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Traveler – Part 09

A bullet whizzed past, grazing Kazuya’s ear. A dull ache followed. It was only after a moment that he became aware of blood trickling down from his earlobe.

The ongoing battle unfolded beneath a heavy overcast sky, the morning so dim it resembled dusk. Snow fell sporadically.

The rifle in Kazuya’s hands had long turned from a weapon into a makeshift staff. Bullets sliced through the air, tanks roared, and explosions reverberated with fiery intensity across the desolate battlefield. Fallen comrades littered the ground. The absence of medics suggested they were injured as well.

Kazuya’s right leg, shot last night, felt heavy as a log.

A fellow soldier caught sight of him and called out, “Kujou, over here!” offering a helping shoulder. Amidst the relentless barrage of bullets, they trudged forward.

“S-Sorry,” Kazuya said.

“I thought we were supposed to say that in French. What was it again? Par… dan?”

“…Oh.” Upon closer inspection, it was