Infiltration of the Ashen Forest

Several days had passed since Erika marched out of the barracks in a huff, and in that time the mood of the company had shifted noticeably. Supplies kept pouring out of the warehouse, and the parade ground was crowded with soldiers drilling from dawn to dusk.

"Word is we're in for a big fight soon."

"They say the whole company's moving out this time. Target's got to be the Ashen Forest, right?"

"I bet the Captain's drawing up another one of her grand schemes."

Rumors were circulating through the company that a major battle was imminent. And then, one morning as if to prove the rumors right, a courier came looking for us at the barracks.

"All officers and non-commissioned officers, assemble in front of the company command tent immediately!"

The courier's shout set the entire barracks quarter abuzz. The officers and NCOs of each platoon began scurrying about with the look of men who'd known this was coming. I, too, stepped out of the barracks with Sergeant Gunter in tow.

Inside the company command tent, the space had been rearranged for a briefing. At its center stood a large table bearing a detailed map of the Ashen Forest, and around it the officers and NCOs had gathered in a ring.

The platoon leaders were already assembled—Lieutenant Walter of 1st Platoon, Erika of 2nd Platoon, and Lieutenant Franz of 4th Platoon. Captain Serafina, standing at the center, began to speak.

"Listen up. Thanks to 3rd Platoon's recent reconnaissance and the testimony of the rescued scouts, we have confirmed that the threat in the Ashen Forest is far more organized than we anticipated."

Every gaze in the room swung toward me. Erika bit her lip.

"We must cut the enemy down at the root before the problem grows any larger. In other words, our mission is to annihilate the orc main force in the Ashen Forest and destroy their infrastructure in its entirety."

Serafina began explaining the operation, tracing the map with her riding crop, and every eye in the tent fixed itself on the tip of her baton.

"3rd Platoon. Lieutenant Jaeger."

"Yes, Captain."

"3rd Platoon will take the most critical role in this mission. You are to infiltrate to this point—believed to be the enemy command post—in the shortest possible time."

Her riding crop came down squarely on the center of the region where the red dots clustered most densely. A low groan rippled through the officers around the table. Even on paper, the route demanded a breakthrough through countless enemy positions—it was, quite literally, the heart of the beast.

"Your task is not a simple strike. You will assassinate the enemy leadership and destroy their communications facilities and command tent, paralyzing their entire command structure. Your objective is to turn them into headless chickens."

It was a high-difficulty mission—if it succeeded, it would end the battle in the easiest way imaginable, but if it failed, we would be isolated deep behind enemy lines. Perhaps that was why the sound of Sergeant Gunter, standing behind me, swallowing dryly rang out with unusual clarity.

"The moment 3rd Platoon's assault succeeds and the red signal flare is confirmed, 1st ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and 4th Platoons will launch the frontal assault. Exploiting the chaos of a force that has lost its command, your two platoons will shatter the enemy main force completely and mop up the survivors."

The seasoned Lieutenant Walter of 1st Platoon and the eager Lieutenant Franz of 4th Platoon both nodded with resolute expressions. But as the broad outline of the operation took shape, a puzzled look crossed Erika's face. The mission for the most aggressive platoon of all—hers—had yet to be announced.

At last, Serafina's gaze found her.

"2nd Platoon will move separately."

With her riding crop, Serafina pointed to the Western Ridge on the forest's outskirts, well away from the engagement zone.

"You will take up an ambush position here and seal off the enemy's line of retreat completely. Furthermore, you will only be committed if an unforeseen variable arises. In other words, your task, Lieutenant Stahlberg, is to calmly monitor the entire battle as our reserve."

Erika's shoulders flinched. Plain bewitlement flickered in her eyes. It amounted to being told to sit and twiddle her thumbs until the fighting was over—no frontal assault, nothing. She shot Serafina a look of utter disbelief.

"I object, Captain!"

In the end, Erika couldn't hold her tongue and stepped forward. The air in the tent froze solid. Every eye turned to her.

"On what grounds, Lieutenant Stahlberg?"

Serafina asked, her voice carrying the tone of someone who had expected exactly this.

"Assigning 2nd Platoon to the reserve is a blatant waste of combat power! Our platoon has the finest mobility and firepower in the entire company. Rather than some passive duty like blocking a retreat, it would be far more efficient to have us spearhead the breakthrough alongside 3rd Platoon, or lead the assault on the enemy's main force!"

Erika held forth with real eloquence.

Status Analysis.

"I'll admit that last reconnaissance mission was a failure! But give me a chance to make up for that mistake! Give 2nd Platoon a chance to fight, Captain!"

A few officers exchanged uneasy glances at her plea, but Serafina didn't so much as twitch. She tapped the map lightly with her riding crop and spoke.

"The entire operation hinges on the success of the surprise attack, Lieutenant Stahlberg. And the most successful surprise attack is the one conducted when every variable is under control."

Her blue eyes bored straight through Erika.

"Lieutenant Jaeger's 3rd Platoon may fail. The frontal assault by 1st and 4th Platoons may run into unexpected resistance. Or an enemy reinforcement we know nothing about may appear. Your mission is to be ready for every single one of those contingencies."

There wasn't a shred of hesitation in Serafina's voice.

"The most reliable card is always played last. You will be responsible for those variables. It is precisely because I trust your superior mobility and firepower more than anyone else's that I am giving you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this role. I'll ask again—do you have any complaints?"

"...No, Captain."

Serafina had adroitly stroked Erika's pride while simultaneously burying her objection without a trace. Erika fell back, biting her lip in what looked like barely contained frustration. Her shoulders were trembling faintly. There was no rebuttal left to make.

"That concludes the briefing. Each platoon will begin final preparations immediately. Operation start time is 0500 tomorrow. Dismissed."

When the briefing ended, the officers filed out of the command tent one by one. I had just stepped out myself when I ran into Erika, who had been waiting for me in the corridor. Arms crossed, her face was a mask of resentment.

"Congratulations are in order, Lieutenant Jaeger. You've claimed the tastiest piece of the pie yet again."

Her voice was pure thorns. I shrugged in reply.

"The tastiest pieces tend to be poisoned. Only someone who can swallow them should take a bite—otherwise things get ugly."

"What...?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Erika's face went red. The moment she opened her mouth to snap back, Lieutenant Walter of 1st Platoon, who had followed us out, inserted himself between us. He was a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seasoned soldier with a magnificently groomed mustache.

"That's enough, you two. The night before an operation is no time for platoon leaders to be locking horns."

He fished a cigarette from his pocket, tucked it between his lips, and clicked his tongue. Behind him, Lieutenant Franz of 4th Platoon looked helplessly back and forth between us.

"Lieutenant Walter is right, sir. This operation depends on the whole company working together, doesn't it?"

Franz tried awkwardly to mediate, but Erika's anger would not be soothed.

"Together?! You want me to work together with the guy who's going to hog every scrap of the glory up front, and a supporting act stuck plugging a retreat route?!"

Status Analysis.

I swept my gaze across the three platoon leaders in turn.

Predictable reactions, all of them. I took a step toward Erika.

"If you think holding the retreat line makes you a supporting act, you're making a big mistake, Erika."

My voice made her flinch.

"The moment you get blinded by glory and forget your mission, those fleeing orcs will be carving up your soldiers' throats. I understand there's something you want to prove. Just don't prove it with your men's lives."

"Hmph. Spare me the lecture."

That was all she could manage before whirling around and vanishing down the far end of the corridor. Lieutenant Walter shook his head as he exhaled a long plume of smoke, while Franz continued to fidget helplessly.

"What are we going to do with that stubborn girl."

Leaving Walter's muttering behind me, I headed for the barracks where my own platoon was waiting.

From that afternoon straight through the night, 3rd Platoon moved with meticulous care. The barracks filled with the sound of rifles being stripped and oiled, the rattle of ammunition being distributed, the shouts of squad leaders counting their men.

One by one, I personally inspected every soldier's equipment and combat load. Only after confirming that every last preparation was perfect did I return to my quarters for a brief rest. I lay down on my creaking bed, but sleep wouldn't come.

How long had I lain there? Outside the barracks, the bugle call for assembly rang out across the night.

The time had come at last. I rose, picked up my rifle, and stepped out.

The mouth of the Ashen Forest, shrouded in deep darkness and drifting fog. 3rd Platoon had assembled at the appointed hour.

White breath scattered from the soldiers' lips into the mist as they gripped their dew-soaked rifles. The forest waited for us, its maw gaping open like some colossal beast.

"All units, report positions."

Reports answered my question in quick succession.

"1st Squad, ready."

"2nd Squad, ready, sir."

"3rd Squad, ready."

Every preparation was complete. Then Hannah came to my side. She closed her eyes for a moment and focused on the flow of mana rippling through the forest.

"I can see it, Lieutenant. The mana is surging toward the center of the forest. And... there are smaller mana webs stretched out around it."

"Can you find us a gap?"

"...Yes. It's very faint, but I can see a path."

"Good. Lead the way."

Corporal Hannah and I took point, and the soldiers of 3rd Platoon fell in behind us. We pressed forward with our bodies swallowed by the fog.

I stayed glued just behind Hannah, watching the minimap hovering at the edge of my vision. The fog made it impossible to see even a hand's length ahead, but on the minimap the green dots marking our own soldiers glowed steadily.

Before long, red dots began appearing at the edge of the minimap.

"Eleven o'clock direction... three of them, Lieutenant. Looks like an orc patrol."

Hannah whispered. On the minimap, the red dots were closing straight toward us.