"The platoon will be on standby for a while. I will report back to Lieutenant Verdi to receive further instructions."
In the end, Lakya still didn't show up even when the meeting time came.
It's almost certain that she deserted.
I think she was originally from the capital. Her likely escape destination would be her family home.
"…Understood. Notify all platoon members: proceed as planned to receive training under Second Lieutenant Verdi. I will join the search team for Lakya."
"Yes, Platoon Leader."
This has turned into a very serious issue.
I'm trying to remain as calm as possible in front of my subordinates, but deep down I'm quite anxious.
"Now, everyone please begin moving. I will be joining the search team."
"Yes, Platoon Leader."
…A subordinate's desertion is a responsibility that falls on their superior. I'll likely receive some form of punishment.
But that doesn't matter.
All that will happen is that I'll be beaten up and punished.
The problem is how they'll treat Lakya. According to military regulations, "Deserters are to be executed by firing squad."
Gomuji got incredibly lucky. He wasn't killed because he returned to the military not as a deserter but as a 'lost soldier.'"
In that situation, with Austin's surrender imminent, Platoon Leader Garback made the most lenient decision of his life, deeming it pointless to needlessly adhere to military regulations and execute him."
Unless there are some extremely unusual circumstances, she will likely be shot the moment she's found.
"This is Verdi. It appears that there are missing people in multiple units other than your platoon. Chief Medic Touri will also be joining the search. If Medic Second Class Lakya is captured or shot, please head to the scene to confirm her identity."
"Understood."
The fact that Lakya's whereabouts are unknown has already spread to various units.
As a soldier, I cannot cover up for deserters. If I did, I would be shot for aiding and abetting desertion.
Verdi used the word "shot" earlier.
…In other words, she already has authorization for execution by firing squad.
Verdi is a kind person, but I'm sure he will still uphold military regulations.
Even if Lakya is captured alive, what awaits her is execution.
Without strict adherence to this, there's a risk of more soldiers deserting in the future.
"…Why?"
Lakya should have attended the lectures on military regulations, so why would she desert?
Wanting to escape from the military even at the risk of being killed… it's strange.
I can understand wanting to run away after experiencing actual combat, but there shouldn't have been anything so serious that she would risk her life to flee."
Would she go as far as risking death by running away just because the training is tough?
Please spare me the reason for losing a subordinate for the first time to be due to execution by firing squad.
Please, please have some convincing reason prepared, Lakya…
***
"─Ah."
"D-Don't come any closer!"
First, I tried to deduce Lakya's escape route.
There are guards posted at all times at the entrances and exits of the military academy.
In order to escape, they would have to either get past the guards or climb the approximately three-meter-high concrete wall that surrounds the school.
So, I left the search of the outer walls and premises to other soldiers and looked around less frequented areas of the buildings.
I considered the possibility that Lakya hadn't yet managed to escape.
"Oh, a girl?"
'G-Gah… It's Platoon Leader Touri."
"No way, this girl is a platoon leader?!"
And then, I found her.
Three soldiers in military uniforms—Lakya and two unknown boy soldiers—were huddled together, hiding in a spot.
"…D-Don't come closer! I'll shoot if you do!"
"U-Uh… I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"
It seems that Lakya had conspired with the young soldiers to attempt an escape.
A tall red-haired boy was pointing his gun directly at me, while Lakya and the other boy were hiding behind him, trembling.
"…"
I felt my blood run cold.
Guns are terrifying. My face would be blown off in an instant if he accidentally pulls the trigger.
Right now, my life could be snuffed out at any moment.
"Keep your hands up and slowly come towards me with your back turned. As long as you don't try anything funny, I'll just restrain you."
"…"
The young soldier called out in a trembling voice, urging me to surrender.
In situations like these, I must remain calm.
First, to avoid provoking him, I'll raise my hands to show I don't have any hostile intent.
"Like this?"
"Y-Yeah. Keep your back turned and step back, one step at a time."
At this point, the distance between us was about 10 meters.
No matter what I do, it's not at a distance where I can win against someone with a gun.
"…"
"…Hurry up and come!"
However, they were hiding in a narrow gap between the school buildings.
In other words, I'll be able to escape his line of fire if I wait for an opening and run directly to the side.
It feels like approaching him and being restrained obediently will only increase my chances of dying.
How about I try shaking things up a bit?
"…Umm, I have a question for the red-haired one. Yes, the one holding the gun."
"What is it?"
"You've never actually shot a person, have you?"
My words visibly unsettled the young soldier.
As I thought, they're probably new recruits conscripted in this city.
"You're holding the gun all wrong. Do you really think you can hit me from this distance with that stance?"
"Sh-Shut up! If you don't like it, I'll shoot! Want me to try me?"
"Can you really do it?"
The young soldier's enraged response caused my heart to race uncontrollably.
He had his gun aimed directly at my head.
If it hits me as intended, I'll die instantly…
"The moment a gunshot is heard, a lot of people will rush over here to kill you."
"…!"
He wasn't concerned about the recoil and was focusing on lining up his shot.
I shot from a much closer distance in Marshdale, anticipating the recoil of the gun, but the bullet landed just a few dozen centimeters away from the target.
With the angle of the gun, the first shot will surely miss.
Realizing this, I'm able to calm down a little.
"Redhead, do you know what kind of gun you're holding right now?"
"Of course I know. It's an Austin-made mass-production gun, model OST 3—"
"That's not what I'm asking. Do you know how much blood was spilled for that gun?"
After calming down, I fixed my gaze on the boy soldier.
I began to recall the painful memories of the Marshdale retreat.
"That gun was probably transported from Marshdale. It's one of the things the soldiers who retreated from the Western Front risked their lives to protect."
"…!"
"Do you get it now? The gun you are trying to take with you on your way out came at the cost of the lives of many brave soldiers."
The gun they had is the same model as the one Rodri was issued in Marshdale.
It isn't something to be taken by deserters.
"Do you understand the weight of aiming that gun, which carries the feelings of soldiers who died for their homeland, towards me?"
"Shut up. Just be quiet!"
"…"
"I don't care about that!"
I tried to subtly make the male soldier feel guilty, but it seemed to fail.
…I need to find some way to get them to surrender.
"Lakya, you know the military regulations, don't you?"
"Uh, military regulations?"
I decided to leave the agitated soldier to focus on persuading Lakya.
If I can find out why she tried to run away, I might be able to do something about it.
"You know that deserters are typically shot, right? …Then why would you attempt such a reckless escape?"
"…Huh?"
At the mention of facing execution, Lakya's face turned pale.
Wait, maybe she didn't know that?
"Lakya can sleep with her eyes open, so I bet you weren't listening."
"W-What!? I'm going to be killed if this keeps up?!"
"If things continue like this, yes, that's what will happen."
Military regulations should have been explained clearly when she enlisted, but it seems she missed that.
If she didn't intend to escape knowing the consequences, there might still be a chance to convince her.
"You idiot, if you stay in the army you'll only get killed!"
"…B-But! Ah, no way!"
"Don't try to threaten us like that! I can kill you at any time!"
The red-haired boy began to calm the anxious Lakya.
The other boy was shaking but trying to protect Lakya as well.
Could it be the three of them are friends?
"Do you three by any chance know each other?"
"They're school friends. Last night, they invited me to run away together…"
"Ah, I see."
So, Lakya didn't escape on her own initiative; she was coaxed into desertion by the two boys behind her.
I thought it was strange since there is no reason to run away yet.
"Shut up, stop probing! Come over here and sit with your back turned, or I'll kill you."
"Why don't you all just surrender quietly? …There's still time. If any of the other search parties see this, they'll shoot you on sight."
"Shut up, I can't stand this crazy army anymore! I've had enough!"
If that's the case, then the two young soldiers behind her must have had a reason to desert.
…What could have been bothering them?
"Just for talking back, they'd beat and kick us. We were nothing but stress relievers for our superiors!"
"We couldn't keep up with that grueling training every day! I was told I'd be working in the rear, but I was deceived!"
"I have no intention of serving my country if I'm sent to a battlefield where my life is at risk and treated like less than garbage!"
…
Come to think of it, I've become completely numb to it recently, but I remember being dissatisfied with the brutal violence when I first joined Garback Platoon.
These two boys probably received similar treatment from a superior officer like Platoon Leader Garback.
"I mean, you might not have been hit because you're a girl, but the treatment of men is downright brutal—"
"No, I've been disciplined so harshly that I ended up with multiple fractures all over my body."
"…"
"The military believes in gender equality, you know."
But that can't be helped.
Our superiors are probably also desperate to keep their subordinates in check.
It's not something to be praised for, but we have to train soldiers to obey orders even if it means resorting to violence.
"Ah… Now that I think about it, Platoon Leader Touri was blamed for my lateness and got beaten up until her face was swollen."
"…Hey, how about you escape with us?"
"No thanks."
I've gotten so used to Platoon Leader Garback's brutal beatings that I've developed a tolerance to them lately.
It must be quite painful for an ordinary person.
"Well then, Medic Second Class Lakya. If you surrender, I'll exempt you from basic infantry training."
"Huh?"
"I'll make an exception for you and waive the basic infantry training. You'll still have to undergo medic training, though."
"W-Will you really do that!?"
"Hey, Lakya!"
As for the two boys, it's out of my control.
But when it came to Lakya's concerns, I had the authority to resolve them.
"Yes, it's fine. So, will you surrender?"
"Uh, ah, but…"
"Don't be an idiot, you're obviously being lied to!
"The two boys as well… That kind of treatment is something that most new soldiers go through."
I spoke to the three deserters in as gentle a tone as I could muster.
If I can persuade them well here, they may be able to avoid execution by firing squad.
"It has been a long time since you attempted to escape, but you still haven't been able to leave the military academy. That must mean you weren't able to secure an escape route, right?"
"Ugh…"
"This facility, where regular soldiers are stationed, has tight security. At this rate, you're almost certain to be shot."
"You don't know that…"
"I strongly advise surrendering now. I'll speak on your behalf to your superior officer. How about you give it a little more thought?"
If possible, I don't want to lose a subordinate around my age in a place like this.
"Shut up! How can we trust you?! Besides, we're going to be executed anyway, right?! It's too late to surrender now!"
"If you're willing to lower your gun here, I can spin it so that you weren't planning to escape at all. You had some other serious reason for this. I'll vouch for that."
"…What?"
"Of course, if it gets exposed, I'll be executed too, so make sure we're on the same page with the story."
…I can't help them escape, but I understand how they feel.
I'm sure if I provide a reasonable justification, someone like Verdi would show mercy and avoid having them killed.
"If you shoot me here and run away, you'd just be found and killed. Please stay calm and return."
"…"
I said this in as gentle a voice as I could manage.
"I understand your feelings very well."
And so, I managed to persuade them.
***
"…They didn't escape, but instead gathered with their friends and spent the night complaining, and then just overslept?"
"That is what they themselves stated."
Afterward, I brought the three of them and met with Verdi with a hastily thought-up excuse I came up with.
"Um, Touri… Ahem, Chief Medic Touri."
"Yes, what is it?"
"If I were to believe that story, then you have once again failed to keep your subordinates in check and allowed them to be late."
"Yes. Please punish me as you see fit."
"Hmm. Ah…"
Verdi had a very troubled look on his face.
Well, it's obvious that it's a lie. It's basically a plea to pardon them.
"Chief Medic Touri, your punishment will be communicated to you at a later date."
"Thank you."
"The three in the back. Your punishment will be the same. I will call you back later, so be prepared for that. Now, return to your respective units and resume training immediately."
Verdi easily allowed the deserters to return to their units.
However, there was a mysterious pressure coming from his face that said, "There's no next time."
"…Well then, I'll take my leave."
Feeling grateful for Verdi's kindness, I took Lakya's hand and left the room.
He now had to go and report what had just happened to some scary people, including Captain Aria and Major Renvel.
I imagine that Verdi will now be going around apologizing with my obviously made-up excuse.
…I feel a bit guilty for taking advantage of his kindness.
***
"Um, can I really skip training…?"
"Yes, you don't have to participate. I can grant an exemption if I recognize it as a health issue."
"Oh, is that so?"
After leaving Verdi's room, I reassured Lakya, who looked anxious.
If she insists, she doesn't have to attend training.
When she heard that, Lakya's face lit up with a cheerful expression.
"In the first place, that training itself is being done as a kindness."
"…A kindness?"
"Yes. That training is given to reduce your chances of dying even if just a little. By properly undergoing that training, your chances of surviving when facing real danger will significantly increase.
"…"
"Normally, such training isn't provided to medical units, but since medical soldiers are now rare, we're being given this opportunity."
That's right. Training takes up time and resources.
There are costs involved, like providing instructors and washing additional clothes.
Despite the trouble, this is done to increase the survival rate of soldiers.
"That training is for your own good, Medic Second Class Lakya."
"…"
"However, if training was the cause of your desertion, I will turn a blind eye to your skipping. The only one who will lose out is you, Lakya."
"…"
"Of course, you should keep in mind that if you are unable to keep up due to lack of training during actual combat, you may be abandoned."
Unlike tactical operations, training doesn't benefit the army; it benefits the soldier.
"It will be too late to regret skipping training when the time comes and death is right before your eyes. If you understand that and still choose not to participate, then I have nothing more to say."
If she refuses such valuable training, then I'll simply treat her as the kind of soldier she is.
"I-I'm sorry, I'll participate after all…"
"I'm glad to hear that."
Did she realize that I would seriously abandon her if she didn't take part in the training seriously?
Lakya replied dejectedly with her head hung.