NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: The War Criminal Arrives! / Indeed, You Are the Ideal Hero!
【In a Barracks Room】
“Why did it turn out like this when I thought we could finally live in peace after the war…?”
Today, twenty years after my reincarnation, I have become a “Baron Noble.”
It’s quite a promotion.
Originally, I was a commoner. No matter how much a commoner achieves on the battlefield, the best they can hope for is a knighthood or a landless clergy nobility.
But now, I am a landowning baron, which is amazing.
All the effort paid off since I was conscripted, Johnny! (※ Johnny: A guy from the same village. Stupid, passionate, and noisy. Vanished after taking a direct hit from a flame magic cannon. His last words were “Mogyah!?”)
“Compared to my previous life as a mere salaryman who died in an accident, this is a huge leap forward. But…”
There was a reason I couldn’t be completely happy. That was,
“Why is the land given to me right before enemy territory…?”
Yes. Right in front of the Urs Kingdom, which is in a cold war with our Holy Empire of Weiss.
You might think I’m a border count, but that’s untrue.
Right behind my land, there’s the Shurehito Border Count family.
So, it’s like “Enemy country – Me – Shurehito’s place.”
Hmm, this is a meat shield!!! (Despair)
“The Shurehito family is a distant relative, but this is like being a canary in a coal mine, isn’t it…?”
In short, if there’s a surprise attack, I’m the first to suffer, and the Shurehito family can continue their military preparations unharmed.
Living life as a rear guard. I can’t stand it…
“The cold war has been going on for a while, so it’s fine… The Urs Kingdom wouldn’t dare attack, hahaha!”
I laughed as if to convince myself.
I have to be optimistic. Sigh…
“――Excuse me! Captain Alvatros!”
That’s when it happened. A voice calling me from outside the door.
Instantly, my social awkwardness kicked in, and my voice and expression stiffened.
Oh, by the way, my name is Vincent Alvatros.
“What do you want? Come in.”
“Yes, Your Excellency!”
My subordinate entered respectfully.
You don’t need to be so stiff…
“It’s an honor to meet you, the great star of the Black Wing Mountain in the sky, Captain Alvatros…!”
“Skip the formalities, what’s your business?”
Well, I don’t need such reverence. Ever since I accidentally became captain after all the higher-ups died, everyone’s been like this.
I seem to have a great talent for magic and have achieved military success, but inside, I’m just a scaredy-cat.
“Hahaha. Your Excellency, in light of your appointment as a lord, a magic soldier girl has been assigned as a reinforcement from the royal family…”
“Oh?”
That’s great news!
Not everyone can use magic, so magic soldiers are rare.
Depending on their abilities, one can be as powerful as an entire division, and they are in high demand in any unit.
“So, when will this girl join us?”
I’m supposed to leave for my territory in a few days. Why the sudden dispatch?
“Yes, Your Excellency, she’s already waiting in the hallway. ――Nina Shubain, come in.”
“Excuse me.”
Responding to the subordinate’s call, she returned in a strong-willed voice.
Huh? Nina Shubain? Sounds familiar.
As I thought this, the door opened, and
“……Nina Shubain, First-Class Magic Soldier, reporting for duty under your command, Your Excellency!”
A silver-haired, big-breasted beauty with at least an L-cup size entered, flinching momentarily as she saw me.
“Ah, you’re Nina…”
Hmm, amazing chest armor! And such a pretty face. She could easily be a top idol in my previous life.
Well, her golden eyes are swirling dangerously, but her face is beautiful… Wait, what!?
I’ve seen her face in the military court records!
“…Nina Shubain. If I remember correctly, you were on trial for the crime of ‘destroying a guerrilla infiltration camp and involving enemy civilians,’ right?”
Yes. She’s a war criminal known for burning guerrillas and civilians alive with her fire magic. Scary.
Why is such a woman here? Ah, could it be a wrongful accusation!?
“Yes, Your Excellency! There’s no mistake in the charges! But I proudly believe it was all to protect our allies!”
Wait, is it not a wrongful accusation? And don’t be proud of it!!!
Eeeek, this war criminal beauty is really scary…!
“This time, due to intervention by the royal family, your trial has been temporarily suspended, and you’ve been assigned to serve under Captain Alvatros!”
Why did this happen!?
What is the royal family thinking!?
“…By the way, Your Excellency, you have the right to refuse my admission. What will you do…?”
Eh, really!? Can I refuse!?
Then goodbye――but wait?
This Nina, she doesn’t regret it at all, does she? Proud of her massacre?
If I refuse her, is there no chance she’ll go berserk with, “You also deny me!? Die!”?
Right at the start of my nobility, if I were to refuse a gift from the royal family, imagine how I’d be talked about… ugh, the pressure…!
Well, I have no choice…
“――I will accept. You are now under my command as long as you obey my military orders.”
“!? Thank you very much!”
So, reluctantly, I gave my permission…
Because I’m scared! I don’t want to deal with a war criminal!
“Ah, as expected, your Excellency is the star of the Empire…! I believed you, the heralded ‘Hero Alvatros,’ would trust in my justice!”
Like I trust you! Please, just follow the military discipline!
◆ ◇ ◆
“I can’t accept this! Do you understand how much damage our army would have suffered if I hadn’t acted!?”
Nina was on the brink of despair.
All for the victory of the Weiss Empire and to protect her allies, she eradicated the despicable guerrillas.
Yet, she was sent to court as a criminal for slightly involving enemy civilians.
What a breach of the treaty.
Prioritize some unknown rules over watching your comrades fall into danger. Ridiculous.
“I did nothing wrong! The number of sacrifices and tears I stopped proves my justice!”
Despite her cries on the witness stand―the guilty verdict was not overturned.
Oh, what a joke.
My military comrades thanked me sincerely, saying, “Thank you!” But what about those sitting in the court?
Why are they slandering me, a hero, from their peaceful capital untouched by war?
I’ll kill those civilians.
――With such pent-up feelings, she waited for her sentencing.
Unexpectedly, the royal family intervened in the trial, and this decision was made.
“Join Captain Alvatros’ troops. If rejected, choose death.”
An unforeseen decree.
The royal family’s intent was unclear, but she knew “Hero Alvatros.”
Rumored to be the strongest.
Unparalleled.
He was a mere conscript soldier who awakened to his magic talents amidst desperate battlefields and carved a path for the Empire’s military with his absolute achievements.
Thus, Nina came to meet such a man―
“Ho, so you are Nina.”
…And immediately realized the glorious rumors were true!
Like the mane of a king of beasts, his hair shone golden, and his eyes, a mysterious emperor purple, glistened wetly.
And his robust body, even under military garb, bore the marks of numerous battlefields.
He was the king of war, a living god sent by the war deity, Nina Shubain realized at a glance.
Ah, that’s why…
The thought of my justice being denied by such a person is terrifying.
“…By the way, Your Excellency, you have the right to refuse my admission. What will you do…?”
Nina asked, fear in her heart.
Then, after what seemed like an eternity, “Hero Alvatros” declared.
From now on, you are under my command!
“Ahh, your Excellency!”
Accepted! Accepted! Accepted!
The hero of the world, the golden lord, the god of war, has accepted my justice!
Nina would never forget the thrill of that moment.
The proud day she was denied was picked up by that man.
“I will follow you forever, your Excellency, even to the grave!”
“So it is…”
――Thus, war criminal beauty Nina pledged her loyalty, unaware that the man before her was thinking, “Please, just don’t follow me…!”
【Character Introduction】
Alvatros-kun: A reincarnated, hard-working blonde with purple eyes who climbed the ranks. Strong but a scaredy cat inside. Extremely afraid of the war criminal beauty.
Nina Shubain: War criminal #1 with silver hair swirling golden eyes. Wanted to kill all the jurors. Thinks enemy civilians are just a breeding ground for enemy soldiers, so wants to kill them. Likes Alvatros-kun.
Subordinate-san: A believer in Alvatros. Once saved by him, they’ve shared experiences worth three novels. Always nervous when speaking. Likes Alvatros-kun. Incidentally, a female.