A War Hero With No Regrets – Chapter 8

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Even after that day, the strange dinner between Luthers and Karin continued.

There wasn’t any particular agreement.

He just came out and cooked, and Karin came and ate.

Luthers simply took his portion and went back to his room.

Occasionally, when Luthers had dinner with Second Lieutenant John Hobbes, Karin would take the food and go inside instead.

At first, it was just a coincidental encounter, but the dinner Luthers made had somehow become one of their routines.

To be precise, it had become one of Forbidden Lake’s routines.

After all, Second Lieutenant John Hobbes, the facility manager, was no different in terms of eating combat rations.

He even volunteered to prepare the ingredients in addition to doing the dishes, fully supporting Director Luthers Edan’s cooking in every way.

As a result, naturally, the rest of the fortress personnel, except for Karin Maven, also gathered for dinner every evening.

Edward, Dante, Otto.

Unlike John and Karin, the three of them didn’t originally belong to Forbidden Lake from the beginning.

They were people who were pushed out of their original fortress headquarters for some reason.

For Edward, it was insubordination against a commander who had given him a suicidal mission.

Dante had lost someone dear to him due to circumstances beyond his control.

Otto had lost one of his legs in an accident during an operation.

It was essentially a gathering of outcasts.

“But why would a hero like the Empire’s Watchman come to such a shabby place…?”

“Everyone has their reasons.”

Luthers answered, sipping an aged wine.

“But are we also now part of that National Security Strategy Agency or whatever?”

“Probably.”

“…When they want to throw us away like garbage, they do, and now that we seem useful, they bring us in. I know it’s no use saying this, but it’s terribly unpleasant.”

Edward grumbled in response.

It wasn’t an attitude to show in front of the director who oversaw the organization, but Luthers didn’t particularly care.

What was the point of asserting authority in a place like this?

Either way, since they had to be together for a while, there was no need to push them away by saying unnecessary things.

“So what exactly does the National Security Strategy Agency do?”

“As the name suggests, it’s a department that plans national security strategies. I was told that it was set up only with personnel directly selected by His Excellency the President.”

He had already checked the relevant documents.

It was an abnormal institution that belonged to the military but was assigned directly under the President, not the Supreme Command.

All reports went straight to the President as well as the Supreme Commander, and Arthur Philias was merely a superior on paper.

That alone reeked of something fishy.

Luthers had a vague idea of why Arthur Philias had chosen him as the head of such an organization.

“So what strategy are you referring to? The war with the Titans is over anyway…”

“Now that the immediate fire has been put out, it’s time to look back at the past. Even the conflicts that we haven’t been able to resolve.”

“…”

“Didn’t everyone end up here for similar reasons?”

At least no one here couldn’t understand what Luthers meant.
“That’s right.”

John nodded and answered.

Although the position of facility manager was roughly assigned, it wasn’t as if Second Lieutenant John Hobbes had no background.

He was a whistleblower who had reported the corruption of the former fortress commander.

The reason he was able to survive the attack was also because he was being investigated by his superiors for that matter.

In fact, including Karin, they were all figures who had been at the center of controversy in their original places.

Even Luthers, the war hero, had never received good evaluations from his subordinates.

The National Security Strategy Agency, where they had gathered, was no different from a group of troublemakers in the Imperial Army.

They were the ones who had only wanted to be quietly forgotten, but in the end, they had returned in this way.
However, the name National Security Strategy Agency made them seem more special.
Luthers couldn’t shake off the feeling that it seemed like someone had intentionally gathered those who had been ostracized by the military.

“…Well, what will be, will be, right? If they tell us to do it, we have to do it.”

At that moment, Otto, who had been silent throughout the meal, added a remark for the first and last time.

There was no response.
Luthers also just nodded silently.

Indeed, that was the very answer that pierced through the essence of the military.

===

After that, the days at Forbidden Lake Fortress continued to pass by quickly.

Since it wasn’t a normal fortress to begin with, the repair work alone took over a full month.
With the deployment of the heavily armored facilities engineering unit, which was operated completely unmanned, and the headquarters’ direct base support brigade dispatched directly from the Supreme Command, Forbidden Lake Fortress quickly became crowded with people.

As soon as the facility repairs were completed, it took a few more months to equip the necessary supplies for operation and make it look like a proper military stronghold.

Finally, Forbidden Lake Fortress was gradually regaining its appearance from the Emerald Lake Fortress days.
As a result, the armory, which had been completely empty, was filled with various firearms.
Of course, the most notable change was in the rooftop garden.

As if Second Lieutenant John Hobbes’ words about being a gardener were not a lie, the rooftop, which had been like a small jungle, was quite neatly organized.

“It wasn’t a lie, was it?”

“Hmm.”

Luthers nodded.

He liked that the lake was also clearly visible.

The five personnel also adapted quite quickly to the new life as the fortress was being repaired.

Perhaps they needed someone to lead them.

Of course, Karin Maven still didn’t wander around during the day, but at least there were no ghostly crying sounds.

While they were busy with additional maintenance of Forbidden Lake Fortress and tasks related to additional personnel replenishment excluding the five of them.

Supreme Commander Arthur Philias visited the fortress.

It was exactly 4 months after Luthers Edan’s discharge was rejected and he was appointed as the head of the strange organization called the National Security Strategy Agency.

“Indeed, with your appearance tidied up, you look dashing. Last time, I thought I was looking at a derelict.”

“Not much has changed, but…”

“You shaved your beard and tidied your hair. The atmosphere has changed in just a few months, the atmosphere.”

Arthur Philias said, taking out two luxuriously packaged boxes.

“What is that?”

“It’s the same liquor we drank last time. I bought two bottles for you to drink with your subordinates.”

He put the boxes down in front of him with a chuckle.

That habit of buying expensive liquor every time he visited the fortress was the same in the previous cycle and this cycle.

Luthers placed one box on the office desk and immediately opened the other box to take out the contents.

Valentine 30 year whiskey.

“Oh, are you opening it right now?”

“I don’t have a hobby of collecting liquor.”

It was always like this last time too.

Arthur Philias was quite a heavy drinker, to the point where it sometimes seemed like he just came to drink.

But Luthers wasn’t particularly displeased.

He was the one who knew better than anyone how heavy the responsibility of the Supreme Commander position was.

Clink.

This time, Luthers poured the liquor and handed it to Arthur.

He took the glass, savored the aroma for a moment, and lightly downed a sip.

“Hmm… As expected of Valentine. This heavy yet elegant taste is just perfect.”

Arthur Philias smiled at Luthers.

His bushy beard wriggled every time he smiled.

“But I’m glad you seem to be adapting well.”

“Did you visit just to check on me?”

“That’s part of it. It’s a place that holds my memories from my field grade officer days. The last time I saw it, it was nothing but ruins, but now I can clearly see its old appearance.”

Would the person who knew that have done nothing until now?

Luthers swallowed his words and sipped his glass.

“But as you predicted, it’s not just for that reason.”

In an instant, a glint appeared in Arthur’s eyes, which had been peaceful until just a moment ago.

“An order has been issued by His Excellency the President. It’s the first order directly given to the Strategic Planning Agency.”

“…?”

“There will be a banquet hosted by the Eastern Military District, which controls the eastern front, soon.”

Eastern Military District, banquet.

As soon as he heard those two words, Luthers Edan understood the true meaning of the President’s order.

“His Excellency the President means to weed out the impurities within the military first.”

Luthers, who grasped the exact point without even hearing the proper content.

Arthur looked slightly surprised at that.

“…You’re quicker-witted than I thought.”

The Eastern Military District of the Imperial Army had many issues in many ways.

The current Empire was in a state where the Emperor’s real power had completely passed to the President, transitioning from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.

So the relationship between the Eastern Military District, which comprised most of the Emperor’s faction, and the President couldn’t be said to be good even in empty words.

Perhaps if it hadn’t been for the sudden worldwide invasion of the Titans, the conflict between the Eastern Military District and the President would have grown out of control.

This was something Luthers Edan, who had held the position of Supreme Commander in the previous cycle, could know.

But he hadn’t expected it to continue even after the war.

Arthur looked straight into Luthers’ eyes and let out a sigh.

“Yes, you’re right. His Excellency the President believes that now, when the entire military is drunk on victory, is the right time to solidify his power.”

Luthers tried to recall the President’s face.

The dark circles deeply cast under his eyes, the somehow anxious gaze, yet the upright waist and shoulders.

He was a dangerous man.

Because he seemed like a person who would do anything for his power.

As a result, Luthers naturally arrived at a conclusion.

“You said you recommended me for the director position, Supreme Commander.”

“That’s right.”

“Was that… your intention to protect me from His Excellency the President’s suspicion?”

Arthur couldn’t answer right away.

Luthers sensed that it was the correct answer.

“…You really are… I should have talked to you a little earlier, more often.”

Stopping him from suddenly trying to retire.
Appointing him as the head of a strange organization called the National Security Strategy Agency.

If it was all intended by the Supreme Commander, it made sense.
A war hero who not only voluntarily accepted a demotion but also promised to come under him….

It was perfect for escaping the President’s suspicion.

Arthur Philias quietly stared at his glass, then gulped down a glass and added.

“Throughout history, outstanding war heroes have always been sacrificed by those in power. Even if they had no ambition for power.”

“…”

“What do they call it… Being ungrateful? Unfortunately, you’re no different, Major General Luthers Edan.”

The Supreme Commander recited bitterly.

“A war hero who retired without leaving any personal connections, isn’t it a perfect situation to disappear without a trace?”

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