Chapter 99: Victory Without Applause

The ship, which had stopped sailing on its own at some point and arrived at the port towed by a tugboat, looked miserable. Seeing the main mast broken, it was thought fortunate it hadn’t been wrecked. It was hard to find intact sails either. And perhaps because of that, those standing on the ship seemed to feel the joy of returning home even more.

“It’s Noberten!”

“It’s our home, we really arrived home!”

Waaaaah! Cheers rang from the ship. Combined with the song for martial luck heard from under the bridge, the shouts of those who returned from the war sounded almost majestic.

However, the cheers didn’t last long. Just as the appearance of the ship battered by the rough sea became clear, the appearance of the port must have become clear to those on the ship as well.

Soon, instead of cheers, only murmurs full of bewilderment flowed from the ship. They probably expected people welcoming them who brought victory to Henia. No, maybe they just expected their families to be there.

However, the port they arrived at was just desolate.

“The news that they arrive today must have been conveyed to the King as well, right?”

“Yes.”

“The disappointment must be great.”

The King, who was anxious because he couldn’t know the return ship’s route, showed no reaction when he received word that they would arrive in Noberten soon. Far from passionately promoting through newspapers that Henia’s great victors are returning, he didn’t even prepare a formal welcome greeting.

It’s because Philius’s name value has risen too high in the meantime.

He hurriedly summoned the generals to quell the rumor flowing without source that the King’s Brother achieved the merit of victory, but many things changed while they were coming to Noberten. Voices calling Philius’s name, far from subsiding, only grew louder.

“There was an observation ship that discovered them after informing the King of the route. His Majesty our King seems very angry at their appearance.”

It meant that the shabby appearance of the victors, contrary to expectations, was also a reason for the poor treatment.

“He probably also thought it problematic that the Tranche Bridge is close to the port.”

If people watching the shantytown on the bridge hadn’t been surprised by the sudden appearance of the return ship and crossed over, only fishermen repairing nets would have welcomed them.

“Heroes have returned! Welcome!”

A stately old gentleman shouted towards the lead ship with the broken main mast, but no reaction returned from the ship. The ships following in a line were also silent. Although no ship was as damaged as the lead ship, they were also in a state that could never be called good. Are they really victors? Even the few people began to look at them with suspicious eyes.

From across the bridge, noisy singing still rang out. Mercenaries preciously washing and drying camouflage uniforms while wearing rags, and generals in red uniforms standing on mastless ships, despite the incomparable difference in status, looked very similar.

The process of a giant ship docking at the port couldn’t be simple. Whether tired of that long and boring process or disappointed that it wasn’t the appearance of victors they hoped for, some of the few people remaining at the port turned away.

By the time officers started disembarking from the docked ships one by one, really only a countable number of people remained. The song for martial luck sung messily by mercenaries was the biggest cheer for them.

Still, the officers didn’t forget they were still soldiers. Those who disembarked gathered in an orderly manner. To my eyes, it looked like they were trying not to forget they were victors, at least to themselves.

When all officers lined up at the port, Philius held my right hand with his left hand wearing the ring and walked forward. He greeted the person standing at the very front.

“Welcome back, General Populus.”

When General Populus’s right hand tried to move, Philius shook his head firmly. The general’s right hand, trying to salute, stopped in the air.

“No need for unnecessary formalities.”

The old general’s mouth looked stubborn. His eyes looking at Philius seemed full of dissatisfaction.

“…Do the people of this country know what Your Excellency the Commander-in-Chief has done?”

To the general’s low question, Philius only laughed lightly. The general’s hand stopped in the air clenched into a fist. Strong enough for veins to pop out.

“I just wanted to welcome you. And that purpose is already achieved.”

Without even shaking hands, Philius soon stepped aside.

“Do you intend to keep that many people standing? They must want to return home as soon as possible.”

Philius said tilting his head to one side towards General Populus who didn’t move. As if he had no choice, General Populus exhaled a long breath. Still, bowing silently to Philius eventually, he signaled to the adjutant standing a step behind and started moving his steps again.

“All forces march!”

The expressions of officers who started walking following General Populus were just dark. The relief of finally returning home couldn’t be found. Some even had faces completely red as if very angry.

“All forces halt!”

When the short march stopped on the Tranche Bridge, some showed relieved expressions. But soon they crumpled their faces at the scenery spread along the riverbank.

“Oh, f*ck.”

Someone unable to endure eventually spat out a curse. Because he recognized the camouflage uniforms spread by the riverside.

General Populus, who was at the lead, left the formation and approached the bridge railing. His face looking down hardened like stone.

The mercenaries’ singing, which was almost merry, stopped at some point. Gazes looking up at the bridge increased one by one, and eventually, everyone on the riverbank came to look at the same place. At the officers in red uniforms standing on the bridge.

“What is going to happen?”

One of those who came to watch the shantytown and became a witness to this strange confrontation whispered. It was a voice full of expectation that something interesting might happen. Since mercenaries and officers were existences that could never mix, like rags and red uniforms.

General Populus’s arm, looking down with a hardened face, moved.

“Crazy…!”

Another person shouted in surprise. It seemed difficult for him to understand the general’s action.

General Populus saluted towards the mercenaries. Toward the mercenaries like a group of defeated soldiers. As if paying utmost respect to the King.

It was the same for the mercenaries who didn’t understand General Populus’s action. They couldn’t make a sound as they couldn’t dare chatter as they pleased towards the general, but their flustered look was evident.

“Salute!”

The person standing right behind General Populus shouted towards the officers lined up on the bridge. And he also saluted towards the mercenaries below the bridge.

Following that, officers’ arms began to go up one by one. Some didn’t move, perhaps thinking they couldn’t possibly show respect to mercenaries no matter how much soldiers must follow the principle of obedience, but more than half of the officers saluted towards the mercenaries. For me, the fact that so many officers showed respect to mercenaries first was unbelievable.

“Attention!”

Someone commanded the mercenaries staring blankly at the sight. I knew the owner of that voice. It was John.

“Salute!”

Mercenaries looking up blankly moved like one body at John’s command.

“What is, this…”

A voice tired as if having never imagined such a scene was heard.

He probably can’t even imagine. The fact that if General Populus had received the King’s order and drawn a gun towards them, the mercenaries would have taken out hidden weapons and engaged in battle.

General Populus, receiving the mercenaries’ return salute, soon lowered his hand and turned his body. As if waiting for that moment, officers also turned their bodies in the same direction in unison.

Mercenaries started singing carelessly again. Not the song for martial luck, but a song with vulgar lyrics often heard in pubs. Hearing the song with shameful content, some made expressions as if rather relieved.

Officers crossed the bridge and advanced to the square. Mercenaries with nowhere to go remained on the riverbank and started sharing food emitting strange smells. It was the moment when the time where impossible things happened broke and returned to daily life.

A faint scent of roses wafted.

The person emitting pheromones sharp like thorny roses was Spes Umbra. Leaving the formation at some point, he remained without crossing the bridge. Glaring at Philius.

Gray light flickered in his brown eyes. I frowned at his appearance unable to control pheromones properly. And simultaneously, the scent of the forest spread.

“Kuh…!”

It’s a scent only comforting to me, but it seemed not so for Spes Umbra. Deprived of initiative by Philius at once, he bent his waist and moaned. The rose scent disappeared without a trace.

What is so unfair? Spes Umbra glared at Philius even with eyes where gray light completely disappeared. With a face heavily distorted with pain.

“As expected, it was you. You…”

Words of resentment were clearly directed at Philius. But unable to endure the pain anymore, Spes Umbra soon rolled his eyes back and fainted.

The scent of the forest wafted again. The few onlookers were fixed in their standing postures. Messy singing still rang from under the bridge.

“Are you okay?”

Against the background of a scene like stopped film, Philius asked me worriedly. I felt like laughing for some reason.