Reincarnated User Manual

Chapter 342: The Reincarnated (4)

Two years had passed since then.

For humans, two years might not be considered particularly long or short, but during the Great War, it felt exceptionally brief.

This was because much had changed.

The bustling expeditionary force headquarters, once teeming with supplies and manpower, was no more.

The prostitutes in revealing clothes, who preyed on soldiers’ small earnings, had disappeared.

There were no more soldiers playing card games out of boredom or napping in corners.

“What on earth happened here?”

Yura muttered as she observed the dreary atmosphere of the headquarters.

The headquarters, which she had returned to after a long time, felt strikingly different.

She didn’t know what had transpired in the meantime, but the air felt prickly, as if needles were floating in it. Discipline was razor-sharp; any provocation seemed likely to lead to immediate blows.

Of course, with Kyrie sticking closely by her side, the likelihood of such an altercation was slim, but Yura still found the signs ominous.

‘Could something major have happened…?’

Having spent a long time with the expeditionary force, Yura had developed a keen sense of awareness. She knew what to do in moments like these and quickly translated thought into action.

Yura gestured to her companions following behind her and said,

“Let’s take care of our business quickly and leave. There’s an open area far from here where we can set up camp.”

“Got it.”

Although it was only Seira who responded, everyone silently followed Yura’s lead.

After all, Yura’s group had also been through their share of troubles.

Upon entering the largest and most ornate tent, the group encountered a scarred man.

He was Nidel Schneider, the supreme commander of the expeditionary force.

A scar ran across his face, and one of his eyes was hidden beneath a black eyepatch. His head, still marred by burns, was just as it had been the last time they’d seen him.

Despite his ghastly appearance, which was hard to look at directly, the smile on his lips radiated warmth.

“What is this? Isn’t it Lady Yura?”

Nidel welcomed Yura’s group with open arms, looking for all the world like a delighted grandfather greeting his visiting grandchildren.

His hospitality didn’t end there.

Clack—

A cookie jar, a rare commodity amid the chaos, was opened, and refreshments were laid out for everyone. While these were low-quality goods unfit for receiving guests in peacetime, the faint herbal scent they carried was enough to ease the tension in the tent.

“Thank you, Commander Nidel,”

Yura said with a bright smile, recalling the polite demeanor from her previous life. Unlike before, when she hadn’t fully shed her old habits, Yura now acted with the maturity gained from her experiences.

“I stopped by because I have a report to deliver.”

She gestured to Anjey, who stood nearby, signaling her to place a wooden chest carefully onto the table.

“This report… Could it be this?”

Commander Nidel, his curiosity piqued, asked even before touching the tea. The mere sight of Yura, hailed as the goddess of victory and an angel without wings, made it impossible for him to suppress his expectations.

“The head of Focal the Wild and the heart of Sura Damian.”

Yura, who had witnessed countless corpses, refrained from touching the refreshments before her. Even she didn’t have the stomach to eat with a corpse present.

“O-oh!”

Nidel’s face broke into a wide grin as his anticipation was fulfilled. Without hesitation, he tore into the wooden chest.

Crack! Crack!

The tightly sealed chest was ripped apart by his powerful hands, like a child opening a Christmas gift. Though it contained the remains of their enemies, no one in the tent seemed tense.

Finally,

The contents of the chest were revealed, and a faintly unpleasant smell began to waft through the air. Despite the preservation, the dark aura emanating from the high-ranking demon was unavoidable.

A face twisted in rage.

A heart, still slick with dark red blood, seemed as though it could start beating at any moment.

“It’s truly Focal’s head. And the aura from this one suggests it must indeed be Damian’s heart. However…”

Nidel narrowed his eyes as he examined a peculiar horn clasped in Focal’s jaws.

“It’s not a gag… What is this horn?”

It wasn’t a gag. Rather, it was a sharp, red horn, its tip exuding a thick demonic aura. Nidel guessed it belonged to a high-ranking demon.

“Bloody Yuma. It’s one of her horns. If you find someone talented, boil it down into an elixir and give it to them.”

“This precious thing… Then, does that mean Bloody Yuma is also…?”

Was his suspicion correct? Nidel’s face was overtaken with elation.

“Yuma… we couldn’t kill her. I’m sorry.”

But the response was a strong denial accompanied by an apology.

“Ah, no, no! There’s no need to apologize!”

Nidel hurriedly waved his hands in dismissal, startled by the bowed head.

“Even so…”

“If you apologize for something like this, what will that do to my dignity? What about the expeditionary force? Morale was already scraping the bottom, but do you realize the significance of the accomplishment you’ve brought?”

“…I caught a glimpse of the situation on the way here. Things must not be going well.”

“Not at all. Things will improve from now on. Every time you show up, you bring achievements that everyone notices.”

Nidel laughed heartily, tossing some refreshments into his mouth. Though his adjutant recording the conversation still seemed troubled, Nidel expertly set the tone.

As commander, he could not falter. Unable to fight on the battlefield, this was the least he could do.

“There’s still hope. Humanity will etch this optimism into their hearts. Myself included. Even the fools in the rear will come to realize it.”

“By the rear, do you mean that matter from before?”

The one who spoke was not Yura. It was Seira Romer, the elf quietly munching on her refreshments.

The Great War blurred the lines between front and rear; fools were everywhere, but only one kind deserved mention aloud.

“Yes, I’ve heard that in the Southern Federation, public opinion for a peace treaty is growing stronger. While the Empire has kept such talks under control, protests and large-scale riots have already erupted in the South.”

“Idiots…”

“Haha, yes, idiots indeed. Just like the elf here said, fools don’t come any other way.”

Nidel chuckled at his own jest, but beneath his laughter lay an unhidden killing intent.

Those who sought peace by bowing to the enemy.

Those who tried to seize an advantage amidst the chaos.

Though Nidel was not one to belittle others lightly, he wanted nothing more than to kill everyone advocating for peace.

Some were simply too exhausted to continue fighting, but to Nidel, such logic was the result of minds broken by fear.

It might seem extreme, but everyone here, even Yura, felt an urge to strike those cowards themselves.

This wasn’t for her personal gain; it stemmed from genuine disgust and hatred for those foolish and ignorant people.

“Do they seriously think they’ll survive by signing a treaty?”

“No, of course not. We all know, don’t we? The Demon God… and the blind devotion of those who follow its orders…”

Nidel answered Kyrie’s muttering. The kind smile on his face was long gone.

“The number of reinforcements being sent here is decreasing. While it’s true for the Southern Federation, even the Empire and the Kingdom have no manpower left to spare for this place.”

“Are you saying there’s another war brewing between humans?”

“Not quite, but they’ll need forces to guard the borders and keep the chaos from spreading.”

“Then…”

Kyrie muttered while fiddling with his sword hilt. Everyone’s attention shifted to the dark-haired hero.

“What if we kill the Demon God right now?”

“That’s absurd…! It’s far too reckless!”

“Why, Anjey? Don’t you think dragging this out will only waste time?”

“Anjey right, Kyrie. It’s too reckless,”

Seira chimed in, supporting Anjey.

While Binella stayed silent, Yura stroked her chin, seemingly lost in thought.

“Why do you say it’s reckless? Are you worried we’d lose?”

“You’ve just acquired your divinity and are brimming with confidence, which is fine. Perhaps you really could defeat the Demon God one-on-one.”

“Then…!”

“But listen. Killing the Demon God doesn’t mean the war will end, does it? Isn’t our goal to end this Great War? What will we do if the enemy attacks while we’re worn out after the fight?”

“Well… someone else will handle it.”

Faced with a direct rebuttal, Kyrie glanced at the Supreme Commander.

Though he could still wield a sword, the aging commander offered a somber smile.

“Haha. Isn’t that what the headquarters is for? If you take care of the Demon God, I’ll gladly deal with the remnants.”

“I apologize.”

“Hm? Changing your tune already?”

“…I’m sorry. That was a slip of the tongue.”

“Well, if you have other ideas, feel free to share them anytime.”

The commander shook his head with a wry smile. Though his tone feigned confidence, Kyrie noticed the beads of sweat trickling down his face.

He knew it wasn’t feasible.

On their way here,

They couldn’t help but notice it.

‘There are no strong fighters left.’

Before they left the headquarters, just six months ago, there had been many heroes who could rival Kyrie’s abilities.

Commanders of the expeditionary force units:

Zigmund the Iron-blooded.

Karanu the Swift.

Even Hamas the Storm, though he had died a year ago.

Though Kyrie, now armed with divinity, might surpass them, given more time—or if they had been even slightly younger—they could have achieved feats worthy of being called great heroes.

But their faces were nowhere to be seen.

The fierce presence that had once stood toe-to-toe with the Demon God’s commanders couldn’t be sensed within Kyrie’s vast perception.

‘What a headache.’

Yura pressed her temples as she struggled to think.

The reason for visiting headquarters wasn’t just to report their achievements; she had also planned to leave behind the woman biting her lip nervously behind her.

‘How do I handle this atmosphere?’

At that moment, Binella’s and Yura’s eyes met.

Binella’s bloodied lips moved carefully.

[I’m fine.]

Despite her words, Binella clutched her shattered shield tightly and gave a strained smile.

‘What’s fine about this?’

Clench— Yura’s teeth ground together.

She had to make a decision. Should she forcibly drag Binella back into battle? Or, against her better judgment, leave her behind?

[Divine Blessing Slot Expansion: 100,000 pt]

[Remaining Points: 902,300 pt]

‘Damn it.’

Yura’s hand pressed a translucent button.