The Sabbatian Army is here.
The former Sabbatian government forces, led by Sylph, took advantage of the gas attack and successfully stormed Austin Command Headquarters, achieving great success.
The casualties of this raid in Austin are said to have numbered in the thousands.
In addition, many of Austin's valuable military supplies were burned.
It was a bitter defeat for us, our first in a long time.
As a result, Austin abandoned the operation to seize the mine.
The natural fortress of the Bueri Mine is expected to incur significant damage if approached head-on.
General Staff had apparently originally intended to withdraw if the gas operation failed.
One of the good things about Austin's General Staff is that they can choose to retreat without being stubborn, but…
"Oh, we lost."
This result inevitably dampened the morale of Austin's soldiers, who had been riding high on a string of victories.
Moreover, the "national flag" planted on the battlefield by the Sabbatian Army created a significant stir after the battle.
The question of why the Sabbath was on the enemy's side became a major issue within Austin.
Austin and the Workers' Council of the Sabbath were supposed to be allies.
So why did the enemy launch a surprise attack with the Sabbatian Army's latest equipment and plant the Sabbatian national flag on the battlefield?
This incident created a small rift between the Workers' Council and the Austin government.
Remi immediately issued a statement saying, "The Sabbatian soldiers are former government forces unrelated to the Workers' Council. We intend to continue supporting and allying with Austin in the future."
Following this, she personally traveled to the capital, Winn, advocating for future friendship with a large supply of aid as a gift.
Maintaining the alliance with Austin is vital for the Workers' Council.
Since anti-war supporters are their base, they cannot afford to have a hostile relationship with Austin.
Meanwhile, Fogman Jr. agreed to maintain the alliance with the Workers' Council.
"If the former Sabbatian government forces are involved in the war, the Workers' Council should also bear some responsibility."
As such, he requested the Sabbath to send troops to the Flamer Front.
The entry of the Sabbatian army into the war, especially the provision of firearms technology, was a major blow to Austin.
The damage Austin suffered from this surprise attack by the Sabbatian Army was considerable.
The logic was that since the former government forces were causing such trouble, the Workers' Council should come to the front lines and fight as well.
…The reason Austin and the Sabbath formed an alliance was because their interests coincided.
At its core, it was not trust but calculation.
But this incident has raised some doubts in the Austin government about the Workers' Council.
Perhaps the Sabbath still wanted to continue the war.
Maybe they were just regrouping and secretly trying to weaken Austin's national power by working with the former government forces.
It might seem like mere paranoia from an outsider's perspective, but the Austin government was seriously suspicious at the time.
Our country had no trust in other countries… no trust in the Sabbath at all.
To dispel these doubts, Austin called on the Sabbath to send in troops.
This appears to have been Austin's way of testing the Workers' Council, implying they would grant minimal trust if the Workers' Council forces fought and bled.
However, Remi rejected this, stating that "sending reinforcements is not realistic."
Considering the situation in the Sabbath, it truly was unrealistic.
Remi was in the midst of suppressing bandits and remnants of the former government all over the vast Sabbath territory.
With a severe shortage of soldiers, there was no way she could spare any troops for reinforcements.
And although Fogman Jr. outwardly accepted the situation upon hearing about the Sabbath's conditions, a small diplomatic friction remained.
…There are bandits in Austin too, but we fought despite that.
Such feelings indeed lingered in the prime minister's mind.
All of this was probably part of Sylph's plan.
With just one surprise attack, she cast a huge shadow over the peace treaty with the Sabbath, inflicted heavy damage on Austin's forces, and demonstrated her worth to the Allied forces.
Sylph managed to defend the mine with just one unit.
Seeing her accomplishments, Flamer's General Staff judged her to be an excellent commander well-versed in modern warfare.
Her initial bold claim that she would destroy Austin with full control of the military proved true.
Sylph was then given permission to attend the Allied staff meeting as a representative of the Sabbath.
She also had almost equal speaking power as commanders from Flamer and Aerys.
…Austin's worst enemy was gradually gaining power.
***
"It's been a long time, Warrant Officer Touri. And my grandson Gavel."
In the midst of this painful defeat for Austin, Sergeant Gavel and I were summoned by Lieutenant Colonel Renvel.
"Ah, Sergeant Gavel, reporting in!"
"…It's been a while, Lieutenant Colonel Renvel."
"No need to be so formal, you two are family. Especially you, Touri, it's remarkable you made it back alive."
After killing Gorski, we returned to our Southern Headquarters.
Feeling a floating sensation as all feeling left my body, I was led into Lieutenant Colonel Renvel's tent by Sergeant Gavel.
There, I was informed that Verdi had been injured and hospitalized, and that our attempt to capture the mine had failed.
"That's all I can tell you. Do you have any questions?"
"…Is Verdi alright?"
"His life is not in danger. He was protected by a nearby communication officer and managed to avoid fatal injuries."
Apparently, Verdi was protected by a nearby communications officer, and although he was injured, he was carried by his subordinates and managed to retreat.
He's currently being treated in the medical department, with Lieutenant Colonel Renvel following up on his condition.
"Now, Gavel, report on your mission progress. I'll hear it in place of the injured Verdi."
"Understood."
When I met Lieutenant Colonel Renvel again after a long time, he looked gaunt and wrinkled.
He had the appearance of a slightly tall elderly man, looking unlikely to swing a battle-axe anymore.
Yet, despite his thinness, he still exuded a terrifying presence.
"We first encountered an injured soldier on our way to Winn. We requested medical assistance from Medic Touri, but…"
Sergeant Gavel began his report to Lieutenant Colonel Renvel with a nervous look on his face.
***
"…It was just a transport unit of 100 people that disrupted the rear of the Sabbatian Army and succeeded in defeating an ace."
Sergeant Gavel and I reported the battle honestly as instructed.
We reported that because of an injured soldier, Gavel Transport Company did not depart for Winn.
We also reported that our location was ideal for disrupting the rear of the Sabbatian soldiers, so we struck the enemy from behind during their surprise attack.
And after a fierce battle, we managed to take down the Sabbath ace, the Lightning Spear Demon.
"…"
After hearing our report, Lieutenant Colonel Renvel alternately looked at Sergeant Gavel and me with a difficult expression.
17 members of the Gavel Transport Company were killed during this operation.
I bore the responsibility for the disruption operation that led to these deaths, having taken command.
I don't even understand why I demanded the transfer of command, using my position as a warrant officer as leverage.
"Why do you look so downcast, Touri?"
"…When I think that 17 men that died because of my reckless actions, I feel like my body is being eaten away by regret."
"Fool, it's a soldier's job to die."
Lieutenant Colonel Renvel sighed in apparent displeasure.
At the same time, he walked over to Sergeant Gavel.
"And you, Gavel, how did you feel about this operation?"
"…Watching from beside her, I thought that Medical Sergeant Touri's command wasn't that bad after all."
"Of course, if you hadn't kicked the Sabbatian soldiers' asses, more of our allies would have been killed. Well done, it is a great achievement."
Lieutenant Colonel Renvel praised me generously, almost frighteningly so.
But his expression remained grim.
"Well then, Gavel. Grit your teeth."
"Huh?"
While praising me, he put strength into his arm.
"Gavel, weren't you taught that having a medic lead the front line is a violation of military regulations?"
"Ouch!"
He brought his fist down hard on Sergeant Gavel's head.
***
"Medics being allowed to carry firearms is strictly for self-defense. They are not supposed to participate in operations."
"…I apologize. I wasn't aware of that either."
"It's fine. It was Gavel's responsibility to explain that to you, especially since you just returned."
The reason why Lieutenant Colonel Renvel had a grim expression on his face was because I had clearly violated military regulations.
Apparently, medics are still not allowed to participate in combat.
During the previous bandit attack, Verdi overlooked it due to the emergency situation…
But this time, the problem was that I had officially taken over command as a medic.
"I'm sorry, I'll be more careful in the future."
"…Really. You have achieved great results, so be proud of yourself. I thought you might get a bit carried away."
Feeling even smaller under his scrutiny, Lieutenant Colonel Renvel placed his hand over my entire head and patted it.
"I was prepared to scold you if you got conceited, but you came in looking like you were at a funeral, and I didn't know what to do."
"I deeply regret what I did… I was consumed by a terrible, dark emotion, and in my frustration, I tried to kill someone."
"That's fine, you should be very keen to kill people. It's your duty as a soldier."
Lieutenant Colonel Renvel firmly reassured me with a kind voice.
Certainly, as a soldier, it's better to have the resolve to kill people.
"The communication soldier you were close with, Lenalee, was it? It's unfortunate what happened to her."
"…"
"Did you hate them? Did you hate your enemy so much that you wanted to kill them?"
"…Yes, I did think that."
"Well, that's an unnecessary emotion for a medic."
Lieutenant Colonel Renvel's question brought back the memory of the cruelty inflicted on Lenalee's body.
Instantly, a burning hatred welled up inside me, and I struggled to suppress the dizziness.
"I'm sorry, I'll work on it."
"But it's an emotion that soldiers on the front lines need. Normal people suffer mentally when they kill someone they don't hate."
This is not a good emotion to have.
I need to somehow reflect on myself and regain my composure.
Lieutenant Colonel Renvel smiled fiercely at me as I calmed myself down.
"We hate them. We have an irresistible desire to kill enemy soldiers, to the point of wanting to tear them to pieces. It is because we carry these emotions in our hearts that we risk our lives to run through the front lines."
"But—"
"Do you think you can charge through the front lines, with bullets flying everywhere, to kill someone you don't hate? The emotion you harbor is normal for an infantryman."
The hatred inside my heart is normal for an infantryman.
Reflecting on those words, I started thinking back on all the people I'd met up until then.
"If it weren't for you guys, no one would have died and we would have lived in peace. But because you attacked us, my precious comrades have died."
"…"
"That's the natural way to think. Anyone who doesn't think that way is abnormal."
It's true that Rodri fought with hatred in his heart.
He wasn't simply shooting people as I had thought.
Platoon Leader Garback delighted in killing the enemy, and even Mr. Gorski said, "I hate the Aust," in Othello Village.
"Touri, you will join the infantry."
"…What?"
It's natural to hate people.
While mulling over those words, I received a terrifying order.
"Lieutenant Colonel Renvel, what exactly do you mean—"
"It's to simplify post-war processing. Even though you achieved such results, having a medic in command makes the responsibilities and accolades unclear."
"I see…"
"Your rank change application was accepted this afternoon. But fortunately, that document was lost in today's attack."
With that, Lieutenant Colonel Renvel casually handed me a new document and said:
"Consider yourself having transferred to the infantry sergeant by my own request."
"What—"
"As an infantry sergeant, there's no problem with you taking over command from an inexperienced Sergeant Gavel. All the accolades and responsibilities will be clear."
"Y-Yes. I see, but is that really okay? Altering documents—"
"Fool! I'll have to fill out ten more documents if we don't do this. Are you telling me to do useless work at a time like this when we're this busy?"
"N-No. Not at all."
With this, I had no choice but to back down.
While I was horrified by such blatant falsification of official documents, Lieutenant Colonel Renvel's expression became very serious.
"Sergeant Touri and Sergeant Gavel, your achievements in this operation are significant. The military intends to reward you to the fullest extent."
"Ah, yes. But—"
"Await further instructions. By the way, Touri, you will remain with Gavel's unit for now."
"Y-Yes. Understood."
With that being said, I was handed the rank insignia of an infantry sergeant.
***
"…Sergeant Gavel."
"This has turned into a strange situation, hasn't it?"
I couldn't accept the reality even after leaving Lieutenant Colonel Renvel's tent and I blinked my eyes in confusion.
Am I being made an infantry sergeant because I took on frontline command?
Is this a punishment for my reckless behavior?
…I stared in amazement at the "Sergeant" rank insignia that had once been worn on Platoon Leader Garback.
"For now, I'll show you the company's garrison… You're the only woman, though. What should we do?"
"Even if you ask me what to do…"
"Hey, would you mind sleeping outdoors with the other guys? It's probably better if you're not alone tonight."
"…Why is that?"
I responded half-heartedly to Sergeant Gavel's conversation, still feeling like I was lost in a bad dream.
So many things had happened that I still couldn't face reality.
Maybe when I sleep tonight, everything will be back to normal and will be back to how it was this morning.
I'm sure Lenalee will wake me up and call me "Sister Touri."
I couldn't help but feel that such a fantasy might come true.
"You really shouldn't be alone tonight. Come on, follow me."
"Alright…"
Maybe I was just too afraid to accept reality.
That Lenalee met such a cruel end.
That I killed Mr. Gorski with my own hands.
I kept hoping it was all a delusion.
"After showing me around, can I return to the medical department? They must be really busy today…"
"No. Put the sergeant's insignia on your shoulder already; you're an infantry sergeant now."
"Yes."
I followed Sergeant Gavel's urging and put on the sergeant's insignia with an unsettling calmness.
And then, still in a daze, Sergeant Gavel once again led me by the hand—
"…No, could you please wait a moment, Medical Warrant Officer Touri?"
Just as we were about to move to the garrison…
"Sergeant, let me talk to that woman."
"Huh?"
A voice filled with chilling malice interrupted us.
Looking up, I saw the 'devil' standing there, his frivolous tone gone and replaced with an angry expression.
"…Major Bern."
"That's an order from your superior. Come with me."
With a sharp gaze, he forcefully snatched my hand from Sergeant Gavel.
Both Sergeant Gavel and I were left blinking in surprise.
"Um, excuse me?"
"Be quiet and follow me. The Sergeant waits there. I'll bring her back later."
And so, I was forcibly taken away to a tent by Major Bern, leaving Sergeant Gavel standing there in bewilderment.