As the snow gradually melted and the temperature rose enough for puddles to form on the roads,
The young soldiers of the militia organized by the Workers' Council, known as the "Revolutionary Army," set out for Eastern Command.
I joined the ranks of those heading towards the decisive battle as a volunteer medic at the rear of many young soldiers.
The Revolutionary Army needed to pass through two strongholds to reach Eastern Command.
These were Fort Rusovets and Fort Putsu, both of which I had passed through to get to Josegrad.
It was expected that capturing Fort Rusovets would not be difficult.
This is because the fortress had already been extensively destroyed.
Therefore, the site of the decisive battle was expected to be Fort Putsu.
Although this fortress has a long history, it had been renovated to face Austin and could handle modern warfare.
Moreover, it was in pristine condition as it had not yet been a battlefield.
If the government forces were to confront us, there would be no better place than here.
"Hey, there's another dead soldier."
"I'm moved to tears by the government forces' kindness in leaving us signposts."
Along the way were many soldiers' bodies lying on the side of the thawing road.
They were the remains of soldiers who had perished in the extreme cold and been abandoned.
…Among them, I found the body of Zaramazov, who had been with me in Gorski Platoon.
I secretly made the sign of the cross and offered a silent prayer.
"…"
Considering the difference in military strength at the time, it was clear that the Revolutionary Army held the advantage.
The atrocities the government forces committed in Josegrad resulted in a flood of volunteers joining the Revolutionary Army during the winter.
People of all ages and genders rallied under the banner of "Down with the government forces," and their total mobilization reached 100,000.
100,000 is roughly the same number as Austin's entire army during the Western Front.
The reason they could mobilize such a large force was not only hatred towards the government forces but also the impactful speeches of the exceptional revolutionary, Remi Ulyakov.
There was something about her speech that moved people's hearts.
***
This mobilization was a double-edged sword for the Revolutionary Army.
The reason was that with such a large mobilization, there were no more workers left in the capital.
If the Revolutionary Army were to be defeated, the Sabbath people would be unable to maintain their daily lives.
That would result in the destruction of the Sabbath.
It was with this resolve that Remi set out to defeat the Eastern Command.
"Sure enough, there are no soldiers left at the Fort Rusovets."
"Of course not."
We arrived safely in Fort Rusovets after about a week of walking.
As expected, no government troops remained in the fortress.
Fort Rusovets has three layers of fortifications, requiring a large number of personnel to defend.
The current government forces do not have enough troops to maintain Rusovets.
"Let's move forward, brave comrades!"
"The enemy is right in front of us"
The revolutionaries were thrilled by the abandonment of the Fort Rusovets, which they saw as proof of the weakening of the government forces.
With high spirits, we headed towards the final fortress, Fort Putsu.
"We shall forge a new dawn for the Sabbath by our own hands—"
While watching the younger soldiers sing military songs cheerfully with their comrades' arms around their shoulders…
I ignored the illusionary voices of resentment that seemed to come from somewhere and continued to walk unsteadily.
I was lost in delusions during this march.
Not long ago, I shot a young soldier of the Revolutionary Army believing that peace lay ahead.
However, it was the Revolutionary Army that achieved victory. The young soldier I shot had lost his life in vain.
I began to fantasize to escape from such a reality.
In my fantasy, the Revolutionary Army suffers a great defeat to Sylph at Fort Putsu.
Everything until now had gone according to Sylph's plan, and in order to minimize damage, they deliberately abandoned urban warfare and lured the Revolutionary Army to Fort Putsu.
An incredible trap was set up at Fort Putsu, and the Revolutionary Army was caught in one fell swoop.
It's a great victory for the government forces.
The young soldier I killed would be at peace.
I could justify that it was not a meaningless death.
And then Sylph would protect me, scolding me by saying, "Why didn't you wait in the capital?"
Finally, I would go to pick up Sedol, Sylph would keep her promise, and I would spend peaceful days with him on the land of the Sabbath.
…Thinking that far, I felt extremely uncomfortable.
I wished to sacrifice the young soldiers currently walking around me.
I fantasized of more deaths just to justify the murder I had committed.
How terrible a thought is that?
It was thinking of a beast, even worse than that of Bern Valou.
Wishing for the death of many people just so that my sins can be forgiven.
"…Haha, ha."
I was disgusted with and despised myself.
And in my anger, I slapped myself across the cheek.
However, the resentful voices of the young soldiers did not disappear no matter how hard I hit myself.
***
"No one is at Fort Putsu either."
"That can't be."
We soon arrived at Fort Putsu, the site of the supposed final battle.
It is an ancient, majestic stone fortress overgrown with reeds.
Though we had expected that the final battle with the government forces would take place there…
"It's completely deserted."
Fort Putsu was also completely empty contrary to our expectations.
Wild birds were flying around busily on the outer walls of the fort, where there was no sign of anyone.
That the government forces had abandoned Fort Putsu as well.
"Could it be that they plan to use the refugees as shields?"
"That's something they might actually do."
So does this mean that the government forces are planning to meet us at Eastern Command?
The government forces were considering the benefits of fighting a decisive battle at their headquarters.
There was a refugee camp near the headquarters.
If an artillery battle were to occur near the command, the camp would suffer significant damage.
If Remi were to give the order to attack the refugee camp, her position would be greatly undermined.
As long as the Revolutionary Army is seen as allies of the citizens, they cannot bombard the Eastern Command.
────That is why the government forces chose the area near their headquarters as the site of the decisive battle.
"That's impossible. There's no way Sylph would allow such a plan…"
Certainly, it might be effective. If Remi Ulyakov, who claims to be an ally of the citizens, were to ignore the refugee camp and bombard it, her reputation would be ruined.
However, many civilians would become victims and the situation would become irreversible.
Would Sylph, who cares so much about the citizens, really adopt such a strategy?
No, it's absolutely impossible. She would fiercely oppose General Blake and refuse to comply.
Even so, if the government forces had adopted such a plan…
It would mean that Sylph no longer has any significant influence.
Or perhaps she died in the line of duty somewhere.
I felt my heartbeat quicken.
If we continued marching at this pace, we would arrive at the Eastern Command Headquarters in a few days.
And the camp where Sedol and Anita live could become a target for the Revolutionary Army.
"…"
They might die.
Sedol, the sweet little boy who adores me, might be killed by the Revolutionary Army.
Such a thing cannot be allowed.
That child is the last reason I have left to live.
Even if it were to cost me my life to protect him, I would not hesitate to do so.
Suppressing my rising nausea, I continued to march desperately.
I was planning to desert the army at the first opportunity and run to the refugee camp.
If I could protect Sedol and escape with him, we could find a safe place to live together.
Far away, where the two of us could live in peace.
***
I continued walking unsteadily for two weeks.
After leaving the capital, the Revolution Army arrived at the Eastern Command Headquarters without encountering a single battle.
The Revolutionary Army's battle will be over if we can take control of this place.
With both the Eastern and Southern Commands under her control, Remi would become the ruler of the Sabbath.
But what awaited us at the final battleground, Eastern Command, was…
"A…ah…"
────A leather coat stained with dark, crusted blood.
────Chunks of flesh torn apart by countless growling beasts.
────An overwhelming number of rotting corpses emitting a foul stench.
The Eastern Command Headquarters and the refugee camp were in ruins, beyond recognition.
Could it have been a case of infighting?
What lay before us was nothing but excrement, rubble, and the remains of bodies swarmed by wild birds.
There was not a single living soul inside the base of Eastern Command and within the refugee camp.
"What is this?" "Hey, where are you going?"
Corpses.
In front of my eyes, there were countless corpses scattered around.
There were no such corpses when we set off.
So, these must have appeared after we departed from Josegrad.
"Camp… camp."
"Hey, stop that girl! We haven't even secured the area yet."
"Calm down. Look, the scouts will—"
"Over there! My family is in that camp, Sedol is!!"
With unsteady steps, I started walking towards where the refugee camp used to be.
In the camp, there was always a fire burning, and smoke rising.
The presence of fire signified that people were living there.
But now…,
"There's no smoke. There's no fire…"
"Huh, this girl is quite strong!"
"This can't be. This can't be happening…"
Help me hold her down, everyone!"
There was almost no sign of life in the direction of the refugee camp.
…
"They've been looted, haven't they?"
"Could it be, they looted their own protected refugees?"
"They're not sane."
The refugee camp was filled with bodies that seemed to be citizens.
These bodies appeared to have been dead for more than a month.
They were probably massacred and abandoned during the winter.
"…"
I walked towards the trench area allocated to the refugee camp in Othello Village in a daze.
This was the area with trenches suggested by Irigol.
"Sedol… Sedol…"
I felt faint with every step I took.
I was about to crouch down to get under the dug trench.
────What if Sedol's body is down there?
I haven't confirmed his death yet.
So, I can still hope that he's alive somewhere as long as I don't go down into the trench.
"…"
I don't want to move forward.
I don't want to go down into the trench.
Because if I find him there…
I have absolutely no confidence that I can remain sane.
"…Is your family down here?"
"He's not there. He's not there. There's no way he could be there."
"Don't force yourself to look now… It's better to wait until you've calmed down and sorted out your thoughts."
As I stood at the entrance of the trench, a medic from the Revolutionary Army held me.
And then, half forcibly…
"Please let me go. I have to confirm that he's not there."
"Let's leave it to tomorrow. We won't be allowed to move freely until the scouts have confirmed it's safe."
They dragged me, my voice trembling, and took me away from that "place."
***
I already had a vague understanding of what had happened.
The government forces probably collapsed and lost control, and the soldiers began looting on their own.
It's probably not just the refugee camp, but entire villages in the area have been looted as well.
The government soldiers fled on their own.
And as they fled, they looted the camp's supplies.
That's probably what happened here.
"Uh, ah…"
Dragged forcibly to the rear, I felt like an empty shell.
How did things turn out like this?
Sylph said so, didn't she? She said there was no need to worry because we had essentially already won.
She told me I could live happily in a safe place with Sedol.
"If he died…"
How likely is it that Sedol is still alive?
Is it possible that Anita took him and escaped to another village?
I have to go and see for myself. I have to check that refugee camp where I lived with Sedol for a few months.
"If Sedol died, I must properly mourn him."
Saying I'm too nauseous or sick to look is just an excuse.
I must search for him myself.
If his body is there, I must mourn for him.
If his body isn't there, I must find him and hold him.
"I am… Sedol's family."
With a sigh, I rose to my feet again.
Dragging my legs, heavy as lead, I set out to that place.
To search for the only family I had left in this world.
***
Around that time…
The Revolutionary Army encampment started to become a bit noisy.
"Oh, hey. Are you planning on going out again?"
"…"
"Let's not do it today. At least wait until the scouts confirm it's safe—"
The medic who had been concerned about me called out to me.
Ignoring the voice, I headed back to the Othello Village Camp Site.
"Huh…?"
I caught sight of a familiar face at the edge of my vision.
***
"So you're asking us for protection?"
"Yeah. The soldiers who were supposed to protect us went on a rampage and disappeared."
The moment I saw that face, I ran off without hesitation.
Completely absorbed, without looking back, straight ahead.
"The Workers' Council is on the side of the people, right?"
"Yes, of course. However, you will have to endure some inconvenience until you can provide identification."
"I don't mind as long as I get some food and water."
He was a burly young man with one eye missing.
I had once fought alongside him.
"I-Irigol!"
"…Oh? Is that you, Aust?"
He was Irigol, a retired soldier from the Sabbath.
"He and I are from the same hometown. We met in Othello Village."
"Oh, so the refugees aren't mistaken after all."
I interjected in the conversation, confirming his identity.
He was indeed from Othello Village and had lived in the refugee camp.
"Um, Irigol. I'm glad that you're safe."
"Hmm, you're still alive."
"Yeah, looks like you're still alive too."
Breathing heavily, I spoke to Irigol.
If he was alive, then maybe Sedol was too.
"About that! So, um…"
"Oh."
I tried to ask Irigol questions in rapid succession.
Is Sedol still alive?
Where is he?
"Look, he's been wanting to see you."
"…"
He understood what I wanted to say and ask before I could even put it into words.
"Tou-chan…?"
"Sedol!!"
And in the direction he pointed…
Sedol, who had grown a little taller and was wrapped up in warm winter clothes, clung to Anita with his mouth agape.
"…The movements of the military were suspicious, so I evacuated immediately."
As expected, the government troops had committed atrocities at the refugee camp.
The surviving government soldiers had frantically seized food and ammunition before scattering in all directions.
Perhaps the threshold for looting had been lowered after the Battle of Josegrad.
However, Irigol quickly noticed that the returning government troops were losing control.
It was probably because he was a former soldier that he was able to sense that the government forces were not in an ordinary state.
So the moment the looting began, he led the Othello villagers out of the refugee camp and sought protection from the Tar River Border Guard.
"They didn't come to loot around the Tar River."
"I see… so the border guards provided protection?"
The border guards did not refuse requests from "citizens seeking protection."
Because protecting their own citizens was the duty of the soldiers. When they were told that Eastern Command was being "attacked by a mysterious enemy," they couldn't turn them away.
They sent out scouts and confirmed that large-scale looting was indeed taking place at Eastern Command.
They also learned that the main perpetrators of the looting were the defeated government forces, and allowed the Othello villagers to stay at the forward operating base until the situation calmed down.
"The soldiers near the border no longer have any intention of resisting. If you would, please accept their surrender."
Later, upon seeing the Revolutionary Army advancing, the border guards quickly decided to surrender.
There were only a few thousand of them in total, and upon hearing that the Workers' Council had mobilized 100,000 troops, they lost their fighting spirit.
To mediate the surrender, the civilian villagers of Othello were sent as intermediaries to the Revolutionary Army.
"Tou-chan, you're late! I waited all winter!"
"I'm sorry, Sedol…"
"I made a really cool snowman. I wanted to show it to Tou-chan."
"I see. You did a great job, Sedol."
My voice is hoarse, the back of my eyes are burning, and tears are welling up and won't stop.
Sedol, the boy I was so worried about, greeted me with such enthusiasm.
He came running to me with a smile as he hugged me.
Is there any greater happiness in this world?
"I'm glad… After hearing what happened with the government forces, I had given up hope of your survival."
"Yes, I think I have good luck after all."
"I'm really glad. I didn't want to see this child sad."
I hugged Sedol tightly and continued to cry.
I felt a faint warmth in the cold of winter.
"Tou-chan, are you crying?"
"Yes."
"Don't cry, okay?"
I wanted to feel this happiness as reality.
"There's a cut on your cheek, Tou-chan. Does it hurt?"
"Yes, yes."
I continued to embrace Sedol, who was smiling and gently stroking my face, for as long as I could.