Chapter 65: Sweets
“Hey… isn’t that—”
“That’s General Newsbeck! Which means the one beside her is…!”
“So young… is that really Brigadier General Willard?”
General Newsbeck stepped out into the streets of the royal capital without the slightest attempt to conceal herself, her military uniform worn as-is, commanding attention with every step. Matching her presence, I too walked beside her in full uniform, the two of us cutting a conspicuous path through the bustling city.
“…This feels a bit unsettling.”
For most of the people in the capital, this was their first time seeing me in person. The hero “Noah,” whose name had spread through various publications and stories, now stood before them in the flesh. They watched from a distance, whispering among themselves, their gazes lingering curiously—some filled with admiration, others with disbelief.
Those eyes, all directed at me, made it difficult to relax.
“In times like this, it’s best to stand tall and carry yourself with confidence,” General Newsbeck said lightly.
“I understand that, but…”
“More importantly, before we head west, we need to prepare supplies. Are your firearms and equipment in order?”
“Yes. I’ve had my company handle all of that.”
“Good, as expected of you. In that case… hmm. Let’s go buy some chocolate.”
“…Chocolate?”
“Yes. Once you’re on the battlefield, luxuries like chocolate become nearly impossible to obtain. If you want it, you have to bring it with you beforehand.”
“…That’s true, but…”
“You’re not planning to buy any, Brigadier General Willard? I always bring some form of leisure item myself. Of course, only what I can carry—no point burdening supplies with personal indulgences.”
“I suppose…”
I had never even considered bringing something like chocolate to the battlefield.
“You’re too serious, Brigadier General Willard. You’re holding yourself too tightly.”
“It’s almost been a full year since I first stepped onto the battlefield, you know.”
“All the more reason. It’s about time you learned to enjoy it a little. Having even one way to unwind out there makes a difference.”
…Enjoy the battlefield, huh.
I had never once thought about it that way.
“What kind of sweets do you like?”
“…I’m not very fond of chocolate.”
“What!?”
“Isn’t it bitter?”
“How could it possibly be bitter!? If that’s bitter to you, what even counts as sweet!?”
“I’m not good with the bitterness of cacao.”
“In that case, what do you like?”
“…Gummies, I suppose. They’ve been gaining popularity recently in the Kingdom of Lunoa.”
“Oh! Those? The ones meant to improve children’s chewing strength?”
“I like them.”
Gummies in this world had only just come into existence, and their taste was nowhere near what I remembered from my previous life—there was a vast difference between the two.
Still, the mere existence of gummies filled me with a sense of nostalgia, and that alone made me fond of them. I still remembered how excited I had been when they first appeared, rushing out to buy them without hesitation.
Of course, the members of my company hadn’t let me forget it either—teasing me with remarks like, “Looks like Noah-sama needs to train his chewing strength too,” treating me like a child.
“Ha, that’s a good expression. Very well, let’s start by buying some gummies. I’ll get the same as you, Brigadier General Willard.”
“Alright.”
I nodded at General Newsbeck’s suggestion and prepared to head off—
“Ah, Shia-neesama.”
At the edge of my vision, a familiar face appeared.
“…What are you doing over there?”
From the corner of my sight, I saw her—my sister—peeking out from the window of one of the smaller shops affiliated with my company, her upper body leaning halfway out as she stared directly at me.
“Hm? Your sister?”
“Yes… excuse me.”
“Ah, it’s been a while since you last met, hasn’t it? I won’t interfere. You should go to her.”
“Thank you. As for the shopping…”
“It can wait until tomorrow. We’re scheduled to depart the day after. Where will you be staying tonight? Will you return to my residence?”
“No, I have my own estate here in the capital.”
“…I see.”
“I’ll visit your residence again tomorrow morning, General Newsbeck.”
“—! Mm, I’ll be waiting!”
“Then, please excuse me for today.”
After offering her a respectful bow, I made my way toward my sister.
“…Who was that?”
As I stepped into the shop where she stood, my sister asked the question without even turning her gaze from the window.
“That was General Newsbeck—my superior.”
“Newsbeck… ah, her. She still looks that young? She’s already thirty, isn’t she?”
“No, I think she’s still just barely twenty-nine.”
Even as I said it, I realized I’d been unconsciously grouping her into her thirties already.
“But her birthday is soon, right?”
“Well, yes.”
“…Then it doesn’t matter.”
Only then did my sister turn away from the window and look at me.
“It’s been a while, Shia-neesama.”
“…Yes. It has.”
She nodded, a gentle smile spreading across her face—soft, warm, and unmistakably sincere.
“Ah… I’ve finally been able to see you.”
“Wha—!?”
Before I could react, she stepped forward and pulled me into a tight embrace.
Caught off guard, I felt my face heat up slightly as I stiffened in her arms.
“…I really wanted you to come see me first.”
“Sorry. I came back to the capital because General Newsbeck summoned me.”
Still holding me, she slowly loosened her embrace, her right hand rising to gently cup my face.
But what she touched wasn’t my skin.
“…What is this?”
Her gaze fixed on it.
The eyepatch covering my left eye.