No Beast Girls on the Western Front

Page 62

Payne gestured and ran off, shouting, "Okay, I'm done washing! Thank you so much for today! Paul, let's go!"

Although the overweight soldier had been thoroughly drunk, Payne dared not gamble. After the hero Paul caught up, the two men and six beasts vanished like comets streaking across the night sky.

Thankfully, after they settled down at the campsite, the horrific incident of an enraged driver arriving in a shower van did not occur, which was a relief.

Chapter 95, and the unexpected author's post before the book's release.

To be honest, from the time the editor approached me to sign the book to the time I wrote my acceptance speech, I've been going with the flow the whole time. I haven't thought about it much, and it doesn't feel very real to me.

This is the first book I've written about before it was published. When I first started writing the launch message, my mind was blank, but after thinking about it, I realized that there was still a lot I wanted to say, so I'll say it here.

Strictly speaking, I can't really be considered a novice. Before this book, I wrote a one-million-word fanfiction (which has been banned) and an original science fiction light novel of over two million words. Moreover, I only started uploading the latter after I finished writing the entire book (I was naive back then, so don't follow my example unless you're just having fun)...

As one might expect, neither of these books achieved any success.

So, in a fit of anger, I decided to stop writing mainstream online novels and start writing my favorite kind of novel: depressing novels.

I've loved watching war movies and disaster movies since I was a child, whether they reflect history or take place in a fictional world. The biggest characteristic of both is that ordinary people are powerless in the face of the huge historical torrent, drifting with the tide, yet struggling desperately. Regardless of whether the final outcome is good or bad, I just love watching stories of ordinary people in those kinds of worlds.

Later, as I grew up, I watched Japanese anime and came across more depressing works that were closer to popular literature, such as "Black Declaration", "86 - The Non-existent War Zone", "Cyberpunk Edge Walker", "Girls' Last Tour", "Akame ga Kill!", "To the Immortal You", and "Made in Abyss". I really enjoyed reading these, so I thought I should write a depressing story myself.

I want to clarify here that I'm not trying to piggyback on the works mentioned above. I admit my writing is terrible, I admit my dark and tragic writing is only dark and tragic without any depth, and I admit my depressing stories don't reach the level of a true "tragedy." I'm just writing what I want to write, and it just so happens that it got featured and everyone saw it.

So I also want to thank my editor, Penglai. If he hadn't pulled me out of the book while I was browsing through books, saying it was "strange and interesting to read," this book would have been discontinued long ago.

The reason for setting the book's background in the relatively obscure period of World War I is primarily due to its unique historical significance:

It was an unprecedented war in human history, a protracted war that fully demonstrated the destructive power of industrial-age warfare, a war with a wide-ranging impact, a war that severely impacted people's spirits, a war with a constant stream of new technologies, a war with warfare methods that repeatedly broke through the limits, a war that claimed to end all wars but ended nothing, and a war that was meaningless to ordinary soldiers.

Before World War I, no war had lasted so long at such a high intensity and with such a wide reach. Most people at the time did not know why the war had turned out this way, which was a huge disaster for them.

War and disaster—as I mentioned before, these are two genres I've loved since I was a child.

As for why I chose to create a fictional other world instead of an alternate history, a secondary reason is that I don't want to be restricted by real history (because when I started writing, I didn't think that much about it, so naturally I didn't want to be constrained). The main reason is that I'm completely ignorant about military history, and I'm very worried that if I don't write historically accurate stories, I'll drive military enthusiasts crazy (in fact, quite a few have already died of anger)...

As for those who might think my book is trying to piggyback on the masterpiece "All Quiet on the Western Front"... well, you're right. I never expected it to get a contract and be published; I just wanted to casually write something that would ride on the coattails of "All Quiet on the Western Front"...

When I resumed updating after being approached by an editor to sign a contract, I was completely unprepared (both mentally and in terms of writing skills). Therefore, while writing this book, I had to update simultaneously, research, and brainstorm for the later plot. I'm a terrible writer, but I didn't want to give up the recommendations and exposure that come with consistent updates, so two updates a day, totaling 4000 words, was my limit. Please forgive me…

However, since this is the first time I've written about the results of a book's publication, I hereby promise that no matter what results this book achieves, no matter how long it takes to write, I will finish this book and will absolutely not abandon it. I mean what I say.

If anyone has any doubts about this, you can go and read another book I wrote, which I spent six years writing solo starting in college before I started uploading it, but it didn't achieve any results whatsoever...

That book is practically a black mark on my history, so I won't mention the title here. If you find the updates slow but don't mind Qingche's college student writing style, feel free to browse over there...

Um... I feel like this is about enough for my first post to go live. So, that's it. I'm not asking for subscriptions or monthly tickets anymore. I just hope you all enjoy reading it.

Chapter 96 XCV. His Majesty the Emperor Doesn't Need You

Despite their many grievances about the war, the soldiers who received medals were still somewhat excited.

This is, after all, an affirmation and commendation of their hard work and dedication.

Aside from that, the awarding ceremony was rather unremarkable.

After getting up early in the morning, B Company lined up and soldiers from several other companies were also brought in to make an appearance. They stood in the blazing sun for several hours, and it was almost noon when a convoy of three black luxury cars slowly entered.

General Steve, who came to award them the medals, was quite burly, but he had a plain, square face and always had a blank, expressionless face.

Throughout the medal awarding process, he was like a cog in a machine, walking mechanically in front of B Company, seemingly inspecting the troops, or perhaps just taking a stroll.

Only when his adjutant behind him reminded him would he take a medal from the adjutant, hang it on the uniform of the soldier in front of him, simply salute, and not explain the reason for the award.

Even when awarding medals to Payne, who manages the beast girls, and Lacey, who captured the spy, his expression remained unchanged; he simply pinned the medals on them without any difference in treatment.

After the medal ceremony, he stood on the car again, took out a piece of paper, and for the first time spoke in his usual stiff manner:

"Officers, sergeants, soldiers, everyone who receives this medal today has made a tremendous contribution to our great cause."

"From now on, I hope that each of you can take them as role models."

"Your Emperor calls upon you, from this day forward, to be full of strength, courage, and loyalty to your duties, and to love Eya and your homeland."

"If you can all do this, I believe that each of you will have the opportunity to wear a medal that represents honor."

“Each of you has inherited the fine tradition of Dexter warriors serving their country. You have demonstrated great strength, defeated the enemy, and instilled fear in them.”

"May Yahweh bless us, and you will surely win a glorious victory for our motherland."

To be fair, this short speech is of a decent standard, at least above average.

But given that the soldiers had heard such high-sounding words over the years to the point of being tired of them, coupled with General Steve's steady tone, everyone felt as if they were in a math class and were about to fall asleep.

Fortunately, this seemingly dim-witted general was still somewhat human. After completing the awarding of medals and his speech as if it were just a formality, he left without any intention of having lunch with the soldiers.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Since the washed clothes haven't arrived yet, the people in Company B don't have to do anything for the time being, nor can they do anything.

Therefore, during this extra day of holiday, they simply sat in groups of three or five in their tents chatting.

Naturally, their mockery all fell on General Steve and the content of his speech.

"Do you know who I thought of when I looked at him? People with Obrstein syndrome."

The speaker was Albert Crope, Paul's classmate. Although he wasn't a top student, he was knowledgeable and clear-headed.

According to Pine, the "Obristan syndrome" he mentioned should be the "Down syndrome" on Earth.

Obristan is the northernmost country on the main continent. It is named after people who suffer from this disease because they look like Obristans, with wider faces and smaller, upturned eyes than Dexterans.

"How do you know what people with Obrstein syndrome look like? Have you ever seen one?" Carter asked casually, as he lay comfortably in bed.

"Oh, I actually have seen them. My aunt works at a mental hospital, and I helped out there. I saw the patients there. I must say, General Steve does bear a striking resemblance to some of those patients."

"So that means a madman is commanding us in this war?" Farmer Detlin asked.

"Well, it certainly can't be that bad, otherwise Germany would have been defeated long ago." Albert made a rather inappropriate joke, then continued:

"He can still read his manuscript normally, so his condition shouldn't be too serious. I guess he might be some nobleman's son who's going to inherit the family business, sent to the army to get some experience."

"He didn't actually do anything serious. He just went around the front lines a couple of times every day and handed out colorful little birds to everyone."

The colorful bird refers to a medal; nobody knows the origin of this slang term.

After a few seconds of silence, Carter smiled and said, "So, I should thank him."

So everyone agreed, "Indeed, it's better for him to do nothing."

Albert then added, "I don't know if you've noticed, but we often hear about noble children who either die young or get strange illnesses."

"That's their retribution!"

Detlin immediately said bitterly, "They made my grandfather redeem himself from forced labor by using one-third of the land, then they suppressed agricultural prices, forcing my father to sell another third of the land at a low price, and now they even want me to sell the last third of the land and force me to work in their factory!"

“Although I don’t believe in karma, you’re right, the nobles all deserve to die.” Miller, the chemistry whiz, shrugged. “They started this war too.”

Although the topic we initially wanted to discuss had gone astray, since it was just casual conversation anyway, Albert continued the conversation: "The nobles didn't have that much power; it was the emperor who started the war."

"Do you remember what the newspapers said before the war started? They said things like, 'In order to defeat the enemy once and for all, His Majesty the Emperor has decided to launch a great war,' and so on..."

“Haha, guess what? I think it’s all nonsense.” Carter scoffed. “He clearly just wanted to defeat the French emperor and then rule over the French lands as well.”

Since B Company consisted entirely of ordinary people, they were quite relaxed when discussing this topic, and they all agreed with Carter's idea.

"So, the emperor's ambitions are truly grand!"

"Exactly! They're not satisfied with just having Germany; they even want France! Do they want to rule the whole world?"

"What does his desire to rule the world have to do with me? I'm going home."

"you dare?"

"I really wouldn't dare."

These words immediately drew laughter from the crowd. In the midst of this euphoric atmosphere, one person even went to an open area and began to perform an exaggerated, frenzied speech:

"They didn't have to be so hypocritical. Steve could have just said it directly during his speech—"

"Forget about fatigue and bloodshed! Think of your great Emperor, think of the gold mines underground and the wheat fields above, the vast lands and the boundless seas—His Majesty needs them!"

People whistled and clapped as if they had watched a spectacular performance.

It wasn't until Payne uttered a thoughtful remark that they all fell silent:

"How come... His Majesty the Emperor needs everything but me?"

Chapter 97 XCVI. Pure Casual Chat

"

Hey~

The host's depressing jokes were detected.

Depression level: 50%

Funny level: 50%

Freshness: 100%

Note: Meets the reward distribution criteria

Points increased by 200

"

When the joke system popped up, Payne was a little taken aback.

He was petting the dog while absentmindedly listening to people's conversation, and he just blurted out that sentence.

The crowd was silent for a few seconds, then erupted into laughter that was even louder than before.

Some people praised him, saying that only college students are talented; others mocked him, asking who he was and why the emperor needed him; still others said that maybe the emperor thought it was worth it to exchange him for land.

Payne wholeheartedly agreed with the last statement: "I have only lost my life, but His Majesty the Emperor has lost a much larger territory."

"

Hey~

The host's depressing jokes were detected.