Chapter 36:
When word came that a messenger from the enemy had arrived, there were two likely possibilities—but at this moment, the one worth hoping for was the end of the war.
Among the two enemy units that Logan had recently taken down through a surprise attack in cooperation with the air force, one had been the main airbase of Kielle. That meant Kielle, already outnumbered, had now lost its only remaining advantage.
“Let him in.”
Logan gave the order as he threw on his uniform.
“Do you think the war will end?”
“We’ll know after we talk.”
It had been about two and a half years—a dreary, bloody stretch of time. Logan, more than anyone, longed to escape this hell. But premature hope only led to greater disappointment, so he maintained a composed demeanor.
“I’m Captain Lachman of the Kielle Army.”
But the moment Logan and Usher faced the Kielle envoy, they already had a sense of what the answer would be.
“What reason brings you to enemy lines, risking your life?”
“I’ve come to request the end of the war.”
Captain Lachman’s voice was tense. As Logan had expected.
“So, you’re saying Kielle is admitting defeat?”
“…We are proposing negotiations.”
For a soldier sworn to their nation’s glory, admitting defeat was no easy task.
“Calling it a negotiation doesn’t change the fact that you lost. Sounds like meaningless talk.”
Logan replied sharply.
“You cowardly used spies—!”
“As I recall, it was Kielle that started using spies first.”
Logan firmly cut him off. What they had targeted was Logan’s life. Surviving had been a miracle. Lachman, aware of that, bit his tongue and fell silent.
“If Kielle acknowledges defeat and withdraws from Lueng, there’s no reason to continue this war, Captain Lachman.”
Logan’s voice was steady and sincere.
“I don’t know what price Kielle was promised for siding with the Lueng royal family, but it’s time to stop sacrificing people who will never see those rewards.”
Usher chimed in, supporting Logan from a humanitarian standpoint. He tactfully refrained from saying that neither Kielle nor the Lueng royal family had any chance of winning.
“I’m simply following orders.”
Lachman sighed.
“Our commander requests to speak directly with the Allied Forces Commander regarding the war’s end.”
“…”
“If you refuse, then kill me here.”
Relentless bastards.
Usher clicked his tongue.
That night, Logan sent a report to high command. A favorable response came quickly. Not long after, commanders from each Allied nation and Kielle’s commander gathered in one place.
“In the end, this was inevitable. So many died needlessly.”
Kielle’s commander had only one request—to forgo war reparations in exchange for acknowledging defeat.
“Are we accepting this?”
“That’s not for me to decide alone.”
All three countries in the Allied Forces had to agree. Logan drank the strong liquor in front of him, waiting to hear the rest.
“But we’ll likely reach an agreement.”
“Is that so.”
“Too many have died for a war that wasn’t even on our own soil. It’s gone on far too long.”
Leaden had joined the war just because of a peace treaty. It had all been a waste—time, manpower, resources. And this sentiment wasn’t exclusive to Leaden.
“Then the war’s ending soon.”
“Barring any surprises, yes. Even Kielle knows it can’t continue this war.”
It had come out during the talks: Kielle’s aim hadn’t just been to lend troops to the Lueng royal family. They had been blinded by the gold and iron ore mines offered as part of the deal. But that alone hadn’t been worth it.
Kielle had intended to occupy Lueng’s army, royal family, and land. Since it lacked coastal access, it was always at a disadvantage in trade. Meanwhile, Lueng was a central trade hub with a massive port.
The Lueng crown prince had dreamed of royal restoration—and been thoroughly duped by Kielle.
“Demanding reparations would just push them into another suicidal fight. No one wants to do this again.”
A war this wasteful could never happen again. That was the consensus across the Allied nations. Logan and Usher agreed wholeheartedly.
“The king always did subtly side with the Lueng royals… Hopefully he’s come to his senses.”
The commander clicked his tongue. Usher, who’d always thought of the king as petty for teasing Logan, now upgraded his opinion to “an absolute disaster.”
“You’ve done well, Logan.”
“It’s nothing.”
Logan replied modestly. The commander chuckled, patted Logan on the shoulder a few times, and left.
“Looks like peace is finally coming.”
Usher said with a soft smile. Logan rolled an empty glass in his hand and let out a short laugh.
“Drop the formal talk.”
“Guess that means things are wrapping up?”
At Logan’s words, Usher grinned and casually switched to informal speech.
“What’s the first thing you want to do when you go back?”
“Eat whatever I want. Then sleep all day with my eyes closed.”
Logan answered without hesitation. There had been times when he thought of other things, especially in life-or-death moments, but for now—he was alive.
“Rest is what you need most.”
“Go get some. What about that twelve-year-old boy soldier…?”
“Let’s just keep him with us for now. The war’s ending anyway. No point sending him back alone.”
Usher interrupted and suggested.
“For a kid to volunteer as a soldier at that age… he probably hasn’t had it easy. Better to let him stick around and at least earn some compensation as a war hero.”
Clearly, Usher’s heart went out to the boy. Kindness was his weakness, Logan thought.
“Do what you want. Just don’t forget you’re the one responsible for him.”
Logan, as the superior officer, ordered Usher to protect the child. It wasn’t due to the same deep compassion, but because the boy was around Olivia’s age. The thought of someone so young wandering a battlefield was suffocating.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”
Usher stood and responded confidently. His bright face said he’d already decided that.
“You look happier.”
Logan muttered critically. Usher chuckled. The boyish face contrasted sharply with his muscular frame beneath the uniform.
“Who wouldn’t be happy knowing they can return safely to their family and country?”
He was practically glowing with excitement—probably at the thought of seeing his fiancée again. Instead of responding, Logan simply jerked his chin toward the door.
“Yes, yes. I’m leaving.”
Usher turned and left Logan’s room, which had doubled as their conference room.
Once alone, Logan pulled out a sheet of stationery and a pen from the drawer. It was for a letter to Olivia. Though she wasn’t the real intended recipient.
Seeing Usher that happy meant Eleanor, who’d welcome him home, would be just as thrilled. If he sent the good news ahead of time, she’d be even happier.
“…This is ridiculous.”
Even knowing it was foolish, he couldn’t help himself.
The Allied Forces decided to accept Kielle’s terms. However, they demanded a declaration to prevent such events from happening again.
First, Kielle would no longer be permitted to maintain a military or support wars in other nations. Second, Kielle would never again interfere in Lueng’s politics. Third, Kielle would declare itself a nation that exists solely for peace.
Based on these three conditions, the Allied Forces agreed to forgo war reparations. For about two weeks after the envoy’s arrival, time passed as they finalized the details.
“Hey!”
Naturally, the war stopped. The once-critical border between the Allied Forces and Kielle became meaningless. Soldiers from both sides mingled freely.
“This is a traditional dish from our region. Try it.”
“Like a bunch of bumpkins ever had real food before.”
“Look at these guys—world-class jokers.”
No one had wanted to fight. No one had wanted to point guns at each other. It wasn’t hard for yesterday’s enemies to become today’s friends.
“Lend me a cigarette.”
They played ball together, shared smokes, and ate food side by side.
“I don’t carry cigarettes.”
Usher naturally joined the mingling, though he usually stayed on the outskirts of the camp. Always with that twelve-year-old boy in tow.
“Is that your brother? Why’re you lugging around a grown kid?”
A Kielle soldier asked, holding a borrowed cigarette loosely in his lips.
“Nope. Don’t know him.”
“Then why?”
“They were offering money to rescue boy soldiers. Kid was desperate, so he volunteered.”
The cigarette nearly fell out of the Kielle soldier’s mouth as he winced.
“Do you even know what war is?”
“N-no…”
“You’re still young enough to be nursing, and this is where you end up?”
Tsk. The Kielle soldier lit his cigarette and clicked his tongue. The large boy shrank his shoulders and curled up.
“Even if you survive, you’ll dream of severed limbs for the rest of your life. What’s so great about that?”
His voice was bitter. Usher understood all too well. He lowered his eyes and let out a long sigh.
It was then—
“Air raid!”
Whiiizz! A sharp gust split the air as a shell tore through the sky.
