To Emil: The humanity praised by "Braveheart"

"This is suicidal, a suicidal charge! How many of our men will be left when we get to the enemy lines? What kind of idiot designed this tactic?!"

However, the voices of everyone echoed in the open-air cinema. It wasn't just the Victoria soldiers; Ursus, Leithania, and Sarkaz were all denouncing this suicidal attack that could only be described as insane.

As the film progresses, those around Emil fall one by one. The deeper they venture into enemy territory, the more corpses appear around them, and the more intense the cries of condemnation become.

When Emil and his companions had to advance using the corpses of their comrades to block the Originium Arts of the Leithania sorcerers, even the Sarkaz began to frown.

"Using corpses as cover... just how many people died? How many people have to die to be enough?"

"Even I haven't done that, except when Kazdel was destroyed..."

"Although our tribe has people who control corpses... this kind of meaningless death..."

For a moment, the Sarkaz were speechless, but everyone felt an undeniable anger—because of the meaningless deaths of these soldiers, because the orders of these high-ranking officers who didn't care about the lives of their soldiers had caused so many people to die without any value!

Or perhaps, they had already put themselves in Emil, in the shoes of an ordinary member of this war, and they could feel a sense of humiliation and anger burning in their hearts!

Finally, Emil could no longer tolerate it. Faced with the still stubbornly insistent commanders, he ordered the Gaul to charge again, repeatedly striking the feet of any cowardly soldiers with small guns, forcing them to continue gambling their lives for that one in a million chance.

Finally, as his last comrade fell beside him, countless images flashed through Emil's mind.

He thought of his Leithania friend who had died tragically in the mine.

He thought of Carl, who had died a violent death.

He recalled the Gaul was initially stern but always the first to charge into battle.

Everything overwhelmed Emil's reason. He struggled to his feet, grabbed a wounded soldier's weapon, and rushed behind the officer almost immediately.

This time, however, he didn't raise a shovel or a wooden spoon—for the first time, he raised a longsword, a symbol of slaughter!

At that moment, the madness in his eyes, those previously lifeless and weary eyes, finally ignited by the war, turned into a fierce glint. For the first time, he killed in an attempt to stop the killing.

"Puff!"

"Okay!" XN

In the movie, Emil finally takes action against the Gaul, and as the Gaul's head flies off, a deafening cheer erupts across the battlefield! Countless soldiers, regardless of their allegiance, express their emotions with roars and applause after Emil makes the right choice.

Without a doubt, everyone agreed with Emil's actions. When Emil pointed his weapon at his superior, not a single soldier thought he was wrong; instead, they thought he was a true hero!

They stopped a massacre, a senseless massacre, and the soldiers, who had long been suppressed by this oppressive situation and this desperate war, let out a thunderous roar!

They were cheering for Emil, but wasn't it also because... Emil had done something they dared not do?

[Nivelle Offensive was a bloody war, a massacre. A mutiny soon broke out within the Gaul army, and the attack ended in failure.]

"Good!" The narration in the movie also made all the soldiers cheer. The end of a meaningless massacre made every soldier who had just vented their anger feel happy again.

The story then seems to be developing in a positive direction. Carl escapes back home during Gaul's attack on his hometown. Although he falls victim to the Oripathy, his good friend, the Fangbeast "Walt," helps him escape, and with Anna's help, Carl is fortunate enough to get out of danger.

When Carl, who had narrowly escaped death and regained consciousness, saw his daughter, wife, Anna, and Walt, who had recovered their health, the scene of their family finally reunited brought tears of emotion to the eyes of countless soldiers.

As bystanders, they all knew how difficult it all had been... and they themselves, too, longed to reunite with their families as soon as possible, just like Carl in the movie.

"Why are you crying? A grown man crying like a woman."

"* Ursus swear word*! Aren't you crying too?"

"I got smoked! Whose smoke is that? It smells so strong! It got into my eyes!"

Undoubtedly, the happy ending that comes with surviving a catastrophe is invaluable to everyone involved in war, regardless of nationality or political stance. They all feel fortunate and comforted by the family's reunion.

At that moment, they finally felt... the war was over. At least for this family, the war was over.

Ultimately, it was the film's narration that brought them back to reality.

[Marie, who had been waiting for news from Emil, finally received a letter from her father a few weeks later.]

[Emil was imprisoned for his involvement in a mutiny and awaiting trial by a military court. He wrote this letter to his daughter.]

These few words once again drew everyone's attention back to Emil. In the movie, Emil waits dejectedly in prison, the setting sun shining on him through the iron bars.

" --Emil."

The calm continued until the prison gates opened, and a Gaul entered the cell. He calmly gazed at Emil, his eyes revealing a hint of pity, but even more so, a serene tranquility. He spoke unhurriedly and without haste:

"Time is up."

The time had come. Everyone seemed to know what this meant, including Emil himself.

He calmly stood up, ready to face his destiny.

Chapter 111: To Emil, a tribute to humanity in "Braveheart"

From the moment Młynar' character, Emil, points his weapon at his superior and kills him, everyone knows what fate awaits Emil.

No matter the reason or the noble cause, it cannot change the fact that he betrayed his country. Moreover, murdering his superior officer, in the midst of war, is enough to sentence Emil to death, regardless of the specific task.

Even though... everyone knows that Emil's choice was right, that he is a hero.

But heroes... are often posthumously honored.

In the army, no matter how right or righteous a soldier's actions may be under the circumstances, if he commits treason, for the sake of the army's overall seriousness and to prevent the other soldiers from mutinying as well, Emil's fate was already sealed: death.

Soldiers are only allowed to obey orders, even heroes.

Therefore, none of the characters in the film, even the officer who came to deliver the message or the two Gaul escorting Emil, urged Emil to do anything, yet they were all still carrying out their tasks.

Emil did not try to escape anything; he stood up and faced his fate.

In an instant, as Emil stood up, soldiers in every newly built open-air cinema on the Victoria side, Ursus, Leithania... began to stand up involuntarily.

At first, it was just one or two, but gradually, more and more soldiers spontaneously stood up. In the end, almost every soldier chose to stand up and watch the hero from the movie slowly depart.

Meanwhile, on the silent battlefield, no one made a sound—until, in the movie, the sound of a piano slowly rose, accompanying Emil's footsteps.

The sound of the piano was so gentle and peaceful, but for people who had experienced the devastation of war and were finally seeing the light of day again, welcoming the dawn of peace, it moved them like never before.

At this moment, Emil did not speak, but his voice slowly rose, recounting the last letter he had sent to his daughter, which accompanied him step by step toward the end of his fate, in a calm and gentle tone.

"My dearest Marie, my war is over."

"I harbor no resentment; I have witnessed far too much horror. I only hope that fate will be a little kinder to you."

In this letter, Emil's tone was so warm and full of love. After experiencing madness, he had now regained his sanity. However, as his sanity returned and the war ended, he faced his fate.

However, this time, Emil's tone was still devoid of resentment. He remained as calm and composed as he was at the beginning of the film, but this time, there was an added hint of reluctance.

He spoke in a fatherly tone, which reminded many soldiers present of their own fathers—the kind of taciturn, silently bearing the burdens of their fathers' admonitions.

"Our time on earth is so short, and I have already enjoyed enough."

My heart is filled with gratitude.

"—Especially grateful to God for giving you to me."

Emil's words brought tears to the eyes of many soldiers who were already fathers, but they held back their tears, no one made a sound of sobbing, and no one wanted to disturb the moment.

Emil, wearing shackles, walked forward step by step. The officers in front of him waited for Emil to catch up at a rather slow pace. They slowly approached a group of Gaul soldiers, where two rows of Gaul watched Emil go.

This is my last letter.

"A military court sentenced me to death for the murder of my superior officer."

Even knowing this would be the outcome, Emil's confirmation of the news in his letter still shattered the last vestiges of hope in countless hearts...

In the film, two rows of Gaul gaze at Emil with respect, saluting him and removing their helmets in mourning. Each of them holds Emil in the highest esteem.

Freddy, standing in the ranks of soldiers, saluted Emil, then sadly removed his hat, watching his comrade depart...

"I never thought of killing him until that moment, but..."

"War drives people mad."

War drives people mad. This short sentence once again pierced the hearts of countless soldiers, who lowered their heads, their minds involuntarily recalling everything they had done for the war over the past few months...

Many Ursus soldiers closed their eyes, remembering their actions... forcibly enslaving Victoria civilians, bombing the city, and attacking both Victoria soldiers and local resistance forces...

And how could there not be a few people among them who were forcibly conscripted into the army? Didn't the Ursus Legion have Infected? Didn't they have families? Didn't they all serve as civilians?

At this moment, even the soldiers of Victoria, who were defending their homeland, were deeply moved by these words.

Since the arrival of the Sarkaz mercenaries, the Ursus two-army group, and the Leithania "Golden Law Guard," the outbreak of this all-out war has made every Victoria soldier and local armed force, whether they are active-duty soldiers or civilians who have signed up to go to the battlefield, deeply understand the meaning of these words during these months of war.

Because of the war, they made many choices against their own will... They were willing to take up arms and fight to defend their homes, but were these things they would have considered before?

Slaughter, deliberately maiming enemies, even personally killing those with no hope of rescue... Were these evils not also committed by them?

War has driven everyone to madness.

"Although I have let Carl down... I know my sacrifice was not in vain."

Emil walked forward step by step toward the execution post that would end his life. His steps were without hesitation, doubt, or fear.

Before Emil, familiar figures appeared one after another... Walt, Anna, Carl... all those who had accompanied and supported him along the way, appeared before his eyes, then vanished...

"I fought for my country and freedom—I upheld my dignity."

Since fate has separated us here, I pray that we can meet again in heaven.

In the end, Emil reached the end of his life. He was tied to a pillar, his eyes covered with a turban, and two Gaul raised their guns at him.

"--Don't forget me."

"Your dad loves you as always... forever."

"Bang bang!"

Two gunshots rang out, followed by a dull thud as someone fell to the ground. At that moment, the entire film went dark... It seemed to be a final act of mercy, preventing the audience from witnessing the passing of this old friend.

However, as the sounds signaling execution rang out, countless soldiers couldn't help but shed tears, and sobs echoed throughout the area...

As the film regained its luster, the narration returned, and the camera shifted, freezing on a garden filled with the tombstones of martyrs.

Although their bodies have long since turned to dust, they live on forever in people's hearts.

We should cherish these memories.

[Never forget...]

At the end of the film, Carl, Marie, and their child, along with Walt who rescued the Fangbeast, stand silently before the wooden cross that symbolizes Emil's grave, gazing upon the tomb of this brave man.

At that moment, everyone seemed to understand the meaning of the film's title.

Braveheart isn't about how much glory you gain in war or how many enemies you kill. It's about being like the people in the movie, who, even amidst gunfire and carnage, never abandon their humanity and use their own methods to save every life and every soul...

Perhaps, people like them seem somewhat "foolish" in the midst of war. But the brilliance of their humanity still saved many lives.

This is the Braveheart —the ability to retain one's humanity and kindness even amidst suffering and despair, knowing that a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood lie ahead.

Because of the existence of these people, even in times of war, or even more insane times than war... the brilliance of humanity can shine again and again, allowing their civilization to continue.

"--Everyone, salute the brave!"

"Smack!" XN

Unbeknownst to anyone, the Horn, already sobbing uncontrollably, still shouted in a tearful voice to all the soldiers present who could hear it. She first saluted the movie screen with the most standard posture.

As the Horn call faded, countless Victoria soldiers and local civilians, following the Horn, paid tribute to every brave soul in the film in what they considered the most standard posture.

Even though some of them had their arms or legs blown off, and some civilians even raised their hands too high in salute, they still paid tribute to these great souls in their own way.

Even some Sarkaz were moved and paid tribute in the Sarkaz style.

This time, even the Bloodborne Archon did not express anything inappropriate because of his noble status or his belief that he was superior to other beings. On the contrary, although the Bloodborne Archon did not believe in the sublime, he never denied lofty ideals.

As a Bloodfiend Demon Lord, he slowly rose, placing his palm on his heart. This life, though weak, was tenacious and moving, and he wished him good luck on his journey to his final resting place.

"Death is everyone's destiny. The Sarkaz draw power from death, but they do not deny the significance of the living."

"He has fulfilled his mission, his duty, and his life was filled with heroism." The Bloodborne Archon murmured to himself softly. Although he recovered quickly, for the Bloodborne Archon, a moment of sadness was extremely rare, especially for someone of his longevity.

Among them, one Sarkaz silently left the scene, and Horn noticed—it was the Sarkaz who went to bury her comrade "Triangle".

"Where did you go?"

"... I always felt that the grave I built for that person was too simple. While I still remember it and the place hasn't been bombed flat, I'll see if I can build a bigger one to collect all these people's bodies."

Sarkaz left without looking back, while Horn, after a moment of silence, spoke calmly:

I'll go too.

"Casual."

However, as the Horn and the Sarkaz departed, more and more soldiers gradually began to follow the Horn's lead. They did not speak, but silently dispersed to collect the bodies of those who had sacrificed themselves in this war.