UCT Ch 19

The seemingly endless mission finally came to an end.

As soon as Diana returned to the base, she carelessly threw off her wet gloves and pilot’s cap. She leaned against the cockpit, catching her breath for a while.

The line between life and death had been so thin, like sugar frosting on a cake.

The images of burning planes and blood-soaked cockpits lingered before her eyes. Richard’s actions were as ruthless as his mind-melding abilities. His aim wasn’t just to shoot down; his focus was on killing the enemy.

But could she, therefore, criticize him for being merciless?

No.

Despite her instinctive revulsion, Diana knew she had no right to judge him.

This was not a jousting match or knights’ duel. It was war. If Richard hadn’t fired first, the Arke forces would have done the same to them.

As soon as she stepped out of the plane, her legs shook. She nearly collapsed to the ground, but a firm hand caught and supported her. She knew who it was without looking.

Richard lifted her up as easily as picking up a piece of straw.

The rough, coarse palm against hers felt like a hot stove.

Through the still-connected mind melding, she could feel the man’s excitement continuing to transmit. Diana tried to pull his hand away, but it was futile.

His grip was so strong that instead of being freed, the recoil made her fall even closer into his embrace. Through his broad chest, she could feel his heart pounding wildly.

With a trembling voice, she managed to ask,

“Um, Lieutenant?”

“…”

“I’m fine. Please let go.”

The strength left Richard’s arm. Diana, having barely escaped from that large embrace, faced him head-on. She was startled to see his eyes.

His blue-grey pupils were clouded with an indescribable desire, different from his usual cold haze.

‘Looks like he’s gone mad.’

It wasn’t entirely unexpected.

Diana didn’t know how many times Richard had done mind melding before or to what level, but she was certain of one thing:

He had never experienced ‘this kind of mind melding’ before.

Not the oppressive mind melding where one overpowers the other, nor the superficial melding just for sensing emotions, but a mind melding based on complete cooperation and trust.

Having experienced such profound unity for the first time, his excitement was only natural. He must not be in his right mind.

While Diana was observing him with unease, something unbelievable happened.

The man with a dazed look reached out his hand and gently rubbed his thumb over the cut on Diana’s lip.

Diana’s face was marked with sharp pain and confusion. She frowned, her fingers curling. It was so sudden that she couldn’t avoid it.

Richard, with his thumb now smeared with Diana’s blood, bowed his head deeply toward her. His face was now even closer.

Flushed cheeks, dilated pupils, and slightly parted lips – the face of a man that one might see in bed – spoke to Diana through mind melding.

[Blood.]

[……]

[You’re bleeding. Are you hurt?]

The tender, affectionate voice sent chills down her spine.

“It’s, it’s nothing. I bit my lip by accident. Lieutenant.”

His eyes narrowed, almost as if he were amused, like a beast before its prey.

[Lie. Your lips are in shreds.]

He was clearly not himself.

[Go to the infirmary right now.]

[……]

[Diana.]

Richard’s other hand reached for Diana’s wrist. His calloused right thumb gently circled the soft skin of her wrist.

Overcome by fear, Diana hastily closed her mind melding channel.

[……]

As soon as she closed the channel, Richard’s narrowed eyes widened, and clarity slowly returned to his previously clouded eyes, as if he were waking from a trance.

He quickly straightened up and removed his hand from her wrist.

His face was pale, a mix of shock, perplexity, and disgust.

His handsome brow furrowed deeply, clearly remembering what state he had been in and what he had been doing, yet not understanding it.

Diana tried to calm him with the calmest voice she could muster.

“Lieutenant, are you alright? It seems like a side effect of the mind melding. You should go to the infirmary to rest-”

“I’m fine.”

“But…”

“…Sergeant. Didn’t I say I’m fine?”

His voice was sharp and impatient. Having returned completely to his usual self, he turned his back on her.

“Lieutenant, Lieutenant!”

Even when Diana called out to him from behind, he didn’t look back, just strode towards the barracks. Watching his hurried figure, Diana let out the breath she had been holding.

Leaning against the plane, she barely managed to steady her trembling legs.

‘…He must be confused.’

Her heart wasn’t just beating like it was about to burst for him alone.

In fact, Diana was also quite stirred up by the aftermath of the mind melding. Her breathing was heavy, and her senses were heightened.

Unlike Richard, who had been on the brink of losing his reason, she could manage her mind somewhat due to her past-life experience.

Though they said it would get familiar after a few more times, whether there would be a next time was uncertain. Remembering the man’s excited face made her feel somewhat sick.

It seemed she had been more tense than she realized.

🌷🌷🌷

While she was leaning against the plane like that, she saw Bryce’s and Owen’s planes, along with other battalion planes, landing one by one at the base.

Soldiers by the runway were counting the returning planes, letting out sighs of relief, confirming the fate of their comrades.

Eventually, Owen stepped out of his plane. He was in a similar state to Diana.

He kissed the ground, kneeling with trembling legs. Bryce lay flat on the ground, not moving.

Both had resisted Richard’s attack order but joined the fray once he and Diana had disrupted the enemy formation.

Come to think of it, they had been here for less than a month. The pressure and tension of combat must have been immense for them. Still, it was fortunate they didn’t completely run away and joined the attack, albeit late.

As Diana was watching the planes return to the base, blinking her eyes…

“Green, Sergeant Green?”

Someone called her from behind. Turning around, there stood a bespectacled medic with a serious look.

“You’ve got an injury. Come to the infirmary.”

“Ah… It’s just from biting my lip, it’ll wash off-”

“Lieutenant Ashwood made it clear to check on you. No more arguments, follow me.”

“……”

Despite his confusion and abrupt departure, he had found the time to inform the medic. What a strange human. She had an ominous feeling that she would get more and more entangled with this strange individual.

🌷🌷🌷

The infirmary inside the base was white and clean, filled with the smell of disinfectants. There were few people lying down here. Perhaps a characteristic of the air force; unlike other branches where the injured outnumbered the dead, in the air force, the dead always outnumbered the wounded.

Returning alive with injuries from the air was close to a miracle.

Under the white light, Diana’s reflection in the mirror was pitiful.

Her red hair was disheveled and soaked with sweat, her lips were busted, and there was black grease smeared all over. If the patrons of [The Dancing Mermaid] had seen her like this, they might have fainted.

The nurse cleaned her up with meticulous care, insisting she rest even though Diana said she could do it herself.

After having a patch on her lip and her face cleaned, Diana, now looking somewhat human again, headed to her quarters. The day had passed quickly; the sunset was already setting. After lying down for a while, having dinner, and taking a nap, tomorrow would come.

As she walked through the dimming base, someone grabbed her by the nape of her neck. Before she knew it, she was slammed against a wall.

“What-!”

“Sergeant Green.”

In front of her stood Lieutenant Bryce.

🌷🌷🌷

“Lieutenant?”

Bryce, looking around, chewed on his lower lip as he glared at Diana with sharp eyes.

“What’s your purpose for participating in this war?”

“…Pardon?”

“What’s your purpose? To go back home alive? Or to become a hero like the lieutenant?”

“…Well, to protect my home… and to aid His Majesty the King-”

“Bullshit.”

No, she had answered honestly when asked about her purpose, only to be called out for bullshit. She felt wronged by the sudden interrogation. Diana lifted her head slightly.

Lieutenant Bryce, who was a head taller than her, crossed his arms, clearly displeased.

“Don’t you want to go back home alive?”

“…Of course, I do…”

She wanted to live. Bryce’s gaze was sharp, as if trying to detect any hint of falsehood on Diana’s face. He let out a sigh and warned her.

“Then, keep your distance from Ashwood.”