"Senior Allen, please scout ahead. We might be able to break through now."
"Got it, leave it to me."
Our desperate hit-and-run tactic seemed to be paying off.
The Sabbatian soldiers who had surrounded us turned back and retreated to their command center.
"Lieutenant Verdi, has communication been restored?"
"Not yet."
Taking advantage of this opportunity, we ran desperately for about an hour.
To protect our lives and to secure the future of Austin.
Fortunately, the enemy had stopped pursuing us in the meantime.
Apparently, the Sabbath's chain of command was temporarily paralyzed due to Sylph losing consciousness.
"Quite a few of our allies are exhausted. How pathetic."
"If only we could join up with the reinforcements, we could somehow manage…"
Although we broke through the enemy's encirclement, the medics were utterly exhausted.
Even after running for an hour, we were still nearly 10 kilometers away from Paschen.
As expected of Sergeant Dollman, he hadn't even broken a sweat yet.
"Head Nurse Elma, let me carry some of your load. Please hand me a small bag."
"…No need, I don't want help from someone like you."
"Now isn't the time to be stubborn."
Even Cale, a football player, began to show signs of fatigue. The female nurses were pale and looked like they were about to collapse.
Running at full speed for an hour with heavy loads was extremely tough.
Even the infantry training I received in Winn wasn't as grueling as this.
"Hey, Verdi. It looks like the Sabbatian forces are coming to encircle us again."
"They've already recovered?"
The Sabbath side didn't remain idle for long.
After a while, they recovered and resumed their pursuit of us.
"Shouldn't we abandon the supplies? We'll be completely wiped out at this rate, Lieutenant."
"…"
As expected, it was impossible for us to shake off the Sabbath's pursuit on our own.
The difference in speed was too great.
Our only option was to re-establish contact with Headquarters and request reinforcements.
"Is communication still not restored?"
"Not yet…"
Verdi's communication device wasn't responding at all.
Communication range in this era was limited to 2–3 kilometers.
Considering the distance to Paschen, getting a signal anytime soon wasn't realistic.
"Just a little longer. If we advance a little further we might be able to get a signal. Let's push on just a bit more."
Verdi ordered the troops to continue moving forward.
He believed there would be an allied communication base somewhere along the way to Paschen.
"Sabbatian troops are advancing from our rear again. It's expected they'll complete their encirclement within an hour."
"This is Verdi, report acknowledged. If you don't want to die, keep running, everyone."
Our route was completely exposed.
Using carts to transport supplies, we had no choice but to follow the well-maintained road.
It would have been easy for the enemy to track us along the road.
That's also why they hadn't bothered to jam communications.
"Understood. Superior's orders… Damn it."
Grumbling under our breath at Verdi's somewhat stubborn orders, we continued our exhausting marathon.
***
At this time, reinforcements from our allies were actually quite close to our position.
Bern had mobilized soldiers near Headquarters to assist in our retreat.
However, they couldn't pinpoint our exact location.
The search party was scouring the area based on an estimate of where they thought we might be.
But since the Sabbatian forces were deployed at the expected retreat location, a message was sent to Bern stating, "It's likely our allies have been located by the enemy and annihilated."
Bern replied to this message with, "Don't give up, search a wider area," before letting out a deep sigh.
The commander who received the order to search a wider area then proceeded to focus on the area near Paschen.
They believed that if we had miraculously broken through the encirclement, we would go there.
Therefore, Verdi's decision to push on a little further was not wrong.
If we had run for just a few more tens of minutes, we would have reached a position where we could contact our allies.
The key was whether we could maintain the unit's morale until then.
"Lieutenant Verdi. I also feel that we'll manage somehow if we push on a little further."
"Yes, let's do our best, Chief Medic Touri."
"If we can get through this, a peaceful everyday life awaits us. We just need to make one more push."
I deliberately had this conversation with Verdi in a loud voice.
It was a groundless and obvious attempt to boost the morale of our comrades.
But my words spread among the soldiers like ripples in water.
"Right… If I can get through this ordeal, I can go back home."
"I won't have to fight in this war anymore. I'll get a big retirement bonus and live a relaxed life in a peaceful place."
"When we get back to Winn, I'll tell my old man all about my heroic tales."
They are still unaware that the war will continue due to the invasion of Flamel.
"I saw a soldier in Winn the other day who was living it up with his reward money. I'd like to live it up like that, even just once."
"I'll use my money on my folks. My mom's always complaining about her back hurting. I'll buy her a nice wooden rocking chair."
"Then why don't you come to my family's furniture store? I'll have a skilled craftsman make a custom one for you."
They are running for their lives here because they believe that at the end of this battle lies a peaceful Austin.
"Hey, Shorty, there's a fork in the road a few kilometers ahead. Which way should we go?"
"Uh, if we head west, we'll come out along the Tar River. The southern fork leads to Paschen."
"Then we should head south, right?"
If we just try a little harder, peace awaits.
This is the final battle.
The soldiers took these words to heart and continued running, pushing beyond their limits.
"This is bad. The Sabbatian soldiers are catching up."
"It looks like they've already grasped the terrain around here. Their advance is too quick."
The Sabbatian Army's rapid advance was due to Sylph's final orders: to scout the terrain ahead of our escape route.
They were likely aware of the fork in the road ahead as well.
"What should we do? Should we try another hit-and-run?"
"…No, a second attempt would likely fail."
The enemy was advancing quickly, setting up to intercept us.
Yet somehow, I felt that we'd reach the goal if we could just make it through this.
If we could evade this advance force trying to encircle us… we could survive.
"…Yes, in this kind of situation."
Now, in this situation, I remembered there were often enemies that would try to ambush ahead of you in "that game."
In an FPS game, staying put and using cover to ambush the opponent is often more effective than engaging while moving.
Sometimes, players would predict where the enemy was headed and lie in wait.
However, knowing that the enemy might use such a tactic makes it easy to counter.
"…Are you planning another crazy strategy, Touri?"
"Yes. I have a suggestion—"
In games, countering such tactics is simple.
***
"Ah, looks like an ambush. The enemy's setting up."
"Oh, you noticed that quickly. As expected of the world champion."
Yes, countering an ambushing enemy is quite simple.
The enemy is confident that we'll be coming this way.
"Alright, I'll go around and flank them."
"I'll go with you."
"Ah, then…"
People are most easily deceived when they believe they're the ones deceiving the enemy.
In this case, pretending to fall into their trap and then turning the tables is a classic tactic.
In other words…
"We'll rely on you to be the decoy!"
"Whoa, got it. Make sure to revive me, okay?"
"I got you, don't worry!"
As long as the team doesn't lose, fallen comrades can be revived.
Using that game mechanic, decoys and diversion tactics are incredibly effective.
***
"The plan is─"
Decoys…?
Who are the decoys in this situation?
"…Touri?"
Instinctively, I knew.
This plan would surely work.
────Send a small group of decoys to the west to mislead the enemy into thinking our escape route is along the Tar River.
────The enemy would expand their formation to block our path toward the Tar River, thinking we intend to go west.
────Taking advantage of that distraction, the main force will head south… towards Paschen.
"A… a… ah…"
After realizing the decoy's westward advance was a trap, the enemy would inevitably chase after the main force heading to Paschen.
Therefore, it is necessary to stall them to prevent casualties among our allies.
────This means the decoy unit will need to intercept the enemy as they try to pursue the main force.
"Are there no more strategies?"
"There is one…"
I must suggest this.
I must propose that using decoys to divert the enemy will allow for a safe escape.
"There is… one…"
This world is not a game.
If someone dies, they will never come back to life.
Do I have to suggest here and now that, "If we use a decoy, we can escape safely"?
"You're crying again, Shorty. What's wrong this time?"
Suddenly, someone kicked me in the butt.
When I turned around, it was, of course, Rodri.
"Lieutenant Verdi, she's been emotionally unstable lately. She just starts crying out of nowhere like this."
"…I don't think it's appropriate to kick a woman in the rear, Private Rodri."
"Hey, it's Touri we're talking about. You can treat her however you want. No one's going to treat her like a woman with a chest like hers."
Rodri looked at me with an exasperated face.
Seeing that face, I felt my heart calm down a little.
"It's… a decoy."
"Huh?"
"I'm sure if we use a few decoys, the main force will be able to escape safely."
Taking the opportunity to regain some composure, I gradually explained the outline of my plan.
"We'll send a platoon-sized force ahead to the west and pretend that we're scouting. That way they'll mistakenly think we're heading west."
"…"
"If we do this, the enemy will probably focus their encirclement on the Tar River. During that gap, the main force can escape south…"
All I can do is propose the strategy.
It's up to Verdi to decide whether or not to go ahead with it.
"The decoy unit will then intercept the enemy forces that will come to attack the main force once they realize our strategy. As long as they can buy some time, the main force will be able to escape."
"In that plan… What will happen to the decoy?"
"They will be annihilated."
But I'm sure.
Verdi, who originally planned to intercept the Sabbatian soldiers with the intention of being annihilated…
"…If there are no other good ideas, we will go with that. Chief Medic Touri's ideas today have been spot on."
"Thank you."
…Would likely accept the sacrifice of a few.
"Alright then, can I volunteer for the short end of the stick?"
"Private Rodri?"
I had a feeling this would happen.
If I suggested this plan…
"Well, it'd be better if I feel a little less guilty about it."
"Rodri, you…"
"Yeah, I'll go. No, I want to go."
He would definitely volunteer.
***
"…Rodri, didn't you say you wanted to live a long life like your grandfather?"
"That's only if the war is over. It's a different story during the war."
His nature is incredibly considerate of his comrades.
"Not many soldiers have the resolve to face certain death at this crucial moment. I'm confident I can kill a decent number of enemies and buy us time; I'm the right person for the job."
"…"
"Honestly, it'd be a lot more painful for me to abandon my comrades and run off on my own."
He is a very kind boy who cares about his comrades more than anyone else.
"Hmm, it's annoying to let Rodri have all the glory."
"Senior Allen…"
"As the platoon leader, I should chip in too. Yeah, no matter what, life's going to be tough if I survive anyway."
Seeing Rodri volunteer, Senior Allen hesitated for a moment before also volunteering for the suicide mission I proposed.
"Are you two really sure about this?"
"Yes, Lieutenant Verdi. We don't have much time, so we have to decide quickly."
"We need a few more… Ideally, a platoon's worth. Any other volunteers?"
Even Verdi seemed to find it hard to send off two close friends as decoys.
However…
"Don't get the wrong idea, Shorty. I'm volunteering on my own."
"Rodri, you…"
"It's not your fault for proposing the plan. I just let my desire to be a hero get the better of me and acted on it. Remember that well."
I was so choked up that I couldn't say anything to the two of them.
They both volunteered with such bright, carefree expressions.
"…I'm an orphan. Platoon Leader Allen and Squad Leader Rodri, I'll join you."
"Oh, Reita. You're coming too?"
"Is there anyone else who wants this shitty short straw?"
***
I felt all my organs become heavy.
A nauseous feeling, as if I had swallowed a lump of lead, made me feel dizzy and ate away at my very soul.
"Alright, we're just about two or three short. That was pretty quick."
"This shitty job is surprisingly popular."
"Now I think I can understand a little bit of how Platoon Leader Garback was feeling back then. Ah, I feel more clear-headed than I expected."
Unlike me, Rodri was smiling brilliantly.
He has decided to die, which is why he can laugh so easily.
How irresponsible. He would never understand how I feel about being the one who survived.
To survive alone…
"No, I don't like it."
Ah, I see.
This is what it feels like.
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant Verdi."
"What's wrong, Touri?"
"If you follow the road from here, you will reach Paschen. If there are any uncertainties about the route, Medic First Class Cale can answer them."
"Touri…?"
I'm scared to leave my comrades behind as they die.
I can't bear the thought of Rodri and Senior Allen sacrificing themselves to keep me alive.
"I would also like to volunteer to be a decoy."
"…"
In that case, I should fight together with them until the end.
The moment I made that decision, my heart felt so much lighter.
"Eh? Hey, Shorty, what's the point of you coming?"
"If we bring along a medic, it will be even harder for them to realize that our retreat destination is fake. Besides, I also have a gun, even if it only has training rounds."
"If you do that…"
Verdi gasped and stared at me.
I could feel a warning alarm sounding throughout my entire body.
Beyond this choice lies certain death.
"Comrades are like family, aren't they, Rodri?"
"…"
"In that case, why don't we stay together until the end?"
And yet…
My heart is as clear as a sunny day.
"Haaa, what an idiot…"
"That goes for you too, Rodri."
"Fair enough."
For the first time in a long time, perhaps ever since I joined the military, I smiled from the bottom of my heart.