The Night The Savior Ran Away

Chapter 36

As the first light of dawn touched Debert’s face, he appeared even more sombre. The deep-set eyes and sharp features, which had become more pronounced over the past few days, exuded an air of authority even in the simple infantry uniform he wore.

The engines of the lined-up tanks and military vehicles, all revving in unison, created a peculiar tension among the troops.

Arthur approached Debert, who was checking the magazine of his rifle one last time. Arthur, too, was dressed in the same basic military uniform, devoid of rank insignia or brooches.

“Do you really have to do it this way?”

Arthur couldn’t hide his anxiety. His voice, lowered to a whisper so no one else would hear, still carried a faint tremor.

“Let’s change that part now.”

“Is that the Emperor’s command?”

“Are you joking at a time like this?”

“We don’t have much time. We’ve got one day.”

Debert slightly raised an eyebrow. His eyes, devoid of any hint of amusement, were already focused on the upcoming battle. His gaze was relentlessly fixed on the goal ahead.

Although he usually detested playing the role of a gambler, he had no choice now.

He had to do it, and only he could.

“Your hair’s too good for a poor soldier.”

At Debert’s curt attempt at a joke, Arthur let out a dry laugh, though it was a laugh that ended on an uncomfortable note.

A massive army waited for their commander. As Debert walked towards them, the tension among the troops heightened, matching the pace of his steps.

Without hesitation, Debert climbed onto the bonnet of the idling military vehicle at the front of the group and looked out over his soldiers.

The men admired and feared that imposing figure.

“This is the final battle.”

He was the only one who could break the silence.

Specially positioned soldiers outside the formation relayed Debert’s words, acting as interpreters. His command spread swiftly throughout the vast army, which stood like a swarm of ants.

“Nexus does not retreat. We only take victory.”

The blue dawn light deepened between them.

“By the time the Founding Day arrives, everyone will return home.”

Founding Day was the grandest holiday in Nexus, symbolizing the prosperous end of the year. At the mention of Founding Day and home, the soldiers’ faces brightened, glowing more than the rising morning sun.

“Stay alive and see it through. Dismissed.”

With those concluding words, Debert was the first to board the military vehicle. This signalled all the soldiers to swiftly move to their positions.

As if on cue, the air force squadron led by Gale roared across the sky.

“Let’s go.”

Everything for the final battle was now underway.

—

The Kovach army, anticipating that the Nexus forces would bypass them, found themselves rapidly on the defensive.

Although they knew that the combat forces were nearly depleted, no sane person would attack the centre. But Debert had seized upon this weakness and was now, quite literally, engaging in ‘madness.’

He had practically grabbed Bottam by the scruff of the neck, forcing all their armoured units into the battle as Bottam desperately tried to flee to Britain. Calmly, Debert also remembered to add, “The Emperor desires this.”

With even the telephone lines cut, Debert had nothing left to hold him back.

‘The Kovach Crown Prince has joined the final battle.’

Debert had bet everything on this information.

The Crown Prince of Kovach was widely rumoured, even in Nexus, to be the son of a concubine. His participation in the final battle was likely a ploy to claim the glory of the war’s conclusion.

Royalty eager to secure their legitimacy typically thought alike.

Debert was now on his way to capture that Crown Prince. No commander would turn down the opportunity to end the war so decisively.

The elite troops led by Arthur and Debert had by now reached the point where they were nearly face-to-face with the central Kovach forces. The Kovach soldiers were visible less than a hundred meters away.

“Ten o’clock direction,” Arthur whispered.

“The Crown Prince is gambling with his life.”

The sight of the Crown Prince scrambling behind a tank suggested a sense of urgency. A fool who had thrown himself into battle with nothing but a desire for recognition.

The scene was not unfamiliar. Arthur saw a reflection of himself in the pitiful antics of the Kovach Crown Prince.

Debert, pressed against the tank, raised his hand.

At that single gesture, all the tanks began to charge at full speed.

The shrill sound of bullets scraping against metal rang in their ears.

The ground shook violently as the shells collided and exploded, sending shockwaves through the earth.

Although a few tanks caught fire from the enemy’s counterattack, Debert did not lower his raised hand.

In tank warfare, range is everything, but Nexus charged forward as if it didn’t matter, forcing the Crown Prince’s troops into retreat.

Debert leapt off the tank and detonated a smoke grenade.

His target was singular.

The Crown Prince.

“Aaargh!”

The Crown Prince screamed as a figure tackled him from behind.

Though shorter than Debert, the Crown Prince was stocky and muscular. As he violently thrashed his body, Debert, who had latched onto him, was also shaken.

The man pulled out a dagger from his chest and began to slash wildly upwards.

“Ugh.”

Debert staggered away from the man, clutching his right shoulder, which had just been stabbed. The man, consumed by a mix of anger and fear, charged at Debert without thinking.

“Die! Just die!”

The two tangled bodies tumbled into the trench.

Debert seized the man’s throat with one hand, while the other gripped the man’s knife-wielding hand.

“Ugh!”

“Ghh!”

As Debert tightened his hold, the man’s face turned a ghastly shade, and the knife slowly edged toward its wielder. The end was near.

Debert’s eyes, full of murderous intent, stared up at the man who had pinned him down.

“Argh!”

The knife, slightly off course, slashed toward the crown prince’s face. Blood, not his own, splattered onto Debert’s face.

Whether it was the extreme pain or a final burst of energy, the man managed to drive the knife back into Debert’s shoulder, hitting the same spot as before.

“Damn it.”

It didn’t matter how many times the knife stabbed the same spot. Ignoring the erratic thrusts of the knife, Debert savagely gripped the man’s throat with both hands.

His tendons strained, threatening to burst, and his knuckles, white with pressure, squeezed with a terrifying strength.

Suddenly, the man’s body convulsed, then went limp as his tongue lolled out.

“Debert!”

Arthur hauled the limp body of the crown prince out of the trench.

Dragging such a heavy load slowed him down. The Kovach army’s bullets rained down like a storm on the dirt around them.

“Ugh.”

Just before climbing into the military vehicle, something hot grazed Debert’s side. The familiar burning pain clenched his teeth in reflex.

“It’s done! Debert, get in now!”

Every jolt in the rough-riding vehicle sent waves of pain spreading through his body like snake venom. As the sound of gunfire faded into the distance, his vision started to flicker.

“We did it! We succeeded! Well done, Debert? Debert!”

He saw the flag of the Nexus evacuation point.

At that moment, he remembered telling Beth to run towards that flag. He had told her it was her only chance to survive.

In his dimming vision, he thought he saw her face, the white face that had cried in relief when she knew he was alive.

It was finally over.

With a sense of relief, Debert lost consciousness.

* * *

Silence pervaded the hospital, where the wounded were awaited.

Lady Molly’s expression was as sombre as could be. Debert had visited her the night before.

He couldn’t tell her everything due to security reasons, but he had warned her that if the night dragged on and they didn’t return, it would mean defeat was near. He had told her that if they didn’t return by sunset, she should abandon everything and flee.

But how could she?

The red sunset streamed through the broken window, casting a long shadow. Lady Molly’s heart, like the reddened sky, felt as if it were being consumed by flames.

Please, just come back, even if you’re wounded.

Her desperate hope, despite its terrible condition, showed just how bleak her thoughts were.

Everyone shared this agony. Especially those who had sent their loved ones into battle; their grief was beyond measure.

“Wait, I hear something!”

Dixie jumped up and ran outside.

“They’re coming!”

The roar of engines and the murmur of voices grew louder.

“Everyone, get ready!”

Beth and Ines rushed out at the same time.

The wounded spilled out of the arriving evacuation vehicles like a flood. The bodies of soldiers who had died in transit were piled up in one corner of the hospital yard.

Beth pushed through the crowd. She had gripped the brooch so tightly that her palm ached.

The screams echoing around her reminded her of the gruesome battlefield of the field hospital.

“Move!”

A soldier carrying a stretcher painfully struck Beth’s shoulder as he passed by.

Beth, half-turned by the impact, caught sight of a bloodied figure.

“Move! It’s Commander Debert!”

That man—it’s him.

As Beth tried to get closer, she was shoved back by the much larger soldiers. She craned her neck to see the stretcher being carried away.

She recognised the familiar grey hair, now matted with dirt and blood.

Beth frantically fought her way through the crowd. She had to confirm it. She had to hear his voice telling her that he was alive, that he had kept his promise to return.

Just as Beth reached the hospital entrance, Lady Molly stopped her.

“Beth, I’ll take care of Debert. You need to tend to the lightly wounded outside.”

Lady Molly’s dark eyes, brimming with tears, were silently crying.

“If you let your emotions take over, you won’t see what needs to be done. Trust Debert. You need to do your job. Everyone here has their own role to play.”

“Gale!”

A wrenching sob drowned out Lady Molly’s voice. Beth turned to see Ines collapsing at the sight of her fiancé being carried in unconscious.

Beth rubbed her eyes roughly, trying to catch her breath. It was hard to breathe. She forced the rising tears back down into the depths of her chest.

Now is the time to do my job.

Just as he did, now she must do hers.

Beth turned away, repeating the words like a prayer.

All around her, the air was filled with cries of pain and sorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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TRANSLATOR:

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