***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]
"Watch your step. The ground there is muddy."
It was midnight.
Guided only by the faint moonlight, I walked along the narrow path as branches from unseen trees and shrubs scraped against my arms with my adoptive mother, Anita.
"An attacker who looked like Touri?"
"Anything come to mind, Mom?"
"Nope. That girl shouldn't have any relatives."
Yesterday, I'd been attacked by a girl named Iris, who looked remarkably like Touri.
Once she learned there was a chance Touri was still alive, she threatened me and forced me to return to my hometown in the Sabbath.
"Are you certain Touri doesn't have a daughter?"
"There's no way she could."
Iris called Touri her "mother" and declared her to be "an enemy of Austin."
Honestly, Iris' face looked exactly like Touri's.
"Let's think about it later. For now, we need to run."
"Right, Mom."
With that, we pressed on through the farmland.
It was so dark and unlit that all I could do was follow closely. There was no one in sight in the village after sundown.
Only our footsteps, the chirping of insects, and the rustling of wind through the grass and trees filled the air.
Having lived in the city for so long, I struggled to walk along the country path. Had the ground always been this muddy and difficult to traverse?
I realized then that I had truly become a city dweller.
"This way."
"Hmm? Wait, isn't this—"
Mom stopped in front of a sign crudely spray-painted with "No Entry." It was a place I had once been firmly warned to never set foot in.
"Didn't you say not to go in there since it's dangerous?"
"Yup. It's the perfect place to hide because it's dangerous."
"Is that how it works?"
Though I found her logic oddly convincing, I couldn't shake the sense of unease as we kept walking.
***
Deep in the forest lay a village once cleared by settlers. Now, the place had long since been dilapidated and abandoned.
"…Ugh, it smells terrible."
This village had been founded during the Sabbatian Revolution by Sabbatian refugees who fled to Austin during the war.
At the time, the Sabbath was under the rule of the most foolish commander in history, Sylph Nova, whose massacre of civilians claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
"I bet the crime rate here is crazy."
"Oh, it's bad."
Because of that, the police rarely came here, making it an ideal hideout for criminals. It was like a slum, and stepping into it made me uneasy.
"It'll be fine."
"Why so confident?"
"I've been here plenty of times. I know the head of the village over there."
Mom accepts any request for medical treatment regardless of who it came from. She believes that judging sins wasn't a healer's job.
As a result, even obviously rough-looking patients would come to her clinic.
Still, I hadn't imagined she made house calls all the way out here into the slums.
"Hey, who's there at this hour?"
Following a narrow animal trail, we came to a metal fence deep in the forest. Even though it was late at night, a man was standing there.
"…It's me. Anita."
"Oh? It's you. What can I do for you?"
The man's attitude shifted when he saw that it was Mom approaching, and he broke into a cheerful grin. He then gave me a puzzled look when he noticed me behind her.
"We have a bit of a situation. Mind letting us hide out here?"
"No problem, no problem. There's not a soul here who'd turn Anita away. So, what happened?"
"My son did something stupid and the police are chasing him. I got caught up in it."
"That's your son behind you?"
"Yeah. See that pathetic look on his face?"
The man who seemed to be a gatekeeper looked satisfied with the explanation and gave me a lazy grin.
Despite his shabby appearance, his body was large and he looked accustomed to fighting.
"I'm her son, Sedol. Nice to meet you."
"You've gone and done it, huh? You look quiet type. Just what the hell did you do?"
"Uh… leaking state secrets? I guess?"
"Hahaha! Now that's bigger than I expected! I already like you."
Technically speaking, I hadn't leaked anything. It was some loose-lipped store owner who ended up getting killed that let it slip.
"Well then, bring it out."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Alright, good. You can pass."
Mom said this as she slipped some coins into the man's hand. The gatekeeper, now in high spirits, gestured for us to go inside.
"Welcome, newcomer. Nobody's gonna treat Anita's son badly here.
"Th-Thanks."
"If anything scary happens, come to me."
And with that, the man suddenly gave my butt a hard squeeze.
…That was very scary.
***
Beyond the gate lay an abandoned village.
The houses had rotted away, and vegetation grew wild. Along the dirt paths stood tents where drifters had taken up residence.
Some played board games by candlelight. Others sat around campfires in small groups, drinking. There were those who lay motionless as if dead.
All sorts of people lived here.
"Stick close to me, Sedol. We're going to make the rounds and greet people."
"Got it."
From the looks of it, most of the residents were elderly. Some were missing arms or legs, and others wore sunglasses, perhaps because they were blind.
…Could they be retired soldiers?
"Uh, hello. Nice to meet you, I'm new here."
"I see. Likewise."
I went around the village greeting people with Mom.
Thanks to her, the reactions I got were generally friendly.
"Hello, nice to meet you."
"Idiot. That's a corpse."
"Wha—!"
Most of the people here were dropouts from society. Sometimes the person I tried to greet turned out to be a corpse with maggots crawling over it.
"W-Why is there a corpse out here?"
"Probably starved to death. Not uncommon here."
Mom sighed softly as she said this.
"This is where people with no work and no family gather. They have no hope or future, just people struggling to survive by the day."
"…"
"Since it's an abandoned village, things that happen here don't reach the outside world. There's no better spot if you want to disappear."
With that, Mom started walking deeper into the village.
Certainly, this might be a good place to disappear in.
"Also, we used to live here too."
"Wait, really?"
"Yeah, back when you were still in diapers. We moved to the Sabbath once the railroad was built."
Hearing that, I looked around and felt a sense of nostalgia. I was certain that I had played here long ago.
"…Come to think of it, I do remember a little.
"Of course. That's why I didn't want to bring you back."
Little by little, my memories began to come back.
I remembered spending my childhood running wild surrounded by nature.
"I think I remember that tree. No… I'm sure I used to play there."
"…"
"It brings back memories.
I recognized the tree. Back then, it had felt impossibly huge, but now I could probably climb it with ease.
"I'm certain of it now. This is where I spent my childhood…"
A wave of nostalgia caused my chest to tighten.
Why had I forgotten?
Lost in sentimental memories, I reached out and touched the trunk of the tree.
"Hold on, Sedol. It's dangerous, so don't climb that tree."
"…Huh?"
"Maybe this really was the perfect time after all."
The moment my hand touched the tree, I felt like I heard someone's voice.
It was gentle, calm, and painfully familiar. The kind of voice that would gently scold me with a troubled smile.
"Mom, did Touri also…"
"Yeah. I think you're old enough now to remember."
That's right. I remember how Touri Noel had played with me here.
The reason I tried to climb this tree back then was to show off to her.
"This is where you and Touri lived."
Something didn't feel right. This was deep in the mountains of Austin. According to her, Touri had gone to the Sabbath.
"Mom, why was Touri here?"
"If you want to know, read the diary I gave you. Everything you want to know is written there."
"…!"
I took out the old diary she'd given me and looked at it again.
On its leather cover was the name Touri Lowe in her own handwriting.
"Read it all first. If there's anything you still don't understand, then ask me."
"…Alright."
After marrying Rodri, Touri had changed her name to Touri Lowe. She'd honored her final promise to him by living under that name.
Thinking of that made me feel rather sad.
"Here's everything I want to know."
"There's no need to rush. We secure a place to sleep first. Let's head to the house."
With that, Mom led the way down a dark back alley. At the end of the road, where the buzzing of insects and the groans of the homeless echoed, there was a small hill.
And the peeling outer wall, a rusted bracket held up a sign that read Clinic.
"The clinic's just up ahead."
…Yes. I remembered now. I had once lived here. Back then, the small hilltop still had no paved road, and the old Anita's Clinic stood there.
"This is a pretty old building. Is it even livable?"
"It's fine. I still use it when I treat people over here. There's even a bed for patients."
The clinic had no electricity since the power lines had been removed when the village was abandoned.
Inside, there was an old-fashioned lantern, so treatment could be done even at night.
"Alright, Sedol, you must be tired. Get some rest."
"Thanks, Mom."
"Don't stay up too late."
She lit the lantern, and the room filled with a soft, hazy glow.
…Is this her way of telling me I can read the diary?
"I'm going to sleep. Good night, Sedol."
"Yeah. Good night."
With that, Mom's flickering shadow disappeared into the back of the clinic.
Grateful to her, I opened Touri's diary.
"Hmm?"
Swish.
A carefully wrapped envelope slipped out from between the pages. Though it had yellowed with age, it was spotless, as if it had been handled with the utmost care.
"Another photograph?"
Inside was a picture of Touri. It looked like some kind of group photo where several men and women posed side by side for the camera.
"A girl?"
Unusually, Touri was smiling brightly in this one.
Beside her stood a girl of about the same age. With a somewhat high-strung air, she had her arm around Touri's shoulders and was smiling too.
"…Huh?"
It's a good photo. Touri looked genuinely happy, which was rare for her.
I felt like I recognized the girl with her arm around Touri. I'd seen her somewhere before, and her name was on the tip of my tongue.
"Why does this feel so off?"
The girl was wearing a Sabbatian military uniform. She was likely a staff officer. On the other hand, Touri wore plain clothes.
Why would the two of them be standing together like that?
"For now, let's just start reading."
Just looking at the photo doesn't tell me anything.
With that in mind, I put the photo back in the envelope and began flipping through Touri's diary.
Part 2
[Starts after WN Chapter 81]
"…Morning already?"
I had collapsed on the bed before I knew it. The lantern's flame was out, and Touri's diary lay open on the pillow beside me.
"Are you up, Sedol? The sun is already up."
"Looks like it. Good morning, Mom."
I must have fallen asleep without realizing it. I lifted my head and stretched in the morning light.
"Touri…"
The diary was filled with memories of the times we played together. The more I read, the more my old memories came flooding back.
"Mom, Touri, and I lived together in Sabbath for a while, right?"
"Yeah. You were very attached to her when you were a kid."
I wonder why I had forgotten. Her smile and gentle voice would surface, only to fade again.
"Do you know what she's doing now?"
"…I do, but finish reading the diary first before you start asking questions."
As I continued reading the diary, I suddenly wanted to meet her.
The more I read, the more I felt an overwhelming urge to see her again. I wanted to speak with her alone.
"No need to rush. I'll answer anything you want."
"…Alright, I won't."
Mom cut the topic short with that. In other words, I need to read the diary before asking anything.
"I'll continue reading it in my room later."
"Sure. Take your time with it."
After I finished my breakfast, I picked up the diary again.
While I didn't realize it last night because of the darkness, the diary I received was in very good condition.
It was covered in a leather book cover and hardly faded at all.
The paper was crisp, the writing was sharp, and the pages were easy to turn. Mom did a great job taking care of it.
"Hmm?"
Yet despite being in such good condition, I felt something stiff on my fingers the moment I tried opening it.
I hadn't noticed it yesterday. It felt like the texture of a book that's been soaked in rain and then dried out.
"What's this?"
The sensation came from my finger caught along the inside of the back cover of Touri's diary.
"…?"
I slowly opened the diary to the last page to find the cause of this unpleasant feeling.
There was a stiff crackle, and then a fine red-black powder trickled out from between the pages.
"Wha—?"
It was dried blood that had been reduced to powder. The dark stains clinging to the back cover made it obvious even at a glance.
"Why?"
I had no way of knowing whose blood it was. Touri was a soldier. It wouldn't be strange if she'd been splattered with blood.
Regardless, the thought that it might be her own sent a chill through me.
"U-Urgh…"
I felt nauseous. After twenty years, there was no smell or moisture left in it.
All that remained was blood turned to dust, sifting down the diary like fine sand. Watching it spill out, I felt as if Touri herself were slipping away.
Another wave of dizziness passed over me, and I reflexively shut the last page.
"The next part."
I told myself to forget it for now. Not to think about whose blood it might be.
…As I turned back to yesterday's page, I realized my hands were trembling.
Part 3
[Starts around halfway in after Touri receives the medical supplies WN Chapter 84]
"Mom… Dad…"
The more I read, the more my impression of Gomuji changed.
My father was not just a despicable, filthy man. He was someone who valued human kindness and repaid his debts. He was a man I could truly respect.
It was only because he distrusted Austin that he had acted so standoffish at first.
"I was raised with so much love."
Although there were some minor issues, life in Othello Village was peaceful. Even Touri's writing in the diary seemed calmer during those days.
"…If only the Workers' Council hadn't existed."
[Second half of Chapter 84.]
But unfortunately, that peace did not last. A year after the Battle of the North came the Sabbatian Revolution.
The Sabbatian Revolution began when word spread that the Sabbatian government had refused Austin's unconditional surrender. Citizens in the capital, Josegrad, rose up in revolt.
At the time, information had spread that the Sabbatian government had refused Austin's unconditional surrender and had missed out on victory, leading to demonstrations that were close to riots.
Citizens flocked to politicians' homes and government offices every day, demanding explanations and compensation from the government.
And finally, an incident occurred where a politician was assaulted by citizens.
Feeling the danger, politicians ordered the military to treat the people who took part in the demonstrations as traitors.
They tried to subjugate the citizens through military force.
"Why should I shoot my friends and family?"
This was the wrong move.
They had forgotten that soldiers were citizens too.
"That's my sister over there, don't shoot!"
"But we've been ordered."
"I'll kill you if you shoot!"
It's obvious, but most of the soldiers stationed in the capital were from the capital.
To them, it is like being ordered to shoot their own family and friends.
"Sorry, but I might have accidentally missed the order."
"Well, it can't be helped then."
Few troops carried out this order, and many decided to sabotage it.
Moreover, I heard that some soldiers even deserted and began to guard the demonstrators.
As a result, the military's chain of command became disorganized and stopped functioning.
"Now, the Sabbath must be reborn. To become a nation that hates war, loves peace, and can live together with family and strength."
Amid this chaotic situation, the Workers' Council led by Remi Ulyakov rapidly gained influence.
The Workers' Council became a refuge for the deserters and began various activities to protect the demonstrators.
They set up huge barricades throughout the city, where they brought in wounded civilians for treatment and loudly protested against the war.
Their activities garnered the support of many citizens and received substantial aid.
Remi Ulyakov's overwhelming beauty and charisma also played a part in their expanding influence.
Their influence grew daily and citizens began to follow the Workers' Council more than the government.
And the day the Workers' Council surpassed the government in influence, military power, and popularity…
The Sabbath Federation effectively collapsed.
"This country has become distorted because money-hungry people have power."
In order to weaken the power of the former government, the Workers' Council raided the homes of high-ranking government officials and assassinated them.
Their targets also included military corporations that allegedly wanted to continue the war.
Remi incited the people in her speeches, leading to the burning down of many corporate headquarters by the masses.
The notion that corporations were evil gradually spread.
"We should all be equal. Corporations that hoard and monopolize wealth are evil."
This sentiment turned into indiscriminate hatred towards the wealthy among the populace.
In her speeches, Remi spoke of this ideology:
"If the people could share all wealth, the gap between rich and poor would disappear."
And…
This frightening idea, which can also be rephrased as "the government will manage all the wealth of the people," was accepted by many impoverished workers.
They believed that if it could be realized, it would make the country wonderful.
I'm sure Remi herself believed the same.
But this new ideology threw the Sabbath into chaos.
Using this ideology as a justification, indiscriminate plundering of the wealthy became rampant throughout the Sabbath.
Just to clarify, Remi never condoned looting.
She only targeted the corporations that were profiting from the war, and merely called for "donations for overthrowing the government" from merchants.
Remi did not intend to exclude merchants. Rather, she wanted to actively incorporate them for logistics.
She targeted corporations to create a clear enemy and strengthen unity among her allies.
In fact, in her speeches, Remi said, "Merchants are essential for the prosperity of the people," and many town merchants became her patrons.
However, the people who heard her speech interpreted it in a way that was convenient for them.
They misunderstood "sharing wealth" to mean theft was permissible, and thought attacking merchants was justified because "corporations are the enemy."
Remi's ideas were too new, leading to many misunderstandings among the masses.
To deal with the rapid deterioration of public order, Remi organized her own security forces.
This was a private army formed primarily by military personnel who had defected during the protests. It punished bandits who had misinterpreted the ideology and committed atrocities.
However, her reach only extended to the capital's surroundings, leaving no room to handle the outskirts.
The fuse of war was slowly being laid in the peaceful village of Othello.
Horrifyingly, the number of casualties in the Sabbath this year was several times that of the war.
Most of the deceased were not soldiers but ordinary citizens who lived peacefully.
Thus, the collapse of the Sabbatian Federal Government marked the beginning of the worst year in the Sabbatian history.
***
"Phew…"
…Of all years, my parents just had to choose that one to move to the Sabbath.
"Hey, Sedol! You there?"
"What is it, Mom?"
Just as I resolved myself to turn the next page, a loud voice rang out from the entrance of the clinic.
"They're calling for me! There's been an emergency patient."
"I see. Be careful out there."
Mom had been called away to perform treatment. Being a valuable healer, this sort of thing happened often.
"I'll probably be back late."
"Alright, got it."
"There's bread on the table. You'll have to get some water from the well yourself."
With that, she hurried out the door.
I closed the diary and rose from my chair.
"…Guess I'll go get some water."
Maybe it was good timing.
I don't know how I would have felt if I had continued reading.
It'd be better to read it after I calm myself down a bit. I headed to the entryway and looked down at the water jug.
It was an old jug, dusty and caked with dirt. Should probably wash it before I use it.
The countryside is such a laid-back place. The sun shining through the window is dazzling.
There's no hustle and bustle like in the city, only the occasional chirping of birds.
"Phew, it's hotter than I thought."
The hill behind the clinic was overgrown with wild weeds.
The smell of grass filled the air, and cockleburs clung in thick patches to my pants with every step.
"There it is."
I spotted an old wooden well a little way past the back of the clinic.
With each step forward, the crunch of leaves underfoot filled my ears.
"It smells like iron."
As I gripped the pump, I felt the cold, rough grit of rusted iron. It made a metallic creaking noise, and the water flowed out without even a single bubble.
"…Maybe I should just take a bath."
I looked around after scrubbing the jug and filling it to the brim. Maybe because I ran around yesterday, I felt a little sweaty.
"Doesn't look like anyone's around."
I took the water jug in hand and stepped into the shade of a tree. The well is out of sight from here. No one is going to see me.
Humming to myself, I slipped off my jacket. Just as I reached for my pants—
"A-Ah…"
"Huh?"
I found myself staring at a teenage girl, half-hidden in the shade of a tree right in front of me.
"It's not what it looks like."
I explained quickly. It's not like I'm an exhibitionist or anything, I just wanted a quick wash. I hadn't expected a girl to be hiding there.
"I'm sorry too."
The girl also apologized for hiding while looking guilty.
"…Why were you hiding there?"
"I live on the back hill. This is the healer's backyard, and since no one comes here…"
She started to explain with a timid expression on her face.
Up close, her cheeks were hollow, and her frame was so thin her bones showed. Her clothes were filthy, her hair uneven, and she kept bowing nervously.
"I'm the son of that healer, Anita."
"O-Oh, I see. S-Sorry for staying here without permission. I'll leave now."
"No, the back hill isn't really part of the property, and my mother wouldn't mind. But… where are your parents?"
"They… died last year."
She told me she was an orphan whose parents died from an epidemic. Since then, she'd lived on the hill while begging or gathering nuts in order to survive.
"Why live up in the hills? You could talk to the boss on the main street and get an abandoned house."
"I… well… everyone down there hates me."
"Why's that?"
"…I stole some things before."
This girl had gotten her hands on someone else's things.
There are rules even in the slums.
Those who steal from others will be ostracized by the village.
"I won't do bad things anymore. So… um…"
From the looks of her, the girl has hardly been eating at all. She was probably surviving by getting water from the well.
"It's shameless of me to ask, but… if you have even a little food, maybe, um…"
In a frail, pleading voice, the girl begged me for something to eat.
I thought she was pitiful. I want to help her, but I'm someone who abandoned all my belongings and fled into the night.
"Just a piece of bread—"
"I'm really sorry. I don't have much myself…"
It's not like I'm rich. Though I feel sympathy for her, I don't have the means to feed her.
"No, wait…"
Just as I was about to refuse, an idea suddenly came to me. It's one that can help her and benefit me at the same time.
"Do you know where Reese Station is?"
"Y-Yes. I sometimes go there to beg."
"Okay! Wait here for a moment. I'll get you something to eat."
I took her hand I said this. The girl's face lit up with joy and her eyes sparkled.
"In exchange, I want you to pretend to beg at Reese Station and keep an eye out."
"Keep an eye out?"
"Yes. A certain woman will likely be getting off the train today. I want to know what she does after that."
I pulled a photograph of Touri from my pocket and showed it to her. It wasn't the same person, but Iris looked exactly like her. It should be enough to get the point across.
"If it looks like she's heading over here, come and tell me before she arrives. If not, report back to me in the evening."
"O-Okay. And you'll give me food if I do that?"
"Yes. I'll have your meal ready."
"♪♪♪"
If she regularly begs, then standing watch on the main street wouldn't cause suspicion. She would get a full stomach, and I would get the surveillance I needed.
It's a win-win relationship.
"I'll do it! I'll complete the job perfectly!"
"Good, I'm counting on you."
It was truly a stroke of luck, a blessing from God.
Maybe my luck isn't all bad.
As a sort of advance payment, I brought a loaf of bread from the house and handed her one piece. The girl flared her nostrils and devoured it in one breath.
"Before you go, can I ask for your name?"
"My name is Resty."
After introducing herself, the girl gave a shy smile.
She'd probably be quite a pretty girl with her appearance cleaned up.
"Then, I'll be on my way!"
"I'm counting on you."
Resty cheerfully ran off in the direction of Reese Station.
Now, I'll be able to know in advance if Iris comes to investigate this abandoned village.
I can relax and continue reading Touri's diary in peace.
Grateful for my pleasant encounter with the girl, I washed off my sweat with well water and caught my breath.
Then I went back inside, steeled myself, and resumed reading.
Throb.
I felt the sound of a memory coming loose.
Part 4
[Starts after WN Chapter 86]
"…"
I thought I had prepared myself enough to keep reading, but my hands wouldn't stop trembling when I faced the final moments of my parents.
"Phew, need calm down."
My adoptive mother, Anita, had told me beforehand that my parents, Gomuji and Kusha, were caught up in the Sabbatian Revolution and lost their lives.
After that, Mom, who had been close friends with Gomuji, took me in as her adopted child.
"Ah… right. It's not that I forgot."
The scenery in my memories was faded, monochrome, and out of focus.
I knew for certain I had been there for my father Gomuji's final moments. I remember crying, screaming, and slapping my motionless father's cheek.
"I'd been trying not to remember…"
After Mom took me in, I kept having the same dream.
A dream where my father and mother stopped moving, and then faded away.
A dream where someone precious to me disappeared.
That's right. On nights when I had those frightening dreams, I would always crawl into Mom's bed and be comforted until I forgot the nightmare.
I would cry until I fell asleep, until the memory was sealed away in the depths of my mind.
"Yeah… okay. I'm fine."
My memories from back then were trickling in. The sight of my father's face that burned into me as trauma flashed before my eyes.
"I can face it now."
Those nightmares tormented and frightened me as a child.
The memory of seeing my parents killed before my eyes without even understanding why and losing them.
It isn't something I should have forgotten.
"I was the child of someone amazing, wasn't I?"
My father's final moments were noble. He lived an admirable life.
I feel ashamed for doubting him when I read about what happened in Marshdale.
Mom had told me my father was warm-hearted, easygoing, and loved by everyone.
And in truth, he had done everything he could to protect his family, worrying about his son until the very moment he died.
My father had been a far greater man than I had ever been told.
I must take pride in his courage and engrave it into my heart.
"Phew…"
I set the diary down for a moment. Then, I washed my face using the water jug I had filled earlier.
I never imagined that I would end up remembering my father's final moments at this age.
"So many mysteries are solved. It was thanks to you, Dad."
I now understand why Touri had named me as the recipient of the inheritance. She must have heard my father's final wishes and decided to leave it to me.
"Be careful of who you trust, and never forget your debts."
That was the final message I received from my father, twenty years late.
Just as his will had asked, Touri had repaid her debt.
"Thank you, Dad."
After washing my face and regaining my composure, I sat back down in my chair and once again turned to Touri's diary.
Part 5
[Starts after WN Chapter 89]
"Ah!!"
Having read this much, I hastily took out the photo from the envelope.
I had just realized the identity of the woman standing with her arm around Touri.
She looked so different from the "her" I knew that I hadn't recognized her at all.
The Most Foolish Commander in History.
A term associated with a ruthless, shameless, and foolish commander.
I didn't recognize her because she looked a little more mature in the photos I've seen of her.
If this were taken during the year of the Sabbatian Revolution, Sylph would still have been in her teens.
"…Why?"
My mind plunged into chaos the moment I realized the woman in the photo was Sylph Nova.
Why would Touri take a friendly photo with her and keep it so carefully in an envelope?
To Touri, Sylph Nova should be her hated enemy.
Rodri Lowe's death had been caused by Sylph's reckless surprise attack on the medical department.
And the hellish retreat from Marshdale had essentially been triggered by Sylph's proposal of the simultaneous multi-point breakthrough tactic.
If Touri knew this, she would never have stood side-by-side with Sylph Nova.
I don't know of any human as abhorrent as her.
Not only was she incompetent, she was arrogant, overconfident, and utterly deplorable in character.
Sylph belittled her subordinates, made excuses for her own failures, and hysterically screamed at people.
The strategies she proposed were always reckless gambles that were completely detached from reality.
Such a plan naturally failed, and Sylph pushed all the responsibility onto his subordinates.
Her father, Brustav, had realized her flaws early on.
He had advised his beloved daughter that military operations should be based on careful calculations, and gambling with people's lives should be avoided.
However, Sylph laughed at him, saying, "Ah, my father doesn't understand."
In fact, she had proposed many plans that were little more than gambles.
Unfortunately for her, all of them were rejected by her father, the brilliant General Brustav.
"Sylph is still too young. It might be too soon for her to join real combat."
Eventually, perhaps weary of her constant proposals, Brustav sent her to defend the Northern Bridge.
He must have thought that, no matter how foolish she was, she could at least defend a bridge.
That decision would be the greatest mistake of General Brustav's life.
Sylph abandoned her post and instead launched a surprise attack on the medical department. With the Northern Bridge lost, General Burstav had no way to escape and was killed.
By bringing his daughter to the battlefield, he had sealed his own fate.
"…I see. If I remember right, Sylph was a member of the former government's army at the time."
Despite being synonymous with incompetence, she continued to serve as a staff officer after the Battle of the North.
At that time, the Sabbatian Army had lost most of its senior officers and was desperately short of manpower.
That's why even Sylph Nova was considered a valuable staff officer.
Perhaps it's a sign of how dire things were during the final days of the war.
And so, Touri ended up crossing paths with that legendary fool.
…How things could have led from that meeting to her taking a friendly photo with Sylph?
After returning the photo to its envelope, I once again turned the page.