Defense of Marshdale, Day 1:
The holed up Austin's soldier surprisingly put up a good fight.
That said, it was a result of the defensive advantage they had.
To put it simply, the fortress was like a tall trench, where defenders only had to stay hidden and keep firing at the enemy.
Fortunately, although Marshdale has few soldiers, it has plenty of guns and ammunition, so there is no need to worry about running out of bullets.
The interception carried out using abundant resources left many Sabbatian corpses piled up on the plain.
Now that the surprise element of the Sylph offensive has been lost, the defenders have an overwhelming advantage, despite the difference in military strength.
Even more fortunately,
It is unclear whether the enemy was unable to supply sufficient magic stones or whether they were underestimating magical attacks due to the success of the Sylph Offensive, but they charged towards the fort without launching any prior magical bombardment.
Perhaps the enemy's frontline commander wasn't aware we had established defensive positions here in Marshdale.
As a result, the unscathed Austin defense forces held out for more than half a day, keeping enemy forces at bay.
Possibly realizing that brute force was not in their favor, the enemy pulled back before sunset.
Day one was a complete victory for Austin.
The enemy's charge that day was so reckless that it was mocked as being a bunch of cocky fools looking to become targets.
The city of Marshdale has been the site of many wars throughout history, yet it has never fallen.
The citizens of Marshdale boasted that they had held enemy invasions for over 10 years and that no army was capable of taking the city.
This city, known for being impregnable, was a symbol of hope for the people of Austin.
That is why the soldiers' morale was high and they performed better than usual.
Built over 100 years ago, the fortress still stands majestic today and its defensive capabilities live up to its reputation.
"Arm! My arm!"
"…It's okay. I'll treat you right away. Please go to the emergency room in the back."
Although today's battle was in Austin's favor, wounded allies continued to be brought in one after another.
Unlike the front lines where people are celebrating the victory, the field hospital is in the midst of the usual pandemonium.
Patients streamed in, some of whom had been injured in the firefight across the fort, some who had been hit by grenades, some who had been injured in accidental explosions, and some who had fallen.
"…Ugh, a complex pelvic fracture. We can't handle this here."
"Well, let's have him seen on the hospital bed inside. Please transport him to medical headquarters."
"Keep him as still as possible! We can't risk more bleeding!"
Just because the battle situation is favorable does not mean that the number of casualties are low.
In fact, it is because they are fighting well that there are more cases where injured people are able to withdraw safely.
Of course, that's a good thing.
The more we can save them, the longer we can keep fighting.
"Little Boss, I'm starving. I don't even have time to eat."
"Try to eat rations while treating patients. Make sure you get some nutrition; otherwise, your magic power will recover slower."
"Am I a magic tank or something?"
It's important to ensure adequate nutrition despite the harsh conditions.
For a medic, magical power is the most important military resource.
I, too, am working while sucking on the candy that the old man gave me.
"This person also needs healing magic. I will provide an elixir. Please treat him."
"…Again?"
"Oh, please make sure to write down the time you took the elixir. It needs a three-hour interval between doses, or it could be dangerous."
I warned the young doctor, Cale, as I handed him the paper and opened a bottle of the elixir.
It was good that there were plenty of supplies in Marshdale; having a supply of elixirs makes a huge difference in efficiency.
"Um, Little Boss. Isn't this the one that's supposedly limited to one dose per day?"
"As long as three hours pass between doses, we can use it. Rather, we have no choice."
"…Can I ask about side effects?"
"It's better not to ask. What we have to do won't change whether you ask or not."
"Did I actually draw an extremely short straw?"
"You just realized?"
I assumed this was the case since he willingly volunteered to go to the front lines, but it seems he underestimated the reality of the job.
Front-line medics are in a position that requires them to work three or four days in a row, providing treatment while being heavily medicated.
There's no such thing as a break. Our treatment speed directly influences the rate our fighting forces are replenished.
"You got plenty of sleep last night. Please don't complain if you can't sleep for the next three or four days."
"Eh…"
"That's what happens when you volunteer for the front lines. Usually only suicidal people or masochists volunteer."
"You're kidding?!"
His face went white as he realized I wasn't joking.
That's also why stamina is crucial on the frontlines.
"At least you're not in immediate danger. It's far better than being forced to run on the very frontlines…"
"There are worse places to work than this?"
For the past six months, I've been made to run constantly by Platoon Leader Garback.
All of that was training to improve my stamina. The Platoon Leader made physical training my number one priority.
The most traumatic memory in recent memory is having him yell at me, saying, "This is what you lack most right now, and what you need most at the same time," while making me run a marathon fully equipped until I was vomiting blood.
Without that training, I doubt I would've made it to Marshdale during the retreat.
In other words, stamina and vitality are absolutely essential for surviving on the battlefield.
***
"I'm next. I'll take a dose of the elixir."
"Wait, didn't you already drink some earlier?"
"I'm fine. I'm still young, so my organs are healthy."
"…"
The young doctor looks at me with terrified eyes, but I ignored it and downed the elixir.
Admittedly, excessive elixir use can stunt growth or harm the liver, so it's something to watch out for.
But if we're short on troops and the front lines fall, it could cost me my life.
Taking a few risks is unavoidable. Head Medic Gale once said the same.
"Ok, I get it! I'll do it too!"
"Thank you for your cooperation."
As he watched me calmly continue treatment, he seemed to have made up his mind and drank the whole bottle in one gulp.
That's good. Since the elixir contains alcohol, it has a side effect of slightly elevating your mood.
"All right, in that case, bring me any number of patients and any number of bottles of medicine! I'll deal with them all!"
"I'm counting on you."
Once they start drinking, they won't hesitate to ask for another dose.
Among medics, we even have slang for getting "hyped up."
Some drink it during night shifts like a recreational drink.
For better or worse, it doesn't affect my mood much. Maybe I have a high tolerance for alcohol.
***
Thus, the first day of the battle passed by as we were busy treating patients with minor injuries until the sun went down.
Fortunately, no members of Garback Platoon were carried in.
I heard today that there were almost no casualties. I'm sure everyone survived.
"Wasn't the fighting supposed to be over?"
"It's because the fighting ended that they're able to come in."
At night, the frontline clinic was bustling as usual.
Wounded soldiers who had been busy defending the fort during the day and were unable to leave came for treatment as the enemy retreated.
"I'll prescribe some medicine to prevent infection. Please take it for three days."
"Got it, little doctor."
We are the only ones here at this forward medical clinic in Marshdale.
Although we do refer patients to the medical headquarters whenever possible, it's still a constant rush.
"…I'm so sleepy."
"If it's too hard for you, you can take a nap. I'll take care of things in the meantime."
"No… I can't do that as an adult…"
"Then let's continue."
I'm used to pulling all-nighters, but the young doctor beside me was already swaying.
I was the same way before I adjusted to night shifts.
"Just hang in there a little longer; the worst of the wounded will be through soon."
"Right…"
Luckily, I got about two hours of sleep that night.
By around 3 a.m., the patients stopped coming, and I was able to get some rest.
It's a miracle I was able to sleep at all the night after a battle.
This shows that Austin had the upper hand on the first day.
***
Unfortunately, from the second day onwards, the enemy began to launch a serious offensive.
"Take cover! Don't get caught in the blast!"
"The fortifications are being destroyed! Our comrades are getting buried alive!"
The Sabbatian soldiers conducted a magical pre-bombardment of their trenches for several hours, as was standard practice.
They would weaken the defenders in the trenches first, then charge in and overwhelm them. This was a basic tactic that had been used countless times on the Western Front.
"The enemy is advancing! Return fire!"
Lieutenant Aria's mage unit responded, but the difference in strength was too great.
Unlike the first day, our Austin forces struggled against the enemy's renewed offensive.
The usual hell began to spread to the fortress, with soldiers covering their heads with the bodies of their comrades to survive the blast.
***
"Ouch, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts!"
From the second day, when the enemy began their magical attacks, the number of friendly casualties surged.
From the morning onwards, the Frontline Medical Clinic was busy treating the wounded soldiers until it was almost overloaded.
"Damn it, internal bleeding… Get him to HQ as fast as you can!"
"Yes, doctor!"
The number of severely injured patients being brought in shot up. Amidst this, we had to choose which lives to save.
"Doctor, this patient's breathing is getting shallower!"
"That person won't last much longer… Please be there for him."
…Among the wounded were some who had no chance of survival.
***
Several hours had passed since the battle began.
"Wha…?! H-Hey, you!"
As I was conducting triage, Cale's startled voice came from behind me.
"It's hot… It hurts… Help me."
"W-Wait, I'm treating someone right now…"
He turned around and saw that a soldier who had ignored the line of patients had grabbed him by the arm.
Barely able to breathe, the soldier leaned against him for support.
"Please… don't let me die…"
"Ah, well, there's an order for treatment…"
"Save me…"
The soldier's face was a horrid red mass of melted skin, with his cheeks a deathly pale and his eyes clouded white.
His upper body was ghostly white, covered in blisters, flaking off like charcoal in places.
The sight of his horrific burns left both the healer and the nurse frozen in shock.
"Help meeeee…!"
"Uh, ah…"
This may have been the first time Cale had seen someone so gravely injured.
Faced with a patient burned over his entire body, he was completely paralyzed.
No, everything would come to a halt if Cale, the main doctor here, becomes paralyzed.
"Don't worry, soldier. Come with me, I'll prescribe some medicine."
I quickly interrupted my triage and took the wounded soldier's hand to guide him, hoping to assist the young doctor.
As I grasped the soldier's arm, the skin peeled away, leaving a trail of yellowish liquid on my glove.
"Wah…"
"Please stay still."
I held the soldier's face close and drew up a prepared liquid into a syringe.
At the same time, I gestured to the young doctor to continue treating the other patients.
"I've survived, you know, all this time on the Western Front…"
"I see."
"I… I don't want to die, not here… not like this…"
"It's okay. Please calm down and take deep breaths."
"I have… something I need to live for—"
The severity of burns can be gauged by how they look.
Red or blackened burns still contain nerves, but blueish or charred skin no longer does.
"Finally… she turned around and noticed me. I want to see her… I miss her."
"…"
"And then… I'll tell her… I… I…"
Holding blueish skin close doesn't hurt the patient.
While gently holding the sobbing soldier in my arms, I slowly dropped the medicine into his mouth.
"Ah…"
"It's alright. Please relax and sleep comfortably."
As I emptied the entire syringe into his mouth, the soldier's gaze turned blank.
Soon, his breathing grew shallow, accompanied by faint snoring.
"You don't have to worry about anything anymore. Just have a good night's sleep…"
"Yes, I…"
Eventually, he collapsed in my arms.
"Ah…"
In time, he slumped limply in my arms.
His breathing was shallow, barely there.
"Nurse, please take this person to the designated place."
"Uh, you mean…"
"Take care of him during his final moments."
What I'd just given him was a strong sedative.
Considering the extent of his burns, there was no way to save him.
At the very least, I wanted him to pass without pain.
Patients interrupting treatment like this happens all too often.
When it does, handling them swiftly is crucial to prevent delays in treating others.
If I act too coldly, not only does the patient panic, but also affects the morale of the soldiers on the front lines.
"Next patient, please."
I usually try to handle situations as calmly as possible, as I just did earlier.
It may seem cold, but we have to do whatever it takes to ensure smooth medical care.
Treatment varies from person to person, but when they can no longer be saved, administering a sedative is the smoothest approach.
"Sorry, Little Boss… I made you handle a tough one."
"Please, call me Touri."
But no matter how many times I experience it, it never gets easier.
Holding a dying soldier in my arms is always hard.
The sensation of holding the cold, rigid soldier as life drained from his body remains etched in my mind.