I Was Sent to an All-Female Frontline Unit to Get Rid of Some of the Trouble, but the Most Beautiful Girls Who Are Rumored to Hate Men Love Me So Much That I Have a Hard Time at Night - Chapter 19: Unexpected Survival (1)

Chapter 19: Unexpected Survival (1)

“Fi… Finn Teraward…!? N-No way…! Why are you alive…!? And completely unscathed at that…!?”

“Why, you ask? Rather, did you really think Finn-kun would die so easily while staying with us, the strongest unit of the Luvankrum Empire’s military?”

Elena-san asked in a calm voice, completely different from how she usually speaks when talking with me or the front-line unit members.

But then again, it’s common for people, including myself, to change their demeanor while on duty.

Since I also know that the members of this unit generally dislike men in the military, I wasn’t particularly surprised.

“W-Well, when you put it that way, that’s true… B-But, you all dislike interacting with men, even toward us, don’t you? That Finn Teraward is also a man, just like us—”

“Huh? The same as Teraward-kun?”

“In what way?”

“Impossible.”

“All you have is your pride.”

“It makes my skin crawl.”

“…!”

Even from the parts I could catch, everyone was directing rather dark words toward the man.

The man let out a bitter groan.

“…More importantly, there’s something that caught my attention—”

Just as Norn-san started to speak, the man suddenly raised his voice dramatically.

“I-I see! So Finn Teraward is alive! As expected of someone who graduated at the top of the magic academy and possesses exceptional talent among the trainees! For the upper ranks, the decision to send you, despite still being a trainee, to the dangerous front lines must have been a difficult one… But! The fact that you are alive like this proves just how outstanding you are! Wonderful! This report will surely bring great joy to the upper ranks!”

—That’s not true.

If I hadn’t heard anything from my superior, I might have been genuinely happy hearing those words by now.

“—You are in the way.”

“—A commoner holding such a position is disgraceful for us nobles.”

“—Don’t resent me, alright? It was decided by a majority vote within the upper ranks.”

Since I had been informed of these things by my superior, I could clearly tell that his words were false.

Most likely, I was originally supposed to already be dead by now.

…But I won’t point out that falsehood here.

Yesterday, I almost told Elena-san the truth.

But with everyone here, and even if they weren’t, bringing up such a dark topic wouldn’t change anything. It’s better not to talk about it.

As I was thinking that, the man continued speaking.

“Finn Teraward, develop your abilities even further in this front-line unit! W-Well then, we shall take our leave!”

With that final remark, the men turned their horses around and left the area.

As I continued to process my superior’s words in my mind, everyone began muttering to themselves.

“What was with that condescending tone…?”

“So irritating…”

“Can I attack him?”

“You may not.”

At that moment, Sephia-san spoke up for the first time.

“I understand your feelings, but attacking allied forces is a violation of military regulations. If we were to attack them, that would mean opposing the Luvankrum Empire’s military itself, and we would be forced to form a new army. At the very least, this is not something that should be decided based on temporary emotions.”

“Sephia-senpai…”

“That is true, but…”

Everyone was talking about something.

But their conversation barely registered in my ears.

What was occupying my mind was the warning from my superior—

“That aside, Finn-kun! Finn-kun, you graduated at the top of the magic academy!!”

“Huh…? A-Ah, yes.”

As Elena-san spoke to me cheerfully, I snapped back to reality and responded.

Then, everyone else started speaking to me as well.

“That’s right! We shouldn’t be wasting our time talking about those guys!”

“Teraward-kun, you not only graduated at the top of the magic academy but also stood out among the trainees!”

“Tera-kun, you’re amazing!”

“U-Uh… T-Thank you…”

“Ah! He’s blushing…!”

“So cute…!”

“Even in times like this, just seeing Teraward-kun’s smile is so soothing…”

As everyone continued speaking to me in bright voices, the words from my superior gradually faded from my mind.

…Truly.

These people are—

They are such warm people.

◆◇◆

At the Luvankrum Empire’s military headquarters.

In the conference room, four members of the upper ranks were waiting for the unit that had gone to confirm Finn Teraward’s death to return.

“Everyone! P-Pardon my intrusion!!”

The moment that frantic voice was heard, a man rushed into the room in a hurry.

He was the man who had spoken earlier when they visited the front lines.

“What is this commotion?”

Deandre frowned as he spoke, causing the man to hurriedly explain.

“M-My apologies! However, an unexpected situation has arisen…”

“Unexpected situation? Was the front line engaged in battle?”

“But isn’t the front-line unit the strongest in the Luvankrum Empire’s military? If so, wouldn’t they have resolved it quickly?”

“N-No, that’s not it…”

The man was sweating, as if even speaking the words was terrifying.

After a brief pause, he finally spoke heavily.

“That commoner trainee… Finn Teraward… is still alive.”

“Oh, is that all?”

Deandre responded calmly and continued.

“That much was within our expectations… Rather, if Teraward is still alive and bearing the resentment of those man-haters toward men, that in itself would be desirable—”

“But! …He was completely unscathed.”

“What…!?”

“Finn Teraward is uninjured, and in fact, the women of the front-line unit seemed to have accepted him.”

“I-Impossible…!!”

For the first time, the composure vanished from Deandre’s expression.

His voice rose as he shouted in anger.

“Unbelievable!! Those man-haters!? The ones who never open their hearts to any man—why would they, of all people, accept Teraward!?”

“I… I don’t know.”

“…! What is going on!? The front-line unit is under your command!!”

Deandre directed his voice toward a woman with purple hair, adorned with medals on her chest—the Luvankrum Medal.

“I don’t know either. For them to accept a man is completely unexpected for me as well.”

Despite calling it unexpected, there was no trace of surprise on her exquisitely beautiful face.

She then turned to the man who had reported and asked.

“Tell me something.”

“W-What is it?”

“Finn… What is Finn Teraward’s height now?”

“H-Height…?”

“Yes, just tell me whether he is taller or shorter than me.”

“If that’s all… I believe he is shorter than you.”

“I see.”

Upon hearing that, the purple-haired woman lowered her gaze.

She was young but highly competent, earning a place among the upper ranks. She was not the type to say meaningless things.

As the men around her tilted their heads, wondering if there was a hidden meaning behind her question—

There wasn’t.

With her face lowered, the purple-haired woman blushed, and with an enraptured expression, she murmured so softly that no one else could hear.

“Finn… You’re still shorter than me… I was worried that if you had grown taller than me, I wouldn’t be able to hold you anymore, but I’m relieved… How tall exactly are you now? Around my chest height would be perfect… Fufu, just like my body has grown more womanly since then, you’ve also grown, both in physique and magic… I want to see you soon, Finn…”