Chapter 23: Meeting You, I'm Very Happy (Part 1)

— Barbarus —

During the attack by the pustule-hunting dogs, the newly formed Death Guards saved most of the villagers.

The strongest and tallest leader of the Death Guards gave a speech in the village square.

Herila, with tear-streaked cheeks, looked up at him.

"We have been oppressed for too long, to the point that we have forgotten all the dignity we are supposed to have."

"Let's unite and resist all this injustice, resist all this violence, resist all this filth!"

"Join us, take up your sickles, and strike against all this injustice!"

"Resist!!!"

He said this.

Resist.

Resist!!!

Herila, without hesitation, took her sister and left with the Death Guards. 

They left their past behind.

She wanted to become strong, she wanted to resist, she wanted to protect her family, she wanted to protect the people of Barbarus! She wanted to be someone who could wield a sickle and protect others—

—just like Hades.

Herila felt her face warm. She felt a bit shy about this thought.

She was just a weak woman, while that tall, strong man was a complete warrior.

She couldn't possibly catch up to such a dazzling existence.

Herila patted her face. No, even if she couldn't catch up, she had to try. 

She was tired of her weak self; the feeling of weakness was like a deeply poisonous wine, corroding her insides.

She wanted to be like Hades, to become someone who could protect others, to bring hope to others! 

You can do it, Herila, keep going! 

Herila followed the surviving villagers and returned to the new home with the Death Guards.

She and her sister registered their identities and received a small house and rations for two.

When asked which department of the Death Guards she wanted to join, Herila chose the combat department without hesitation.

Old man Hade, who was doing the registration, looked at her puzzled. 

Usually, women of Herila's stature chose logistics or the medical department.

"You're too small, girl. Listen to me, go to the medical department. The combat department's training is too intense, you won't be able to handle it."

But the child across from him looked at him seriously.

"I can become strong."

Old man Hade sighed and wrote "Combat Department" in the preference column of Herila's registration.

And so, Herila became a trainee Death Guard.

The training for the Death Guards was brutal and difficult. 

They first underwent three months of physical training and then had to go through selection to join the ranks.

Only those who survived the selection could become Death Guards.

She climbed a captured high mountain with the main force, without any protective measures. The toxic gas tore at her lungs.

One by one, the people around her fell. Exhausted, they succumbed to the gas. They hesitated, let go of the cliff they were climbing, and fell into the abyss.

Herila's whole body trembled from exhaustion, her arms spasming uncontrollably, but she clung to the rock face with all her might.

She wanted to become strong, she wanted to protect others.

In the end, Herila was the third person to reach the summit.

At the peak, Mortarion himself presented weapons to the new batch of Death Guards. 

Based on the observations from the previous training, Herila was given a well-crafted musket. 

From that moment on, she was a Death Guard.

She swore to protect the people of this land, to fight to the end.

She swore.

Later, she participated in numerous battles. Herila's agility and precise shooting earned her respect and admiration.

In a battle against wild swamp rock leopards, Herila shot and killed the leading rock leopard with a single bullet. In a siege against an Overlord, Herila held her ground and, after her squad was wiped out, defended the territory by killing thirty-six puppets alone.

She was a Death Guard, and she would protect the people of this land.

However, in the endless battles, when she put down her musket and looked at the sky, Herila's heart would ripple. 

Was the sky the same on the day they met? 

Under the pretense of inquiring about the war situation, Herila continued to secretly gather information about Hades.

She learned that this tall warrior was only two years older than her.

She learned that Hades was one of the original three members of the Death Guards.

Herila learned that Hades wasn't very popular. 

Despite his prowess, he was always ostracized by others.

Why? Such an excellent person, why didn't anyone appreciate him?

In the next combat team assignment, with a little plan in mind, Herila deliberately arrived a bit late and was indeed assigned to Hades, whom no one wanted to be near.

Hades silently carried his scythe, squatting in an inconspicuous corner of the battlefield, waiting for her.

She walked over. Was she nervous? Herila felt a bit weak.

No, she couldn't embarrass herself in front of her idol and let him think she was weak.

Herila mustered her courage and readied her gun for battle.

When she blew out the brains of the last puppet, Hades, resting on his scythe, whistled.

"Well done, young lady, good shooting."

"I remember you, the one who distracted the dogs, right?"

"I thought you had potential back then, and now it seems I was right."

What was happening?! Herila felt her face flush instantly. 

Thanks to the gas mask, Hades couldn't see her blushing.

She had always imagined Hades as a silent and warm person.

She didn't expect him to be so enthusiastic!!! Ahhhh! The idol aura seemed a bit shattered!!

But regardless, from then on, Herila always chose to team up with Hades.

As if realizing Herila's thoughts, Hades often chatted with her.

When battles were about to end and there were no more monsters, Hades would show off his scythe skills to Herila. In his hands, the usually heavy scythe seemed to come alive, dancing with the wind, the blade flashing.

He also taught Herila some shooting techniques. 

Strangely, although Hades couldn't use a musket, he had his own insights into its use.

Besides these, Hades shared some other tips with Herila, like how to plow fields more efficiently, water flowers with rice water, and do mental math.

Contrary to others' complaints about him, Herila found Hades to be quite a fascinating person.

To repay Hades and with a bit of her own intentions, Herila often cooked for him.

Unlike her sickly sister, Hades always ate quickly and happily.

Herila's sense of taste had been destroyed long ago in a gas attack, so she hadn't enjoyed food for a long time.

She hoped Hades could carry on her joy of eating.

Despite frequent battles causing occasional dizziness, Herila's life became increasingly happy and joyful.

Herila grew stronger, could protect the weak, and became friends with Hades.

Under Mortarion's leadership, the Death Guards continued to grow, and one Overlord after another was beheaded.

The future would be brighter.

As long as we strive, as long as we resist, the future will be brighter.

Even at the cost of her life, she would protect all this.

Herila deeply, firmly believed this.

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