Fort Muson is a small fortress designed as a gateway to the capital.
While it may not match the scale of Marshdale as a fortress, it is strategically positioned to block the narrow paths between steep mountains, making it a reasonably stronghold.
It's possible to bypass the fortress by detouring through the forest to reach the capital, but it would greatly slow down any advance.
For a large-scale invasion, there's little choice but to capture this fortress.
On the other hand, once they get past this fortress, they can reach Austin's capital, Winn, without any obstacles.
In other words, Fort Muson is Austin's last line of defense.
If the enemy breaks through here and surrounds the capital with modern artillery-focused mage units, it's likely the capital would be razed within days.
"Major, what are we going to do?"
"…We've already surrendered unconditionally. Even if they mistakenly burn the capital, we wouldn't be able to complain."
"Then you're just planning to watch as they burn down the capital?"
"That's not what I'm saying."
Major Renvel was troubled by the fact that the enemy forces didn't stop their advance.
Now, he faced a decision: should they gather all remaining forces at Fort Muson to intercept the enemy or not?
"I think we should engage, at least to make them think twice."
Suggested Platoon Leader Garback.
"If we fight back, it might be seen as a willingness to continue the war. That would guarantee they burn the city."
That was Major Renvel's primary concern.
Even if it was to protect the capital, there's the risk that engaging in combat after unconditional surrender would raise doubts about our intention to surrender.
If his actions prolonged the war, it would all be for nothing.
"The enemy is attacking us even though we surrendered unconditionally. I don't know if it's because they're using carrier pigeons to communicate, but the point is, they're not coordinating well with their command, right?"
"…"
"In that case, if we who were in a state of retreat couldn't communicate either, what's the issue?"
In contrast to the reluctant major, Platoon Leader Garback insisted on intercepting the enemy.
He argued that they could pretend they didn't hear of the unconditional surrender due to communication issues and engage the enemy as a defensive maneuver.
"It's an unconditional surrender to prevent an attack on the capital. If we let them pass through here, what's the point of surrendering?"
"…"
"Then after the war, the Major can take responsibility and be executed for it."
"As usual, you're saying absurd things."
Major Renvel had already prepared himself for execution after the war.
With that in mind, Platoon Leader Garback suggested they shouldn't worry about adding a few more charges against Major Renvel and should engage the enemy.
"The soldiers who've come so close to the capital will likely be the first troops to enter the capital. If we fight back here, they'll take their anger out on the civilians."
"That's why we let them win decisively. The point is, we just need to fight while buying time."
The plan proposed by Platoon Leader Garback was:
"We will recruit a few dozen determined soldiers and fight back. Naturally, we will be completely crushed, but that's the point. The enemy will feel satisfied after wiping us out."
"…"
"If we make this sacrifice, there won't be any major damage to the city. It's a plan worth considering."
This is what you would call using sacrificial pawns.
It's a desperate measure that involves having a small, suicidal squad fight to buy time for the main forces to escape, like a lizard cutting off its tail and running away.
"Who's going to do such a job?"
However, the prerequisite for this is that there must be enough soldiers who are willing to sacrifice their lives fighting.
"Even I don't have the heart to order my subordinates to 'die' at this point."
"Oh, that's not a problem at all."
In response to Major Renvel's pointed question, the Platoon Leader casually replied:
"You can just start recruiting volunteers. In my opinion, several dozen people will gather."
That's the answer he gave.
***
…If we can escape from here, it will be the end of the war. We can survive this hellish battle.
But those in the sacrificial rear guard would almost certainly not return alive.
They wouldn't be allowed to achieve victory, only tasked with buying a little time while being crushed by the enemy.
Who would willingly volunteer for such a role?
"…Very well. If you believe that, let's try."
Following the advice of Platoon Leader Garback, Major Renvel decided to recruit soldiers willing to go on a suicide mission.
If enough people volunteered, he planned to adopt Platoon Leader Garback's strategy.
But if not, he would simply abandon the fortress and retreat.
"…Platoon Leader. I really don't think any soldiers will volunteer under those conditions."
"What's the matter, Touri? Are you not coming?"
"I think it's too much for me to handle."
"Well, yeah. Whether there's a greenhorn medic like you there or not doesn't really change anything."
I can't imagine that there'd be enough people to volunteer for this.
I don't know what basis the Platoon Leader had for saying such a thing.
In fact, I was almost certain they wouldn't gather enough volunteers.
***
"There's a total of 54 soldiers gathered here."
But the reality is…
They can't return alive and are not permitted to win; they're a suicide unit whose only purpose is to be killed.
"I would like to volunteer to help defend Fort Muson."
More than 50 volunteers gathered before Major Renvel.
"…You too, Garback?"
"Yeah."
It is common in war to sacrifice the few in order to save the many.
However, I'm sure everyone thinks, "I hope someone other than me gets the short end of the stick."
I never imagined so many soldiers would willingly choose to bear that burden themselves.
"Major Renvel, do you mind if I take command of these guys?"
"…Sure, I'll leave it to you."
"With a unit this large, I can call myself a company commander. Please have an appropriate rank engraved on my tombstone."
"What's this about? I thought you didn't care about rank."
"It's a matter of appearances."
Yet, for some reason, among the soldiers who volunteered… there was a sense of calm, almost relief. Some even looked happy.
"Platoon Leader…"
"What's the matter, Touri?"
"Well, why did you yourself volunteer, Platoon Leader?"
What was particularly shocking was that Platoon Leader Garback volunteered to join the unit.
Despite so selfishly focusing on survival, always insisting that his own survival is the greatest national interest.
I had always thought that Platoon Leader Garback, while not as much as Gomuji, was a pretty self-preserving person.
"It's fine if you don't understand. I think everyone here volunteered for the same reason I did."
"…"
"Don't make that face, it's pathetic. I didn't volunteer with noble intentions like sacrificing my life for the country or protecting the lives of the capital's people."
However, Platoon Leader Garback at that moment was undoubtedly clear-headed.
Moreover, he wore a remarkably bright and cheerful expression, as if nothing could make him happier."
"I'm simply staying because this is my last chance to kill those Sabbatian bastards. That's all."
***
Of the 54 soldiers who volunteered, the majority were lonely soldiers without families.
"Allen, take my dog tag. There's no need for a will."
"…Understood. I'll keep it safe."
Each soldier handed over their dog tag with a brief note. Those with families asked for their tags to be delivered to them, while those alone requested that their graves be set in a scenic spot.
"Major, please leave us just one day's worth of ammunition and rations at the fortress."
"…One day?"
"With me in command, we'll hold them off that long."
The faces of the soldiers facing this desperate battle are all cheerful.
Their morale was surprisingly high, more like a celebration after a victory than a last stand.
"…"
I couldn't understand their feelings at all.
We were defeated soldiers. Even if they sacrificed their lives here, no one would praise them.
With no victory or honor, only a pitiful fate awaits them. How could they wear such faces?
"I was afraid the war would end, but I had to go back because I had a family."
This was something I heard later from one of the survivors of the Marshdale retreat.
There's a term called "war neurosis." It's a collective term for various mental disorders often developed by soldiers after the war.
For some reason, being a soldier brought a lot of stability in some individuals' minds. They acted under the organization's orders, and could excuse all actions during military operations as "Just following orders".
Such soldiers were able to act while casting away their ethics and emotions, so they were often very good soldiers.
But when the war ended and they returned to their daily lives…
They felt as though they'd been left on the battlefield alone, abandoned by their comrades who had once shared their fate.
Some could not bear the guilt of the lives they took in battle, and they see hallucinations of the soldiers they had killed, eventually going insane.
The mental strain that comes from being a soldier in the trenches for long periods of time, risking one's life, is unimaginable.
I was a medic. Besides killing some enemies in the Marshdale retreat, I never directly took anyone's life.
Maybe that's why I couldn't understand the anguish and fear that the infantrymen felt at the thought of no longer being soldiers.
The only way for such people to find salvation is to die as a soldier.
───Platoon Leader Garback, cheerfully calling out orders to the volunteers, was setting up defensive positions.
He was clutching his favorite liquor in one hand, his cheeks slightly flushed as he smiled.
It was as if he was drinking happily at a party.
"Thank you for everything, Platoon Leader Garback…"
As the members of Platooon Garback were about to leave the fortress, we bid our final farewells.
"…Yeah. See ya."
That was all he said.
Those were the last words I exchanged with Platoon Leader Garback.
With that, we entrusted him with full command of the rear guard and withdrew from Fort Muson.
***
Austin did not record the combat record of the 54-man unit led by Platoon Leader Garback at Fort Muson.
This is because, naturally, there were no survivors to report the details of the battle.
Therefore, they were officially recorded as killed in action while engaging the enemy during the retreat from Marshdale to the capital.
No one in Austin knows how bravely they fought at the fortress.
On the other hand, the Sabbatian side did have a record of the battle.
After confirming enemies at Fort Muson, they halted their advance.
They then conducted pre-emptive magical bombardment using their abundant resources, collapsing Fort Muson before launching an assault to seize control.
In those records, it was noted that they had taken down the Austin ace known as the "Sword Demon".
Despite being riddled with bullets, he managed to cut down several soldiers who charged at him and, unable to approach, he was killed from a distance with the explosion of a grenade.
The hatred of the Sabbatian soldiers for the "Sword Demon" was so intense it was said that his body was mutilated beyond recognition.
This must have been Platoon Leader Garback's final stand.
However, their defense held the enemy at Fort Muson for a full 24 hours.
During this time, the Sabbath's communication equipment was secured, and their commander learned of our unconditional surrender during the fortress's capture.
Upon securing Fort Muson, the Sabbatian Army stopped their advance.
Had there been no resistance at the fortress, their looting and massacres would have likely continued.
In other words, Platoon Leader Garback and his men gave their lives to buy time in order to protect the capital city.
Surely, that must have been the wish of the 54 people who remained at the fortress.
Rip Garback. He was a real one in the end.