It's an early morning for the Touri Medical Platoon.
We need to check our supplies 30 minutes before the infantry briefing so that we can start marching in time.
The medical department has a lot of items to manage, so we have to get up earlier than the infantry to do inventory.
"Good morning, it's time to wake up. Let's start by checking the equipment."
"Ugh, I only got three hours of sleep because of the patients last night."
"That's wonderful. You're lucky you got that much sleep."
Furthermore, because marching takes up time during the day, our consultation hours are limited to the evenings.
Running during the day and working at night is what I'll be doing every day from now on.
Unfortunately, we're going to have to endure chronic sleep deprivation.
"My head is spinning…"
"Lakya, the trick to getting through sleep deprivation safely is to stay calm and objective to not get irritated. After three straight days, even the most gentle of people will change. In order to avoid trouble in relationships, you need to be aware of your own words and actions."
"Do you have any ideas on how to make up for lack of sleep?"
"You're a medic, aren't you? You think you have time to sleep?"
We were lucky to get three hours of sleep last night because we hadn't come into contact with the enemy yet.
But for Lakya and the others, even just being woken up at night is quite tough.
"Don't worry. You'll get used to it."
"…"
If we had more personnel, we could rotate shifts and ensure some rest days, but…
At the moment, the only decent fighting force we have is myself and Cale.
Since we only have one person for both the instructional role and the practical role, it will be after Lakya and Arunoma become combat-effective that we'll be able to take turns for rest.
"Alright, let's do our best and move out today. Do you have everything?"
"Yeees."
There's no need to rush for now.
The new recruits just need to grow in the right direction, little by little.
And eventually, when the war begins and wounded soldiers are being brought in by the dozen, these two will need to fight bravely as well.
***
"Oh, I can see the fortress."
It was the evening of the second day after leaving the capital.
A fortress appeared before us, built of moss-covered rocks and constructed to cover the gap between the mountains.
This is Fort Muson, the fortress Platoon Leader Garback defended with his life during the retreat from Marshdale.
"Recapturing the fortress is our first tactical objective."
"…Wait, does that mean we're going into battle today?"
"It's possible, but that's pretty unlikely."
If Fort Muson is under enemy occupation, the capital would be in danger.
The first tactical objective of the expedition is the recapture of Fort Muson.
If there were enemies remaining at Fort Muson, like Platoon Leader Garback, it would result in combat…
"…Understood."
"What's wrong, Platoon Leader Touri?"
"The advance party have secured Fort Muson."
It seems that all the Sabbatian soldiers stationed at Fort Muson had retreated, and we easily achieved our first objective.
Even though the offensive in the south had been successful, the enemy still maintained an advantageous position.
There's no need for them to risk their lives to hold such a position in the middle of enemy territory.
"The advance party will continue to advance and secure the area around Fort Muson."
"Oh."
"We, the Aria Battalion, have been ordered to occupy Fort Muson until the defense force dispatched from the capital can take over."
"Meaning?"
"We will stop our advance here for today. We will spend the night at Fort Muson."
The distance between Fort Muson and Winn can be covered in a day by someone quick on foot.
Even our heavily equipped infantry unit managed to reach the destination after only two days of forced marching.
If we communicate now to the capital to request the dispatch of a defense force, we should be able to hand it over by tomorrow morning.
"So tonight I can sleep somewhere with a roof. Yay."
"Though, it will be bloody. I don't think the Sabbatian Army, who retreated in a hurry, cleaned up the place or disposed of the bodies."
"…Huh?"
The Aria Battalion, which is at the very back of the unit, is made up of many non-combatants, such as laundry soldiers.
The fact that we were given the right to spend the night in Fort Muson with a roof over our heads means…
"Fort Muson must not be in a condition to sleep in until it's cleaned. Since we're being given it, it means the advance party didn't want to sleep there."
"Eh…"
It was none other than Platoon Leader Garback who barricaded himself in this fortress and fought off the Sabbatian forces here.
Even though he was outnumbered, I'm sure he put up a fierce resistance.
It is likely that the bodies of both friends and foes are piled up before being buried.
"For those not accustomed to this kind of thing, make sure you're prepared before entering the fortress."
"…"
Yes.
In other words, in this fortress…
"…Yeah. See ya."
Lies the resting place of one of the most powerful aces of the Western Front.
***
Upon entering through the gates of the fortress, I was surprised to find it in better condition than I had initially expected.
However, the only part that was in good shape was the side near the capital, Winn, that had not been attacked.
As we moved deeper into the fortress, the walls began to show severe damage, with traces of explosions and dried bloodstains everywhere.
The soldiers' bodies had been bundled together and dumped into a storage room.
The walls had collapsed, and dust and dirt were spread everywhere. Through the cracks in the roof, the dim starry sky could be seen.
"Is it always this intense during battles?"
"…They must have been hit by magical bombardment. The enemy knew that our Austin forces were hiding in the fortress, so they chose to launch a preemptive strike."
"I'm surprised. I heard that the hero Igel leveled a castle with magic, but seeing this power, it really seems possible."
At this point, the Fort Muson had likely lost most of its defensive capability.
It's expected that repairs will be rushed from now on.
"The food storehouse and weapon storage seem to be intact."
"It's underground, after all. It was probably designed to be resistant to the effects of artillery fire."
However, a very small number of facilities survived the fire and appeared to be usable as they were.
Our medical platoon had been assigned to one of these relatively intact food storehouses.
It's not because the medical platoon is given special preferential treatment…
"We can sleep here?"
"Yes, as long as no patients come."
It's simply because we might need it for work.
Tonight we have to use it as a temporary clinic to provide overnight emergency care.
…Well, since there was no fighting, the only patients we might get would likely be new soldiers punished for some reason.
"This storage room… isn't this the food storehouse? But all that's left are half-eaten leftovers."
"Is there anything left that we can eat?"
"Most of the supplies were taken when we retreated from Marshdale. The food left here is just enough for one day's worth. There probably aren't many leftovers."
"…It's strange. They stayed behind knowing they were going to die."
Because food and weapons storage were important, they were located deep within the fortress.
That's likely why they were somewhat preserved.
"No good. Almost all of them are just empty boxes… of what looked like delicious sweets."
"Since it's the last supper, I'm sure they left some delicious things behind."
"…There's also a bottle of expensive liquor. Maybe they enjoyed one last drink before they died."
"I wonder what they felt while drinking this. Were they crying, after all?"
Lakya picked up a liquor bottle that had been thrown away in a corner of the food storage room.
The liquor in question was a brand favored by someone I knew well.
"No… I'm sure they were laughing from the bottom of their hearts and enjoying themselves."
"Platoon Leader Touri?"
The image of Platoon Leader Garback's final moments flashed in my mind.
That bottle is probably the one he had held when we parted ways.
"…"
I don't know what Platoon Leader Garback felt when he drank this liquor, but I remember that he had been in a rare good mood, with a flushed face.
He certainly wouldn't have cried.
"Little Platoon Leader. Why did you suddenly close your eyes?"
"I was just having a moment of silence to pay my respects to our fallen comrades."
"…Ah, I see."
Now that I think about it, there's something I should say right now.
I am the platoon leader. I would like to take this opportunity to pray for the repose of the souls of those who died together with my unit.
"If you'd like, please join me in praying."
"Oh? What's this?"
"It's just a small ritual."
I never imagined I would be in this position six months ago.
"The lives of the 54 men who defended Fort Muson have become the foundation of our victory. It is because of their lives that we are able to secure this fortress today."
"…"
"Let us salute our brave comrades."
I never thought I would end up leading a prayer for Platoon Leader Garback as a platoon leader.
"This concludes the ritual. If I ever fall in the line of duty, please offer a moment of silence for me."
"Hey, that's inauspicious."
"…I suppose you're right."
Being part of a war, I increasingly feel that my life is becoming lighter and lighter.
It wouldn't be surprising if I encountered an enemy tomorrow and accidentally died.
"Well then, let's begin cleaning and organizing the supplies in preparation for the treatment. Everyone, please help out."
That night, there were fewer patients than the night before.
Maybe because new recruits were busy with burying the bodies of soldiers or offering their prayers, they didn't have the chance to make any mistakes.
Remembering that vivid image of the Platoon Leader, I was able to sleep soundly that night.
…Later on, I heard a story from Senior Allen.
Apparently, Platoon Leader Garback's body was never found at Fort Muson.
However, what may have been his body, covered in graffiti scribbled with abuse in the language of the Sabbath, was found scattered in front of the outer gate of the fortress.
The remains of that body were carefully buried by the infantry.