Chapter 1:
The Empire will stand, even if blood floods the land. Fighting against the ever-growing Sharon rebellion in the north, the Otsumokuri Empire has no choice but to take them seriously. To hell with what the foreign nations say—they don’t know anything. They’re just “outsiders” showing off under the excuse of humanitarian concerns.
In the past ten years, 32 battles have taken place, 15 of which were intense, brutal clashes. Nearly 400,000 civilians, including children, have lost their lives. A total of 102 villages, with 5,000 homes, have been completely wiped out.
But lately, attacks and uprisings have become rare, and the existence of the Revolutionary supporters of the Sharond Republic is starting to be questioned in public media. Even so, the military refuses to give them any room to regroup. They interrogate prisoners of war with different levels of intensity, depending on whether they cooperate or stay silent.
A wave of arrests has swept through cities across the Empire, causing mass panic. Suspected spies and informants of the Revolutionaries are being rounded up and tried in military courts once their identities are confirmed. Reports show that over 100,000 people have been detained—74,000 were released after being confirmed as civilians, but 26,000 were identified as Revolutionaries. They were court-martialed and publicly executed.
Emilie watched as her uncle and mother were executed right before her eyes. The sight of their blood splattering from their heads and bodies made her sick—she vomited on the spot. They were the only family she had, and now, she was an orphan, left in the care of the church nuns.
Nun: May God bless you, Emi. By His grace, you were lucky to escape that execution.
Emilie: Yeah… I know they were rebels, but I…
Nun: Emi, there’s nothing we can do. There’s nothing we should do, and we don’t wish for anything to be done. Those rebels got what they deserved.
Emilie: B-But… Can I at least pray for them?
Nun: No one can forbid a believer from praying for goodness. But praying for the well-being of demons is an unforgivable heresy.
Hearing those words, wrapped in gentle yet hateful tones, Emilie found herself unable to remember if she had any other family she could trust. She loved her mother deeply, and witnessing her brutal execution right in front of her own eyes left her scarred. She swore to erase all memories of her mother and uncle—no matter how much she had once cherished them.
Chapter 2:
Nine years after the mass executions in the Otsumokuri Empire, another wave of attacks broke out in the southwest—this time, more intense than before. The military was struggling to fend off the Revolutionary forces, who now had war machines supplied by nations hostile to the Empire.
They had tanks and aircraft, alongside countless armored vehicles and IFVs. The Empire’s Crusader tanks were overwhelmed—30mm IFV autocannons shredded their side armor, taking out gunners and commanders alike.
In response, a nationwide conscription order was issued. Men aged 15 to 30 and women aged 15 to 27 were drafted. Refusal meant being branded a traitor and thrown into prison.
At 23 years old, Emilie received her conscription letter. She had no choice but to obey. Assigned to the 29th Infantry Company, she endured brutal military training at the camp. Weakness wasn’t an excuse—it was cowardice.
(Writing a letter…)
Emilie: "Barneta, how are you? It’s been about five months since I got sent to this military camp. I hope you’re doing well over there. Best, Emi." …Alright, done.
Rosie: Emi, who are you writing to? Hmm… Could it be your lover? Hmm?
Emilie: Huh? Oh, no, I was writing to my friend, Barneta. We were classmates.
Rosie: Oh? Is she in a different camp? Which company is she in?
Emilie: No, she didn’t get drafted. She has a leg injury from an accident.
Rosie: Oh… I’m sorry, I didn’t know.
After five months of grueling training, in the sixth month, they were finally sent to the frontlines—fully armed. The rumbling sounds of dozens of tanks rolling across the vast grasslands made them anxious. They could only think and pray, hoping at least some of them would make it home—even if it meant returning in pain.
Chapter 3:
Among the female recruits, one stood out. She was eerily calm, quietly reading a holy book while clutching her rifle. Emilie, noticing the resemblance to Sister Frens, happened to be beside her and decided to start a conversation.
Emilie: …First time doing something like this, huh?
???: …Are you talking to me?
Rosie: No, Lala, she’s talking to her gun. She probably thinks it’s her husband.
Emilie: What?? No, no, I’m not crazy enough to talk to an object.
Rosie: Uh, sorry, haha.
???: So…?
Emilie: I was talking to you. What’s your name?
???: Lania. But you can call me Lala, like Rosie does.
Emilie: I’m Emilie. Just call me Emi. By the way… are you a nun?
Lania: What makes you think that?
Emilie: Because nuns are the only people who can stay silent and calm during a journey. I used to be a nun at the church in Suichen City.
Rosie: Wait, what? Emi, you never told me that! How could you keep such a thing from me? Wueee… (crying).
Emilie: Oh, shut up, Rowzee.
Lania: Suichen? Wait… Did you just say Ernia Church in Suichen?!
Emilie: Yeah… Why?
Lania: Do you know a nun named Frens?!
Emilie: Yes, she was my caretaker when I first entered the orphanage. Why? What’s your connection to her?
Lania: I-It’s nothing… I just knew her from a distance. Forget it.
Rosie and Emilie exchanged confused looks. Why was she acting so strangely?