Became an Academy Spearman - Chapter 768
768. [Western Front] – McPhill’s true feelings (44)
***
Time used to pass by so easily that it seemed so vain at times.
Cheonseong, who had been called by an untimely call, realized it when he woke up in the evening after going to bed during the battle.
“… … .”
As I stared blankly into the dark inner room, a laugh escaped me.
I checked the time and it was 10 PM.
‘The day ends like this?’
I felt like I wasted the whole day in vain.
I’m sure I was able to have a meaningful conversation this morning at Anastasia’s call. I couldn’t believe how much time had passed since then.
Because I felt like everything was over with sleep.
Again!
Again… … !
Suddenly, several steps were heard from beyond the door.
As I quickly changed into my officer’s uniform and went out of the room, I stopped for a moment.
“Hey. “Han Cheon-seong.”
“He looks like he’s awake now?”
“You said you woke up in the morning, so that could be true.”
Between the different women’s voices, I could see their faces looking quite exhausted. It looked like he had just finished his mission and was returning to the barracks.
“… … Thank you all for your hard work.”
As I politely greeted them, several people naturally passed me by.
“okay. “You had a hard time.”
Tuk.
Ensign Sabrina patted my shoulder with a blank smile as she passed by, and I vaguely felt it.
‘Lieutenant Leria, Ensign Iris, Ensign Christina… … .’
As the enemy wing was currently divided into two platoons, they could be called the first platoon. As they immediately went into their respective rooms to rest, I had no choice but to head into the hall in a daze.
I was wondering if we could have a chat about what the mission was or if it was personal, but since everyone looked pretty tired, I didn’t think it would be a good idea to do so.
And there were other people in the hall I could talk to.
“what. “Are you awake now?”
“Yes, Ensign Roxanna. “I had some work to do in the morning, so I just woke up.”
“Well, I guess it’s still time to get used to it. “Your body is in the stage of adapting and accepting the red zone, so it will be a time when you will be able to sleep for a while.”
He said that it was natural for me to sleep, so I cautiously sat down next to him, thinking that was the case. When she looked around Roxanna and her so-called mistress, she couldn’t see anyone else besides her.
‘It’s possible because it’s evening, not morning.’
I was a bit puzzled by that.
“Are everyone else in the inner room?”
“Some of them are in the inner room, and some of them have left the barracks for a while to take care of personal business.”
“okay.”
A car that I felt somewhat regretful about.
“It just worked out well. “I also had something to tell you.”
“What do you mean to tell me?”
When I stared blankly at her words, she took something out of her pocket and showed it to me. It was sort of the size of a small coin… … .
“Here, take it.”
Tuk.
Naturally, I blinked as I received the item.
‘Why is it so heavy?’
As soon as I received it, my hand went down, but it was strangely heavy considering its size.
Upon closer inspection, I realized that something about the size of my thumb was not a coin. It felt soft but also tough.
Slurp.
And when I gently rubbed my hand, it was pushed away by my touch, and it seemed like it should be seen as a strange cloth rolled up in layers.
‘It’s like extremely thin leather.’
“That’s the skin of the black ogre we caught yesterday. It was processed in detail through magical engineering and converted into cloth. “It would be quite helpful to put it on the inside of your officer’s uniform.”
I was very surprised by Lieutenant Roxanna’s explanation that just happened to follow.
“… !”
I couldn’t quite believe that the thin cloth-like thing I was holding in my hand was the skin of a black ogre.
Still, I understood again. In a word, this was ‘loot of war’.
The skin of the Black Ogre, the third-level apostle we executed yesterday. That means it came back processed through magical engineering before a full day had passed.
“thank you. “It goes from the front to magical engineering.”
Even though I nodded awkwardly, it was a strange feeling.
“Well, since the First Fortress can receive almost all the support possible from the Empire, something like now is possible. If you think about it, I’m explaining it a little late, but you will understand to some extent.
“It is impossible to return with all the bodies of the apostles we have executed, but it is common to collect the most valuable parts of the apostles we have executed and return them.”
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I nodded blankly at the calm explanation. While fiddling with the completely differently processed black cloth, I thought to myself that this would definitely help with defense.
Then, I suddenly remembered my last mission.
‘Well, it was like that back then too.’
In the second mission, the capture of the spider’s corpse was carried out as if it were natural. And maybe that was natural.
I wondered if it was really necessary to collect and take away the dangerous body of an apostle, but it all had a purpose. There was no way the body of the apostle that he had taken the risk of capturing in the first place would be useless.
The body of an apostle that goes beyond common sense and various dangerous things are completely different depending on how they are used. It could have been of great help to us.
“If we take the Black Ogre as an example, the leather is the most valuable thing, right?”
“that’s right. As well as the extremely strong physical resistance, you probably felt it the most as you pierced the spear. No amount of force could properly penetrate such a thick outer layer. And for us, it can be fully used as a safety accessory.”
I was most surprised that it was processed so quickly.
“So not only me but also other people received this?”
I was a little curious as I looked at how much leather would be consumed to process it this finely and thinly.
And I wondered if the leather I brought with me today was really enough.
“what? We have no reason to receive it like you do. Because I’ve already been paid in full. Instead, now get paid in money.”
“Ahaha… … “I really think so.”
I felt embarrassed and scratched my cheek.
‘Well, I guess it’s not just one or two apostolic missions.’
Like me, they are probably well past the time to receive such loot. Since this is my first time working on the front line, I would be paid in kind like this.
“Anyway, make sure to add the ogre skin well inside the officer’s uniform… … And now I have something else to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“We will be heading out on mission again in the early morning hours. I received a slight hint from the returning Lieutenant Leria. Because he said he had an apostolic mission again.”
“It’s a series of missions.”
Even as I answered, I felt a bit dizzy.
‘already?’
Not only did I feel dazed because I had just woken up, but it also felt like a schedule with no time to breathe.
“I know it’s quite burdensome, but it’s something we have to do. Actually, I wouldn’t normally have such a tight schedule, but I’m in yellow mode right now.
Anyway, don’t think about training or overworking your body for no reason, just rest comfortably for now. “I’ve slept for a long time now, so I won’t be able to sleep again, but tomorrow will be different.”
“yes… … .”
“Then, since I’ve told you everything I have to say, I’ll go tell the other kids. “Take a break.”
“Rest in peace.”
Tuk. Tuk.
Lieutenant Roxanna patted my shoulder and passed me by, but for a moment I was unable to get up from my seat.
“… … .”
I thought as I gently touched the black cloth in my hand.
‘I need to consider the distribution of my physical strength more important.’
Yesterday, when I was catching the Black Ogre, I was a little puzzled as to why the other ensigns were using skills or not.
It seemed like they could execute the Apostle more easily and quickly, but it felt like they took more time to execute the Apostle.
But there was a reason for it all.
Today, after taking a combat nap, I realized again how hard it is on the body to use force in the red zone, which means I have to be very careful when using skills and openings.
‘There will definitely be a much bigger load coming.’
So, it was very natural to expect it.
If someone uses great power, such as a skill, there will definitely be a setback in carrying out the next mission. It’s not that there was any problem with my body, but it was clear that I wouldn’t be able to go out in perfect condition if I had to follow a tight schedule like I did now.
‘perhaps.’
Maybe now would be the only time I would always go out with all my might. As I was thinking about this, I decided to approach my mission more calmly.
Crash.
With the sound of the door opening, my eyes naturally turned there.
“… … .”
“… … .”
And as soon as our eyes met, I paused without realizing it.
It was Lieutenant MacPhil.
He, too, seemed to pause for a moment as he looked at me, but without realizing it, I remembered our encounter in the morning. The expression that looked at me with an expression that was complex and indescribable. It was only a moment, but it made me feel so much.
Jerk.
“Han Tiansheng, please talk to me for a moment. Are you okay?”
As he approached me without hesitation and sat down next to me, I awkwardly nodded.
“… it’s okay.”
Sreuk.
I grabbed the water nearby and took a gulp, and even as I watched it, I carefully caught my breath.
just… … I guessed it.
I wondered why he was looking at me so strangely, and even though I felt stupid for not feeling it, I could feel Lieutenant McPhill’s feelings even in the midst of complicated emotions.
Ok.
With the sound of the water bucket being put down, my heart tensed. In this already dangerous time, I wanted to avoid a situation where we would make internal enemies or our relationship would worsen.
“I’ll tell you straight. I told you before. Someone… … I like it. Saying this now while in yellow stance… … I know it looks really funny. However, I feel like we need to address this properly.”
“Please speak comfortably.”
I tried not to upset him as much as possible. I could feel how much he had thought about it when he spoke to me.
“I know I’m feeling absurd. I’m sure you’ve noticed it by now… … That’s just how I feel. “I don’t have high expectations either.”
The car I carefully nodded to as he continued to say things.
“Let me just ask you one thing. I wonder if you have feelings or something… … Are there any?”
Words whose object is unclear. However, there was only one person that Lieutenant McPhill was talking about, Lieutenant Leria.
“no. doesn’t exist.”
That’s why I answered right away.
“Is there really nothing?”
“yes. “Lieutenant McPhill, don’t you know that I have a lover?”
It’s true that Lieutenant Leria is a good person, but that doesn’t mean I have any personal feelings for him.
‘In the first place… … .’
I had no selfish interest in any of my platoon members.
“Is that so? So, can I trust you? … ?”
As the voice asked more cautiously, a small smile escaped me.
To be honest, I expected that he would do various harm to me due to his senior position. To be exact, it was like that for the first few days.
Do you know how much of a thorn in my eye I must seem to him, like a stone that has been rolled over by his enemy? As soon as I came in, I thought that the sight of me receiving affection from several platoon members would never look good to him.
And yet.
“… … .”
When I saw Lieutenant McPhill looking at me with a very nervous expression, I realized it again.
Despite his very rough exterior, he was a very cautious person with a soft heart. He did not treat others roughly or take advantage of his position, but he was also an extremely calm person.
“You trust me. “Don’t you know that I’m not that kind of person?”
That’s why I was able to answer for sure.
I can assure you that the kind of thing that Lieutenant McPhill is worried about will not happen.
“… … thanks.”
“You shouldn’t be grateful.”
“No, but thank you for answering so seriously.”
When I saw him smiling as if he was relieved by my words, my heart also relaxed.
Anyway, it lasted about a month.
In the meantime, I never thought that I would have such a relationship with someone from the enemy.
‘no way… … .’
Yeah, that can’t be true.