"Excuse me, I believe you are allied forces. May I request your cooperation?"
About five days had passed since the Battle of Argalia.
A company led by a bearded soldier arrived at the fortress.
"My name is Corporal Nauman. May I ask your affiliation?"
"I am Lieutenant Albert, the commanding officer of Albert Company. I was sent by Major Verdi to welcome your unit."
"I have heard of you. …Thank you for coming all the way here."
They were the Austin forces sent to pick us up.
The Touri Guerrilla Company had run out of food and ammunition and was unable to return on its own.
Thus, we requested assistance from General Staff Headquarters.
"Lieutenant Touri is currently away. Could you please wait a moment?"
"Oh, what is she doing?"
"Our Company Commander is quite particular about cleanliness. She is currently taking a bath."
In the meantime, we staved off hunger at the Argalia Fortress by eating fish and frogs.
We caught so many frogs that we had no trouble finding food.
"If you intend to peep at the Lieutenant's bath, all of us will prepare to repel you."
"Please spare me. I don't think we can break through a force that has already fended off 20,000 Aerys troops."
Nauman's joke made Lieutenant Albert laugh heartily.
Their laughter echoed throughout the fort, and I found myself chuckling as well.
"Hey, Lieutenant Touri! Can you hear us?"
"I hear you!"
"The people we've been waiting for have finally come to pick us up. Please prepare to depart."
"I got it."
Addressed by Nauman, I quickly dried myself off.
I can't keep them waiting for too long.
"Argie, we have guests. Let's get out now."
"Puku puku puku puku."
By the way, Argie was also taking a bath.
…Rather, she was soaking in the waterway.
"Even in the water, you're still bubbling?"
"Peu."
Argi swam in the waterway, happily bubbling away.
She was like a fish in water.
***
This is a story I heard later on.
When news of the Southern Army's retreat reached General Staff, opinion was split down the middle as to whether to defend Argalia or Engei.
The senior staff officers insisted that Engei should be protected.
It is difficult to suddenly change strategies, so if they were aiming to defend Engei from the start, they should commit to it.
On the other hand, younger staff officers, including Verdi, argued that they should defend Argalia.
It would only be a slight change of course, and a blow to the Southern Army would be more fatal.
In particular, Verdi supposedly even said, "If no enemies come to Argalia, I don't mind being held responsible."
The arguments were at an impasse and couldn't be resolved through discussion.
Both sides had valid points and couldn't come to an agreement.
Ultimately, the decision was left to Lieutenant Colonel Renvel.
"It's all over if Engei is recaptured. What will we do if we don't protect that place!"
"Uncle, please trust me. The enemy will come up with a move beyond your imagination!"
"Hmm…"
Listening to both sides, Renvel pondered for about five minutes before deciding.
"It's decided. We will take up positions at Engei."
"Uncle!!"
In the end, he decided to defend Engei.
"I don't know which course the enemy will take. Either is possible."
"…"
"However, if the majority of our General Staff supports 'defending Engei', then I will trust that."
The reason for his decision was simple: "There were more staff officers advocating for defending Engei."
He preferred a decision based on majority vote over baseless intuition.
Renvel was a man of such a mindset.
"Verdi, I understand your perspective very well. …I will take the responsibility, so please accept it."
"…Yes."
Verdi was dejected at the decision, but once that was decided there was nothing that could be done.
After some hesitation, he added:
"Then at the very least, may I have permission to send a reconnaissance unit to Argalia as a precaution?"
"Well…"
"I will use a unit that is not useful in actual combat."
"…Alright."
Thus, he was granted permission only to conduct reconnaissance in Argalia.
***
At this time, for some reason, Verdi seemed convinced that the enemy's target was Argalia.
That's why he intended to persuade Renvel again after conducting the reconnaissance.
"…Which training unit can be mobilized immediately?"
"Among the units relatively close to Argalia, it would be this unit."
"Oh!"
When looking at the list of immediately deployable training units, Verdi saw my name and exclaimed:
"That's right. Touri is there!"
"Major?"
"…She's a genius when it comes to surviving. I believe she can handle reconnaissance and retreat without losing a single person."
…However, Verdi had never imagined that we would engage in delaying tactics.
"Indeed, this unit is currently the closest to Argalia."
"Then it's decided."
He apparently gave the order because he had confidence in my own ability to survive and was confident that I would definitely bring back reliable information.
***
"Uncle! Uncle, have you seen the report from the Touri Guerrilla Company?"
"…Yes, I've reviewed it."
And then, after receiving the report of enemy sightings in Argalia from my company…
Verdi, eager as ever, barged into Renvel's room with the operational plan in hand.
"Let's move our troops out of Engei immediately. We'll join up with the Southern Army and assist in their retreat."
"No, we won't do that."
Verdi had prepared a memorandum advocating for the defense of the Southern Army.
However, the response from Renvel was a flat-out refusal.
"Why not, Uncle? You saw the results of the reconnaissance!"
"What will moving now achieve, Verdi?"
"What do you mean, 'What will moving now achieve?!'"
He fiercely criticized Renvel's judgment.
It is said that the expression he had at that time looked as if he were about to shoot his own uncle.
"Will we be able to make it in time if we send troops to Argalia now? It will take five days."
"We might not make it to Argalia in time. However, if we join the Southern Army and assist in their retreat…"
"If we get past the Argalia Valley, it will become a plain. We won't have time to prepare trenches, and we'll be outnumbered."
"That's true…"
"Have you considered that moving the troops might only increase the damage? Isn't it possible that the enemy will split into two forces and target Engei as well?"
"…"
"Once a decision is made, it must not be shaken."
However, Renvel did not change his mind.
Perhaps this was a long-standing principle of his after having fought for so long.
"Doing something halfway and failing to protect both sides would be foolish."
"Uncle…"
"We have already chosen to defend Engei. You may have been right, but it is too late now."
Even if it might be a mistake, he was resolute in not changing the course of action.
With that, he ended the discussion.
"It's too early for you to take on this responsibility. I have no intention of listening to any further opinions."
That night, Verdi almost resorted to poisoning himself.
The stress he must have been going through at that time must have been unimaginable.
In the first place, Austin's current predicament is the result of Verdi's blunder on the Mining Front.
The defeat at the Mining Front diminished the Southern Army's credibility and emboldened the Allied forces.
He himself admitted this and was reportedly the subject of criticism from those around him.
Moreover, he also felt responsible for not being able to persuade General Staff.
Verdi had learned through multiple battles with Sylph that the enemy always takes the worst possible action for us.
In the current situation, the enemy would undoubtedly carry out a more effective and devastating surprise attack on the Southern Army.
This sense was something only Verdi, who had been defeated by Sylph multiple times, could understand.
That's why he felt he had to convince them.
Overwhelmed by self-blame, he almost chose to end his own life.
"…No. I still have things to do."
However, he stopped just short of that decision.
Even though the Southern Army was defeated and the situation was dire, there was still a chance for recovery.
If we did not stabilize the front lines and make a comeback, the country would be threatened again.
No matter how much disgrace he faced or how much he was criticized, he had to continue serving his country.
Thinking this, he tossed the poison into a desk drawer and began working on a new plan.
────I will repeat the battle report. The Touri Guerrilla Company in Fort Argalia…
────Have successfully repelled 20,000 troops of the Aerys army.
So when he heard that report in the conference room…
While the other staff officers were bewildered, Verdi alone collapsed onto the table and let out a silent scream.
***
"Lieutenant Touri. I'm sorry, but the departure has been postponed to tomorrow. Please stand by for one more day."
"Understood, Lieutenant Albert."
"The truth is, the high-ranking officials have ordered us to verify the traces of battle. Your achievements are so incredible that they are half-skeptical."
"I see. Well then, please confirm it… I want you to accurately report the achievements of our comrades who fought alongside us and have now departed for the skies."
"Yes, of course."
After shaking hands with me, Lieutenant Albert walked downstream with his subordinates.
Albert did not seem to doubt us, and enthusiastically said, "This inspection report will go down in history. Don't do a half-hearted job!"
I don't care about my own achievements, but the accomplishments of my fallen comrades here must be recognized.
I sincerely hope they will report them properly.
"Puku puku puku."
"There's no more wine, Argie."
For that reason, we decided to stay at Fort Argalia for one more day.
Life here isn't so tough.
The place is rich in nature, and the water is delicious, making it feel like we're camping.
…The only downside is that there are a lot of insects and the noises of the animals are loud.
"Puku puku puk?"
"There's no way they brought any alcohol or anything like that. Please hold off until we get back to Engei."
"Pukuuu…."
Meanwhile, Argie collapsed in despair upon hearing that our return would be delayed by a day.
Once she runs out of wine, she reverts back to her lazy nurse self.
I've just washed her clothes, so I would rather her not be rolling around by the riverside.
"Nauman, could you please inform the soldiers that we will be staying one more night?"
"Understood, Lieutenant. What about dinner tonight?"
"They've brought some for us. It'll be a great chance to enjoy some of those nostalgic canned rations for the first time in a while."
"I personally prefer salted grilled fish."
I asked Nauman to deliver the message and smiled at his joke while looking towards the soldiers playing by the riverbank.
"…"
"Lieutenant, is something wrong?"
"It's nothing…"
In front of my eyes was Sergeant Gavel, trying to catch a fish.
He was eagerly spearing fish with a handmade spear, being taught by a former fisherman turned soldier.
He looks like he's having a lot of fun. Maybe it's because he's a boy.
"…"
…For the past five days, my relationship with Sergeant Gavel has been the same as usual.
We just had a normal conversation as comrades and as company commander and adjutant.
Recently, he hasn't looked me in the eye or talked to me much.
It's as if his confession to me on the first night was a lie.
"Umm, Nauman."
"Yes."
"What kind of situation would lead someone to confess and then just let it go?"
I was expecting to be called out with an "I want to hear your answer" kind of vibe.
So I had been thinking of ways to reject him without hurting his feelings as much as possible…
"Hmm, maybe if the other person is frivolous?"
"No, I think he's a pretty serious person."
"Then maybe he's too embarrassed to talk to you. He might be afraid to ask for your answer."
"Ah, I see."
It's best to ask older people about these romantic matters, so I asked Nauman.
Nauman apparently often gives love advice to soldiers about their relationships.
He is the love master of the company with the most life experience.
"Then, what should I do?"
"In that case, you don't need to do anything. Just wait for the one who confessed to come and ask."
"I see."
"Or if you are interested in that person, you could go and express your feelings."
"Oh, no, it's not like that. He's like a cute younger brother to me."
The ever-reliable advice from Nauman was to leave it alone.
Certainly, it might be safest to wait and see if the other party does not take any action.
"…Ah. It would be better if you didn't say that. It makes it obvious who it was that confessed to you. Also, he might get really angry if he hears that."
"I guess that's true."
"There aren't many soldiers younger than the Lieutenant who are doted on like a younger brother. It could only be Sergeant Gavel. He probably wouldn't want to be seen as a younger brother."
Nauman made a bitter face at my words.
It was certainly a bit of a slip of the tongue.
What I just said is what I really mean, but of course I have no intention of telling him that.
Sergeant Gavel dislikes being seen as a child, and I intend to respect him as much as possible.
"Please be careful. A unit where the commander and their adjutant don't get along is not going to do well."
"I understand."
"My goodness, poor Sergeant Gavel."
Naumann chuckled as he stood up.
He then pointed his thumb at Sergeant Gavel.
"I'll inform the soldiers around here, so could you tell Sergeant Gavel and the others playing in the river that we'll be staying one more night?"
"Oh, I understand."
"Why don't you join them? You haven't talked much with Sergeant Gavel lately."
He patted me lightly on the shoulder as he said that.
***
"…"
Even if he tells me to join in, it's a bit troubling.
I am the company commander, a figure of authority to my subordinates.
They can't let loose if their superior is nearby.
"Umm, Sergeant Gavel."
"Ah? T-Touri! What's the matter? Has the departure time been decided?"
Despite my concerns, the soldiers continued to play joyfully even when I approached.
They messed around as if they didn't care about me at all.
Okay, I guess I'm not feared after all.
"Yes, it should be tomorrow. They are going to investigate the combat area or something."
"I see, got it. Alright, then we need to catch some more fish today!"
Sergeant Gavel quickly turned away from me and resumed playing in the river.
He's completely engrossed in fish-catching mode.
"I've gotten pretty good at catching fish. Watch this, Touri!"
"..."
"Take this!!"
Sergeant Gavel is in a more excited state than I'm used to seeing, with a big smile on his face as he spears the fish.
Now that I think about it, Sergeant Gavel is 15 years old. I suppose he's at the age where such activities are very enjoyable.
"Would you like to give it a try, Lieutenant?"
"No, I… I don't want to get my clothes dirty."
"You're no fun! Then just watch from there."
Sergeant Gavel snorted and went back to chasing fish.
He didn't seem to care about my presence.
"…"
Did this guy forget he confessed to me?
…I had been worrying for quite some time about how to respond to his confession.
"Lieutenant, are you in a bad mood?"
"No, not really."
Seeing Sergeant Gavel looking so happy, I felt silly for having such a hard time.
I'll leave his confession unanswered for now unless he brings it up again.
"Hey, the Lieutenant looks upset. Did someone do something?"
"Who knows? Maybe it's just one of those days."
Sergeant Gavel's immaturity is a bit of a problem.
Really, treating him like a younger brother should suffice for a while.
"I even went to the trouble of setting it up for him…"
Observing us from a distance…
Nauman watched us with a warm, affectionate gaze.