The Sergeant Who Couldn't Die

Life is like breathing, and right now, I feel like taking the worst breath of my life.

I sat beside a dusty lake whose muddy waters reflected nothing but a dull sky. Deep inside me there was a gap, like the darkest cloud in the heavens, yet no rain ever came from it. Life was hard for those without parents, but I considered myself worse. I had parents, yet they never wanted me. Though none of those thoughts mattered anymore. In half an hour, I would probably be dead.

Someone shouted from behind, startling me. I quickly composed myself and looked back. Standing there with his usual disciplined posture was Sam, my right-hand man—or left-hand man, whichever hand it was did not matter. I washed both equally.

Seeing me motionless, he saluted again.

“Reporting, sir. There is an army decree and a letter in your name.”

I turned toward him.

“Good morning, Sam. Report.”

“Sir, the Commander requests your presence in his tent within ten minutes. And…” He took an envelope from his pocket. “A letter. From a lady named Ruby Ana Belsercosta.”

I accepted the envelope. “Prepare my uniform and a cup of coffee. I’ll be there shortly.”

“Yes, sir.”

He saluted once more and departed.

I opened the envelope.

Dear Thomas,

I am saddened to tell you that I am getting married.

The promise we made before you left has to be broken.

If there is a next life, I hope you will be my beloved once again.

Every week, I shall pray in church that the Almighty grants you someone who can fill the emptiness I leave behind.

Your once and most beloved,

Ruby

My hand did not shake.

My mind did not go blank.

Strange.

Had I become numb, or had I simply expected this?

If I had received this letter two weeks ago, I would have either been the happiest man alive or the most miserable. But now…

Nothing.

I folded the fancy letter into a paper boat and placed it on the lake. It drifted lazily across the surface until a fish took interest in it and disappeared beneath the water. Maybe the little fellow planned to show it to his wife.

My hand clenched.

Did she really think I would believe those sweet words?

My sources had already informed me she had willingly agreed to the marriage. In the end, she pursued wealth like every noble around her.

Ruby was my childhood friend. Eventually, we became lovers. When my parents threw me out and sent me to the orphanage, she was the only one who remained beside me. Or perhaps, she had remained beside my family’s wealth.

Last week my parents had officially transferred all their property to my biological sister, Ana. Perhaps that was when she realized that staying with me meant becoming nothing more than the wife of a simple sergeant.

I almost laughed. If I told her I had just received two promotions in a single day, would she reconsider?

Who cared? A lost cause remained a lost cause.

I stood up.

“Let’s meet the Commander one last time.”

The command tent bore a wooden sign:

Senior Colonel, East Division.

Inside sat a sturdy man in his late forties. His broad shoulders and slight belly gave him the appearance of a retired bear that had somehow returned to the army.

I saluted.

“Section Colonel Thomas reporting, sir.”

“Ah, Thomas. Sit.”

He rose from his chair and walked toward the large map hanging behind him. “You already know the mission, yes?”

“Yes, sir. I’ve received the intel.”

He nodded. “This is the first mission of its kind we have entrusted to anyone. Your team’s casualty rate is estimated at eighty percent. If you return in one piece, consider yourself blessed.”

He placed his finger on the map.

“The target lies two thousand kilometers east. You and your team will infiltrate enemy territory disguised as civilians. Along the way, you are to pick up an artist from Capehum East. He will duplicate the maps you acquire.”

His finger moved farther. “Inside the enemy castle is an engineer imprisoned in their cells. She designed the artillery cannons they plan to use. We need her to sabotage those cannons discreetly, so it doesn’t work on battlefield. Convince her, threaten her, kidnap her—I don’t care. Your methods are your own.”

“The difficult part is entry. The castle only admits selected nobles, knights, special units, Royal Knights, and the princess herself—the owner of the castle.”

He folded his arms. “You have exactly two months. Their army marches on the first day of summer. Why they intend to attack us, I neither know nor care. Orders come from higher positions.”

He looked me straight in the eye. “And that is why you received two promotions in one day.” His voice became serious. “This mission must remain completely discreet. If your cover is blown, war becomes inevitable.”

He paused. “And if you fail…”

His eyes hardened. “We will not take you back.” “You and your men will be branded terrorists by your own kingdom.”

Silence filled the tent.

“So tell me, Thomas.“Is everything clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

I stood. “I should prepare for departure.”

“Sit down.”

His voice stopped me.

He sighed. “I know why you accepted this mission. I know what kind of thoughts you’ve been carrying. And I know you hope the inevitable finally catches you.”

He shook his head. “What I don’t understand is why your team insisted on following you. They’re officers in their own right. I could’ve assigned green recruits, but those fools chose to march beside you into what is practically a death sentence.”

He sat back down. So listen carefully. Don’t do anything stupid. I can afford to lose one broken man. But I refuse to lose several capable officers because their commander wanted to die.

I stood there for a moment before leaving the tent.

While walking back, I couldn’t help but think.

Does that old fool really believe I am incompetent enough to drag my men to death with me?

Never.

I may be hopeless. I may be abandoned. But they are not like me. They have dreams, families, and reasons to return home. If I die, I will not drag them with me. They are capable enough to finish the mission without their commander.

Maybe I should just die now. Why bother starting the mission? If I die here, they will simply receive another commander and continue. Problem solved. Thinking that, I walked toward the edge of the cliff.

Not far from the camp, the view was magnificent. To the east stretched the hills of the Great Tealon Empire—the very kingdom we were about to infiltrate. To the north stood the Fallsorth Republic, where countless gyro-turrets guarded the entire border, making trade between our kingdoms expensive and difficult.

I pulled out my thirty-three caliber revolver. A weapon imported from Fallsorth and bestowed only upon Colonels and higher-ranking officers. The grip was wrapped in ox hide, giving a firm feeling in my hand. Running my fingers along the polished steel, I felt the coldness of the metal.

Beautiful craftsmanship.Sometimes I wonder why our kingdom produces endless tobacco and alcohol to entertain nobles instead of making masterpieces like this.

What a waste.

The sunlight painted the peaks of the snowy mountains golden.

Beautiful.

“This place is perfect to die like Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption. Sorry, lost track. Back to the story.”

I switched the revolver to my left hand and pressed the barrel against my forehead. Funny enough, when people say your life flashes before your eyes, they expect you to remember your family. But I only remembered my comrades.

Training together.

Drinking together.

Laughing around the campfire.

Not a single happy memory with my parents.

Not one.

Whatever.

They wouldn’t care whether I lived or died.

Our first lesson about firearms was simple: “Never place your finger on the trigger unless you are absolutely certain you’re going to fire. Otherwise, keep it on the safety lever.” This time, I was certain.

I pulled the trigger.

Click.

Nothing.

I frowned.

Pulled again.

Click.

Nothing.

Third time.

Click.

Still nothing.

“What?”

Opening the chamber, I froze.

Empty.

I checked my pouch.

Also empty.

“Civik!”

I nearly exploded.

“CIVIK!”

“TODAY I WILL KILL YOU, YOU DAMN LAZY FOOL!”

I gave him one simple task last night.

Prepare my backpack.

No bullets.

No bandages.

No C-32 injections.

Nothing.

Now I had to postpone my death. What a pain in my father’s ass. He has piles, so I hope he’s suffering greatly right now. Thinking about it somehow made me feel better.

“Let’s go back. Nothing worth dwelling on in this empty place.”