"It's done…"
"Oh, splendid."
The woman let out a small cry of joy.
In front of her hand, a small, thin barrier was forming.
"You're quick to grasp things. As expected of Gale, the hope of the medical department."
"Thank you."
The woman's name is Gale.
She is a mature-looking woman with a distinctive mole, which made a strong impression.
"The [Shield] spell manifests in those who have a strong desire to protect someone."
"Yes, Director Dollman."
"Gale, you must become a medic who can protect others."
The aging soldier, Dollman, said this as he grasped Gale's shoulder.
"Never become a medic like me."
He added in a self-deprecating tone.
***
Gale's family had been elite members of the military for generations.
"I'm Medic First Class Gale. I will be joining the medical department from now on. Please take care of me."
"Oh, so you're the one they've been talking about…"
Even among this elite family, she is celebrated as a "prodigy."
With her rare aptitude for healing magic, abundance of magical energy, quick thinking, and strong sense of responsibility, she stood out.
Her diligent nature and amiable personality earned her deep trust from her colleagues.
"Gale, could you give me a hand with this patient? The bones seem a bit tricky."
"Leave it to me."
Upon joining the medical department, Gale quickly distinguished herself.
She rapidly improved her skills and, within a few years, became a central figure in the medical department.
"With someone like you joining, the medical division is secure."
"I'm honored."
Dollman, the Director of the medical department, took a special interest in Gale.
He treated her as his most important apprentice and passed on all of his medical knowledge to her.
It wasn't favoritism; it was purely because of her exceptional abilities.
"If I had to choose someone to inherit the position of Director, it would have to be you."
Dollman had such high expectations for Gale, despite her only being a few years into her career.
***
"Private First Class Nile here! I graduated from the military academy this year."
It's been a few years since Gale began her service.
A young soldier came to greet Gale.
"How do I look, sister? Does it suit me?"
"Yes."
The boy, who was smiling cheerfully and without a care in the world, was her younger brother, Nile.
He had been assigned to the front lines as an infantryman.
"I'm determined to do my best for the country!"
"Nile, make sure not to do anything reckless. Prioritize your survival above all else."
"Yes!"
Nile is a straightforward and bright boy.
He is smart and serious, much like Gale.
"Stay safe until you're reassigned to a rear position."
Like Gale, Nile was also from an elite family and had graduated from the military academy.
After gaining experience on the front lines, his plan was to move into a more central role in the military.
"Don't worry, sister. It seems I've been assigned to a unit with a low mortality rate."
"Oh, really?"
"Perhaps our overly cautious father pulled some strings."
He proudly mentioned the name of the unit he was assigned to.
Gale recognized the name of that soldier.
"It's the famous ace, Sergeant Garback's unit!"
"Oh my…"
The ace Garback, known for his reckless assaults and rumored to abandon his subordinates.
The soldier her brother mentioned is infamous for such negative rumors.
Hearing that name, Gale looked at her brother with concern, but…
"Is something wrong, sister?"
"No, it's nothing."
Her calm side made her hold back, thinking, "I shouldn't give him unnecessary worry or cause discord."
"Do your best, Nile."
"Yes."
Gale put on a smile and tried to hide her concern, not realizing it would lead to significant regret.
***
"Nile! What's with that injury?!"
"Ahaha…"
A few days later.
Nile was brought to the medical unit with severe injuries.
"Are you okay? You've got broken bones and severe bruising all over… Wait, I'll fix this right away."
"Calm down, First Class Medic Gale. The treatment is already complete."
When Gale tried to use healing magic in her panic, she was stopped by a stern-faced medic who grabbed her hand.
Gale glared at the medic with sharp eyes.
"He's still in bad shape."
"These are injuries that will heal naturally. Healing magic is not necessary."
"But…"
"Please calm down, sister. I'm fine."
Healing magic is a precious resource on the battlefield.
The rule is not to use it for injuries that would heal naturally within a few days.
Gale knew this, but it was a different story when her own family was injured. Naturally, she wanted to heal them.
"Besides, he seems to be in better spirits than he looks."
"Eh?"
"During the treatment, he kept staring at my chest."
"Ugh!"
However, it seems that her brother was distracted by the attractive medic's chest.
An awkward silence followed for a few seconds.
"I-I wasn't staring."
"Don't worry, I'm not concerned. I consider it gentlemanly that you didn't touch me."
Gale relaxed, while Nile continued to stammer with a flushed face.
This wasn't a side of her brother she wanted to know about.
"Well, Reitalyu does have a rather impressive figure. Sigh, it's becoming ridiculous to worry."
"I'm really sorry…"
"Then, I'll take my leave now, Gale."
Blushing deeply, Nile bowed and apologized quietly to the departing Reitalyu.
Seeing her brother like this, Gale asked with an exasperated expression about the reason for the punishment.
"Um, the reason I got beaten was my fault. I misheard the Platoon Leader's instructions and ran the wrong way in the trench alone."
"I see."
"It seems he thought I was fleeing from the enemy, and I was beaten up."
From what Gale heard, Nile's severe injuries were the result of punishment from Garback.
It seems Nile is not entirely blameless.
"Platoon Leader Garback is very harsh. I was made to stand for hours until I finally got permission for treatment."
"Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. That was definitely too much."
"I'm okay with it… for the most part."
Nile offered a somewhat vague smile.
It seems he had some internal reservations.
"Well, if you have the energy to look at other people's chests, you're fine."
"Please don't tease me about that. It was just… she was such a beautiful woman."
"Reitalyu is quite popular, you know?"
"It's not like that…"
Rookies are often toughened up through punishment.
Knowing that's how things are on the battlefield, Nile had the discretion to keep his complaints to himself.
"Well, I'm heading home for today. Sorry for the trouble, sister."
"Yes, be careful next time."
Although Gale had complex feelings about her brother being punished, she had no authority or position to intervene in frontline matters.
She watched her brother leave with a worried expression.
***
From that day on, Nile occasionally showed up at the field hospital with a swollen face.
It isn't uncommon for new recruits to be brought to the hospital due to corporal punishment.
Nevertheless, the punishment dealt out by Garback was particularly severe.
"You're here again, Nile…"
"Ugh. Have I been found out?"
Today as well, Nile had been beaten mercilessly and was in a pitiful state.
No matter how much this might be considered "normal for a new soldier," Gale couldn't help but worry.
"That's going too far. I'll speak to Garback about it."
"It's fine, sister, don't be so overprotective. I'm not the only one getting beaten."
Gale had tried several times to request Garback to avoid such severe training.
However, it was Nile himself who stopped her from doing so.
"If you do that, they'll end up killing me."
"Nile…"
"I don't want to stand out. Please, just don't do anything unnecessary, sister."
Nile seemed to be terribly afraid of Garback.
Listening to his pleas, Gale ultimately swallowed her complaints about Garback.
***
"It's better not to intervene."
"Really?"
The troubled Gale decided to consult the head of the medical department, Dollman, about Nile.
Dollman had achieved great accomplishments during his time in the military. He held significant influence over frontline soldiers.
Gale thought it would be better for him to address the issue rather than her.
However, Dollman's response was blunt.
"I've experienced the frontline myself, and I think some degree of corporal punishment is unavoidable."
"…"
"That Garback Platoon is one of the units with a low mortality rate, isn't it?"
There are rules for infantry.
It's not very good for someone like Gale, who doesn't know the frontline, to interfere.
"A low mortality rate indicates that Garback is skilled in training his subordinates. Severe as it may be, it seems he is providing appropriate instruction."
"Is that so?"
"You shouldn't bring peacetime common sense into the frontline."
With that, Dollman dismissed Gale's concerns.
Gale's feelings are complicated.
She was worried about Nile. Seeing her brother being repeatedly subjected to harsh treatment pained her deeply.
However, she also wished for him to survive. The fact that the mortality rate for new recruits in Garback Platoon was low was also true.
It is somewhat better than being reassigned to another unit and possibly being killed in action.
Caught between these conflicting emotions, Gale was troubled.
Amidst her unresolved feelings and the exhaustion from treating many wounded soldiers, Gale soon found herself facing an even greater dilemma.
***
"Sister. I, um, started dating Reitalyu."
"Huh…?"
Gale was shocked to hear that her troublesome brother had started dating her junior, Reitalyu.
During a break, Gale was taken aback when Reitalyu and Nile reported this news, making her do a double take.
"What do you mean?"
"W-Well, I confessed, and it went well…"
It was quite a shock.
She couldn't understand how it happened, or if they even had time for a relationship.
Trying to maintain her composure, she questioned her brother, who began to mumble while averting his gaze.
The trigger was Nile's treatment.
Nile didn't want his sister to know about the injuries from corporal punishment.
So, when he went to the medical department, he lined up in a less noticeable corner of the examination queue.
Reitalyu was in charge of that queue, so they ended up seeing each other frequently.
Nile fell for her after she repeatedly treated him.
"She's so cool, and her appearance is great. Her treatment is thorough and gentle. Before I knew it, I couldn't think about anything but her, and I started making mistakes and got beaten up even more."
"…"
"I thought it was bad to leave things like this and tried to sort out my feelings by confessing, even if it meant being rejected. But for some reason, she said okay."
"I see…"
Sitting in front of Gale, her brother, covered in severe wounds, held hands with Reitalyu, wearing a happy smile.
Frankly, it was unsettling.
"Reitalyu, you're really dating Nile?"
"Yes. The other day, I was advised by the head of the medical department to try having a romantic partner, and I saw it as a good opportunity."
"…"
Reitalyu responded with her usual impassive expression.
She is a strict, iron-faced woman, both with herself and others.
The fact that Reitalyu has a partner was surprising in itself.
"Didn't you refuse all romantic advances until now?"
"I wasn't interested in having a partner. However, I was advised by Director Dollman that 'the purpose of life for a living being is reproduction,' and I accepted that."
"…"
Reitalyu probably didn't seem to understand what romantic relationships are about.
Nile is also pitiful for being involved with someone for whom the purpose of dating is purely biological.
Just as Gale was thinking about persuading Nile to reconsider…
"Also, Nile has quite a cute face. To be honest, he's right in my strike zone."
"Eh?"
"So, I accepted the relationship."
Out of nowhere, Reitalyu's preferences came out.
Gale was left speechless, but Nile looked delighted and was blushing.
"That's why, sister."
"That's how it is."
"I'm getting a headache…"
With that, there was no way to persuade them.
Gale decided to allow their relationship.
"Reitalyu, you'd be cuter if you smiled more."
"Is that so? I'll make an effort to do that then."
"Could you not flirt right in front of me."
If her brother and junior were in love with each other, there was no choice but to support them.
Thus, Gale's troubles grew.
***
In truth, Gale didn't really approve of the relationship between the two.
The reasoning is that Nile is an officer cadet.
He will eventually be transferred to the rear and will be in a position to play an active role as a commander.
On the other hand, Reitalyu was an excellent medic. She is someone who needed to stay on the frontline for the time being.
If Nile gets promoted and is moved to a rear position, there is a possibility that Reitalyu might follow him.
Losing such a capable medic would be difficult for the hospital.
On top of that, Gale doted on her younger brother quite a bit.
Due to their significant age difference, they rarely fought.
Gale also loved him very much.
Feeling like her brother was being taken away by Reitalyu left Gale with some unresolved feelings.
"What do you think, Director Dollman?"
"Hmph."
"The battlefield is not a place for love and romance…"
Gale vented her frustrations to her superior, Dollman, for a while.
Dollman, however, seemed to listen to Gale's complaints with a lukewarm, indifferent expression.
***
"Gale, would you consider becoming the head of the medical department?"
"Eh?"
It was around a month after the two of them had started dating.
The head of the medical department, Dollman, had begun to lose his ability to use healing magic.
"Yesterday, despite my best efforts, I couldn't cast [Heal] even once."
"I see…"
His magical power had depleted.
Dollman was over 60 years old. It seemed that his body was beginning to break down.
"I'm thinking of retiring to a rear position. …It's come later than I expected, though."
Originally, he had decided to retire once he lost his magical power.
He says that from now on he plans to work from the rear, focusing on training new recruits.
He then decided to hand over the position of head medic to Gale.
"Take good care of the department in my place and save many lives."
Dollman's choice was reasonable.
In terms of ability and popularity, no one in the medical department could match Gale.
"If it's within my capability."
"I'll leave it to you."
Gale shook Dollman's hand.
She had already resolved to take on the role of head of the medic department.
"There will be many hardships ahead. If you have doubts, write me a letter. I'll be able to consult with you."
"Thank you."
Thus, Gale was appointed to the position of head medic at a young age.
Little did she know that this would mark the beginning of her nightmare.
***
Just a few days after Dollman's retirement…
A large-scale offensive known as the "Tar River Occupation Operation" was launched by the Sabbatian Army.
The objective was to bring the Tar River, which had long been the border between Austin and the Sabbath, under Sabbatian control.
The Sabbath forces mobilized nearly 200,000 troops for this operation.
They prepared thousands of ironclad ships and tens of thousands of magic artillery, gathering their elite forces along the Tar River.
It was a large-scale operation that used all of Sabbath's resources at the time.
If the Tar River were to be taken, Austin would be in a difficult position.
Securing the Tar River would mean Austin losing its water resources and facing significant disadvantages in defense.
The Sabbath could also launch an invasion into Austin's mainland at any time, Austin could not strike the Sabbath's homeland without crossing the Tar River.
Austin had to stop this operation at all costs.
"The enemy keeps pouring across the river endlessly…"
The Austin soldiers must have been terrified.
No matter how many they killed or how much they stained the Tar River with blood, the Sabbatian soldiers kept coming.
Even after they sank ships, they use the bodies of their comrades as floats and swim desperately towards them.
Austin was pushed back by the relentless onslaught and the overwhelming numbers prepared by the Sabbath.
"Hurry up and get me back to the battlefield! My comrades, my squad leader, are being killed!"
That day, the field hospital was more chaotic than ever.
It seemed that the frontline soldiers were sensing the unfavorable situation of the battle.
Normally, there wouldn't be many soldiers cutting in line for treatment, but…
"Sorry, but I have minor injuries. If they heal my arm, I can return to the frontline. Please let me be treated first."
"Damn it… It's difficult for me to return to the front, so I'll yield."
There were even cases where soldiers were giving up their place in line for treatment to those who could return to the battlefield quickly.
"In exchange, make sure you stop those Sabbatian bastards!"
"Yeah, leave it to me. I'll be back soon."
If the Tar River is occupied, Austin would lose.
All the fighting until now would be in vain.
There were many veteran soldiers who knew this firsthand.
"Wait, if we delay treatment, you might die—"
"I don't care! Prioritize treating the lightly wounded! Get them back to the front lines!」
…The longer one's military experience, the more sensitive they were to the idea of a losing battle.
Normally, soldiers would be furious if someone cut in line for treatment. The idea of giving up their turn would be unthinkable.
Gale sensed that something unusual was happening on the front lines.
***
"Thank you, medic. I'm off to the front lines now."
"Don't be reckless. You're not fully healed yet!"
Gale worked tireless to continue treating them.
She understood from their desperate appearances that the situation on the frontline is truly dire.
Gale prioritized the treatment of those who were lightly injured and could return to the battlefield, as requested by the frontline soldiers.
"Next, the soldier from earlier! He'll die if his treatment is delayed!"
"That soldier passed away a moment ago…"
"Ugh! No!"
As a result, it was too late for many soldiers.
The soldiers she went to such lengths to help them returned to the front lines were shot and killed by Sabbatian soldiers, never to return.
Gale was faced with choices that drove her to the brink of madness.
A mountain of corpses piled up higher than ever before.
Young lives that could have been saved if only they had been treated properly.
"This is so crazy! It's all wrong!"
It was hell on earth.
At least for Gale, it was a hell she had never experienced before.
Yet, even after all this effort…
"────The Austin forces have failed to defend the Tar River."
"They have withdrawn from the Tar River area. The number of casualties is too numerous to count."
"We are now forced to make a significant retreat."
The battle report received that night revealed the cruel ending.
***
"I'm fine. I've lost my leg and can't be healed. So, prioritize those who can still fight."
"It seems the fighting is over."
"That's a lie. No, we haven't lost. We can still fight, dammit…"
The field hospital at night had the atmosphere of a wake.
Although the Sabbatian forces suffered heavy casualties, they managed to secure the Tar River.
"Those Sabbatian bastards, how dare they! How dare they…!"
"It hurts, it hurts. I put off treatment, and now my leg is turning black…"
The Sabbatian troops had already begun fortifying strong defensive positions along the Tar River.
The heavily damaged Austin forces had no capacity to obstruct the construction of these defenses.
"Ah, It's rotting. My precious leg, given to me by my parents, is rotting."
"I'm sorry, Platoon Leader. I'm sorry, new recruits…"
The soldiers receiving treatment were crying.
Their faces were smeared with mud and tears as they cried, their lips pressed tightly and their teeth clattering.
"I'm going to get some elixir… Could you take over the treatment for a bit?"
"Yes, Director Gale."
Gale herself continued to treat the soldiers, pushing through her exhaustion.
She was filled with frustration and, even more, growing anxiety.
The Austin forces had lost a battle they couldn't afford to lose.
How would Austin fight from now on?
If they continued to lose, what kind of suffering would the people of Austin face?
In the field hospital, where a sorrowful atmosphere hung in the air, Gale's face turned pale as she listened to the soldiers' lamentations.
***
"Oh…"
On her way from picking up elixir…
Gale passed by Reitalyu.
"What's wrong, Reitalyu?"
Unusually, Reitaly was bitterly crying.
Even as she cried, She gritted his teeth and continued the treatment with trembling hands.
It was the first time Gale had seen the usually stoic Reitalyu display such raw emotion.
"Is something wrong?"
"I'm sorry, Director Gale."
"Huh?"
Reitalyu gasped upon being questioned by Gale.
Then, quietly, she pointed with her trembling fingers towards a body.
Amidst the piled corpses that were almost too horrifying to look at, there was the body of a young boy.
"I'm sorry…"
Where Reitalyu was pointing was Nile, who was staring at Gale with vacant eyes.
"Nile said, 'Put me last.'"
Gale crumpled to her knees, listening to Reitalyu's confession.
"'The front lines are in danger, so it would be no use for me to go there'. With that, he continued handing over the treatment to those in the back."
"No…"
"And then, just about an hour ago, Nile stopped speaking and grew cold right next to me."
"Oh, oh no… Nile…"
Gale staggered towards her brother's corpse.
Nile's eyes were clouded, staring blankly in a distant direction.
"Nile's injuries could have been healed if he had received treatment immediately."
"…"
"I delayed his treatment and let him die."
Reitalyu tearfully continued her confession.
Hearing her words, Gale let out a primal scream.
***
After that, Gale seemed possessed by a demon.
She continued working with her hair disheveled, neglecting her appearance.
Few people dared to approach her, fearful of her intense demeanor.
"Director Gale, there will be a memorial service for the fallen today."
The only one who spoke to Gale during this time was Reitalyu.
"Perhaps you should take a break from work and attend Nile's memorial."
"Whose fault is it? Who is responsible for this…"
"It's my fault. Nile's death is my responsibility."
Just looking at Reitalyu's face made Gale feel so angry that she wanted to vomit.
If she could, she might have wanted to kill Reitalyu, who had let her younger brother die.
"I will go… At least for his final farewell."
"It's at 2 PM today."
However, Reitalyu, too, looked utterly exhausted.
Gale was not the only one hurting.
Despite her own turmoil, Gale had the composure not to lash out at her subordinates.
Gale swallowed his mixed emotions and decided to attend the funeral.
Although it was just a ceremony, it was a necessary process for sorting out her feelings.
***
Memorial services on the battlefield are simple.
The bodies are piled high like a mountain, and a soldier, acting as a makeshift priest, offers a few brief words before setting the pyre alight.
That was the entirety of the ceremony.
Gale stood beside Reitalyu, facing Nile's body, and prayed for his soul's peace.
"Are you Medical Director Gale?"
The ceremony proceeded without incident.
Many soldiers gathered around the pyre, watching as the flames slowly enveloped the bodies, their faces marked by deep sorrow.
"And you are?"
"I'm Sergeant Garback. Pleased to meet you."
During such a funeral ceremony…
A man with a rough appearance spoke to Gale.
"What can I do for you?"
"I came to tell you about your younger brother's valor. It was a promise I made to Private Nile."
The man who called himself Garback was a young soldier.
With sharp eyes and scars all over his body, he was the very image of an "assault soldier."
"Your younger brother, Nile, was an exceptional soldier. Without fear, he shot and killed two enemies and continued fighting until the end. Truly impressive."
"…You're Nile's platoon leader, aren't you? Why didn't you protect him?"
"Protecting lives isn't my job."
Garback dismissed Gale's grievance with a casual tone.
Her irritation flared at his attitude.
"So, what exactly is your job?!"
"I will respond to the inquiry from my superior. It is my job to put the lives of my soldiers to good use."
"Put it to good use?"
"Yeah."
Gale, unable to contain her frustration, confronted Garback.
The man answered with an annoyed look on his face.
"Nile performed admirably. According to my orders, he held a trench alone, buying us about a minute."
"According to your orders…?"
"If he hadn't risked his life, our allies wouldn't have had the chance to regroup. As a result, the front line would have retreated by at least 15 meters."
Garback looked at Gale with piercing eyes.
"Nile's life gained us those 15 meters."
"…"
"If you are a soldier, shouldn't you be pleased with your brother's achievements?"
Garback coldly stated.
***
Garback Platoon had continued to hold off the Sabbatian soldiers at the front line until the very last moment.
They had believed that their allies would regroup and return to the front line.
However, the front line ultimately could not withstand the Sabbath's relentless assault and had to retreat.
During the attack, Nile was injured and suffered fatal injuries.
"If Garback had decided to retreat sooner, my brother might have survived…"
Now, Austin's defeat seemed almost certain.
In the midst of this, Garback had isolated himself at the front line, exposing his subordinates to unnecessary danger while continuing to fight.
"Be pleased, you say?"
Gale's rage was unrelenting after she heard the truth about her brother's death.
In short, Nile lost his life as a result of Garback misjudging the battle situation.
Garback's visit to Gale to "share stories of valor" was likely an attempt to gloss over this fact.
"You want me to be pleased that my brother was killed so that we could gain a few meters of distance?!"
From that day on, Gale no longer trusted Garback at all.
She openly berated him without concern for others.
Those who knew her background could only watch in pity.
Despite everything, Gale continued to fulfill her duties as head medic.
She repeatedly petitioned the higher-ups to discipline Garback, though this was met with bitter faces…
Aside from her strong hatred for Garback, she remained an excellent head of the medical unit.
Gale and Reitalyu managed to reconcile to some extent.
Although the feeling that she was her brother's enemy remained, she could see that she was also deeply hurt.
Reitalyu, adhering strictly to Nile's last wishes, reportedly forced herself to smile crazily in front of a mirror every morning.
Nile had been a significant presence in Reitalyu's life.
Understanding this, Gale maintained a mature attitude and continued to interact with Reitalyu as before.
But…
"I miss human warmth. Nile, Nile…"
"Hey, you reek of alcohol, Reitalyu."
On a day off.
Gale was confronted by Reitalyu, who was drowning in alcohol.
"Uuu, uu… I want to forget everything…"
"So you're the type who gets emotional when drunk?"
The drunk Reitalyu clung to Gale and wouldn't let go.
Annoyed, Gale decided it was too much trouble to deal with her and suggested:
"In that case, why don't you visit a male brothel?"
"A male brothel…?"
"Apparently, lonely girls go there."
Gale took Reitalyu to a nearby red-light district known for its sex industry, where it was said that women went to find comfort.
There were no ulterior motives on Gale's part.
Gale herself had never used such establishments and had no interest in them.
Gale thought that sending Reitalyu there might help her forget her brother and return to her normal self.
"Aah~. This place is nice…"
"…"
Unfortunately, Reitalyu became deeply addicted to the brothel.
She seemed to be filling the void in her heart with this new dependency.
Occasionally, Gale even had to go to the red-light district to pick Reitalyu up.
"I miss human touch. I need someone, anyone…"
It seems that always had the Reitalyu had potential, but her talent blossomed all at once after she started frequenting the brothel.
Seeing a once-serious woman fall into such depravity was unbearable for Gale.
It wasn't just the frequent visits to the brothel that were problematic.
"How about tonight~"
"Hey, Reitalyu!"
Eventually, Reitalyu lost control.
She began to engage in inappropriate behavior with patients.
"…"
Sexual dependency. A mental condition where one becomes anxious if not engaged in sexual activities.
Reitalyu seemed to have fallen into a state close to this condition.
"We need to change your environment…"
"Huh?"
After some consideration, Gale decided to transfer Reitalyu to the Southern Army Medical Department, where there were no brothels nearby.
It was painful to lose such an excellent subordinate, but she believed that Reitalyu would be broken if things continued as they were.
"Eh, a transfer? But I was just starting to get along with the people in that town."
"Shut up and go already. Also, you're prohibited from visiting brothels."
"What?!"
Gale learned the hard way not to take a broken-hearted woman to such a place so easily.
Watching a once-excellent subordinate deteriorate was unbearable.
The fact that she was partly responsible for this made it even worse.
The consequences of Reitalyu's downfall were not limited to this.
That wasn't the only negative effect of Reitalyu's downfall.
"I sometimes see you in the red-light district, Director Gale."
"Uh…"
"Could it be that you, um, are also involved in prostitution?"
"…"
"If that's the case, then please, even if just for one night—"
"Ha. Get this patient out of here."
Such rumors about Gale were also being widespread.
The soldier who brought up the topic in front of her was banned from the medical department.
Ironically, this only made the rumors seem true.
***
Undeterred by such rumors, Gale continued working as head medic for several years.
The Austin Army was desperately trying to retake the Tar River.
Without reclaiming the Tar River, even a ceasefire would be impossible.
The soldiers fought desperately, but the front lines were gradually pushed back.
On the other hand, the Sabbath had secured the Tar River and wanted to declare victory, but Austin continued to resist.
Skirmishes broke out almost every day, causing the front lines to shift back and forth by a few meters each time, with many lives lost in the process.
For 10 years.
The soldiers continued to sacrifice their lives in this senseless territorial game.
As the endless battle began to wear down the soldiers' morale…
One day, Gale received an order from the military's higher-ups.
"Garback Platoon is requesting a medic. Please select personnel to be dispatched."
Medics are precious resources. They cannot be sent to the front lines casually.
Moreover, Garback's unit was an assault force. Deploying a medic there was unprecedented.
"I firmly refuse. With just one medic, do you know how many wounded soldiers can be saved?"
"Garback's achievements are invaluable. Moreover, given the current situation, we cannot afford to lose him."
"No, absolutely not. It's out of the question."
The higher-ups were persistent in persuading Gale.
Garback was known as a demon-like assault soldier who would readily let his subordinates die.
Gale had no intention of giving up one of her precious subordinates.
"…I don't care who the medic is. You can just send anyone."
"Really, anyone will do?"
However, Gale is also a soldier.
She can't refuse a superior's order.
No matter how much she protested, she had to comply. Reluctantly, she began selecting a medic to be sent to Garback.
"Let's see, among this year's new recruits…"
She did not want to give up her valuable subordinates to Garback.
Yet, she couldn't defy orders.
As a last resort, Gale pulled out the list of incoming recruits.
"Medic Second Class Touri Noel. She grew up in an orphanage and has no relatives. Small and thin. Probably frail. She won't be able to withstand long-term missions."
This was Gale's way of resisting.
She listed a recruit with a low pre-enlistment evaluation and no family ties.
"I feel bad for this girl, but…"
Judging from the photo, Touri Noel looked like a young child.
She must have been a poor girl who was deceived by sweet words and ended up joining the military.
Such a girl would surely be difficult for Garback to manage.
An ignorant recruit who could barely be used as bait.
"I recommend her as the medic to be assigned to Garback Platoon."
"Come on… This is a bit much."
"I have the authority to assign medical personnel. I have no intention of offering anyone other than her."
Gale pushed the personnel decision through forcefully, convincing the higher-ups.
Since Gale's hatred for Garback was well-known, further persuasion would be difficult.
Thus, Touri Noel was assigned to Garback Platoon.
"I'm sorry, Touri. I'm sure you have no idea what you're getting into…"
As for Gale's small act of resistance…
This decision would later turn out to be a major factor in determining the fate of Austin.