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Chariot Volume 2 "Love"

Chapter 1 "Begging for Life"

"Brave blue chariot and soldiers! Surrender peacefully! We'll burn your hometown!"

We despaired.

"Takeru. Let's surrender. They seem to be the army from Nigo."

"I understand."

In the army, surrender means death. I didn't fully understand this. If this had been the enemy army, we would have certainly died.

"It's blue..."

"..."

"Why don't you run?"

"I won't fight anymore."

"Don't be foolish. That's why you're a civilian! I'll take your chariot!"

"He's my friend."

"We came from the eastern city. Takeru's father is a soldier, Mikazuki Ataru." "

"I see...that reckless...I see."

"We engaged and destroyed the red chariot, Violet. The wreckage is over there."

"So?"

"Please, just spare my life...I can find food myself."

"Try and escape from me."

"Sorry, Chariot."

I left the chariot and ran away in a panic. I ran in a circle. Artillery fire came. I couldn't look back.

I ran for my life. I knew instinctively. "I'll die if I stay here."

The blue pendant glowed...it glowed, it was beautiful. Why did this have to happen at a time like this...?

Death was approaching. But...somehow...

I lost consciousness.

Episode 2 "Interrogation"

I had a dream. Why am I doing this...? My father was a soldier. He fought bravely and died...

I don't want to die... I want to die with a good memory. But...

"Boy, you still have a long way to go..." someone says in my dream.

"I'm so frustrated..."

"Takeru, if you're a man, don't cry. If you're attacked, fight back, that's war."

"I'm so weak..."

"You'll become a fine man someday. Your father fought bravely too..."

"I'll do my best too..."

Then I woke up. I was in a dark room. It seemed I had been taken prisoner.

The room's interior was predominantly white.

Beautiful music was playing. It sounded like classical music playing from a CD player.

Then the lights in the room came on.

"Boy, are you awake...?"

An old soldier spoke to me.

"How does it feel to be a prisoner of war?"

"It's tough. I want to be released soon..."

"Want a cigarette?"

"I'm thirteen years old."

"I was sixteen when I joined the war."

"Where's your father?"

"He's dead."

"You should cherish your life too."

"What value does life have?"

"It has infinite value..."

"I don't see anything like that."

"If you're alive, you can eat delicious food, admire beautiful flowers, and write poetry."

"That's true, but..."

"Right? You could say, 'If there is life, there is a life,' couldn't you?"

"No. If there is life, there is death." "

"Do you know why we fight?"

"No."

"Because we want to protect what's important."

"......"

"Join the garrison! And fight!"

"Yes!"

Episode 3: "Training"

I joined the army of Nigo city. I was recommended to join the infantry, and I accepted.

I was forbidden from riding the chariot. But I couldn't give up.

The chariot. How attached I was to this Type 10 tank...

But when training was announced, I changed my mind. I had to fight for Nigo city, and for my country.

I know that fighting is tough. But even though I'm young, I think I have enough guts to participate. Otherwise, I wouldn't become a soldier. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to fight.

The training included automatic rifle practice, crawling, and parachute jumps, but the main focus was marching.

Today, May 1st, I was scheduled to participate in the march starting at 11:00.

"Hey, Takeru, the new recruit. If you participate in and complete this march, you'll be a full-fledged soldier. Do your best!"

That's what my senior called out.

"I wonder if I can do it..."

That's what Eve, another new recruit, said.

"If you're a man, you can!"

"That's right! You'll get plenty of water after the march!"

"I'll do my best," I replied.

The march was 100 kilometers long. From the town of Nigo, we headed west, traversing mountains, valleys, and along main roads.

It began. From the start, I found it tough. But I told myself I couldn't give up. My parents would be sad if I did.

We were going off the beaten path. At first, I thought it would be like a hike.

But my soles started hurting quite a while before the halfway point. It was unbearable. But I had to endure.

Endure. The rising sun was encouraging me. I was working harder than anyone else in the world. So I had to endure.

Ah, it started raining.

"Are you alright?" the captain asked. Captain Yamai was considerate; I could tell he was a true leader.

"I'm fine," I managed to say.

Ah, I've finally made it this far. We've arrived. I'll drink plenty of water...

Episode 4: "The Girl"

Does the army need rest? Everyone needs peace, relaxation, and love, but the army doesn't have that.

That's the reality. There are only prostitutes, they entertain, and they fight for their country.

"That's me."

That's why I fight. There's no reason. I fight because there's an enemy. I wage war because there's an enemy.

I'd heard that she worked as a prostitute in between.

One day, I went to the town of Nigo to buy oil and some personal items. My expenses were covered, so I could shop without worry.

I went to the brothel. There were prostitutes there, but I didn't feel like going in...

"Mother..." I heard a voice calling.

I looked and saw a young girl with eyes as clear as lake water.

Who is she? Her eyes are unusually large.

"Who are you?"

"Yura."

"Yura?"

"Yura."

"Yes... I'm Takeru."

"Takeru... Your mother is here. Do you want to take her?"

"No..."

"And you?" I was about to ask, but stopped myself out of embarrassment.

"I see..."

That was how I met her.

Episode 5: "The Sunset"

I finished my shopping and headed back to where the army was.

I suddenly looked at the sunset. Sadness and the sunset. Why? Why did I feel so sad watching the sunset...? Men have sad things. Especially for me, being in the army, there are always...

Oh well. Tomorrow too. That's what I thought. Yuura. She's the daughter of a prostitute. At what age do girls start going to brothels? Will those beautiful eyes disappear then too?

"Oh."

I heard a voice.

"Takeru, are you heading back?" Captain Yamai called out.

"How did it go? Did it work out?"

"I bought everything!"

"That's great, well done!"

"Let's eat lots of yakiniku when we get back!"

"Yes!"

"Colonel!"

"What is it?"

"It seems there are some suspicious movements in Samo's enemy forces." "

"I see. Report any developments!"

"Yes!"

"There's always war, isn't there?"

"Lieutenant General!"

"Sergeant Takeru, Colonel Yamai. This situation is moving. It's going to be a big one."

"Is that so..."

"Why war?"

"I can pretty much guess the reason."

"What is it?"

"Food shortage."

"I see. And that's it."

"It's just that simple that it becomes a war. Human desires are fierce."

"..."

"Let's go home."

Episode 6: "The First War"

There's a reason for war. This war is said to be due to a food shortage, but we don't know what's behind it. Long ago, a queen of a certain country caused a war that shook the nation because of her excessive indulgence in relationships with men.

What caused this this time? But soldiers don't need to think about the cause. They just have to fight.

It seems that suicide attacks were often criticized. Certainly, suicide attacks are terrifying.

I ate a hearty meal and rested. Now, the day begins.

"Messenger from the south! The Samoan army is attacking!"

"They've finally come! Takeru! Let's go!"

"Yes, Colonel!"

My heart ached at the prospect of my first war.

I set out. I could see the blue sky. Was someone in the sky watching us humans?

I could see the enemy. I could only glimpse them, but many chariots were attacking.

It was terrifying. Many chariots were attacking boldly. Our chariots met them in retaliation.

Blood, dust, and roars.

"Guaaaa!"

Yes, this is war. Some of the enemy chariots were destroyed, and several more attacked.

What should I do? What can I do...?

"Takeru!"

"Captain Yamai!"

"Get in the chariot! I'm counting on you!"

I have no choice but to do what I can.

Episode 7 "The Beginning of War"

What I can do is... to destroy at least one chariot so that the war will turn in favor of victory. That's all I can do. If I don't destroy the chariots, there is no future.

Am I going to die...? No, not yet. A soldier dying at thirteen years old is bad luck. I can't help but give a wry smile.

I board the chariot.

"Blue Eternity! Have you been waiting long?"

"Takeru. The situation is terrible. Good grief, I wish there was somewhere we could go back to."

"Is the front line collapsing?"

"No, if even a part of it collapses, it's over."

"Then we have to do it!"

"Don't rush into a suicide attack. Assess the front line and follow my instructions."

"What should we do?"

"First, the enemy will fire their shells in a group, so we'll counter them with a diagonal fire."

"Got it."

The chariots are coming. But instead of firing shells, the enemy is charging in as a group.

The presence of the Grim Reaper hangs in the air on the front line. I involuntarily swallow hard.

What should I do? What should I do...?

I can see the chariots in the distance. If only we could shoot down two of them...

"Chariot, fire some shells!"

"It's no use!"

"Use tear gas!"

"It's no use!"

"But... we have to!"

I concentrate hard. My body feels warm.

"Blue Eternity"

Thinking this, I fire a shell. The shell hits the enemy chariot sharply, directly.

They're still attacking. It's impossible. But go!

I try to stop them by crashing the chariot into them. More shells come from behind me, providing support.

Is it no good? Is it impossible? But I want to do something.

We somehow managed to capture three of them...

Episode 8: "Frustration"

The battle lines were at a stalemate. Afterwards, reinforcements arrived, supporting us and repelling the enemy.

But I found it incredibly painful that we almost lost the war.

How can we win? And what should I do...?

I was filled with a strong desire to somehow overcome that challenge.

But there was only so much a thirteen-year-old boy could do.

Why do people wage war...? Why did my father and I have to go to the battlefield...?

Chariot. My partner.

I had completely lost the courage to go to war.