"The official orders have arrived. Rejoice, Touri, as of today you are a second lieutenant."
"It is an honor, Lieutenant Colonel Renvel."
"I hereby grant you permission to form a company. Using the Gavel Transport Company as a base, organize a unit of 150 soldiers."
A few days had passed since my meeting with Colonel Henri.
Finally, an official order to command an infantry company had arrived.
"Gavel knows the procedure to form the unit, so ask him."
"Understood."
However, even though I've been told to form a unit, I have no knowledge of the specific administrative procedures.
Renvel must have known this, which is why he assigned Sergeant Gavel to be my subordinate.
The place to learn about unit organization is the military academy.
Therefore, without graduating from officer school, one cannot originally become a commander.
"The Austin military is planning to carry out a major operation soon. Please prepare immediately."
"Yes, Lieutenant Colonel."
"Oh, and don't mention this to anyone. It's information only communicated to lieutenants and above."
"Understood."
Renvel glared at me intently, reinforcing his point.
This is something you should only tell a lieutenant. In other words, this is something I shouldn't tell Sergeant Gavel.
"Then I will now begin the task of organizing the unit."
"Very well."
As one rises in rank, the information disclosed to them increases.
In exchange for receiving this information, I must make appropriate and accurate decisions.
"Now, if you'll excuse me."
As a commander, it's essential to be aware that I bear the lives of all my subordinates.
It is unacceptable for people to die due to my mistakes.
To ensure that people like Lakya never emerge again.
***
"The upper limit for the unit is 150 personnel. Since the current Gavel Transport Company has 51 members, we need to recruit approximately 100 more."
Sergeant Gavel first advised that I should submit a request for soldier reinforcements.
We need to consider which military specialties to request and how many, and then prepare the necessary documents.
"We have enough quartermasters. No need for more reinforcements there."
"Yes."
"We also have enough scouts; we don't need any more. Let's focus on requesting assault troops and armored troops."
"I see."
Although this company is to be made up of 150 people, not all of them are combat personnel.
Apparently 30% of the unit are non-combatants such as quartermasters and nurses, with the remaining 70% being infantrymen who actually fight.
It is common for these infantrymen to be divided into "platoons" and used.
"Scouts and armored troops are the core of the infantry."
"I see."
Each platoon is required to have scouts and armored troops.
Scouts are soldiers skilled in situational awareness, equipped with telescopic gear to maintain a broad view.
They must pass difficult aptitude tests, including vision tests and reflex tests to qualify.
Armored troops are a specialty that handles shields and requires magical talent.
They defend in trenches if in a defensive unit or charge at the front lines in an assault unit.
For example, Platoon Leader Garback was apparently an assault armored soldier.
"What about the non-combat personnel other than the quartermasters?"
"Well, we need medics, nurses, communication officers, and sappers."
Quartermasters do not participate directly in combat; they transport supplies such as water, food, and ammunition.
We can't transport supplies without them, so they are always assigned to guerrilla forces.
Other roles include medics for treatment, sappers for setting traps and repairing weapons and ammunition, and communication officers for communication tasks.
However, since there are only a few medics, nurses are often deployed to company-sized units.
Nurses can perform first aid even if they cannot use healing magic.
There is also a branch of the military called artillery mages, but they are very rare and are only deployed in specialized units.
"It's unlikely we'll get everything we request. In the worst case, I'll handle communications myself."
"Really?"
"Yes, this time I'll handle the distribution of the reinforcements. You don't know much about unit formation, do you?"
"…Sorry, please handle it."
"I'll teach you how to fill out the forms, so help me with that."
With Sergeant Gavel's guidance, I completed each task one by one.
He seemed to be quite caring, providing blunt but thorough explanations.
"Let's also form a 20-person reinforced platoon. This will be the core unit of this company."
"As in our company's elite unit?"
"It's my unit.""
A reinforced platoon is a slightly special platoon with nearly twice the usual number of soldiers.
Exceptional soldiers are allowed to command a reinforced platoon.
The leader of a reinforced platoon is considered the pinnacle of advancement for enlisted soldiers.
"I see, Sergeant Gavel's unit."
"I believe I'm entitled to that level of privilege."
"Of course. I have no objections."
Sergeant Gavel called it "privilege," but in reality, he should be in command of the entire company.
I have no intention of objecting to him commanding a reinforced platoon.
"When it comes to the infantry, Lieutenant Touri is the highest-ranking commander, and I'm the second-in-command. You have no complaints about that either, right?"
"Yes, no problem."
"Good. Next, we need to appoint a commander for the quartermasters as well."
"Right."
"I think we should leave that to Maeve. He was originally a leader among the quartermasters.
"Maeve?"
Maeve is that muscular "grenade-throwing guy."
He had previously punched a rookie soldier so hard that he nearly died, so I'm a bit worried…
"Yes, it would be best to leave it to a veteran."
"You're right."
Having someone capable of such intense instruction is necessary.
If I use violence myself, I'll just get retaliated against.
And to increase the survival rate of new recruits, a certain degree of fear is beneficial.
His violence can be seen as a necessary evil.
"What should we do about the 'preferred assignment' section?"
"At the very least, we need nurses and sappers. They're essential for a guerrilla company."
"Nurses and sappers, huh?"
"Sappers are useful. They can set magical traps, demolish obstacles, and some can even repair broken guns."
"I see."
Now that I think about it, Platoon Leader Garback also successfully used sappers to defend in Marshdale.
I've forgotten his name, but I wonder if he's doing well?
"But do we really need nurses? I have learned first aid myself."
"You idiot, what would you do if you got shot? The primary role of nurses is to treat injured commanders."
"…"
Certainly, it is necessary to think about what would happen if I were shot.
Also, having a nurse on hand would greatly improve treatment efficiency.
"Then let's request nurses as well."
"Got it. I'll leave that to you then."
After Sergeant Gavel said that, he turned gruffly to the medical department.
"Nurses are requested directly from the head of the medical department, not the headquarters."
"Really?"
"Should I apply to Reitalyu?"
"Yes. You're acquainted with her, right? I'll leave that to you."
"Okay, then I'll go."
"I don't want to meet her much; it's bad luck."
Sergeant Gavel muttered in a small voice.
Is he the superstitious type?
"Then, I'll head to the medical department."
"I'll leave it to you. I'll take care of the other paperwork."
As I stood up, Sergeant Gavel unfolded his papers with a look of annoyance.
I quietly left the room so as not to disturb him, and headed to the medical department for the first time in a while.
***
"Why is Touri a Company Commander?!"
"…"
It had been a week since I last visited the medical director's office.
I was nearly suffocated by Reitalyu's voluptuous breasts.
"This is absurd! It's crazy, right?! Touri isn't supposed to be a lieutenant!"
"Umm, Reitalyu. Please calm down."
"How can I calm down?! I was worried sick about you going missing, and then I find out you've been transferred to an infantry unit!"
After hugging me tightly for a while, Reitalyu let go and screamed with her hands on her head.
…Come to think of it, I hadn't informed the medical department. They hadn't been notified of my transfer.
"Cale was really depressed! He kept blaming himself for letting you go alone."
"…I'm sorry."
"I tried to cheer him up, but you should really go see him."
Cheered him up, huh… No, let's not think about that too much.
"So? I haven't received any detailed information."
"Y-Yes."
"You'll properly report everything that happened since then, won't you, Touri?"
"O-Of course, Reitalyu."
Reitalyu approached me with a frightening look on her face, wiggling her fingers menacingly.
I didn't want to recall that incident if I can help it, but I should give a brief explanation.
"After the Sabbatian Army's surprise attack, I was taken in by the Gavel Transport Company, and then…"
"And then?"
***
"You idiot!!"
"I'm sorry."
I took command from Sergeant Gavel, achieved great success in battle, and became a second lieutenant.
Reitalyu became very angry upon hearing this.
"Commanding a unit isn't something Touri should be doing! That's for people who have received specialized training!"
"You're absolutely right…"
"Even if Sergeant Gavel was inexperienced, taking command just because of your rank is wrong. Don't ever do it again."
"Yes…"
Reitalyu's scolding was entirely justified.
All I could do was hang my head and apologize in shame.
"Even so, the higher-ups are something else. Just because you achieved some success, they made you a company commander all of a sudden?"
"To be honest, I'm confused too."
"Well, I think that the higher-ups have come to this conclusion after much deliberation. If rumors spread that military achievements aren't rewarded, and that 'you won't be rewarded even if you achieve great things,' it would affect the morale of the soldiers."
"I see."
"That's why they had no choice but to promote you… I'll try to persuade them to return you to the medical department. You're probably worried about being suddenly relegated to the infantry, aren't you?"
Reitalyu said this with a determined scoff.
"Touri, you're better suited to helping in the medical department than holding a gun. I want you to continue lending your strength to the medical department as you have done until now.""
…She is right. It would be much easier for me to stay in the medical department.
I have many acquaintances there, and it is safer. However,
"No, Reitalyu. I intend to serve the country as an infantryman from now on."
"Ed? What's going on, Touri?"
"…It's shameful, but I have come to 'hate' the enemy."
I was consumed with intense hatred when I saw Mr. Gorski on the battlefield.
And the moment I shot him in the back of the head, I felt a chilling satisfaction spread throughout my body.
Despite knowing how kind and righteous he was.
"I hate the Sabbatian soldiers who killed Lenalee, my sister-in-law."
"Touri…"
"I can't forgive the enemies who burned my hometown, killed Rodri, and took away everything precious from me. This hideous, filthy hatred won't go away."
I am trapped by this hatred. The only way to alleviate it is by killing the enemy and trampling on their corpses.
…If I were to return to the medical department in this state, I think I'd be plagued by hallucinations of all kinds of people.
─────Why are you, Touri, in a safe place? Why won't you go and kill the enemy?
"I want to become an infantryman and unleash this ugly desire for revenge on the enemy. Even if it means dying in battle, I would find peace."
"…"
"Reitalyu. Even with all this, do you think I'm still suited to being a medic?"
Maybe I just wasn't cut out to be a medic after all.
It's absurd for someone who takes pleasure in killing others to work in a job that heals people.
"Yes, you're suited for it."
"Huh?"
That's why I choose to take up a gun filled with hatred for the Sabbath.
To kill as many enemies as possible as an infantryman.
Well, as I was going to continue the conversation…
"Touri, did you think I didn't hate the Sabbath?"
Her eyes were like ice.
Reitalyu's voice was lower than I had ever heard.
"I probably hate them far more than you do."
"…"
"That's why I need to save as many allies as possible so they can kill in my stead."
When I think about it, there's no way she wouldn't hate them.
She had lost numerous loved ones to Sabbatian soldiers.
Having had so many loved ones killed, it's impossible that she wouldn't have any feelings towards Sabbatian soldiers.
"Touri. If you really hate the Sabbath, then help me."
In Reitalyu's emotionless, doll-like eyes, I saw a darkness much deeper than my own.
"…I'm sorry, but I have been given orders to organize an infantry company."
"Medics are valuable… What are the higher-ups thinking?"
Reitalyu bore even more hatred than I do.
Yet she concealed it all, acting cheerfully and strong-willed.
…If that's the case, I'm amazed.
"These are orders from Lieutenant Colonel Renvel. I request that Director Reitalyu dispatch medics to our company."
"I understand. It's an order, after all. But I'll also push to get you back to the medical department."
"Understood. I'll leave my position to the higher-ups' judgment."
"Good. I'll get you back soon. Just wait, Touri!"
With that, Reitalyu smiled warmly and hugged me again.
For just a moment, Reitalyu's doll-like, expressionless face was visible.
…Maybe that was her real face.