The Severe Winter Expedition (2)
The Severe Winter Expedition (2)
The middle-aged soldier Hanson.
Ever since he enlisted in the Food Procurement Unit, his household's livelihood had opened up.
Not only could he exchange his flour exchange tickets for flour, but also for corn soup, pepperoni square pizza, rebate beer, and more.
'How nice would it be if I could buy Marshall Stew with exchange tickets too.'
The northern residents had not forgotten the taste of that meat-filled stew that Piel had so generously distributed during the Triumph Ceremony.
Because it was a fantastical taste they had never once imagined, a dish seemingly stolen from the table of the gods.
"This year's land reclamation is finished. They say there will be no more call-ups for a while, until next spring."
"Then we can't get any more flour exchange tickets?"
"Since we won't be reporting for work. But we saved up so many exchange tickets that this winter won't be a worry at all."
"The rye that Baron Marshall-nim distributed for free last time is still untouched too."
"At least no one will freeze to death from having nothing to eat."
Winter is cold and hard.
Even the sturdy northern residents cannot hide their worries when winter comes.
But this year was different.
The territory residents who had piled up rye and flour exchange tickets in their homes all had bright faces.
"Securing drinking water in winter was especially tough, but with the keg beer, I'm relieved."
"All of this is thanks to the grace of Baron Marshall-nim."
When evening came, the Hansons moved to the community hall.
During cold nights, families gather in various places to sleep together.
It is to receive the magical warming measures from the fire mages who work in shifts throughout the night.
Still, the northern winter is so cold that people occasionally freeze to death.
The Hansons, who had brought bread to eat during the cold nights, entered the hall and were surprised to see the soldiers.
"Huh? What are they handing out right now?"
"It's a bedding item called a sleeping bag! This is really warm!"
"This is a bedding item? Not clothes?"
"Aish, how could you move around wearing this?"
The sleeping bag, which you submerge your whole body in with only your face sticking out, was a very curious object in the eyes of the Hansons.
"Honey, this is incredibly warm."
"Wow, with this we won't have to worry about freezing to death in our sleep, will we?"
The territory residents who experienced the insulating effect of the sleeping bags everywhere were very happy.
Some even shed tears as they recalled family members who had frozen to death in the past.
"And this is a preserved food called pemmican, please make sure to eat one each before sleeping. They say its high calories help maintain body temperature throughout the night."
The soldiers distributed one pemmican each to the residents.
The block, made by kneading finely pounded jerky and grain flour with fat and hardening it, was not a very unfamiliar form to the residents either.
Though it was surprising that it was mostly jerky, not rye.
As Hanson put the pemmican in his mouth and chewed, he felt an overwhelming surge of something from deep inside.
"Delicious! It's delicious!"
"Honey, how can it taste like this."
"To give away this much to so many people for free just so they don't freeze to death. Is Baron Marshall-nim truly a god?"
The villagers who tasted the pemmican cried out in admiration everywhere, shedding tears and feeling moved.
An old man who had lost several family members to freezing deaths in past winters murmured.
"From now on, no more people will freeze to death in winter...."
***
Uwaaah! It's cold, so damn cold.
As night came, it felt even more like I was going to freeze to death.
The insulation is nonexistent, so even with the fireplace lit, it's maddeningly cold.
Now I understand why Hildea and Rebecca dragged my bed out from my room into the reception room.
In winter, the only solution was to huddle up tightly together in front of the fireplace to sleep.
"But you two don't look cold at all."
"We are Masters. Naturally, we are resistant to the cold."
"Even just being a Sword Expert allows you to endure the cold more or less."
I'm envious, Master.
"I, I really don't want to receive the Mana Massage because it's too cold...."
I don't want to leave this cozy sleeping bag.
Yuzel was also next to me, tucked entirely inside a sleeping bag with only her face sticking out.
Typical of US military gear, the sleeping bag performance is good, so my body is warm, but the skin on my face is cold.
"Hmm... Mana Massage must not be skipped even a single day."
"Rather, let's do it during the daytime. If I go outside this sleeping bag right now, I might actually freeze to death."
Rebecca let out a sigh as well.
"Piel is from the south and hasn't awakened his mana, so he can't adapt to the northern winter. It's going to get much colder than this, what will we do?"
-Hihihihing!
The unicorn snorted lightly, and its horn glowed white.
It wrapped the blanket I had put over it tightly around its whole body using psychokinesis.
With just its nose poking out.
Even though it's a northern-born horse, it has poor cold resistance, so I had brought it in front of the fireplace.
'If it gets colder than this, might Yuzel and I both freeze to death for real?'
Looking at how the weather is changing, I might have to make a serious decision.
Toward the direction of spending winter at noona's house.
***
The next day.
I received a report from Varen, who had been promoted to Supply Officer.
"Not only were there zero fatalities from freezing, but there weren't even any patients who experienced a freezing crisis. Everyone had a very warm and cozy night, and praise for Colonel-nim is widespread."
Everyone is so sturdy.
I thought I was going to freeze to death.
"If measures like last night continue to be taken, I believe there will not be a single winter freezing fatality from this year onward."
"Good, Varen. Take care so that the territory residents do not die or fall ill."
"Yes, Colonel-nim."
Still, I feel a sense of reward, having poured out tens of millions of the budget while leaving exactly 12 million to supply pemmican and sleeping bags.
'Every time a territory citizen dies, the budget decreases by 5,000 a month. The only right answer is to keep them healthy and alive, unconditionally.'
Admittedly, they aren't the expensive tactical sleeping bags with waterproof insulation, but the cheap old-model sleeping bags costing a few dozen each in the budget.
But for the residents here, even that alone is an overwhelming over-technology.
"Yuzel, did you sleep well last night?"
"Yes! The sleeping bag was so warm! My face was a bit cold, but my body was warm so I could sleep soundly!"
This kid came from much further south than me, but she seems more resistant to the cold than I am.
Though to Hildea and Rebecca, the two of us probably look the same anyway.
Perhaps because it's winter, Hildea and Rebecca became busy in many ways.
It's hard to see their faces during the daytime.
It seems the battle against winter is fiercer and more chaotic than the fight against elves or monsters.
Hildea herself has no problem because she's resistant to the cold, but the soldiers and territory residents are not.
"Yuzel, I'm thinking that if it gets too cold, we'll spend the winter at our hometown house, so don't worry too much."
"Ah, really? Wow, I'm saved...."
Huddled under the same blanket with Yuzel in front of the fireplace, I endured the daylight hours by sharing body heat.
At this rate, I might grow attached to her.
"HIMARS. Flip the meat for me."
-Hihihihing!
The horn glowed white.
The meat grilling on the hot plate was flipped over neatly and orderly.
Because sticking a hand out of the blanket brings on cold extremities right away, I'm utilizing the unicorn's psychokinesis in this way.
Hwiririk!
A perfectly cooked piece of meat flew through the air.
Yuzel opened her mouth wide and gobbled it right up.
Seeing her face right in front of me, chewing the meat in total bliss, made my heart feel all snug and warm.
I mean, she's a woman with a different kind of charm and rewarding appeal to feed, unlike Hildea, Rebecca, or Luna.
"Is it good?"
"Yes! It's so delicious!"
"Anyway, since we didn't bathe yesterday, I do have to definitely bathe today...."
As for bathing, you just draw hot water and do it.
The problem is that during the short time after finishing washing and drying off the moisture, I might freeze to death.
'If I skip a bath for even a single day, I feel like I might break out in a rash all over my body....'
Fortunately, that worry was resolved by Luna.
"There's a large hot spring to the east. Originally, it's a place monsters frequently visit, so people don't approach it, but it's not a problem for us, right?"
"Is that place alright?"
"Yes, yes. The entire hot spring area is filled with hot steam, so even when you finish washing and come out to dry off, it's not cold at all. I know because I've tried it."
"Then let's go there. I feel like I'm going to die from wanting to wash my body right now."
"Understood!"
Luna answered spiritedly and prepared the palanquin.
Yuzel and I bundled up our whole bodies in polar cold-weather gear and waddled out.
I was worried about what to do if the palanquin was cold, but as soon as I sat down, I felt a warm heat.
"What's this? The palanquin isn't cold?"
"The soldiers always keep it warm so that Colonel-nim can use it anytime."
I'm touched.
I'll have to give them a few Chil-do Jumbo Lunch Box cup ramens as a special meal.
The three of us began flying east in search of the hot spring.
"But Luna, exactly where is this hot spring?"
"Actually, it's not our kingdom's land; it belongs to the territory of the Oridan Kingdom."
"What? Is that still okay?"
"It's fine, they sometimes cross over as well. It's not a big problem out here."
Once again, I feel how broken Wind Mages are.
Even though we're flying this fast, I don't feel the frosty wind at all.
'Fire magic, water magic, none of that is needed. Wind magic is the best....'
"And the Oridan Kingdom is probably leaving that hot spring unattended too. Since monsters visit frequently, unless you're a Master or a 7th class or higher mage, you wouldn't dare use it alone."
Luna smiled while firmly gripping the anti-materiel sniper rifle.
"I'll guard you without a single gap, so you can enjoy a pleasant time with Yuzel."
"...No, we're just going to wash up."
***
Good heavens, was a hot spring always this wonderful?
The air itself was simply different.
It felt as if winter had veered away only from this spot.
Even after taking off my cold-weather gear, it wasn't cold at all, and the air itself was very warm.
"Wow, I could just live here, you know?"
"Should I contact them to bring the palanquin official residence here right away?"
"...No. That would be too conspicuous. After all, this is another nation's land."
If we get caught while sneaking in for a hot spring bath, it can be settled with mutual understanding, but if the palanquin official residence gets exposed, there will be absolutely no excuse to make.
"Waaah, it's really so warm! I love it here!"
Yuzel also jumped up and down, delighted.
"Then Yuzel, you bathe over there, and I'll bathe over here, each on our own."
"Yes, understood!"
The two of us bathed separately, with a suitable sight-blocking obstacle placed in between.
Hearing the splashing sounds of her washing her body, Yuzel seemed to be in quite a good mood.
'Come to think of it, it's about to be payday... which means Hildea's incapacitation time will be here soon too....'
After finishing the bath, we put on comfortable clothes, laid out a mat, and ate Marshall Burgers and apples.
"Why don't we just not go back today and sleep here instead? The official residence is too cold."
"I'm all for it!"
"Colonel-nim, in that case, you must call Hildea for security. I will set up a detection spell, but since I'm not a knight, if I fall into a deep sleep I might react late to external stimuli."
"Then I'll contact her."
Though night was still a long way off, the moment I took out the radio to tell her in advance.
Kuaang!
A faint, explosive sound was heard from somewhere.
Luna tilted her head quizzically, and Yuzel also perked up her ears and focused.
"Didn't we just hear some noise?"
"Sir, I heard it too."
"It sounds like a flame attack spell. I think a battle might be taking place far off that way."
Kuang. Kuang. Kuaang.
Several more faint booms continued in succession.
A thought suddenly flashed through my mind.
"Could the United Expeditionary Force be fighting monsters right now?"
"That seems right! I'll go check and report back!"
"No, wait a moment."
"Huh?"
"We can just send the V-Bat."
I took out the V-Bat UAV and the Ground Control Station that I had entrusted with automatic repair and maintenance.
"Since the V-Bat can show the target area in clear video, it's better to send this."
"Ah, no... I, I must go...."
"Luna, you need to guard me here."
"Ah!"
Since Hildea was always the one in charge of my close-proximity security, it seemed even the clever Luna had momentarily forgotten.
I gave a reconnaissance order to the control AI.
The two V-Bats soared powerfully into the sky.
***
'Ah....'
While forcibly suppressing an expression that looked as if the sky was falling, Luna stared endlessly at the two V-Bat UAVs flying far away.