Chapter 101 – Episode 100. What I Want to Say but Can’t Say (5)
It’s an unidentified tower.
Astrid muttered and changed her clothes.
The uniform of Grand Duchess Mitterien, worn after a long time, feels quite unfamiliar.
Even after Astrid woke up in this body, it wasn’t that she had never worn the uniform of the Grand Duchess of Mitterien, but even so, it was only a couple of times, so she wasn’t used to it yet.
[It’s been a while since I’ve worn it, but it’s not bad. I used to wear it every day.]
I heard the real Astrid laughing.
In fact, her body supports her, so no matter what she wears, she looks pretty.
Astrid stood in front of the full-length mirror in her room and turned her body around, looking at herself in the mirror as if on a fashion show.
‘Under… Really, no matter what I wear, it becomes a picture.’
【Yes?】
‘It’s me too… ‘
【Wait, that’s my body. What are you talking about?]
‘I was the one who took care of it until now. Wouldn’t it be right for you to thank me instead?’
When I heard it, it made sense.
It’s my body, but it’s been a while since the real Astrid didn’t take the initiative.
Since Astrid has been taking care of her body well, I can’t bear to say no.
– Smart.
A sudden knocking sound.
But it’s worth knowing who it is.
I could already hear the sound of the enlisted soldiers gathering at the parade ground from a while ago, and I knew that the time to go to war was approaching.
Perhaps, Ashley came to tell her that it was time to leave.
“Who are you?”
– I am, sister. It’s time to get out.
As expected, it was Ashley.
It was a departure to the tower again, but the aspect was very splendid.
Wolfgang and his son Ashley, the head of the household, as well as the sorcerer Baizik of magic, and even Astrid, the white leopard of the snowy field who had been absent thanks to going to the academy.
Even the number of people here was gathered to symbolize the might of the Empire.
However, Ashley is still a bit inferior to him.
“Has everyone gathered?”
“Yes!”
Wolfgang came up to the regiment in front of the parade ground and looked around.
It seems that the preparations are complete, including the soldiers lined up in a row and the livestock carrying the soldiers’ luggage that are visible in the distance, but it will be resolved only after a formal report is received.
But, unfortunately, Wolfgang was not the place where the eyes of the soldiers were directed.
Rather, it was Baizik standing next to him, and Astrid standing in an engrossed resting posture that drew the most attention.
The fact that Astrid had returned made the soldiers curious.
Not only that, but the decembers and centurions are also showing interest in Astrid, who is standing leisurely with a snow flower on her back.
‘Why are you looking at me like this?’
【Well, isn’t that obvious? Did he come back stronger than his father, will he really succeed this time? What are you thinking about?]
‘Does it make any difference if I participate in the war alone?’
【… As for you, you talk like Astrid von Mitterien while saying that it’s your own body and that I’m participating in the war alone… Technically speaking, Astrid von Mitterien is me.]
‘Who doesn’t know? But now I can’t help it.
【Under… Really, it’s ridiculous. If anyone hears it, they’ll think I’m an uninvited guest.]
‘That’s not important.’
“Your sacrifices will be minimal this time. The protagonists of this operation are not you, but the sorcerer Baizik here, and Astrid, the eldest daughter of the Grand Duchess of Mitterien. It’s these two people. However, you should not slow down. Do you all understand?”
“Yes!”
“Then let’s go.”
In the meantime, Wolfgang’s campaign speech was over.
It wasn’t long in the first place, and there’s nothing good about giving a long speech with the soldiers standing in such a cold place.
Unlike the procession so far, where Wolfgang and Ashley stood at the front, Weizik stood at the front with Wolfgang.
Astrid thought it was strange that wizards were in the battle line, and Ashley seemed to think the same way, but if you ask that, there’s nothing more to say about the story that Wolfgang and Weizik always matched their combinations like this during the war.
“Sister, are you okay?”
“I’m finer than you, but why?”
“Still, taking a day off from that long journey and going straight to the battlefield means that my father is a bit harsh.”
There’s nothing wrong with this.
【It’s because she’s never been around with her old dad. It’s not the first time or two that I went out again that evening after returning when I was young.]
‘In my time, don’t use such words. He’s not even an old man.’
【I’m just telling the truth.】
“There is no particular problem. I’m not tired, I’m fine.”
“Then I’m glad I did.”
Ashley, who had been following the party in the middle, smiled and moved to the end of the procession, gradually moving away.
Wolfgang and Weizik at the front, Astrid in the middle, and Ashley at the back.
The procession decorated in this way left the Grand Duke’s residence and began a vigorous march toward the snowy mountain.
*
“Ugh, it’s cold… Cold.”
The academy was warm.
Just as the cold is something you get used to, it’s not that you don’t feel it. As the saying goes, even if you were born and raised in a cold place like this, being cold is no different.
Even more so, since Astrid’s body was the only thing she was born and raised with, but her head was a completely different person.
【I can’t help the cold.】
‘Ugh, it’s cold… ‘
In the campsite, soldiers who had erected thermal tents were gathering together and lighting a fire.
Since this area was still within the sphere of influence of the Grand Duke of Mitterien, it could be safely said that there were no foreigners at all anyway, so the enlisted soldiers did not look particularly nervous, and Astrid was also sitting in the middle, warming up in the fire.
The tip of his nose was burning bright red.
A sharp wind that reminds me of somewhere in Gangwon-do that I don’t want to recall, that I’ve been trying to forget.
The wind in the snowy field is beyond the level of being fierce, and it hurts at all.
“My lady, have some of this.”
An unknown private soldier cautiously approached and handed me a mug.
A morale cup, one of the supplies of the Grand Duchess of Myterien. Since tin cups cool quickly even when filled with warm water, the official supply was a cup made of this type of porcelain.
“What is this?”
“It is boiled broth. You know the stew from dinner? I got some leftover broth from the stew.”
“Oh… “
When you accept the mug, its warmth gently spreads into your palm.
Perhaps it has been boiled, steam that is still hot rises.
“Thank you, I’ll have a good drink.”
The sweet and savory taste unique to the meat bone broth that I inhaled was subtle.
The broth is not bland and tastes quite good, probably because it was seasoned with a little salt in the greasy broth.
‘Ah, I want to eat a bowl of naengmyeon.’
【What is it?】
‘It’s the food where I live. Cold noodles.’
Bibim naengmyeon is good and mul naengmyeon is also good.
I heard that naengmyeon was originally eaten in winter, but drinking this broth makes me think of naengmyeon more.
Mulnaengmyeon, which is eaten with a cool taste, by loosening the seasoning in the sour naengmyeon broth.
Bibim naengmyeon (cold noodles) topped with well-boiled noodles and topped with sweet and sour sauce.
Finally, pour a cup of broth into the bowl, rinse the bowl, and drink it.
【Do you want to go back like that?】
‘Isn’t that obvious? It’s where I used to live, and of course I want to go back.’
【Even if there is no charge?】
‘Gee, why is that story suddenly appearing?’
【That’s right, I love it enough to lick the sweat off my neck.】
‘Hey, I’m a man. What about that Is it because of estrus magic or something? Wasn’t it my will?’
Even so, Astrid clearly remembered that figure.
The sweat dripping down Leopold’s neck.
Those sweat drops…
‘A man likes a man in the first place, huh? I am heterosexual I’m not gay.’
【What can I say when I’m young? Now you know I’m actually a man! Look like this who believes that Yes, I would say reluctantly. Literally reluctantly.]
‘Mo, what if the body is a woman? That’s why I’m a man in my head.’
Despite a rather desperate protest, the real Astrid’s grinning doesn’t stop.
【The mind follows the body. Think about it, where is the evidence that you are a man now? Applying balm to your hair, saying you have to wait until it soaks in. It was like seeing Her Highness flirting with another woman and being displeased. This and that Take a look around. Where on earth do you think that is a man?]
“… Well done, I’ll go in first.”
Wolfgang, Weizik, Astrid, and Ashley were all at the level of commanders, so the tent was quite large.
It was several times larger than the tents used by other enlisted soldiers, and there was a stove heated inside.
“Good job.”
Standing on either side of the tent and lightly greeting the men on guard duty, Astrid stepped inside the tent and took off his coat and hung it on his hanger.
Then sit on the bed—
Grabbed his head.
‘Really… There’s no evidence that he’s a man.’
Even after hearing this, there really isn’t a single, not the slightest bit of masculinity left.
‘Where does my identity go… I have to solve it as soon as possible and go back quickly.’
【Well, there was a fortune telling that she had two wives. Wouldn’t it be hard?]
‘I’m definitely going back, really. Please! Please! I will definitely go back!’
【To the place where there is no charge?】
‘… I’m going back too!’
There was quite a long hesitation in that answer.
But even though she already knew that fact, the real Astrid didn’t bother to say anything.
I think that would be more fun.
