"Lieutenant Gavel, are you here?"
"You're here, Touri?"
I rushed to the garrison within Engei City as soon as I received permission to deploy.
Gavel Company was already prepared for deployment.
"We're ready to go at any time, Touri."
"…Thank you very much, Lieutenant Gavel."
Lieutenant Gavel seemed to have noticed the unusual situation and was waiting for the deployment order.
He has grown as a commander over the past year.
"This is an emergency. There is a possibility that the front lines have collapsed due to the enemy's multi-point simultaneous breakthrough strategy."
"That's serious."
"I will be in command of this company. We will be scouting the front lines and participating in the defense."
"Okay, Major Touri. You guys, prepare to head out!"
The enemy successfully executed a multi-point simultaneous breakthrough strategy.
Lieutenant Gavel likely understood the gravity of the situation with just this one sentence.
Yet he remained completely composed and confidently declared:
"Let's show them what kind of unit brought about the Miracle of Argalia!"
""Yeah!""
He didn't show any signs of panic, taking the lead and inspiring the troops.
…This is a stark difference from the man he was a year ago when he was afraid to even take command.
***
Thus, I and Gavel Company set out in high spirits.
However, as we approached within earshot of gunfire, the despairing state of the battle made me feel dizzy.
"This is…"
I had already realized that something unusual was happening.
Yet, somewhere in my mind, I still held onto the hope that, "If we try hard enough, we can recover."
"Nauman! Is Sergeant Nauman here!"
"You called, Major?"
But the moment I saw the state of the trenches, such naive thoughts were blown away.
"Please send a message to Headquarters. Do it as soon as possible."
"Got it. What's your message?"
Brief, yet concise.
If I had to sum up the current situation on the front lines in one sentence:
"We have lost."
"What?"
"Advise them to authorize a full retreat. We'll be annihilated otherwise."
…The Austin Army's position had collapsed.
***
This was not a localized defeat, but a defeat in the war itself.
As predicted by Bern Valou, Austin lost the war.
Suddenly, completely, and hopelessly.
The scene that unfolded before my eyes was something I had seen before.
I will never forget that day three years ago.
This was the scene I saw as a new recruit, who could only whimper and scream behind Platoon Leader Garback.
"Sylph Offensive…"
It was identical to the situation during the Sylph Offensive.
The Austin defense lines were completely fragmented and unable to coordinate.
Enemies surged from all directions, rendering the trench defenses nearly useless.
Caught in a chaotic melee, we were being individually overpowered due to our inferior numbers.
It was exactly like the Sylph Offensive three years ago.
"…What should we do, Touri?"
"The final line of Area B17 is about to be breached. Let's head there to provide support."
"What can we support in this situation?"
"Our allies' retreat."
This is Sylph Nova's strategy.
By the time they arrive, the outcome has already been decided, with the command of a one-hit kill operation.
"Are we retreating on your own judgment? Won't that inconvenience other units─"
"Verdi is currently the commander in chief. He will surely authorize a retreat if we inform him of the situation."
"But…"
As promised, I quickly scouted the front lines and reported the situation back to him.
With this information, Verdi will surely decide to retreat.
So I decided to do what I could.
"We can't let B17 fall. We will hold Area B17 until the retreat order is given."
"O-Okay."
"Then, by my own authority, please give permission for each company to fall back to the final line. After that, we will all retreat in unison once permission to withdraw is given."
I trusted Verdi and believed he would authorize the retreat.
I repositioned the soldiers in my area of responsibility into a formation that would allow them to escape at any time.
"…This is her, Sylph."
This brilliant tactic convinced me that she was the one in charge.
When you let your guard down, she'll take advantage of that moment and deliver a fatal blow.
That's the kind of commander Slyph Nova is.
"Did you use the Flamer soldiers? You…"
We had become complacent because of the daily suicide attacks by the Flamer soldiers.
I assumed today would be the same.
The reason why Sylph Nova didn't stop the Flamel Army's "meat grinding" was… this.
To increase the success rate of today's surprise attack, she let the Flamer soldiers continue their suicide attacks.
"Touri, where should we go?!"
"The enemy is present in Area B17. Let's head there."
"Okay."
As I ran toward the front lines, I gritted my teeth at Sylph's cruelty.
I didn't want to believe that she, who hated needless death, would resort to such a strategy.
The old her would have aimed for a "victory with fewer sacrifices."
To leave the foolish sacrifice of Flamel soldiers unchallenged and use it as a stepping stone—
"That's right. Reviving the Sabbath… If that's the goal, wearing down neighboring countries works in your favor…"
She sacrificed the lives of countless young soldiers for her cause.
Knowing Sylph's personality, I couldn't help but feel incredibly sad.
"But isn't Area B17 being pushed out too much?"
"Maybe an incredibly strong soldier is there."
"In other words?"
"Looks like the ace we've been hearing so much about is in Area B17."
After I advised Lieutenant Gavel of this:
"Stay sharp, Lieutenant Gavel."
"Right."
I crouched low and slid into the friendly trenches.
***
On the front lines, the smell of gunpowder mixed with the bitter stench of grass.
The death throes of soldiers, the rumble of gunfire, and ear-splitting explosions echoed across the battlefield.
A battlefield facing defeat is always like this.
There are those shouting their loved one's name. Those begging their parents for help like infants.
Those joyfully continuing to shoot at the enemy. Those engulfed by explosions, screaming with hoarse voices.
Oh, I forgot.
I once lived at this very front line in these trenches.
The tense atmosphere gradually brought back my "frontline instincts."
"Captain Zieve! Are you safe?"
"M-Major Touri?! "
I saw a familiar face in the trench I slid into.
Captain Zieve, The front-line commander in this district who's bad with women.
"I've come to provide support. Please tell me the current state of the battle."
"Uh, well… As you can see, the Great Shield has appeared and we're being pushed back."
"Understood. Gavel Company, prepare for defense. We'll provide support to Zieve Battalion."
"…I'm relieved by your quick judgment! But why is the Major here?"
"The judgment is quick because I'm here."
Captain Zieve, though flustered, responded clearly.
The enemy's offensive is so intense that there's no time to worry about the details.
"Captain Zieve, is it alright for us to join the fight?"
"Y-Yes, that would be very helpful! We barely have any fighting force left!"
"You heard him! Everyone, prepare for battle!"
Seeing that the defensive soldiers were insufficient, I immediately instructed Gavel Company to stick to the trench walls.
The Area B17 had already been pushed back to the final defense line.
If this point is breached, there's a chance that Headquarters will be attacked.
"Captain Zieve, pardon me for getting so close."
"Ah?!"
As the situation was worse than I imagined, I decided to grab my rifle and try to fight back.
My shoulder bumped into Captain Zieve, who let out a strange noise.
"M-Major?"
"…Fire, [Shield]. Fire, [Shield]."
"Ah, come on! Everyone, don't fall behind the Major! Fire, fire, return fire!"
Despite his nervousness, Captain Zieve continued to lead without hesitation.
Even though he was uncomfortable around women, he didn't slack off in his duties.
"Major Touri! It's good that you're helping, but please don't get killed!"
"That's something only the gods know. I ask that you take command if I die.
Though I'm not as skilled as professionals, I've learned [Shield] magic and defensive shooting.
It's foolish for a commander to be on the front lines, but every bit of combat strength is needed right now.
Besides, seeing the battlefield firsthand helps in understanding the situation more accurately─
"Lieutenant Gavel here! There's something huge moving up front, Brother Zieve!"
"Ah! Major, he's here!"
I took the plunge and stuck my head out of the trench to assess the enemy.
What was the Flamer soldiers' momentum? What was the scale of the offensive? What were the enemy's main weapons?
Before I could recognize this information, a booming sound resonated across the battlefield.
"It's the Great Shield!!"
What I saw was a fierce giant straight out of a fairy tale.
The massive iron lump he wielded was easily over two meters tall.
The shield was probably made from a broken church bell, and it had an image of the Virgin Mary carved into it.
"How eerie…"
The pure iron maiden, out of place on the battlefield.
It was scarred with countless bullet marks, yet it faced us with a gentle smile.
A statue of the Virgin Mary supported by the giant, that's the ace-level Great Shield.
A monstrous figure with the strength to wield a semicircular iron shield to protect himself.
The shield is so solid that attacking from the front is impossible.
"■■■■■■■!!!"
"He's coming, Major!"
"Prepare to intercept!"
The Great Shield charged forward with a roar, carving up the ground as he advanced.
The iron mass, heavier than any human could move, thundered with each step and advanced majestically.
"Gavel Company, ready your guns!"
"Major Touri, bullets won't be effective against that thing."
"Then how about grenades?!"
"Those aren't very effective either."
Since shooting was unlikely to work, I considered using grenades.
However, Captain Zieve stopped me from throwing them.
"If we throw it and it explodes behind that iron shield…"
"The Great Shield's unit has taken considerable measures against grenades. They're mostly shot down by wind guns and deflected by [Shield] magic."
"…"
Indeed. Other than guns, the only means of attack are grenades.
The enemy would naturally prepare countermeasures.
"Then what are we supposed to do?"
"We're at a loss, which is why we're in trouble."
Captain Zieve spat out the cigarette he was chewing with a frustrated expression.
Facing an ace on the battlefield, you really feel the absurdity of it all.
…He's like a tank, something that doesn't exist in this era.
"The enemy forces are advancing simultaneously in unison with the Great Shield!"
"Engage them!"
There's no effective way to attack from our side.
The Flamer soldiers will continue to attack while protected by the iron shield.
"Major Touri, shall we abandon this trench?"
"Isn't this the final line of defense?!"
"We'll just get wiped out even if we stay!"
As soon as the Great Shield appeared, Captain Zieve proposed retreating.
Abandoning the last line of defense is normally unthinkable.
"We'll blow up the passages between the trenches and isolate the trenches secured by the Great Shield."
"…"
"It's better to minimize the damage after the breakthrough rather than stubbornly getting wiped out here."
It's true that the situation will become dire if the final line is breached.
The Great Shield has been so overwhelmingly powerful that he has never been stopped in the past year.
"Commanders need to make decisions on how to lose skillfully, rather than being wiped out with no strategy!"
"Yes, that's true…"
Certainly, the damage will only increase if we stay here.
Soon, the Great Shield's unit, protected by its iron mass, will charge into this trench unharmed.
We would be outnumbered and would be annihilated if that were to happen.
Against that iron shield, there's no way to use the defensive advantage effectively.
"…"
If only Platoon Leader Garback were here at a time like this.
Such a naive thought crossed my mind, and I bit my lip.
If he were here, he would have shouted, "This is ridiculous!" and charged in, slicing through the Great Shield.
Platoon Leader Garback was an unmatched ace in trench warfare.
"Major Touri, please make a decision."
"Alright. Captain Zieve, then—"
But Platoon Leader Garback isn't here.
There aren't many aces like him left in Austin.
There's no choice but to abandon the trenches at this point.
Right when I made up my mind to give the order to retreat to everyone present:
"Huh…?"
I suddenly noticed something strange.
"What's the matter, Major?"
"Well, it's just…"
The enemy ace is running towards us terribly slowly.
It's strange that there's even enough time to think about whether to retreat or not.
If it were Platoon Leader Garback, he would have reached the trenches long ago…
"Please give the orders quickly, Major Touri! He's already more than halfway between the trenches!"
"…Only halfway?"
Urged by Captain Zieve, I peeked out from the trench for a moment.
Looking closer, the Great Shield was slowly advancing towards us, smashing through barbed wire and magic traps.
He had only managed to traverse about half of the trench so far.
…A sluggish advance that cannot be compared to that of a true ace, Platoon Commander Garback.
"No…"
"Major?"
"It's different. That isn't an ace-level attack."
How foolish of the enemy.
There are plenty of ways to deal with such a sluggish advance.
My heart skipped a beat the moment I realized this.
"Captain Zieve, here's my order."
"Yes, we're abandoning the trench, right?! The preparations are—"
Ah, how idiotic. Before I knew it, my emotions had risen and wouldn't calm down.
The question Captain Kennel once asked me about the key to victory in Argalia…
I now can answer that question without hesitation.
────In the Battle of Argalia, the reason for my command was that I was an "abnormality" who sought the thrill of killing enemies more than I feared death.
"Please lend me one of your assault platoons with minimal casualties."
"What…?"
"I'll step out and take action."
…I still do not have the level of skill to be considered an ace.
But as someone who knows the genuine article, I must demonstrate how to defeat him.
That is my role as an abnormality.
"I'll go and take down the Great Shield. Captain Zieve, please back me up."
Why was I so hesitant about just now? Giving up on the final line of defense is the height of stupidity.
If they're breached, our allies who are caught from behind will suffer heavy damage.
Whether or not we can kill him here will determine whether the Toulouse Regiment "flees" or "retreats."
"…♪"
"M-Major Touri?"
My heart is pounding.
Ah, the switch has been flipped.
I've come to realize my own malice, as once pointed out by Bern Valou.
My true nature, which finds pleasure in killing enemies.
"The victory condition is to kill the enemy ace. The defeat condition is the loss of this trench, or my own death… I guess."
"Hkk…"
…Ah, I can feel myself falling.
The sense of stepping into the path of depravity that should be avoided.
But, isn't this what a soldier should be like?
Captain Kennel is right, you should clap your hands and celebrate when you kill an enemy.
There should be a sense of accomplishment and joy in killing someone.
"I'll take down ace myself."
Without hesitation, overcoming the fear of death with the desire to kill.
Determined, I couldn't hide my excitement, sporting an animalistic grin.
With that in mind, I couldn't hide the excitement in my heart and let out an animalistic smile.
"Hehe…"
With my Sabbatian rifle in hand, I glared at the moving iron mass across the trench.