Hatred brings people to the battlefield.
The battlefield is a place where you can kill detestable enemy soldiers.
You go to the front lines, fight the enemy, lose comrades, and hate them all over again.
Soldiers repeat this cycle endlessly.
The concepts of good and evil do not exist in such a place.
There is only a life-or-death struggle for survival on the battlefield.
Everyone understands this rationally.
Even the enemy has a family, and taking their lives is a grievous sin.
The person you shot and killed had a life of their own.
Ignoring such pretty notions, we take up arms driven by hatred with righteous indignation.
Believing that the propaganda put forward by our homeland is just.
I loved FPS games in my previous life.
I reveled in the thrill of outwitting and killing the enemy in an ambush.
In the game, I was better at killing than anyone else.
Then, on the night I killed Mr. Gorski…
The "self" from my previous life appeared in my dreams and spoke to me in my mind.
────Couldn't you have found a better way to kill Gorski?
────If only the instructions to circumnavigate the area had been given a little earlier and the positioning had been more accurate.
────Couldn't you have taken down Gorski more reliably without relying on the luck of a sniper shot?
He said these things and berated me in my sleeping bag.
He was right; his points were valid.
At that time, I had lost to Mr. Gorski in terms of strategy.
Mr. Gorski had evaded my trap and successfully retreated with his surviving men.
The final sniper shot hitting its mark was just a stroke of luck.
Given such poor leadership, it's no wonder my previous self was angry.
It's only natural that my past self would be angry at me for conducting myself in such a disgraceful manner.
So, what should I have done at that time?
Should I have closed in on Mr. Gorski's unit more during the retreat and cut deeper?
Or should I have timed the flanking maneuver better and set up magical traps?
"Ah."
Unable to sleep, deep in the night,
I debated with my previous self in a half-dream state, thinking….
"I'm not reflecting on the fact that I killed Mr. Gorski, but on the inadequacy of my method."
I finally realized that I was a monster.
────You know, your face seems to suit a rifle now.
I have been desperately turning a blind eye to my vile nature.
Bern Valou, the sadistic murderer who laughs heartily and invites me to "play with him,"
Like he said, this is undoubtedly a part of me, and it's true that it has helped me until now.
And what Austin desires is this evil part of myself.
***
"Did you sleep well?"
"…Not really, Sergeant Gavel."
Since the day I killed Mr. Gorski and decided to live with Lenalee's death in my heart, I started having frequent nightmares.
Every night, my past self would speak to me, and Lenalee's final moments would flicker in my mind, making it hard to sleep.
"You look pale. Haven't been sleeping much, have you?"
"To be honest, not really."
"I see."
Before sleeping, during meals, and at random moments, her final expression would flash back to me.
Behind Lenalee was Mr. Gorski, looking at me with resentful eyes.
Ah, it's the same symptom I had with Lakya.
"The casualty report for the unit is ready, so I'm going to report it to Grandpa."
"Understood."
"Since you're technically the second-in-command by rank, I thought you should come along, but…"
Gavel Transport Company suffered about 30% losses in the recent ambush.
We can't even handle transport missions in this state, let alone combat.
There won't be any missions until we're reorganized.
"…You look pale, why don't you take a rest? It won't make any difference whether you're here or not."
"No."
Sergeant Gavel peered into my face with concern.
But seeing the hallucinations of the dead is something I've experienced many times.
I need to get used to it soon; I won't be able to survive if I have a mental breakdown every time I lose a comrade.
"I can handle this on my own."
"Then do as you like."
I said this with a bit of bravado and followed Sergeant Gavel.
The Austin Army remained staring at the Allied forces from the base of the mountain, with no movement.
Both sides are on the defensive and unable to make any moves, so the battle situation seems to be a stalemate.
This stalemate is fortunate for Austin as it allows them to recover from the damage inflicted by Sylph.
"I don't know how the unit will be reorganized. I don't even know if Touri and I will be in the same unit."
"Right."
"But if you end up assigned to my unit again… I won't be handing over command next time."
Sergeant Gavel muttered this to me on the way.
"I gave you command last time because it was an emergency, but that's something I should be doing."
"Yes."
"I'll listen carefully to your suggestions, so don't hesitate to offer your opinions. But next time, I'll be the one commanding."
Sergeant Gavel must regret not being able to command during the ambush.
I suppose it couldn't be helped, being in his first year of military service and lacking in experience…
"I am Gavel, grandson of the great Renvel, and a future hero of Austin."
"…"
"I will achieve military success in this war and become someone my parents can be proud of. I can't rely on you forever."
It seems he had some thoughts about it and is determined to do it properly next time.
This level of ambition must come from his youth.
"I know you're talented, but I want to take command myself next time."
"I understand. I don't know how much help I'll be, but I'll do my best."
"Thanks."
Sergeant Gavel has a straightforward nature, for better or worse.
He sometimes doesn't read the mood well, but that's part of his charm.
Speaking of which, Verdi also sort of struggles with reading the room.
"We'll have a tough time with Major Verdi injured. I want to grow as quickly as possible and become a valuable asset."
"Indeed."
I admire his high aspirations.
Having properly studied military tactics at a military academy, he is definitely more suitable to be a commander.
I hope he will grow up to be a great commander.
"Good luck, Sergeant Gavel. I'll help in any way I can."
"Yeah, let's end this war quickly."
I'm sure he'll grow into a great commander in a few years
By then, the war should be over.
"I'll prove that I'm a full-fledged soldier."
It is these young individuals who will shape the future of Austin.
***
"I, Lieutenant Colonel Renvel, hereby deliver the following orders: Sergeant Touri is to be commissioned as a second lieutenant in recognition of her recent achievements. Concurrently, she is to form the Touri Guerrilla Company."
"…Yes, it's an honor."
"As the company commander, you will organize a guerrilla company of approximately 150 soldiers. Sergeant Gavel, you will assist Touri with the organization as her adjutant."
"…"
When we reached Lieutenant Colonel Renvel, I was shown a mysterious document titled "Touri Company Formation Orders."
And Sergeant Gavel became my subordinate.
"Um, Grandpa—"
"Address me as Lieutenant Colonel, you fool."
As my cheeks twitched at the mysterious order, nervously spoke up.
Please, by all means, object.
"Lieutenant Colonel Renvel… Why is a civilian recruit being commissioned a second lieutenant? Is that even possible?"
"Because of her distinguished service."
"But…"
Lieutenant Colonel Renvel replied bluntly to Sergeant Gavel's discontented objection.
Typically, soldiers who did not graduate from a military academy can only reach the rank of sergeant.
Officer training was required to become a lieutenant or above… or so it was supposed to be.
"The merits and demerits of a battle fall upon the commander. Since you handed command over to Touri in the last battle, this is the result."
"What?!"
"She achieved such remarkable success that it would be unseemly not to promote her."
Lieutenant Colonel Renvel's peculiar influence (bad habit) has led to my commission as a second lieutenant.
…Please spare me.
"Touri has previously served as the commander of a medical platoon. I judged that she had enough experience as a commander."
"…"
"Look, even she's grimacing! It shouldn't be that easy to get promoted to second lieutenant."
"Indeed. Promotions don't normally happen this easily."
Still, I hear that adjusting ranks is quite difficult.
Even Verdi struggled to lower my rank.
How could my promotion to second lieutenant have been approved so quickly?
"To be blunt, even though Colonel Henri and I are comrades, we often have differing opinions."
"I see."
"In such cases, influence matters within the military. So, we both want to promote soldiers who are aligned with us."
"Y-Yes."
Lieutenant Colonel Renvel said this with a mischievous grin.
…I see, so that's why he wanted to promote me.
I am part of his faction, after all.
"However, Touri's promotion was surprisingly easily approved."
"Huh?"
"Henri is usually very stubborn, but he replied on the same day, saying that this was an excellent achievement and that she is suitable to be a second lieutenant."
Even Lieutenant Colonel Renvel's face showed confusion.
He seemed unsure of the reason behind this.
"However, Henri wants to meet you in person because he doesn't know you personally. Go to his tent at 2 p.m. tomorrow for an interview. Your promotion to second lieutenant will be official if there are no issues."
"Yes, understood."
"Touri, have you done anything to impress Henri that much? He even said he doesn't know you…"
It's true that I have never met Colonel Henri.
I don't even know what he looks like, and I've never dealt with him in any capacity.
"Lieutenant Colonel Renvel, this might not be related, but…"
"What is it?"
"For the past few days, Major Bern Valou has been persistently inviting me to join his unit. That might be why."
"What?!"
Bern Valou is the right-hand man of Colonel Henri, the commander of the Southern Army.
It's quite possible that he put the idea into Colonel Henri's head.
"Ah, so when Bern dragged you into his tent the other day, it was about this."
"What did Bern say to you?"
"It was an invitation that made no sense, like offering me the rank of captain and battalion commander."
"…How did you answer?"
"I refused. If possible, I never want to see Major Bern Valou's face again."
"That scheming bastard, no wonder he agreed so easily…"
Lieutenant Colonel Renvel stood up in anger after hearing the news.
Well, I guess that's how it is.
"I thought it was unusual for him to want to meet and talk in person, but it turns out he was trying to recruit you!"
"C-Calm down, Grandpa."
"Not only has he taken my daughter Aria, but now he's trying to take my granddaughter as well! I can't forgive that!"
"Huh? Granddaughter?
"Since Aria has passed away, I'm now Touri's guardian. You're like a granddaughter to me."
"I see."
I only then realized that Lieutenant Colonel Renvel had been my guardian since Aria's death.
With Aria's death, I thought I had once again lost all my family."
"Actually, I'd like you to marry someone from our family. I was quite shocked when I was rejected the other day."
"I'm sorry… I have a husband whom I must be faithful to."
"I heard the circumstances from Verdi. Well, I'll wait. Let me know if you change your mind."
If Renvel is my guardian, it would provide peace of mind if I were injured or discharged.
He's quite lenient with family, so he would likely take good care of me.
"Gavel, you should try to win Touri over as well. You're close in age, so you'll probably get along well."
"Try to win her over…? Grandpa, this is a battlefield…"
"That's why I assigned you to the same unit."
It seems Sergeant Gavel was assigned to my unit with the intention of pursuing me.
He looked quite shocked to hear that.
"Is it alright if I hear this?"
"Given your nature, it's better not to keep it hidden. Facing hardships together in the same unit will naturally foster feelings."
Well, it's better than having it done secretly…
Renvel's approach to matchmaking seems quite direct and blunt.
"However, absolutely no children until the war is over."
"I won't be having any…"
Well, he's an old-fashioned guy, so maybe that's just natural for Renvel.
In fact, the idea of maintaining chastity for life might be considered unconventional.
It seems many widows of fallen soldiers often remarry after some years.
"Why don't you become my granddaughter in both name and reality?"
"…Uh, well, I'm still trying to come to terms with things."
"That's good. A wife who cherishes her husband that much will create a good family."
…I never intended to get married in the first place.
So, I'm sorry to Renvel, but I plan to spend the rest of my life like this.
Rodri is the only exception.
"Lieutenant Colonel Renvel, no matter what kind of treatment I am offered, I have no intention of accepting any recruitment offers, so please don't worry."
"I appreciate that."
"I don't want to be anywhere near Bern Valou. Please understand."
Thus, I managed to navigate the marriage proposal from Renvel and smooth things over.
For him, matchmaking seems to be one method of building his faction.
Perhaps some of the people who approached Aria were also influenced by Renvel.
"Is Gavel really that bad?"
"He's not bad, but, uh… I do think he has some cute qualities, you know?"
"Cute?!"
Afterward, I inadvertently said something that soured Sergeant Gavel's mood considerably.