His legend continues to be told among Austin soldiers to this day.
The lightning-fast spearman of the Sabbath, who charges forward wrapped in lightning.
A true "Ace" who fought on equal terms with Platoon Commander Garback on the Western Front.
"Thunder Spear Demon? An ace…?"
"Have you heard of him, Sergeant Gavel?"
Information about enemy aces is actively shared among infantry.
It's crucial for survival on the battlefield.
"We mustn't engage that man head-on."
Just his presence made the air crackle with tension, raising goosebumps.
I can't win against him. No matter what I do with my weak arms, I could never kill that man.
There was an overwhelming difference in strength like that between a predator and its prey.
I finally understood the feeling of a frog being stared down by a snake.
"Mr. Gorski…"
***
He is an enemy.
He is the Grim Reaper who is leading his subordinates in a charge to kill us.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't shaken when I saw him.
However, I soon began to think about how to deal with Mr. Gorski as "an enemy".
"What should we do? Should we give up on the pincer attack and retreat?"
"Yes, I want to retreat immediately, but our opponent is too formidable. I don't think we'll be able to escape."
Mr. Gorski is extremely troublesome.
First, his speed is incredible. Even Platoon Leader Garback first thought to disable his legs because he charges at an extraordinary speed.
Furthermore, his [Shield] is too strong to be pierced by bullets.
Even if we were lucky enough to break through his [Shield], he would just deflect bullets with his spear.
The only way to kill him is to hit him with a grenade or take him down in close combat.
"The enemy ace is charging towards us. What should we do?!"
"Ignore the Lightning Spear Demon and shoot his subordinates."
"We're just leaving him be?!"
An ace of the Sabbath from the East-West War, who even Platoon Commander Garback was unable to bring down.
Engaging him head-on would surely result in defeat.
That's way…
"…I will go."
"What?"
"I will give you orders for when I leave. Repeat them so you don't forget."
There is only one way possible out of this crisis.
It is for me, who might cause him to waver, to step forward.
"Did you memorize that? Well then, I'll go ahead and do as planned."
"Hey, wait a second, Warrant Officer!?"
The moment I decided on this course of action, an instinctive warning of "death" rang out loud and clear.
However, it was not a warning of "you will die if you go," but rather a threat of "you will die if you don't go."
"I'll at least buy some time. If I die, please follow Sergeant Gavel's orders and retreat."
After telling my subordinates that, I steeled myself and charged alone towards the Lightning Spear Demon.
***
Thunder echoed in all directions on the battlefield.
Gunfire was flying in all directions, filtering through the gaps in the trees of the forest.
"An Aust! Fire!
"Die!"
The familiar sound of the Sabbatian.
They immediately concentrated their fire on me as soon as I approached them.
As expected, their reaction and aim were excellent.
"[Shield]."
I open my right palm to produce a [Shield] to deflect the gunfire.
The bullets narrowly missed my slender frame as they passed by.
I zigzagged left and right through the dense gunfire, closing in on the enemy.
"He's fast!"
"The bullets were deflected by a [Shield]! Don't let your guard down."
They shouted in Sabbatian and continued firing without pause.
It's probably a plan to stop me from moving… But if they shoot, it's actually easier to move around while they're reloading.
The reload interval for the Sabbatian rifle has been ingrained in me.
"There's no hesitation in his movements. Be careful, he might be an ace!"
"How rude. I'm not an ace, just a medic."
"Eh, a girl?"
They seemed to mistake me for an ace, so I shouted back in Sabbatian to buy time.
Hoping that my words might reach that person.
"…I thought it might be you, Touri."
"Yes, it's been a while."
Sure enough, he was there.
I replied to Mr. Gorski's voice while hiding behind a tree.
His voice was colder than I'd ever heard.
"Touri? Is that Aust-chan…?"
"Yes, long time no see. I wish we didn't have to meet on the battlefield, though."
Now that I think about it, the soldier who shot at me earlier is also someone I knew.
He is one of the Sabbatian soldiers who had shared a drink of Vok with me when Gorski Platoon was formed.
"What do you want? It doesn't seem like you're here to surrender."
"That's my line. Why did you suddenly barge into the war with Flamel? I thought the war with the Sabbath was over."
"The war is not over. The future of the Sabbath lies in the destruction of Austin."
I tried to buy some time with Mr. Gorski with some banter.
Fighting him head-on would only result in my death.
"If you're not here to surrender, then I'll shoot. That's all. Everyone, ready."
"…You're not going to answer me, Mr. Gorski?"
"She's an Aust, the enemy. Throw grenades and then fire the second volley."
But as expected of a seasoned ace.
Mr. Gorski showed no signs of being shaken and gave the order to attack my hiding spot.
It seems he is now fully prepared to kill me as an enemy.
"I won't resist. I'm a soldier, I'm prepared to be killed. …Just getting you out here is enough of an accomplishment."
"I see."
With Mr. Gorski in such a state, I tried to remain as calm as possible as I continued the conversation.
Facing thousands of enemies with a hundred-strong squad, disrupting the rear, causing numerous casualties, and drawing out an ace.
For the largely inexperienced Gavel Transport Company, this result is a significant achievement.
"Go ahead and shoot. If I can make a selfish request, I'd prefer to be killed by you, Mr. Gorski."
"…Hmph."
Besides, Gavel Transport Company would be wiped out if this person were to seriously pursue us.
The only reason he's engaging in this conversation is because I showed myself.
Despite his current cold demeanor, Mr. Gorski is still soft-hearted.
"Oh, can you deliver my final message to Sylph for me?"
"What is it?"
"Tell her that this battle was my tactical victory for drawing you out. Please tell her I said this with a lot of pride."
…When I said such a thing, Mr. Goluski chuckled softly.
In a gentle voice, he replied:
"I can't convey such a message. Our boss would throw a tantrum if I did."
"That's too bad."
He responded with light-hearted banter.
────Strangely enough…
Even at this point, I still didn't feel like I was going to die.
I can hold out a little longer.
I can buy a few more seconds.
"I'll grant your wish and pierce you with my spear. Show yourself."
"…Thank you."
I just follow my intuition.
I slowly appeared before Mr. Gorski, raising my hands up to show I had no intention to resist.
────To survive.
"So it really is you, Touri."
"Yes. Mr. Gorski, have you lost some weight?"
The golden hero looked sad when he saw my face.
The spear he held in his one hand crackled with electricity.
"Don't move. At the very least, I'll make sure it's quick and painless."
"Thank you."
Mr. Gorski slowly pointed his spear at me, taking a stance.
────The moment of my execution is drawing near.
Mr. Gorski stands before me without the slightest hint of complacency, his gaze fixed firmly upon me.
A deafening alarm rang in my brain, burning my thoughts.
"Farewell, my dear friend, Touri from my hometown of Othello… I will not apologize, this is war."
"Yes, I know that very well."
My pulse quickened, thumping loudly in my chest.
The limit was approaching.
"Don't worry, I won't hold any grudges."
At this rate, I would be pierced by his spear and die.
My whole body thrummed with a pleasant, tingling sensation that spread throughout—
"Touri, you…?"
"What is it?"
Ah. The sense of urgency, knowing that you could be killed in an instant.
…It was exhilarating beyond measure.
"What are you planning?!"
Mr. Gorski's demeanor suddenly shifted.
He suddenly lowered his stance, directing his smirk at me, whose mouth had involuntarily curled into a smile.
"It's about time, isn't it?"
In an instant, he lunged at supersonic speed, thrusting his spear straight towards me.
***
His spear's strike was followed by a tremendous roar of thunder.
Even a slight graze from it, a mere touch of its electric heat, would have been enough to electrocute me to death.
At the last moment, I jumped backwards and escaped from the range of the spear.
I would have died had I jumped even a moment later.
"Everyone, shoot! Shoot Touri!'
"R-Right away!"
"Ahaha…"
I leapt, jumped, soared.
Enjoying the thrill of the moment, I kicked the [Shield] I had put up and darted back into the forest.
…The sheer delight of outmaneuvering the enemy made me chuckle quietly.
"Aahaha…"
"Our shots aren't hitting! She's dodging them!"
"That's ridiculous!"
I was so excited that my heart was pounding so hard I couldn't calm it down.
Mr. Gorski's face turned pale and he ordered his men to shoot me.
Many potentially fatal bullets flew towards me amidst a pleasantly tense atmosphere.
Observing their trajectories closely, I deflected them with [Shield] and sliced through them with my bayonet, retreating back into the shadows of the trees…
It was the most blissful experience I could imagine.
"Aahahahaha!"
"Enough! I'll step in. Don't let that girl escape!"
It seems Mr. Gorski had realized my surrender was a bluff.
Still shaken, he rushed in driven by anger, truly intent on killing me.
…Just as I had intended.
"We've lost sight of her!"
"You idiots! She moved behind that tree!"
I was worried he wouldn't chase after me.
I can't kill Mr. Gorski alone, but that doesn't mean I can just let him go.
If you can't beat a stronger opponent alone, you should surround them.
"Gah—!?"
"A grenade?!"
Just as he stepped heavily in pursuit of me…
An explosion accompanied by flames rang out behind him, and one of Mr. Gorski's men was blown to bits.
"Ahahahahaha!"
That was the grenade signal indicating my allies were in position. It seems they had followed my instructions perfectly.
…I had asked the "grenade-throwing guy" to toss a grenade once they were ready.
"Is that girl really Aust-chan?!"
"That girl… Touri never had the intention to die! She only showed herself to get my attention!"
Using the explosion as a diversion, I rolled into the forest and vanished.
Leaving behind a mocking laugh so they could track my direction.
"Aust-chan is escaping, Commander Gorski!"
"Chase her, shoot her!"
From the beginning, I never intended to throw my life away.
To kill Mr. Gorski, the Sabbath soldier who is the enemy of Salsa and Lenalee.
I was simply trying to make conversation in order to lure him into letting his guard down and buy some time.
"…"
Mr. Gorski is an incredible person.
A hero who continued to wield his spear on the front lines as an assault soldier ever since the days of the Western Front.
He is a true ace who even Platoon Leader Garback was unable to kill and let escape.
He is an opponent I could never hope to defeat on my own.
"Don't let her escape! If we leave her alone, she'll become the greatest threat to the Sabbath's revival!"
So I chose to run away.
When you encounter a "superior enemy" that is better equipped and armored than you…
Rather than recklessly challenging him, the strategy was to escape and wait for another opportunity.
***
What were you feeling when you pointed your spear at me, Mr. Gorski?
During the Sabbath Revolution, you always treated me with such kindness.
You made sure that I, a foreigner, wouldn't feel isolated.
You gave me a sleeping bag to keep me from freezing to death.
It's no exaggeration to say that I'm standing here now, alive and whole, thanks to you.
Mr. Gorski is a lion.
You're gentle, noble, and a strong soldier.
Though you didn't show it on your face, I'm sure you struggled with the idea of killing me.
Otherwise, you wouldn't have engaged in conversation with me.
And yet, I…
At this moment, all I can think about was how I can kill you, with a hideous grin formed on my face.
…I can't believe myself.
"You're amazing, Mr. Gorski."
His charge is as swift as a boar's.
He would have caught up to me in an instant if I hadn't hidden behind the trees.
"You're just like Platoon Leader Garback."
His defensive skills are flawless.
Despite being targeted by Gavel Company from all sides, he dodged or deflected every shot.
It's true that aces have an answer to bullets.
"We're being shot at by Aust soldiers from all sides!"
"Are you trying to lure me in? Damn it, you had it all planned out from the beginning."
However, only the ace, Mr. Gorski himself, can do that.
His subordinates, though elite, are just regular soldiers.
They don't have the skill to navigate through the crossfire unscathed.
"Advancing any further is too dangerous, let's retreat for now."
"…Damn it. Remember this, Touri!"
Realizing he was surrounded, Mr. Gorski quickly decided to retreat.
We had focused our attacks on his subordinates, causing higher-than-expected casualties.
He must have realized he was lured into this…
"All forces retreat─"
Well, I expected him to regain his composure and pull back quickly.
Although he appears brave, he is actually quite calm and hates seeing his subordinates get hurt.
I thought that if his subordinates suffered heavy casualties, he would make the decision to withdraw early.
That's why…
"My bet paid off."
Instead of pulling back Gavel Transport Company to the rear, I had them circle around and withdraw to the front.
This maneuver encircled Mr. Gorski's retreating unit.
The Gavel Transport Company successfully executed a pincer attack from both sides.
"Commander Gorski, the enemy is lying in wait on our retreat path!"
"Shit, just how many soldiers did Touri bring?!"
Having been ambushed by numerous soldiers at the place they fled to, Mr. Gorski seemed to think it was a trap.
He likely never imagined that the Gavel Transport Company, which appeared to be retreating, had perfectly predicted the timing of his withdrawal and maneuvered to encircle him.
"We need to hurry, the rear units will turn back. I'll clear a path, follow me!"
"Understood!"
Mr. Gorski charged straight through the encirclement of the Gavel Company.
Just as you'd expect from a brave and rational ace from the Western Front.
Even though we had completely trapped him, we were still unable to kill him.
"Are you running away, Mr. Gorski?"
"Ugh, Touri!"
This is the Golden Hero, Gorski.
Even after all this, he couldn't be killed—that's what makes him an ace.
"This time, I'm retreating. Next time I will show you no mercy!"
"I won't let you escape."
Ignoring my taunt, Mr. Gorski kept running without looking back.
He doesn't waver once he decides to retreat. It's a good trait, though I wished he had been a bit more hesitant.
"Throw grenades and open fire. Shoot all at once in the poor visibility."
"Understood!"
This is our final attack. We were running very low on ammunition.
Using everything we had, we launched a full-scale assault to kill Mr. Gorski.
"…!!"
Explosions, gunfire, screams.
For about ten seconds, the earth trembled with the sound of gunfire as the Gavel Transport Company unleashed a barrage on the encircled enemy.
"Hah… Hah…"
"No way."
…But Mr. Gorski proved to be a true hero.
An ace of his caliber is far beyond my reach.
"He deflected all the bullets himself in the end."
"Is he really human?"
Despite the blinding explosion and the subsequent barrage, he accurately deflected our attacks within the smoke and successfully retreated with his men.
"…I'm sorry, Warrant Officer Touri."
"It's fine."
I think I probably did everything I could.
I used every weapon I had at my disposal, exploited Mr. Gorski's kindness, and tried to kill him.
Yet, the golden hero left the battlefield unscathed, leading his men to safety.
"We let the ace escape, but the results are more than enough. It's over, Touri."
"Sergeant Gavel…"
As expected of the battle-hardened Gorski Platoon, their charge was impressive.
They made us use up all our weapons and ammunition, making it impossible to continue flanking the Sabbatian army.
Mr. Gorski successfully repelled our attempts to disrupt their rear and retreated.
It was a victory for Mr. Gorski, who had achieved his tactical objective.
"No, it's not over yet."
…Can I really allow this?
After what they did to Lenalee, can I let him go back without consequence?
Will he celebrate with a feast and Vok after this battle?
Even though that girl suffered so much?
"Ahaha…"
I only have one bullet left.
After ejecting the spent cartridge, I aimed my rifle into the sky.
"Touri…?"
"It's not over yet."
Rifles of this era lack precision for sniping.
The recoil will cause the gun to shake in your hand, and frequent use warps the barrel due to heat.
Well, it's pretty much impossible to snipe someone at long range with such a crude gun.
"Lenalee's enemy…"
Firing costs nothing. My eyes locked onto the man with golden hair, escaping while looking out for his comrades.
I chose the angle and timing that seemed like it might hit.
"I won't let you get away…"
As the distance between us grew ever greater, I fired a single bullet at Mr. Gorski's retreating head.
Long-distance sniping doesn't require precise aiming.
The important thing is intuition.
It takes time for the bullets to reach their target, so the trick is to read the enemy's movements and fire based on instinct.
If it hits, it's a bonus. If it misses, nothing's lost.
"What?!"
"No way!"
And then, with a thud, the imposing figure fell without a sound.
Being targeted from such a distance was unimaginable for him.
Mr. Gorski likely never knew what happened until the very end.
────If I hadn't done this much, there was no way I could take down that ace.
"Did I…?"
The bullet I had fired traced a parabolic arc for a few seconds before hitting the back of Mr. Gorski's head hundreds of meters away.
In this era, I might have set a world record for long-range sniping.
"Everyone, advance! Confirm his body."
Many Sabbatian soldiers halted the moment Mr. Gorski fell.
Seeing us starting to move forward, they abandoned his body and hesitated before running away.
"…You've got to be kidding me. You hit him from that distance?"
"It was just luck. There's no way you can aim accurately with a gun like this. I just pulled the trigger randomly and it hit."
"I see. You're right, it would be troubling if that wasn't the case."
As I said, luck played a huge role in this shot.
Even if I was asked to do the same thing again, I probably wouldn't be able to do it again.
"Scouts, go ahead and confirm his body."
"Understood."
Even then, I was only half-convinced I had hit him.
Considering the possibility that he might have been pretending to be dead to lure us out, I sent out scouts to inspect the body.
"…Dead. This guy's really dead!"
"We did it! Took down an ace!"
It turned out my bullet had indeed killed Mr. Gorski.
He lay with wide eyes with an expression of not understanding what had happened.
"Damn you for killing our comrades! Bastard!"
"Kick him, stomp him! Turn him into mincemeat!"
"Serves you right! This is why you can't trust the Sabbath!"
As they approached Mr. Gorski's body, the allied soldiers began screaming and assaulting the body.
It was Mr. Gorski who caused the most damage to Gavel Transport Company in today's battle.
It's the enemy of our comrades. It's understandable that they would want to vent their resentment.
"You bastard, making us struggle so much─"
His face was stomped, his eyes crushed.
His well-trained body was split open and his limbs chopped off with bayonets.
It was a fitting end for a hated ace of the Sabbath.
────Killing someone out of personal grudge makes you nothing but a murderer.
────Wake up and return while you still have time.
Watching this scene…
"…"
"Well done. You showed your lucky prowess, Lucky Carry."
A single tear rolled down my cheek.
At the same time, the voice of Sergeant Gavel praising me began to blur.
My heart and chest were seized by an icy dread.
────You were just doing your job. The true villain is war itself.
"Ah…"
"Hey, Touri?"
"What have I done?"
It was as if the rain had stopped, like a spell being lifted; my excitement melted away and disappeared.
The thick hatred I felt began to peel away, and I realized that something irreparable lay right in front of me.
"Why…?"
Before me lay my benefactor, dead.
The reliable man who always supported me since I drifted into the Sabbath.
He was a person of great character and warmth, who taught had me many things and who was like a father to me.
"No…"
I had just shot and killed Mr. Gorski, who cared for me so much in the Sabbath, and rejoiced in his death.
────Touri, if you're ever in trouble, you can rely on me. I'll help you.
Mr. Gorski's eyes were lifeless, staring blankly into the void.
His face was turned in a strange direction and his right eye had been pulled out and crushed.
After being beaten all over with gun barrels, his head was eventually cut off with a bayonet, and dark red blood spilled onto the ground.
Could it be that I've once again lost someone important to me?
"No, that's not true. I killed him, I actually killed him…"
"Hey, what's wrong, Touri? You've been looking pale since earlier."
"I… I happily killed him…!"
I understand now.
Despite Mr. Gorski telling me not to become like this.
Even though I had arrogantly preached to Lenalee not to kill people out of personal grudges.
"I hated that Lenalee was killed. I was consumed by hatred and forgot myself…"
Regret and shame welled up inside me, making me feel nauseous.
Earlier, it wasn't fear for my life that made me act that way.
It was pure hatred for the Sabbatian soldiers, grief over losing Lenalee, and the sole desire to kill Mr. Gorski.
Now I understand why Mr. Gorski tried to kill me when he saw me.
I must have had a deranged look on my face at that moment.
He saw that I was consumed by hatred and revenge, no longer my usual self.
That's why he considered me dangerous and tried to kill me.
And now, Mr. Gorski is dead.
Shot from behind by me, his blood staining the forest.
His limbs severed, spit upon, and turned into a pathetic heap of flesh.
"…Everyone, stop this frenzy and assemble immediately."
I spoke in a strained voice and called the subordinates to gather together.
"What's the matter, Warrant Officer? Not joining in?"
"Are you stupid? The enemy is still nearby by, so what's the point in wasting your energy? And in the first place, did I give you permission to act on your own?"
"Uh, no…"
"Now assemble. We'll take roll call immediately and form up by squads."
Desperately suppressing the urge to vomit, I gave the order to stop their brutality.
I didn't want Mr. Gorski's body to be desecrated any further.
"…Sergeant Gavel. The operation is over. I will be returning command to you for now."
"Ah, yeah."
"Thank you for listening to my selfish request. I will take full responsibility for any casualties caused by this operation."
"Hey, wait."
I feel like I'll lose consciousness and collapse If I let my guard down even for a moment.
Barely holding on, I felt faint and could hardly stand.
"Then, as of this moment, I am under the command of Sergeant Gavel."
"Touri, why…"
Sergeant Gavel looked at me with pity as I stood there at my limit.
"Why do you have the face of a dead man after we won?"
He asked, almost in a whisper.