A War Hero With No Regrets – Chapter 6

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Once the decision was made, the deployment happened in a flash.

Luthers Edan took the helicopter he had flown in from the Graveyard and headed straight to Forbidden Lake.

And contrary to its ominous name.

Forbidden Lake was an extremely beautiful place.

The fortress headquarters formed on a huge lake.

The rippling sunset reflected off the water surface, scattering like a gauze.

The flowers and vegetation that had bloomed along the waterside were like a picture book.

“…”

Overwhelmed by its beauty, Luthers closed his mouth for a moment and admired the scenery.

It truly made him realize that the war was completely over.

The scenery he had never bothered to look at before now caught his eye.

Suddenly, even his own face reflected in the window was making quite a sentimental expression.

Fortunately, it was an unmanned helicopter.

So the fact that he was making such a stupid expression wasn’t discovered.

Thump thump thump thump.

The helicopter began to land slowly and leisurely above Forbidden Lake.

The first impression of the fortress that was getting closer and closer wasn’t too bad.

“Hmm…”

That is, until he saw the completely shattered and chaotic interior.

It seemed like it would be quite a challenging journey to turn it into a usable fortress.

Luthers thought so.

===

“Nice to meet you, Major General Luthers Edan… No, Lieutenant Colonel. I’m Second Lieutenant John Hobbes, the facility manager in charge of Forbidden Lake Fortress.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“It’s an honor to meet the hero of the empire here.”

Luthers shook hands lightly with Second Lieutenant John.

He recalled the personnel information of the fortress that he had received in advance from the helicopter.

As expected of someone who had been enlisted and then commissioned locally, he looked a bit old for a second lieutenant.

He also seemed to have more experience than expected.

“The honor is mine, Lieutenant. I heard there was an attack before.”

“Ah, yes. It was a year ago. From a total of 230 personnel, only 5 remain now. Even those five are actually…”

“There’s no need to explain in detail. I already read everything on the helicopter.”

Luthers interrupted the lieutenant’s words.

He had seen countless times how the survivors of an annihilated fortress fell apart, and he himself had been one of those who had fallen apart like that.

“Then, Second Lieutenant John Hobbes… Are you also part of the National Security Strategy Agency?”

“That’s what I heard. It hasn’t been long since Supreme Commander Arthur Philias informed me of the information. It must have been about two days ago.”

It was indeed a reckless personnel order befitting the Supreme Commander.

It was a position that boasted powerful authority comparable to the Emperor in terms of military power.

Moving the troops he had been managing entirely to a new department was nothing.

“I thought we would be forgotten like this anyway since no one was looking for us.”

Second Lieutenant John said with a laugh.

“Then I’ll guide you through the facility interior. Please come this way.”

But there was hardly anything to guide at Forbidden Lake.

From the unit facilities to the living quarters, there was no place that was intact.

The watchtower overlooking the lake was relatively intact, and even the garden installed on the roof of the building was overgrown with all sorts of weeds after being neglected for a long time.

“Hahaha…”

The second lieutenant scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed himself.

He hastily added an excuse.

“It’s a bit difficult to manage the facilities with just five people. But we’ve cleaned up the place where the director will be staying.”

“I’m sure you did. I understand. This has its own charm too.”

As he said, with the weeds overgrown, it even looked like a small forest.

The trees seemed to have taken root properly, as they were larger than typical shrubs.

“Since we have time anyway, let’s clean it up together later.”

“I’d be happy to. I was a gardener before I enlisted.”

“Is that so?”

When Luthers asked back, looking at the rooftop where he couldn’t find any trace of a gardener’s touch, the second lieutenant answered in a bitter voice.

“Repairing the facilities is the top priority right now, so what’s the point of tending to a garden that no one will appreciate?”

Luthers had no choice but to nod.

He was right.

Humans are social animals.

And that society is usually formed through interaction with other people.

Wouldn’t it be meaningless to tend to a garden that no one looks at and is neglected?

And as John said, there were many things in the fortress that seemed more urgent than the garden.

“Let’s go down.”

“Shall we go straight to the director’s office?”

“Yes.”

The structure of Forbidden Lake Fortress was even simpler than the Graveyard.

Two 4-story buildings built in an ㄷ shape.

The buildings were facing each other, so it was closer to a ㅁ shape when viewed from above.

To the left of the lake was Building A, and to the right was Building B, which was an armory where vehicles, weapons, and ammunition were stored.

Naturally, the living quarters, including the director’s office, were concentrated in Building A.

“The armory is completely empty. The Supreme Command retrieved everything in case of possible theft or capture.”

“We’ll have to request replenishment soon. Just in case.”

They might not need tanks or missiles, but at least weapons to distribute to the troops in case of emergency seemed necessary.

Didn’t Arthur Philias himself say he wouldn’t spare any support?

According to the schedule, troops for facility maintenance would arrive in a few days, so if they waited a bit, it would transform to the point of being reborn.
As there were many fortresses that were constantly destroyed by Titan attacks, humanity’s construction technology had made tremendous progress.

“Ugh… sob, sob…”

It was then that a strange sound was heard.

As Luthers walked down the corridor leading to the director’s office, he heard someone sobbing.

When he stopped in his tracks, Second Lieutenant John made a look as if he had seen this coming.

“What is this sound?”

“Ah… It’s one of the few survivors in our fortress. Her name is Karin Maven.”

Karin Maven.

Luthers recalled the personnel information of Forbidden Lake Fortress once again.

Unlike the others, she had a unique nickname despite being a combatant, not an officer.

No, rather than unique, it was closer to being blatant.

Reaper Karin Maven.

It was a name and nickname he had heard in one of the cycles.

While undergoing training, they were attacked, and all the trainees in the same class were annihilated.

She barely survived and moved to the replacement unit, but she was the only one who survived the battle that occurred there as well.

And finally, even after arriving here at Forbidden Lake, her curse did not end.

It was no wonder she was called the Reaper and treated as ominous.

Even John Hobbes, a fellow unit member and survivor, clearly showed discomfort towards her.

“Director?”

“I’ll just go see her face for a moment.”

Luthers moved his steps with determination.

The closer the distance, the louder the sobs mixed in.

It was so mournful that it wouldn’t feel out of place even if it was used as background music for a horror movie.

Creak.

As the rusty hinges groaned and opened, Karin’s figure sprawled on the dark floor came into view.

“Sob, sob… I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Because of me, everyone, because of me…”

It was clear at a glance that her condition was not good.

The woman was sitting there, constantly sobbing without even giving Luthers a glance.

It was a typical post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Hey, Karin, no matter what, a new superior has been appointed…”

When Second Lieutenant John Hobbes, who had followed, frowned and tried to say something to Karin.

Luthers stopped the second lieutenant with his hand.

“I’ve seen her face, so that’s enough. Let’s go now.”

“But, Director.”

“I said it’s fine. Just continue explaining the facilities.”

He indifferently closed the door to Karin’s room and disappeared.

“…?”

The second lieutenant didn’t understand Luthers’ actions, but he just followed behind and continued his explanation.

“Ahem! This is the boiler room, one of the few facilities that are still functioning properly. And next to it is…”

===

“Phew…”

Luthers Edan sat in the director’s office chair and let out a deep sigh.

As Second Lieutenant John Hobbes said, the director’s office was very neatly organized.

But what good was it if only the director’s office was well-maintained?

Almost nothing in Forbidden Lake Fortress was functioning properly.

The supply of ingredients was at a very basic level.

No, it was even ridiculous to call it basic.

Combat rations and preserved food were all there was.

Even though the war was over, did it make sense to have combat rations and preserved food?

Of course, there were very few personnel stationed, but no matter what, it was absolutely unacceptable.

In the first place, the second lieutenant, who was the facility manager, had no choice but to take on the role because his pre-war occupation was a gardener.

“Although they said they would provide full support as soon as I take office… The next few days will be tough.”

The image of the Supreme Commander’s face, grinning and laughing, flickered in front of Luthers’ eyes.

Although he hadn’t interacted with him much in this life, up until the last cycle, they had a close relationship, even having long conversations almost every day.

Construction robots and heavy equipment worth billions of won per unit were scheduled to arrive soon with the authority of the Supreme Command, so the facilities themselves could be repaired quickly.
Since it was during the war, there was no need to repair bases that had not only been captured but also became the rear as the front line moved up.
In the first place, it didn’t particularly bother him.
It was only a few months ago that he had been rolling around in a bug-infested field.
Just having a roof and a bed was no less than a 5-star hotel.
Luthers rummaged through his front pocket and took out a cigarette.

National Security Strategy Agency or Strategic National Security Agency.

He had suddenly become the head of an organization whose name was confusing.

In fact, what the commander said wasn’t entirely wrong.

He wanted to retire but hadn’t decided where to go.

During the forty regressions, the old relationships from before his enlistment had long faded from his memory.

In the first place, wasn’t he an orphan without family, siblings, or friends?

Luthers doubted whether he could settle down well after leaving the military.

Moreover, the future after victory in the war was unfamiliarity itself to Luthers.

Until now, he had only thought about winning the war and had never thought about what would come after.

“…”

Ah, of course.

It wasn’t nonexistent.

[After the war ends… I want to marry you, Luthers.]

As soon as he recalled that fact, a voice rang in his ears like a ghost.

[And we’ll build a big house overlooking the lake and live there. What do you think? Isn’t it quite romantic?]

The image of Arwen smiling brightly, her silver hair fluttering, came to mind.

Luthers reached out his hand towards the illusion that seemed to be within reach.

Then he shook his head and stood up from his seat.

The lake.
He wanted to go see the lake.

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