***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 5
[Starts after WN Chapter 69]
As I was rocked by the train, I continued to flip through Touri's diary as instructed.
I started from the point where Touri and Bern Valou first met as requested.
"The diary entries have been peaceful since that meeting."
"…It feels like the calm before the storm."
Iris was deeply absorbed in reading Touri's diary, looking intrigued.
Although I had already read this part, I still found it fascinating upon rereading it.
"Did this diary meet your expectations?"
"Yes. If this woman is Remi Ulyakov herself, then this is conclusive proof that she is connected to Bern."
With each turn of the page, a few grains of sand trickled out.
I could feel the traces of the war that Touri had lived through in each grain.
"…This date. The decisive Battle of the North will begin soon."
"Ah."
Her diary was nearing the turbulent year of history.
The Battle of the North was the decisive battle that ended the ten-year war with the Sabbath.
It was the battle where the Sabbatian and Austin armies clashed head-on on the banks of the Tar River, with the melting snow as the signal.
"I heard that my mother… Touri Noel "defected" during this northern battle."
"What?"
"She betrayed Austin and sought asylum in the Sabbath. …And then, she gave birth to me there."
Iris looked at the diary with a face full of regret and sorrow.
Touri had betrayed Austin? Could that really be true?
Photos show her participating in post-war Winn parades, and there are accounts of her visiting a doll shop in Marshdale.
…That story has a lot of contradictions.
"I think it's unlikely that Touri betrayed anyone, Iris. It must be some kind of mistake."
"I'll know whether it's true or not if I read this diary."
"That's true."
"If Touri Noel is still alive, she must be killed without question… She is the world's worst war criminal."
Iris said this while staring intently at the diary.
The date is 1920, the end of March. The fateful year when the decisive Battle of the North finally begins.
The Battle of the North was apparently a plan devised by the then Commander Renvel.
Austin, inferior to the Sabbath in terms of supplies and troops, launched a short-term total war to turn the tide.
In the early stages, Austin had the upper hand with a series of offensives.
According to history books, the Austin Army targeted communication posts between the bridges instead of the bridges themselves.
Since the Sabbath hadn't prioritized defending between the bridges, the Austin Army's attacks were victorious one after another.
"Still, I wonder why the Austin Army targeted the communication posts."
"If the communication relay posts were destroyed, it would be harder to coordinate the northern and southern bridges, wouldn't it?"
"But it didn't really have much effect, right? To me, the history books seem contradictory."
According to the history books, the Austin Army gained an advantage by shelling the communication posts between the bridges.
At that time, long-distance communication technology had not been established, and the limit was around two to three kilometers. Relay points for communication were necessary.
Shelling and destroying these communication posts certainly had strategic value.
"It's like using a cannon to hunt small birds. Isn't it a waste?"
"That's one way to look at it."
Artillery magic can't be used casually due to the high cost of magic stones.
It's a special weapon used in critical moments, like when attacking trenches or important strategic points.
"But the Sabbatian Army had divided its forces between the north and the south. Don't you think it's natural to try and disrupt their coordination?"
"That's why it isn't worth the cost. Communication posts can be quickly reestablished."
"Yes. After the Austin army left, they would just relocate and set them up somewhere else."
At this time, the Sabbatian Army had divided their forces into two large groups.
There were two bridges near the Paschen area for crossing the Tar River.
One was a small bridge to the north, and the other was the southern bridge.
These two bridges were crucial supply lines for the Sabbatian Army's invasion of Austin territory.
Therefore, the Sabbatian Army dug multiple trenches and fortified the two bridges.
However, there were only a few layers of trenches between those bridges.
"Didn't the Sabbatian Army also have an alternate communication route?"
"Austin couldn't touch the communication posts within Sabbatian territory."
The Sabbatian Army had also established a communication route via the opposite bank.
Even if the communication posts were destroyed, they could still contact each other via another route.
Therefore, the destruction of the Sabbath's relay points was more of a "futile effort for little reward."
"Wasn't it ultimately a pointless operation?"
"I heard Brustav, the commander of the Sabbatian Army, apparently mocked the enemy as fools."
"Still, the Austin Army continued to launch surprise attacks on the communication posts, changing their methods each time."
The Sabbatian Army must have been thoroughly fed up with Austin's incessant harassment of their communication posts.
Brustav eventually decided to replace the communication posts between the bridges with decoys and instructed that only the communication route within Sabbatian territory be used.
"And what happened as a result?"
"The Sabbath responded by limiting the communication to only those that went through Sabbatian territory. This made Austin's offensive meaningless."
"No. …That communication route isn't the shortest one. There was about a 30-minute delay."
Iris began to explain to me with a somewhat proud expression on her face.
"Well, there's bound to be some delay…"
"The 30-minute delay is worth its weight in gold."
"You sure know a lot about this."
"I've read more detailed documents than you have."
At my words, Iris looked pleased and began waving the muzzle of the gun around with a smile.
Honestly, it's a bit scary. I wish she'd stop doing that.
"Why do you think the Sabbatian Army didn't reinforce the defenses between the bridges even after being hit so hard?"
"Hmm, I think General Brustav didn't want to split his forces."
"Correct. Even if the trenches between the bridges were secured, they could have retaken them quickly by surrounding them from the north and south."
At that time, the Sabbatian Army likely wanted to wait patiently until Austin was exhausted.
On the other hand, the Austin Army didn't want to be drawn into a war of attrition. They had to attack, fully aware of the disadvantages of being the aggressor.
That's why Brustav didn't want to divide his forces and wanted to maintain a numerical advantage.
"That's why General Brustav decided to reinforce the northern bridge."
"You think it's because he was wary of a surprise attack on the northern bridge?"
"Yeah."
After repeatedly having his relay points destroyed, Brustav made the decision to allocate defense forces to the northern bridge.
It was clear that Austin's constant destruction of relay posts was part of a strategy to exploit weaknesses in coordination and launch a surprise attack on the northern bridge.
If coordination was difficult, it made sense to send forces to the northern bridge in advance.
"In other words, Austin's plan was completely read by Brustav."
"Indeed, Brustav's read on the situation was spot on. The Austin Army's target was the northern bridge."
The Austin Army was inferior in terms of strength. Therefore, targeting the Sabbatian Army's supply lines was only natural.
If they could destroy the northern and southern bridges, the Sabbatian Army would be trapped with their supply lines severed.
The goal was to create a situation where coordination was difficult, and then destroy the northern bridge, which had fewer soldiers and was easier to attack.
"From what I'm hearing, Austin's movements were completely read."
"I'd say they let themselves be read."
"…Then, what was Bern Valou after?"
"He was aiming to target the soldiers in transit with artillery fire."
According to Iris, the Austin Army had sent spies into the Sabbatian Army's transport division.
They had also managed to obtain the transport plans for the soldiers.
Then, the soldiers on the move were slaughtered with artillery magic.
"…They guided the soldiers to the north by shelling the communication posts, and then attacked them there?"
"He's a bad guy, isn't he? Bern Valou."
The materials I had read only stated that "The Austin Army deliberately shelled the communication posts between the bridges and won victory after victory," but…
I had no idea that Bern Valou had been doing such things behind the scenes.
"That's exactly the kind of man he is."
Iris said with a sarcastic smile.
Afterward, Iris told me about the internal workings of both the Sabbatian and Austin armies at that time.
***
The constant harassment of artillery fire between the trenches had been putting stress on the Sabbatian army.
They must have repeatedly tried to lay low in the trenches between the bridges, hoping to ambush the Austin soldiers.
However, defending between the bridges was practically useless.
It was clear that the enemy's true goal was to exploit the gap created by dividing the defense forces of the bridges.
That's why no matter how many times the bridges were attacked, Brustav ignored it and prepared for a surprise attack on the northern bridge.
[This is from WN chapter 70. These two sections are pretty much the same]
"How about using the northern bridge as bait?"
The head of the General Staff, Brustav, boldly proposed a plan to abandon the northern bridge.
"If we want to attack, we should let the enemy attack the northern bridge and then feign a retreat."
"And then what?"
"Once they're busy destroying the northern bridge, we can encircle them and launch a surprise attack."
He didn't consider the northern bridge to be particularly valuable.
It was small and unsuitable for moving large forces. Losing it wouldn't result in major losses.
He believed it was better to concentrate their forces on defending one bridge thoroughly rather than splitting their forces to defend two bridges.
"Please wait, Father."
"Oh, Sylph."
The one who objected was his only daughter, Sylph Nova.
She was adamantly opposed to abandoning the northern bridge.
"Our forces are superior. We can surely defend both bridges. It's crucial to secure an escape route if needed."
Sylph desperately explained to her father the importance of the northern bridge.
She argued that losing it could lead to the Sabbath's defeat.
"If I were an Austin commander, I'd destroy the other bridge on the same day I secured the northern bridge."
"What? How?"
"By launching a surprise attack via water."
What she feared was a surprise attack by a suicide unit aboard boats.
The northern bridge was upstream of the Sabbath's position.
If the enemy secured this bridge, the Sabbatian Army would have to be wary of a surprise attack using the river's current.
Sylph explained that if Austin loaded boats with large quantities of gunpowder and launched a suicide attack, it would be difficult to defend against.
"We absolutely must not abandon the northern bridge."
In reality, the likelihood of such a strategy being used was considerable.
To defend their own bridges, the Sabbath would have to secure the upper reaches of the Tar River as well.
Thanks to Sylph's advice, the Sabbath Army adopted a plan to divide their forces and secure both bridges.
***
"As predicted by Bern-sama, the enemy is splitting their forces to the north."
"Idiots. I made it clear from the beginning that the main attack was on the central bridge, even by how we deployed."
Austin had successfully balanced the nearly two-fold difference in forces that had been too severe.
They had opened the first door to breaking through the tightly closed trenches around the Tar River Bridge.
"Now, let's open the second door."
Bern then launched several surprise attacks on Sabbatian soldiers moving towards the northern bridge.
The objective of these operations was to deplete enemy forces and supplies rather than to secure a position.
This was within Austin territory, so we were able to take advantage of the local soldiers' familiarity with the terrain.
The enemy was moving along trenches that had been dug over a long period of time.
However, the only area where the trenches were thick enough to be immune to artillery fire was around the bridge itself. If the position of any moving units was discovered, they could easily be targeted by artillery.
By repeatedly conducting these small-scale ambushes, Austin continued to inflict damage on the enemy at a low cost.
"There's no need to force movements through the trenches in Austin territory; we can move within Sabbatian territory."
The Sabbatian Army began using the opposite bank to move its forces.
Previously, they had been transporting supplies north via long trenches along the riverbank.
But to avoid surprise artillery strikes, they began using the northern bridge to cross into Sabbath territory and transport supplies and personnel through that route.
This turned out to be another critical mistake by the Sabbath.
Due to the change in the route, the number of soldiers patrolling the riverbank decreased, making it easier for Austin saboteurs to infiltrate the gap between the northern bridge and the main camp.
Bern seized this opportunity and ordered the placement of numerous traps along the trenches between the camps.
Thanks to this, magical traps were set up throughout the trenches without the Sabbatian Army noticing.
These traps would remain inactive and hidden until the moment of the final confrontation.
Bern's strategy was perfect up to this point.
With the diversion causing the enemy to spread their forces and the traps set between positions, the Sabbatian Army was playing into his hands.
This was a demonstration of Bern's true prowess, solidifying his legacy as a genius strategist.
***
"Bern Valou's plan was perfect. Like water slowly eroding stone, his poisonous fangs gradually penetrated the enemy."
"I thought the bombardment was pointless, but it had such meaning behind it?"
If Iris's story is true, the diversion caused by the bombardment, the dispersal of enemy forces, and the placement of traps between positions…
The Sabbatian Army was being manipulated like a puppet by Bern.
"Austin would have won without a problem if things continued the way Bern envisioned."
If nothing unexpected happened, and Bern Valou's plan had been carried out exactly as envisioned…
"…But it didn't turn out that way."
"Yeah."
Iris nodded and bit her lip sadly.
She then urged me to turn the page.
"From this day onward, the war would truly become hell."
To the date that marked the beginning of that hell.
Part 6
[Starts after WN Chapter 71]
"…For some reason, her personality is different from what I heard about my mother."
Iris said with a slightly puzzled expression as she continued reading.
She looked as if she wanted to say, "Who is this?"
"What did you hear about Touri Noel?"
"She's a murderer who loves killing and only smiles on the battlefield—a psychopathic killer."
Iris said with a rather awkward expression.
"That's a different image from what I expected."
"I heard she betrayed Austin, joined the Sabbath, and caused great damage as a villain."
"…Who is that?"
Certainly, the "Touri Noel" in Iris' mind is completely different from my image of her.
At the very least, she probably didn't feel kindly toward the Sabbath, who had burned her hometown.
I can't imagine her betraying Austin and joining the Sabbath.
"Touri Noel heard about the Flamer-Aerys Alliance's participation in the war and defected to Sabbath with the information as leverage."
"…Did she really do that?"
"I've had a lot of trouble because of my mother's bad reputation."
"Based on what I've read up to this point in the diary, I really don't think she's that kind of person."
In the first place, Touri was just a field medic.
I felt like she probably didn't have any valuable information for the Sabbatian Army.
"Also, there must have been many citizens who left Austin at that time. I don't think it's fair to say she betrayed Austin just for that."
"My mother is said to have sold information to the Sabbath and fought as a soldier under the Sabbatian Army."
"That's ridiculous."
Touri shouldn't even have been able to speak Sabbatian.
How could someone like her have defected and communicated with the Sabbatian Army?
"…Could it be that she's being confused with someone else in the post-war confusion?"
"I've also been thinking the same…"
To begin with, much of the material from the World War era is ambiguous.
Important documents were burned, and people's memories were altered to fill the gaps.
"Let's read a little further. …But first, is this really my mother's diary?"
"Right, it might be a different person named Touri Noel."
"Well, that would be quite a funny story."
Iris stared intently at the group photo tucked inside the cover.
The face and physique of Touri in that photo were strikingly similar to Iris'.
It's hard to imagine that they're unrelated.
"We might understand if we keep reading the diary and ask the person directly."
Iris said, then urged me to keep flipping through the pages of the diary.
────There are only a few pages left in Touri Noel's diary.
"Alright, go ahead and turn the page."
"…No."
I closed the diary and looked out the window at the approaching city as the train swayed.
…It's a familiar sight.
"Iris, we need to change trains at the next station. We'll end up in the Sabbath if we stay on this one."
"Oh, are we almost there?"
Lantz is a transit station.
Because of the train schedule, I always pass through this city when I go back home.
It's a wheat-producing area that greatly recovered after the war. If you walk through the streets, you'll see colorful cakes, jams, and other sweets.
"We have about 20 minutes until we change to the next train. We can go buy some chocolate at the station to enjoy on the next train during that time."
"Oh, that sounds nice."
"But I don't have enough in my wallet to pay for your share since you've taken all my belongings."
"Wow, you're going to make the woman pay on a date?"
"I think it's the perfect punishment for a girl who points a gun at me."
I made a light-hearted remark, placed the diary into my bag, and stood up.
Then, I gestured for Iris to follow me.
"The train is still moving."
"Lantz Station gets crowded. If you want time to buy chocolate, the trick is to move toward the exit early."
"I see."
When I said that, Iris followed behind me without hesitation.
The black iron muzzle is still hidden under her clothes as usual.
"You look like you're having a lot of fun, Sedol-kun."
"Yeah. I didn't expect to find such detailed records about the Battle of the North. I'm a little excited."
"Well, I guess."
When Iris said that, she rummaged and took out a small notebook from her bag.
I wondered what she was suddenly looking for, and stared at her curiously.
"I'll give you a gift, Sedol-kun. This is an article that was supposed to be published in Winn Monthly Heart 10 years ago… A non-fiction biography."
"From our magazine?"
"It was something that your boss was hiding. He must have decided to cancel it."
Iris chuckled and handed me a stack of papers.
────When I looked closely, I saw dried blood on the cover.
"Why do you have the boss' personal items?"
"I went to his office before visiting you."
"…"
"Sedol-kun's boss was pretty good at self-preservation. He was just unlucky."
The cold light in Iris' eyes as she laughed made me feel uneasy.
Maybe the boss had already been killed?
"This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't gathered unnecessary information."
I swallowed nervously as I took the article from Iris.
There are bloodstains on the cover, making the title hard to read. But the article is still intact, and the neatly handwritten manuscript is clearly legible.
"Can I read it?"
"Yes, go ahead."
After confirming with Iris, I lightly wiped off the bloodstains from the title and began reading the content of the article.
[This part is just a way to explain the things Touri recounts in the WN. I'm not going to add the WN translation because this is already long enough]
Winn Monthly Heart Special Series
"●eroic Legend: The Great Vill●●n Bern Valou Wh● Saved A●●tin"
Written by: ●●●Ro●, 1929
[Manuscript scheduled for the April issue][1]
[This just leads into the stuff about Fogman Jr. during Arc 4]
[Manuscript scheduled for the May issue][2]
[This goes into WN chapter 72 and 73. It's mainly about Aria attacking the bridge]
[Manuscript scheduled to be published in July issue][3]
[Talks about Sylph's actions at the end of WN chapter 73. The final portion is just the end of 73]
***
[Starts after WN Chapter 73]
"What do you think of the article?"
"…It was interesting."
As I continued reading the article, Iris eventually spoke up.
The train had not yet reached Lantz station.
"It's rare to see an article that's positive about Sylph Nova."
"The non-fiction piece was apparently written by a reporter who served in the northern battlefront."
"No wonder it's so detailed. I've never seen something written like this before."
"You wouldn't. Articles or books revealing military strategies are usually banned."
"Could it be that this is classified information?"
"Detailed military operation documents are state secrets. That's probably why your boss vetoed it."
"Hahaha…"
The article I read is, as I thought, classified information.
…I wonder why I was allowed to read something like that.
"…Did you give this to me because my execution is already decided?"
"No, no. You're bait to lure Touri Noel. I'm not going to kill my precious brother-in-law."
"You're going to hide me properly, right?"
"Of course."
Iris smiled gently at my anxious expression.
"…As long as you remain obedient after Touri Noel is dead."
She didn't even try to hide the murderous intent in her voice as she flicked the barrel of the gun with her finger.
"…"
The sound of a steam locomotive's bell rang loudly.
The train's speed began to slow, and thick white smoke started to billow outside the window.
"The station is still far, isn't it? Maybe it was a mistake to stand up so early."
"We'll be there in five minutes. Just be patient."
Iris must be unaccustomed to standing in the shaking train.
She swayed a little and leaned her small frame closer to me.
"…I think we could have sat a little longer."
"I always do this because I don't want to miss out on chocolate."
"It's shaking, and it's hot near the exit because of the smoke."
"There's something romantic about steam engines. The exhaust also has a certain charm, don't you think?"
"I don't get it."
…Iris really is small. She has the physique of a young girl, just like Touri in the photos.
Iris looks uncomfortable as she almost loses her balance every time the train sways.
"Here, hold on."
I put my arm around her shoulders to protect her from the train's sway.
Her coat gently brushed against me, soft and light.
"…Huh?"
"This will help keep you steady."
I pressed Iris against my chest and leaned my back against the train door.
With my right hand still holding Iris, I gripped the handle of the train tightly with my left hand.
This should keep us stable.
"Ah, you…"
"Oh, not used to being held by a man? Didn't know you had such a cute side to you."
"…Please be careful with your words. I might have shot you if you weren't my brother-in-law."
Iris looked somewhat flustered, clearly startled by being suddenly hugged.
She glared at me with a sharp, piercing gaze.
I looked out the window while holding Iris in my arms.
"Look, Iris. We'll be in Lantz once we cross that bridge."
"The bridge?"
"Yeah, the bridge over the Tar River."
A large river is flowing outside the window.
It's a tributary of the Tar River that flows into the Austin territory.
Just before entering the city of Lantz, there's a bridge over this large river.
"That river's pretty deep. You might drown if you fall in."
"Hmph, I've already completed swimming training. If anyone's going to die from falling, it'll be you."
"That's good to hear."
The train jolted, the shaking becoming more intense.
It approached the large bridge which stretched about 100 meters.
"…"
I can feel Iris's body heat against mine.
A silly-sounding sound leaked from the steam engine.
I focused all my attention on my left hand as naturally as I could.
Still leaning against the door, I slowly turned the handle of the train door.
"…Eh?"
The handle of the train door is also on the inside.
It's strictly forbidden to touch the handle during the ride. When passengers mess with the door handle in such a manner—
"Goodbye, Iris."
"You…!!"
An accident where someone is forcefully ejected from the train can happen.
In a sudden motion, I pushed Iris out of the train.
I aimed for the deeper part of the river, trying to make sure she landed there.
"You────!!"
The girl who had introduced herself as Iris reached her hand out toward me, trying to grab me.
I swatted her hand away, pushing it aside.
…Iris is trying to kill Touri.
I don't know the relationship between her and Touri, but I shouldn't let them meet.
Soon, Iris was sucked into the river with a loud splash with a scream.
"Hey, didn't someone just fall out?!"
"That girl was messing with the handle. Then the door opened."
"What the hell, why didn't you stop her?"
A shrill voice echoed from the cab.
However, the train continued moving without stopping in the middle of the bridge.
The conductor knew that stopping on the bridge was dangerous.
"…"
When I looked back, Iris' face emerged from the center of the river.
She didn't look to be injured.
…She really must have had swimming training, as she was already swimming towards us.
"It's alright, she's alive. It'll be a good lesson for her."
"I see. That's good."
Now, it's a race against time.
A furious Iris will soon come to Lantz.
But she surely wouldn't make it back within 20 minutes.
She won't be able to catch the connecting train.
"I'll talk to the police when we get off."
"Thanks. I'll contact the station staff."
After speaking to the conductor, I closed the train door and looked out at the river.
Iris is already far behind.
I exhaled a small sigh, a mix of relief that the danger had passed and a slight sense of guilt.
The train arrived at the station about five minutes after I threw Iris off.
I got off the train and quickly hurried to the platform of my connecting train to board it.
Of course, I wouldn't inform the police. I don't have time for that.
The connecting train is parked at the adjacent platform.
I walked quickly through the crowd and boarded the train.
My hometown, Reese, is a small, run-down village with few station visitors.
But the terminal for this line is in Paschen, and it's crowded with passengers heading to the city.
"Will Iris come?"
After sitting down and taking a deep breath, I looked out the window, scanning the platform for any sign of the attacker.
I don't know how fast she is, but surely she can't catch up within 20 minutes after falling into the river.
However, the fear that she would be furious and attack me with a gun in hand made my heart beat faster.
"15 minutes left until departure time…"
During the wait, I kept scanning the platform from my seat, looking for Iris's figure.
A girl in a soaked coat would stand out. She would be noticeable even in the crowd.
Think about it. What will she do first if she finds me?
Would she immediately shoot me without hesitation?
Would she pull a gun in the middle of a crowded station?
No.
I'm sure she would approach quietly, waiting for the right moment, and strike when we're in a less crowded area.
"…"
I kept staring silently out the window.
Time passed slowly. Is the train not going to depart yet?
Fear and impatience welled up inside me.
Countless passengers were moving around outside the window.
The bustling noise of the crowd felt like the presence of an attacker.
…I wished for the train to depart as soon as possible.
"Hey, it's already departure time. What's going on?"
"Sorry, sir. The person in charge of delivering the coal was slacking off."
"Come on, give me a break."
"It's fine, we'll still make it in time for the arrival."
Yet, the train didn't move even after the scheduled time.
There had apparently been further delays due to the railway staff's incompetence.
It had already been 30 minutes since I threw Iris off.
The distance from the river to the station is roughly three kilometers.
If she's fast, she'll have already reached the platform by now.
"They say the loader was drinking in the break room and fell asleep. That guy's pay is getting docked."
"Seriously, now we're going to be late."
The conversation between the station staff fueled my sense of urgency.
Iris would catch up if they kept being so relaxed like this.
Why won't they just depart already?
Why, of all days, is the train delayed!?
"…"
The sound of my heartbeat intensified.
Oxygen felt scarce, and my breathing became labored.
I can't help but see a girl casually walking down the platform as Iris.
Amidst the commotion and tension, I continued to search for Iris with bated breath for about an hour.
Finally, a loud whistle echoed through the platform.
"All aboard!"
Finally, the train departed.
Slowly, the steam locomotive began to move along the tracks.
Iris is nowhere to be seen
I let out a small breath of relief.
And then…
"…What?"
Just as the train began to move, I saw a girl in a black hat with a flower corsage rushing onto the platform.
Her face looked pale, and she was out of breath, soaked through.
It's Iris.
Just in the nick of time…
"…"
I can't tell if she noticed me or not.
Breathing heavily, she trembled and sat down.
With a sad look on her face like an abandoned cat, she weakly reached her hand towards the train.
…I feel like I've done something wrong, but my life is at stake.
According to the letter, Touri should have returned to my hometown.
I need to hurry back to my hometown and warn my adoptive mother and Touri of the danger.
"Come to think of it, I was supposed to read the entire diary first."
Relieved that Iris wasn't on the train, I finally took my eyes off the window.
I took out Touri's diary from my bag.
Part 7
[Starts after WN Chapter 75]
"Hey, wait a minute."
I couldn't help but say it out loud as I read through Touri's diary.
Everything about it was so shocking that I just had to pause.
"Is this for real? Did that actually happen?"
As I read my diary, I remembered a Sabbatian story I had heard a long time ago.
It was a story that symbolized the foolishness of commander Sylph Nova, titled The Wise Aust (a derogatory term for Austinites in the Sabbath).
The story went like this:
In the Sabbath, there was a strategist named Sylph.
Her father was the commander, and so she was entrusted with the important role of guarding the Sabbatian Army's retreat.
However, she was foolish. When the Sabbatian Army seemed to be losing,
"Hey, Aust's position is wide open! This is our chance to attack!"
She decided to charge ahead.
"The Aust is scattering like spiders! Surround them!"
Sylph's ambush was successful, and the Aust fled in disarray.
Encouraged by her success, Sylph sent soldiers to kill the fleeing Aust…
But the clever Aust suddenly turned the tables and attacked Sylph's position.
"This is bad! The enemy's goal isn't retreat, they're attacking head-on!"
"That can't be, can it?"
"Don't be stupid, they're clearly attacking!"
When Sylph saw the Aust charge toward her, she panicked.
"Call back the soldiers I sent to surround them! Don't let them break through!"
She became frantic, ordering her soldiers to defend the position.
Even though she had divided her forces, the Sabbatian Army had thousands of men to protect her.
On the other hand, Austin only had 200. There was no reason for them to break through.
"Ah! Another bullet's flying at us!"
"Staff Officer, we need to fall back! Follow me!"
"O-Okay! Damn it. I'll repay this debt to the Aust—"
Unaware of this, Sylph left the front lines to her subordinates and fled.
Right after that, a dry pop sound rang out.
Sylph Nova was shot in the forehead, recoiled, and fell.
"Gah! Hey, Staff Officer!?"
"Ah…"
Shot in the forehead, Sylph collapsed right there, foaming at the mouth.
Sylph was shot between the eyebrows and collapsed on the spot, blowing bubbles.
The Sabbat soldiers who saw that moment were convinced that Sylph had died in battle.
However, the Aust were indeed very clever.
"Yes! Finally, Sylph is dead!"
"At last, we're free!"
His subordinates rejoiced at the death of the arrogant Sylph.
It is said that they celebrated with a glass of Vok while thanking Austin.
However…
"Um, it looks like Staff Officer Sylph is still alive."
"…Huh?"
It was unthinkable that Sylph Nova had been killed.
"There's a rubber bullet nearby…"
"Eh…? "
The Aust had used training rounds because he thought it would be disadvantageous if Sylph actually died.
And so, the clever Aust escaped, while Sylph became even more foolish.
────That's how it goes.
It's a story about how Sylph was so incompetent that even the Austin soldiers were careful not to kill her.
I thought it was just a made-up story, but… The truth behind it was that she was shot by a medic who was prohibited from using live ammunition.
By the way, this "clever Aust" is probably modeled after Lieutenant Verdi, not Touri.
Lieutenant Verdi was the commander who became famous for making this retreat a success.
In the end, he succeeded in the retreat, taking most of the military supplies from the warehouse with him.
When Verdi's unit was rescued, the command was astonished by the low casualty rate and the amount of supplies they had brought.
Although it was an incredible military feat, Lieutenant Verdi was never proud of his accomplishment.
"This scrap metal is heavier than the lives of my comrades. Please, treat them with the utmost respect."
That's all he reportedly told his allies.
Lieutenant Verdi's accomplishments greatly inspired the Austin Army.
"Verdi! Verdi has done it again!"
Having lost his daughter in today's operation and feeling despondent, Major Renvel reportedly roared loudly upon hearing the report.
"I thought he was just an honor student, but he's the real deal! There are other talented people besides Aria who will follow in my footsteps!"
"Please stay calm, Major Renvel."
"How can I stay calm at a time like this?! I'll go myself, hurry up and prepare to pick him up!"
It is no wonder that he couldn't contain his excitement at the achievement of his nephew, one that even saved the fate of his homeland, Austin.
With the success of these two retreats, Verdi solidified his reputation as "the most outstanding young front-line commander" in the Austin Army.
The young genius staff officer Bern, and the miracle retreat commander Verdi—these two were rapidly elevated as exceptional talents who would carry the future of Austin.
Though both were still in their teens at this time, their names would soon resound throughout the nation as great figures destined to shape Austin's future.
"…It's more of a disturbing miscalculation than a pleasant one."
On the opposite end from Major Renvel…
The other genius, Bern Valou, upon hearing of Verdi's achievements, reportedly smiled with joy but grimaced at the same time.
He apparently inwardly thought, "Verdi Company has definitely been wiped out; we'd be lucky if even a few medics survived."
Surprisingly, he was unable to read Sylph's eccentric actions, and was quite down on himself that his command had caused such great damage.
At that moment, upon hearing that Verdi had returned nearly unscathed with supplies, Bern initially couldn't even comprehend the report properly.
"How about that, Southern Hero? My nephew can really do it!"
"Yeah, yeah…"
In response to Major Renvel's boastful voice, he could only offer a half-hearted reply.
Perplexed, Bern muttered, "How many miracles does it take in a row to make that happen?"
And upon seeing Verdi's squadron return with heavy loads…
"I'm really glad he's not in the Sabbatian Army…"
He reportedly offered his utmost praise to Verdi in his own way.
***
Thus, the Battle of the North that determined the fate of Austin and Sabbath ended in a sweeping victory for Austin.
The surprise attack attempted by Sylph's forces was a complete miss, and they suffered heavy casualties when Austin's army launched a counterattack.
Many of the 30,000 members under Kitahashi who were expected to survive did not return.
In return, they managed to burn just a small portion of Austin's resources, but this was far from a result that could justify their losses.
The damage in the Battle of the North was heavy on both sides, with the supposedly victorious Austin side also suffering nearly 10,000 casualties.
Austin's losses were not light, with some losing their lives in the charge before escorting Captain Aria to the riverbank, some being thrown into the river along with Captain Aria, and some lost their lives in the desperate resistance against the Sabbatian soldiers.
The military also lost many valuable personnel, including the death of an ace, Captain Aria.
Overcoming so much death and sorrow, Austin finally claimed victory.
On the other hand, the defeated Sabbatian Army suffered tremendous losses: 12,000 dead, 20,000 wounded, and 30,000 missing. Their main army was essentially annihilated.
Among the remnants, many could not return to their homeland and were left behind in Austin territory.
The wounded soldiers ran wild as bandits for a while, causing trouble for the people of Austin.
It was only after some time that they managed to return to their homeland.
***
…Reading through the diary up to this point, it's clear that Touri did not betray anyone.
Rather, she had played an active role, proposing the retreat strategy and even sniping Sylph Nova.
In fact, based on the diary, Lieutenant Verdi's achievements were due to Touri.
The idea that Touri betrayed Austin is likely just a misunderstanding on Iris' part.
There are only a few pages left in the diary.
I'm sure everything will become clear if I read until the end.
I immersed myself in the diary again.
Part 8
[Starts after WN Chapter 78]
"…Eh?"
The diary ended there.
The remaining pages are all blank.
Touri Noel's life ended at the Tar River.
"…"
I turned over the blank pages one by one until I reached the end of her diary.
But there was nothing written anymore.
Touri Noel volunteered for the decoy unit in the Battle of the North, left this diary behind, and threw herself into the river.
…That's the conclusion of her story.
"What does this mean?"
The world spun around me. The tilt and vibration of the train made me dizzy.
Countless questions rose in my mind.
Touri had indeed sent me letters and telegrams.
I even had a photograph of Touri from after the war, which had been sent to me and was now in my possession.
There's no way Touri could be dead.
But given the situation described in the diary, the chances of Touri Noel surviving were very slim.
Touri herself, a medic, had diagnosed her own fatal wound and thrown herself into the river to avoid having her body be desecrated.
…How could she possibly survive from here?
Who is the owner of this diary?
Is there another female medic with the same name as Touri that died?
"…"
No, wait. I had been trapped by the fixed notion that there could be only one Touri.
Iris's mother, Touri, apparently betrayed Austin and fled to the Sabbath, where she gave birth to Iris.
The Touri I'm following, however, is still alive in Austin after the war, and there are even photos of her.
At least two people named Touri exist in the same place—
"…The name is hereditary!"
In Austin, there is a culture of passing down names.
Especially among noble families, it is common to receive a name from a parent, like Prime Minister Fogman Jr.
Touri Noel came from an orphanage. Her family structure is unclear based on the diary…
"Could it be that Touri inherited the name from her parents?"
If Touri's mother was called 'Touri.'
It's possible that the director of the orphanage passed on the name as a connection to her birth parents.
And what if Touri Noel had a sister?
For example, if she had a twin sister who was taken in by another orphanage, and similarly inherited the name 'Touri,'
…It wouldn't be strange if there were two 'Touri' individuals who looked alike, with similar ages.
"Then, the Touri I'm following and the one Iris is looking for might be different people…?"
That's just speculation.
But given that two people named Touri exist in the same place, this possibility cannot be dismissed.
If that's the case, the Touri I'm following and the one I'm about to meet could very well be two different people.
"…"
In any case, I'll understand when I return to my hometown.
If Touri is there, I will ask her everything.
About the Touri who died in this diary. About the 'traitor' Touri Iris speaks of.
Whether she was in Austin or the Sabbath after the war.
──────What happened to the Touri in this diary?
The small bell rang with a soft clang.
The train came to a stop in a small village within Austin's territory.
"Ah, how nostalgic."
That is my hometown, the lonely pioneer village of Reese.
I was raised in this village by my adoptive mother, never knowing the faces of my parents.
My adoptive mother, Anita, was apparently a close friend of my real father, Gomuji.
Because of this connection, she took me in and raised me.
"…May I see your ticket?"
"Here you go."
When I got off the train, I immediately ran straight toward my family home.
Iris may soon attack this village.
"Conductor, when is the next train to Reese?"
"Hmm? In two hours."
"Thank you."
There are two hours left until the next train arrives.
By then, I must warn my adoptive mother and Touri to run away as soon as possible.
The sky is already tinged with red. Traveling in the middle of the night is dangerous.
If possible, I'd like to hide somewhere during the day.
As for transportation other than the train, we can use a horse-drawn carriage.
But can I convince my mother of the situation and prepare a carriage in just two hours…
"…Oh, it's you, Sedol. Visiting your hometown?"
"Hello, Mr. Yozak! Sorry, I'm in a hurry."
"Always the energetic one."
I ran along the dirt road toward my home.
My family home is by a small clinic.
Anita's Clinic is the only medical facility in this village.
"…Hey, Mom!! Sorry, please clear the way!"
"Oh, Sedol's back."
Even though it's already evening, there are still a few patients waiting in the clinic as usual.
I walked between the patients, panting, as I rushed to the back of the clinic.
"What's all this noise?"
"Mom, something's happened!"
"Quiet, I'm in the middle of a consultation. Talk to me later."
In the examination room, my mother is sitting surrounded by several nurses.
With sharp eyes and a displeased snort, the woman in a white coat is none other than my adoptive mother, Anita.
"I'm sorry, but this is an emergency! The attackers will be here soon!"
"Stop talking nonsense."
Mom ignored what I said and continued with the patient consultation as if this wasn't important.
"We don't have time, Mom. Please, believe me."
"You're so noisy. You're probably just panicking about Touri, right? I'll be done after a few more patients, just wait a little."
"Yes, that too. Mom, there's a woman targeting Touri. She's full of murderous intent and determined to kill her!"
"What?"
"We have to get Touri out of here! At least let me talk to her while you finish with your patients."
I stumbled over my words as I explained the situation.
If Touri Noel is in Reese, I want to speak to her immediately.
And I need to warn her of the danger closing in.
"…I see. That's bad, then."
"Right!?"
"There's still someone targeting her? …How many years has it been since the war?"
It seems that Mom has finally understood the seriousness of the matter.
Her face grew slightly more serious, and she said:
"Sedol, gather up the house's belongings and valuables. We'll hide for a while once the consultations are done."
"Got it!"
She said that to me.
Our family home is right behind the clinic.
I entered the house and began gathering up things like the safe and medical supplies to put on the cart.
I couldn't carry much. I carefully selected valuable items, medical supplies, and food and drink to load.
"…"
Touri wasn't in the house. I had hoped to meet her, so I was a little disappointed.
It took me about half an hour to gather everything.
"Alright, I'm done. Honestly, Sedol, you've brought back something troublesome."
"I-I'm sorry, Mom."
"So? Why is your life being targeted? Is it because of the letter I sent you?"
"Your letter?"
"Yeah, I bet you were shocked when you got it."
Mom said this, then smiled with a slightly blank face.
"The letter I sent to you under Touri's name."
"…"
…
"Wait, wasn't that letter supposed to be from Touri?"
"Of course not. You said that you happened to find Touri's diary. I sent it to make you come back here."
Mom kept a serious face and said something outrageous.
…Wait. The letter I thought was from Touri Noel was a prank by Mom?!
"You sent that letter?!"
"Why are you so angry about it?"
"Of course I'm angry!! I thought I'd finally get to meet Touri today!"
This was a cruel disappointment.
More than feeling disappointed, I found myself furious with my mother.
How much anticipation had I built up, only to come back here like this?
"Why do you want to meet Touri so badly?"
"Because, well…"
It was as if I'd been consumed by a fever for the past few months.
Reading through Touri's diary, retracing her life step by step…
…I had undoubtedly developed a deep admiration for her.
"…"
And at the same time…
There was something nostalgic, joyful, irreplaceable.
A feeling that wouldn't stop welling up from somewhere deep inside me.
"Ah, really now. You should've just forgotten all about it."
"…Huh?"
──────The girl's smile.
──────A young girl stroking my hair.
──────Being held in her arms as I nuzzled against her cheek.
──────The nights I clung to her slender frame, crying, wishing we could stay together forever.
My heartbeat grew louder.
Cold sweat, palpitations, and labored breathing crashed over me all at once.
"It's really unlucky, you know? Of all things, you just had to find that girl's diary."
"Wh-What… What shouldn't I remember…"
"You really shouldn't remember it. But you've been chasing after Touri, right? It was only a matter of time."
My body trembled violently.
My jaw quivered, and I could no longer form proper words.
"The trauma of seeing that unfold before your eyes was massive."
Memories of a precious woman I was supposed to recall.
Memories buried deep inside me, never to be remembered.
"…What is this?"
"It's okay to take it slow. Remember slowly."
Mom said as she hugged me.
She soothed me gently as if calming a crying child.
"Mom… you know about Touri, don't you?"
"Yes. You've forgotten, but I remember."
My mother, Anita, knew about Touri.
All this time, the answers I was seeking were with her.
"I wanted you to come home because I wasn't sure what you'd do if you had a flashback in the capital."
But the memories I wanted to recall so badly…
─────Maybe it's something better left forgotten.
"Did you read that girl's diary to the end?"
"Y-Yeah. Touri Noel jumped into the river with her comrade and died in the war."
"I see. That much was written, then."
My mother said that while still hugging me.
"The Touri who wrote that diary is already dead. …The Touri in the photograph you sent, she's not the same person. Maybe a sibling or something?"
"No, Touri doesn't have a sister. She survived after throwing herself into the river."
In a near-whisper, she revealed the truth by my ear.
"There's a continuation of Touri's diary. I've kept the rest of it safe with me."
"…Eh?"
…Then Touri didn't die in that dire situation.
But how could anyone survive after what happened?
"That day was when I first met her."
Mom said, her voice tinged with nostalgia.
Then she began recounting the story.
***
At the time, I had decided to give up on Austin and defect to the Sabbath.
Austin was losing the war. Staying would only mean being killed by enemies or bandits.
Fortunately, I spoke a fair amount of Sabbatian.
I decided to conceal my identity and blend in as a Sabbatian citizen.
"…Hey, look. It's a soldier."
Crossing the border between Sabbath and Austin during peacetime was nearly impossible.
Most who tried were spotted by border patrol and shot.
But fortunately, it was during the height of the Battle of the North. I took advantage of the chaos.
With heavy fighting keeping everyone occupied, I crossed the Tar River at a moment when small boats went unnoticed.
"Two dead soldiers are clinging together."
"Ugh, their flesh is all torn apart. It's a mess."
Having successfully crossed the Tar River, me and my fellow stowaways walked in a line along the riverbank, where many bodies of soldiers had washed up.
"No, look closer. The girl being held… she's still breathing."
"Really? Hey, healer, help her!"
A soldier who was still alive lay on the riverbank.
She was a young girl, barely older than a child. Though she was barely clinging to life, she was alive.
"Don't be stupid. She's nearly dead. I'd have to use every ounce of medicine and supplies I've got to save this girl."
"But…"
"I don't have much magical power to begin with. At this rate, I can't guarantee she'll be saved."
As a healer, everyone asked me to help, but I had no obligation to do so much for a girl I didn't know.
"I can't use all my supplies to help some kid I don't even know. I'm about to flee to the Sabbath."
"What a cold-hearted woman…"
"Say whatever you want."
Of course, I felt guilty.
But I wasn't the kind of person who would sacrifice everything I had for a stranger.
My companions glared at me, their judgment heavy and silent.
"What's with that look? Alright, you pay for the treatment. If you hand over all the precious jewelry you brought, I'll help her."
"Th-That's…"
"You can't, can you? We've got our own future to think about. Our own future is more important than some random kid."
So I asked them if they could give up their fortune to save this girl.
As expected, the same people who were quick to judge me fell silent.
In the end, everyone valued their own lives above all else.
"───I'll pay."
"Huh?"
Amid the tense silence, one man stepped forward.
He alone raised his hand to save the girl.
"Hey healer, take whatever you need from the jewels we brought. But make sure you save this girl."
"Y-Yeah. What's going on with you all of a sudden?"
"Don't just sit there, start treating her! If you're too late, I'll kick your ass!"
"A-Alright, I got it. You're really going to pay!?"
"A man doesn't go back on his word!"
I was taken aback because I didn't think anyone would actually pay for it.
But with the offer made, there was no reason to hesitate.
I immediately began treatment and healed the young soldier.
"First, let her drink the tonic."
"Okay. I'll leave it to you, Kusha."
"Got it."
The girl murmured faintly.
It was a sign that her brain wasn't getting enough blood.
From that point on, it was a race against time. I rolled up my sleeves and put my all into saving her.
"Here, payment for the medicine. I definitely handed it over."
"Uh, yeah, thanks. By the way, were you always this kind of character?"
"Ah?"
"I thought you were the type who'd rummage through a soldier's wallet if you found a dead body, but…"
"Yeah, well, that's what I would normally do."
The man who asked me to save the girl wasn't the type with a strong sense of justice.
If anything, he was cunning, shamelessly greedy, and had no qualms about doing underhanded things to survive.
"People lie and use others. That's the smart way to live."
"…Yeah, you're that type."
"And I never forget any grudges. I don't mind deceiving people, but if I'm deceived, I'll spend my whole life getting revenge."
"Right, that's why I don't want to make an enemy out of you."
Though, if there was one admirable trait about him…
"But at the same time… I'll never forget the debts I owe."
"What?"
"Especially if it's someone who saved my life. I'd spend all my money to save this girl."
He was fiercely loyal to those close to him, and he never forgot a favor.
This unyielding sense of duty was his one redeeming quality.
"Don't worry, Senior. I'll handle everything from here on out. So for now, just relax and get some rest."
And from this moment on…
The stories of Touri and Sedol began to intertwine.
End of Volume 4
[1] Missing as of now. I might forget to add this when it gets translated.
[2] Missing as of now. I might forget to add this when it gets translated.
[3] Missing as of now. I might forget to add this when it gets translated.