"The return trip is quite a load as well."
The next day, the Touri Guerrilla Company set out from Engei with a large load of cargo.
The destination was the Mining Front, the area where we had originally been stationed.
"Puku puku puku puku."
"Don't you dare steal anything. I've already checked the inventory. If anything goes missing, you'll be executed."
"Pueee?!"
On the way to Engei, the cargo was mainly military supplies, but on the way back it included many luxury items such as Flamer wine.
It was probably looted by Austin's soldiers from the citizens of Engei.
Transporting looted goods isn't exactly a pleasant task… but the morale-boosting effect of these luxury items shouldn't be underestimated.
I tried to convince myself that transporting these items was also serving the national interest.
"Lieutenant Touri, it's time for the scheduled report. How should we report the progress of the mission?"
"Please reply that everything is going well."
"Understood."
The tasks on the return trip were the same as before: scout potential enemy hideouts, confirm it is safe, and proceed.
Transport missions involve repeated scouting and verification.
"Lieutenant Touri, it's starting to rain."
"Then check the condition of the road."
The schedule for the transport mission can be easily disrupted by minor issues.
For instance, rain that makes the ground muddy can reduce our progress speed to less than half.
In such cases, it's necessary to constantly update headquarters through communication points.
"It looks like a passing shower. It should stop within an hour. There is no expected impact on the advance."
"Report received. As a precaution, let the infantry precede and check the condition of the ground."
"Understood."
I maintained frequent communication with headquarters and was able to execute the mission without any problems.
For a first mission, things were going so smoothly that it was a bit unnerving.
I had expected some kind of mistake or issue to arise.
'The materials prepared by the Warrant Officer were perfect. Really, there were no holes in them at all."
"That's right. It's all covered so that the mission can be completed no matter who's in charge."
"That's how operational documents should be. As long as no problems arise, anyone should be able to carry out the mission, and a commander is only needed when an unforeseen incident occurs."
"I see."
This is a document that will allow you to deal with any situation by following the manual unless an unforeseen incident occurs.
Saying it is simple, but preparing such materials is no easy feat.
I was grateful for the competence of Warrant Officer Gilveli.
"Well, let's hope nothing happens."
"Yes."
The Touri Guerrilla Company's mission was going extremely smoothly.
Up until this day, this very moment…
"We've nearly reached our destination. Let's prepare camp before it gets dark."
"Yes."
Behind the scenes, while we are carrying out our transport mission…
"May the mission end safely."
Flamel and Aerys.
I had no way of knowing that Sylph Nova had been sharpening her fangs.
***
In fact, around the same time that we received our transport mission, there were major developments in the war.
Amazingly, Aerys' military had mobilized an additional 20,000 troops and sent them as reinforcements to Flamel.
At that time, public opinion in Aerys was deeply divided.
Pro-war and anti-war factions were engaged in intense debates in their parliament.
Originally, Aerys was a country established by immigrants from Flamel, so they had close ties.
Additionally, as an island nation with limited resources, Aerys sought colonies on the continent.
Thus, at the outbreak of the war, the parliament supported attacking Austin to secure colonies.
However, as Flamel's situation worsened, some members switched to the anti-war camp.
Aerys' government had always been dominated by their parliament.
The government was divided into an upper house of nobility and a lower house of commoners, working together to manage the state.
Although Aerys had a king, his role was mainly to approve the decisions of parliament.
The country's politics were thus managed by parliament.
As anti-war sentiment grew, Aerys began to scale back its military deployment plans.
Some Aerys' troops began withdrawing from Flamel under orders from parliament.
Realizing winning was unlikely, they withdrew from Flamer and adopted a policy of seeking peace with Austin.
However, this decision infuriated the pro-Flamer parliamentarians.
These parliamentarians were either from Flamel or received aid from Flamer corporations.
They continued to insist that, "the demise of Flamer would greatly damage our national interests, and we must resolutely send reinforcements."
The pro-war faction continued to debate passionately in the parliament, and Aerys' policy continued to waver.
────It's too late for reconciliation at this point. We should keep fighting to the end.
────No, it's still possible to negotiate. Continuing the war would make things irreparable.
The debate between the two factions continued, and parliament struggled to reach a consensus.
As the government was in such a state, the military became dysfunctional, and coordination between Aerys' forces and other countries faltered, leading to a stalemate on the Mining Front.
However, news arrived that shook Aerys' parliament.
Realizing there was still a chance for victory, Aerys' parliament shifted its stance towards direct participation.
Aerys would rather have Flamel win than face a defeat themselves.
The reinforcements for Flamel had long been prepared.
The deployment was simply halted by the anti-war faction.
If these forces could be effectively mobilized, Aerys might still manage to make Austin a colony as initially planned.
And by learning modern tactics from the Austinites, Aerys could quickly become a major power on the continent.
Furthermore, Aerys could gain significant favor with Flamel.
After much discussion, Aerys finally made the decision to mobilize 20,000 new reinforcements.
The reinforcements from Aerys were immediately publicized throughout Flamel.
20,000 Aerys soldiers were greeted with cheers as they crossed the sea and landed on Flamer mainland.
They were warmly welcomed as heroes who would protect the country from the Austin invaders.
Reporters flocked to the port where Aerys' forces landed, and their dignified appearance made the front page of Flamel's newspapers.
The people of Flamel rejoiced, believing that everything would be fine now that the reinforcements had arrived.
However, when the coalition's commanders saw the newspaper article, they were apparently furious.
Because…
"What? The Aerys Army is on the move?"
"There's a photo of the Aerys troops landing!"
"Verify the authenticity immediately."
The report had led the Austin General Staff to detect the presence of the reinforcements.
***
The location where the Aerys Army landed was strategically positioned to threaten Engei, which was a vital supply route for the Southern Army of Austin.
If they could retake Engei, the advancing Austin forces would be cut off from their supply lines and face annihilation.
A surprise attack here would have been a decisive blow.
A covert invasion by a seemingly magical army from abroad was completely unpredictable.
If these 20,000 reinforcements could have landed unnoticed by Austin, it could have been a game-changing strike.
However, in an unfortunate turn of events, Flamel inadvertently exposed their secret plan through its own media.
These 20,000 reinforcements were supposed to be the Allied side's "secret weapon" against Austin.
They were the trump card that Eiris had finally mobilized after much effort.
By publicly broadcasting this secret weapon, the media inadvertently caused the military to face significant difficulties.
The newspapers had no ill intentions; they simply wanted to spread the good news.
The primary issue was Flamel's own negligence in failing to impose information controls.
Due to this foolish reporting, Austin managed to narrowly escape disaster─
Or so one would hope.
Fate, however, is a strange thing.
Because of this foolish reporting, Austin would end up making a grave mistake instead.
***
"…Understood."
We received the information about the "reinforcements from Aerys are arriving" while we were on our way back from the transport mission.
I received an emergency call from Verdi informing me that there was a national emergency.
The transport mission was then called off and we were instructed to return to Engei and join the defense forces.
We were to establish a defensive network in Engei under the overall command of Verdi.
"What was the content of the communication from Major Verdi?"
"…It seems a major battle that will decide the fate of this conflict is about to break out. We will likely be involved in it as well."
"Really?"
I immediately relayed this information to my vice commander, Sergeant Gavel.
We would need to face the 20,000 Aerys troops in Engei.
It would likely involve trench warfare, and detailed coordination between platoons will be required.
We needed to consult thoroughly and solidify our formations while we still had time.
"Finally, it's here… a big opportunity!"
"Sergeant Gavel."
"I'll do it, I'll show them this time. I'll make Grandpa and Major Verdi recognize me!"
Sergeant Gavel looked up to the sky and shouted.
There is an overflowing fighting spirit in his eyes.
"We will likely be engaging in trench warfare around Engei. It looks like Sergeant Gavel will be assisting me in commanding the defense lines."
"Got it."
"While we defend Engei, Major Bern should be able to capture the capital, leading us to victory."
"It's here, finally a chance to earn significant merit. This will make me a full-fledged soldier."
I smiled wryly at Sergeant Gavel's enthusiasm.
And then, I made up my mind to face the "real battle" that suddenly appeared before me.
"It will be alright. I've experienced trench warfare many times before. I should be able to command effectively."
"Lieutenant Touri?"
"I will not make any mistakes. Even if it is impossible for everyone to survive, I will make sure as many people as possible survive."
I will not make the embarrassing mistake of failing due to a lack of foresight, as I have done in the past.
A commander is responsible for the lives of all their subordinates.
This time, I will show that I am capable of leading as a company commander should.
"Please lend me your strength, Sergeant Gavel."
"Of course!"
Although we were suddenly caught up in the flames of war, we weren't particularly shaken.
Rather, we turned back towards Engei with full determination, as if we had been eagerly waiting for this opportunity.
....
....
***
That evening.
"This matter is urgent."
Then came a short emergency message from Verdi.
"The Austin Southern Army was unable to reach the capital of Flamel and was defeated by the citizen militia. Colonel Henri has been killed, and Major Bern is severely injured and in critical condition."
The content was unbelievable.
I had to read the message two or three times before I could fully grasp the situation.
"I repeat, the Austin Southern Army has been defeated─"
Bern Valou.
The man hailed as Austin's hero and the greatest strategist of the century.
It was said that he had been defeated by nothing more than a mere citizen militia, not even the regular forces of Flamel.
"Ah, ahh…"
"What's the matter, Lieutenant Touri?"
If we take victory from that man, what will remain?
What on earth is happening inside Flamel, with even Bern Valou losing?
Immediately after seeing that message, I collapsed to the ground in dizziness.
"This can't be true… This shouldn't be happening…"
"Hey, are you okay?"
Under the starry sky that I gazed up at…
"Could it be you, Sylph Nova─"
I envisioned the fair-skinned genius girl laughing at me.