My Desertion Would Be Faster Than Heros' Obsession-Chapter 121

I felt like I was starting to get a grasp on things, but at the same time, some parts were still confusing. I closed the book, organizing what I had read today in my mind. At this point, I had read through most of the books available. Soon, it would be time for guard duty, so I had to get going.

"Aquila is off duty these days."

As a reward for completing guerrilla training, he had earned a break from guard duty, so he hadn’t been assigned to any shifts recently. That meant I saw him less often, which was a shame. I used to visit battalion headquarters frequently during my free time, and we had even shared some guard shifts.

With our promotions coming up soon, I needed to make sure I spent more time with him before then. Karon and I also didn’t have much time left together.

I decided that starting tomorrow, instead of coming to the battalion commander’s office, I’d spend my free time talking to Aquila.

***

D-747 Days Until Discharge

"Aquila! It’s been a while!"

His break was over, and today, I was finally assigned to guard duty with Aquila again!

I was so happy to see him that I held my rifle in one hand and grabbed his arm with the other.

"Did you get some good rest?"

But up close, Aquila’s face didn’t look like someone who had been resting well. The faint dark circles under his eyes and the exhaustion in his gaze made it clear—he looked even more worn out than before his break.

"What happened? Did Patty and Matty cause trouble again? Or was it Dalin? Or maybe... did Rosan hold a grudge and mess with you?"

I gave him a look that said I was ready to eliminate whoever had made him this way, but his voice remained calm and indifferent.

"Salvia."

"Yeah?"

"I always keep my promises to you."

"What?"

That statement came out of nowhere, and I had no idea what he was talking about.

It wasn’t until after our shift ended that I finally understood.

Instead of sending me straight back to my barracks, Aquila told me to wait in front of the men’s dormitory hallway. Then, he disappeared inside.

I figured he had something to show me, so I fidgeted with my fingers as I waited. When he finally returned, he was carrying an enormous basket.

The moment I saw what was inside, my mouth fell open.

"...Hey. Hey, you...."

I knew Aquila better than anyone in this battalion.

The second I saw what was in that basket, I understood exactly why he had prepared them.

"You really...."

I felt something warm trickling down my cheeks.

This was the third time I had cried since enlisting.

The first time was after saving Altair—I was too exhausted.

The second was after making peace with Ishina—I felt relieved.

And now, for the first time in my life, I was crying because I was happy.

Because inside that basket was an overwhelming number of envelopes.

"So... this is why you used your leave?"

"Even if you can't respond, I'll talk to you every day."

He had said that when I told him I was scared of being promoted.

And to keep that promise, he had spent his entire break writing letters—enough for me to read every day for the next two years while we were apart.

"How many days' worth is this...?"

"Every day."

His voice was so calm, as if this were nothing.

"For two years, I’ll talk to you every single day."

Aquila had used the wish he earned from guerrilla training to take a break from guard duty, and in the time he gained, he wrote letters.

A total of 730 letters.

"Did you even sleep...?"

There was no way he had managed to write all of these during his limited free time. He must have sacrificed sleep.

That’s why he had looked so exhausted.

"...I didn’t go completely without sleep."

"You idiot...."

I took the basket in my trembling hands, but when I realized my tears might fall on the envelopes, I quickly set it down on the floor.

Then, with my now-empty hands, I hugged Aquila tightly.

"Thank you...."

"This is just in case something happens and I can’t send them on time. I’ll write one every day and send them in batches every week."

"Then I’ll do the same."

I was going to write him a letter every day too. And every week, on the day I sent them, I’d bundle all seven together and send them at once.

And I’d read his letters one at a time, one each day.

Even if we were apart, this way, we would still be together. That was enough for me.

"This can’t just be the end. Even after I discharge, I’m going to find you."

I whined as I hugged him tighter. He gently rubbed my back and whispered.

"I’ll find you first. So don’t let us miss each other."

"Okay...."

I needed to stop crying, so I swallowed my tears and hugged him even tighter.

I wasn’t afraid of my promotion anymore.

***

D-731 Days Until Discharge

Time passed, and tomorrow, I would finally be promoted.

I had already packed my belongings, but since I had arrived here empty-handed, there wasn’t much to take with me.

At most, my notes on monsters and Arkons.

"Oh, right. This thing."

As I rummaged through my locker, I found an envelope.

Inside was Winter’s home address and the golden key he had given me.

Ishina had confiscated it from me, but when she left, she returned it—after warning me multiple times not to mess with it.

I still didn’t know what the key was for.

"Hmm...."

But since Winter had given it to me, it was technically mine. So I stuffed it into my bag.

The only thing left to pack was the most important—the letters.

Obviously, they wouldn’t all fit in one bag.

Thankfully, when Aquila had used his wish to get those letters, he had also gotten a bag to store them.

I had arrived empty-handed, but now I was leaving with two bags stuffed full.

It made me realize just how much I had gained here.

After finishing my packing, I shoved my bags into a corner and lay down, watching my squadmates.

Benny sat elegantly with perfect posture, reading a book.

Jenny was scrubbing the floor with determination.

Dalin was chatting with Tia—though it looked more like she was teasing her.

I was leaving tomorrow, so I decided to ignore it.

Still, watching them gave me an odd feeling. I hadn’t paid much attention to Jenny and Tia before, but now that I was leaving, I felt unexpectedly attached.

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"Jenny, Tia."

"Yes?"

Jenny instantly dropped her rag and rushed over. Tia followed just as quickly.

I suddenly felt awkward since I hadn’t called them for anything important.

After clearing my throat, I spoke.

"Ahem, it’s nothing big. Just... take care of yourselves."

"Yes! Understood!"

"Salvia...? Why aren’t you saying that to me?"

Dalin looked at me with puppy-dog eyes from behind them, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

"I barely talked to these two, so I thought I should say it."

"Then what about me...?"

"Fine! You too!"

"Hehe."

...If this were before, I would have scolded her for grinning at a senior.

But whatever.

Turning back to Jenny and Tia, I began giving them survival advice on how to make it in this hellhole.

***

Not long after Salvia left the room, Tia let out a long, exhausted sigh.

"Ugh, that crazy bitch."

Salvia was finally leaving the unit and getting promoted. If she were being honest, Tia wanted to jump up and break into a celebratory tango right then and there. But somehow, she held herself back.

"I swear, ever since I enlisted, my cursing has gotten worse."

But really, what choice did she have?

Salvia’s insanity was notorious throughout the unit. That was bad enough. But to make matters worse, her ever-loyal sidekick, Dalin, had also been a constant source of suffering. At this point, Tia had developed a full-blown trauma response to the word “Huh?” just from dealing with them.

"I will never become a senior like them...."

With burning determination in her eyes, Tia stared at the spot where Salvia had just been. Then, her gaze shifted to Dalin, who was humming cheerfully as she wiped down a window.

No. She refused to turn into a maniac like them.

She would be a kind, angelic senior to her juniors! She would care about their comfort, make sure they weren’t struggling, and help anyone falling behind in training!

Tia smiled sweetly at the thought.

...Four years later, she would have absolutely no idea that her juniors would start gossiping about her behind her back.

"Ugh, there she goes again with her crazy angel obsession."

"Why does she keep asking if we’re uncomfortable?!"

"She just cornered a recruit and told them to list three things they find inconvenient—or else!"

"Does she not realize she’s the biggest inconvenience here?!"

At this moment, Tia had no clue that she would eventually become the most dreaded senior in the unit.

***

D-730 Days Until Discharge

The day of my promotion had arrived.

On a normal night, I would’ve been out cold the second my head hit the pillow. But not last night.

Because today, I would find out where I was being assigned.

"It’d be nice if I ended up in the same unit as Ishina."

Having a familiar face around would make things easier. ...But not if it was one of the morally bankrupt psychos from Class 85. I’d pass on that.

After finishing breakfast, Aquila and I were summoned to the company commander’s office. When we arrived, two others were already waiting—Blue from Beta Platoon and Damian from Gamma Platoon.

"Let’s write to each other."

"Yeah."

We spent the time chatting while waiting for the commander, strengthening our bonds as comrades.

BANG!

"Good, you’re all here."

"Sir!"

The commander walked in, and all our eyes locked onto the four sheets of paper in his hands.

Those papers held our fates.

"Aquila’s is already set in stone."

In the original novel, Aquila remained in this unit. So really, the only mystery was where I would be assigned.

"Salvia, this is yours."

"Yes, sir!"

I took my assignment paper, slowly unfolded it, and—

『Snowy Mountain Battalion, 288th Company, Alpha Platoon』

“...What the fuck.”

The Snowy Mountain Battalion?! Are you fucking kidding me?!

I had been assigned to one of the most brutal, nightmarish battalions in the entire Border Defense Army.

This was complete and utter bullshit.