“So, ultimately, this is all the Lanforthians’ fault?”
“Precisely. If they hadn’t launched that artillery barrage that night, dragging me into this long string of events, I wouldn’t have forgotten about my period and tampons, and none of this would have happened…”
A new set of sheets and a duvet had already been brought by the caretaker, along with the fresh pair of trousers Lin Yu had requested.
No longer clad in the shamefully oversized boyfriend’s shirt, her sole remaining lack was still the absence of undergarments.
There were no new undergarments available for her to wear, and such intimate apparel was impractical to don while wearing soul rings.
Moreover, no unfortunate women had recently passed away in the vicinity.
When Lin Yu was carried back to the hospital, her Lanforthian military uniform and gear had been discarded.
The military doctor, undoubtedly, stripped her bare to remove the shrapnel before putting her in this hospital gown; now, trying to locate her original clothes seemed a rather formidable task.
Three days’ worth of medical waste could have been disposed of anywhere by now.
Thus, the smaller sized undergarments her seniors had left her—their final mementos by Lin Yu’s side—had likely vanished, just as they themselves had.
Noticing that bandages, rather than a delicate bra, lay beneath her clothes was precisely what caused the hollow feeling that now settled within Lin Yu.
Commander Yang’s candy box remained in the bunker, and her seniors’ mementos had been tossed away like trash, severing her connection to them almost entirely, with only memories lingering in her heart; this sorrow even overshadowed the indignity she had suffered before the caretaker.
She could easily blame everything on the heavy bombardment of the Lanforthian artillery, yet the true cause of it all…
Lin Yu deliberately cut off her thoughts.
‘It’s impolite to overthink,’ she mused. ‘I survived a bloody battle; I should be grateful now.’
After resting for another half hour on the freshly made bed, Lin Yu was gently helped up to begin her walk as the sun fully set.
She had initially hoped Nangong would accompany her, but Nangong had pressing matters to attend to, specifically organizing the newly integrated troops.
The choice of walking companion naturally fell to Yang Xi alone.
“Slow… slow down a bit, please? I’m a patient right now, not a soldier on a forced march with a heavy load.”
Seeing their assisted stroll rapidly turning into Yang Xi practically dragging her forward, Lin Yu couldn’t help but voice her protest.
“My apologies. I thought you were almost recovered.”
Speaking of forced marches with heavy loads, she wondered why she had been so full of energy that night three days ago.
“Not at all. If I could, I’d hope to rest for an entire month.”
Her total service time amounted to just over two months, making a month-long holiday an obvious unreality.
However, there was a certain logic to her demand—the Diacla people’s temperament always favored compromise and mediation.
For instance, if one were to suggest opening a window because a room was too dark, they would surely refuse.
However, if one were to advocate for tearing down the entire roof, they would then be amenable to compromise, agreeing to open a window.
This was the essence of ‘asking for the moon and settling for less.’
Had Lin Yu initially only requested two days of rest, the higher-ups might not even have granted her a single night.
Yet, by demanding a full month’s recuperation from the outset, the superiors might, in their magnanimity, allow her three to five days off.
‘I need to find time to discuss this with my new superior… Ah, I haven’t even had a chance to ask Nangong which unit I’ve been assigned to yet.’
Without knowing who her next superior would be, she couldn’t even prepare a leave request.
Yang Xi slowed his pace, and the two walked side-by-side into the encroaching night, a silence falling between them.
They certainly weren’t staring at each other while walking; moving forward without looking ahead would undoubtedly lead to a fall, especially in Lin Yu’s delicate physical state.
To keep her new clothes clean and to allow her injured left arm to heal, Lin Yu absolutely could not afford to stumble here.
“Oh right, Yang Xi, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
“Go ahead, I’m listening.”
Receiving a clear reply, Lin Yu’s expression softened considerably.
She still remembered that night before the Lanforthian attack, when this fellow had been a clueless, idiotic brute who couldn’t even respond, causing her needless worry for so long.
The difference between napping beside a bunker, anxious about being reprimanded by the Staff Sergeant, and her recent carefree half-hour sleep was like night and day.
“That bit of liquor we drank before we set off, did you feel anything after consuming it?”
The potent liquor they’d shared before their departure had become a prime suspect for Lin Yu.
Perhaps… perhaps someone with ulterior motives had spiked it to boost the soldiers’ combat effectiveness.
The army could even procure morphine; creating something like “assault pills” or similar small tablets would likely pose no issue.
“Yes.”
Excitement, eager to satisfy her curiosity and uncover the long-held truth, shone on Lin Yu’s face as she quickly pressed, “What did you feel?”
“It tasted quite good.”
Her excited expression instantly morphed into speechless exasperation. “Is… is that all?”
She had been hoping Yang Xi would share a similar experience, which she could then use as evidence of the Diacla Empire Army giving a fifteen-year-old girl stimulants to send her into battle.
Instead, Yang Xi merely told her the wine tasted good.
“It was a uniquely flavorful liquor. My vocabulary isn’t extensive enough to offer a more precise assessment.”
“You just thought it was ordinary wine?”
“Not ordinary at all. It was one of the best I’ve ever tasted, even better than the flask you sent me before.”
“You brute!”
She wanted to get angry, but ultimately held back, unwilling to let old grudges interfere with the current important matter.
The ‘old grudge,’ of course, referred to the incident on the night he was exonerated, when he had chugged straight from Lin Yu’s canteen after she delivered his meal and wine.
Whether she had erupted then, giving him two light punches as a lesson, Lin Yu could no longer recall.
Waiting a moment to compose herself, Lin Yu continued questioning Yang Xi, “What about that pot of stewed goose… that poultry we ate earlier? Did you feel anything from that?”
To prevent Yang Xi from giving a similar answer, Lin Yu specifically emphasized, “Not whether it tasted good or bad, but other effects.”
“Such as?”
“Like, for instance, a feverish sensation, a sudden surge of inexhaustible energy, or an inexplicable… an inexplicable recovery of magic.”
She had initially kept her magic a secret from Yang Xi, but three days prior, she had openly used it to save him, making it impossible to conceal any longer, so she had simply confessed.
“No, I only felt it was a delicious dinner.”
“I see…”
She hadn’t received an answer from Yang Xi, perhaps because he was just a muggle, devoid of magic.
If she was fortunate enough to be assigned as a medic to the same unit as Nangong, she could ask Nangong then; Nangong had taught her all her magic, so naturally, she would consult her with any magical issues.
Hopefully, this was merely a magical concern, and not some strange, inexplicable illness.
“You don’t have any more questions, do you?”
“No, I don’t. Even if I did, they wouldn’t be questions you could answer.”
“Then may I ask you one question?”
“Suit yourself.”
“Why did you conceal your magical talent, choosing to stand by and do nothing when your comrades were gravely wounded and on the verge of death?”
‘Oh, such a severe accusation right off the bat…’
Yet, Lin Yu had managed to convince herself to act as she did; surely, she could fool this simpleton whose mind was solely occupied with His Majesty the Emperor.
She had many reasons, and they were quite sufficient for dealing with a fellow whose head was filled with nothing but the Emperor… indeed, more than enough.