After finishing the examination with Teacher Moritz, several more days had passed.
Now the anniversary of Helena was drawing near. August 14th was not only Helena’s anniversary but also the day when countless comrades fell.
So, it wasn’t something I had to think about alone.
Entering an unfamiliar restaurant and waiting for the staff was also for this reason. I needed to relieve this suffocating feeling.
‘There are a lot of people.’
As I blankly glanced around the bustling restaurant filled with all kinds of people, I realized I had no thoughts unlike before.
Hearing the sounds of many people’s footsteps inevitably created a slight sense of anxiety, so I tried my best to ignore those feelings.
As I continued to linger in the restaurant, a staff member approached from ahead and smiled cheerfully.
It felt somewhat regrettable that even someone like me had to receive a business smile.
“Please follow me.”
“Thank you.”
Following the staff member’s guidance, I went deep into the restaurant and spotted Colonel Meijhem, who had arrived before me. This time it was only natural since it was a restaurant he had reserved.
Looking at the table right by the window, I couldn’t help but furrow my brow. An open space like this was probably not something Colonel Meijhem preferred; why had he chosen a place like this?
“Don’t look at me like that. Other seats are all reserved, and this was the only one left.”
“…I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t say anything, but your eyes are clearly saying otherwise.”
Honestly, I wasn’t too pleased to be hit where it hurt. The attempt to read my innermost thoughts was always unpleasant.
However, the difference between me and Colonel Meijhem was whether I displayed such feelings on the outside or hid them. I sighed and sat opposite Colonel Meijhem.
“Ha…. I saw three or four empty seats on my way here.”
“Tsk. Don’t just complain. This is the restaurant you asked to meet at.”
“……”
As Colonel Meijhem said, I had contacted him first to meet, so I had nothing to say. I quietly nodded and glanced at the menu placed on the table.
“Is it seafood?”
“Yes. Do you remember? The last time we met, I said I would introduce you to a restaurant I often go to, right?”
“…Yes, I remember.”
“Right. This is that place. I don’t come here as often as I used to these days… but I used to come frequently.”
Colonel Meijhem took a sip of water and sank deeply into the plush chair. It didn’t seem wrong to call it a place he often visited; he looked as comfortable as if he were at home.
“Is there a reason you visit often?”
“Of course. The atmosphere is nice, isn’t it?”
I calmly looked around the restaurant. Just as he said, it was a neatly arranged and stylish restaurant with a pleasant ambiance.
“I come here to have meals with my family, or when I want to drink alone, or when I need to treat someone else… It’s a place that fits any situation. Plus, it’s close to home, so I have no choice but to visit often.”
“It seems you’re a regular.”
“That’s right. I’ve somewhat established a rapport with the owner here.”
Saying that, Colonel Meijhem surveyed the restaurant with a calm gaze. From top to bottom, left to right.
“I wonder how much money was spent on the interior design.”
“I’m not sure. It probably wasn’t a small amount.”
“Right. It must be….”
While it seemed unnecessary for him to have such a serious expression, I soon understood as I listened to his next words.
“Actually, I wanted to open a restaurant.”
“A restaurant?”
“Yes. It’s been a dream of mine for a long time. In reality, I wanted to be a chef, not a soldier.”
“……”
“However, that has now become a dream I can no longer realize.”
Colonel Meijhem smiled slightly, raising his hand. Unlike the previous meeting, his awkward right hand with the prosthetic arm caught my attention.
“Did you come with a prosthetic arm?”
“Yeah. Because this place is really delicious. You need both hands to comfortably eat the shrimp.”
“…I look forward to it.”
“You can expect it. Really.”
Colonel Meijhem closed his mouth. I also lacked the courage to break the silence, so I kept quiet as well.
There were certainly things to talk about, but it seemed a bit difficult to do so with a sober mind. I would lose my appetite, and it seemed better to wait until I finished eating before bringing up any conversations.
Of course, unless Colonel Meijhem asked first.
I quickly realized that I had predicted even that. Colonel Meijhem’s gaze was fixed directly on me.
“Anyway, yeah. The fact that you called me suddenly… means there’s a reason, right? I can roughly guess.”
“…Did you figure it out?”
“Of course. How could I forget?”
August 14th. It was the anniversary of Helena and also the day when the 858th Magic Engineering Infantry Battalion, commanded by Colonel Meijhem, faced a total assault and fell.
Although we barely managed to hold on, we suffered damage that rendered us completely incapable of combat, and we were essentially annihilated militarily. Colonel Meijhem did not forget that day.
No, the expression “could not forget” would be more accurate.
– Crack—!
Colonel Meijhem’s tightly clenched left fist trembled. He seemed to be struggling to find words for a moment, his lips quivering, before finally speaking.
“…How could I forget?”
“……”
“I cannot forget. It was also the day I became an amputee.”
The awkward prosthetic arm resting on the table stood out distinctly. I tried not to let my gaze linger there.
“Priest Antorelli.”
“Yes, Colonel Meijhem.”
“One of my arms is in the Kalkas Basin, and my heart is also in Kalkas.”
Colonel Meijhem paused for a moment. I could hear a faint crackling sound in my ears.
“Right. My heart still remains in Kalkas.”
“Colonel Meijhem.”
As I called his name softly, he began to breathe slowly. Hot breaths escaped his nose.
“…I’m sorry. I seem to have shown an excited side suddenly.”
“It’s alright.”
“Okay. Getting back to the main point, I have a rough idea of why you wanted to meet…”
Colonel Meijhem stopped speaking. The stiff expression he had maintained since I started talking relaxed a bit.
At that strange, sudden shift in his expression, I turned my gaze in the direction he was looking. The staff member who had guided me to this spot was approaching with steaming food.
“Your order has arrived~.”
With the cheerful words of the lively staff member, a warm and appetizing seafood dish was laid out in abundance. Colonel Meijhem’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the seafood he liked.
“Did I mention it last time? I haven’t eaten seafood since the war ended.”
“Yes. I remember you saying that.”
“Right. In fact, this is the first time I’ve come here to eat seafood since the end of the war, so I tried to order the dishes I remembered the most.”
“Didn’t you say you had come here a few times?”
“Even if I came, I didn’t order seafood. I only had beef or pork. Those were delicious too, but….”
The expression on Colonel Meijhem’s face as he looked at the food was inexplicably complicated, beyond my understanding. It seemed to reflect an anticipating look for delicious food, but somehow also retained a hint of reluctance.
“Indeed, nothing else compares.”
“Is that so?”
“Normally, I would feel reluctant, but strangely enough, it’s fine eating seafood with you.”
“……”
“Come on, let’s eat. Let’s talk while we eat.”
Unable to hold back, Colonel Meijhem began peeling shrimp shells, and I also took a spoonful of crab soup and started my meal.
*
“Hmm….”
Colonel Meijhem wiped around his mouth and let out a hum. Feeling a bit anxious, I stared at him intently.
“Don’t stare at me like that. It’s a little burdensome.”
“I’m sorry.”
“But yes, um….”
The wrinkles around Colonel Meijhem’s eyes deepened. It meant he was lost in deep thought.
“It’s surprising and gratifying that you made that suggestion first… but it seems a bit difficult for me.”
“…Is that so?”
“Um. No matter how I think about it, I don’t really plan to meet with the Phoenix comrades in a few days… You should also understand their circumstances.”
“……”
“Moreover, didn’t you say your health isn’t good? Even if you’re not in too much pain, if others see you spitting blood, it wouldn’t look that way at all. It’s nice to be with you, but wouldn’t those friends worry about you? It would only lead to unnecessary misunderstandings.”
“That’s….”
“Prioritize your health. Helena’s situation is important, and it’s also paramount for me to honor our former battalion members who have passed on. But that doesn’t mean I can disregard everything else and focus solely on that. You and I both have our own responsibilities we must uphold.”
There was truth in his words. Left without a response, I nodded and lowered my gaze.
I knew it was a rather unreasonable plea to want to visit on Helena’s anniversary with the Phoenix members who had gathered during the previous comrades’ meeting, given that the date was approaching in just a few days.
However, for some reason, I felt a bit lonely.
“Even if I can go alone, I wonder what kind of remarks I’ll hear from Melisa.”
“I understand.”
“Lately, she’s been so sensitive that even if I just try to take a short walk, she causes a fuss about how I can go wandering around leaving a pregnant wife behind. You need to understand that.”
As I thought about the plea to just give a glimpse of Colonel Meijhem’s face at the comrades’ meeting… I couldn’t help but think of the feeling I had attending that gathering.
‘…Disgusting.’
It wasn’t Colonel Meijhem that was disgusting. It was the thought I had for even a moment that I was above others for attending the comrades’ meeting.
I slowly nodded my head. Perhaps relieved by my reaction, Colonel Meijhem gave a slight smile and spoke.
“If you’re a senior priest, can you officiate a baptism?”
“Yes.”
“That’s great. When the third one is born, you can baptize them. It would be nice to also offer a blessing…”
“Is there any doubt?”
“Right. I know a lot of priests around, but you’re the only one I’m close with.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
Colonel Meijhem smiled as he took a sip of water.
“Ha ha….”
I followed suit and laughed. The third, the third.
‘…I’m envious.’
As I watched Colonel Meijhem’s happy expression while talking about his soon-to-be-born third child, I couldn’t help but think that way.
‘I too….’
Such base desires they were.
