Thus, the Battle of the North that determined the fate of Austin and Sabbath ended in a sweeping victory for Austin.
The surprise attack attempted by Sylph's forces was a complete miss, and they suffered heavy casualties when Austin's army launched a counterattack.
Many of the 30,000 members under Kitahashi who were expected to survive did not return.
In return, they managed to burn just a small portion of Austin's resources, but this was far from a result that could justify their losses.
Sylph Nova woke up after the outcome of the battle had already been decided.
Surrounded by Austin soldiers and amidst the roaring gunfire, Sylph regained consciousness.
There, Kitahashi tearfully apologized to her.
"I'm sorry for my incompetence. I ruined the plan you devised."
"…"
"Is there any way to escape from here?"
"…Wait. Let me think for a moment."
Realizing that the situation was beyond repair, she immediately commanded a retreat.
Although the Austin Army had her surrounded, their formation was distorted as they were simultaneously searching for the Verdi unit.
Sylph saw through the weak point in their encirclement and broke through with a single concentrated effort to escape the predicament.
Afterward, she managed to evade Austin's pursuit, went into hiding, and moved from place to place within Austin's territory before stowing away and returning to her homeland, the Sabbath.
"My command was shallow. Next time, it won't be like this."
Her father, General Burstav Nova, the Commander-in-Chief, was also shot and killed in the chaos.
Not only him, but many Sabbatian officers also perished in this battle.
On the return ship, Sylph vowed with clenched teeth to take revenge on Austin someday.
If Sylph had held her position… perhaps Brustav wouldn't have fallen in battle.
In reality, the demon Bern Valou had set up many traps, so he likely would have lost his life anyway.
Once Aria succeeded in destroying the bridge, his fate was likely sealed.
The damage in the Battle of the North was heavy on both sides, with the supposedly victorious Austin side also suffering nearly 10,000 casualties.
Austin's losses were not light, with some losing their lives in the charge before escorting Aria to the riverbank, some being thrown into the river along with Aria, and some lost their lives in the desperate resistance against the Sabbatian soldiers.
The military also lost many valuable personnel, including the death of an ace, Aria.
Overcoming so much death and sorrow, Austin finally claimed victory.
On the other hand, the defeated Sabbatian Army suffered tremendous losses: 12,000 dead, 20,000 wounded, and 30,000 missing. Their main army was essentially annihilated.
Among the remnants, many could not return to their homeland and were left behind in Austin territory.
The wounded soldiers ran wild as bandits for a while, causing trouble for the people of Austin.
It was only after some time that they managed to return to their homeland.
A large portion of those listed as missing were soldiers who took their own lives by jumping into the river.
While a few Sabbatian soldiers managed to survive by crossing the river at the risk of their lives, most are believed to have perished.
After the Battle of the North, Rodri and I were reported missing.
It seems that our comrades found our dog tags by the riverbank.
Those who go missing during operations are treated as having died in the line of duty after a certain period of time, and their families are given proper compensation for their losses.
Though neither my body nor Rodri's was found, the situation led them to presume our deaths and handle it as such, given that we volunteered for the decoy unit.
Upon seeing my corrected tag with the name "Touri Lowe," Verdi instructed that our graves be placed side by side.
***
Thus, the East-West War, which brought about many sacrifices and sorrows, came to an end.
Given the scale of the devastation, even the Sabbath Federation was no longer able to continue the war.
Additionally, anti-war sentiment among the Sabbatian people was reaching its breaking point.
This was because word spread that "the government rejected Austin's unconditional surrender", leading to riots breaking out across the Sabbath.
The extremist organization that spread the rumor, known as the "Workers' Council," rapidly grew in power with the enthusiastic support of the public.
It would not be long before the fanatic Remi Ulyakov, and her comrades who would go down in Sabbatian history, seized control of the country.
Following the Battle of the North, Austin's leadership immediately sent their main forces to the Flamer border.
They knew that the Flamer Front wouldn't hold for long.
Although Flamel was relatively inexperienced in warfare, it was a major power with a population and productive capacity surpassing Austin's.
With its abundant mineral resources and thriving metalworking industry, Flamel was well-positioned to mass-produce firearms.
If they learned modern warfare tactics… it was clear they would become a formidable enemy.
And just as we had feared, they seized our OST-3 rifles and began researching them.
Flamel gradually absorbed the know-how and equipment needed for modern warfare.
Austin managed to buy some time with the desperate resistance of the local populace, but this also gave Flamel time to understand modern warfare.
Their technological progress was astonishingly fast.
At the beginning of the war, the Flamer Army repeatedly launched frontal assaults. They avoided digging trenches because they believed it would lower their fighting spirit.
Such foolish tactics allowed even farmers armed with rifles to fend them off, leading to a stalemate.
However, Flamel soon adopted modern warfare tactics, using trenches and primarily relying on riflemen.
With their overwhelming force of 200,000 troops, superior national resources, and production capacity, Austin stood no chance.
Even though Flamel's main weapon was a single-shot rifle, the sheer difference in manpower meant that Austin's front lines were gradually pushed back.
Then, about two months into the war with Flamel…
Using the OST-3 as a reference, Flamer engineers succeeded in developing an external attachment that would allow for multiple rounds to be loaded in existing Flamer rifles.
This allowed the Flamer rifle to fire up to three shots in rapid succession, narrowing the performance gap with the Austin rifle.
From this period onwards, the Flamer Front began to be seriously pushed back.
One month after the development of this attachment, part of the front line was finally breached by Flamel.
By the third month of the war, Flamel succeeded in occupying a portion of Austin's southern cities.
Once they understood modern warfare, Flamel's forces advanced with unstoppable momentum, winning one victory after another.
They steadily expanded their territory and continued their invasion.
Perhaps they were overconfident in their victories.
Excited by their string of victories, the Flamer Army got carried away and began looting villages near the border.
Before they reached the capital, Winn, they allowed the arrival of Austin's vicious murderer, Bern Valou, at the front lines.
Even after the regular Austin forces arrived, the overwhelming Flamer forces maintained their nonchalant attitude.
From the moment the devil Bern along with Austin's battle-hardened main forces appeared on the scene, that confidence would be utterly shattered.
That, however, is a story for another time.
***
"Please step out, Second Class Medic Arunoma. You're released."
"Finally…"
Now, returning to right after the Battle of the North:
Arunoma, who had been detained on suspicion of espionage, was released after the battle.
"Does this mean I've finally been cleared of suspicion?"
"Yes."
However…
"Really, the Austin Army's investigative skills are terrible. In Flamel, they'd have gone through all my belongings in under an hour."
"I apologize for that."
"In that case, I'll be returning to the medical unit. If you feel bad about it, how about providing some nice tea and snacks?"
"…No, your reinstatement to the military will not be approved. You are also required to return the items issued to you."
"No, your reinstatement in the army is not permitted. You are to return all items issued to you."
"You've got to be kidding."
It was only natural that Arunoma, who had the potential to betray and side with Flamel, was expelled from the military.
"Who decided that? Was it that scary female captain?"
"…Yes, that's right. It was Captain Aria's order to discharge you with a dismissal."
"Am I really being dumped in this remote part of Austin?"
"It's been decided."
"That can't be… Hasn't my innocence been proven? I want to hear the detailed reason from Captain Aria."
"She's no longer here."
Initially unaware of the circumstances, Arunoma tried to argue with Verdi.
"She was killed in action during the recent battle."
"That's unfortunate… Then could you explain the reason?"
Sensing Verdi's grave demeanor, Arunoma took a moment to calm down before asking the reason.
By then, the gag order had been lifted, and most soldiers were aware of Flamel's invasion.
"…Flamel has declared war?!"
"It's true."
"That's ridiculous! It has to be false information. My homeland would never do something like that!"
Arunoma finally learned the real reason for his confinement.
"Command was considering having you executed. However, both Captain Aria and Chief Medic Touri pleaded for your life, resulting in this decision."
"That's a lie…"
"Our supplies are dwindling; we can't afford to give you severance or travel money. We'll provide the remainder of your salary, so please use it to return to Flamel."
"That's just preying on the weak! What is my homeland thinking?"
Arunoma was reportedly deeply shaken and enraged.
On the surface, Flamel was a nation that valued justice, order, and chivalry.
Though they had in reality engaged in some unsavory invasions in the past, Flamel's citizens firmly believed in these values.
"…Fine. I'll accept the dismissal. And I'll see for myself if my homeland truly did such a thing."
"Very well. You are permitted to collect your belongings under supervision."
"Um, Lieutenant, may I say goodbye to my comrades… to the Little Platoon Leader one last time?"
"I'm afraid that won't be possible."
Arunoma was still skeptical about the Flamer invasion.
He even considered the possibility that it was false information spread by the Sabbath.
In his final request, he asked Verdi if he could visit the medical department one last time.
"Chief Medic Touri has also fallen in the line of duty."
"…!"
Upon hearing of my death, he reportedly sank down to the floor on the spot.
"Why? Why a child like that?! She's a young, female soldier, right!? Aren't they the ones you should be protecting the most?!"
"That's right, Medic Second Class Arunoma."
"In the first place, why was the medical department attacked? What were you… the infantry doing?!"
Snapping back to reality, Arunoma grabbed Verdi by the collar, but—
"I'll tell you something good, former medic Arunoma. Captain Aria had planned for Touri to escape the military."
"Then why didn't she escape?"
"How could a 15-year-old girl survive on her own after escaping? The plan was for her to escape this dangerous situation together with you and seek asylum in Flamel."
Upon hearing this, his face turned pale and he fell silent.
"Yet, I heard you adamantly refused to escape."
"So the Little Platoon Leader, back then…"
In reality, I turned down the offer out of my own volition.
Aria had even confided in Verdi about her frustrations that Arunoma wouldn't desert with me, and Verdi mistakenly assumed that Arunoma's refusal had led to the plan's failure.
"But you were a great help, former medic Arunoma."
"…What for?"
"I'm glad you kept Touri from escaping. Without her, Austin's future would have been doomed."
It's not difficult to imagine how kind-hearted Arunoma must have felt when he heard such things.
As if to add insult to injury to such a distressed Arunoma…
"She was ordered by me to die for the sake of the country… as a decoy to draw the enemy away."
Verdi reportedly said this with a laugh.
***
"Uncle, I have taken care of the last of Aria and Touri's final regrets."
"Oh."
Afterward, Arunoma left the military with an expression of fury.
Without even exchanging farewells with his colleagues, with just his meager wages and some food, he embarked on a solo journey towards the Flamer border.
"…Hey, what's with that bruise on your face?"
"Oh, this? It's nothing."
"Who did this? Someone who was jealous of you?"
"No, no."
Meanwhile, Verdi continued to receive various commendations as a rising star under Major Renvel.
He continued to rise within the Renvel faction as Aria's successor, but…
"Just a little self-satisfaction, really."
"I see."
When he received a medal…
He had a large bruise on his face, as if someone had punched him.
***
Thus ended my own Battle of the North.
Rodri and Senior Allen sacrificed their lives to protect the lives of many Austin citizens.
Their deaths were not in vain; rather, they were utilized to the utmost effectiveness by the murderer Bern.
They loved their comrades, and it can be said that they achieved their goal of protecting the people.
…That was my intention as well.
I thought that I had achieved my goal in this northern battle and that my role in life had been fulfilled.
Next, I hoped to be reborn in a peaceful country and enjoy a new life with modest happiness.
"…Hey, look. It's a soldier."
Even though Senior Allen and Rodri had already crossed the finish line…
Just before going with them, someone grabbed my wrist.
As if to condemn me for still having things to do before dying.
"Two dead soldiers are clinging together."
"Ugh, their flesh is all torn apart. It's a mess."
At that moment, I couldn't see anything anymore.
Breathing is difficult, and my chest is as cold as if it were frozen.
I lost all sensation in my body, only vaguely feeling the bright sunlight shining above me.
"No, look closer. The girl being held… she's still breathing."
"Really? Hey, healer, help her!"
"Don't be stupid."
Rodri must still be beside me.
I had no feeling in my whole body, so I couldn't even tell.
"She's nearly dead. I'd have to use every ounce of medicine and supplies I've got to save this girl."
"But…"
"I don't have much magical power to begin with. At this rate, I can't guarantee she'll be saved."
But still, there's a faint warmth in the core of my body.
My body was struggling to stay alive.
"I can't use all my supplies to help some kid I don't even know. I'm about to flee to the Sabbath."
"What a cold-hearted woman…"
"Say whatever you want."
I felt the commotion around me growing louder.
I wish they would be quiet. I don't want anyone to disturb my final moments with Rodri.
"What's with that look? Alright, you pay for the treatment. If you hand over all the precious jewelry you brought, I'll help her."
"Th-That's…"
"You can't, can you? We've got our own future to think about. Our own future is more important than some random kid."
Thinking this, I narrowly opened my eyes.
"───I'll pay."
"Huh?"
When I faintly opened my eyes, someone was staring straight at me.
It was a face that I felt like I'd seen somewhere before, but also like I hadn't.
"Hey healer, take whatever you need from the jewels we brought. But make sure you save this girl."
"Y-Yeah. What's going on with you all of a sudden?"
"Don't just sit there, start treating her! If you're too late, I'll kick your ass!"
"A-Alright, I got it. You're really going to pay!?"
"A man doesn't go back on his word!"
Even though I didn't know who this person was, I somehow began to feel better.
The warm feeling of healing magic wrapped around my body.
"First, let her drink the tonic."
"Okay. I'll leave it to you, Kusha."
"Got it."
Is someone treating me?
Have I been rescued by an ally?
If so, what about Rodri?
"Here, payment for the medicine. I definitely handed it over."
"Uh, yeah, thanks. By the way, were you always this kind of character?"
"Ah?"
"I thought you were the type who'd rummage through a soldier's wallet if you found a dead body, but…"
"Yeah, well, that's what I would normally do."
But at that moment, I was so incredibly sleepy.
The outline of the person treating me blurred, and my consciousness began to sink deeper.
"People lie and use others. That's the smart way to live."
"…Yeah, you're that type."
"And I never forget any grudges. I don't mind deceiving people, but if I'm deceived, I'll spend my whole life getting revenge."
"Right, that's why I don't want to make an enemy out of you."
And just as I was about to lose consciousness—
"But at the same time… I'll never forget the debts I owe."
"What?"
"Especially if it's someone who saved my life. I'd spend all my money to save this girl."
I caught a glimpse of a man with a bad personality and slanted eyes, missing both legs.
"Don't worry, Senior. I'll handle everything from here on out. So for now, just relax and get some rest."
End of Arc 4