When Salvia died, Benny cried more than she ever thought possible.
She had thought herself hardened, accustomed to loss after so much time spent in this brutal environment. But she could never have imagined Salvia dying.
On the day of Salvia’s death, Benny cried so much she fainted, and Sanchez had to carry her back to the barracks.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.
She believed she’d never recover enough to return to her daily routine. But as she watched Ishina and Aquila regain their composure, she resolved to become stronger too.
She couldn’t let herself remain trapped in grief over Salvia’s death forever. Benny had to be strong. Salvia wouldn’t want her to fall apart like this.
...But being alone in the women’s barracks was unbearably lonely.
So, when Dalin, a new female recruit, joined, Benny couldn’t help but like her.
Dalin’s orange hair reminded Benny so much of Salvia. Even her adorable and somewhat delicate appearance felt reminiscent of her.
‘Could it be that Miss Salvia has returned?’
Benny entertained the thought, but Dalin turned out to be very different from what Benny had hoped.
“I’m sorry... I don’t think I can do it...”
“I’m just not good enough...”
“Do we really have to...?”
...Her constant hesitation and self-doubt frustrated Benny endlessly. But remembering how Salvia had guided her with patience, Benny resolved to do the same for Dalin.
Mistakes were fine.
Running away from fear was fine.
Just as Salvia had protected her, Benny would protect Dalin.
...Still, Aquila’s behavior left her feeling a little bitter.
“How could he....”
Aquila, who had always been indifferent to others, now stayed close to Dalin, ensuring she didn’t get hurt. It infuriated Benny.
Even Karon, who used to constantly cling to Salvia for attention, was now hovering around Dalin.
Ishina, who used to shout “Ugh, you lunatics!” whenever Aquila and Winter argued over Salvia, now laughed off Dalin’s every little mistake.
And Winter, who used to quietly duel Aquila over Salvia’s attention, now seemed determined to control Dalin’s every action.
It was enough to bring Benny to tears.
“How could they all act like this?”
Back when Salvia was alive, Benny’s favorite pastime had been observing the tense standoffs between Aquila and Winter as they vied for Salvia’s attention.
Of course, in her heart, Benny had always rooted for Aquila to marry Salvia. But sometimes, when Salvia spent time with Winter, she’d waver a little....
‘Though, honestly, she looked good with Karon too. And even with Ishina...’
No, that wasn’t the point here.
In the end, while Benny devoted herself to taking care of Dalin, she couldn’t help but feel frustrated watching everyone else—those who once orbited Salvia—now shower Dalin with attention. Even though Benny herself was one of those people.
So, on that fateful day...
The day Aquila told her about the plan.
“What do you think, Benny? If possible, I’d like you to get Sanchez to introduce us to the black magician and help us make contact.”
“Ah...”
“I heard your father is a two-star general.”
“H-How did you....”
But before she could even process how Aquila had learned about her father, she was already reeling from the shock of his “plan.”
“If we leverage your father’s influence, we can send letters without the higher-ups noticing. Can you help?”
The moment he said those words, Benny felt like her mind had caught fire.
It was only then that everything Aquila had done up until now started to make sense.
“Aah...!”
In the end, Benny broke down in tears.
This went against everything she believed in. It was unthinkable. Unethical. Something that deserved condemnation from the entire world.
It was a complete denial of the way she had lived her life.
Benny couldn’t agree to it. She couldn’t.
But... but....
“When you two get married, I’ll be the one to play the piano accompaniment....”
In the end, Benny agreed to help with Aquila’s plan.
She really had no other choice.
If it weren’t for Salvia, Benny’s beliefs would have crumbled long ago.
Her life, her convictions—Salvia had protected them.
And for Salvia’s sake, she was willing to shatter them all.