EX-SOLDIER: In Another World
Peaceful City before Storm - Part 9

The pain was what Vincent felt all over his body as he regained his consciousness. His eyes adjusted the incoming light, and slowly regained his sight. What he first saw was a ceiling he was unfamiliar with, wondering how he could get here since his last memory before fainting was of him defeating the War Troll.

But before he could figure out what had happened, a strong hug hugged his ailing body, making Vincent grimace and hear sobs afterwards from a girl shouting his name.

"Vincent! Vincent! Thank God you have come to your senses!"

Hearing that Vincent moved his head to see a girl holding him tightly, as if Vincent would just walk away if he let go of his embrace. The girl is Lisa, a beautiful witch from an adventurer group called the Jade Tribe.

"Li.. sa?"

Vincent said the girl's name despite her sore throat and feeling dry. When her name was mentioned by Vincent, Lisa hugged him tighter making Vincent more grimacing in pain when the pressure hit his body is still weak. Putting aside the pain, one of Vincent's hands lifted and gently rubbed Lisa's back to calm the girl down.

Then the door of the room opened after Lisa's emotional outburst. Vincent tilted his head sideways at the door as he saw several people rush in accompanied by two familiar figures.

First was a man who had been familiar with him, it was Gill and he looked at Vincent with gratitude as he walked over with a smiling smile.

Another figure is a girl with a blue Ballgown dress. The girl walked over, unhurried and stepped in with the grace of a princess. Her platinum blonde hair was smoothed to her back with calculating emerald green eyes. It was Sofia Mandoza, but her appearance was very different from the last time Vincent saw her, probably because Vincent saw her in armor instead of a dress.

"You have finally realized."

Sofia says when one of the women wearing a French maid uniform calms Lisa down, she asks him to let go of Vincent because he just regained consciousness and his body is still weak. Then another waiter entered the room with a glass of water and helped Vincent to drink, one thing Vincent greatly appreciated because of his current state.

Feeling his throat refreshed, Vincent tries to say something only to be cut by Sofia.

"No need to force yourself. For now, rest. Two servants will be in this room to make sure of your needs, and when you feel good, we'll talk."

Sofia said as she walked away with some servants who followed her, not even waiting for Vincent to answer. But relief was seen on Sofia's face that Vincent saw as she turned around.

Vincent, tired of heeding the advice and not trying to get up, lay comfortably on the bed with Lisa still holding one of his hands.

"So, anyone want to tell me what I've missed?"

Vincent asks the people in the room, especially Lisa and Gill as he looks sideways to where Lisa and Gill are.

Gill tells Vincent everything, from their final assault, to the death of the War Troll that Vincent had killed, which demoralized the enemy so that they could repel the enemy forces in one fell swoop. Then Gill tells the story of Vincent who is considered a hero in this tragedy and the reason why he got this facility with the full recognition of Sofia Mandoze and the Rose Order.

Gill also told me about the sweep that Lisa and Gill did and told me about the construction of the city that began although with a little development due to lack of resources.

"So so.."

Vincent nodded after listening to all the information Gill had given him, but there was one thing that made him uneasy.

"By the way, where's Pete? Is he safe? I saw it before I fought the War Troll."

Yet it seems Vincent's questions are like a bitter pill to them especially when they react. Lisa clenched her grip on Vincent's hand while biting her lower lip, trying hard not to cry while Gill, she turned her face aside, was, unable to look at Vincent's weakly lying gaze as he leaned against the wall of the room.

"... So it's like that..."

At that moment the room was quiet, too, Vincent enjoyed the silence for a moment because it was all he needed for now after hearing the information Gill had conveyed to seep into his brain while thinking how to continue this conversation.

"... I'm sorry, if only I'd come sooner a-"

"Don't say that!"

Lisa cuts off Vincent after a long silence. His eyes glazed over as he stared at Vincent, threatening to spill over if Vincent continued his words.

"I'm grateful you're alive. Don't blame yourself Vincent for Pete... Pete ... Just get bad luck."

Lisa said as she held tightly back Vincent's hand with a tear slip escaped and flowed down his face. Gill on his side walked over and rubbed Lisa's back to calm down.

"That's right, Vincent. Don't blame yourself because you almost died there too."

Gill said in a gentle tone, still trying to calm Lisa down.

The three were still like that for quite some time, with the two maids in the room unwilling to block their moment. Then Gill goes back to himself and invites Lisa to leave the room, intent on giving Vincent time to rest which he refuses directly because Lisa wants to stay.

...Xxvx...

Two days have passed since the conversation between Vincent, Lisa and Gill. According to the waiter who served him, Vincent was unconscious for a whole week with Lisa refusing to leave his side except to eat and bathe.

During that time also the Angelbarrow Fort City restored itself with everyone working together for it.

Today Vincent has returned from the funeral, paying his last respects accompanied by Lisa and Gill alongside two assigned servants.

On his way back, Vincent meets Sofia. He seemed to have been waiting for his return from the funeral, Vincent assumed like that because he saw Sofia standing at the entrance and he saw her there even as she passed the gate of the manor.

"Vincent, I want to talk to you." Sofia said, as Vincent and the party approached.

Vincent nodded and said. "Sure, lead the way."

Sofia leads Vincent into a room, two sofas set against a low table between them. Sofia sat down first and pointed at the sofa opposite her, gesturing for Vincent to sit there.

"So what do you want to talk to me about?"

Ask Vincent straight to the point. Sofia remained calm as Vincent looked at her with a judging look, sipping the tea the waiter had prepared before replying.

"In a month's time, we'll go to the royal capital." Sofia said as she placed her teacup on the table.

"And why should I go there?"

"Because the King invited you to the palace. I on my own side have been appointed as your bodyguard by the King himself."