TS Medic's Battlefield Diary
The next day.
I went to sleep devastated by the guilt I felt from my own actions and awoke on the floor of the field hospital.
Next to me was Allen-senpai, a member of the same platoon, also lying on the floor.
[...You're awake, Touri-chan.]
When I looked up, a gentle voice called out to me.
Turning around, I saw the beauty with a charming mole, Head Medic Gale, sitting at her desk smiling at me.
[Good morning, Touri-chan. I'm glad you're alright and survived yesterday's hell.]
[Yes, Head Medic-dono. Good morning.]
When I asked her why I was lying in such a place, they apparently had to temporarily expand the number of beds because there weren't enough hospital beds.
While I was changing clothes on the spot, Head Medic Gale told me about the damage report.
It seemed that yesterday's defense battle had brought about a lot of casualties.
The number of deaths on our side alone exceeded 1000, and if the injured are included, the total number of casualties is apparently about 3000.
[I'm sorry, Touri-chan. I know you're also wounded, but the hospital is truly understaffed. I've already gotten permission from Garback, so please help us with the treatment today.]
[Yes, understood. From this time until 5:00 am tomorrow morning, I'll be operating under Head Medic Gale's instructions.]
[Please... I really wanted to ask for your assistance last night, but because of that idiot's misdirected anger...]
For a moment, Head Medic had an incredibly scary look on her face.
When a large number of patients are admitted to the hospital, Medic work is quite hectic.
For me to be peacefully asleep at such a rough time, I must have caused quite a bit of displeasure. I will have to apologize to everyone later.
[I wonder how much our workload will decrease just by Garback not existing. ...Haahhh...]
[I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused because of my own inadequacy.]
[Touri-chan isn't at fault. You have taken your job seriously and worked hard for it. Rather, when I asked about the reason for Garback's scolding, wasn't it because of the
[That isn't the case, the fault is solely because of my negligence in reporting about it. I've comprehended that Platoon Leader's guidance yesterday was entirely proper.]
[Hmmm... Seriously, you're too diligent to be assigned to the assault unit, what a waste.]
Hearing my answer, Head Medic Gale looked troubled.
Did something happen?
[It isn't something I particularly wanted to hide, so I'm going to tell this to you, but yesterday, I actually requested upper management to reassign Touri-chan to my Medic unit.]
[Is that perhaps because you have decided that I really can't handle front-line duty?]
[No, it's because the number of casualties has been on the rise recently. Touri-chan, you had narrowly avoided death during yesterday's defense, didn't you? We are completely understaffed already, we can't afford to have our precious Medics dying in the line of duty.]
[...I see, I understand what you meant.]
In the field hospital, there's a chronic shortage of Medics. When the beds are full, there isn't nearly enough Healing Magic to distribute to everyone.
And so, although it's detrimental to one's body, when the Medics' mana is depleted, we drink potions and continue using Healing Magic until our minds are exhausted.
[I'm not sure if it would be approved immediately... but I'm still going to continue persuading them how many soldiers we can save by just having one additional medic.]
Even Head Medic Gale in front of me has noticeable dark circles under her eyes. She's most likely been up all night.
There are only a few dozen medics and there's only a set number of people that can receive Healing Magic.
That being the case, even a novice like me can be a significant workforce. Is that perhaps why she had been asking for my help?
[Well then, if you've woken up, go wash your face. The rounds for Ward D will start soon, so Touri-chan, you come with us.]
[Understood.]
Well, as for how I'm going to be utilized, I can only follow the judgment of the higher-ups.
The mistake that killed Salsa-kun yesterday came from my own negligence.
Even if they judged that it's more beneficial to assign such a heedless young girl to medical duties in the rear rather than sending her to the front lines, there's no choice but to accept it.
[...Also, try not to worry too much. You were having a nightmare earlier, a really bad one.]
[I'll be mindful.]
As she departed from her desk, the Head Medic lightly advised. As to be expected of her, Head Medic Gale is quite good at observing people.
To be honest, I'm still in a lot of shock. However, I have to switch out of these thoughts for the sake of the suffering patients.
If a well-rested Medic makes a medical mistake due to lack of concentration, there's no way I can make any excuses for that.
[Touri-chan, your mana sure increased more than I thought.]
[...Is that true?]
As I joined the work from the morning rounds for Ward D, I was told this by a senior medic.
[Touri-chan, you're 15 years old, right?]
[Yes, that's right.]
[I see, you're in your growth spurt huh~~ At your current speed, I think you'd be a mainstay by next year.]
[You jest, there's no way I can catch up with Senpai in just one year.]
[Well, you certainly can't catch up with me not being here anymore next year.]
This Senpai is what one would call a highly capable person.
Unlike me, who is a layman in medical arts, he was originally a professional specializing in medical care who was conscripted and sent to the front lines.
He possesses an impressive amount of knowledge and a high level of precision in Healing Magic. Even though he was only a conscript, he has been trusted with the position of Ward Supervisor.
[Once my military service ends next year, I'll go back to university. If you manage to survive, Touri-chan, how about coming to our university too?]
[University huh.]
[Unnn, if you study hard there and master Healing Magic, you won't go hungry even after the war ends.]
[Thank you for the offer. I will definitely consider it.]
"If we can make it back alive", such were Senpai's words.
For the medics working in the field hospital, such words aren't impossible.
After all, it's not often that the horrors of war reach the field hospitals, which are located at the far end of the battlefield.
[My chances of survival aren't so great though.]
[...Well, for you, that is. I hope someone surrenders or some ceasefire occurs soon.]
Leaving aside the funky medic who belongs to the assault team, the mortality rate for medics is generally quite low.
Volunteers can get assigned to rear support roles if they achieve a certain level of merit. For conscripts, they can return home if they survive their three-year military service.
Well, there are apparently some peculiar ones who want to be medics on the front lines all the time though.
[Tsk, just surrender already. Rather than being forced to clean up the mess of a battle on the front lines, advancing medicine through research is far more beneficial for all people.]
[Wouldn't it be bad if someone among the upper brass heard you say that?]
[It's not that bad, I'm just saying my honest opinion.]
And so, basically, people in the medic unit aren't conscious of being military personnel.
Most of them must perceive themselves as civilians who have been forced to work in dangerous areas.
[Telling us to heal the wounds of murderers, they're making a fool of us healers.]
That's why I feel that their sense of values are quite close to those of ordinary people in the midst of society.
Their minds hadn't been influenced by the war, and they still had decent sensibilities.
[Look outside the hospital tent a bit, you see the soldiers digging a hole?]
[Yes, it seems like they're also digging trenches today.]
With his words, Senpai pointed outside.
There, soldiers with shovels were gathered and digging a big hole.
This is a common sight at the front line.
[No, what's the use of digging a trench further back near the field hospital? That hole is a grave.]
[Grave?]
[Yeah, the grave of the lucky ones whose bodies were recovered. In the fierce warzone, the corpses of those who died are left exposed, so those who are buried or cremated are the fortunate, don't you think?]
Now that he mentioned it, the hole certainly is rather spherical for a trench.
Moreover, I could see some soldiers shedding tears and offering silent prayers.
It definitely looks like a burial.
[I saw the person I was responsible for this morning among the casualties.]
[....]
[I did a perfect job and carefully operated on him so that he could move his wrist like he used to. "Thank you, Doc." He told me that with a big smile on his face. Well, three days later, he was killed in action and is down that hole.]
[That's just bad luck.]
[Luck? Don't misunderstand things here, those lives could have been saved if the country just said the few words "We surrender" or "Let's stop this battle now". That guy was killed by this country.]
As Senpai said this, he looked at the bodies being thrown into the hole with a distant gaze...
[I hope you won't be among those bodies piled up every day.]
He muttered.
[....Ah.]
At that moment...
[Excuse me, Senpai, could I have a short break?]
[Hmm? Ah, it's good, your mana must be running out too, right? You can go freshen up a bit.]
[Thank you very much.]
Near the dug grave, I saw a certain someone.
[Well then, if you'll excuse me for a moment.]
That person was Allen-senpai.
He's the Scout Senpai who received thorough guidance from Platoon Leader Garback yesterday and was resting at the field hospital.
If he's able to move now, I suppose I'll call out to him.
[...Allen-senpai.]
[Ohh, Touri huh.]
As expected of the excellent work of the Medic units, most of the wounds Allen-senpai had received from last night's assault seemed to have healed completely.
He had joined the grave diggers with a shovel in hand.
[Are you feeling better now?]
[Yeah, thanks. I'm also glad to see that you're doing better than I thought, Touri.]
Allen-senpai softly laughed to himself.
With this current pace, he should return back to normal starting tomorrow.
[...You came at a good time, Touri. I know you also couldn't overlook that guy.]
[A good time?]
[Yeah. We only have a few rest days, so we don't often get the chance to bid farewell to our comrades like today.]
Upon saying that, Allen-senpai gestured with his eyes toward the pile of bodies, urging me to look.
Lying there...
[Salsa-kun...]
[Yeah, they're cremating him now.]
I saw the face of my same-day colleague, Salsa-kun, emerging from the messy pile of corpses.
[...]
I feel my heartbeat quicken.
His skin was eerily pale, his face was burned red and black, and a cloth was wrapped around his head to hide his injuries.
...Looking at his corpse, I remembered that day.
I remembered Salsa-kun trying to do a naked dance at the party just the other night.
I never hated his foolish yet somehow kind demeanor, which always seemed to show his kindness.
[That's right, Touri. I have a good story to tell you about Salsa.]
[A story to tell me, Allen-senpai?]
[Yeah. Though I say that, it's not really that big of a deal.]
Eventually, once all the collected bodies were thrown into the pit, flowers, cultivated ones and wild ones growing nearby, began to be placed around.
Then, a soldier dressed like a pastor stepped forward and began to pray for the souls of the departed.
[That day when we went whoring, I spoke to him. He was really conscious of the fact that you saved his life.]
[That I saved Salsa-kun's life?]
[Yeah. Even though you saved him, he couldn't share his dinner with you and left the debt unsettled.]
Allen-senpai's words reminded me of that day.
When I saved his life and got my first order violation, he neglected to attend the briefing, was made to skip dinner, and ended up not giving me anything back.
[Salsa, you know, he said that no matter what, he'll protect Touri next time. And then, all fired up about it, he'll apparently tell you "I've repaid my debt".]
[...And so, he did something that dangerous.]
Yeah, I didn't realize that Salsa-kun was thinking of something like that.
Looking back, when he received the order to be my meat shield, he was being strangely enthusiastic.
It's like he was overly eager to protect me, and then as a result...
[He had truly done what he had spoken. I salute you, young Salsa.]
[Just for that reason...]
He had lost his own life?
[...Now, let's have a moment of silence.]
Soon, the pastor muttered prayers and fire engulfed the entire hole.
The greasy, burning, humid stench spreads in the surroundings.
However, not a single soldier was willing to leave the place.
Corpses are a breeding ground for infectious microorganisms.
It's considered preferable to collect and burn them as much as possible, rather than burying them as they are.
However, fuel is a precious resource and couldn't just be sprinkled on corpses.
Using only the fat from the human body and their clothing as fuel, the corpses could only burn slowly.
[——————–]
Salsa-kun quietly got wrapped in the fire.
His skin melted and fell off, dripping something black, burned by the flames as quiet as candle fire.
Salsa-kun never looked at peace as he was engulfed in the fire.
His mouth was open from the heat, his hands were bent, his back was arched, and he appeared to be in a state of despair.
[...….]
[That's right. You're doing well, Touri.]
Once it reached that point, there was no turning back.
No matter how much I tried to hold it back, the tears just kept pouring out and wouldn't stop.
[Don't let them accumulate. For a novice, you're trying too hard to act all grown up.]
[.....]
[Letting it out properly helps in switching gears faster. ...That's why, just letting it out is the right thing to do.]
I couldn't bear to watch Salsa-kun burning any further.
My heart is weak. I never thought I would be this fragile of a person.
[————–!]
I got down on both knees, covered my face with my hands, and stifled my unheard voice.
Tears unceasingly dripped down my face
.
Through the drops blurring my eyes reflect flickering flames.
[A silent prayer for our brave comrades-in-arms.]
And then, feeling pathetic, I cried aloud.