Chapter 74

Does hatred become a chain?

Maximilian could answer that question very simply.

Hatred does not become a chain. And breaking that chain solely depends on the capacity of the community.

Thus, the responsibility is not solely placed upon the individual. It is the duty of the community to bear it. That was Maximilian’s thought.

For that reason, he did not like the current situation.

“Brigadier General of the Imperial Defense Force, Maximilian von Adelheit.”

“Yes.”

The rigid voice echoed through the courtroom. Maximilian gazed at the judge with a serious expression.

“From July 11 to August 14, 1917, under your command, the 858th Aerial Engineering Infantry Battalion of the 101st Ground Defense Brigade did not receive proper supplies for almost a month. Consequently, they sustained severe damage during the subsequent summer offensive. Is there any mistake in what I have said?”

“There is not.”

“According to the report submitted to this military tribunal, you rejected Colonel Anton Meijhem’s request for urgent supplies. Is that correct?”

“Yes. That is correct.”

“This military tribunal raises questions regarding your judgment. The Kalcas Basin, which the 858th Aerial Engineering Infantry Battalion occupied, was a crucial point through which other supply routes passed. Why did you not prioritize supplying them?”

Maximilian quietly closed his eyes. What faintly echoed in his ears was the voice of Colonel Meijhem, pleading and anxiously requesting supplies.

“Commander! Please…! Please send at least some ammunition! They will all die at this rate!”

His subordinate units isolated without supplies. With no troops available to send from the brigade, Maximilian had desperately pulled reinforcements from other fronts to rescue them.

Yet, how dare the fools in the rear who had merely been yawning judge anyone?

‘They’re all nothing but fools who know nothing of war.’

Maximilian opened his eyes. His gaze had sharpened.

“Please allow me to speak.”

“I grant permission.”

“According to the original plan, a total of thirteen supply ships were to be delivered to the 101st Ground Defense Brigade under my command.”

The head judge fell silent. Maximilian took a moment to catch his breath before continuing.

“However, only three cargo ships arrived at the supply depot of the 101st Ground Defense Brigade under my command. Among them, the infantry equipment and ammunition were severely lacking, and even distributing the minuscule amount of supplies that arrived to the units along the front would not alleviate the supply shortage. Therefore, I prioritized supplying the 771st Artillery Battalion and temporarily organized reinforcements to support the 858th Aerial Engineering Infantry Battalion.”

“Was that your judgment?”

“Yes. I proceeded with the operation under my command.”

After pausing for a moment, the judges began to consult among themselves. A hint of contempt surfaced in Maximilian’s gaze.

After a brief deliberation, the lead judge finally spoke.

“I will ask you. Do you believe that it was right to halt the enemy’s summer offensive at the cost of the 858th Aerial Engineering Infantry Battalion?”

“Conversely, I want to ask everyone sitting on this tribunal.”

The judge fell silent. The heavy atmosphere in the courtroom was sharply cut by Maximilian’s deep voice.

“There is only one piece of meat, yet there are many starving children like rabbits. In such circumstances, what is wrong with prioritizing the oldest child, who can immediately find a job and work?”

No one dared to answer. Neither the spectators nor the judges sitting before the head judge did so. Maximilian found that sight pathetic.

The many sons and daughters of the Empire who fell in the Great War. And the soldiers belonging to the 858th Aerial Engineering Infantry Battalion under Maximilian’s command. Was their sacrifice justified?

It was not justified. But it was inevitable. For the future of the Empire, which fluttered like a candle before the wind, their sacrifice was an essential part of the process.

“I am confident that had it not been for my judgment, the number of fallen soldiers would have doubled. I only incurred the minimum amount of losses.”

After all, was not the Empire they struggled to protect standing tall?

While Maximilian respected the deaths of the fallen youths and made sure not to forget them, he had no regrets about what had already been given up. He believed that was the quality of a commander.

“Therefore, I take pride in having made the best judgment. That is all.”

The judge fell into silence. Someone quietly wiped away their tears, while another simply sat in silence, and yet another nodded as if agreeing with Maximilian’s opinion.

After a moment enveloped in silence, the quiet was suddenly shattered by someone’s shout.

“Stop the nonsense!!”

Maximilian turned his head. A man in a priest’s robe glared at him with furious eyes.

“Stop the nonsense…! What have you done! The reinforcements you promised only arrived after the front was nearly breached! No supplies to deliver?! For a whole month, you only treated your soldiers like numbers while feasting on venison! Have you ever experienced the front line?!”

The priest’s outcry echoed in the courtroom. At the same time, another youth standing next to him rose.

“Yeah, that’s right! Stop with the excuses! While you were indulging, we only ate hard, filthy black bread!”

Maximilian frowned as he looked at the faces of the two youths. They were unfamiliar.

“Your Honor! How could…! How could such a thing be the best judgment! I request a re-investigation!”

“Order! Quiet! Guards! Remove those two!”

The courtroom erupted into chaos in an instant. Those who resonated with the priest began to point fingers at Maximilian and insult him. The judges, pale with fright, were striking their gavels repeatedly.

Maximilian stared at the priest who had cried out with his voice raised for the first time. Even as he was being pulled out of the courtroom, he continued to shout with veins bulging in his neck.

“How can a person…! How can one make such a shameless response! How dare you say such a thing! The Lord will not forgive you!!”

Screaming loudly, the priest was finally dragged out of the courtroom. The youth who had been shouting alongside him was the same.

“The Lord will not forgive….”

Well. Maximilian scoffed.

“Before that, why did the Lord not stop the war?”

That is what he should be pondering first.

Maximilian shrugged and turned back to the judges. His gaze upon them was remarkably calm.

“Your Honor. Please continue.”

Indeed, there were far too many foolish people in the world.

*

I extinguished the cigarette butt in the ashtray. Having smoked five already, it felt as though the smell of tobacco lingered every time I inhaled.

However, I did not mind it at the moment. Right now, I felt like filling my lungs with that refreshing mint scent.

I placed a new cigarette in my mouth, focusing all my attention on lighting it. For now, that was the best I could do.

At that moment, I caught sight of someone emerging from the corridor of the practice field. I glanced over in that direction.

“…Damn.”

It was the Adelheid Duke. Seemingly unable to let go of parting with Laura, he kept glancing back over his shoulder as he walked. That sight made my teeth clench.

Since he was far enough away from me, he did not throw a glance in my direction. That was a relief.

Suddenly, the taste of the cigarette felt bitter. I frowned as I irritably crushed the half-smoked sixth cigarette into the ashtray. The ember scattered everywhere.

I then looked at the receding figure of the Adelheid Duke walking away from the practice field. It seemed ridiculous that he was walking with a cane.

The Empire might have forgiven him. But at least I did not.

Those who had lost their warm breaths due to the horrors of war—why do they remain defeated even in death? Even if the Empire considers them victors, they were still the defeated ones in life.

I held no room in my heart to accept the Adelheid Duke.

My insides were already filled with Helena, and that would remain until the day I die. There would be no exceptions for anyone.

Immediately after the war ended, I searched everywhere for someone to shoulder the responsibility. It felt as if needles were embedded in the soles of my feet.

Then I found him. In the military tribunal located at the center of the city.

I saw it. The Adelheid Duke, leaving the military tribunal with a victorious smile and a leisurely gait.

I clenched the empty cigarette box tightly. The box crumpled in my grip, just like my heart was being squeezed.

As the Adelheid Duke’s figure faded into the distance, I turned my steps around. I was headed back to the practice field.

“Head Priest….”

Perhaps due to the smell of tobacco, Sofia Sub-priest, who had been waiting for me at the entrance of the practice field, called my name. I instinctively tried to meet her gaze but then turned my eyes straight ahead.

“Let’s go in.”

“You’re alright, right…?”

“I’m fine.”

“…Then, let’s go in.”

Sofia Sub-priest stepped ahead of me. I looked at her back and deliberately slowed my pace. I wanted to match my steps with hers.

– The third-year students are just about to have their finals! But of course, the highlight should be saved for last! We’ll postpone the finals until the end, and now it will be the second-year students’ practice!

Professor Andres’s voice echoed. Perhaps due to his loud voice, it could be heard quite clearly even at the entrance of the practice field.

Had the third years finished their practice already? Given that finals were all that remained, it seemed likely. The final round would probably proceed in order for all grades.

We continued our walk. Due to the considerable size of the practice field, it took a while for us to return to our original spot.

– Thud.

“I’m sorry.”

“…….”

At that moment, someone wearing a maintenance worker’s cap bumped into my shoulder as he passed by. I instinctively apologized and turned to look, but he passed by without any acknowledgment.

I stared at his receding figure. I felt as if I had seen his face somewhere in the brief moment he passed by.

However, he began chatting casually with an academy staff member walking from the opposite direction. I stared at it for a while before turning away again.

How foolish. Being an academy staff member, of course, I would have seen him somewhere.

Sofia Sub-priest approached me.

“Head Priest, are you alright?”

“Yes. It was just a slight bump.”

We continued walking. We passed the stairs leading to the spectator seats and walked through the corridor leading into the practice field. In the distance, I spotted Professor Esther standing alone in the infirmary.

Right, the infirmary. I should tend to the injured students. The second-year students’ practice was about to start, so I needed to watch the game between Daniel and Vivian….

….

“…Ha.”

Suddenly, a hollow laugh escaped me.

In the end, no one was willing to shoulder the blame.

It was nothing short of absurd.