At that time, we were in a forested area near the southern border of Austin, close to Flamel.
Since this was a fierce battleground against Flamel, there were no civilians left.
The fallen trees and large craters in the forest testified to the intensity of the battles.
"O-Oh, the enemy is running towards us!"
"Yes, they are coming."
"I'd say it'll be about two minutes until contact."
The enemy burst out of the forest, shouting as they charged towards us.
Sergeant Gavel was in a state of panic due to the fierce situation, but his subordinates remained calm.
"…How do you plan to fight, Chief Medic?"
"Just normally. Nothing special is needed."
I observed the enemy once again.
This was within Austin territory. It's strange that enemy soldiers were hiding here in the first place.
So why were those enemy troops lying in ambush within Austin territory?
Did they sneak in to ambush our transport unit from the rear without the Austin Army noticing?
───No. The reason was obvious just by looking at the enemy.
"Don't make decisions on your own; I'm the commander here! Let's get out of here already!"
"…Look, Sergeant Gavel."
"Look at what?!"
The reason why the enemy company could lie in ambush in the heart of Austin's territory.
It was…
"They seem to be stragglers."
"What?"
They were not a unit that had infiltrated Austin's territory from the start with the aim of a surprise attack.
They were a routed unit that had already been defeated and isolated within our territory.
Among the enemies sneaking towards us, there were many wounded soldiers, bloodied and untreated.
Their ranks were disorderly, and some soldiers had even lost their guns.
They were charging at us desperately.
…To survive.
"They probably hid within Austin territory after their defeat. Then, by chance, they found our transport unit and attacked us."
"I see, is that so? Indeed, they are in a sorry state."
"In this state, they probably don't have much ammunition left. We have a good chance of winning."
"…"
"If we flee now, wouldn't we be allowing the enemy to replenish their forces?"
The enemy is also in a desperate situation.
Rather, the enemy was in an even more hopeless situation.
Even if we are defeated, we can ask for protection, but if the enemy loses, they have no choice but to die.
"…Do you really think we can win? What do we do after hiding in the forest?"
"We will engage them with our guns until they enter the forest. We will conduct ambushes if they pursue into the forest."
"And that will work?"
"Yes."
In a forest full of obstacles, I don't know of any defensive tactic more effective than guerrilla tactics.
The fear of not knowing when a lead bullet will come flying from a blind spot, which the soldiers had experienced all too well during the Battle of Josegrad, severely lowers the morale of the attacking side.
"But… my subordinates are part of the transport unit, right? Can they even fire guns?"
"I can shoot if I'm told to, but please don't expect me to perform like an infantryman."
"That should be enough."
Most of the transport soldiers are former infantrymen.
Many had withdrawn from the front lines due to injuries that rendered their arms or legs immobile.
Although they aren't able to fight perfectly, they have plenty of combat experience.
"We don't need to annihilate the enemy. We just need to make them give up on us."
"But… still. There's no guarantee we will win."
"Of course, if the Sergeant still wants to run away, I will follow you."
Those who had lost an arm and couldn't hold a gun could throw grenades.
Those who couldn't run well could hide in the bushes and lie in wait.
We were on the defensive. Even soldiers with physical limitations could perform effectively.
Hiding behind obstacles and waiting for the enemy is a highly advantageous tactic in this era of warfare.
"But the Verdi you admire so much succeeded in transporting supplies and retreating despite being surrounded on all sides, right?"
"Mmm…"
"The situation is far better than it was back then. The transport soldiers under your command are all seasoned veterans. Why not rely on them?"
I used Verdi's story as an example to persuade Sergeant Gavel.
I was prepared to quietly withdraw if my request was still rejected after making such suggestions.
All I could do in my position was make suggestions. The final decision rested with Sergeant Gavel.
"Can you guys do it?"
"We'll do it if ordered, Sergeant. That's what soldiers do."
"It's been a while since we've shot at the enemy. This is great."
The transport soldiers were also quite enthusiastic about the idea.
This may actually be a welcome development for soldiers who loved being in the military and stayed after being injured.
A few who volunteered for the transport unit to avoid the front lines looked pale.
"…Alright. Then let's do it."
"Alright. It's been a while since we've been in combat. Hand me a gun!"
"I've got weapons and ammunition in my load. Here, everyone arm yourselves."
"There are grenades too. Only those who have handled them before should take them."
Thus, shortly after rejoining the Austin Army, I was once again engulfed in the flames of war.
***
"…Strictly speaking, I haven't officially rejoined the military yet. So, let's consider this a loophole."
I borrowed an Austin rifle and a wind gun (a weapon used to shoot down grenades) and joined the battle.
Medics are not supposed to engage in combat according to Austin's military regulations.
However, since my reinstatement hasn't been approved yet, it shouldn't be a problem… right?
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"I'm a medic, so I thought it might be inappropriate for me to shoot a gun."
"Oh, that? It's fine. Medics have been allowed to carry guns since last year."
"Is that so?"
Upon hearing this, Austin's military regulations had changed, allowing medics to use guns.
Maybe it was because of Sergeant Dollman or someone similar who pushed for it.
"Well, but don't push yourself too hard. You're not going to hit anything anyway, so it would just be a waste of bullets─"
"Enemy spotted at 11 o'clock, believed to be a platoon leader. Engaging… I've hit him in the left arm."
"…You're good."
I hid among the trees and began attacking the enemy who was running towards us.
The distance was about 50 meters. I aimed for the left chest, but it missed slightly.
The feel was different from the Sabbatian rifle I was used to, so my aim was a bit off.
I need to regain my sense of aim.
"Firing, [Shield]. Firing, [Shield]. …I've taken down what looks to be the enemy platoon leader this time."
"Oh, is the young lady really a medic? You're moving like an armored soldier."
Looking back, the training assigned by Mr. Zafqua, the ace armored soldier, was incredibly practical.
Most of the movements I'm using now were learned during training with his unit.
Spot the enemy behind obstacles, aim, shoot quickly, and hide behind [Shield].
Just following this routine significantly reduces the mortality rate.
"Throwing a grenade, requesting permission, Sergeant!"
"Uh, oh, permission granted."
"Heave-ho!!"
Next to me, a muscular man with thinning hair placed a box full of grenades at his feet and began throwing them with a big smile.
The enemy he was aiming for was about 100 meters away, which I thought was too far away, but…
"Hehe, how's that? I could still be active, don't you think?"
"You've got a good arm."
"Back in the day, those who could throw grenades far were called grenadiers. Until dedicated guns were developed, we threw them by hand."
This man, who seemed to be in his late 40s, must have been a well-known grenadier back in the day.
He looked delighted to be able to throw grenades again and continued to do so enthusiastically.
Perhaps he was an ace in his prime.
"Here we go! Here we go! It's wonderful to have so many grenades that no matter how much I throw, they never run out!"
This grenade-throwing guy was probably the MVP of this battle.
With his incredibly strong arm, he continued to blast away enemy soldiers.
It was so intense it could be described as a minor artillery attack.
I also did some sniping, but I only managed to take out a few soldiers.
"Argh! I've been shot in the stomach. I'm dying, I'm dying."
"…Sergeant Gavel, please give permission for treatment. He'll die if we don't treat him immediately."
"Ah, oh. Treat him."
I only participated in the battle for the first 30 minutes.
This was because the transport soldiers were able to provide a sufficient defense on their own even without me.
I then focused on treating soldiers who had been shot by the enemy halfway through the battle.
"Do we have any bags with medical supplies?"
"Um, sorry, I don't know which one it is."
"Then please lend me your army knife. I'll manage with just that."
…I could conserve some of my magic if I had a needle and thread, but it can't be helped.
This won't be a long battle, so I'll use my magic without holding back.
"O-Oh. I feel better now, thank you."
"For now, please stay still for a while. You will die if the wound opens up.
"Understood, Medic."
The enemy had more soldiers in this battle.
But they were running out of ammunition, lacked food and water, and were very weak.
It must have felt like a godsend when they found our transport unit.
To be on the safe side, they resisted the urge to attack immediately and instead opted to lie in wait.
Unfortunately, their ambush was discovered and they were forced to charge.
They had no future if they couldn't seize the cargo from our Gavel Transport Unit.
Like cornered rats biting a cat, they were desperate.
If Sergeant Gavel had gone with the initial order to retreat, they might have regained their momentum.
They could have even invaded further into Austin as bandits.
Gavel's decision to "intercept the enemy" proved to be a significant advantage for Austin.
"…There are no more enemies coming at us."
"I don't see any enemies either."
It's been half a day since the battle began.
The desperate enemy soldiers eventually exhausted their strength and retreated.
Many corpses were left on Austin's soil.
"Are they Flamer soldiers?"
"Yes, those are Flamer uniforms."
This was my first battle with Flamer soldiers. They are the "enemy" who invaded Austin like looters, threatening the southern populace.
The enemy that Austin must defeat at all costs now.
"We actually won… It's a great victory!"
"Yes, indeed. Congratulations, Sergeant Gavel."
"Ah, yes, well done, Chief Medic Touri! I'll make sure to tell Major Verdi about your deeds!"
It was his first real battle and his first real war.
Sergeant Gavel, who had overcome the challenge in the best possible way, was overwhelmed with emotion and jumping up and down.
For him, it was the result of mustering his courage as an inexperienced commander.
"In the end, the enemy hardly fired back."
"The only casualties on our side were a few wounded soldiers. It's a complete victory."
"The enemy were stragglers. That's just how it is."
This incident significantly boosted Sergeant Gavel's reputation.
His older subordinates, including myself, looked on with lukewarm enthusiasm as the 15-year-old commander cried tears of joy.
***
"As promised, I will introduce you to Major Verdi. Just wait a moment."
We safely arrived at the front lines against Flamel a few days after the battle.
The area was filled with familiar sights from the Western Front, such as field hospital tents and makeshift weapon and ammunition warehouses.
"I've come to report to Major Verdi. This is Sergeant Gavel."
"Yes, please wait a moment."
Accompanied by Sergeant Gavel, I headed to the command tent.
Verdi is supposed to be waiting for us here.
"Are you getting nervous?"
"Yes, a bit."
It's been a year since I last saw him.
How will he react?
Will he be happy that I survived?
Will they scold me for dropping out for a whole year and asking me what I was doing?
Or maybe, in an official setting, he'll just say, "I've acknowledged your return," and nothing more.
"Well, I'll go ahead and explain everything. Touri, you wait here for a bit."
"Yes, Sergeant."
"Take that time to relax. Don't stiffen up and waste the Major's time."
Verdi is now a Major.
That's the same rank Lieutenant Colonel Renvel had when we first met. It is no exaggeration to say that he is currently one of the most powerful people in the Austin military.
He's no longer someone I can casually call "Verdi" like I used to.
"…Excuse me. Sergeant Gavel of the Gavel Transport Unit, entering."
"Ah."
I heard Verdi's familiar voice from inside the tent. It now carried a sense of authority.
"At 13:00 hours, my transport unit detected enemy soldiers planning an ambush and decided to engage them."
"Okay. Please continue."
"The enemy is estimated to be a company in size…"
He's now a key figure in the Austin military.
I'm sure he can't treat his subordinates in the same friendly manner as before.
"Finally, we were able to rescue one straggler while we were moving. She is a young female soldier who achieved significant results in the recent battle. She is apparently acquainted with Major Verdi and is currently waiting outside the tent."
"Hmm. Sergeant Gavel, I understand your report. Well done."
"Th-Thank you, sir! It's an honor!"
I need to be sure to approach the meeting with a clear attitude and be mindful of hierarchical relationships.
I can't embarrass Verdi by saying something strange. I should greet him with utmost respect and sincerity.
Though, I hope he will greet me with his familiar kind smile like he did in the past…
"But, your last statement is a bit troubling. What did you say?"
"Excuse me?"
"Sergeant Gavel. I need you to repeat your last statement."
As I was gathering myself in preparation for meeting Verdi…
A chilling, cold voice echoed from the tent in front of me.
…Hmm?
"That's strange. Sergeant Gavel, why did you allow someone without any verified identity to participate in the battle?"
"Well, that's because I thought they were a straggler…"
"Did you have proof of that? Did you confirm their military status through communication?"
It was a cold voice devoid of any emotion.
Even though it was the voice of someone I know, it feels like I was listening to a complete stranger.
"As you saw, the remnants of the Flamer troops from the battle three days ago have fled into Austin's territory."
"…"
"If those Flamer soldiers were trying to assassinate me, what methods might they use?"
"W-Well, she speaks fluent Austinian, and she's just a young girl."
"Is it possible for a spy not to study Austinian? …Didn't you consider the possibility that an innocent-looking girl could be an assassin? You should have verified her military status and then scheduled an appointment with me before bringing her here."
A long, drawn-out lecture continued inside the tent.
Though I can't see him, I can almost picture Sergeant Gavel's pale, shrinking figure.
"So, as you mentioned, you brought this girl to my tent without confirming her identity?"
"Y-Yes, that's right."
"If she had smuggled in a grenade, both you and I could have been killed. Did you consider that?"
"I, um… we did conduct a body check."
"There are plenty of places a woman could hide something. Did you check all of them thoroughly?"
"N-No, not that thoroughly."
Sergeant Gavel is being calmly reprimanded.
I wonder if I was really brought to Verdi's tent.
Maybe I was about to be introduced to someone else, someone really scary.
"Up until the report on repelling the enemy, I was inclined to praise you. This is very disappointing, Sergeant Gavel."
"I-I'm sorry."
"So, what will you do now?"
"I-I'll take her back, verify her military status, and then schedule another appointment."
"Very well."
Sergeant Gavel responded in a dispirited, murmuring tone.
I guess I won't be meeting Verdi today.
…Well, I can certainly admit that I look suspicious right now.
It's no wonder that Verdi, now a Major, is wary.
"Ah, well…"
"I heard everything, Sergeant Gavel."
"Right…"
After emerging from the tent, he spoke to me apologetically.
It's unfortunate, but we'll have to come back another time.
"I'm sorry. Verifying your military status will take some time. In the meantime, you'll be under my unit's protection."
"Yes, thank you."
"Can you tell me your full name?"
"My name is Touri Lowe… but it's likely that my military registration is under Touri Noel."
"Touri Noel, got it. I'll report that to the intelligence department right away."
Sergeant Gavel dejectedly slumped his shoulders.
It was a harsh lecture, but it was likely out of Verdi's concern.
I should comfort him since I'm partly responsible.
"────What?! Touri?!"
"Huh?!"
While thinking that, I suddenly heard a loud shout just as I was turning away from the tent.
A bespectacled Verdi came rushing out of the tent, letting out a loud cry.