Someone once told me, "If you want to fight a war, attack first, and if you want to defend, then build a fortress!"
Why do I remember those words?
This happened after the second warning letter came from our neighboring peaceful kingdom, the Abzien Kingdom.
Of course, we replied to the letter and stated our neutral status.
But what happened? They ignored it.
So, our situation changed to a third party dragged into this war. Even after we left the Flora Kingdom's noble status, they still invited trouble for this family.
"Fuu~ Fufu~ Fuuufuuu~"
You don't understand. Why am I making a problem out of this war?
It's because! Our mother insisted on joining in. She even supplied food supplies inside the Remi-class. Because of this incident, our father was slightly worried about our mother's behavior change. As much as possible, our father tried to avoid unreasonable wars.
Security inside the Remi-class unit was not a problem, it was just that... it would be a problem if our magic technology caught the attention of the neighboring kingdom.
Unless we can attack them by surprise.
Surprise?
I think.. we have the right thing for that. However, it was used to drop corpses before. But.. for this one, I think it's much safer than using a Remi-class unit.
Remi-class is very dangerous because its natural trait is to change someone to have a strange new hobby.
Ah.. I want to feel that sensation again.
The sensation of shooting magic bullets from a machine gun shakes the healing soul.
"Fuuu~ Fuuufufuu~ Fuuuu~"
"Um, Mama.. how long are you going to be there?" I called our mother who was in the Remi-class unit.
Different from her previous position in the back seat, this time she took the position as a shooter.
"Fufufu.. let's destroy these fools! Don't underestimate Duke Flora's power."
"For a small note, we don't have noble status anymore."
"Ah! That's right, I almost forgot about that. So, what do we call ourselves?"
That question is true, we used to be known as the Flora Duke family. However, that is no longer the case. We need a new name for the new family. Our previous family naming system followed the rules of the royal family name.
Well.. here's the problem.
We don't have a backup name and I'm too stiff to think of one.
"Well, we can discuss that later. Now.. please get down first, Mama."
"No way! Mama wants to go to war.. war… warrrr!!!"
"Please don't act like a child, Mama! If you want to join the war, we can think of a strategy first."
"No way, Karl will put Mama in the back lines, right?"
"Uguh!"
"See! It's obvious!"
"Oh... My dear Mama, what kind of child sends their mother to the front lines of the battlefield? I'm not crazy enough with a strategy like that."
"Moooo~ Karl even sent Chiyuki to have fun by herself."
"Ah, that's another problem."
"See! Mom also wants to have fun."
"Kuh! What can I do? How about destroying the Abzien Kingdom's main command?"
I gave up...
For the first time, I gave in to our mother's childishness. At least, I had thought of a safe way for her to be at the forefront but untouched.
"Really?" our mother said pitifully.
"Really? Really?"
"Really? Really? Really?"
"Enough, Mom! If you continue then I will take back my words" Hearing that passionate question made my heart also pitiful.
"Jiiiiii~" This time my mother stared sharply at me.
"Promise?" then she stretched out her little finger.
"Y-Yes, promise" I replied while pulling her tied little finger.
"Don't lie!" our mother said in a high tone.
"When did I lie to Mom?"
"That's right, Karl is an honest child and is Mom's pride."
Well, I finally managed to convince Mom to leave the Remi-class unit. This Remi-class unit was prepared to do routine patrols and set traps around our area. However, the plan was a little late because of our Mom's behavior.
To answer the sense of justice for her contribution to this family, I took our Mom on an mimic AC-130 magic plane and flew her above the skies of the Abzien Kingdom's troops.
Taking her to have fun in the sky has fulfilled my promise to take her to the front lines of war. From the sky this afternoon, we could see the Flora Kingdom's troops having a little difficulty fighting the Abzien Kingdom's troops.
I understand a little why they were confident with the threatening letter.
But..
Today, their luck will end.
"Mom.. are you ready?"
Hearing my question, our mother who had been in the gunnery operator section smiled. She gave a signal that the preparations had been completed.
The mimic AC-130 magic Gunship was no ordinary aircraft, it was known as the "Angel of Death" from another world dream.
Small questions about this aircraft emerged.
What do you imagine if an aircraft could carry magic cannons, magic howitzers, and magic machine guns of various calibers simultaneously?
Or an magic aircraft that carried various bombs, guided warheads, and the ability to spread terror from air to land?
I can't imagine it, let alone...
The one in control was our mother.
Right now, I can only hope that this unimportant war will end and make our mother return to her normal behavior.
That's what I hoped for, before... I heard a terrifying laugh behind us.
"Your sins are indeed unforgivable, but bringing you to atone for your sins before God is our main obligation, FUHAHAHA!!"
Em, does this mean that I'm the only one who is normal in this family?
[...]
Year 517, Flora Kingdom Calendar.
As a seasoned war veteran, my heart has been trained to be as cold and hard as iron.
I no longer feel human emotions. Even fear on the battlefield has been conquered.
However, a great fear rose from within me.
At that time, I was responsible for holding back the invasion of the Abzien Kingdom's troops. The political situation of our kingdom was indeed a little chaotic because of the actions of the nobles, I did not know what the situation was. However, Duke Flora's departure from the Flora Kingdom's noble system was the greatest mistake the Flora Kingdom had ever made.
That was because... Duke Flora's military power exceeded that of a single kingdom.
In fact, with just one troop... they slaughtered the main division of the Abzien Kingdom's troops.
At that time, during a fierce battle against the Abzien Kingdom. The evening sky that accompanied us suddenly made a loud noise. Right above us, the figure of an iron dragon flew high. On its skin was the symbol of Duke Flora.
The iron dragon flew past us and made a painful sound. The sound was very loud and sounded terrible. In fact, from that sound alone.. small explosions and screams of pain in the Abzien Kingdom's army were heard.
I don't know what Duke Flora did, but it seems like he helped us who were in a pinch. My friend who used to work under Duke Flora's orders said, "Duke Flora is so cunning, just because the King planted a spy in his residence. He fired all of us!"
At that time, I just laughed at Duke Flora's stupid decision to comfort my friend. However, right now... Duke Flora is the one laughing at us. Not only does he have such a terrifying army, but the iron dragon also flew too high and was out of our magic range.
Even the rumor about the rain of corpses that occurred in the Flora Kingdom's Capital was still better than hearing this sound of death.
Wait.. was Duke Flora the one who scattered corpses in the Kingdom's Capital?
Does that mean.. the Flora Kingdom was so stupid when they sent troops to beat up Duke Flora?
Wait a minute.. don't tell me the rain of corpses is our comrades who are tasked with attacking Duke Flora's territory?
Damn! The more I think about it.. this feeling of fear is piling up and getting more terrifying.
From that height, the iron dragon threw its small vomit and rained down on the Abzien Kingdom troops with small explosions. The protective magic had no effect, the iron dragon moved without stopping and rained down on the battlefield with its terrifying roar.
The afternoon sky that turned into the night sky was filled with the sound of pain. In the darkness of that night, we did not dare to make a light. That night.. we saw small dots of light raining down on the battlefield.
We didn't know what it was, only that.. when the dots fell.. a roar of pain and explosions were heard.
Throughout the night, we were silent. The atmosphere seemed so quiet.. it seemed.. those who were in pain were no longer in pain. In other words.. they died on the battlefield.
The terrifying sound slowly disappeared. We remained sheltered in the darkness and were very afraid to peek at the battlefield. When morning came, we were surprised by the destruction of the Abzien Kingdom troops without a trace.
Our general also ordered to clean up the battlefield and search for the high-ranking military officers of the Abzien Kingdom who had become corpses. With the corpses of their high-ranking military officers, it seemed that we were slightly superior to them.
Our nightmare ended.
However, all of that was destroyed when the terrifying voice was heard again.
Duke Flora's iron dragon was heard again. At the same time, wooden boxes fell and thin papers were scattered.
"We have prepared eating utensils for you. If you want to survive this battlefield... then eat the bodies of the Abzien Kingdom's troops.
Small note... We are watching you... Teehe~"
For the first time, we were given a very difficult choice.
If you find this note, it means that we would rather die than eat our fellow humans.
[...]