A War Hero With No Regrets – Chapter 114

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Luthers opened his eyes.

There was no blaring alarm clock, no urgent sirens warning of an attack.

As he savored the unfamiliar yet strangely familiar sensation, attempting to rise from the bed…

“Mmm…”

Something stirred beside him.

He turned his head and peeked under the covers.

A naked woman lay there, curled up in a ball.

Silky black hair and delicate fingers.

It was his adjutant, Major Karin Maven.

“Karin, I told you to sleep in your own room.”

“Mmm…”

Luthers poked her cheek, and she whimpered like a sleepy puppy.

“The woman known as the Reaper has become so soft after the war. The Titans in hell must be weeping.”

Three years ago, she had been transferred from a fortress abandoned to the Titan onslaught.

Through her exceptional performance on the battlefield, she had risen from a simple soldier to a Major in record time.

She had confessed her feelings during that process and become one of the three fiancées of the war hero, Luthers Edan.

Yes, three fiancées.

Even when the nobility still held power, having three fiancées was a rare occurrence.

In today’s world, where the nobility had fallen and the Imperial system had been abolished, it was even more unconventional.

However, if the protagonist of this anachronistic harem was none other than the Commander of the Graveyard Fortress, Luthers Edan, most people simply shrugged it off.

The Lion of Defense.

The Empire’s Watchman.

The war had produced countless heroes, but in terms of achievements, Luthers was undoubtedly at the top.

It wasn’t for nothing that Arthur Philias, the “Victory President” who had replaced the mad former President Mikhail Bismarck, had said that all of humanity was indebted to him.

Zero casualties over five years.

He had led them to victory in battles deemed impossible and had personally spearheaded the final offensive, eradicating the Titans to the very last one.

He was a true war god, descended to earth.

And it wasn’t just his tactical brilliance.

Luthers Edan’s character was as renowned as his abilities.

He had even used his personal funds to support the treatment of soldiers who had been injured and evacuated.

He had restored the neglected Forbidden Lake Fortress, strengthening the Central Front’s defenses, and recruited the remaining personnel there, nurturing them into capable soldiers.

Even Karin Maven, who was currently clinging to him, was from Forbidden Lake.

It was only natural that beautiful women would fall head over heels for such a man.

A perfect man with a handsome face, a towering physique, a high social standing, and not a single flaw.

Even other men couldn’t help but admire him.

“Want to sleep some more?”

“Yes… I have to be on duty later…”

“Alright, I need to get up.”

Luthers patted Karin’s head, who showed no signs of leaving the warm embrace of the blankets, and got out of bed.

Through the window, he saw the familiar, drab scenery of the Graveyard Fortress.

Cubic buildings made of layers of gray concrete and the surrounding fortress facilities.

It had once been mocked as a coffin, but now, the Graveyard Fortress had become a symbol of the unwavering spirit of humanity and the Empire.

“…We finally did it.”

Even Luthers Edan, whose emotions had been dulled by countless regressions, couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion at the peace they had achieved.

It was a victory made possible by everyone’s efforts.

As he leisurely strolled through the base…

“Ah! Commander, good morning!”

“Lea.”

He encountered Lea Gilliard in the hallway, carrying a vase filled with flowers.

“What’s with the flowers?”

“Oh, these are marigolds. You remember Colonel Julia Anke, right?”

“The battalion commander who was so impressive during the last operation. Of course I remember her.”

“She often sends flowers as gifts, and this time she sent a lot. I thought I’d decorate the empty rooms with them…”

Lea’s gaze shifted towards an empty room down the hallway.

It had remained vacant for over five years.

For some reason, Luthers’ eyes were also drawn to that empty room.

That was why he hadn’t allowed anyone to occupy it.

As if he were waiting for someone.

But five years had passed, the war was over, and the owner of that room never appeared.

“Well… it is a bit too gloomy.”

“Right?”

Lea smiled and entered the room.

Thanks to regular cleaning, the interior was still spotless.

The yellow flowers brightened the atmosphere of the otherwise colorless, empty room.

“I thought they were French marigolds at first. But it turned out they were African marigolds.”

“They look the same to me.”

“They might look similar, but their meanings are completely opposite. French marigolds symbolize the sorrow of parting and are often used in funeral arrangements.”

“Ah… That’s why they seemed familiar. I think I’ve seen them before. So, what’s the meaning of African marigolds?”

Lea smiled at Luthers’s question.

“They symbolize happiness that will surely come.”

-I’ll stay here a bit longer. For some reason, sitting here makes me feel at ease.

-Do as you please.

-Oh, Commander! It’s my turn tonight, right?

-…Didn’t we agree to decide those things ourselves? I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Even after his encounter with Lea, Luthers continued his morning stroll through the fortress, greeting his Graveyard comrades.

It had been several days since the official declaration of the war’s end.

At first, they had carried on as usual, but now they were finally starting to relax.

“…Hmm?”

“Gasp!!”

“Oh, Commander!? N-no, we… we just…”

Lydia Glenova and Heinz Bismarck, emerging from a room together, looked flustered as they bumped into Luthers.

Had they slept together?

“Um…… well……, this is……”

“It happens. Durand, even you make mistakes. Be more careful next time.”

Durand Stirling, who had been grilling tomahawk steaks with his reconnaissance battalion on the roof, accidentally started a small fire.

The wind of change, which seemed as if it would never come, was finally blowing through this graveyard.

Soldiers preparing for discharge came to bid farewell almost every day.

Many officers had been recognized for their achievements and transferred to better positions.

“Bittersweet, isn’t it?”

“Not really.”

Drake Brown, sitting across from him in the commander’s office, burst into laughter and poured Luthers a drink.

Valentine 30-year.

A luxury they hadn’t dared to dream of during the war.

“Ahhh~!”

Drake downed the strong liquor, over 40% alcohol, and cleared his throat.

“Everyone’s busy. I guess the day we all longed for has finally arrived, and it feels strange.”

“Indeed.”

Luthers Edan sipped his drink, agreeing with Drake.

He hadn’t believed this would actually happen, even in his last regression.

He had initially decided not to restore his comrades’ memories, but he was glad he had changed his mind.

The loneliness of walking that path alone was something he never wanted to experience again.

‘….’

Wait, how did I change my mind?

A sense of unease washed over Luthers as he paused, but Drake, already on his second glass, continued rambling.

“Seriously… all the Akashas suddenly malfunctioning right after the war ended. You said you didn’t know why either, right?”

“That’s right. Charlotte knows more about Akasha than I do.”

“I saw her heading to the central control room earlier, cursing under her breath. Seems like she hasn’t slept properly.”

“Is that so…”

Luthers decided he should check on Charlotte at the control room later.

She was usually composed, but she became particularly prickly when stressed.

The Ice Queen of the Logistics Department.

If he didn’t help her relieve her stress, she’d sulk and make things even more difficult for him later.

“By the way, what are John and the others up to? I haven’t seen them since yesterday.”

They were the personnel who had transferred from Forbidden Lake, along with Karin Maven.

Unlike Karin, who had reached the rank of Major due to the limitations of her role as adjutant, they had all been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel or higher, taking on important roles within the fortress command staff.

“President Arthur is establishing a new Strategic Security Agency or something. Now that the war is over, it seems there’s a growing need for a civilian intelligence agency. Well, military downsizing is inevitable now.”

The war was over.

Downsizing the military, which had become excessively bloated during the war, was essential for rebuilding the Empire’s economy.

“So… did you accept the position of Minister of Defense? Or perhaps Supreme Commander?”

“I declined both.”

Luthers shook his head.

“I just want to retire. There’s nothing left for me to achieve. I plan to buy a house with a beautiful lake view and live out the rest of my days there.”

“That obsession with lakes… I don’t understand why everyone in our unit suddenly wants a lake.”

“Karin likes them.”

“She only likes them because you do. It’s scary sometimes, honestly. It’s a good thing your other fiancées get along well with her. Otherwise, it would have been a disaster.”

Drake chuckled mischievously.

“So you’re really retiring? Who’s going to manage the Graveyard then?”

“The Vice Commander, of course.”

“…? What are you talking about? You’ve been mentioning this nonexistent Vice Commander for days now. You realize you’ve been acting strange lately, right? Everyone’s worried about you. Are you really okay?”

“Ah—”

Luthers finally snapped out of it.

“It seems like you’re finally reaching your limit. Considering your memory is getting fuzzy, why don’t you visit a hospital? You haven’t even stepped foot in a clinic, let alone a hospital, all this time.”

“You know what, you’re right. I am… quite tired.”

There was no such position as Vice Commander at the Graveyard.

There never was.

There was no need for a Vice Commander when they already had a dedicated adjutant, and it was an unnecessary position that would only waste valuable personnel.

A Vice Commander, at the very least, had to be someone who was well-versed in tactics and strategy, even if not on Luthers’s level, and possessed a deep understanding of each military branch, surpassing that of most field-grade officers.

Even with the Graveyard’s exceptional talent pool, it was hard to find someone that well-rounded.

Even Luthers had been shaped by countless deaths.

If such a person existed, they would undoubtedly be his most trusted confidant.

“Yes, you should rest. And tell everyone to stop coming to you with every little problem. The war is over, but some of them still think the Commander is their babysitter.”

“Haha…”

Drake dismissed it as a joke, but Luthers couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease.

The sense of dissonance, which had initially been a vague feeling, was growing stronger with each passing day.

A tightness in his chest, a gnawing feeling that he was missing something.

The victory they had dreamed of.

Someone who should have been there, celebrating with them at the fortress.

But who could possibly manipulate his memories?

With his regression ability, there was no chance his mind had been contaminated by external influence.

Luthers Edan, once again, dismissed it as a baseless worry.

Honestly, it didn’t matter anymore.

He truly meant it.

Another day passed.

A week passed.

A month went by.

Autumn, painting the mountains in vibrant colors, faded away, and winter, cloaked in pure white, arrived.

Under the Victory President, Arthur Philias, the Empire was rapidly changing.

Arthur had never desired power.

As the domestic situation stabilized, he stepped down as President, paving the way for a transition to a parliamentary system.

Military downsizing was implemented, and the munitions factories, which had been churning out weapons and ammunition non-stop, were sold to private companies, becoming cornerstones of a manufacturing revolution that produced essential goods for civilians.

Countless soldiers returned to their families, and the ravaged land was slowly being restored.

Those who had abused their power and committed crimes under the cover of the war were punished severely.

The “Cornerstones” who had assisted Luthers Edan from the shadows also disbanded.

Their whereabouts were unknown.

After all, they were a cancerous tumor that had been clinging to him.

Even if they had pledged their loyalty, their nature as heinous criminals remained unchanged.

He didn’t bother trying to find them.

The Empire had changed drastically in the blink of an eye.

Naturally, the Graveyard Fortress, once bustling with activity, was also undergoing decommissioning procedures.

One by one, those being discharged and transferred departed.

“Thank you for everything!!!”

“You all worked hard under this incompetent commander.”

And finally…

The last remaining personnel were leaving the Graveyard Fortress today.

Luthers bade farewell to his comrades, who had been with him through countless regressions, with heartfelt gratitude.

It was a moment he should have been happy about, but a strange heaviness weighed on his heart.

“Be happy.”

“Salute to the Commander!!”

“Sir!!!! We wish you happiness too!!!”

They saluted their commander, the key players who had led them to victory, and marched proudly out of the gate.

“…This is the end, isn’t it?”

Karin, who had been standing beside Luthers, seeing them off, spoke softly.

“Yes, it is.”

“Then… I’ll go get ready. You’ve packed everything, right?”

“I sent everything ahead with Lea and Charlotte yesterday.”

“Then all you have to do is show up! This is the last time you’ll be seeing this fortress. Why don’t you take a walk by the lake? Before it gets any colder.”

“…Hmm.”

Luthers nodded, glancing at the open window of his quarters on the fifth floor.

The African marigolds, still vibrant despite the chilly air, swayed in the breeze.

So, she didn’t come back before the fortress was completely shut down.

‘…Was it really just my imagination?’

That was the reason why Luthers had remained as the nominal commander of the fortress until it was completely decommissioned.

He was waiting for someone.

He still didn’t know who that someone was.

The memories, fleeting and elusive, vanished like a mirage every time he tried to grasp them.

Lea and Charlotte had reassured him, saying it was probably just fatigue, but Luthers continued to wait until the very last day.

Whooshhhh.

A chilly breeze from the lake caressed his face.

As Karin had said, this was the last time he would be seeing this.

His new home was in a peaceful village in the south.

The lake there was far larger than this one, and the weather was much milder compared to the harsh climate of the north.

It was the perfect place to start a new life.

“I should head back now.”

Having reached the end of the lake, Luthers turned around, ready to leave.

Charlotte and Lea would be waiting for him.

They had promised to have dinner together tonight.

But…

“…!”

Luthers froze in his tracks, as if turned to stone.

Someone was standing on the lakeshore, where he had been walking alone just moments ago.

“It’s a beautiful lake.”

Silver hair, shimmering in the light of the setting sun, swayed in the breeze.

Emerald eyes, as beautiful as the color of the lake, looked at him directly.

“…This is the famous Graveyard Fortress, the one the war hero defended to the very end? Still as gloomy as ever.”

Luthers stared at her, then nodded with a smile.

As a military facility, unauthorized entry was strictly prohibited, but the woman standing before him wasn’t an outsider.

“It probably felt even gloomier without you here, Arwen.”

Luthers smiled brightly.

It was the first time since his first regression that he had smiled a genuinely happy smile.

A smile devoid of any lingering regret.

A War Hero Without Regrets.

The End.

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[Hey guys! It’s been one hell of a journey but it’s finally come an end as I have completed the translation for A War Hero With No Regrets as the last chapter has been released today. It’s been an honor to serve with you lads in the war against the Titans. Cya in the next one boys]