The Narkals' siege on the Ashbastion remained firm.
For the last couple of days, however, the relentless attacks on the walls had abated for some reason. Ashen didn't know what the more intelligent Demon-tier Narkals were thinking behind this move, but what he knew was that there was no rest for the wicked.
Now, his battlefield had transferred from physical brutal violence to the mental torture known as paperwork and logistics.
A burly man ran through the plaza and stopped across from Ashen, who had a table and chair installed under the shade of a tree as he kept running through the files of his new soldiers.
"Major General!"
Yes… that was Ashen's new position. The title felt foreign to his ears, even if it had been a while since he'd been called that. But as a division commander, they couldn't still call him captain, so they'd bestowed upon him this new designation.
"Deputy." Lifting his head from the papers, he briefly looked at the man's appearance, who looked like he was trying too hard to fit into some kind of hierarchy but was failing miserably. "Report."
"Sir! The Brigadier General of the Greed Battalion wants to see you."
"Tell him to come over." Ashen nodded nonchalantly.
"Yes, sir!"
Not even a minute later, heavy steps announced a man built like a tank.
A one-handed axe was strapped to his side, a circular shield resting against his back.
The bald man wore a hardened expression that looked etched into him, as though it had lingered so long it had become his default.
The weight behind his brown eyes told its own story, cluing in anyone who met his gaze to the harshness of the life he'd lived.
When Ashen looked at him, he froze… and so did the man.
"Braun… is that you?"
"...Ashen?"
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"So… how's life been treating you?"
After the unexpected reunion, Ashen decided to take their meeting to a more secluded place after he was done with his work.
"I'm alive…" Braun smiled, a smile that struggled not to turn bitter as he uttered the words.
Both of them gazed at the horizon as a moment of silence lingered.
And the sight of grotesque Narkal hordes greeted them, making Braun finally let out a resigned sigh. "I say… did you have to bring us here, Ash?"
Ashen shrugged. He was already accustomed to the sight, so it had stopped bothering him long ago. "Well, the top of the walls is the closest quiet place around here… since no one wants to stay here for too long if it wasn't their turn as the lookout."
"...That's true." Braun smiled helplessly. "Having to constantly keep watching the most likely cause of their inevitable demise would drive anyone mad…"
"..."
Ashen internally agreed, but something else bothered him. "It's rare for you to say such depressive things… Are you really alright?"
He remembered that Braun had always been steadfast in his demeanor. Even that one time where they'd almost died, he'd only had his daughter on his mind as he offered to sacrifice his life for him and Seraphine to give them a chance to run away.
Well… there was that one time he'd broken down when he confessed his past to him, but even then, most of the grief and guilt had come from how he'd wronged his daughter.
So Ashen couldn't help but ask when he heard such depressive words.
"I'm fine… of course." Braun paused for a second but nodded soon after.
"...Really?"
"Really… I'm even a colonel of a whole battalion now, I'll have you know." He boasted with mock pride, but then a sheepish smile found his face. "Nothing compared to you, though. Major General."
With Braun's last remark, it was Ashen's turn now to blush, but he waved off the compliment.
"It's just a temporary position… once this crisis passes, I don't think any titles will hold, especially for us Reserve 'soldiers'..."
With everyone dying in droves daily, it was inevitable that some positions would rapidly change hands as they became vacant.
"Oh, that reminds me! What's up with that? Why are you among the Reserve Troops, Ashen?" Braun's face suddenly frowned in concern. He knew for a fact that the army he'd just joined was composed of the Pit's criminals.
…And only now did he realize what it meant to find that his friend was among them.
"Yeah, about that…" Ashen didn't know how to explain.
Scratching the back of his head, he said, "...Let's just say that I've sinned by being weak. Heh."
Braun raised his head and looked Ashen in the eyes. He suddenly found the same gaze that he constantly saw in the mirror reflected in the younger man.
…A bitter, tired gaze.
"...Seems like you also have it hard, huh…" Braun finally sighed, and the joy of reunion finally turned bittersweet.
"Haah… Back then, at the tutorial phase, things were much simpler…" Ashen mirrored the sigh. Those memories kept popping into his head from the moment he'd found Braun.
"True. At that time, even under the constant threat of death, and even when we were surrounded by the depraved, we were able to carve out our own little circle… me, you, and that lass, Seraphine…"
"Too bad the team had to eventually dissolve. We always had this special kind of chemistry when we fought together." Ashen wasn't joking about this. Even back then, when all of them were rookies fumbling about, the three of them had had some kind of tacit understanding that always allowed them to prevail, and even laugh about it afterwards.
"Yeah…" Braun answered absentmindedly, also lost in reminiscence.
"..."
"..."
"...Are you really alright, Braun?"
"...Actually, I'm not, Ashen."
Ashen looked at him.
"...They say that the Houndwardens have it easier than the Bloodwall soldiers, but that's only true for some."
Braun's eyes narrowed. "...You have those with connections, their sons, their friends, and then their friends' friends… then you have us, the bottom feeders… the ones who have to run to do our job, and everyone else's…"
He paused for a bit before sighing. "I'm being exploited and used worse than a slave. I can't remember the last time I had a full day of rest."
Braun put a hand on the silently listening Ashen's shoulder. "I'm not saying this for your pity, friend… I'm sure you have your own problems… and I'm sure they're probably bigger than mine…"
Grrk—gnnnk
Ashen could hear the sound of teeth gnashing. Eventually, Braun spat, "But I'm stuck here, Ashen… I can't go back to see my daughter. It's been more than a year since I've seen her, Ash…"
"Braun… I really want to help, but you know, you're not the only one stuck here now…" Ashen spoke softly.
"I know… I know… haaah." Braun palmed his face and calmed his emotions at last. "It's just… You know… my recruiter is a son of a bitch. I can't even send a message back… Something about it being unnecessary… talk about being an asshole…"
He paused for a moment. "...So, I wanted to ask you instead, how's your relationship with yours? Can she do me this favor? This is all I'm asking for, Ashen, please…"
Braun's voice was almost begging by the end of it, and Ashen found himself nodding even though his last meeting with Lucia had ended in a disagreement.
"Don't worry, I'll handle it. Just write down what you want to say, and I'll deliver it."
"...Thank you."
"You're just a dad doing your best to see your daughter, no need for thanks. It would be my honor to help instead," Ashen smiled. "In fact, last year I checked up on her when I had a chance to go back, and she's doing really fine from what I saw, so you don't have to worry too much. That girl's a warrior, I tell you."
"...Really?" Braun's voice was the brightest Ashen had ever heard since their reunion as he exclaimed.
"Yep. So don't let this hold you down… remember where we are… It would be really sad if you ended up as Narkal meal because of your worries, no? Your daughter would truly be alone then, so cheer up!"
"...Ashen, that's not how you cheer up people." Braun couldn't help but shake his head, but a small, helpless smile still found its way to his lips.
"It seems to be working, though…"
"...Well, I don't know why, but staying close to you is somehow soothing. Is it some kind of skill…?" Braun asked curiously, and Ashen had to take two steps back, looking at him weirdly.
"Ah… that came out wrong."
"Heh, don't worry, I know what you mean. That's just the Sloth concept rubbing off on you… I'm still adjusting, and the aura is all over the place due to my recent ascension…"
"Oh, congratulations!"
"Thanks."
The atmosphere finally eased as they started talking, jumping from one subject to another, until someone interrupted them.
The sound of heels clicking on stone echoed, making the two men turn to the source. A nun approached them in the "standard" uniform of her faction, and the duo suddenly found their eyes wandering without their notice.
The nun didn't seem to mind as she approached them with a bright smile, totally unsuitable for the current setting. "Major General Ashen Hart?"
"You're correct. Is there something you need?" Ashen nodded seriously. He knew that it was largely thanks to these nuns' faction that they had some breathing room, so he wasn't about to treat her lightly, no matter how scandalously she dressed.
"Yes! Our saintess is asking for your presence if time allows it. I wonder if now is okay?"
Ashen raised an eyebrow. He was sure he'd never had any dealings with any saintess, and his fame didn't warrant such a summons.
…Either way, he'd know if he went, and now was as good a time as any.
Ashen glanced at Braun, and the latter just nodded.
Ashen returned the nod and turned back to the nun. "Alright, lead the way, sister."
"Of course!" She beamed as she clasped her hands before turning around and leading the way in light steps.
Ashen followed closely behind, curious about where this was going. 'Saintess, huh… Well, from the rumors I hear, she does sound like one… now let's see if she looks like one. Hmm.'
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