CH 67

Primrose was a quiet and small island far from the mainland. Most of the residents farmed and generally did not have much interest in the affairs of the world. It was a place that gave the feeling of regression regardless of the flow of time. It was such a remote place that until fighter jets were invented and the sky became a battlefield, people here said they lived without knowing what war was.

War was also avoided as much as possible on the island. To them, the war was just exciting news that was heard through gossip from the mainlanders. In fact, the islanders didn’t even seem to think of themselves as the people of the Empire. They just called themselves ‘Primrose people’.

Few households had radios, and the broadcasts from the mainland did not reach them. Ships loaded with supplies and men arrived once a month. That meant it took at least two months to make proper contact with the outside world.

Retired officers often bought villas to stay in, so the residents were not surprised by the sudden appearance of a young officer.

Still, a few people who recognized the name ‘Ian Kerner’ came to see him in the first few days. However, interest subsided within a few days. It was a reaction not much different from seeing an exotic animal.

Ian liked the silence, peace, and indifference to strangers that surrounded the entire island. He rented a house. There was only one condition; it should have a good view of the sea. The landlord, an old lady, was pleased, but admitted that she did not understand his choice.

“Isn’t it too shabby for an officer to live in?”

“A soldier doesn’t need a big mansion.”

“There must be a lot of repairs.”

“It’s fine. I know how to fix things myself.”

Imperial pilots, who were always suffering from budget cuts and cheap airframes had no choice but to become familiar with various tools even if they did not want to.

“It wouldn’t be bad to live alone. Not even with a wife and children… But are you really not married at all? Did you leave your wife on the mainland? What else could you have done with your handsome face?”

“…I have a lover.”

“Then why didn’t she come with you? The scenery here is beautiful all year round, so it is a good place for newlyweds to live. It’s so remote that people don’t know about it. It’s a perfect island to get married and live on. Well, these days, young ladies prefer to live in a bustling city rather than a boring island like this.”

“…”

“Looks like you broke up.”

The old lady clicked her tongue and looked at him pitifully, perhaps thinking he had been dumped by a woman because he had been assigned to the island. Ian just smiled moderately. He was good at smiling. Originally, he didn’t have much talent for that kind of thing, but he acquired it naturally by listening to the generals lecture him while filming propaganda materials.

Henry visited him on the transport that came once a month. After three months of formal service in the Navy, he threw off his blue uniform, saying it was not in his temperament, and started rehabilitation training recommended by a doctor. He didn’t want to go on a boat, regardless of whether he could get on a plane, for the rest of his life.

He said that Alex Reville would tease him if he were doing nothing.

The Reville family’s doctor sent him regular reports.

[The young master is much better. He looks great, too. His love for airplanes seems to still remain.

Of course, it’s impossible to be put on active duty, but I think he can serve as a flight instructor. Yesterday, he nagged a junior pilot and walked around the training course. As a doctor, I don’t think it’s unreasonable.]

Henry nagged Ian every time he came. Their dynamic had not changed much, except for nagging about how long he would be stuck on an island like this.

“Don’t you miss planes?”

“Does the thing in the garden look like something other than an airplane to you?”

“It’s a light aircraft! Can that be considered an airplane?”

“Everything that flies is an airplane. Are only fighter planes airplanes?”

“Why don’t you make a paper airplane then? Have you tried that light plane?”

“Not yet.”

“…Someone said they arranged a ride?

Henry looked at him with a meaningful smile. Ian didn’t feel the need to respond, so he ignored it. But it was a question he came to often. He didn’t know when he would fly again, but he had someone he wanted to give a ride to.

And Henry knew exactly who it was.

“This is a picture of Layla.”

Layla was admitted to a junior military academy. It was unfamiliar to see her saluting in a small uniform. He thought she had grown up a lot in a short time.

“I don’t know who the hell she looks like.”

“…I know who she looks like.”

He replied, staring at Henry. 

Where would the bloodline of the Reville family go? 

In fact, Layla had sent him a letter asking for his opinion. Ian, of course, wrote a reply telling her to consider it carefully, but he never expected Layla to listen to him.

“Anyway.”

Henry pouted and glared at him after discussing the recent situation. Ian noticed something suspicious and urged Henry.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

“Hey, Sir Kerner.”

After hesitating for a while, Henry took out a brown envelope from the bag he had been carrying and removed another photo from within.

“I thought a lot about whether I should give it to you or not…”

Ian frowned at his reluctant attitude and accepted the photo. As soon as he saw it, his heart sank. It was a picture of an island taken through the clouds. Instinctively he knew what the island was, shrouded in mist and blurry.

“During a test flight, a guy took the wrong course… He was lost for a while. This photo was taken by accident.”

Ian glared at Henry again. He asked, taking the photo to the fireside.

“Who else knows?”

“Do I look like an idiot? I secretly snatched it without telling anyone. The idiot flying a plane was in a state of panic, so he didn’t even know I was holding a camera next to him.”

“The location of Walpurgis Island must not be discovered.”

“Aww, you’re scared. If anyone knows the coordinates, I’ll shoot them to death.”

“…You’re not really going to do that, are you?”

Witches’ refuge. 

The final paradise. 

No one knew where it was or what witches were doing there. All that was known for certain was that non-witches could not access it. Ian came to Primrose because he wanted to be as close as possible to the island, but he had no intention of trying to find its exact location.

If it shouldn’t be known to anyone, he shouldn’t know either. Even if he had someone he wanted to see there.

“I don’t know the coordinates either. It was scary there. As soon as I entered the area, my instrument panel acted strange. Witches are great.”

“How did you get out?”

“Isn’t that the gut feeling of a veteran pilot? With no commander, I am an ace now. Although I can’t play an active role.”

Henry snatched the picture from his hand and grumbled. Ian stared blankly at the picture that slipped out of his hand in an instant.

“I knew this would happen. I didn’t expect to hear thank you. What should I do? Should we really burn it like this? The original film was destroyed, so don’t worry.”

Henry raised both hands with a tired expression, as if defeated, and approached the fireplace holding the photo. Ian quietly held out his hand. Henry laughed, and he handed him the picture.

“She will live well, I believe. She’s the best escaped prisoner in the Empire. Rosen Walker is by no means average.”

“I think so too.”

“And there’s nothing like pictures to soothe lovesickness, right?”

Ian kicked a smirking Henry in the shin with a sly smile. Henry seemed to have amused himself by teasing him, and even when he was beaten, he had a retort every time.

“…When you meet again, weep and cling to each other, telling each other not to go, and set up a honeymoon on this island. After all, people here are so behind the times that they don’t think badly of witches.”

Was it because of its location, which was closer to Walpurgis Island than the mainland? 

Or was it because it was a remote place that deflected the flow of the times? 

The island still had a reverence for magic and witches. Ships sailing from Primrose always threw a coin into the sea before departing.

The ritual was meant to protect them from the demons that infested the sea.

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Oh, did I say something wrong? How did she hide all this time? If Rosen Walker held a fan signing event to commemorate her escape from prison, you would be the first person in line.”

“Noisy.”

“It’s fun to watch because the person who didn’t seem to be swayed by emotion is crazy about love.”

“…”

“I’m sorry! I’ll shut up, so don’t take out your gun!”