Chapter 62

'If she is a person Selina would call older brother….'

Even without realizing it, my back straightened on its own.

For Selina Verdin, who had lost most of her family in the war, there was only one family member left.

The Margrave.

Marquis Verdin.

Even including the royal family of the Mergan Kingdom, it would be difficult to find someone with a higher title than the man in front of me within the kingdom.

The man standing at attention in front of the Margrave, who was also wearing a rank insignia symbolizing that he was the commander of a unit, was sweating profusely and was extremely tense.

As for Byan….

"Uh-buh-buh-buh…."

He was broken.

I could only hope that this timid friend wouldn't cause any trouble.

"It's been a while."

The Margrave, with a blank expression, put down the documents he was reading and stood up.

He was quite tall, to the point that I had to look up at him.

He had a handsome face that would make any woman turn her head, but perhaps because his expression was cold, or because of his natural aura.

He was the type of person who was very reluctant to get close to because of his intimidating feeling.

"I've been hearing a lot about you lately. You seem to be doing quite well."

"Is that so?"

Selina smiled shyly, twirling her hair.

Perhaps because she was in front of a family member with a significant age difference.

An undeniable childishness was evident in her speech and actions.

That alone was enough to tell that her relationship with the Margrave was not bad.

"I've made some achievements this time, haven't I? The airship is also being upgraded. I'm thinking of advancing to the front lines, if not the very forefront."

"...I heard you encountered Odin's fleet. Are you okay?"

"Yes. I still don't know what Odin's purpose was, but.... As you can see, I'm fine."

"......"

The Margrave stared at Selina without a word.

His expression was not just lacking in change, but almost non-existent, so I couldn't tell what he was thinking at all.

"The purpose of your visit here.... Is it to hire new soldiers? If you had just waited, I would have selected and sent you some good talent."

"Of course, I know you have a good eye for people, brother, but I'm a commander too. They are people who I will be with from now on, so I want to see them with my own eyes and select them myself."

"Then I won't interfere any further."

The corners of the Margrave's mouth moved slightly.

Was he smiling just now?

No matter how you looked at it, it was amazing that a person could have so little change in expression, to the point that it was almost strange.

Did he notice my gaze, which was looking at him with curious eyes as if he were a monkey performing tricks in a zoo?

The Margrave's gaze turned to me.

"You are.... I see. So you are that Rian Kaltz."

"...Greetings. I am Rian Kaltz, a soldier of Unit 917."

The arrow suddenly turned to me, but I think I handled it well enough.

"I am..."

Byan also tried to introduce himself, but he soon closed his mouth.

He had realized that the Margrave had not a shred of interest in him.

The dejected Byan moved to the side, and the Margrave, who had come closer, placed his hand on Selina's head.

"If possible, choose a volunteer instead of a refugee. They are those who were forcibly dragged into the army by the kingdom's law. They are not trustworthy."

"There are talented people among the refugees too. And among those talented people, there will be trustworthy ones, and I think their attitude can change depending on how I act."

"...I see."

The Margrave's gaze turned to me.

His hand was gently stroking the head of his much younger sister, but his cold eyes were fixed on me, as if to say, "You are the cause."

To be honest, it was so burdensome that I wanted to run away.

But the Margrave did not let me go.

"Then take your time and look around. And.... Selina."

"Yes, brother."

"If you allow it, I would like to have a word with your soldier."

"Rian? Or Byan?"

"Rian Kaltz."

Selina's gaze turned to me.

I desperately sent a signal.

'Tell him no. Please.'

With the trust and bond we had built while rolling around on the battlefield together, if it was the Selina Verdin I knew, I had no doubt that she would read the feelings in my eyes.

You know, that kind of thing.

Where you understand each other without saying a word.

That kind of thing.

Selina, who was staring intently into my eyes, smiled broadly and nodded as if she understood.

Thank goodness.

I let out a big sigh of relief.

"By all means! Well then, go ahead and talk."

"......"

I had been betrayed.

Damn it.

Bond?

I shouldn't have believed in such a thing.

In the end, I had to follow the Margrave out of the room, and Selina waved at me with a smile.

Through the slowly closing door, I saw Selina giving me a thumbs-up as if to say, "I did a good job, right?" and it made my teeth grind.

I will get my revenge someday.

And so, the door closed completely.

The Margrave walked first.

There were no words, but it must have meant that I should follow him on my own.

The place I arrived at, after quietly following him, was the rooftop of the building.

The hem of the Margrave's coat, standing by the railing, fluttered in the wind.

"Rian Kaltz. I have heard a lot about you. Although it was the lowest rank, you shot down one of Odin's named members, and you've shot down another named member this time as well? Your achievements as a soldier are commendable. My sister also talks about you whenever she has the chance."

"Thank you."

I did not let my guard down.

A person like the Margrave would not have moved to a different place and spent his time just to give such compliments.

My intuition was screaming.

That he was about to say something that Selina should not hear.

And as expected.

"Rian Kaltz. Are you not interested in the rear?"

"......"

The Margrave said something shocking without any change in his expression.

My heart sank.

I tried to figure out what he was thinking when he said that, but it was hard to understand.

Interested in the rear?

Of course, I was interested.

If he had allowed it, I would have gone to the rear even if it meant kneeling down, even if it meant bowing my head to someone inferior to me.

At least it would be safer than the front lines, where I had to risk my life every time.

I would have more free time at work.

Unlike now, where I fight for survival every day, if I had more free time, I could spend it finding a way to return to my original world.

At least in the past, I would have accepted his offer without a moment's hesitation.

But now, I couldn't bring myself to say that I was interested.

I had no way of knowing what he was thinking when he said that.

The thought that it might be a trap made my lips stick together as if they were glued.

And another thing.

There was something else that was bothering me.

"If you wish, I will write you a letter of recommendation. Your achievements are being watched with great interest not only by the kingdom but also by the higher-ups in the Alliance. In particular, you have shown a talent for operating a unit. The history of using airships in war is not long. For now, we have to be careful in every aspect. That is why the combat method you proposed in this battle was very interesting. To the point that the general staff's office has shown interest.... If you wish, I will put in a word. Your abilities might shine brighter in the general staff's office than being consumed as a lowly soldier."

"......"

I hesitated.

The general staff's office....

It wasn't a bad offer.

Since I was a former player, I knew what strategies the players belonging to White Hero mainly used, and how to fight to counter them.

Not only that.

Since I could secure information shared by the players in real-time to some extent through the Eye that Seeks Truth, it was also possible to modify the strategy to be advantageous to our side according to the situation.

If I were a lowly soldier, I wouldn't be able to use the information even if I had it.

But if I belonged to the general staff, the story would be different.

But there was something that was bothering me.

"May I ask a question?"

"Feel free to do so."

"You may think I am being arrogant by saying this, but I will be honest. I am confident that I am the core of Unit 917. Because I have received a lot of support from the commander, I am 2-3 steps stronger than the other unit members."

"It cannot be called arrogance to evaluate oneself objectively. Continue."

"If I leave, the combat power of Unit 917 will be greatly reduced. The commander's plan to start aiming for the front lines will be hindered..."

I couldn't finish my sentence.

As I was speaking, my thoughts were organized, and I realized what the man in front of me was thinking when he spoke to me.

I raised my head and stared into the Margrave's single eye.

The unwavering red eye, which still showed no emotion, seemed to be piercing through my inner thoughts.

"...Are you displeased with the growth of Unit 917, Margrave?"

"Selina is the only family I have left. If I had the power, I would have stopped her from becoming a soldier. Since it was impossible to stop Selina's enlistment by the kingdom's law, I attached some capable and talented soldiers to ensure her safety."

I remembered something from the past.

Latia, Sergel, and Byan.

These three new soldiers were volunteers, and although they might be afraid of standing on the battlefield as soldiers, they were not people who hesitated.

At least they had the basic qualifications of a soldier, so there was nothing much to fix.

I remember Selina grumbling at that time that the Margrave's influence was heavily involved.

At that time, I thought that the Margrave cared a lot about Selina.

That he was actively supporting Selina so that she could reach a higher place.

But now, it didn't seem so.

All three of them had the basic qualities of a soldier, but that was it.

It was a sorry thing to say to them, but those three did not have the qualities to become heroes beyond soldiers.

"You wish for the commander to not leave the remote areas."

"If she has to be rolled around as a soldier, the battlefields in the remote areas are the safest. The front lines are hell, and the very forefront is no different from a demonic realm teeming with all sorts of monsters and devils. In the remote areas, even if an accident happens, I.... even if not me, I judged that it was possible for Selina to solve it on her own. But a variable has appeared."

"...Is that me?"

"You have what those three do not. If you are by Selina's side, there is a possibility of looking towards the front lines.... no, in the long run, even the very forefront. That is why I am making this proposal to you."

"Are there any disadvantages if I refuse?"

"None. This is just my request, worrying about my sister's safety. I have no intention of harming you, who brings victory to the kingdom.... and furthermore, to the Alliance."

"......"

"You will need time to think. I will not force you to choose right now. If you change your mind, contact me."

The Margrave forcibly tore off one of the buttons on his sleeve, which was embedded with a red jewel, and handed it to me.

"When you have made your decision, you just need to pour a very small amount of mana into this button."

The Margrave patted my shoulder and then left.

I, who had been staring at the button for a long time, put it in my pocket.

I couldn't make a decision yet.

The rear....

It was certainly an attractive offer, but there were too many things to consider.

Although Selina tried to nurture the soldiers as fairly as possible, it was also undeniable that she had focused her attention and resources on me in particular.

Accepting the Margrave's offer now was no different from betraying Selina's efforts and attention.

More than anything, if I went to the rear, the chances of coming into contact with Odin would disappear more than now.

Now that I knew that Reysia was by no means hostile to me, I couldn't be sure that it was the right choice.

I, who had been staring at the gradually setting sun for a long time, headed to the room where Selina was waiting.

She greeted me with a smile, with a pile of documents in her arms.

"Rian. What did you talk about with my brother? I hope it was a helpful conversation for you too, Rian. How was it?"

Looking at Selina, who was saying that with a face free of worries, I couldn't bring myself to mention the conversation I had with the Margrave.