Chapter 245 – 245. Struggle, And, You, Me, We (7)
– One –
The continent’s hot summer weather is reminiscent of hell.
But is it because it’s northern?
The weather in this area did not exceed the cool level.
Until now.
“Hee-eok, hee-eok, hee-eok, hee-eok…”
The red-faced female soldier stumbles.
Military uniforms, military uniforms, armor and weapons, everything intensifies the heat felt by soldiers on the march.
A soldier who was ahead turned around and approached the woman.
Judging by the rank insignia embroidered on his chest, he seemed to be a senior female soldier.
“Hey.”
“Heo Eok, Private First Class,”
“Okay. Is it very difficult?”
“No, heo-eok, no! Heo-eok, heo-eok…”
Squeak, squeak.
Blank.
The senior takes away the military commander of the successor female soldier and puts it on the floor.
The female soldier looks at the scene blankly.
Squeak, squeak.
Took.
He picked it up with his right hand and put it around his back.
Tap her on the shoulder with her left hand.
“If it’s hard, don’t hide it. There is already a lot of dropouts, so there’s no need for you to join the ranks.”
“Oh, thank you…”
“By the way, the sudden hot weather is driving me crazy.”
“That’s right.”
The two of them slowly move their steps while talking about each other.
It’s hard.
But not to the point of thinking about death.
Not yet.
“It’s hot, it’s hot…”
“Still, there’s not much left, sergeant. The riverside the reconnaissance unit said is right in front of you.”
“Yeah. It’s crazy because you can see it. It’s been a day or two since I almost turned around in a plain with nothing to use as a guidepost, where.”
“Honestly… I agree.”
The two looked at each other and smiled bitterly.
As much as they, no, the journey of all the imperial soldiers was a series of difficult days, so their laughter could never be joyful.
“By the way, Sergeant.”
“Something.”
“The reconnaissance unit… That…”
“Shh.”
The sergeant looks around.
All those marching together move heavy steps while looking at the floor.
Kururureung.
Coo coo coo coo.
In the distance, in the back, a completed siege weapon rolls in.
Many horses and many more men are abused.
Cavalrymen were separated from horses and riders, and were reassigned to the new roles of infantry and pack horses.
It was because the command realized that a cavalry charge was a meaningless strategy against monsters who built an overwhelming fortress on the fly.
No one pays attention to them.
Whoa…
The sergeant let out a sigh of relief.
Then he opens his mouth in a low voice.
“Be careful with your mouth. There’s a fuss about it now, and everyone is sensitive to it.
“Ah…”
“It’s a relief if it’s over to the point of being ignorant, but you might end up getting Chidogon, so don’t even mention it. If you’re going to say it out of your mouth, look around and lower your voice.”
“Yes, Sergeant.”
The atmosphere of the Imperial Army was inevitably bloody.
At first, they simply thought that a new monster in the shape of a tree giant had appeared.
A small number of monsters appeared, but they caused great casualties to the Imperial Army mages and infantry units.
Over 7,000 soldiers were killed, and up to 3,000 were rendered incapacitated.
Besides, that wasn’t the end.
While the main unit was tossed around by tree giants, the reconnaissance unit was overrun by unknown enemies.
It is surprising that they were defeated individually, but they completely destroyed the commanders and communication systems of each unit.
“Perhaps, our enemy may not be a ragtag rebel.”
“Why… Do you think so?”
“Rather than my thoughts, these are the words that came out of the mouth of the superiors. The main unit and the reconnaissance unit were hit at the same time at a moment too exquisite to be simply a coincidence.”
“Ah…”
“If there is an enemy who can block our view and neutralize the commander and communication system by surprise, it will be one of two types. Either a new type of monster with more than human physical abilities and highly developed intelligence, or a very good assassin. Either way, it’s not an easy opponent.”
“Is that so…”
The soldier’s face darkened.
She must have regretted volunteering for her participation, blinded by her rewards, even though she had no experience in fighting.
She thought she would be relatively safe with the 200,000 Imperial Army, but the reality was cruel and dangerous contrary to her wishes.
She was realizing that she could die at any moment.
“Actually, I think. It’s more troublesome when they’re human.”
“Uh, why is that?”
“Think about it. Let’s assume that the enemies are people, and they are in a position where they can ask the tree giant to hold us by the ankles until they die, or give orders.”
“Huh, huh…!”
Private First Class is frightened.
Counting anyone, she quickly covers her mouth and holds her breath.
Her shoulders tremble
“The lesser evil is a situation in which they have a solid cooperative relationship. In that case, if the situation turns against them, perhaps a division in their relationship may occur. Is a situation that has formed.”
“…”
Gulp.
She glares at her sergeant with her fearful eyes as she swallows her dry saliva.
She seemed to know why the sergeant had been reluctant to talk about it, even though he didn’t elaborate.
“If that’s the case, and if they’re rebels, maybe our lives are in great danger.”
“Ah…”
“Finding out how to earn the allegiance of monsters has never come to fruition. If it was possible, there would be no reason to spend on salaries or gear, so you could run a powerful army at a much lower cost. I’m sure. But even though it’s unprecedented, the reconnaissance unit is not doing its job, so I can’t help but keep the worst in mind.”
“That…”
Her face is visibly tired.
The sergeant didn’t stop talking about her, even though he knew she was terrified of her.
“In addition, let’s assume that monsters with high intelligence and physical ability to perform assassinations, or powerful human assassins, are under their command. If that is the case, then the rebels have overcome their numerical inferiority. It’s like we’re in a position to fortify and force a siege on us. Besides, if we assassinate commanders and officers every night to paralyze the chain of command, that alone will greatly shake our organizational power.”
“…”
She looks at her sergeant with her blank face, as if she has forgotten to even show her fear now.
“So, Private Galarreta.”
“Private Galareta.”
Swoop.
He takes a look at his surroundings.
No one is watching them
“Escape this place tonight.”
“Huh…! Lo, Sergeant Roland…!”
She freaks out
She also quickly takes a look around her.
“…”
“…”
However, she failed to accuse him to the other Imperial forces.
Even among the other imperial troops, there were not a few whispering to each other.
There were no lesser Galalettas among them, and no less many Rolands.
Their expressions were either frightened like hers or revealing the same spleen.
“You didn’t think I was giving you these ridiculous orders for no reason, no thought, no countermeasure, right?”
“Sergeant…”
Gulp.
Roland swallows.
A subtle fear appeared on his face.
But it soon fades away.
“Something is strange.”
“… What, what the hell are you talking about?”
“Something seems out of place with the command issued by the command…”
The Imperials always regard loyalty to their superiors’ orders as the highest virtue.
Therefore, it was extremely rare for them to question or protest the orders of their superiors since the founding of the Empire and the history of the Imperial Army.
But now,
Hand-to-hand.
Whisper.
It was on the verge of a mass protest against the superiors, centered on seasoned soldiers.
No, it may already be happening in real time.
“Please elaborate.”
Galaretta’s eyes are filled with sadness.
It was because she intuited from Roland’s reaction that this was in no way going against her loyalty to the empire and her subjects.
“I operated alongside General Glenfiddich in the operation to rescue His Highness the Crown Prince. It has not been officially announced within the Imperial Army, so newbies like you may not know much about it, but we, all those now secretly inciting desertions, I saw with my own two eyes how quickly it could be ruined.”
“D-Damn it, what the hell is that… I can’t believe it?!”
“Shh.”
Her voice rises a little.
Because of that, sharp gazes fly from their surroundings and stick to them.
Swish, swish!
Whistle.
Roland quickly gives them a hand signal.
Of course, it was a very secretive and natural movement, so the upper level wouldn’t have noticed it easily.
Seeing that, interest in them fades.
“At that time, during the operation, a traitor who had secretly infiltrated the wizard’s unit cast berserk magic on him. The traitor was immediately executed immediately after the investigation was initiated, but until the magic was dispelled, General Glenfiddich gave an incomprehensible order. He gave them one after another, just like an order from command.”
“Oh my god…”
Stumble.
Sreureuk, Tup.
She stumbles because her legs are loose.
Roland quickly slides his arm under Galaretta’s armpit.
He supports her and continues to speak in her low voice so only she can hear.
“According to the ideal engagement rules we have known so far, in the current situation where the identity and size of the enemy is unknown, we must not forcefully order a rapid march without reorganizing the reconnaissance unit. Do you agree?”
“Yes, yes.”
“But how is the situation now?”
“Hee, hee…! Wow, aren’t you doing the complete opposite?!”
It was.
The Imperial Army did not recover from the damage inflicted by the reconnaissance unit.
Thus, it is clear that the command is not even properly equipped with operational guidance.
Siege weapons are being moved around, but to use them requires sappers to spend hours assembling and tuning.
That’s why the siege weapons in their current state were nothing more than large-scale trophies.
The cavalry used to be a high-class soldier that could be the most active on the steppe, but now they have been scattered throughout the steppe, degenerating into siege weapons, cart horses, and mediocre infantry.
Many wizards and shamans complained of sunstroke after exhausting themselves on carts due to the scorching heat, and even infantrymen with relatively stronger stamina were dragging their feet while marching.
In order to restore their physical strength, the Cathedral Knights and the Heretic Questioner were meaninglessly wasting their sacred power.
The ranks were disorganized, and mountains of discarded supplies and equipment formed along the route they marched.
Something was happening right in front of her that should never have happened to her, but none of her newbies, like her, noticed it.
It was because he was completely exhausted from the sudden rise in temperature and was in a hurry to march while looking only at his feet.
“I’m not sure. But the sense of incongruity I feel now is by no means the same as back then. So, even if it’s not a berserk, I’m assuming that some kind of magic that affects the command’s mind or judgment was used.”
“What can I do, Sergeant Roland?”
He smiles
Somehow she felt that he was embarrassed.
“If there comes a moment when the vigilance is moderately relaxed tonight, escape here and go south unconditionally.”
“Yes.”
“It’s not going to be an escape alone. The officers and soldiers who participated in the rescue operation of Her Highness the Crown Prince are the main force, persuading people like you and instructing them to escape to the rear. Some of the officers will lead you to escape as well. Take it.”
“All right.”
Her expression showed a certain firmness.
It is evident that she gradually regains her courage and that she is stabilizing mentally.
“No matter where it is, you only need to reach the inside of the communication range. Make that your destination and move south as quickly as possible. Join the procession heading there, and make it your first priority to protect the signal soldiers. Posting the message will be taken care of by the signalman. This is absolutely not a desertion, nor is it a mutiny. Okay?”
“Insect!”
When she answered quietly, Roland finally nodded his head as if relieved.
Suddenly, she too felt a sense of incongruity in his instructions.
“But the sergeant doesn’t go with you? Why are you instructing only me to escape?”
The nape of his neck is subtly red.
He realized how lucky he was that her legs had come loose from shock and exhaustion.
It is because a situation was created in which it was not awkward at all to wrap his heart in comradeship.
“In case the enemy might move south, shouldn’t someone stay here and protect the retreat?”
“Sergeant…”
Her eyes are wet
A mixture of respect and worry, pity and grief.
“It’s much easier for newbies like you to get your feet out of this dangerous place first, to match those worn out on the battlefield like us. So please… Don’t get in the way and get back.”
He couldn’t bear to tell her that he wanted her to survive.
She had at least the least of her notice to figure out that she didn’t see herself as a man, because she had him too.
Perhaps it was the shame of someone who might die, struggling not to leave her lingering feelings on the survivors.
“It’s tonight.”
“…”
“You’ll have to run quite a long way, so reserve your stamina as much as possible.”
“…”
“You understand?”
“…”
Roland frowns at her slyly and looks back at her eyes.
Tears well in Galaretta’s eyes.
He was cold at heart, but he decided to believe that he had succeeded in hiding it completely.
“Private Galaretta. Answer me.”
“… Full.”
“Good.”
He smiled
That was enough.
The sun was very hot.
And it was hot.
– 2 –
– … There is an orchid atmosphere. Due to the mass exodus that will take place tonight, it is likely that many will avoid a collision with them.
“Is it.”
Regal listened to the report through the magic tool, smiled and answered rather casually.
Unlike the man in the battle uniform of the Imperial Army, he did not seem to take the situation seriously.
He opened his mouth without even looking at the display panel.
“Leave me alone.”
– Can I ask why?
“There’s no particularly great reason. However, I’ve already prepared for him, so I just told him to leave it alone.”
– Ah… !
Respect dwells in the face reflected on the display panel.
– All right. Then can I just leave?
“I see. If there are any other changes, as long as they don’t get caught, there’s no need to worry about eavesdropping, so report them to me anytime.”
– Chung!
Tiririk.
The display panel goes dark.
Regal leans back on the couch and stares at the crystal goblet of amber liquid.
Food.
“Strive as much as you want. Then…”
Swoop.
Gulp.
He swallowed the amber liquid in the glass with one bite.
He longed for the sooner to come the day when he would devour the Empire just like that.
As always, he lusted after it intensely.