From that day on, Lenalee's demeanor softened a bit.
She had come to terms with her hatred to some extent, and the tense, dangerous atmosphere that had surrounded her dissipated.
"Warrant Officer Touri. A message for you."
"Yes, thank you for your hard work. What is it?"
There were a few things I noticed after Lenalee's attitude softened.
Lenalee, who usually lacks expression and is hard to read emotionally, shows her mood through the pitch of her voice.
Today, she spoke to me with clearer eyes and a slightly higher pitch than usual.
"Effective noon tomorrow, you will be demoted from warrant officer to medical sergeant. Please return your rank insignia by the deadline and accept the orders for your new position."
"Understood, Private Second Class Lenalee."
Lenalee calmly informed me that I was being demoted.
I breathed a sigh of relief at the long-awaited good news.
"I'm at work right now, so I'll submit it tomorrow morning."
"I understand. I will convey that to the office staff."
It felt like a big weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
The rank of medical warrant officer had often caused quite a bit of trouble.
The rank of "lieutenant" is the highest rank held by front-line commanders.
It is a title typically reserved for those in high positions, such as a medical director or battalion commanders, who oversee many personnel.
In the current hierarchy of the Austin military, the highest rank is, of course, General. However, due to the hereditary nature of the nobility, this position is essentially ceremonial.
So now the commander in chief of Austin's army is Colonel Henri, a former commander of the Southern Army.
Below him are Lieutenant Colonel Renvel, Major Verdi, and Major Bern, among others.
Generally, senior officers do not venture into the dangerous front lines. They are crucial to the functioning of the military, so it is essential that they remain safe.
In fact, Verdi has been doing administrative tasks at the rear headquarters all this time.
Thus, the highest authority on the front line is a lieutenant.
Of the current Austin Army's estimated 50,000 soldiers, fewer than 100 are warrant officers or above.
For some reason, I, a third-year enlisted member with no military academy background, found myself occupying such a privileged position. It is clearly absurd.
Moreover, this rank has caused practical issues in my medical duties.
When I perform examinations, the sight of my rank insignia causes patients' pulses to speed up, which complicates determining their true condition.
Additionally…
"What, a child soldier? Are there no other medics around here?"
"Sorry, we're short on personnel."
"Hey girl, have you had your period yet? Shall I take care of you next time?"
"Uh-huh. Excuse me, could you please not touch me?"
These are some of the problems that arise due to my position and age.
"Eh?! Warrant officer?!"
"Yes, well, technically…"
The moment they noticed my rank insignia, their faces turned pale, and they began to prostrate themselves in apology.
It was quite inconvenient for me to work. If you're going to apologize, you shouldn't make vulgar jokes in the first place.
"S-Sorry. I-I thought you were a private or something."
"I don't mind. Please show me the affected area quickly."
"Ah, yes. I'm really sorry."
Some even came back to apologize again after some time, and there were people who fainted due to their lowered blood pressure from the shock.
However, since I couldn't remove the rank insignia without causing doubts about my identity, I had no choice but to keep it on.
I had been thoroughly fed up with this excessively high position.
"You look pretty happy even though you're going to be demoted."
"I'm not really interested in status. What I want is the end of the war and a peaceful life."
"…That's a noble wish."
Lenalee gave me a puzzled look as I excitedly heard the news of my demotion.
My goal is to save up some money and return to Sedol.
I have no interest in holding power.
"Does Lenalee not want the war to end?"
"Yes. Hopefully, it will continue until I can shoot a gun."
"…"
"But if it ends sooner, that would be for the best."
Lenalee said this while staring blankly at the distant front lines.
She is 14 years old this year. She will need another year to become an infantryman.
If things continue as they are, the war will probably be over in a year.
"What will you do when the war is over?"
"…Now that you mention it, I've never thought about it."
"If you like, would you come to live in my village? I have acquaintances in the Sabbatian Economic Special Zone."
"Sabbatian? …Hmm, living with the Sabbatian people who killed Brother Rod might be a bit…"
She made a reluctant face when I invited her to live with me after the war.
Even though an alliance has been formed, Austinites still harbor a lot of animosity towards the Sabbath.
"Please consider it if you can. They are very good people."
"…Alright."
"Even though we aren't related by blood, we are sisters after all."
"Umm…"
When I mustered up some courage and emphasized the "sister" part, Lenalee made a very awkward face.
Perhaps she doesn't want a stranger like me to treat her like a sister.
Sighing, she hesitantly bowed her head to me.
"Um, Warrant Officer Touri. I was very rude to you the other day. I apologize."
"…Ah, were you concerned about that?"
Now that I think about it, she did speak quite rudely the other day.
I understand Lenalee's feelings, so I don't really mind.
"At that time, I was a little unaware of my surroundings… I am reflecting on my actions, so please forgive me."
"I'm not concerned about it. The patients I normally deal with are far more vulgar and rude."
"I don't think that's a good thing."
I tried to say as kindly as possible that I didn't mind, but Lenalee only looked embarrassed.
Even in these situations, the rank difference is inconvenient. We could talk more casually if we were of the same age or rank.
"So, uh. Warrant Officer Touri."
"Yes, what is it?"
"Well, actually…"
Lenalee, who had inexplicably stiffened up, took a deep breath. After a pause, began to speak hesitantly.
Is there something that's difficult to say?
"Actually, I wanted to tell you, Warrant Officer Touri—"
"Oh, I found you!"
And just as she was about to say something…
The rough voice of a man who couldn't read the atmosphere interrupted our conversation.
"I've been looking for you. You're so small and hard to find."
"Me?"
The man, ignoring the fact that he had interrupted our conversation, continued to approach me without a second thought.
Ignoring Lenalee's wide-eyed gaze, he stood in front of me blocking the way.
"Touri, I've got something to discuss with you."
"Um, I was in the middle of a conversation with Lenalee…"
"I don't care; let the communications officer wait. My business takes priority."
The man pushed aside the astonished Rina and rudely confronted me.
"…So, is there something I can help you with, Sergeant Gavel?"
He is the one who declared war on me over the Verdi incident.
It was Sergeant Gavel, the leader of the transport unit.
"Wait a moment, I'm going to get some documents."
"Understood. …It's surprising to see you still here, even though you're in the transportation unit."
"Yes. Our previous achievements were recognized, and the Gavel Transportation Unit has expanded to a 100-man company. It took some time to reorganize."
"Congratulations on that."
"That's probably because there are still enemies in the rear. The other transport units have also been attacked by bandits several times. That's why they're increasing the number of guards."
Sergeant Gavel continued with his usual attitude.
Well, the security situation in Austin is pretty bad.
It would not be surprising if there were bandits attacking transport units in search of food.
"So, what's this about me?"
"I've got good news. I've brought a marriage proposal for you. It's a favor from Old Man Renvel."
"Excuse me?"
"Choose your preferred partner."
With that, Sergeant Gavel handed me a list of names.
It listed the names and ranks of unfamiliar soldiers.
"According to him, he'll provide a good match in exchange for demoting you to medical sergeant. You don't have a specific partner right now, do you?"
"…"
"Choose from here. This list is made up of my relatives, all elite officers. There's no one listed here unworthy of you."
I was shocked at Sergeant Gavel's sudden words.
…Marriage proposal? For me, marriage?
"Well, I'm already married."
"I know the circumstances. But you'll probably find another partner after a few years, right? You should just choose a good match now."
Sergeant Gavel's attitude didn't even have a shred of delicacy.
He didn't even try to hide his attitude of "I've brought you good news, so be happy about it."
…I guess he's still a bit immature in this regard.
"If you don't want it, that's fine. We'll drop the subject."
"Ah. Then I'll do just that."
"Wait, you're turning it down?"
Trying to hide my astonishment, I declined, and Sergeant Gavel's eyes widened in surprise.
…Did he really expect me to jump at the chance?
"Brother Zieve is a captain, and Alveri was the top of his class at the military academy last year. You won't get such a great match again."
"…Please convey my gratitude to Lieutenant Colonel Renvel for the kind offer. However, I have no intention of marrying anyone other than Rodri for the rest of my life."
"Ah. You're really sure? Because if you change your mind later, I won't listen."
I gently declined while giving Sergeant Gavel a wry smile.
Lieutenant Colonel Renvel likely brought this offer to me out of genuine kindness.
I don't think Sergeant Gavel has any ill intentions, just a lack of understanding of the situation.
…On closer inspection, I see Sergeant Gavel's name is also on the list. He had discreetly hidden it with his hand.
"I intend to resign from the military after the war, so I can't accept a proposal from military personnel."
"What, you're a volunteer? Even though you've reached the rank of medical sergeant, you're going to quit the military?"
"…Yes. Once the war is over, I would like to live quietly as a town healer."
"Such a waste, you're really something else."
The reason I originally volunteered was so I could help the orphanage.
…Now that Noel Village has burned down, there's no point in me being in the military anymore.
The only reasons I'm still on the battlefield are my sense of duty to people like Cale and Verdi, and raising funds to support Sedol.
"Our positions will be guaranteed if we win the war. We'll be secure for life."
"That might be true."
"Well, you can do as you please. What a waste of time this turned out to be."
Sergeant Gavel sighed, rolled up the documents he had presented, and put them in his pocket.
It looked like his business had concluded.
"Well then, sorry for interrupting your conversation."
"Goodbye. I'm sorry for making you wait, Lenalee."
I was a bit surprised by the sudden interruption, but I'm relieved there was no real harm done.
I gave a vague nod to Sergeant Gavel and then turned back to Lenalee to continue our conversation.
"…"
"Hey Lenalee. What's wrong?"
However, she wasn't looking at me.
She had a very stern expression on her face, glaring at Sergeant Gavel.
"Huh? What's with you, Communications Officer?"
"…"
Noticing Lenalee's glare, Sergeant Gavel turned his displeased gaze toward her.
Despite being looked down upon by someone taller than her, Lenalee did not change her attitude.
"…It's nothing."
Rina's voice had dropped in tone, clearly more irritated than before.
Was it really so annoying to be interrupted like that?
"If you have something to say, say it."
"Is it alright if I speak?"
I tried to somehow calm Lenalee down, but before I could, Sergeant Gavel got involved with her.
It was turning into a standoff similar to a confrontation between delinquents.
"With all due respect, Medical Warrant Officer Touri is scheduled for noon tomorrow. Until then, she is still a warrant officer. I was wondering why a rookie like you was using such tone and attitude."
"Huh?"
Before I could intervene, Lenalee jumped straight into a confrontation with Sergeant Gavel.
Why are these siblings so quick to pick fights?
"This girl isn't even from the officer school, just a volunteer, right? It's strange for her to be a warrant officer; she should be in a lower rank."
"Excuse me, I'm a rookie so there are many things I don't understand. I see, so it's okay to talk down to someone who you think should be in a lower rank even if they are a superior officer."
"It's just that she's a special exception. What's with you? Don't be so troublesome."
Sergeant Gavel grew flustered as Lenalee's tone heated up.
…I need to intervene quickly or this could get messy.
"It's okay, Lenalee. I was the one who told Sergeant Gavel that he doesn't need to be polite with me since I'm being demoted soon.
"Even so, there should be a strict distinction between superiors and subordinates. Didn't Warrant Officer Touri herself tell me that the other day?"
"I guess that's true."
"In the first place, he brought up the marriage proposal in a condescending manner, and then he said all that. It was extremely rude to Warrant Officer Touri."
Rina spoke sharply and continued to glare at Sergeant Gavel.
Was this girl getting angry for my sake?
"I'm not worried about it. Please calm down for a moment, Lenalee."
"But…"
"Is the discussion over? I took the time to come here despite my busy schedule to deal with this woman. Why should I have to hear your complaints?"
Sergeant Gavel seemed to be offended by Lenalee's attitude. He clicked his tongue and turned away.
"I've memorized your face, communications officer. If you cause trouble again, I'll throw you into the punishment cell."
With that, he threatened Lenalee and angrily walked away.
"That's not okay, Lenalee. You shouldn't be so rude to your superiors."
"But that guy's attitude…!"
"Even so, you mustn't do that. Superiors on the battlefield are often unreasonable and tyrannical."
I broke into a light sweat at the thought of Sergeant Gavel's words.
Indeed, Rina's attitude could easily be grounds for punishment.
He had the power to enforce it.
"Lenalee. I'm not saying that this is the case with Sergeant Gavel, but there are soldiers who do obscene things to female soldiers in the name of punishment. Don't give them a reason to take such actions against you."
"Is that really allowed?"
"Rank is everything in the military… If it comes to that, I won't be able to protect you."
Even if Sergeant Gavel took Lenalee to the punishment cell, there would be nothing I could do about it with my own power.
I could ask Verdi to mediate, but… I don't want to bother him any more than I already have.
"If a woman aspires to be a soldier, she must not show any weakness."
"…"
"I'm glad that you got angry for my sake, but try not to go against your superiors."
When I told Lenalee this, she puffed out her cheeks and replied, "I understand."
Her face clearly shows she isn't satisfied. Lenalee is still young.
I should apologize to Sergeant Gavel myself later.
"Well then, I was quite flustered earlier. What I wanted to say to Warrant Officer Touri was that…"
"Oh, what was it?"
"…It's quite rude, but I wanted to ask if I could call you Sister Touri'."
"…!"
It was an unexpected declaration of wanting to be my younger sister.
"Yes, yes. Of course, I'd be very happy if you did!"
"I-I'm very grateful to Warrant Officer Touri. You made me remember something important that I shouldn't forget. So…"
"Lenalee…"
Immediately after hearing those words, I was overcome with emotion and hugged Lenalee.
I felt like I was flying high in the sky.
"Lenalee, I've never had a family before. All of my childhood friends from the orphanage have died."
"O-Oh."
"I'm so happy, Lenalee."
Lenalee looked a little shaken up because I was more ecstatic than she had imagined.
But there's nothing that makes me happier than this.
"From now on, please rely on me for anything. I'm your big sister now."
"Y-Yes."
My first clear family connection through official records.
The presence of such a bond brought immense brightness to my heart.
I realize now that I've been longing for "a family" all this time.
No one will be sad if I die. No one will be waiting for me when the war ends.
I had been quite worried about my situation.
That's why I tried so hard to protect Sedol and why I stuck to Lenalee.
"So, please take care of me, Sister Touri."
"Yeah."
That's why I was so thrilled when Lenalee said that to me with a slightly embarrassed look on her face.
***
At that moment, I was at the peak of happiness.
The war was soon to end and a peaceful era was about to begin.
Living through that peaceful time with Lenalee and Sedol.
I dreamt of such a future.
At that time, Flamel was in an utterly hopeless situation and Austin was almost assured of victory.
Unless something extraordinary happened, defeat should be impossible no matter how incompetent the commander of Austin was.
Moreover, the one currently in command of Austin is the battle-hardened Lieutenant Colonel Renvel, with his subordinate being the exceptional staff officer Bern Valou.
…If you think about it logically, there's no way we could lose.
However, there was one miscalculation.
One person who should not have been overlooked was indeed missed.
Around the summer of that year, a small army, battered and exhausted, fled to the Allied side.
The strength of this army was only 2000 men.
They were defeated soldiers who had lost a power struggle in their homeland and fled in a pitiful state.
Yes, it was the former Sabbatian government forces led by Sylph Nova who joined the Alliance.
After learning about the current situation of Flamel, she confidently declared that if given command of the army, she would annihilate Austin.
The girl's boastful claims were dismissed. She was then relegated to a subordinate unit within the Alliance.
There's no way anyone would trust the words of an outsider who suddenly appeared, especially a female staff officer who had been defeated.
…Sylph herself was aware of this and deliberately made grandiose claims initially.
It was so that when she demonstrated her value later, her demands would be more likely to be met.
And in a very careless move—
No one in Austin was aware of the presence of the former Sabbatian government forces.
Whether Sylph was careful or the Austin scouts were negligent is unknown, but she joined the Flamer-Aerys Alliance without being detected by us.
The quagmire of war began to sharpen its evil fangs once more.