─────The sky during the final stages of the war is murky, like a muddy swamp.
This thought crossed my mind as I walked through the streets of Winn.
Since when has the sky become so dull?
I remember the sky being much bluer on that day I went on a date with Rodri.
But now, plumes of smoke are rising from the weapons factories that have been relocated to Winn.
On the roadside, the bodies of starving homeless people were being burned, releasing a pungent odor that stained the sky black.
Before I knew it, the world had become so dark.
"Next, we'll walk along the main street. … Be careful, there are a lot of beggars around."
"I understand, Lieutenant Gavel."
On the main street, soldiers were busily walking around, weaving between the homeless.
…I am also one of the busy soldiers.
"Oh soldier, do you have any food?"
"I'm sorry, I don't have any. Clear the way. I have work to do."
The roadside was overflowing with beggars waiting for alms with rusty empty cans.
Beggars of all kinds: including parents holding children, war orphans, and injured soldiers, stand in the way.
"Are you not going to give me anything?"
"…I can't give you anything."
If we were to give anything to one of them, there would be trouble as they fight over the scarce food.
So, we had been warned by Headquarters never to give them anything.
"…Isn't there at least some cheap alcohol?"
"I'm sorry."
They looked at us with sunken eyes.
"Next, we're heading to the barracks."
"Roger that. Hey, you guys, take your positions."
The reactions of the citizens toward us varied.
Some people begged with servile looks on their faces for food and alcohol.
Others cheered enthusiastically, shouting "Long live the soldiers!"
"Everyone, I'm sorry, but please clear the way."
"Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah Austin!"
"I understand, I understand. Thank you as always. I appreciate the cooperation of the citizens."
"Hurrah! Hurrah!"
It always felt like this when walking outside. It's as if I'm suffocating with a sense of stagnation.
In this country, there are only people who are dying of hunger and people who are going to die in war.
"…Don't worry. We will defeat the Alliance."
"Uooooo! Long live Austin!"
War is a swamp. A bottomless swamp that keeps sinking forever.
When we're winning, we continue the war for profit, and when we're losing, we can't stop fighting to avoid being annihilated.
The only way to end this negative cycle is for the winning side to make concessions and negotiate peace.
…In other words, as long as the Alliance is attacking, we must win.
"Hey man we get it, so calm down. We have somewhere to go now."
"Salute to the great Austin Army! Hurrah!"
The man who ran up to us and kept shouting "Hurrah!" was a middle-aged man missing a leg.
He was probably a retired soldier.
"…Phew, finally gone."
"That was quite a passionate display."
The invention of firearms changed warfare.
We live in an age where you can kill many people just by pulling a trigger.
And soldiers have been discarded, resulting in many retired soldiers becoming homeless on the streets.
"Next time, let's intimidate them with our guns so they don't come near."
"That's no good… After all, he must be a senior who fought for this country."
"Then that old man from before is someone who fought bravely and survived?"
"Let's show respect for that courage."
The fate of retired soldiers is grim.
Many suffer from serious injuries and can't work properly, and with the country now in dire straights, they are unable to receive significant assistance.
Some people end up being shunned by their families, kicked out of their homes, and forced to become beggars.
"…"
The man who cheered for us earlier had a filthy appearance and a foul odor.
…He was probably homeless. Judging by his age, he was likely a retired soldier from the East-West War.
"I heard that at the start of the war, they thought it would end in six months."
"Six months, huh?"
"Previous wars were like that. They'd wear armor and fight with swords, and the one who retreated lost. They'd lose one or two villages or territories, and that would be the end of it. That was the plan."
The East-West War… At the beginning of the war between Austin and the Sabbath, no one expected it to turn into such a quagmire.
Believing that they would be able to return home in about six months, they promised their families that they would see them again at the harvest festival and set off for the battlefield.
"The Austin military command also expected a quick victory. This was just after the invention of the rifle."
"The initial model of the rifle that was first deployed is like a toy compared to the latest OST-3 model."
"But it was an outstanding performance compared to muskets."
At the start of the war, the projectile weapons were either bows or muskets.
Bows couldn't penetrate heavy armor, and the accuracy of muskets was poor.
So when faced with a charge from heavy cavalry, there was little one could do.
Heavy cavalry is the strongest. That was the tactical theory before the war began.
The invention of rifles that could decisively defeat heavy cavalry was groundbreaking.
They had a longer range than bows and delivered power equivalent to that of muskets, making heavy cavalry a good target.
The Austin military, confirming the power of this weapon excitedly thought, "With this, we can definitely win."
However, there was one miscalculation.
At roughly the same time, the Sabbath Federation had also succeeded in developing the rifle.
"As a result of both sides fighting with rifles, cavalry became a relic of the past, and trench warfare was born."
"Yes."
"I still remember. When I was a child, I had a very interesting uncle. He was a genius cavalryman and the ace of the cavalry at a young age. I even got to ride a horse with him."
Immediately after the outbreak of the war, cavalry was still the main force in battles.
Lieutenant Gavel's uncle went off to battle with great enthusiasm to fight as a cavalryman.
"Less than a week after the war began, my uncle returned as a corpse, along with the tail hair of his dead beloved horse."
"…"
"The times had changed too rapidly."
A single bullet from a rifle can inflict a fatal wound regardless of what armor was worn.
When facing each other on flat ground, you never know when you might be killed.
Naturally, soldiers began to dig holes to hide, and eventually, trench warfare was born.
"The front lines became stagnant once trench warfare began. …In a battle for every ten meters, many lives were lost."
"They probably couldn't adapt to the new era."
"…Yeah. And we still haven't adapted."
Lieutenant Gavel said this while staring at the gun in his hand.
"There's going to come a time when where war won't even be an option. A world where pointing a gun at someone and shooting them will be a serious crime."
"…I think so too. I believe that day will come."
"And when there are no more people with guns to fight, we will finally move on to the next era."
A world where no one fights with guns.
…Lieutenant Gavel envisioned that such a world would come.
"Let's create that era, Touri. With our own hands."
"…Yes"
I know that even if we end this war, a world without guns will never come.
Weapons development will continue to advance, and the world will move in a direction where balance is maintained through military force.
"I hope the world will become a peaceful place like that."
But I didn't deny Lieutenant Gavel's opinion; I ambiguously affirmed it.
──── I understand his feelings all too well, wishing for such a reality.
"We will end this war. I don't want the children of the next generation to have to sleep on the dirt, afraid of bullets."
"Yes."
To do that, we must win.
The Alliance will surely seek to conquer other countries for colonies, even if it means destroying us to compensate for their losses.
…For there would no longer be any force that could oppose them.
"Please lend me your strength for just a little longer, Lieutenant Gavel."
"Yeah."
"I will put an end to everything."
The countries of this world still do not know how to end a war.
Perhaps I am the only one who can stop this tragedy.
…For that, I am willing to commit any wicked deed.
"…We're here."
"Then, I will go speak with him. Please secure the area outside the room, Lieutenant Gavel."
"Sure."
***
The place I headed to after making that decision was…
"Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today, Captain Zieve."
"…Yeah."
It was in Captain Zieve's private quarters in the barracks.
"…I apologize for not offering much hospitality."
"Don't worry about it."
As I entered his room, I had Lieutenant Gavel stand guard to ensure no one eavesdropped on us.
Then I sat across from Captain Zieve and spoke, suppressing as much emotion as I could.
"We don't have much time, so I'll get straight to the point. I hold you in high regard, Captain. Your judgment and bravery are top-notch."
"Thank you."
Captain Zieve is currently leading the battalion's training at the barracks, preparing numerous new recruits into a functional unit.
"That's why I want to assign your battalion an important operation in the upcoming defense of Winn."
"It's an honor."
"Regarding that operation—"
There's a reason I took the time to arrange this meeting with the busy Captain Zieve.
And it is…
"Captain Zieve, I would like you to give your life for Austin."
"…"
To deliver him his death sentence.
"You mean my post is beyond saving?"
"You can interpret it that way… If you refuse, I won't force you. I'd rather give the mission to someone else than see you desert in the face of the enemy."
Captain Zieve's expression didn't change even after hearing my words.
He just stared intently at me.
"Captain Zieve. Can you fight bravely to the end, knowing you will die for your country?"
"…Yes, of course."
"Thank you."
He is a soldier. He nodded in response to my request for him to die without hesitation.
"…Hey…"
"What is it?"
"May I ask why you chose me for this role?"
"Certainly."
With his expression still frozen, Captain Zieve continued speaking softly.
"Captain Zieve, you are an outstanding military officer."
"…Thank you"
"It is no exaggeration to say that you are the man who will carry Austin's future. I commend you for your judgment in extreme situations."
Captain Zieve is a very talented officer. It's rare for someone his age to attain the rank of captain.
However, his excellence is more about his "potential."
Compared to other captains like Captain Kennel, his current abilities are not exceptionally remarkable.
"And you are from Colonel Renvel's family. His lineage has always fulfilled their duties, even at the cost of their lives."
"…"
"That is why I chose you, trusting that you would not run away out of fear for your life."
"I see."
In my plan, between Captain Kennel and Captain Zieve, one of them will fight to the death in the next battle and the other will provide support from the rear.
Rear support requires experience and sound judgment. Captain Kennel's abilities are dependable.
However, with Captain Zieve, I sensed some instability due to his young age.
That's why I chose Captain Kennel to be in the rear.
"Well now that you've said that, I can't refuse, can I?"
"…"
Captain Zieve gave a small, resigned smile at his own words.
Without telling him that I had weighed his command ability against others and chosen him as a pawn to be sacrificed, I merely mentioned that I trusted his family's legacy.
"It's a good thing I never got married. I won't leave anyone behind to grieve."
"…"
"For the first time, my fear of women finally came in handy."
Captain Zieve sighed calmly, without even shedding a single tear.
…I felt a sharp pain deep in my chest.
"Please keep this conversation confidential… We haven't made this deployment plan public yet."
"Yes, I understand."
"Well then, I will excuse myself. There are still many issues that need to be resolved."
With that, I went over to his desk.
I then placed a bottle of Austin-made distilled liquor, which is now a rare commodity.
"This is?"
"A personal gift from me. It's a brand of liquor that someone I respect was fond of."
"…I see."
"I wish you good fortune in battle."
After saluting Captain Zieve, I tried my best to keep my expression neutral as I stood and exited.
"Goodbye."
Captain Zieve continued to expressionlessly stare at the bottle I had given him.
***
"…Achoo."
Thus, the time for the decisive battle drew near.
Reports had already come in that the Allied forces had occupied 80% of Austin's southern territories.
Austin's southern territories are a rich agricultural area and are essential to the country's food production.
This will further exacerbate the already dire food shortage.
"What's the matter Touri? Catch a cold?"
"Seems like it… Achoo."
However, the southern territories were not left unprepared.
Various sabotage efforts had been undertaken in anticipation of the invasion.
For example, wells and springs were poisoned, contaminating all water sources.
Magic circles and traps were set along the roads, and every piece of infrastructure, from bridges to paved roads, was systematically destroyed.
The focus wasn't on post-war recovery but on buying time, delaying the construction of enemy supply lines for as long as possible.
…To delay the arrival of the Allied forces, even if just for a day.
"Where to next?"
"To General Staff Headquarters. I have an appointment with Major Curley."
Destroying the nation's infrastructure was a desperate measure.
However, there was a reason why we had to do this to buy ourselves some time.
"So I'm waiting outside again?"
"Sorry."
────Just the other day, we received word that the arrival of the allied Sabbatian forces would be delayed.
Apparently, there had been significant opposition from Sabbatian civilians when the troops were deployed, resulting in a conflict between the military and the people.
Because of this dispute, there is a possibility that the Sabbatian reinforcements will not arrive in time.
I had been summoned by Major Curley regarding this matter.
"…We need more time."
"Touri?"
Furthermore, the Allied forces were advancing at an alarming rate.
Perhaps they want to end the war quickly, but the speed of the invasion is much faster than expected.
If they reach Winn like this, Bern's plan will be crushed before we even have the time to put it into action.
"Lieutenant Gavel. We may have to carry out a slightly reckless plan."
"…As in us?"
"No."
Naturally, we were prepared for the possibility that the enemy wouldn't behave as expected.
Bern had also planned several contingency delaying tactics in case their invasion came faster than expected.
"I mean just me."
"Huh?"
One of these tactics was particularly vicious and effective.
…If things take a turn for the worse, I would be the only one who dies.
And if I get killed, that would be enough to change the situation.
I wonder what he thinks of his sister's life?
"…You're making a pretty dark face there, Touri."
"Well, it must be my brother's blood showing."
Bern's final plan will be nothing more than a pipe dream if the Sabbatian reinforcements don't arrive in time.
We have to buy time even if it means taking on various risks.
"I'm going to have to do something a little underhanded."
…My first job as a true villain is finally about to begin.