This was the first success for the young genius Bern, who had accurately predicted that the enemy would again attempt a simultaneous multi-point breakthrough.
As Bern himself said, there is no single right answer in trench warfare. Like rock, paper, scissors, you need to read each other.
There are many strategies in both assault and defense, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
In other words, the multi-point breakthrough tactic is effective only against armies that have prepared a defensive doctrine based on single-point breakthroughs, and it is not an invincible or all-powerful strategy.
Its success relies on surprise and speed. If the enemy anticipates it and prepares a trap, the tactic loses much of its effectiveness.
"■■■■!?"
"■■!!"
Realizing that they had fallen into a trap, the Sabbatian forces began to retreat, but…
"The key to the multi-point breakthrough strategy is its speed and surprise."
This is where Bern truly excelled.
No one could surpass him in seizing such decisive opportunities.
"Now, this is the perfect chance for a surprise attack."
Bern launched a counterattack against the retreating Sabbatian forces using the same multi-point breakthrough strategy.
It was essentially a reenactment of the Sylph Offensive.
Despite their numerical advantage, the southern Sabbatian forces were completely decimated.
Caught in the open plains, unable to retreat into trenches, the Sabbatian forces were helpless against the Austin assault.
As a result, Austin broke through most of the Southern Front, completely switching the roles of attacker and defender.
The Sabbath suffered over 40,000 casualties. They were no longer able to maintain the Southern Front, forcing them to retreat.
The casualties were even higher than Austin's losses during the Sylph Offensive.
Though, due to the Sabbath's larger military force, and in terms of the proportion of casualties, Austin suffered a greater loss.
This victory, however, was enough to turn the tide of the war.
"Lieutenant Colonel Henri, you know what to do next, right?"
"Yes, of course."
This was a fatal and nightmarish outcome for the Sabbatian forces.
The war, which had seemed almost won, was now back to square one.
"We'll head north and strike their supply lines."
With the Southern Front in shambles, the Sabbath's supply lines were left vulnerable to Bern's forces.
The main Sabbatian Army had been steadily advancing toward Winn, but its supply line, stretched too thin, left them isolated deep in enemy territory.
If they lost their supply line now, they would be cut off in the heart of Austin.
If they did not immediately abandon the capital and retreat, the main force would have been annihilated.
This report of the battle plunged all of the Sabbath's front line commanders who resumed the advance into a state of panic.
Having relied heavily on their well-maintained supply lines, they had not been conserving food or ammunition.
Meanwhile, desperate citizens in the rear were taking up arms, and from behind, the untouched Southern Austin Army was closing in.
The Sabbath had gone from being the overwhelmingly superior invaders to being the ones trapped.
They had all but secured victory with our statement for unconditional surrender, yet they foolishly let it slip through their fingers.
This blunder caused so much resentment that after the war, many Sabbatian high-ranking officials were executed at the hands of their own citizens.
On the other hand, Austin's new hero was celebrated with great joy and acclaim.
The Southern Army had been biding its time, waiting for this one chance to turn the tide ever since the day their lines had been mostly broken during the Sylph Offensive.
This was without a doubt a miracle strategy that saved the nation of Austin that was on the brink of extermination.
He was truly Austin's savior.
…But as for myself, I still believe that it would have been much better if unconditional surrender had been accepted on that day.
Although the appearance of the genius Bern Valou revitalized Austin, it also meant that the end of the war was pushed further away by him.
If only the war had ended that day.
If only the Sabbath had accepted our surrender.
Sylph Nova would have been remembered as a prodigious genius, and while Austin might have become a vassal state, many lives would have been spared.
But reality did not play out that way.
The beast of war was still hungry for blood.
True hell awaited us, its mouth wide open, ready to swallow us as we continued to descend into a deeper quagmire.
Part 9
[Starts after WN Chapter 40]
After reading this far in the diary, I was suddenly overcome by a rapid heartbeat and a headache, unable to stand.
I'm in this diary.
There's no doubt about it. The toddler in the diary holding onto the hem of Kusha's skirt and gazing vaguely at Touri was me as a child.
I knew Touri after all. It wasn't a misunderstanding. I'm sure of it.
A flashback of that moment came to me.
At the edge of my memory, though vague, the scene began to form.
In the midst of a tremendous crowd, I was holding onto the hem of my mother's skirt, staring off into space.
In the hustle and bustle of the city, my father was talking to someone.
The girl in the photo… Touri, was having a conversation with my father right in front of me.
I don't remember what they talked about.
But there's no doubt about it, I met Touri that day.
And it wasn't just that day.
I also have memories of being involved with her on a deeper level.
When was it?
I can't recall, but I'm sure I remember.
Her gentle, yet fragile smile is vividly burned into my eyelids—
"Sedol, are you okay?"
Her voice from the memory brushed against my cheek.
Where was I? Was it a village surrounded by nature?
The girl in the photo… Touri smiled at me as she watched me play in the mud.
"That's very dangerous. You shouldn't drink it."
"■■■■?"
"Yes, that's right."
She gently admonished me and took something from me.
I made a bored sound, trying to resist her.
"Please don't sulk. Here, I'll carry you."
"■■■."
"Yes, yes, I understand."
She took care of me as if she were my mother.
I don't remember such a memory—
Before I knew it, night had fallen.
I must have lost consciousness again after reading the diary.
I have to catch the train today or I won't make it back to work in time.
I'll probably get scolded again. I have to send the message today at least.
When I finally managed to get up, I found I was sweating all over.
I was dizzy, and I felt nauseous. …Maybe I really did catch a cold.
Thinking this, I put the diary down and headed to the inn's reception.
"Mr. Weber, weren't you supposed to check out today?"
"I'm sorry, I'm not feeling well."
"Thought so. That's why I didn't kick you out."
The receptionist silently held out her hand to me. I guess she wants me to pay for today's accommodation.
"Thank you."
"Heh, you get it after all~"
I gave her a little extra tip for the inconvenience, and the receptionist smiled in a good mood.
I'm going to have to ask her to contact my workplace soon. It'd best not to skimp on the tip.
"Also, I'd like to send a telegram."
"Ah, gotcha. I've actually got a few messages for you already. Want to read them before sending your reply?"
"…I thought so."
Normally, I should have returned to the company dormitory tonight and gone to work tomorrow.
Since I hadn't returned yet, the company must have contacted me, worrying about my whereabouts.
"The first one is… is this from your company? It says, 'As soon as you confirm this message, please send an update on your safety."
"Okay, I understand. …If it's the first one, does that mean there's a second one?"
"Yeah, there's another one. This one's from a private individual."
The message from the company is exactly what I expected.
I have to send a reply as soon as possible to explain the situation.
However, I'm surprised there's another telegram.
It's probably from my adoptive mother, worried because I hadn't returned yet.
"Can you tell me the content of the message?"
"Yeah. It says, 'Let it go, forget it.'"
"Excuse me? What does that mean?"
"How should I know?"
I was taken aback by the cryptic nature of the telegram.
Sending a telegram costs quite a bit of money.
Whoever sent such a strange message must have spent a considerable amount of money on it.
"Who sent the telegram?"
"Ah, well, let me check…"
When I asked in a suspicious voice, the receptionist told me the name of the sender with a bored look on her face.
"It says the name is Touri."
End of Volume 2