After bringing Lakya back and rejoining the training,
In the evening, we were called by Verdi again, and our only punishment was to write a 10-page letter of apology.
I was then instructed to give thorough training to Lakya as her superior officer.
"Well, truth be told, this kind of thing happens a lot."
Apparently, it's an annual occurrence at the military academy for new recruits to run away because they can't endure the intense training.
Therefore, Major Renvel had predicted that there would probably be some deserters and had strengthened security at the military academy.
Of course, if a deserter is armed, permission to shoot them is granted for the pursuers' safety.
However, it seems that the general policy was not to execute those who were persuaded and returned of their own accord.
"You've humiliated me!"
Besides myself and Lakya, another man who appeared before Verdi was a stern-looking soldier who seemed to be the superior officer of the two male soldiers.
After saluting Verdi and exiting, he started kicking the two soldiers in the hallway with an irritated expression.
"Because of you guys, my reputation is completely ruined!"
This morning, Lakya's fellow soldiers, who had been persuaded to surrender, had faces covered in bruises.
Apparently, the two of them had been subjected to a great deal of punishment.
"Huh? What are you guys looking at?!"
"Hii…"
The soldier seemed to be in a bad mood and snarled Lakya, who was panicking as she tried to call out to her friends.
He looked to be around 40 years old. He was a muscular soldier with curly hair and a beard.
…I can only assume these young soldiers tried to escape because they were frightened of this man.
"Excuse me, sir."
"Huh? What do you want?"
I nervously spoke up to the intimidating officer.
Though I was scared too, I had promised to put in a good word for them, so I had no choice but to speak up.
"I am Chief Medic Touri, the head of our army's medical platoon. I apologize for the inconvenience my subordinate caused to the members of your unit."
"Oh…? What on earth, you're a platoon leader with that appearance?"
"Yes, I am."
Now, what type of person is he?
From the looks of it, he seems similar to Platoon Leader Garback…
"Hmm? I heard that the head of the medical platoon was young. So it was true."
"Although I am still young, I'm committed to fulfilling my duties to the best of my ability."
"Really now."
I feel like this guy's attitude is a bit arrogant or haughty.
Platoon Leader Garback seemed more purely violent. He only acted bossy… occasionally.
"I'm Warrant Officer Faris. I can't really say anything about others, but we need to keep a firm grip on our subordinates."
"Yes, Warrant Officer."
The name he gave sounded familiar.
Warrant Officer Faris. That was the name of the dangerous person I heard from Verdi just yesterday.
"By the way, Warrant Officer Faris. I have something to discuss with you. Do you have a moment?"
"Hmm? With me?"
"Yes."
…Now I have to ask this dangerous man to go easy on his punishments.
I just hope he doesn't take it out on me.
"What's this about?"
"It's nothing too important, but I'd like to make a request in light of the current state of the medical platoon."
"Hmm?"
Well, there's nothing I can do about what I'd promised.
I just have to make up a plausible reason and convince him.
"From what I can see, the two members of your unit appear to be quite seriously injured."
"What about it?"
"Well… considering the current state of the medical platoon, we might struggle to keep up if corporal punishment continues as usual."
"Ah?"
I bowed to Warrant Officer Faris with an apologetic look on my face.
"Including Lakya over there, there are only four healers in the medical platoon. Two of them are amateurs."
"Whoa, is it really that bad?"
"Yes. Therefore, if the platoon leaders of each infantry unit continue to punish their subordinates as they have done up until now, we may end up with so many injured that it'll hinder our ability to conduct military operations."
Warrant Officer Faris scowled at my words.
Well, I'm not lying.
"So, if I come across a soldier who appears to be undergoing severe corporal punishment like before, I will speak up at my own discretion."
"Hmm… When are you getting reinforcements? It's hard to imagine the medical unit functioning properly with things like this."
"Yes, Warrant Officer. Once the vanguard can join up with the forces on the Southern Front, we will be able to organize a proper medical department. Alternatively, a similarly sized medical department will be set up in the main force that will follow behind. Until then, we will have no choice but to operate the army with only this weak medical platoon."
"I knew it… the Austin Army is in quite a difficult position."
Warrant Officer Faris didn't seem pleased with my reasoning but ultimately looked somewhat convinced.
Hopefully this will make the punishment less harsh.
"Alright, then I'll shift to more psychological punishment instead. I accept the medical platoon's request, so please continue to support us."
"I-I'm glad you understand."
Warrant Officer Faris flashed me a nasty smile, still looking somewhat disgruntled.
…Switching to psychological punishment, huh?
"I thought corporal punishment would be better, but if that's what the head of the medical platoon wants, I guess I have no choice. Fine."
"P-Please keep it moderate."
"Don't be silly. If I don't teach them properly, they're the ones who'll suffer. I'll just give them the best education I can without any reservations."
The two soldiers' faces went white after hearing Warrant Officer Faris' words.
Maybe I shouldn't have said anything after all.
"The body can be cured with treatment, it's hard to mend a broken spirit. Don't let it break, little brats."
Well, in reality, frequent corporal punishment would indeed interfere with our work.
I'm not sure what "psychological punishment" entails, but I can only hope it's something they can endure.
***
"There's nothing you can do about that, Touri."
That night, I went to talk to Senior Allen about the whole story about the deserters.
I wanted some advice on whether this was the right thing to do or what else I should have done.
"What Warrant Officer Faris is doing is standard military training."
"I see."
"If you go easy on them by reducing corporal punishment so they don't desert, once they experience the harshness of real combat, the rookies will just end up running away."
Senior Allen looked serious as he gave me advice.
"There were times I got yelled at unfairly and hated my superiors with all my heart. But the battlefield is far more merciless and unfair than any superior."
"…"
"A good-natured, diligent guy could be sticking to the wall doing reconnaissance exactly by the book, only to die instantly from an unlucky grenade that rolls his way. Meanwhile, some crude, careless guy might ignore orders, oversleep, and end up the only one who survives because of it."
It seems like Senior Allen is talking from personal experience.
"Even if it means they get treated badly, leave them alone and don't get involved. If Warrant Officer Faris does a good job, he should be able to produce two obedient soldiers within a month."
"I see."
There are different types of new soldiers in the Austin Army.
First, there are elite recruits who have graduated from military academy and have acquired the mindset and skills of a soldier.
Second, there are those who did not attend military academy, but volunteered and were able to receive a reasonable amount of training.
Lastly, there are amateurs who were conscripted and sent off without knowing how things work in the military.
Even an amateur with a gun can be lethal. During the later stages of the war on the Western Front, the government prioritized replenishment speed over training, and continued to send amateurs to the battlefield in large numbers.
As a result, numerous amateurs were mobilized here as well.
The platoon leaders of each unit are probably working desperately to turn these guys into normal recruits.
"Thank you for the advice, Senior Allen."
"No problem."
If that's the case, then my job isn't to protect new soldiers from other units from violent discipline.
My job is to train the people under me, such as Lakya and Arunoma, to increase their chances of survival.
It's a tough situation for these people who were just ordinary citizens until recently, but it could one day save their lives.
In the end, interfering with that might do them more harm than good.
***
So, to start with the conclusion.
This physical training we endured wasn't just a simple exercise.
Every day, for three days, we were forced to keep pace and run endlessly while carrying heavy equipment.
Even those who were physically fit, such as Lakya, Cale, and Arunoma, began to show signs of fatigue.
"Behold, soldiers! The flawless blue sky above us!"
Finally, the day arrived for our vanguard unit to depart.
"It's been said since ancient times that setting out on a clear day is a sure sign of victory. This is beautiful weather, proving that an unclouded glow of glory awaits us ahead!"
Major Renvel gave a lively speech, which really boosted the morale of the soldiers.
Among the officers lined up behind him is Captain Aria.
"We must bring down the hammer of justice on the Sabbatian demons, to show justice and to protect our precious brethren. May God bless our cause!"
A large crowd of citizens had gathered at the city gates to see us off.
Elderly citizens were waving to the soldiers with tears in their eyes.
"Now, brave soldiers, advance! Until the day we finish everything and return triumphantly to this capital, we are all of one mind and spirit!"
With that command from Major Renvel, the Renvel Army set out from the capital, Winn.
***
"…I see. That stamina training was set to match the actual march distance."
After a day of marching from the capital, I realized something.
The actual distance we marched was almost exactly the same as the distance we'd run daily in training.
"Huff, huff…"
"I see. That training wasn't just to build stamina; it was also to see if we could handle a forced march."
Our role as the Touri Medical Platoon is simply to stick to our allies and advance forward from the rear of the army.
Up ahead, the scouts needed to proceed carefully while watching the surroundings.
Compared to them, all we had to do was keep up, making our march relatively easier.
"I can't go on… my legs… they're killing me…"
"Lakya, I can carry you on my back if it's that bad."
"I can't allow that. You're on your last legs too, Arunoma."
"My legs hurt…"
Unfortunately, our medical platoon is one of the most physically weak units in the military.
This unit, which included many women and young people, had a hard time just keeping up with the advance of the troops.
"If it is absolutely necessary, we can ask the transport unit to treat her as an injured person and let you ride with the supplies. But let's keep that as a last resort."
"Ugh…"
"If you don't want to be treated like a burden, run with determination."
In the rear, the medical platoon and various other non-combat units are stationed.
For example, there are military quartermaster units that specialize in transporting supplies and move around pulling carts carrying large loads.
Quartermasters are the unsung heroes on the battlefield, involved in the most essential aspect of logistics in war.
"I was deceived! This was a scam. I was tricked into volunteering for a terrible unit."
"What a coincidence. Me too."
Railroads were used to transport supplies to the Western Front, but in areas without railroads, transportation still mainly took place by pulling carts.
Trucks and other automobiles have also been developed, but because they are expensive, they are only used for a few purposes, such as transporting water or magic stones.
Besides, vehicles don't perform well on rough terrain.
Therefore, currently most supplies are still transported by hand or by horse-drawn carriage.
"If it gets too tough, just ask someone from the transport unit for help, Lakya. They probably won't mind carrying an exhausted girl."
"But the people in the transport unit are rough and vulgar. I'm afraid they might do some lewd things to me…"
"Well, they're mainly wounded veteran infantrymen, so it's no wonder they're rough."
The logistics unit consists almost entirely of muscular men, as the job demands strength.
Most of them are former infantrymen who can no longer serve on the front lines due to injuries like a shot arm or a lost eye.
If a female soldier who is unable to move is thrown into such a place, she'd likely be subjected to a barrage of sexual harassment.
"Is there a transport unit with only women?"
"They exist, but it's really only made up of women. We can't expect them to do the heavy lifting."
On the other hand, there are also quartermaster units composed entirely of women.
They are people called "laundry soldiers" who do things like cooking and laundry.
The laundry soldiers' job is to do the laundry by hand every day and provide the soldiers with clean military uniforms.
"They're probably the ones who need transporting. Most of the laundry soldiers are fresh recruits, right?"
"I heard that they gathered people who boasted about their physical strength, but… it's going to be tough for a unit mainly made up of women."
"If too many people fall behind, it'll slow down the march. Delaying our arrival would inconvenience the Southern Army. Let's do our best to keep up."
That's why Major Renvel had us undergo infantry training, anticipating what would be a tough march.
"Waaah…"
"Hang in there, Lakya."
This pace will likely become the norm for us from now on.
***
Our daily marching speed at this time was a little over 10 kilometers.
Though 10 kilometers might not sound like a significant distance, carrying heavy equipment along unpaved paths makes it a grueling journey.
"Now then everyone, there are still things that must be done."
As darkness settled and we were permitted to halt for rest, most of the medical platoon was exhausted, collapsed on the ground.
Having experienced the retreat at Marshdale, I was still feeling relatively fresh.
"Haa, haa… there's more to do, Little Platoon Leader?"
"Yes."
"More lectures…?"
"No, it's work."
The infantry was likely preparing for sleep, setting up for tomorrow's march.
Around us, soldiers were busy starting fires for the night camp, digging shallow pits for makeshift sleeping spaces near the small platoon leader's tent.
But our work is just getting started now that the troops have stopped marching and are preparing to camp.
"We received word during the day. One infantryman injured his leg from a fall, and a laundry soldier was found collapsed and vomiting. Both will be brought here for examination. Please begin preparing for treatment, everyone."
"Wow…"
"This is only two since there was no combat today, but if we encounter enemies, a flood of injured soldiers could come our way. We'd have to continue treating them all night if that happens. We can't afford to be worn out by something like this."
Exactly. We weren't assigned to the vanguard just to go on a marathon.
We're here to treat the injured soldiers throughout the entire army.
"Alright, let's do our best. Elma, prepare the IV."
"Don't order me around…"
"We're starting work… now…?"
"Haha… even I'm beginning to regret this a little."
The work of the medical platoon is busy, but in return, we are given many perks, such as being stationed in safe locations.
Therefore, we must respond by doing a good job.
"Understood. Everyone, we have two more patients. Another soldier broke his tooth during corporal punishment and has requested a check-up."
"…Huh?"
"I will later submit a letter of protest to the superior officer who administered this corporal punishment later. For now, Arunoma and Lakya, I'll have you start by taking the initial consultations."
Well, it looks like there will be a decent amount of injured people sent here tonight.
Let's train our two new recruits properly while the number of injured is still low.
"…Hey, you touched the IV needle with your hand. Where did you learn such sloppy hygiene?"
"Sorry, Head Nurse Elma!"
"Where's the elixir, the elixir, haaa."
"Cale, let's not use it today. We need to conserve our stock."
"Oh, sorry. It's become a habit from before."
Working in the medical platoon is no easy task.
In fact, it's probably the most grueling job among all units, though we're not in direct danger.
I'm hoping that with each day they'll gradually build more stamina.
"I was really deceived…"
"…There's no point in complaining about that now. Let's go, Lakya."
Thus…
On the first day of the campaign, there were quite a few injured people, probably because it was their first time marching.
Most of the injuries were from discipline by superiors, and these unnecessary injuries forced the medical platoon to continue working late into the night.
"Can't they go easier on them so they don't have to be treated…"
"Ahh… I'm done for… I just want a hot shower and a warm bed…"
Watching the light slowly fade from the eyes of the new recruits made me feel a warm sense of nostalgia.
It was like looking at myself from six months ago.