This must be a dream.
I felt a vague sensation, an airy, floating feeling as if suspended in mid-air.
When these conditions aligned, I somehow grasped that what I was experiencing wasn’t reality.
That’s why I understood it was a dream, a daze-like procession of memories.
“For the gods!”
“O gods, behold!”
But it was awful that the dream I had was of such a pathetic scene.
If I was going to dream, I wish I’d dreamt of happily spending time with my family.
As a father, I can no longer see my children, so I just want to be able to touch them in my dreams.
Don’t show me those ugly faces I never want to see.
I admit, this was a vivid memory, but that doesn’t justify this.
It seemed like my arm blurred in the dream, and then enemy soldiers were sliced apart.
Because I know what happens next, I want to see it even less.
But since it’s a dream, there’s no convenient stop function.
It’s just a dream that forces me to watch.
In the dream, I walked through a forest ablaze with the enemy’s fire magic.
It was the Lunaria Dungeon.
Here and there, fallen monsters, and even more so, the corpses of fallen soldiers, stained the once beautiful forest.
It was originally a place for battle, so that’s unavoidable, but I felt a little regretful.
However, back then, I probably wasn’t thinking such things.
This was a battlefield.
A place where taking one step forward meant encountering the enemy.
With the Ore Tree in one hand and clad in armor, I could roughly determine enemy positions thanks to Lunaria’s support and pinpoint their locations with magic detection, so I could engage enemies just by walking.
And since my face wasn’t hidden, my species was immediately apparent.
“To side with the Demon Race while being human!!”
“Traitor!!”
“Enemy of the gods!!”
Every enemy I met yelled with hatred-filled voices and attacked.
It was an unreasonable anger, considering I wasn’t even an inhabitant of Isal.
Those screams, seared into my memory, even appearing in my dreams.
I cut them all down.
“…Wasting your lives.”
Ah, I said things like that too.
These were words I spat out, looking at the faces of soldiers who died with a strange sense of satisfaction.
Battling one after another, I felt a cold detachment on the battlefield, where there was no exhilaration.
Without the energy to deny the enemy’s reasons for fighting, I simply moved towards the instructed area.
“I… I don’t want to die.”
I encountered a large group, a considerable army.
Their faces were still sane, and they reacted normally enough to tremble under my pressure.
“Begone, and I will spare you.”
The dream-me said such things, stating that killing such people was not his style.
Stop it, don’t show mercy like that.
I instinctively hurled those words at the dream-me, knowing he couldn’t hear.
But I couldn’t help it.
The scene progressed as if my words meant nothing.
The enemy soldiers’ eyes widened in disbelief, but perhaps seeing I showed no intention of attacking, they turned their backs and started to run.
“Don’t turn your back on the enemy! Fight for the gods!”
But one of the soldiers was cut down by his own comrade.
My eyes widened.
Cutting down an ally.
For a moment, I couldn’t believe someone would do such a thing, and my thoughts stopped.
“He is an enemy of the gods who aids the demons! Kill the enemy of the gods! If you cannot kill them, then die here!”
In that brief moment of mental paralysis, the man who seemed to be the commander killed three soldiers who were trying to escape.
There was no reason to save the enemies, but.
“You, die.”
For the first time on this battlefield, I wanted to kill someone, and I swung the Ore Tree, severing the head of that fool.
The face of the man flying through the air was, among all the crazy people I had killed so far, exceptionally hideous.
It was the most vivid face I remembered, in a bad way.
And at the moment that face hit the ground, I felt a shaking sensation.
“Jiro-san.”
With the voice of a woman who shouldn’t have been on that battlefield, I woke up.
“Suella?”
“Yes, you seemed to be having a nightmare, are you alright?”
“Ah, I just had a bit of a bad dream.”
Upon waking, I saw Suella in the dimly lit room, her skin lightly covered by the sheets. My facial muscles relaxed, and I managed a smile.
“…A battlefield?”
“Ah, well, it wasn’t that bad. Thank you for worrying.”
Even though I had slept with her the night before and fallen asleep with a pleasant fatigue, the dream I had was terrible.
When she asked what kind of dream it was, I was a little evasive, but she quickly understood.
Her face became a little sad, and with a wry smile, I placed my hand on her cheek as if to dispel the nightmare. She understood my intent and gently leaned into me.
As I savored her warmth throughout my body and we kissed, the lingering unease was swept away.
Honestly, in times like these, I’m glad I was born male.
Men are simple.
With a single act of kindness like this, we can simply switch our train of thought.
“What time is it now?”
“It’s around five in the morning.”
“A little early.”
“Usually, you sleep a bit longer. Shall we go back to sleep?”
“No, I’m awake now. Shall we get up?”
I usually start work around seven.
Is that too early?
Back in my corporate slave days, it was even earlier.
I usually wake up before six, so I just feel like I woke up a bit early today and don’t feel particularly sleepy.
Since enhancing my body with magic crests and then breaking through my limits to increase my magic aptitude, waking up late and getting up early has become the norm.
It’s a drastic approach made possible by overcoming sleep deprivation with physical enhancement.
Thanks to that, I can wake up early and use my time effectively.
“Let’s have some coffee, a leisurely one for a change.”
“Yes, then I’ll get out the hidden stash.”
The saying “early rising brings good fortune” is true, but there’s no time for continuing what happened last night.
I’m more of a savor-it-slowly type of person.
While my eyes feasted on her form spilling out of the sheets, I thought of such things. I also got out of bed to get dressed.
“Whew, freshly ground coffee after a long time tastes amazing.”
Then, moving to the living room, I slowly savored the coffee Suella brewed for me on the sofa.
“Indeed, the aroma is different. Personally, I prefer it a bit stronger.”
“There’s a limit to how much we can bring, and a stronger scent might attract unwanted attention.”
“I doubt anyone would come to the General’s office for coffee.”
Several days have passed since I threatened the nobles, and this is a rare moment of peace in a hectic period.
How long has it been since I’ve been able to take a breather?
I have work today too, but I managed to get this time to forget about work and sip coffee.
“That’s true. The instructor drinks alcohol, and while some of the Ogre Tribe enjoy coffee, it’s not enough to come here for. In that case, there’s no need to hide it.”
“That’s right. We were using our usual workplace as a standard.”
“How many coffee fanatics do we have at our workplace?”
The world is likely in turmoil due to the war, with no days of rest. But in this land, where the flames of war are still distant, such people are few.
The soldiers have the luxury of training, rest, and meals.
“At least, they’d come for freshly brewed coffee, right?”
“Exactly.”
Perhaps the interactions with the nobles have also led to this mental peace.
“Mmm, it’s delicious.”
“I just brewed it normally.”
“No, it tastes even better because Suella brewed it.”
Perhaps because my daily life is so harsh, conversations like this, filled with normalcy, truly make me happy. It shows how much my heart has become calloused, as Suella’s calm voice is so soothing.
“Oh, you’d say the same thing even if Himik or Memoria brewed it.”
She puffed out her cheeks with a slight pout, looking adorable. I couldn’t help but pull her closer and hug her shoulders.
“Well, Memoria and the others make delicious coffee too.”
I have a feeling what I’m saying sounds like manipulative bad-boy talk, but I vowed to love them all equally, so I won’t say anyone is the best here.
“Women want to be treated specially. Especially by someone they like.”
“I will endeavor to do so.”
Hoping she would forgive my evasiveness, I kissed Suella on the forehead.
“Yes, it requires effort.”
As if in return, Suella kissed me on the lips.
Times like these, where men and women have such heartwarming conversations, are truly precious.
Sitting next to each other on the sofa in a private guest room, not the office, slowly drinking coffee. When I’m immersed in battles or harsh conversations, I truly realize how luxurious this time is.
I truly want to cherish this time.
“But… that’s what I was thinking.”
Just at that moment, I sensed an ominous presence.
I often think my own words are somehow foreshadowing something.
No, perhaps it’s just that enjoyable times pass by in an instant.
Looking at the clock, it was nearing the time I usually started preparing for work.
If that’s the case, then this flow is inevitable.
“…It seems our break time is over.”
The reason Suella gave a wry smile as if she understood my unspoken thoughts could be seen in the commotion of the maids managing this mansion.
And I could sense our attendant rushing towards us at full speed.
“You may enter.”
Even though I could sense she had run down the corridor at considerable speed, I granted permission to enter before she could even knock. It was consideration for her haste, something she never did usually. But this must be an emergency.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes, what happened this morning?”
The maid, perhaps a professional, entered without even gasping for breath, bowed, and looked at me.
“An urgent transmission from a border guard. We’ve confirmed refugees, estimated at five thousand. There’s a possibility of a larger following, with the estimated numbers currently under investigation.”
She brought news of the upcoming ordeal.
“Five thousand… that’s fewer than we originally anticipated.”
“It might be because of the forced conscription and the distribution of strange drugs… I’m sorry, but please relay this information to the relevant parties. Prepare for their reception. Also, send swift riders to these nobles with similar information.”
“Understood.”
We’ve made all the preparations possible, so there’s no need to panic.
“Now, Suella. I’m sorry, but it’s time for work.”
“Yes. In that case, Human King, I’ll leave it to you.”
“Being called that by Suella always makes my back itch.”
“Is that so?”
“Ah.”
Suella, picking up the jacket I had prepared, handed it to me, and I slipped my arms into the sleeves.
I fastened my tie, and my mindset shifted, completing the transition from leisurely mode to the work mode honed during my corporate slave days.
“To reduce the time I’m called that, let’s start by receiving the refugees.”
“Yes, then let’s begin with the distribution of supplies.”
“Understood.”
The elegant time of just moments ago was over.
From here on, it’s work time as the Human King.
I’ve never handled refugee reception before, but I’ll do my best.
It’s alright, I believe I can do it, and I’m taking action.
Today’s Word: Bad memories are hard to forget.
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I am currently serializing another work: Pandora Pandemic Panic. The Pandora’s Box has been reopened, but they are fighting back with various things from their secret base! Please check that out as well!
