Chapter 2: The People Advancing Eastwards
Translator: Skythewood
Editor: Hiiro
How would you describe the feelings of the soldiers when they saw that scene?
The Empire’s Northern Territory, east of the Grand Arfatra Mountains. The vegetation and terrain was different from barren waste to the north and east which served as the stage for the civil unrest last time. The altitude was lower, it was more humid, and there was lush greenery. The mountains on the Kioka side even had jungles scattered here and there, making the environment closer to that of the former eastern territories.
But if you looked up, the looming mountains that reached the clouds were just as imposing. It was clear even from so far away that the people scaling the treacherous mountains were moving slowly and helplessly. There were probably children, elderly, the injured and the sick. There would definitely be stragglers during their crossing of the mountains. Even so, they were still determined to take to the hills, leaving their home country that had been forsaken by the Gods.
「...This is insanity.」
The devotees abandoned the Empire where they were born and raised, to flee to a foreign nation.
That was the scene witnessed by all the soldiers under Brigadier General Senpa Sazarf’s command.
「... Just from where we can see, there’s four to five thousand people. If we include people in our blindspots, there are probably ten thousand of them.」
Standing on the plateau in front of his men, Matthew said as he looked through his telescope with vexation and frustration in his heart.
「Before reaching here, we stopped around 10,000 devotees behind us… Half of the group had made it into the mountains.」
Thump! Sazarf punched a tree trunk. He pursed his lips at his own incompetence.
「Why didn’t we see the signs...? Just how off was our estimates?」
Standing beside the two of them with serious faces, the woman with Haro’s face cast her eyes downwards.
「S-Sorry… i-it must be my fault. I missed a clue in my search area.」
Aside from it being intentionally, that was the truth. But Matthew and Sazarf never suspected that her personality had changed, and absolved her of fault because of their strong sense of responsibility.
「This situation can’t be explained as a single person’s mistake. All of us are probably at fault, or else things wouldn’t be this bad.」
「I’m thinking the same thing too. But for things to turn out this way… I can’t complain if Her Majesty takes my head.」
When he heard what Sazarf said, the pudgy youth shook his head with a serious face.
「Don’t say that, Brigadier General. That’s a bad joke.」
「Sorry, I only realized after saying that.」
Sazarf slapped his stiff face hard with both hands to perk himself up and looked ahead.
「We can’t do anything about what happened. After advancing so far and stopping the people in our path, the problem now is what we should do with them.」
「It’s a crime to leave the country without permission, we can’t ignore that. Letting so many people escape might harm the trust and authority of the Empress. We have to bring as many people back as possible.」
「That’s true── but should we venture deeper into the mountains to do so?」
The ominous tone in his superior officer’s made Matthew frown.
「... I don’t plan to make the same mistake as Lieutenant General Safida.」
「What a coincidence, me too. I have been taking care to defend the thin supply lines from guerrilla attacks… However, most of the Shinnack Tribe had moved out of the mountains, so I don’t think they will just mimic the trick they played the last time.」
Sazarf analyzed calmly. The guerrilla attacks during the Northern Territory unrest was only possible for the local tribes familiar with the terrain, not something Kioka and the Aldera Holy Army could copy so easily. There were still survivors from the Shinnack Tribe living in the mountains, but they were just remnants of a fallen army. He didn’t think they had the strength to rise up in rebellion once more.
「Despite all that, I’m all for not advancing ── but if we just wave our handkerchief and just watch the 10,000 civilians leave, my earlier joke may turn into reality. To avoid making the same mistake as Lieutenant General Safida, we have to go forth.」
Sazarf turned around at that and surveyed the area.
「Set up the basecamp and field hospital in this plateau ── Can I leave the frontline command to you, Major Matthew? I want your battalion to take point.」
The youth called out by name didn’t answer immediately and replied with a stern face.
「... Kioka and Ra Saia Alderamin are probably behind this dramatic escape. If they are luring us in with the church followers, then there would be an intense battle during the pursuit.」
「Yes, that’s probably true.」
「Repel the attackers and bring as many church followers back to the Empire as possible. Can I assume that is my mission?」
Seeing his superior officer nodding firmly, Matthew who had made this final confirmation straightened his back and saluted.
「Orders received── Haro, I will leave rear support to you, do your best.」
「Matthew-san... Please be careful.」
Matthew nodded in response to his comrade’s concern and left. The girl played the role of Haro perfectly, but she was sneering in her heart ── Everything was going as she expected.
In the mountains some distance away from the Imperial army in hot pursuit. Aldera followers of all ages and genders were hurrying up the arduous mountain terrain that could no longer be called roads.
「Hah, hah, hah...!」
「Hubby, we can’t... if we don’t rest for a while, the children will...」
The mother couldn’t bear seeing their children panting with their hands on their knees and pleaded. Her husband walking in front shook his head firmly.
「We are not there yet, don’t stop moving! You saw just now, the pursuing Imperial army is in the mountains! They are faster than us, and will catch up if we dally...!」
After committing the crime of fleeing the country, they were being pursued by the hounds of the Imperial army from behind. They wouldn’t live to see tomorrow if they fail to escape their fangs ── that might not be the facts, but that was what they believed.
「Once we reach there── the top of that mountain, we will rest. Can you hang on until then?」
The man said and patted the backs of his children encouragingly. The eldest strode forth again, but the two younger ones cried even louder. The father grabbed his children’s arms in frustration.
「Pull yourself together...! Here, grab my hand!」
Even though he was saying that, it was hard to walk when he grabbed their arms. In the end, he carried his two children on his back. With the body weight of the two children resting heavily on him, the man struggled up the mountain slowly.
「Huff! Huff! Huff...! ...Uwah?」
Suddenly, the ground under his right feet turned into loose rocks. The man leaned sharply towards the cliff together with the children on his back.
「Hubby?」
His wife screamed. From what she could see, the father and two children were going to fall off the cliff ── before tragedy struck, a strong arm grabbed onto them.
「── That was close. You did great getting here safely.」
「...Huh?」
The man was slowly laid down onto the rocky ground with his two children as he looked blankly at his saviour. A soldier wearing a uniform different from that of the Empire smiled gently at him.
「I’m Corporal Laval of the Kioka army, here to welcome you. We have prepared food, water and mules, so please take it easy from here.」
The man looked around when he heard that and found many Kioka soldiers aside from Corporal Laval had suddenly appeared, helping the others climbing up the mountains. He soothed his wife who rushed to him, telling her he was fine, and was shocked by the situation before him.
「W-Welcome up… this deep in the mountains?」
「Not just us, the apostles of God are here too.」
He looked at the direction pointed out by Corporal Laval and saw soldiers with the insignia of a single star working earnestly with the Kioka soldiers to provide aid to the church followers. The man opened his eyes wide at this scene.
「Ra Saia Alderamin Holy Army...!」
「Surprised? We are working with them to protect the followers of Aldera who wish to escape from the Empire. Since you have made it here, you don’t have to worry anymore.」
The Corporal slowly helped the man to stand and told him that, then looked gently at the man’s family.
「Your wife and kids must be tired. Those who can’t walk please ride the mules, I will bring you to a camp nearby. But this place will soon turn into a battlefield, so we can’t rest too long.」
「Y-Yes... Thank you, you are a big help...」
The man finally squeezed out an answer to the unexpectedly generous support. Beside him, the children were jostling to drink water from the Corporal’s canteen.
「── There’s more than 4,000 people so far? Mum*, the pacing isn’t too bad.」
In front of the long lines of Aldera followers hiking up the mountains was the bases of the Kioka and Aldera Holy Army, Kioka sent 3,000 men while the Aldera Holy Army mobilized 2,000 soldiers, spread out along the escape routes of the migrants.
Inside the commander’s tent, the commander of the Kioka forces, Major General Jean Arkinex received periodic reports from his subordinates with a cheerful smile.
「It will be around six thousand people in five days. Assuming the Imperial Army give chase, the rest of the civilians would be stopped by them.」
Adjutant Miara added cautiously. The next moment, a thick-faced voice in sharp contrast to her chipped in.
「The numbers had increased to something that the Empire couldn’t ignore. With such a short period of planning, they actually gathered such a huge group ── Oh right, Jean. What’s 37 plus 61?」
「It’s 98, Professor. A big factor is that the more impoverished someone is, the more they cling on to religion. The outflow of priests would directly lead to the outflow of Church followers. Breaking off ties with Ra Saia Alderamin was one factor, but failing to put in the effort to retain them was the lapse of the Empire. This is largely the Empire suffering the consequences of their own actions.」
「The priests chasing me around are having a hard time now, and had to abandon their homes and flee here. They will learn the hardship of being on the run now ── 48 times 11?」
「528. You can use larger numbers, Professor.」
Jean answered instantly. Anarai marked a circle on scrap paper while nodding.
「Hmm, you got everything right so far. And you answer within two seconds, you got an amazing brain.」
Jean smiled at that compliment. In order to verify his brain partition for sleep hypothesis, the safest way was testing him. Miara beside him frowned── She didn’t like the tests that were interjected into their daily routines.
「... Erm, Professor Anarai. We agree to you coming with us, but you are distracting Jean too much...」
「No, it’s fine, Miara. Just two or three calculations won’t have much effect on me.」
She wanted to remind the Professor that he had gone too far, but the subject Jean himself turned her down. Ignoring Miara who was seething unhappily, the white-haired officer chatted intimately with Anarai.
「Yah*, speaking of which── I didn’t expect you to follow us into the mountains. Even after scaling a mountain 3,000 m above sea level, you appear more energetic than the soldiers around you, Professor… Your legs are as strong as you say.」
「Of course. Unlike a certain someone, I sleep soundly every night～」
The old man puffed up his thin chest and declared. His lack of decorum towards a high ranking officer pushed Miara towards her limits with each passing second.
「... Like I said! Please mind your attitude ──」
「Professor──! Look here! Over here!」
Before Miara could finish, a man suddenly charged into the tent and drowned out her words. Jean and Anarai turned their gazes his way.
「What is it, Bajin──Hmm? That...!」
「I dug this out from the cliff wall to the west! This metal plate is obviously manmade, but it’s not rusting...!」
Bajin handed over a palm sized metal plate excitedly. Jean leaned in curiously.
「Hum*? Pardon me... this is an incredible object, but why are the two of you so worked up, Professor?」
「Do you even need to ask!? This might be an artifact from an ancient civilization!」
The old man’s face turned red like an excited kid. The white-haired officer tilted his head confusedly.
「Ancient civilization...? So it’s from an era before the 6 precursor nations of Kioka and the Katjvarna Empire existed?」
「Far more ancient than that. It’s at least 5,000 years old.」
Anarai stated an absurd number of years before looking up in a daze, as if he was looking at the sky beyond the tent ceiling.
「An ancient past which didn’t have any written records, there used to be a civilization far more advanced than ours. The people from that era created something that had survived until modern times, the Four Great Sprites── That’s the gist of my 『Super Ancient Civilization Theory』. And of course, it’s still just a theory at this point.」
Jean opened his eyes wide when he heard this astonishing theory.
「── The Sprites? Made by man? ... Sorry, Professor, I don’t quite get what you mean.」
「What’s wrong? You are not an especially pious follower of Aldera, and you blindly believe that God created the Sprites and sent them to the mortal world? Very well── I will clear your doubts! Listen, the Sprites are a unique existence in the natural world ──」
Anarai used the chance to give a lesson to Jean. Unable to interject because of the mood, Miara could only watch from the side.
A hand suddenly patted her shrivelled shoulder.
「... Don’t be depressed.」
「D-Don’t scare me like that!」
Her colleague Taznyado Harrah stood beside her with a sympathetic face. The Kioka soldier who was the most burly of the unit calmly received the sarcastic venting by Miara and sighed.
「I didn’t expect Jean to be so close to someone. But that can’t be helped, since the Professor is like a toy box with a different surprise waiting when opened.」
「B-But...! Discussing those matters deviates from the responsibilities of a soldier!」
「Even if you think so… Can you say that to Jean’s face? Look at how happy he looks.」
Harrah cast his gaze at the white-haired officer. Miara didn’t need him to remind her that Jean was showing the face of a youth filled with curiosity towards the unknown. After seeing that, there was no way she could butt in.
「Like what you told me before, I have never seen Jean show such a face. Not once before the Professor showed up.」
「......」
「The Professor did the things we failed to do, and I have complicated feelings about that. That guy actually found joy outside of fulfilling his duties, and that’s probably a good thing. You feel the same, right?」
After a short hesitation, Miara nodded slightly. Harrah could empathize with her struggles, and as the eldest of them all, he chose to be sensible about it.
「It’s one thing if it gets in the way of our mission, if not, just watch quietly from the side. You might feel a little lonely── but don’t worry～ if Jean treats you too coldly and only plays with the Professor, I will tell him off.」
「Mind your own business...!」
Miara pounded her fist on his chest, then left the tent with a beet red face. 「Again～」 Harrah sent her off with a wry smile, then mumbled as his expression sharpened.
「In any case, our trap is slowly falling in place── how would the Imperials act?」
Around 1,000 m above sea level, Matthew Tetzirich’s vanguard battalion halted their advance.
「Seventh and Eight Platoon leader step forth.」
The two officers stepped out of the tidy formation and walked forth. The slightly plump youth faced the two men and stared at the two platoons standing at the other end ── the soldiers had taken off their uniform and put on plain white clothes. They didn’t look like imperial soldiers in their pilgrimage garbs.
「From here on, your two platoons will take point. I’m sure you already know this mission will be very trying.」
Matthew’s opening lines made the two officers nod tensely with bated breath. He laid out a map with both hands.
「Follow the route I set and charge up the mountain path as fast as you can. Try to close in onto the tailing elements of the escapees, and if possible, blend in with them. That’s the reason why I chose your platoons known for your speed.」
The officers listened carefully with tense faces to Matthew’s detailed tactical plan, not missing a single word. Seeing his old self in them, the youth could keenly feel the passage of time.
「... We got here from an unorthodox path, but at least this isn’t a civil war. If a battle breaks out, we will be up against the Kioka and Aldera Holy Army. Honestly, I’m relieved by that. I have enough of fighting our own people.」
Matthew said as he folded the map and put it away. With a clear enemy in mind, his face was full of life.
「Defeat the enemy and bring our people back, that’s the only thing we have to do. It has been a while, so let’s get on performing the actual duties of a soldier.」
「Reporting, OC (Officer Commanding) Sir! We have allowed passage to 621 refugees in the morning. They are moving to our rear right now!」
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Officer_commanding>
This was a blockade set up on the devotees’ escape route. The Kioka soldiers who were destined to clash with the Imperial Army in the near future tried to take in as many refugees before that moment came.
「Hmm, good work. The customers are coming nonstop. It seems like the Empire isn’t a suitable place to live.」
「Of course. Compared to the Empire without a future, our Kioka has limitless potential. There’s also the fact that we treat the refugees we received well too.」
In a room Inside the fort made from lumber and earth. The commander of the 300 men garrison nodded the proud patriotic declaration made by his subordinate.
「What about the Imperial Army pursuers? The refugees today are the tail end of the group, Are they speeding up their advances?」
「No. A small unit probably out on surveillance had just reached a position two days away from here. They were beaten soundly in their last battle in the Northern Territories, so they probably don’t dare to venture too far out. The soonest we will clash with them would be three days later.」
「Hmm, three days, huh... We don’t have to worry about the battle harming the refugees.」
The OC was happy to set aside one of his worries, then turned to his subordinate with a serious face.
「I already said this many times── Treat the refugees well, Second Lieutenant. We need to hold the moral high ground in order to force the Empire to the brinks.」
「Yes Sir. Even though their Empress holds absolute authority in governance, their country will be doomed if the people abandon them. The country only exists because of the people, not because of the ruler… Isn’t that right?」
The Second Lieutenant confirmed the ideology of his nation. His superior officer nodded with satisfaction at that ── but his face turned bitter.
「That’s right, this is a righteous battle. It will be better if the commander-in-chief isn’t that brat...」
The Second Lieutenant was stunned by those words. His OC continued talking about this topic that shouldn’t be discussed loudly.
「He was a junior officer not too long ago, and now he is the youngest Major General in Kioka history. He made use of the Prime Minister’s backing and cockily overtook his seniors before him… What about you, can you lower your head to him without any grudge?」
The man asked with a stern glare at his subordinate. The Second Lieutenant checked around him before subtly shaking his head. His OC nodded keenly.
「It’s good that you understand. Take good care of the refugees and prepare for the battle three days later. Give a warm reception to the Imperial Army.」
「Yes, but there’s a problem, Major General Arkinex ordered us to thoroughly search the refugees...」
The Second Lieutenant said timidly. As expected, his superior officer furrowed his brows.
「He wants us to strip the refugees and trample the good will we built up? Sigh, having a brat who doesn't know the situation on the ground is a headache… Pretend you never got that instruction and treat the refugees in the same manner as always.」
「Y-Yes Sir....」
The Second Lieutenant saluted weakly before turning around and running out. At this moment, a messenger passed by him with a report.
「OC Sir, we have another 100 people up the mountains! The pursuing Imperial Army is right on their tails, this should be the last batch!」
「Don’t panic, Corporal Laval. Let’s keep it up until the last of them is in. This is the right way an army serving our nation should act ── correct?」
The man declared leisurely. He was confident that they were on a sure path to victory.
「── All units halt.」
In the morning three days later. Contrary to their expectations, the Kioka soldiers had already set up defences in a fort in the mountains in front of Matthew’s battalion.
Observing the enemy terrain from behind cover of a slope, the pudgy youth muttered to himself.
「... They blocked the road with a blockade? It has been a while since I did this, looking up at the enemy who holds the high ground still feels as annoying as ever.」
This scene was close to a copy of the Northern Territories civil unrest. Enemy troops poked out the barrels of their guns through the gaps of their cover, waiting eagerly for a charge. Not just that, there were barrels of Wind Cannons protruding out from various positions, they were prepared for anything.
「The enemy numbered around 300. The ratio of Wind Gunners, Fire troops and Luminous soldiers is about 4:3:3. There aren't any Blast Cannons... That’s only natural, given the effort needed to transport them here. In their place, there are 8 Wind Cannons left behind from the Northern Territories civil unrest.」
The fire power might be less than a Blast Cannon, but the advantage of shooting downwards with gravity made them a big threat. Many of his comrades got their limbs crushed by the projectiles in the last war.
But── after taking all that into account, Matthew fixed his bayonet onto his Wind Gun with a click.
「Fix bayonets── We don’t have time to waste right at the start. Take them and that fort swiftly!」
「「「「「Sir, yes, Sir!」」」」」
His men answered his orders with high morale and determination ── the battle then started.
「──They never learn. To attempt a frontal assault with just those numbers!?」
Sensing the enemy charging, the Kioka commander glared at them from the fort and prepared to engage.
「Engage, start shooting and fire the cannons! Don’t let them come near! ── attack」
Bullets started flying on his orders. The sound of compressed air exploding overlapped with each other, sounding the musical prelude on the battlefield. Eight cannon shots rolled down the slope one beat slower, kicking up thick dust. One of the cannon shots tore down a tree.
「We are defending, but that doesn’t mean we have to be passive! We have the advantage of the high ground and terrain! Litter the corpses of the Imperials on top of the Grand Arfatra Mountains!」
Spurred by their commander, the Kioka soldiers continued their intense barrage. The Imperial soldiers who were charging turned back to the slope in the face of such resistance.
Silence fell between them and the enemy who was at a loss about how to attack, the battle had fallen into an impasse.
「── It’s one sided. They can’t even come near this fort.」
「That is a given since we have the advantage in terrain. I can’t even use this to bolster my war achievement.」
The commander was dumbstruck at their tactics that hadn’t grown since the Northern Territories unrest ── It’s too dumb. Forcing an assault despite the disadvantageous situation would just be wasting the lives of soldiers.
「But this will be a victory that befits Kioka. Defeating the enemy with the correct application of tactics, let that insomniac brat see the correct way of soldiering.」
On the other hand, defeating the foolish enemy with orthodox tactics satisfied his ego as a commander ──He just needed to keep them in check, then beat them off with a salvo when they charged again. If the enemy didn’t move, he just needed to maintain the status quo.
However── the next moment, the gloating commander received a stunning report.
「E-Enemy attack! They came from behind ──!」
「What?」
The commander turned around in shock and saw a surprising scene ── a large number of armed enemy soldiers was charging the fort from an unexpected direction.
「Impossible, why are there enemy soldiers behind the fort? I have men watching the area from a high vantage point, they couldn’t have flanked us ──」
As he was feeling utterly confused, he noticed one fact. The enemy attacking from the unexpected angle were wearing pilgrimage clothes similar to the Church followers.
「──Could it be, those refugees...」
The commander turned pale when he understood what happened. But it was too late, he already committed a fatal error before the battle began.
The fort was in disarray from the surprise attack and Matthew saw that this was his chance to strike.
「We have a pincer attack just as planned ── charge!」
His battalion didn’t miss this golden opportunity and launched a general attack. The Imperial soldiers charged up the slope with Wind Guns and crossbows. Sensing their approach, the Kioka soldiers engaged them in a panic.
「Don’t relent from their retaliation, go all the way in! Don’t waste this chance created by our allies!」
Matthew spurred his men with a shout and leapt into action. Because of their allies' attack to the rear of the fort, the density of the retaliatory fire dropped. It was no time to hesitate. If they don’t break through the fort, their comrades who led the charge would be overwhelmed.
「「「「「「Warrghhh ──!!!」」」」」」
The soldiers sprint in a united front to take down the enemy fort. After several of them fell along the way, the leading elements finally reached the objective.
「── Reserves unit, engage them! Don’t let them near the fort!」
The fort was desperately fighting back, attempting to resist the surprise attack with their reserve forces. But the enemy in pilgrimage garb didn’t slow their offensive.
「They are charging while shooting at us! OC Sir, they are veteran hunter troops!」
「They move as one, but their individual movements are too damn fast! Damn it, I can’t aim...!」
The enemy was better trained than expected, making the Kioka soldiers anxious. This was only natural, since the men under Matthew had improved a lot compared to the past. Suppressing fire, taking proper cover, letting others advance to a safe area ── the soldiers divide their jobs according to their roles, moving as individual platoons while maintaining cohesion over the entire unit. Their threat couldn’t be compared to soldiers in tight formation charging up to fire in salvos.
Suddenly, the Kioka soldier who was fighting a tough battle saw an unexpected development. The enemy attacking the back of the fort formed into single file and charged right at the main gate.
「? T-Those guys are heading right for the main gate...!」
「Shots are ineffective! Stop them with melee combat.」
The soldiers moved forth to engage on that order. But they were too slow to stop the enemy’s momentum. Before they could form a sturdy square formation, their ranks fell into disarray as the hunting troops charged them.
「The gate is open! Chargeeeeeeee!」
The sound of the door bar dropping echoed out. The blockade had fallen to the surprise attack from the rear, exposing its throat to the frontal assault unit. Finally linking up with their allies, the Imperial soldiers grouped up and ravaged the insides of the fort.
「Shyaa──!」「Gwahh!」「Ugghhh!」
The Kioka soldier stabbed by bayonets fell with blood spilling out of their mouths. They were too close to open fire and the battle devolved into close quarter combat. Matthew’s unit was used to chaotic fights and attacked ferociously.
「D-Damn it ahhhhh!」
One soldier charged in with reckless abandonment, slipping through the gaps by sheer dumb luck to close in on the commander. Seeing him from the corner of his eye, Matthew dodged the bayonet, grabbed his arm and knocked him down by sweeping the legs.
「Phew...!」
Matthew swiftly straddled the fallen soldier, stabbing his bayonet into the enemy soldier before pushing it further into his chest. Matthew only stood up when the enemy soldier was dead.
「Are you alright, Major Matthew!?」
「I’m fine… We have to suppress the fort quickly. Don’t let their commander escape.」
Wiping the blood splatters from his face, the youth and his men started moving again. He broke through the four-leveled fort one by one and finally reached the remnants of the enemy at the rooftop.
「──You must be the commander.」
「Damn it… Shit...!」
Behind his subordinates with raised weapons, the enemy commander’s lips were trembling from humiliation. When Matthew marked him out as the commander from his epaulette, the commander lashed out at the youth.
「What dirty tricks, disguising your soldiers with pilgrimage clothes to blend into the refugees from your own country! I won’t accept this! Is this the righteous path of the Imperial Army!? Using your own citizens to carry out your schemes, don’t you have any pride as soldiers!?」
「Before you say all that nonsense, lay down your arms and surrender… And you guys who kept inciting civil unrest in our country don’t have the right to say all that. Enough, hurry up and raise your white flag.」
Matthew ignored his accusations and ordered his men to get ready for a volley fire. The officers turned pale when the muzzles were pointed at them, and one of them pulled out a white flag and waved it.
「W-Why you...!」
With that as a signal, the other soldiers laid down their weapons too, leaving just the OC by himself. Seeing how thick headed he was, Matthew sighed again.
「All this talk about pride and righteousness, those are luxuries you only bring up when you can spare the effort... For you, now isn’t the time to revel in such ideals. When our unit is closing in, you should have played it safe and stop letting people through the fort. You didn’t do so because you are proud and arrogant.」
「......Ugh...!」
「I just found a gap and went right in ── all my battles require me to give it my all, I can’t spare the effort to fight in a cool way.」
When he heard that, the enemy commander hung his head and dropped his crossbow. Matthew’s men interpret this as the battle being over and immediately disarm the enemy. As he watched the enemy being disarmed and tied up, the pudgy youth asked his adjutant.
「Casualty report.」
「Yes Sir! The frontal assault unit has twelve dead, twenty-one heavily injured. The surprise attack force has seven dead and sixteen heavily injured. In total, nineteen dead and thirty-seven heavily injured! We are still counting the lightly wounded!」
「We lost nineteen men, huh… I can’t do it like them.」
The black and red figures flashed across Matthew’s mind. Even after accumulating lots of experience as an officer, he was still far from their level. He apologized in his heart to his subordinates who died because of his lack of abilities, but he wasn’t tied down by it, focusing on the next course of action instead.
「Get reinforcements from the unit behind us, apprehend the Church followers between here and the next blockade and send them to the back. We will continue our advance── don’t let our victory get to your heads. Our enemy is Kioka, it might not be so easy next time.」
「── The first line of defence has fallen? That fast?」
The bad news were relayed to the rear through light communications in a matter of hours. The command post had a relaxed atmosphere because of Anarai who wasn’t keen on the rules, but this report made them tense.
「Yes, it’s unfortunate… According the soldiers who witnessed the scene on the grounds, we were hit by the main force coming from the front and a unit who went around to the back of the fort.」
The reporting officer added with a pained expression. The old sage imagined with a hand on his chin.
「A pincer attack in that terrain… That means the soldiers blended into the fleeing Church followers? I see, they made use of Kioka’s openness towards the refugees.」
He concluded in a matter of seconds and nodded in awe. No matter how tense the air was, this Scientist had nothing to do with nervousness.
「Using such a bold strategy right from the start, the enemy commander sure got guts. In contrast, your subordinates are too careless. Seemingly ignoring your orders to thoroughly search the refugees.」
Anarai ignored the atmosphere and said with a taunt. The white-haired officer accepted his opinion with a serious face and slowly closed his eyes ── He could imagine the commander on the ground, and the OC who probably ignored his orders. He gave off such a vibe the moment they first met.
Subordinates who had been with him long term aside, those who just came under his command would often hold ill will towards him. This was a common problem for him, an officer who scaled quickly up the ranks at a young age. Making up the lack of trust was one of the problems he needed to resolve in the future.
「... Indeed. It is as the Professor says, we need to set our minds to deal with the issue.」
Jean opened his eyes a few seconds later, with the resolve to take the next steps in his silver eyes.
「I’m heading to the third line of defence. Miara, can you select an escort company?」
「Huh? You are leaving the command post? But Jean, a general ranked officer personally...」
Miara objected, worried about his safety. However, he closed one eye as if to tell her not to worry.
「I’m not heading to the frontlines, or interfere with the decisions on the ground at this point too. I want to be in a place where I can see the enemy positions, war can’t be fought on paper after all.」
After saying that to sooth her, Jean quietly added.
「── There might be familiar faces in the enemy camp.」
「── Message from the frontlines, Major Haroma. We have broken through the first blockade and captured the enemy commander along with 200 odd fleeing citizens.」
「Really?」
The same report was sent to the Imperial Army’s basecamp as great news. Looking in the direction where Matthew was, Sazarf showed a big smile.
「He is doing great against the Kioka army too. He has grown over the past two years.」
Haro smiled in agreement, and peeked in the opposite direction. Noticing her movements, Sazarf turned to her and asked.
「...? What’s wrong, Major Haroma? Are you worried about the rear?」
「Oh… Well, I’m concern about the people our unit stopped on our way here.」
When he heard that, he took out his telescope and looked at the foot of the mountain. The subjects of Haro’s concerns soon fell within his field of vision. He stiffened the corners of his lips.
「...That’s true. We gave strict orders for them to disperse and go home, but a large group of them are still staying at the foot of the mountain. Even though it’s useless for them to stay there.」
「I know, right? I’m worried about their provisions running out.」
The woman said the lines that matched Haroma Becker’s character perfectly. Sazarf didn’t notice anything wrong and started thinking as he kept his telescope.
「... True, they probably couldn’t bring themselves to retreat. The soldiers on site are trying to persuade them to no avail...」
He reached a natural conclusion. There was no way that he would realize that he was being led on.
「...Sorry, Major Haroma. I will take care of things here, can you turn back to persuade them? Your calm personality makes you a good candidate, it will be terrible if someone starves to death while we are busy engaging the enemy.」
Sazarf raised the best answer he thought he derived all by himself. The woman paused for a moment before answering, emphasizing that he was the one who proposed this, and she was just accepting his idea.
「──I understand. I will leave the field hospital here to my deputy for now, and take a platoon with me to the rear. Can you give me the authority to take command on site, as well as the authority to request assistance from the Northern Stronghold?」
「Hmm, wait a bit, I will write an official order.」
Mr goody-two-shoes superior immediately drafted out an order. The woman smiled gently as she watched him from behind.
「──Thank you.」
Sazarf never thought that he was giving a weapon called authority to someone he shouldn’t have.
Three days after the blockade fell. 26 km to the northeast of the basecamp, 3,200 m above sea level.
「── We finally get to see the terrain in its entirety.」
Major Matthew Tetzirich sat on a protruding boulder and laid out his map, focusing on the east. Specifically, the enemy positions that were scattered in his field of vision.
「E-Entirety... What do you mean?」
His adjutant who was afraid of heights asked as he stole glances at his feet. The pudgy youth turned the map he had marked to the other party.
「The route used by the Church followers, Kioka and Ra Saia Alderamin for this Grand Escape. We have predicted a few possible routes, and by working backwards from the enemy choke points, their main route is more or less confirmed.」
When he heard that, the adjutant stared intensely at the map. Matthew turned his eyes towards the mountain range.
「After going north up until there, they turned southeast. There are two hills they would need to cross along the way, and the blockades are set up in those two spots. A short distance after that would be a jungle. Traveling 20 km after the jungle would take us to Kioka territory.」
「... It’s not going to be easy.」
「That’s right. Considering the Church followers would be using the route, they should have chosen an easier path… However, that would run contrary to their defences against us. Allowing large groups of Imperial citizens into Kioka and grinding away the combat potential of the Imperial forces pursuing them when the chance arises ── that’s the enemy’s strategy. And we are going along with them despite knowing all that.」
「But from this terrain, we will need to take down a fort from a disadvantageous position two more times. The surprise attack we used last time probably won’t work again...」
The adjutant looked at Matthew with uneasy eyes. Matthew shook his head with a wry smile.
「It probably won’t come to that.」
「...Huh?」
「Just wait a while, and the enemy will withdraw from the fort in front. We just need to pass through directly after that.」
After hearing this unexpected prediction, the adjutant asked after going blank for a few seconds.
「What... What do you mean? The enemy finally got the upper hand, why would they willingly give up on their advantage...」
「They have to. If they don’t want to be isolated in the mountains.」
Matthew said firmly as if it was a sure thing. His adjutant finally realized why and looked to the east.
「...! The detachment unit is flanking to the enemy’s rear!」
「Correct. We are not just blindly chasing the Church followers from behind. There is more than one way into the mountains, so searching for a route to the enemy’s rear isn’t a stroke of genius, but something to be expected. Brigadier General Sazarf already sent out a detachment unit right from the start without needing me to request for it.」
The youth explained plainly. The adjutant could see the aura of a veteran commander from the profile of his superior officer, and he seemed very reliable.
「There is still a problem. How are the enemy deployed on the mountains, which route should we take── all this information wasn’t clear until recently… But after breaking through the first blockade, we got a good look at the enemy’s formation earlier than expected, and can accurately determine where we need to flank and strike to cut off their frontlines from their rear. We just need to contact the detachment unit with light communication and horse messengers. Our allies standing by deep to the east of the mountains will choose the most suitable route to flank to the enemy’s back.」
「Then, I will immediately message──」
「I already made the arrangements. That’s why I’m here to observe the enemy’s movements.」
While they were speaking, Matthew’s eyes were facing the same direction so he wouldn’t miss the tiniest change.
「I’m just being cautious in case the plan has to be used ahead of time, since this development is also within the enemy’s expectations. They will be withdrawing from the blockades before it is too late. I predict they will withdraw within a week and set up a new defence in the jungle… I’m thinking about attacking during their retreat.」
「Attack during their retreat?」
「Yes. Retreating with your backs to the enemy is far more difficult than advancing towards your foes. One misstep and the pursuers will seize the chance to widen the opening. Furthermore, the enemy is a mixed unit put together at a whim ── this time, we can count on them on making a big mistake.」
And before noon of the next day, Matthew’s prediction proved to be true.
「── Report.」
Jean calmly demanded the commander who fled in panic back to the command post after suffering a defeat. There wasn’t any frustration or wavering in his silver eyes, just a hint of disappointment.
「T-They seized an opening during our retreat... The Imperial Army aimed for the ending moments of our retreat to launch their attack, when there were the fewest men left in the fort. We fought back desperately, but our coordination with the Aldera Holy Army was lacking, and we couldn’t rally the troops...」
「After abandoning the bulk of your comrades and refugees, only your company escaped ──isn’t that true?」
「M-My apologies!」
The commander lowered his head in apology with tears in his eyes. Beside the white-haired officer in deep thought with a finger on his cheek, the old Scientist said without any reservation.
「Before discussing about strategy, there are too many lapses from the ground commander level. Some of your subordinates are too incompetent.」
「I can’t refute that. Even after I kept telling them about the risks during retreats.」
Jean acknowledged that frankly. Miara who was standing beside him offered her opinion.
「Jean, leave this place to Harrah and me, please return to the command post. We won’t repeat the same mistake. We will carry out the defensive battle and withdraw at an adequate timing.」
Miara said confidently. Those subordinates couldn’t carry out the Insomniac Brilliant General’s flawless strategic objectives── she was more anxious than anybody else with regards to their incompetence. Because she admired Jean Arkinex more than anybody else, she couldn’t stand the mistakes of his subordinates being treated as his mistake.
He could empathize with how Miara felt, but Jean shook his head.
「I don’t doubt what you said. However, the situation has now skewed too far from our original plan. Instead of stubbornly adhering to the plan, I think we should rework it completely.」
There wasn’t any hint of anxiousness in his face. Jean wouldn’t formulate a strategy that would fall apart from just one or two mistakes.
「And so── the soldiers in the third blockade will start to withdraw into the jungle in the hills. Miara, Harrah, you are in charge of the rear guard.」
「Huh── We are withdrawing? We haven’t even fought with the enemy yet.」
「Yah*. Now it has come to this, we will mislead the enemy to be as arrogant as possible. Breaking through the third blockade without any losses, their advances are unstoppable── I want them to charge right into the jungle.」
Jean smiled boldly at the people around him, as if he finally got into the mood when the odds were stacked against him. His subordinates couldn’t rest easy like him, so he continued in a tone as if he was teaching a child.
「Don’t think too much about it, it’s just changing the stage, with the jungle at the foot of the hill replacing the defensive battle that should have taken place in the three blockades. The results would be the same. The only thing that is the same is the Imperial Army suffering heavy casualties.」
Jean glanced at Anarai after saying that. The climax will be coming next, look forward to that一 he implied with his gaze.
「In any case, all units withdraw to the jungle. Everything will start from here.」
At the same time, Haro who used minimal psychological manipulation on Sazarf to get off the mountain saw the 10,000 odd Church followers gathered at the foot of the mountain.
「Grant us passage! Let us through!」 「We will starve to death in the Empire, so what’s wrong with fleeing out of the country!?」 「How can I leave my wife who left before ahead of me!?」 「I can’t stay in a nation abandoned by the gods!」 「I have enough! Enough of fleeing from war or wandering around after losing my land...!」
The leading elements of the group kept scolding the Imperial Soldiers blocking their way. The soldiers raised their voice to urge them to go home, but the crowd showed no signs of dispersing, their stubbornness was stronger than expected.
「Compared to the last time I saw them, their numbers had not diminished at all...」
Haro looked at the Church followers as she chatted up the commander on the grounds. He saluted with a bitter smile.
「Sorry for failing to meet your expectations, Major Becker. We fired warning shots to disperse them, but to no effect...」
The man looked at the wall of people filling the entire field of vision and frowned.
「The priests within the group are still inciting the people. I thought about arresting the priests, but the Church followers are protecting them like human shields. At this point, we can only wait for them to tire themselves out...」
「I came back because I’m worried about this. Is anyone starving?」
「Not yet… The church followers brought provisions on their wagons, and held out longer than expected. They can get water from the stream flowing there. It’s not very clean, but it can be purified with water sprites.」
「So they won’t go thirsty either? It’s better than them starving or getting thirsty, but they will hold out longer than expected.」
「Yes. When they run out of provision, they would have to give up… But I’m worried about them trying to break through by force. We have about a thousand men here, but even if the enemies aren’t armed, we can only fend off the assault of this mob by firing at them.」
The man expressed his worries as the ground commander. It’s only natural for the soldiers to be hesitant on shooting at their own citizens. Accurately sensing his feelings, the woman with Haro’s face showed a bright smile.
「It must be hard on you… Don’t worry, I already ask for reinforcements from a base nearby, 2,000 men will be here in a few days. With that many soldiers, the mob won’t be able to take forceful measures.」
「Thank you very much...! If it’s just a few days, we will manage somehow!」
The man seemed relieved from the bottom of his heart. Haro looked away from him and changed the topic.
「Even after securing food and water, there should still be the sick and wounded.」
「...Yes. The sun is strong, so many people have succumbed to heat stroke, mostly the elderly and children. They can mostly take care of themselves, but some come to us for aid.」
「Then I will get to work at the medical stations. Where is the tent housing the sick?」
At her request, the commander called for a soldier. After they led her to the tent in question, Haro started working as a medic.
「Don’t worry, you will feel better soon!」
Just like what Haro used to do, she made her rounds seeing every person lying in the shade. Most of them are suffering from heat stroke, so there wasn’t any need for complicated procedures. Let them drink water, wrap ice cubes made with water sprites and place them in the armpits of the serious cases. That was all to it.
「...Ughh......」
「Hmm? What’s wrong?」
Seeing a patient lying in a corner of the tent wave at her, Haro walked over. He was saying something softly, and she gently leaned in to listen.
「... Our comrades in the prison camp have started moving. Once their prison break is done, they will rush here immediately.」
After receiving the message without anyone overhearing, the woman moved away with a smile.
「It’s fine, you will get well soon! I will change the ice pack!」
Showing a face as if she just finished listening to a patient’s complaints, she smoothly continued with her nursing work as she schemed the next plot in her mind ── at this moment, a voice from the tent’s entrance broke her train of thought.
「Major Becker, please come outside! The Empress is here!」
Starting from sea level 1,000 m, Matthew could sense an obvious difference in the taste of the air, and the dry sand was replaced with the constant smell of vegetation.
The ground was starting to get moist and the flora was getting dense. The sparse patches of grass could now be found everywhere, with trees so tall that you couldn’t see their top.
「......」
It was an environment he was not familiar with, but not completely foreign to him either. The slightly plump youth remembered the damp smell of vegetation and his surroundings were teeming with life. The other members of the Knights Corp were familiar with this too.
「... Stay on your guard. From here on, treat this as Kioka territory.」
Matthew declared to the subordinates around him. There weren’t any national borders, but the environment was enough to make it clear that this was foreign land. In the past, Matthew and his comrades drifted to the other side of the national border── he had seen and witnessed many things there, and all of that was too familiar with the scene before him.
「Even so, we have made full preparations. As the Major had predicted, we followed the retreating enemy straight through the two blockade without any significant losses.」
One subordinate said with full confidence. Matthew looked at that First Lieutenant with a stern gaze.
「Maybe it’s the enemy’s intention to make us cocky.」
「Is that so? But we are making good time after consecutive victories though.」
「Yes, consecutive victory while 『advancing forward』. Just as the enemy planned, we are deep into the mountains.」
Matthew hinted ominously which made the First Lieutenant show a face of anger. Unhappy with the optimism of his subordinate, the slightly plump youth noticed that the ground was no longer sloping downwards.
「── We are out of the hills. From here on, we will be entering the jungle.」
He shifted his eyes up from his feet, seeing the dense vegetation turned into a sea of trees. It was completely different from the dry woods in the Gagarukasakan Forest to the north of the mountains, this was a fertile land and the damp atmosphere of a jungle. The overlapping tree canopies were a shade of dark green very close to black. The vines intertwined between the trees blocked out the sun, making the forest even darker.
「The trees are denser than we thought. How should we proceed, Major?」
On the First Lieutenant’s question, Matthew didn’t give an immediate answer. He showed the most serious face in the entire campaign and glared at the ocean of trees ahead.
「... Unlike the Gagarukasakan Forest, this jungle doesn’t have any mountain paths. It’s too close to Kioka, so even the Shinnack don’t dare approach this area… No, there must be a path, or else the Kioka and Church followers wouldn’t be able to pass through.」
Matthew recalled the surrounding terrain from his memory, and gradually formulated a course of action.
「 We will meet up with the detachment unit at noon tomorrow. The forces behind will catch up with us too, and we will have around 5,000 men… Instead of searching tediously for a path, we should use our advantage in numbers to suppress them by sweeping through the entire foliage. Let the soldiers form ranks with some depth and march into the forest, paying attention to the surroundings and working together with each other, advancing slowly while being wary of enemy attack...」
After hearing that cautious textbook plan, a First Lieutenant furrowed his brows.
「Pardon me Major, but isn’t that too passive? I know we should be careful, but this will take too much time. By the time we pass through the jungle, the Church followers and enemies would be long gone. Even if we have to take some risk, we should aim to break through quickly.」
The other officers nodded in agreement, as if to say that was obvious. Matthew felt a lump in his throat. He outranked these soldiers, but they were older and more experienced than him. For Matthew who rose to the rank of Field officer at such a young age, the pressure of his older subordinates speaking out in consensus was overwhelming.
「... When you say risk, do you understand how much risk there is? We can’t even imagine what tactics the enemy prepared for us in the dim jungle.」
「That’s more the reason for us to break through as fast as possible. The less time we spend in the jungle, the less danger there is.」
「In that case, please leave command of the vanguard to me. I will take the shortest path to the other end of the forest and scout out the enemy.」
「In that case, please pick my unit for this mission! My men are fearless!」
Seeing the opinions falling on their side, the officers started giving their views. Matthew pinched the space between his brows and thought ── it’s true that they did have a point. They need to move fast, the slower they were, the more Church followers would leave for Kioka.
Matthew wanted to pass through the jungle quickly too. It’s also true that they had to take risks to do so. So, he couldn’t refute their opinions too forcefully.
「... I understand. We will send out three companies to scout for now. The three of you, command your own company and search the jungle.」
Seeing their younger superior officer retract his plan, the officers all smiled happily.
「── However!」
Looking at their faces that had a mixture of negative emotions, Matthew added sharply.
「If any of your units suffer serious casualties, we will do it my way, no matter how long it takes. I will not relent on that.」
His steadfast tone emphasized that he was in command. After a brief silence, the officers nodded reluctantly.
「... I can’t stand that coward.」
The First Lieutenant bashed through the woods as he complained. His scout team entered the jungle, and he started venting to his deputy behind the back of his superior officer.
「That brat who got the backing of the Empress doesn't understand anything. The proper way of the army is not to avoid risk, but to manage risk. You can’t win battles if you fear sacrifices. Aren’t I right, Sergeant Major?」
The subordinate who usually referred to him as 「that brat」 was filled with frustration, interpreting Matthew’s caution as cowardice and criticizing him. His deputy who was listening to his rant thought differently from the First Lieutenant. After a brief hesitation, he stated his opinion.
「... You are right, but I can understand the Major’s concern. This jungle… how do I put this, it’s really dark. I can’t shake off my ominous feelings.」
The deputy said as he surveyed the area. When he heard that, the First Lieutenant sighed loudly as if he just heard something pathetic.
「What kind of soldier is afraid of the dark! Time to go!」
The First Lieutenant said angrily and patted the back of his men. Urged on by him, the soldiers stepped slowly into the depth of the jungle.
On the other hand, a figure in a tree a long distance away was looking down at the group traveling in single file.
── Open fire?
One of the men holding a Wind Gun asked his comrade with a gaze, and got a negative response.
── They are scouts. Let them pass.
The leader concurred with this decision, and the figure withdrew his finger from the trigger. In the tense silence, the Imperial soldiers’ defenceless backs passed right before them.
Before the reconnaissance teams returned, Matthew decided to use a trick he learned. With a large iron wok on his back, he left the basecamp with a few tools in his hands.
「Heave ho...」
He went to a corner of the campgrounds and set up the wok over one of the fire pits. He gathered dry sand and put it into the pot, then used a wooden spatula to stir and heat them up. When it had been equally heated, Matthew poured water from his canteen into a kettle before burying it into the sand.
「It’s time to grind the beans.」
The pudgy youth grounded up black beans in a mortar while he checked the wok from time to time. He grounded carefully, taking care to make them even, and soon, the sand in the wok was heated into the appropriate temperature. Seeing steam coming out from the kettle, he poured the grounded beans into a tall metal cup, then poured boiling water from the kettle into it.
「Woaahh...」
The liquid quickly welled up to the edge, and Matthew poured the top clear layer into a mug he had prepared ahead of time. He kept repeating the same thing, filling the surrounding with a complicated aroma. The soldiers drawn in by the sand looked over curiously.
<TL: Turkish coffee, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj7Nnn7ycho >
「──Oh.」 「This smell is...」
There were a few officers too── Young junior officers walked over, captivated by the aroma. Without needing Matthew to say anything, they sat down around the iron wok.
「You brought beans again? Major, you really like drinking this.」
「This isn’t anything special though.」
With a plain answer, Matthew gestured for his subordinates to pick up their filled mugs. They picked the mugs up and brought them to their lips. For a moment, the place was filled with the sound of sipping.
「... Hmm. It taste better than last time.」
「It’s less bitter, and the taste is better.」
「Your technique is more refined now, you must have been practicing.」
His subordinates gave their feedback. Matthew snorted and said.
「... There might be trouble in the jungle.」
That changed the mood. As the group looked at him with serious eyes, the slightly plump youth continued.
「Specifically, they are aiming to divide us. When we spread out in the dark, they will take us out piece by piece… We must avoid that. All of you get ready too.」
The commander warned, bypassing the battalion commander and company captains, giving his message straight to the junior officers. Through chatting while having a drink, Matthew shared his thoughts which would normally be against regulations.
This was unorthodox, but for Matthew who was disliked by his direct subordinates such as the Captains and First Lieutenants, this was the groundwork he had to lay down to maintain control over his unit. With many junior officers having the tendencies to defy him, he had to do this to relay his intent to the ground level.
「... We will keep this in mind.」
The soldiers nodded and drank hot coffee along with their commander’s intent.
「──Major! Our three companies have returned without losing a single soldier!」
In the evening on that same day, the reconnaissance teams returned unscathed, contrary to Matthew’s expectations. Something seemed off, but the youth started investigating the intel brought back by the unit.
「... Let’s start off with the enemy base.」
「Yes Sir! The enemy set up camp 1 km to the east of the jungle, on top of a hill. They plan to engage us from the high grounds, but there aren’t any buildings like the previous forts, and the hill’s elevation is on the low side, so it’s just a temporary base. They number around 3,000, and the Church followers are on the other side... It seems most of the masses already made it to Kioka, we can only see around 3,000 of them.」
The First Lieutenant added to incite his superior. Matthew saw through his intention. If they successfully retrieve the 3,000 Church followers, they will reach the target number after adding the numbers they already sent back. They would have stopped the 「Grand Escape」── he was implying that.
「This is the path we took through the jungle. The undulations are more obvious than we thought, so we couldn’t make it from west to east directly, but we are confident this is the shortest route. For the whole unit, we can divide them into three files through the forest, so speed won’t be an issue.」
Showing the map he had drawn, the First Lieutenant got more passionate as he spoke. He leaned in at his superior officer who was staring at the paper.
「Now isn’t the time to hesitate, Major! While you are thinking about this, the citizens we should be protecting are getting taken away! If we don’t hurry now, then when!?」
Matthew gulped. The risk would be the same, but the situation would worsen as time passes. The moment he acknowledged this fact, he had to agree to this.
「...I know, we will break through forcefully this time. To avoid getting picked off one by one the moment we step out of the jungle, all units will converge at a staging ground inside the jungle.」
These unexpected instructions made the First Lieutenant pout unhappily.
「This will affect our speed, it will take a lot of time to rally inside the jungle. It will be better to link up once we are out of the jungle. Or do you not trust our level of training?」
「This has nothing to do with trust. From the enemy’s perspective, they will hit us the moment we poke our heads out of the jungle. Since we can think of that possibility, we have to take steps against it. Even if we need to exit the jungle one hour slower.」
Matthew looked back with fire in his eyes. After staring at each other for a few seconds, he ordered without looking away.
「Get the men ready── we move out at 3pm tomorrow.」
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