Side Story 20
The Northern Front was made up of extremely harsh and rugged mountainous terrain.
Monsters infested every corner—there wasn't a single safe place.
The war was ongoing even now.
Several times a day, monsters surged toward the northern fortress walls.
Daily skirmishes—small, probing clashes like this—
and then, once the time came, a terrifying number of monsters would descend southward all at once, marking the start of a large-scale Wave.
If there was anywhere relatively safe, it would be the forward base city where the Northern Front train station was located.
The recruit training camp and the Northern Army's High Command were also stationed there.
Of course, even here, battles broke out frequently—but compared to other hotspots, it was relatively safer.
The officer in charge of the recruit training camp was Lieutenant Colonel Anton Caliber.
At the remarkably young age of twenty-nine, he had already reached the rank of lieutenant colonel and become a unit commander.
Twenty-nine and a lieutenant colonel.
An extraordinarily fast promotion.
The war played a role, but the greatest factor was the advantage of the Caliber family name.
Anton himself did not deny that he had benefited from his family's prestige.
Veronica Caliber.
The hero of the Arcane Magitech Empire.
After her heroic death in battle,
her rank was posthumously promoted from sergeant to captain,
and statues of her were erected both in the Northern Front station plaza and in the Imperial Capital's grand square.
The Emperor designated the Caliber family as a Guardian House of the Empire,
and thereafter, descendants bearing the Caliber name were appointed to key military positions.
And today—
a recruit had appeared, claiming to be a member of the Caliber family.
Of course, a Caliber answering the nation's call and being deployed to the front was not strange at all.
If anything, it was honorable.
However, at present, there was no one from the Caliber family listed for enlistment at the Northern Front training camp.
Even if conscripted, they would be sent to an officers' academy or ranger units—
not thrown into basic training as a regular soldier.
Even more suspicious was the name: Veronica.
To dare use the hero's name as one's own.
Was this lunatic insane?
Or completely ignorant?
Caliber was a surname designated by the Emperor himself as a Guardian House.
The name Veronica was permanently forbidden for use within the family.
Because she was the family's greatest hero.
Even if allowed, no one would dare take that name.
It was far too heavy a burden.
What descendant would want to inherit her name?
Impersonation.
No need to look further.
Still, just in case, Anton decided to verify the facts first.
He sent a crystal-ball communiqué to the Caliber family's steward in the Imperial Capital.
Well, you never know—
perhaps a distant branch, or an illegitimate child.
The result was exactly as expected.
There were no candidates for enlistment.
Meanwhile, news of the incident reached the ears of the Northern Army's Supreme Commander, General Fabio Caliber.
General Fabio Caliber was Anton's great-uncle.
A crystal-ball communiqué arrived immediately.
He was furious.
After all, Great-Uncle Fabio was one of Lady Veronica's most fervent admirers.
He ordered that the impersonator be dragged to headquarters at once.
What choice was there?
Troops would be dispatched, the suspect bound tightly, and sent over.
Anton issued the order to his adjutant.
Assuming they were already being hauled away, he had nearly forgotten about it.
Then—
BOOOOM!!!
A distant explosion echoed.
"Hm?"
Had monsters attacked?
Battles happened several times a day—an explosion wasn't unusual.
Anton stepped out onto his office balcony.
"…What?"
The explosion hadn't come from the front.
Smoke and lingering shockwaves were visible—
from the direction of the Northern Front train station.
"…Why there?"
Moments later—
Bang!
The door flew open as Adjutant Second Lieutenant Philip Hamilton rushed in.
"Sir!"
"What is it?"
"The Northern Front train station has been taken over. Our soldiers are being detained."
"…What?"
Anton froze in shock.
The elite troops of the Northern Army had been subdued by unknown assailants?
"By whom?"
"By a woman claiming to be—b-Veronica Caliber—and her companions…"
This was insane.
What in the world was going on?
He'd sent troops to arrest them—only for those troops to be captured instead.
"Casualties?"
"At present, none at all."
"None?"
"We confirmed separately. It's true."
"…Hoo."
That was at least a relief.
"H-however, they've requested a meeting with the person in charge."
A meeting?
A hostage negotiation?
Were they making demands?
"What should we do?"
Anton thought for a moment, then spoke.
"First, report to higher command."
"Yes, sir."
"And accept the meeting. I'll go myself."
"Sir, that's dangerous. They even have a mage—"
Anton shook his head and continued.
"This may involve the Caliber family. I'm the appropriate one to go."
"…I see."
"Don't worry. I'm a Caliber too."
"…."
"Honestly, is there anyone in this unit who handles a magic gun better than me?"
"…Hoo."
Lieutenant Hamilton let out a deep sigh.
That was true.
Lieutenant Colonel Anton Caliber carried the blood of a hero.
His marksman rank was Rifle Expert.
"Deploy snipers and ready the standby unit."
"Yes, sir!"
And so, Lieutenant Colonel Anton Caliber led combat troops and rushed toward the train station.
The Northern Front train station.
The summoned beings seized the plaza the moment they appeared.
The soldiers were disarmed and immobilized.
Originally, they had planned to just observe quietly and leave.
But when the soldiers went berserk upon hearing Major Veronica's name, there was no helping it.
Lay-low mode disengaged.
Active intervention initiated.
Since they'd come to another dimension, launching a reconnaissance satellite was standard procedure.
Just one for now.
"Wiz?"
—Yes, Master.
Connection established.
After that, Juhyeok requested a meeting with the person in charge.
A response would come soon.
Juhyeok and the summoned beings were currently standing in front of the statue in the station plaza.
Kosak alternated glances between Major Veronica and the statue.
"It's definitely Major Veronica's face. But they gotta remake the statue. No matter how you look at it, Major's bigger."
Hmm.
Juhyeok agreed.
"There's an inscription at the base too. It's definitely her."
And beneath it, a list of her achievements.
Her feat of holding back the Monster Wave until the very end, protecting the northern fortress.
One of their White Tower summoned beings was a hero.
How could they not react?
"Everyone, applause for Major Veronica!"
Clap clap clap clap clap clap!
"Is this what they call the return of a hero? The Empire's gonna be turned upside down."
Maybe.
But would people believe it?
It had been seventy years.
"But what about Major Veronica's rank? The statue says captain. If they don't affiliate the major rank—"
Veronica's true rank was captain—Captain Veronica.
And even that was a posthumous promotion.
"So what? We just make her a real major."
How do soldiers get promoted?
By earning merit.
And wasn't the world at war right now?
The perfect time for ranks to skyrocket.
"Let's go beyond major—make her a general. General Veronica!"
"Kyaa! General Veronica—rolls right off the tongue."
"Lady Veronica more than deserves such a rank."
"Ho-e!"
"Then first, Major Veronica would have to re-enlist in the Northern Army—"
At that, Veronica spoke firmly.
"I will not re-enlist. I don't care about becoming a general. I already belong somewhere."
"Huh? Where's that?"
"To Commander Bong's White Tower, of course."
"Ooooh…"
That was… touching.
"Still, I want to participate in the war. You know how I died. I must take revenge before leaving."
Oh my.
"Our Major—do whatever you want."
"Monsters? Let's wipe them out completely. This mage will help."
"This old man would like to contribute to Major Veronica's revenge as well."
"A warrior agrees. Every monster that caused Major Veronica's death will be torn apart."
"This maiden shall hold a grand exorcism."
"Hoo-haek! Haek!"
Rajiks, the dimensional world-destruction maniac, was shouting "Nuke!" with bloodshot eyes.
Of course!
If you're going to do it, you have to drop nukes.
Relentlessly, mercilessly.
"Let's act independently of the Empire. Is there any need to operate together with the Northern Army? We can just wipe them out ourselves and leave."
But then Kosak spoke up.
"I'm against that. We should conduct a joint operation with the Northern Army."
Why?
"Where's that unit of a hundred female ranger magi-gunners? We absolutely need their support."
Hmm.
Come to think of it, I was curious.
Just then—
Rumble, rumble.
Heavily armed soldiers poured into the station plaza.
On both sides were armored vehicles mounted with mana-powered weapons.
Looks like our request for a meeting had been accepted.
"Major Veronica."
"Major Veronica Caliber!"
"Let's go for the meeting. The rest of you wait here."
"I'll go too."
At Juhyeok's signal to stand by, Mackenzie, the Mad Berserker, and Bardin rose into the air using flight and levitation magic.
Gobang whoooosh!—grew gigantic.
Diamat began preparing to declare the Dream Domain.
Rajiks crouched low, taeng, pang-gurrr, ready to launch.
Juhyeok, Kosak, and Major Veronica walked forward.
The person in charge approached from the opposite side.
Stopping at a certain distance, he raised a hand in greeting.
"Hello. I'm Bong Juhyeok."
"I'm Peace Dove Kosak. I won't do anything for now. I promise."
"Veronica Caliber."
A reply came from the other side.
"Anton Caliber, commander of the Northern Recruit Training Camp."
At that moment—Veronica's eyes widened in surprise.
"…Caliber?"
Juhyeok was inwardly startled too.
Same surname?
"Is that guy one of Major Veronica's descendants?"
"Looks like it."
"She'd be about his grandmother's generation."
"He looks older than her, though."
"Major Veronica's actual age is over ninety."
"By that logic, our Fairy Princess is basically an ancestor."
Meanwhile—
Anton's pupils trembled violently.
The unidentified intruders occupying the plaza.
The closer he got, the stronger the unease became.
They were no ordinary people.
They were definitely powerful—but he couldn't grasp how powerful.
That wasn't the only shock.
The appearance of the woman claiming to be Veronica.
It wasn't unfamiliar.
He had seen it many times.
Where?
"…The family portraits."
That's right.
The portraits hanging on the walls.
How could she look so identical?
Anton was confused.
Seventy years had passed.
And yet she appeared exactly as she had back then?
No.
She had to be a fake.
She was too identical—that was precisely why he couldn't believe it.
So—
"…You are Veronica Caliber?"
"Yes. That's my name."
"And your father's name?"
"Leonardo Caliber."
Anton's eyebrow twitched.
Leonardo Caliber—
his direct ancestor.
The biological father of the hero Veronica.
The head of the Caliber family seventy years ago.
But this was common knowledge.
Anyone who had read the Empire's history books knew this.
Any imperial citizen—no, any human in the south—would know it.
This alone could not prove she was Veronica.
"Haa… so what do you want?"
"Huh?"
"What is your objective? What are you trying to achieve by impersonating a hero?"
At Anton's sharp question, Veronica replied with lonely eyes.
"What objective? I was assisting my commander, and by chance, I ended up back in this world."
"…Commander?"
"Yes. Someone I deeply respect."
In truth, her feelings were complicated.
He was clearly a descendant who shared her surname, yet he felt like a stranger.
It couldn't be helped.
So many years had already passed.
That's right.
This was no longer her home.
If she had a place to return to, it would be the White Tower.
"I'm not asking for anything. It's fine if you don't acknowledge me as Veronica. Once I finish what I came to do, I'll go back—"
At that moment!
BOOOOM!
A thunderous explosion echoed from afar.
Pa-juk! Pa-juk! Pa-juk!
The sound of magic guns firing in rapid succession.
Kueeek! Grrrooo! Kyaaah!
Chilling beastly screams.
Anton frowned deeply.
Of all times—monster invasion now?
And this was a region where monster incursions were rare.
A messenger received a transmission and came running at full speed.
"What's the situation?"
"The numbers are considerable. Elite- and Champion-class monsters have joined as well."
"…Damn it."
Trouble never comes alone.
A monster invasion and this unresolved mess.
He wanted to suppress them immediately and rush to the battlefield—
but could he handle the situation?
These people looked more dangerous than the monsters.
Then—
one of the three men he had been talking to suddenly raised his hand and spoke.
"Lieutenant Colonel Anton Caliber?"
"…Yes. What is it?"
"I apologize for saying this, but we'll take care of the monsters."
Take care… as in how?
"Our Major Veronica needs revenge, after all. Right, Major?"
"If you grant me the opportunity, I will wipe them out completely, Commander."
Anton blinked.
That man was the commander?
Now that he looked properly, he could see it.
Who everyone in the back was protecting.
That young man.
He was the leader.
"Then we'll take that as permission."
Juhyeok shouted toward the rear.
"Mr. Crackersus!"
Flash!
The green one rushed forward at high speed.
"Would you fly Major Veronica over there and deal with the monsters for us?"
Crackersus nodded briskly as if there were no problem at all, then hesitated.
"C-can I fire just one breath attack? It's been a while since I last breathed fire, and my throat feels itchy…"
Oh dear.
"Still, you should get Major Veronica's permission first—"
She was the one seeking revenge.
Major Veronica answered calmly.
"I'll allow just one shot."
"Oh! Thank you, thank you!"
Permission granted.
Shaaah! Boom!
Crackersus released his polymorph and transformed into his true form—a massive ancient dragon.
Flap! Flap!
Taaat!
With fluid movement, Major Veronica mounted the dragon's back.
"I'll be back, Commander."
"Good luck, Major!"
Screeeee!
Crackersus shot off like an arrow, Major Veronica riding on his back.
At the same time—
"Dr. L."
"Yes."
"Launch the drones. Major Veronica has returned to her homeland—shouldn't we properly record her achievements?"
"An excellent point."
They said it was fine, but honestly, I wanted to give her four stars.
She's a hero of Mechanos—shouldn't it be five stars or more?
Shhk!
Rajiks placed drone cameras and hologram playback equipment on the ground.
Wiiiiing!
At El's command to Wiz, a drone rapidly began tracking the green dragon.
"Make sure the shots look good. Focus on Major Veronica—alternate between full-body and close-ups."
Flash!
A holographic display appeared.
A green dragon racing through the sky.
Standing atop its back in a firing stance, Major Veronica aimed at the monsters.
Bzzzzing!
Fwoooosh!
Thump!
Heavy shells fired in succession.
Boom! Boom!
Monsters exploded on impact.
Bzzzzing!
Fwoooosh!
Thump!
Boom! Boom!
"Nice! That's our Major!"
Clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Juhyeok began applauding with a satisfied smile, and the summoned beings followed with cheers.
"Long live the Summoner! Long live Major Veronica!"
"That thump came through great! Even as a hologram, it feels real—like it's right in front of us!"
"As expected of Major Veronica. Amazing!"
"Not a single shot misses."
"And the destructive power—she's clearly serious."
"Hoeee."
Then came Crackersus's poison breath.
One blast to the right.
BOOOOOM!
One blast to the left.
BOOOOOM!
"Huh? Greenie fired two breath attacks."
"That's right. He clearly said just one."
"Tsk. Dragons are always greedy."
"Dr. L, tell Wiz not to film that lizard's face."
"I knew it. You never raise green-haired beasts."
"Such a shameless reptile. He must be disciplined when he returns."
"Fweh!!!"
Meanwhile—
Anton was completely stunned.
He might have needed medical attention.
His mind had gone completely blank.
The moment the dragon transformed into its true form, his breath caught in his throat.
The same was true for every Northern Army soldier in the plaza.
A dragon—believed to be extinct in the Mechanos Dimension—had reappeared.
And now a magi-gunner was riding that legendary dragon, slaughtering monsters?
Is this real?
Just who are these people?