novelraw Chapter 112 : After the Bell Rang (3)
Chapter 112 : After the Bell Rang (3)
Chapter 112: After the Bell Rang (3)
The 27th, Sunday morning.
The usually quiet residential district was unusually noisy today.
“Wipe it again, thoroughly. Dust will settle again in thirty minutes.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Special Task Force Commander’s residence was especially chaotic — more than twenty soldiers were running all over the place, making it impossible to think straight.
“Hey, over there! Check the road again for any dust!”
“Yes, sir!”
Dave, the Chief Secretary, wiped the sweat beading on his forehead as he watched the soldiers rush about.
“What a sudden disaster this is…”
Although the Special Task Force had been busy since the summit meeting, their political entanglements had been significantly reduced.
Thanks to that, they could finally focus on their original purpose — eliminating beasts — but it seemed even that peace would end today.
‘…Is Her Highness planning to start engaging in external affairs again?’
Otherwise, there was no reason why Princess Edel herself would visit the Special Task Force.
Meanwhile, in the shooting range beside the residence, the Special Task Force Commander was training when he recalled Eugene Carter’s message once more.
— I appreciate what you did during the summit, Commander. This is sudden, but I’d like to arrange a private meeting. I’ve already taken care of the communications, so I just need your cooperation with the location.
— There will soon be an official statement from Dellowell. I’d like us to coordinate our responses beforehand, so please don’t misunderstand my intent.
— Then, I’ll see you shortly.
“He’s looking not just one, but two steps ahead… is that it?”
Well, it was his own plan, so it wasn’t surprising he could anticipate this much. Still, when he thought about it calmly, it was a strange situation.
Bang!
The musket flared briefly.
Watching the muzzle that didn’t even smoke, Lieutenant General Alvin let out a deep sigh.
“Phew…”
Just how far ahead are you looking, Carter?
The collapse of the faith? The division of the noble factions? The reform of the imperial family?
Or maybe…
“……”
Whatever it was, he was sure Carter had no intention of stopping yet.
If it was just about regaining his lost value, he would have humbled himself after the summit.
If it was about expanding his influence in Karbenna, he would have pushed more actively during the Centre Agreement.
Instead, he had pried open their deepest wounds and, instead of healing them, he had torn them wider.
That was no different from declaring war.
Why did he have to go this far? Alvin couldn’t understand.
With things flowing this way, maintaining a lukewarm stance would only backfire.
Dellowell, already wounded, would surely lash out in some way.
And if that ended in their victory, that would be the worst outcome possible — for the Task Force, for the balance within the imperial family, and above all, for Edel Ribenia.
That was why Alvin had agreed to support Carter’s decision.
He had even disclosed classified information to the princess herself, all so Carter could achieve what he wanted.
But that was only for now.
Depending on which direction Carter chose to walk next, Alvin was ready to change his stance.
“My essence, whatever else it may be, is that of a soldier. My duty is to defend the nation — and the people who make up that nation.”
Even if it meant some losses, even if there had to be sacrifices.
If reform, renewal, and system change could be achieved through it, that was enough.
If Carter still thought the same way, though…
“If that truly is your goal, then I’ll stand against you, Carter.”
You might be content to burn yourself away in pursuit of your ideals.
But what about those dragged into it? Those left behind afterward?
Will you burn away their pain, too? Hm?
After giving the musket a swift spin and neatly holstering it, Alvin strode back inside.
In the distance, a carriage bearing Karbenna’s crest crossed the road.
Clatter, clatter.
Sitting alone in the spacious carriage, I checked my watch.
The time had just passed ten o’clock.
“That damn bastard’s persistent till the very end.”
Even burned down to a lump of charred flesh, Sabnac refused to perish easily.
After striking it down over ten times amidst the ashes and alternating frost and flame magic countless times until it was reduced to dust, we had finally been able to complete the sealing ritual as planned.
Thanks to that, I had made contact later than expected, and preparations for departure hadn’t finished until after midnight.
On top of that, I had come into contact with the notorious artifact Eye of Kabbalah, and though I’d offloaded the contamination, I had still been using black magic continuously for over twelve hours.
And as if that wasn’t enough, I had barely escaped and fought a final battle with Sabnac at the Magic Tower — my fatigue was immense.
‘I can’t believe I actually overslept…’
Especially in a situation like this, with some of the Empire’s strongest gathered together in one place.
I groaned, ruffling my hair, then composed myself and looked out the window.
“He’s always been a talkative bastard, but somehow, it’s really getting to me this time.”
The long, rambling last words that thing had spat out came to mind, and I clenched my eyes shut.
I could’ve resisted more, but I didn’t. You know better than anyone, don’t you? That I wasn’t fighting seriously.
Do you know why?
Because you’re all doomed anyway, heh. There’s not much time left.
The true calamity — one even this noble Sabnac acknowledges — is right around the corner.
You’ll all die. You’ll struggle desperately, but it’ll end in ruin — extinction.
You’ll cry out to your precious gods, asking why you have to die like this, but what can you do? That’s the destined end of this world, keh-heh!
So why should I bother giving it my all? Everything’s already decided. I’ll just sit back and feast on flesh while I watch you worms flail.
Now… farewell, my beloved host, Eugene Carter.
When the time comes that we meet again, I hope you’ll still be just as arrogant as you are now.
“Talking nonsense right before dying…”
I muttered to myself.
And yet—
I couldn’t completely dismiss those words.
…Because the infuriating truth was—
There wasn’t another being in existence more eerily similar to Eugene Carter than that bastard.
Arrogant, overconfident in his abilities.
Quick-witted, loved to bluff to an excessive degree.
Would use any means necessary to achieve his goal, without even a hint of guilt.
His overall ability stats might not be at the top, but his other qualities made him someone who could never be underestimated.
That was the assessment of Eugene Carter — and of the beast Sabnac.
That’s why I couldn’t ignore him.
He and I were two sides of the same coin.
Because whatever that thing said — at least to me — would never be a lie.
So I slowly opened my eyes and murmured to myself, repeating that creature’s words.
“A real calamity… huh.”
A few faces came to mind.
Though I had never once reached an ending where I saved all of them, I had faced the other endings countless times—enough to be sick of them.
Many of those were happy endings.
Comedies built upon sacrifice.
That was the true nature of “salvation” in this game.
The appearance of a calamity always meant one thing—someone would die.
And, unfortunately, I had never once escaped that rule.
If the calamity that bastard spoke of truly was right around the corner,
Then it inevitably meant someone was going to die.
I would fight only to make sure that someone wouldn’t be them.
It was a sad thing to say, but what happened to the rest of humanity wasn’t my concern.
‘…Maybe that’ll cause some discord later.’
There were probably fewer than five people in this era who could see the same future as me.
And assuming those people held the same stance as I did… that was far too optimistic a view.
Letting another sigh slip out, I rested my hand against the carriage window.
The carriage had just crossed over the Ardens River.
The first to arrive at the scene was Michel Bernhardt.
“It’s been a while, Chairwoman.”
“Indeed it has, Commander.”
The two greeted each other politely and shook hands.
“Please, have a seat.”
As Michel sat down, the Chief Secretary waiting by the entrance came over and filled their cups with freshly brewed coffee.
Alvin took a light sip of his own and asked casually,
“Who contacted you, Chairwoman?”
“Colonel Carter reached out to me personally.”
“…I see.”
“By the way, things must be rather uncomfortable for you, Commander.”
“What do you mean?”
“You accepted help from Dellowell during the recent suppression operation.”
Without any real reason, the two of them were already engaging in a subtle war of nerves.
Alvin rubbed the corner of his mouth and shook his head.
“Well… exterminating beasts is everyone’s common goal. I’m grateful for the assistance they lent us, but that’s all there is to it.”
“That was quite the decision. It could cause problems if you plan on entering politics in the future.”
“Haha, I lack that sort of talent. You, on the other hand, must have plenty to worry about. That position of yours is one your direct relatives have been eyeing for a while, isn’t it?”
“If someone truly qualified wishes to take it, I’ll hand it over without hesitation.”
“So I take it no one has satisfied your standards yet?”
“You could put it that way.”
As the two maintained a careful yet cordial conversation, the Chief Secretary quietly stepped in.
“…That will be all.”
“Understood.”
Having heard the report, Lieutenant General Alvin immediately rose from his seat.
“Her Highness has arrived. Let’s go greet her.”
When they reached the entrance, they saw the Third Princess walking alone from her carriage—without any attendants.
Both men showed their respects in their own way, and Edel Ribenia smiled faintly, waving her hand.
“Enough of that. Let’s go inside quickly.”
She started walking, but stopped mid-step.
“Come to think of it, where’s Colonel Carter?”
“He hasn’t arrived yet.”
Seeing Alvin’s apologetic expression, Edel let out a small sigh.
“…He’s got some nerve, that one.”
The three of them crossed the gleaming corridor and entered the guest room once more.
“……”
“……”
The tension was noticeably thicker than before, and Alvin was the first to speak.
“…Would you like some coffee, Your Highness?”
“No, I already had some.”
The Chief Secretary, who had hurriedly approached with a tray, quickly stepped back in embarrassment.
Alvin awkwardly rubbed his mouth.
Meanwhile, Michel smiled first.
“Thank you for your support during the summit, Your Highness.”
Edel responded with a smile of her own, crossing her legs.
“Think nothing of it. Those in difficult positions should help one another, after all.”
Then, in a tone that carried quiet weight, she added—
“But remember this, Chairwoman.”
“As long as you intend to carry the name of Bernhardt, you and I are destined to stand on opposing sides.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
Just as their gazes silently crossed—
The side door clicked open, as if on cue.
“Sorry I’m late.”
Eugene Carter, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, saluted the three of them.
Then, without waiting for permission, he lowered his hand and took the seat beside Michel.
“We don’t have much time, so why don’t we get straight to the point?”