Chapter 61 – Field Trip to the Battlefield (7)

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 61 – Field Trip to the Battlefield (7)

“Damn it.”

Wiping blood and flesh off his face, Dian cursed.

Meanwhile, Linus had already reached the command post of the human alliance and was furiously confronting the officers.

“What do you think you’re doing?! Launching people with catapults?!”

The corps commander looked baffled by the sudden appearance of a young man and turned to his staff.

“Who the hell is this bastard?”

“I believe he’s one of those people from the Palace, mentioned recently.”

Upon hearing the report from a staff member, the commander raised an eyebrow and straightened his posture.

“Apologies. You don’t look like the typical noble. So, you’re from the special unit of the Imperial Palace?”

“What’s the meaning of this? Why are you launching demons instead of projectiles?”

“Oh, that.”

The commander glanced at the catapults launching demon prisoners again.

“They’re demon prisoners we captured. They’re low-ranking soldiers with no use to us, so we’re sending them to demoralize the ones holed up in the castle.”

“You think the demons will surrender because of that? They’re retaliating by launching our prisoners back at us!”

“Uwaaaaaah!”

From above, several humans fell and exploded upon hitting the ground. Some collided midair, causing a gruesome scene.

“Damn it!”

“Uweek!”

Soldiers covered in the debris cursed or vomited violently, retreating in horror.

Seeing this, Linus shouted in anger.

“Stop this immediately! This is unacceptable!”

“What’s acceptable in war? You do whatever it takes to win.”

“There’s no law that allows the execution of prisoners like this. This only results in our prisoners being killed in retaliation!”

“Haha, you special unit folks don’t get it.”

The commander laughed, tapping his baton on the table.

“We’re fighting demons here. These horned bastards don’t play by normal rules. We’re in a desperate gamble where it’s victory or annihilation.”

“That doesn’t mean we should become like them. Stop this at once.”

“What if I refuse?”

“Then I’ll exercise the authority granted to the special unit by the Imperial Palace.”

Debating the treatment of enemy prisoners in such a critical battle was inappropriate.

Ivronic Castle was crucial for both the Demon King’s army and the human alliance. It had to be taken and defended at all costs.

However, for Linus, destined to be a hero, the act of launching defenseless prisoners with catapults was an intolerable atrocity.

“Who are you to dictate our operations?!”

The commander exploded in rage at Linus’s words.

“That’s nonsense! The law? Prisoners? They started it! Look at the cliff over there!”

The commander pointed to Ivronic Castle’s wall.

There, bodies were strung up in a long line.

“They did that first! You might not know because you just got here, but they were alive at first! All of them!”

Linus’s expression was one of unspeakable grief as he looked at the survivors.

“Dian... I don’t know...”

Despair etched deep into his face, Linus asked Dian.

“Was I right to protest to the commander about the demon prisoners?”

“It’s not about right or wrong. Everyone has values and ideals they strive for, which often conflict.”

“I see...”

“Otherwise, why would wars happen? The Emperor and the Demon King could just sit down, have a cup of tea, and shake hands, couldn’t they?”

Linus slowly shook his head.

“I think I was wrong... Here, the commander was right...”

“Well, we’re not just stopping at reclaiming Ivronic Castle, are we? After we take the Demon King’s head, we can think about it again.”

Dian smiled and tore up the Demon King’s army flag, scattering the pieces.

“Let’s go down. We need to tend to the surviving soldiers.”

Dian and Linus descended the blood-stained tower steps side by side.

# # # # #

“This is the very tower! This is where Sir Linus tore the Demon King’s flag right after reclaiming the castle.”

The guide stood on the tower, explaining.

“You’ll see this moment depicted grandly in the Ivronic Reclamation Mural inside the castle. Let’s move on.”

The clean stone steps bore no trace of the past bloodshed as we descended into the inner castle. A few elderly people were trimming the courtyard trees with pruning shears—likely the caretakers.

“When the Demon King’s army occupied the castle, the remaining people here were all taken as prisoners.”

The guide paused in the courtyard to explain.

“At that time, the Demon King’s army frequently violated the laws of war, abusing and executing prisoners. Thus, very few prisoners from Ivronic Castle survived. These are the surviving veterans.”

The guide pointed to the elderly caretakers.

“These veterans miraculously survived but were left mute from the Demon King’s army’s torture. So, the Ivronic Castle management hired those who wished to work here as caretakers as part of our support and gratitude.”

As the guide introduced them, the elderly men turned to us, smiling warmly and tipping their straw hats in greeting.

“Let’s give a round of applause to these veterans who fought and gave their lives for our present.”

The students clapped, and the veterans bowed deeply in response.

“Now, please follow me! Next, we will see the mural of Sir Linus tearing the Demon King’s flag.”

The students followed the guide into the castle.

“Uh, uh, uh!”

As I passed the veterans, one of them suddenly pointed at me and made a sound.

“Yes? Me?”

“Oh! Oh! Oh!”

Then, the other veterans rushed towards me, pointing and making noises.

“Oh! Oh... uh...”

With tears streaming down their faces, the veterans grabbed my hands with their calloused, rough ones.

I was momentarily confused but quickly understood and smiled.

They still remember my face.

“It’s been a long time. I’m glad to see you’re all doing well.”

As I embraced them, pulling them into a hug, the veterans cried even harder, bowing their heads in sorrow and relief.

[Translator – Peptobismol]