"Hey, Lieutenant Touri. What can I do to get along with my daughter?"
"Huh?"
After the awards ceremony, we spent about a week parading around various locations.
Even though it was for propaganda purposes, maintaining a constant smile all day long was exhausting.
"Are things not going well with your daughter, Nauman?"
"Yes. My daughter Anna just doesn't seem to get close to me…"
We were given a one-month leave after the parade was over.
During this time, the soldiers were also given permission to return to their hometowns.
Nauman decided to use his reward money to buy a new home in Winn and live there with his family.
"You know, I feel this subtle distance between Anna and me."
"Your daughter is probably going through puberty. She won't be as affectionate with her father."
"But she used to cling to me and call me 'Daddy' before."
"That must have been when she was a toddler."
Now that he has finally been reunited with his long-awaited daughter, Nauman has become a clingy dad.
From what I hear, when he tried to sleep together, she avoided him, and when he tried to sit next to her, she would run away.
…It's only natural that she'll avoid him if he tries to be too clingy with a girl of her age.
"As a father, I want to be more…"
"I've heard that adolescent girls may develop an aversion to male relatives during puberty. She'll end up disliking you if you persist too much."
"No way… Can't you do something about it, Lieutenant?"
"That is beyond my jurisdiction. You will have to deal with that yourself, Nauman."
The soldiers were allowed a brief moment of peace.
For us, with no guarantee of returning alive, this is something precious.
I hope the soldiers can enjoy their happy moments.
"Ugh… I wish I could have lived with my daughter when she was still a spoiled child."
"Being a dad is tough, huh?"
I advised Nauman not to pester his daughter too much and suggested buying some sweets or something as a way to start a conversation.
I'm not sure how helpful it will be, but it should be better than the current situation.
***
"Well then, Sergeant Gavel, I leave the command to you while I'm away."
"Got it."
I'm also eager to see my family.
I made plans to go and see Sedol when I heard that I would be given a long leave.
If I don't go to see him now, who knows when I'll have the chance again.
"I will be handing over command of Touri Company to Sergeant Gavel. He will handle things in case of emergencies."
"Okay."
Since Sergeant Gavel's hometown is Winn, he'll remain there even during his holiday.
In case of an urgent situation, he'll act as the commanding officer.
"But is it really safe to go to the Sabbatian Special Economic Zone? Won't you get killed or something?"
"We're now allies with the Sabbath."
"Hmm…"
Sergeant Gavel was worried about my trip to the Sabbatian Special Economic Zone.
Although they are allies now, we had remained bitter enemies for the past 10 years.
There have certainly been reports of trouble between Austinites and Sabbatians.
"I still don't like Sabbatians. I can't forgive them."
"I also dislike the former Sabbatian government forces."
"I guess I need to accept it, though."
Apparently, people who live in the special economic zone are treated as Austinites.
Since they're valuable workers, we need to treat them favorably.
"…I'll be fine."
"Alright then. In that case, enjoy your vacation."
With Sergeant Gavel seemingly satisfied, I bid him farewell.
I set off on a traveling merchant's carriage, heading towards Sedol.
***
"Hello, I'm Touri. Nice to meet you."
"Oh, I've heard. You're the hero, right?"
Austin did not yet have a railroad network at this time.
Therefore, when traveling, it was common to pay a fare and ride in a traveling merchant's carriage.
I found a trustworthy merchant and hitched a ride with them.
Unfortunately, I could only stay for about two weeks due to their travel schedule…
But it's better than being caught and sold into slavery while traveling alone.
"Hey, hero, we're supposed to arrive at the abandoned village in a few hours. We'll be spending the night there."
"Got it."
The wagon moves slowly, so it will take several days to reach our destination.
Since there's a possibility of bandit attacks, the safest route is to go through abandoned villages where patrols are active.
"Do you prefer to sleep alone, or would you like to be with someone?"
"…I'm fine by myself."
"I see. Shout out if anything happens."
This is apparently the site of a village that was burned down during the Sylph Offensive two years ago.
There are many such abandoned villages left decaying across Austin.
The road and plaza are clear, but the walls of the houses had collapsed and ivy and weeds are growing around the entrances.
"I'll take the trash with me."
"Yes."
We set up a tent in the village plaza and spent the night there.
Since the buildings are at risk of collapse, we weren't allowed to go inside.
"Will no one live in this village again?"
"Who knows? Maybe someone will come back and re-open it."
Next to the plaza, there were remnants of overgrown fields.
The foundations for irrigation are still there, so I think it would be habitable if cleared.
"But look, take a look under that waterway."
"Clothes…?"
"It's the remains of a corpse from two years ago. I think we'll find the bones if we dig around the riverbed."
The bodies of these villagers were left abandoned without any memorial service.
"The corpses on the ground were cleaned up by animals, and the corpses in the river were cleaned up by water bugs. No one has touched this abandoned village since the day it was burned down by the Sabbatian soldiers."
"…"
"There might even be bones buried under that tent you just set up. Would you want to live in a place like this? I sure don't."
The hellscape we saw after the Sylph Offensive still remained untouched.
It only looks clean due to natural processes.
"This village was apparently preparing for the harvest festival. I saw wooden festival equipment rotting in the remains of the church."
"…"
"Almost all the metal have been stolen. Seriously, people are so vile."
The merchant scoffed and stared vacantly at the ruins of the collapsed church.
"This plaza was once a playground where village kids used to run around. That's how it was the last time I came here."
"Is that so?"
"I hate Sabbatians. I just can't bring myself to like them."
The merchant said this while glaring at me.
Is he reproaching me for going to the Sabbatian immigrant village?
"…Thank you for the valuable information. I'm going to sleep now."
"Alright."
No matter how many alliances countries form, it is not so easy to compromise.
Resentment doesn't vanish from people's hearts even if peace is made and the war ends.
Eventually, it will be the spark for the next war.
"Good night."
"Yeah, good night, kid."
If you don't fight, you'll be killed.
But if you do fight, the seeds of conflict continue to grow.
I hope that this foolish cycle will soon come to an end.
***
"We're heading to the port town from here. We'll come back to this town in two weeks. Got it, kid?"
"Yes, thank you."
After parting ways with the merchant, I walked a few kilometers toward the Sabbatian Economic Zone.
…The road, which was built to part the forest, was exactly the same as when I parted ways with Sedol.
"…"
Sedol is up ahead.
Thinking about it made my heart feel lighter.
Is he doing well? Has Anita scolded him?
With each step on the bright forest path, I headed toward the village entrance for the first time in six months.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
"Uh, well…"
After a while, I finally arrived at the entrance to the special economic zone.
A stern-looking man was standing at the gate and glaring at me.
"Do you have a pass?"
"N-No."
"Then go home. This is Sabbatian territory, no Austs allowed here."
I didn't recognize the man, but I felt a slight hostility from him.
…Is it because I'm from Austin?
"Is there a woman named Anita living in this village?"
"Hmm, you speak Sabbatian?"
"I'm a family member of hers and Sedol. Please let me see them."
Thinking this, I decided to speak to him in Sabbatian.
I understood the language and wanted to show that I was not an enemy but an ally.
That's the appeal I wanted to convey.
"Anita, as in the healer?"
"Yes. I studied pharmacology under her. I am Anita's student."
"Hmm. I see. Then I'll check to see if it's true."
As the man said this, he rang the bell at the entrance.
Soon, the villagers began to gather.
…The security is pretty tight.
"What's going on?"
"Is there an incident or an enemy attack?"
"This kid says she's an acquaintance of Anita and came a long way to see her. Do any of you recognize her?"
"Oh? Ah, this girl is certainly…"
Among the gathered people was someone I recognized.
A Sabbatian who had been in the same refugee camp before moving to Austin.
"It's been a long time, Yozak. Do you remember me?"
"Ah! I remember this girl, she's Aust-chan. Aren't you the healer's daughter?"
"If Yozak says so, then I'll trust you."
With that, the gatekeeper's frown eased.
He then silently gestured for me to enter.
After bowing to him, I set off into the village.
***
"Oh, oh…"
Although it had only been about six months, the village had changed a lot since the day I left.
The first thing that caught my eye was:
"It's finished, Vanya."
"Yeah, we all worked together to build it. How about joining us next time?"
"Yes, definitely, Yozak."
Vanya, which was still under construction when I left, was now completed.
There is even a gorgeous sculpture at the entrance, but I don't know where it came from.
"We all carved it together. Isn't it amazing?"
"…Yes, it's a wonderful piece of work."
Vanya has religious elements, and it is common to see sculptures of gods enshrined there.
…Perhaps they wanted to add a touch of Sabbatian identity, even in far-off Austin.
"Still, the security has become quite strict. I don't recall there being a gatekeeper before."
"Ah, it's because the Austs come to steal our food and alcohol."
"Really?"
"There were times when they tried to kidnap young woman. That's why we have a gatekeeper at the entrance to the village and surrounded it with a wall."
According to Yozak, the village is frequently attacked by bandits.
They likely attack indiscriminately, but…
The Sabbatian Economic Zone likely thought that "the Austs are coming to attack."
"The Aust officials are so arrogant and always nag about working in factories. If we slack off, they cut off our rations."
"I see…"
"We need to expand our fields and become self-sufficient as soon as possible."
The people who have migrated to this special economic zone are supposed to be relatively pro-Austin, but…
They have developed distrust toward Austin since moving here.
"…I was also kidnapped by bandits and nearly sold into slavery."
"Geez, the Aust have no sense of decency! Are they even kidnapping their own people?"
"Even we Austinites are troubled by those kinds of bandits."
We cannot afford to be at odds with the Sabbath right now.
For Austin, Remi's new Sabbatian government is a valuable ally.
I hope that as someone who knows the inner workings of the Sabbath well, I can be a bridge to ease tensions.
"I'll do my best to help protect the village if any bandits come."
"Hey now, what can you do with a body like that?"
I intend to help defend the village if bandits do come while I'm staying.
I think the real identity of the "bandits" are probably Austinites who are struggling to make ends meet…
Leaving them alone will only spread the tragedy further.
"Even though I look like this, I'm an active soldier."
"An active soldier, but you're a medic, right?"
"Look, I even have a gun."
I purchased the gun through legitimate channels and own it.
I had almost been kidnapped by human traffickers in the past, so I felt it was essential to have some means of self-defense while traveling.
Soldiers above a certain rank are officially permitted to carry guns in Austin.
"Well then, I'll call you if the time comes. Like, 'Scary bandits have appeared, help us, Aust-chan!'"
"Protecting civilians is the duty of a soldier. Please call me anytime."
"That's reassuring."
Hearing my words, Yozak laughed playfully and teasingly.
I answered seriously, but it seemed he took it as a joke.
"Anita's clinic is up ahead."
"Yes, that's the place."
As we chatted like this, I walked deeper into the village.
Anita's house is a single-story wooden house on a small hill overlooking the village.
"I know you're a good Aust, but there are some with aggressive thoughts. Be careful."
"Thank you for the advice."
"We crossed over to Austin on the same boat. Just let me know if you need help. See you."
I parted ways with Yozak in front of the hill.
I then slowly climbed the slope and headed toward the wooden house.
"…"
Anita works as a healer in this village.
She probably stays at home all the time.
When I reached the entrance, I knocked on the door under the clinic's sign.
"Is anyone there?"
"Yes!"
At my call, a lively child's voice responded from inside.
Slowly, the wooden door was opened.
"Who is it?"
It was a nostalgic, innocent voice.
After waiting for the door to open, I spoke to the child who came out.
"…Ah! Ah!!"
"It's been a while."
As soon as the child saw me, he jumped up into my arms with a big smile on his face.
I knelt down and caught him, holding him tightly as he clung to me.
"It's Tou-chan! Tou-chan is here!!"
"Yeah."
Sedol, who I hadn't seen in a long time, continued to jump with excitement.
As he squealed with a high-pitched voice in my arms, I held him and spoke to him with all my emotions pouring out.
"I'm back, Sedol."