The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

Chapter 74

The operation that took place at dawn was my decision. Though my promise with Jennifer technically no longer existed after the time reset, I still remembered it. For any other promise, it might not have mattered, but I didn’t want to break a promise to characters I cared about.

Because of this, by the time I returned yesterday, the morning had already passed.

“...If you want compensation, I’ll give you whatever you desire. Winterfield doesn’t forget a debt.”

Jennifer said that to me on our way back in the car.

“I was only repaying an existing debt.”

That was my response.

Saying that filled me with a small sense of pride.

Sure, I had experienced the stench of blood and gunpowder that morning. The memories of that battlefield would likely stay with me for some time. I’d heard stories about things like PTSD, so I knew those memories could have a significant impact on me.

Still, thinking that it was something I had to do made me feel better.

After all, that’s what war is. If we don’t fight, our people are the ones who’ll die. Besides, those mercenaries had committed countless atrocities that bordered on war crimes. Perhaps some among them were of sound mind, but... in a place where lives are on the line, there’s no room for sympathy.

They pointed their guns at me, too. If I had been shot and left disabled without the ability to reset time, I would have suffered at the hands of that undisciplined mercenary band.

And this wasn’t my first time killing someone.

I had optimized my approach to that battle through multiple resets. Although there was a difference of a day, the outcome remained more or less the same.

“A debt?”

Naturally, Jennifer questioned me, but I chose not to elaborate.

“...”

Seeing my lack of response, Jennifer didn’t press further. Instead, she seemed deep in thought and drove in silence the entire way back to Winterfield Castle. This allowed me to quietly gaze out the window.

The distant mountains were beautiful.

Somewhere out there, the Sword Saint still resided.

*

Upon arriving at Winterfield Castle, Alice rushed out to meet me in the lobby, hugging me tightly with a look of worry.

It seemed she had caught a whiff of gunpowder on me, for she immediately glared at Jennifer.

"..."

Jennifer didn’t seem to have a response.

Currently, Jennifer didn’t know that I could reset time. Thus, she must have been shocked in her own way, seeing me fight like that on the battlefield, without any time to mentally prepare.

“Did... Father...”

Alice quickly asked me,

“Did Father order you to do this?”

Hm.

I thought about it seriously.

Technically... it wasn’t something the Emperor directly ordered. It was more like something he intended to order.

So, would it be alright to let her think so?

“Yes, well, that sounds about right. We’ve all been working hard all morning. We’re bound to get hungry.”

...Seriously, how does she read my expressions so easily?

*

“Are you sure you’re alright? You could rest for the afternoon.”

In the afternoon, as I prepared to arm myself for another task, Alice asked, her tone filled with concern.

“I’m alright.”

I was glad I’d learned meditation. Just as Claire had mentioned, even without much sleep, meditation helped me feel centered and able to keep going.

Of course, it didn’t erase all my fatigue, but after lunch, I’d returned to my room, cleaned up, and sat cross-legged on the bed to meditate, feeling as though I’d taken an energy drink to push back the weariness.

“Are you sure?”

Claire asked the same question, and I nodded again.

“I still need to complete my tasks. They count toward my evaluation—”

“No.”

Before I could finish, Jennifer, who had approached, cut me off.

“I will grant you full marks for your performance. While it wasn’t an official task, you accomplished what no soldier could.”

"..."

Jennifer’s face looked troubled as she said this.

She had worn a similar uneasy expression when I’d declared my intent to take down the enemy commander. It was different from the clear, confident look she had when she’d assigned me tasks back at the Sword Saint’s cabin. Had she truly not expected me to carry it out?

Likely so. She was an instructor who taught not to seek honor on the battlefield.

“So, you may rest this afternoon... or even tomorrow. I’ll explain everything to the Academy.”

I figured Abraham would understand.

“In that case, I’m doing this because I want to.”

My words brought a sudden silence to the already quiet space around me.

“Sylvia?”

Alice looked at me with wide eyes.

“...Sis?”

The word finally slipped from Claire’s mouth.

“...I see.”

Jennifer closed her eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and then exhaled softly.

“If that’s what you wish, I can’t stand in your way. Just... thank you. This is gratitude not only from me but from the soldiers as well.”

Jennifer bowed her head.

“...I see.”

Unsure how to respond, I settled on a simple acknowledgment.