Cheers and roars of warriors erupted on the battlefield as the last of the Demon King's minions fell down.
No more sky rapturing magic and the shivering howls of overgrown beasts that can easily topple a kingdom.
It is indeed a perfect time to rejoice as the 10-year long war has come to an end.
But not without a lot of casualties.
It might sound wrong to me but I could barely care about that, my mind went numb from all the deployments and the constant scene of my comrades dying.
The hilt of my blade slipped from my fingertips falling to the ground with a dull clang. Along with it were multiple glowing blue stones scattering all over but I paid no mind.
There's no use for them anymore.
The world had finally been saved as I took a deep breath easing my tense shoulders as if a huge weight was lifted from it.
Braving the front like this should've rewarded me and my fellows a big payout for our families alike but look where we are.
A week after the war, a ceremony was held honoring the soldiers who fought bravely without much of a complaint.
Received a medal and a speech about the sacrifices of my comrades from the commander who kept telling us he's proud.
The hell do you mean proud? Everyone knows you're just taking the rest of the credit for yourself while you just sit at the camp drinking a cup of coffee.
It's not like I don't know what the roles of a commander are, etc. but his commands and decisions led to the death of many soldiers.
But of course, he's gonna earn a big payout.
The worst part of this situation is that I could look past this insufferable person hadn't it been for the fact that all we received are absolutely horrendous.
A medal that I could even sell due to the law.
A heartfelt thank-you letter from the royal family.
A pension that barely covered my necessities and each time I receive it, I can hear an audible groan from said department.
Well, thank you so much because the least you could do. You didn't have to make it sound like it's so much of a hassle to give me what we're due for risking our lives to defend this kingdom at least.
Most of my comrades suffered from PTSD so that money barely helped dealing with their trauma.
As for me? Alone. Absolutely zero friends, finding myself drunk from time to time.
Sitting on a bench during the night drinking a bottle of alcohol, two patrolling guards passed by holding a lamp going to me.
"Hey, old man, no drinking this late at night!"
The taller guard called me before I looked at him with my half-lidded eyes.
I could barely keep them open due to the effects of the alcohol already seeping in.
"Wait, aren't ya Clovis?"
The other one called out to me, catching my full attention wondering how on earth did he come to know my name?
Was it because I'm famous?
A slight grin formed in my face only for the said guard to follow up before I could speak up.
"This guy is the rumored defect in the Rouxarths Academy! The one I'm telling you about!"
Well, that's a bummer.
Immediately my grin disappeared as the word "defect" was mentioned knowing what it meant.
I wouldn't be able to stop him from talking about it despite how much it stings.
"You mean that generation of Divine Crowns?!"
The taller guard looked in awe as if he wasn't buying the fact that there's a defect in that amazing generation.
Couldn't blame him though.
A "defect" is what they usually call those unlucky to not be even blessed with a hint of talent in any area. It's a rare case that it only happens one out of a million, unfortunately I happen to be one.
To make matters worse, I was in the golden age of prodigies or just straight up monsters where even anyone above average is seen as basic.
Not to mention that these prodigies are practically celebrities at this point living a life of luxury.
As for me?
I was practically an eyesore in that academy.
"You're even more pathetic now, come on. Couldn't you stop even going that low?"
A tone meant for pity but held a condescending hint in it.
I chugged from the bottle of alcohol one more time making them both raise an eyebrow.
Like be serious, if it weren't for us then both of you would be cowering instead in that corner.
I stood up from the bench leaving the bottle of alcohol behind prompting the first guard to hold me by the elbow.
"Hey, old man! Don't leave when I haven't finished talking—"
I glanced over my back shooting a sharp silent glare forcing him to back off away from me. And with that, I walked away—never looking back to the two guards.
Roaming around the streets kingdom, I stopped before looking over the distance and seeing the illuminating lights on a giant mansion.
Even if it's faint.
I could hear the joyful sounds of the ceremony and smell the nice aroma of food. How nice.
I recall that mansion belonging to that one magic architect student where everyone thought it was a useless study only for it to turn out into a extremely profitable business in the future.
Guess who was one of those idiots who thought it was a stupid study thinking it was for nerds?
Regardless, the past is the past, lingering on it wouldn't even change my current situation.
I'm just wondering why—
Why couldn't I be there?
Why could none of the soldiers be there?
I resumed my walk with those thoughts in mind looking down the road ahead. Back to the home for the soldiers who fought in the war and survived, not that I would call it a home since it's just a place filled with bunkers in array.
They couldn't even properly accommodate those who fought for them. Although even with that fact in mind, none of us complained.
We just sucked it up and got used to it.
Honestly I'm just tired at this point, I'm not sure what else to do aside from getting drunk and watching as the leaves grow and fall.
Tucking back to my not-so cozy bed at the bottom layer—I began to wonder if I'm just unlucky or what I did wrong in the past.
I also pondered how exhilarating must be the lives those Divine Crowns lived after the days in the Rouxarths Academy.
Despite the fact that I was just an insignificant ant to them, I wonder—were their lives as amazing as their title?
My heart couldn't help but feel envious.
Because somewhere out there...
The Hex Mage is probably crafting another groundbreaking spell.
The Divine Flames vanquishing the remaining evil with the swing of her blade or by her powerful fists.
The Knight of the Moon should've been escorting the Kingdom's princess.
The Heroic Envoy right now should've been enjoying his retirement now that the demon lord had fallen once and for all.
And I'm here, lying on the bed facing the reality of my mundane life after the war.
Well, an ant shouldn't compare its insignificance to the wings of a bird.
Could there have been more for me?
Should have I chosen the right decision in the past then would've I seen success and stand amongst the kingdom's Divine Crowns?
What are my chances to change my past?
...
I shook my head clearing any of these stupid thoughts.
Things like this shouldn't be bothering me before I sleep and so then—I closed my eyes shut letting the alcohol and exhaustion pull me into slumber.
Hoping to get a good night's sleep to alleviate the stress.
Although I'd have to worry about the hangover by tomorrow.
*If you were given a chance to restart your life, do you think you rise through it all and prove yourself worthy?*
?
Whose voice was that?
It sounded distorted. Are these people playing a prank on me while I'm asleep again?
Looks like a beating isn't even enough to stop them from pulling annoying pranks like this.
I let out an audible groan as I felt multiple rays of sun shine over my face making me wince. Strange.
As far as I can remember I'm under the layer of the bunker bed so that should've provided me atleast most if not a lot of coverage.
"... They couldn't even stop from just that weird message. They had to move my bed along with it... I'm seriously gonna have a fun time beating the crap out of those bastards."
Slowly rising from my bed, I noticed something odd while I squeezed the temples of my forehead. There was no hangover and my voice sounded way too off... way too young.
Pausing for a moment to open my eyes.
I couldn't believe what on earth was in front of me.