It’s not wrong. However, even if there’s much to gain, the sacrifice of a minority should not be taken for granted.

Logan glared at his former superior who was about to make the same choice as in the past, gritting his teeth.

“One thing is clear. We cannot trust the 5th Battalion led by Lord Deniro to cover our rear.”

It was a warning that Steve Deniro could end up in the same situation. To this, Steve raised his voice as if scolding.

“No matter how fast the 7th Battalion goes, it will be later than the allied forces’ advance party. We can’t save the new recruits anyway.”

“Who will take responsibility for that? Even if this operation succeeds… someone will have to explain in military court why they didn’t support the new recruits. That would be Lord Deniro here and those who agreed with his operation.”

Logan Redford continued speaking, making eye contact with each person, emphasizing that he would definitely hold them legally responsible.

When he finished speaking, everyone lowered their gaze and pretended to be busy.

This was because if the Redford Marquis family moved, they could even overturn the results of a military trial.

Of course, they probably didn’t like the idea of sacrificing their own troops either.

As Logan and Steve faced off intensely, the 6th Battalion commander stepped in to mediate between them.

“Everyone, calm down. Lord Redford, lead the 7th Battalion and depart first.”

So the 7th Battalion rushed towards Lake Aio through the pouring rain.

As they approached the lake, a thick smell of blood permeated the air amidst an eerie silence.

Logan and everyone else slowly rode their horses, hoping that even one person would be alive, with a devastating feeling.

It was when the lake became visible through the trees.

Rustle, soldiers began to appear one by one through the dense trees. Then whispers could be heard here and there.

“It’s the Imperial Army! Oh my god.”

“Oh, God hasn’t abandoned us.”

“We’re alive! Hurray! It’s the Imperial Army!”

The faces of the visibly young soldiers lit up with joy as they hugged each other in celebration.

Did they defeat them?

These greenhorns who had just graduated from the military academy defeating the allied forces’ advance party specialized in surprise attacks? Logan and the 7th Battalion looked around in disbelief.

The new recruits explained how they had won. Showing snares made of vines and pitfalls covered with grass.

“We used the terrain. We set traps all over the forest, and we scattered and hid behind trees. And then…”

“When the enemies fell into the traps, we ran out shouting and fought bravely.”

Logan’s expression hardened as he listened to the story on horseback.

“Whose strategy was it?”

The new recruits hesitated, exchanging glances at his chilling atmosphere.

After a while, one recruit came forward limping and said proudly.

“It was Second Lieutenant Sidney Warden’s strategy, sir.”

“Did you just say ‘Warden’?”

“Yes, Second Lieutenant Sidney Warden of the ‘Guardian Sword of Arsenal’ Warden family, sir.”

Logan Redford jumped off his horse. Then he asked the new recruits and headed towards the lake where Sidney Warden was said to be.

Anthony Warden.

Despite his frail body that could barely hold a sword, he never missed a scholarship at the military academy with his excellent grades.

Not only that. He had led numerous battles to victory with his outstanding strategies and operations every time.

Although his achievements were not separately recorded… everyone remembered.

To think that he was saving Anthony’s younger sister. Logan Redford ran quickly, thanking God.

Neither the pouring rain nor the branches scratching his face and hands could stop Logan.

So he arrived at the lakeside.

The rain pouring from the sky madly beat the wide lake.

And Sidney Warden was standing in front of it. Looking down at her hands with her head lowered.

When Logan took a few steps to approach Sidney, lightning flashed, revealing her face.

The miserably distorted expression meant the obvious. It’s a process everyone goes through at least once.

It must have been the first time.

The madness of people rushing to kill her, the desperation of having to kill them to survive. And the deaths left by that moment of frenzy.

Even though it was scary and frightening.

Nevertheless, Sidney Warden must have tried to remain calm in front of her frightened subordinates, befitting an ‘officer’ of the Imperial Army.

That’s how she was taught, and that’s how she could protect her subordinates… she must have endured with all her might.

At that moment, Logan saw his past self turning away, leaving Sidney alone in the rain. Logan reached out his hand and said,

“Don’t go.”

But his past self went back the way he came. All this was just a memory and a dream from the past. Something he had no influence over.

Damn it. Logan nervously brushed up his bangs and walked towards the lake.

Sidney was still standing with her shoulders drooped and head lowered.

If he hadn’t gone there that day, defying all opposition, or if he had been even slightly delayed by the bad weather and arrived later than the allied forces…

The mere thought made him shudder. At just sixteen years old, Sidney Warden was crying with her face all contorted, making choking sounds.

Watching her completely drenched in the pouring rain, his heart felt like it was being torn apart.

All he could do was watch in despair at his own helplessness, unable to hug those trembling shoulders or offer words of comfort.

How long had it been? At some point, the sound of rain beating the lake disappeared, and a sleepy voice echoed in his mind.

“Mmm, Logan…”

He opened his eyes slightly to the sensation of a fragrant body heat snuggling into his arms. Sidney Warden was sleeping soundly in his embrace.

It was a dream after all. Logan tightened his arms around Sidney and let out a sigh of relief.

After remaining frozen for a moment, Logan muttered to himself with a surge of emotion and determination.

“I’ll never… let you cry alone again.”

As he slowly stroked the back of the sleeping Sidney, as if soothing a child.

Somehow, I ended up falling asleep in Logan Redford’s arms.

Strictly speaking, for a couple about to marry, who had already spent a night together, it shouldn’t be anything new. Moreover, as he said…

We only shared a bed, there wasn’t anything particularly embarrassing. Rather, when I woke up alone in the morning…

Sidney frowned as she looked out the window of the moving carriage.

She glanced sideways at the opposite seat and her eyes met Logan’s directly. She flinched inwardly but spoke as if nothing was wrong.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Not particularly.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I think my fiancée has become even prettier.”

A plain gaze and monotonous tone. Yet it sounded sincere – was that what I wanted to hear?

I don’t know. Since yesterday? Since the day before? No, going further back, since we talked about ‘marriage’… Logan Redford had become a different person.

Or maybe I just couldn’t understand his words.

Logan arrogantly crossed his arms and asked a question.

“Is it because we shared a bed? Or because of the dream?”

“Let’s say it’s because of the dream.”

“Do you know what kind of dream it was?”

“…I don’t know.”

After drawing a firm line, Sidney turned her gaze back to the window.

Wallgarden Avenue, crossing the administrative district of the Arsenal Empire. It was bustling with carriages and people hurrying to work.

As a strong wind swept through the street, the delicate frost flowers blooming on the street trees scattered.

While blankly watching the morning scenery no different from usual, the Imperial Army Headquarters building came into view and the carriage slowed down.

As she was gathering her document envelope.

“You were crying alone in the rain. It really felt awful.”

A mix of emotions crossed her mind. Right after graduating from the academy, when she was leading new recruits to the front lines, Battalion Commander Biles visited her late at night.

Let’s meet again alive. Leaving those words behind, Captain Biles left with the escort team members.

Hiding wasn’t going to solve anything. Sidney led the new recruits and set up camp by the lakeside.

They took out tools and weapons from the supply boxes, set traps here and there in the forest, and faced the enemy with their backs to the lake.

Fortunately, the sky helped them, and thanks to the rain, wind, and thick mist, they were barely able to repel the enemy.

It was their first victory. But as things settled into a lull, she broke down in the face of the horrific and cruel reality of war she encountered for the first time.

That day, she cried so much in the rain. Trembling with fear of when the enemies might come again.

Why did that day come to mind? Logan Redford had just told a nonsensical dream story.

Sidney Warden smiled self-deprecatingly.

“Why? It’s just a dream anyway, and it’s not something that would upset you, Commander.”

“That’s right. I left you to cry like that.”

Logan readily admitted it and added in a small voice, “It’s something to reflect on.”

And before she could ask what he meant, he got out of the carriage. She hurriedly gathered her documents and followed him.

The garden in front of the Imperial Army Headquarters was white with snow that had piled up overnight, and the path leading to the main entrance was bustling with people going to work.

As she was about to blend into the crowd next to Logan, someone ran up and grabbed her shoulder.

“Sidney, why are you coming to work with the Commander?”

“What are you talking about?”

As she flatly denied it, Walter Asner pointed towards where the carriage had been and pressed on.

“You just got out of the Commander’s carriage. And where did you sleep last night?”