It has been about half a month since we arrived in Josegrad.
We were able to advance at a good pace up to the city, but since then, days have passed without any significant progress.
There were no tactics or strategies. We simply exchanged lives for distance, and we just kept moving forward bit by bit on the battlefield, where gunfire and artillery fire rang out.
Over the past half month, we have managed to push the front line forward very slowly, occupying just over 60% of Josegrad.
"We're heading out today. We will rotate positions with the Rubeck Platoon on East 3rd Street and take over their duties."
"Understood."
"The passageway along the way was blown up yesterday and is now inaccessible."
"We'll have to take a detour."
Since entering the city, the enemy has become increasingly reckless.
They have started planting explosives everywhere without any regard for damage to buildings.
This way, they can obstruct our advance and potentially cause damage to our troops if buildings collapse.
It's a very effective strategy if you don't think about the consequences.
"Oh, it's so scary! I don't know when the building in front of me will explode and collapse."
"It's okay. This building will surely not explode."
"How can you know that?"
However, we could predict to some extent which buildings might be blown up.
The enemy doesn't have an infinite supply of explosives.
Considering the damage they would incur after the battle, they won't just set off explosions haphazardly.
The places where they set bombs are those that are likely to be highly effective against our attacks.
"Mr. Gorski, I think they would target that post office for demolition."
"I think so too. Let's avoid that area."
So we began to anticipate where the explosions might occur and maneuver accordingly.
We avoided areas that were likely to be blown up, such as narrow paths that could quickly cut us off or places where retreat might be obstructed.
***
…This was probably what the enemy had anticipated.
Due to this, the movements of the Sabbatian government forces were greatly restricted.
The more "effective" routes of advance, those that could outflank the enemy, were more likely to be rigged with explosives.
This significantly contributed to the stagnation of the front line.
Of course, we weren't just taking it lying down.
We had one significant advantage over the enemy.
That was the presence of artillery.
"Fire to the southwest! Flush out the guerrilla units!"
The enemy's artillery units suffered substantial losses in the recent battle. With their artillery positions occupied, it's likely that almost none of their magic artillerymen remained.
On the other hand, our artillery was almost entirely intact. The shortage of magic stones was resolved by looting the enemy's artillery positions.
This was the biggest difference in strength between us and the enemy.
The government forces could use artillery to forcibly push the front lines forward.
"Ah, another part of my hometown is burning…"
"How many people do you think died in that barrage?"
…Initially, there was strong resistance to shelling their own hometown, and the policy was not to use artillery fire within the city.
Even the high-ranking government officials prohibited its use because of the risk of their own properties being destroyed.
But as the enemy began to blow up more and more buildings, we couldn't afford to be concerned about such things anymore.
"Destroy it! Destroy it! Make it easier for the infantry to advance!"
If the enemy is going to destroy it anyway, there's nothing we can do about it.
We have to drive out the Workers' Council before they destroy any more of the capital.
Using this justification, the ban on the usage of artillery was lifted.
Then last week, a day-long bombardment of the city followed, leaving most of the houses on the main street, Yoz Street, in ruins.
Yoz Street was home to not only private residences but also to shops, hospitals, government offices, and other key facilities for the city.
Now, this crucial avenue lay in complete devastation.
"Hail to our artillery, our mighty firepower!"
Through the rubble and ruins destroyed by artillery, the infantry advanced slowly, roaring with determination.
Under their shoes they trampled the corpses of the former Sabbatian citizens.
"Scatter the rebels! The time to fight is now—"
Little by little we advanced through Josegrad, which had been razed to the ground by artillery.
***
"We didn't make much progress today either."
"I wish they'd give up resisting soon."
There was no brilliant strategy or tactics involved.
It was just a mechanical process of consuming a large number of magic stones and human lives to push the front lines forward.
"What happens when we run out of magic stones?"
"We'll probably have to resort to good old-fashioned gunfights."
The soldiers took turns guarding their positions, watching the city crumble around them.
Although we were losing many lives and were glared at by the resentful eyes of the citizens, we continued to achieve small victories.
***
"Touri, Sylph is calling for you again."
"For me?"
Days went by in this manner, and by the time I could no longer feel anything upon seeing the corpses of citizens…
I received a summons from Sylph Nova.
"She wants you to come to her room alone."
"Hmm, has Sylph finally come up with her next move?"
This was the same method used previously to convey plans without General Blake finding out.
Under the guise of calling out a female friend, Gorski and I are instructed to do "something."
Sylph will finally take some kind of action on this stagnant battlefield.
"I hope this next move of hers can bring an end to all of this."
"I've had enough of fighting and destroying other people's precious things."
I had been longing for that.
The fighting here in Josegrad was far too grueling.
The situation had become a living hell. My mind had become so worn down that I felt nothing upon seeing the bodies lying around.
***
Citizens were being made an example of to protect the lives of the soldiers.
In the occupied city, there were numerous citizens who attempted to harm the soldiers.
There were reports of people not only resisting but also ambushing and killing soldiers.
If we responded leniently to all of these incidents, the resistance would have escalated further.
"Stop! Please stop!"
"We will now proceed with the execution."
In order to protect their own lives, they rounded up families of civilians who had resisted and executed them in brutal ways.
Burning them with fire, skinning them, tearing their limbs apart—the executions were all gruesome.
It was a harsh and cruel method designed to discourage any attempt of resistance.
The soldiers carrying out the executions appeared to take pleasure in their work.
In the midst of this extreme cold, they found joy in being able to execute the citizens who continually harassed them under the guise of righteousness.
After their bestial death cries echoed resounded in the air, the citizens were stripped naked, their limbs torn apart, and hung from trees until they died.
The enemy did not simply stand by and take this. Soon, they retaliated against the execution of their citizens.
Captured government soldiers were beaten with rods until their bones were pulverized. Their eyes were gouged out before they were returned to their camps.
That night, all of them died, their skin turning a sickly color as they vomited uncontrollably.
It was likely they had been poisoned or infected with a virus.
I'll do back what you do to me.
Like a child's playground fight, the abuse rapidly escalated.
If you are caught by the enemy, it will be hell. If you are not careful, you will be killed by the civilians.
Already strained by the brutal combat in the extreme cold, the soldiers were pushed to their limits.
Even though they are all Sabbatians, born in the same country.
I myself had been hit by stones from local citizens on several occasions.
I even got caught in a hidden trap designed for wild dogs buried in the snow and almost lost my leg below the ankle.
Facing such relentless malice, my spirit continued to wear thin.
***
"Finally, Sylph will put an end to this."
So when I received a call from Sylph, I felt joy.
To me, Sylph Nova is my most hated enemy.
I deeply resent her for killing Rodri and for the fact that her proposed major offensive led to Noel being burned. She can truly be called my sworn enemy.
But just this once, I had high expectations of her, so much so that I would do anything to have her use her intelligence to put an end to everything.
I was exhausted by the hell that was unfolding every day.
"Hey, Touri Lowe."
With that feeling in mind, what I saw when I entered Sylph's room was…
"Sylph?"
"Do you have any clever ideas that could break through the current situation?"
A girl with a ghastly pallor and tired eyes, looking as if she was on the brink of collapse.
She stood there, eyes wide and hair disheveled, in a half-delirious state, resembling a ghost. This was the appearance of the greatest genius in the Sabbath.
"It's no good, I can't do it."
In her voice, there was none of her usual vigor.
The weak, sunken-cheeked Sylph shook her own shoulders.
"Touri. Do you have any secret plan that will allow us to eliminate all of our enemies in one blow?"
"P-Please calm down. I'm not in a position to propose strategies."
"I don't mind, I give you my permission. Please, just try."
Sylph hadn't come up with any new, brilliant plan.
It appeared she had called me to consult on strategies.
"Even if you say that…"
Naturally, proposing a large-scale military strategy is beyond my capabilities.
After all, I had no information about the enemy, and I hadn't even been given details about our own forces.
How could I possibly devise a strategy with such limited information?
"Anything is fine. Just give me an idea."
"Um, well, how about splitting the troops and launching a surprise attack from outside Josegrad?"
"I already considered that. The enemy has set up scouts outside and is on high alert."
Since I was told anything was fine, I just listed the first things that came to mind.
However, I'm not particularly good at proposing strategies.
You don't command an army in FPS games. That's more of a task for those adept at historical simulations or similar games.
"Maybe we could launch a surprise attack using sleds across a frozen river?"
"Sleds need a certain height to gain speed. Besides, the waterways are also being monitored."
"How about using the collapsed areas from artillery fire as a decoy to lure the enemy into a trap?"
"I tried that two days ago. The enemy didn't pursue us when we retreated. They just remain in place.
As expected, Sylph had already thought of almost any strategy that I could think of.
And most of them had already been countered by the enemy.
"Isn't there something else? Where are those aggressive and effective tactics you sometimes show, like that of a raging dog?!"
"Even so, I'm just a young medic, not a commander…"
"I didn't scout a mere young medic to be my subordinate!"
Sylph was frantic and crying as she shook me by the shoulders.
…It was the first time I'd ever seen Sylph looking so haggard.
"Hey… Why are we going around killing civilians?"
"The lives of the soldiers will be at risk if we don't do that."
"Why are we fighting so desperately?"
"It's to prevent the Workers' Council from taking over the country."
"The current situation is far worse!!"
Sylph screamed, blood running down her lips.
Tears streamed from her expressionless eyes as she continued to cry out.
"General Blake gives orders without any regard for the lives of the citizens! He orders us to kill the citizens to make an example of them with a blank look on his face!!"
"P-Please calm down, Sylph."
"I'm supposed to do something about it! But there's nothing I can do! The enemy's commander is too skilled! The difference in experience is too great. All my tactics are being crushed!"
To put it simply…
In warfare during this time, the key was reading and exploiting the enemy's weaknesses.
Tactics using firearms had not yet been perfected, so there were almost always gaps in formations that could be exploited.
Sylph was a commander who excelled at identifying and exploiting enemy weaknesses, and no one could surpass her in this regard.
She was also adept at spotting our own weaknesses and was not at all weak in defense.
Without a doubt, she was one of the finest staff officers of the time.
However, no matter how skilled a commander is in offensive tactics, there is nothing one can do against an enemy without any weaknesses.
Commanders like Sylph, who excel in exploiting vulnerabilities, become powerless against an enemy that has no discernible weaknesses.
"A foe that's impervious to ambushes, won't respond to bait, and only steadfastly defends predetermined positions—a defensive strategy that has no intention of seeking victory and resembles a statue."
"Y-Yes."
"To suppress such a foe in one fell swoop requires an unconventional strategy! Please, think of something…!"
Guerrilla warfare with armed units equipped with firearms was one of the most effective defensive tactics of the time.
Not only could they demonstrate considerable defensive capabilities with a small number of people, there were no means to strike them all at once.
While it had the drawback of being difficult to supply and prone to gradual attrition in protracted battles, it also meant that there were few strategies capable of overcoming it.
Guerrilla tactics are a powerful tactic that has been used in previous generations by small countries to fend off invasions by larger ones.
The enemy commander, Truk, who was able to quickly adopt the "correct defensive answer" during an invasion, was likely very capable.
"I can't think of anything…"
The enemy's tactics were incredibly effective, and they were also stubborn.
The greatest flaw of these guerrilla tactics is that coordination is difficult.
While guerrilla tactics excel at defense, they have the major drawback of being almost impossible to launch organized offensives.
"So the enemy is just focused on buying time?"
"Yes, foolishly so."
Indeed, Truk acted like a turtle, never taking the initiative to attack.
The enemy discarded offense and focused entirely on defense with guerrilla tactics.
In this era, there was likely no effective countermeasure to this other than a straightforward approach.
The defensive strategy of General Truk was so perfect and yet so foolish that it drove Sylph to madness.
"In that case, how about we wait as well?"
"Are you suggesting we prolong the battle further?"
"Yes."
Having actually been involved in combat, I know that it is nearly impossible to wipe out a guerrilla force with some clever tactic.
You don't know where the enemy is hiding, and even if you do find out where they are, it will just turn into a firefight.
There is no other safety measure than to gradually advance the front line alongside the artillery.
Therefore…
"Rather than focusing on attacking, shouldn't we prioritize soothing the citizens in the occupied city and regaining their trust?"
"Ah…"
"The stress and despair of the soldiers are greatly influenced by the hostility from the residents of the occupied area. Attacks from the people they are supposed to be protecting are mentally exhausting. To boost the soldiers' morale and to prepare for the post-war period, I propose that we start comforting the citizens now."
Magic stones are being transported slowly. Thus, the distance covered by the artillery is also gradual.
I thought that if we couldn't attack in one go anyway, we should prioritize protecting the civilians rather than launching an aggressive offensive.
Whether that falls within the scope of Sylph's job is aside the point.
"Yes, that's true. Very much so."
"…"
"My perspective had become too narrow. Even though citizens are being harmed right in front of me, why was I so obsessed with military operations? My father would either be astonished or angry if he heard this."
Upon hearing this suggestion, Sylph looked as if she had been liberated from a demon.
It seemed she had never thought of such a simple solution.
I felt my insides growing heavier as I witnessed the citizens being killed nearly every day.
But Sylph, having been holed up in this small room, had likely become rigid in her thinking due to continuously planning military strategies.
"I'm glad I called you. Sorry, I owe you a favor."
"If my level of advice is sufficient, feel free to consult with me anytime."
I hoped that this would improve the situation even a little.
With that thought, I bowed to Sylph, who had begun working on the documents, and was about to leave her room when…
"Captain Sylph, something terrible has happened!"
"What happened? So noisy!"
A tremendous shout echoed from outside the room just as I was about to open the door.
And on this day, we would come to understand why General Turk had employed such a foolish and time-consuming strategy.
"The Workers' Council has issued a statement!"
"A statement?"
The messenger exclaimed as he handed Sylph a single flyer.
It was an extra edition of a newspaper created by the Workers' Council.
"The same content has been declared by the Austin government—"
"Austin…?"
That one flyer turned both our fates upside down.
"The alliance has been formed."
On this day…
History began to hum with a heavy mechanical sound, baring its fangs towards the young Sylph.
"The Austin Empire officially recognizes the provisional government established by the Workers' Council as a state and will provide military and material support."
…And this also became the turning point where Sylph and I parted ways.