All Quiet on the Northern Front (1)
All Quiet on the Northern Front (1)
"Commander-nim Hildea, we need to investigate the characteristics of the elf race. Please leave it to me."
"Our Major Piel, do whatever you want."
"Thank you. Please have some of this."
"Th-this is Giradel Dark Chocolate? You brought such precious, high-quality snacks even to the battlefield?"
"Because all my supplies are in here."
I tapped my subspace bracelet lightly.
Hildea grinned at the chocolate, then suddenly glanced around at the people nearby.
"...As the Commander-in-Chief, eating something delicious all by myself is embarrassing in front of the officers and soldiers."
"It's my chocolate. Why are you worrying about what other people think besides me? That's quite hurtful."
"Th-that's not what I meant!"
It's cheating for the Commander-in-Chief to be this cute.
It fundamentally blocks any thoughts of discharge, desertion, transfer, or insubordination.
"...Did you perhaps give some to Carlton Marquis too?"
"No. Naturally, I'm giving it only to you, Commander-in-Chief-nim, in secret. Because."
You are the one who decides my promotion.
"I am your duty officer, Commander-nim Hildea."
"My duty officer...."
Hildea's eyes narrowed slightly.
Her voice trembled a little.
"I will not forget the military merits you have established this time. I will ensure you receive a just reward."
"Thank you."
'Can't I quantum jump straight to Colonel?'
Major commands 1,500 men, Lieutenant Colonel 2,000.
But a Colonel commands 6,000. The scale itself is completely different.
'Right now, my budget is a basic 6 million, plus 1 million special strategy, totaling 7 million per month. And to generously supply calories to the 40,000 troops of the 3rd and 4th Armies combined, it costs about 1.5 million in expenditure.'
I provide high-calorie corn soup, coffee, and snack bars as basic meals.
Subsistence items with good caloric cost-effectiveness.
Even occasionally serving special meals like the Chil-do Jumbo Lunch Box large cup ramen, a budget of 1.5 million can easily cover 40,000 people.
'On top of that, if I set the monthly maintenance expenditure for my direct unit at 100,000, I'll have 5.4 million left each month after basic expenses. From now on, I'll unconditionally save 2 million as an emergency special budget.'
Now, I can't just think about the military.
I have to keep the territory residents of Hildea and Rebecca in mind too.
Because the reason the two commanders fight is ultimately to protect their own territories.
The families of the knights and soldiers are all in the territories as well.
'So there was a reason a Major can only request supplies up to mortars.'
The price of the big, beautiful, latest 155mm lightweight howitzer is a 4 million budget.
And shells cost 1,500 budget per round.
'But anyway, the range is sufficient with just the 60mm mortar.'
Considering those elf archer bastards were harassing us from a few hundred meters away.
A 60mm mortar that can harass from 2, 3 kilometers out seems like it would be enough.
Even if I make Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel, I'll probably still love the 60mm.
'Anyway, from 81mm and up, you need target observation support, making them useless. In Midraeland, the 60mm, which you can aim by eye and hit with, is the most cost-effective.'
"Major Piel, is there nothing you desire as a reward for your meritorious deeds?"
"There is."
"What is it?"
Hildea's eyes sparkled as she leaned in.
If I could have my way, I'd ask for those three big, beautiful stars on your chest... but.
"A promotion. I want to become a Colonel."
She looks slightly disappointed, doesn't she?
"Hmm... Even just the merits you established before were enough to become a Lieutenant Colonel. If we add the merits from this time, Colonel is no problem, but your commissioning period is so short that I can't guarantee how the capital will react."
"I guess I need to earn my knighthood quickly."
"Indeed. If it were up to me, I'd even pluck the stars from my chest and pin them on you, but as Commander-in-Chief, I cannot break military law...."
Oh, we're on the same wavelength?
How did you know my heart?
"Commander-nim Hildea, this is a beef brisket combat ration. Please have it when you get hungry at night."
"As Commander-in-Chief, I cannot eat special meals different from the soldiers all by myself in this situation...."
"As Commander-in-Chief, shouldn't you eat better to command without wavering? Furthermore, Commander-nim Hildea, you'll be standing guard duty all night without a wink of sleep, won't you?"
Hildea's lips moved a few times, then she quietly accepted my combat ration.
Her fingers are so slender and delicate.
Unlike a knight's hands.
"Thank you, Major Piel. I will eat it well."
***
Thanks to everyone being on high alert and prepared, the first night after the victory passed without incident.
A commander's strategy meeting was held in the morning, and I was also allowed to attend.
'This is something, a lowly Major like me sitting in on a gathering of stars.'
"The operational deployment of our 3rd and 4th Armies depends absolutely on your supply capability, so you must be aware of all unit situations."
"Ultimately, how far Piel can open his supply warehouse determines our tactics and strategy. Isn't that obvious?"
Hildea pointed her baton at the large map spread out on the table.
"The biggest strategic issue is what to do with the now-empty 1st and 2nd Army fronts."
"We need to decide that quickly. So we know whether to withdraw from here or keep defending it."
Whether we defend the Ainshuvan western front that the 1st and 2nd Armies were holding, or leave it.
That's the problem.
Rebecca spoke cautiously.
"If we leave this place unattended, the Elf Legion will break through. The Commander-in-Chief's territory in the rear will be exposed to danger."
Vice-commander Basel offered his opinion.
"The 1st and 2nd Army fronts were being handled by 60,000 men. Our 3rd and 4th Armies combined are only 40,000. It's absolutely not a length we can manage."
Right in front of Ainshuvan is a vast plain.
The plant and monster legions the elves send can't hide themselves, making it good for defense.
"The upper stream of the Baltics River flows between the 2nd and 3rd Armies. I suggest abandoning the 1st and 2nd Army areas and establishing a defensive line across this river to protect the county."
"But then the elves will invade through here and cause damage inside the kingdom...."
Hildea hesitated, deep in thought.
Her own territory is important, but she seems to consider the protection of the kingdom equally important.
Rebecca spoke cynically.
"I think it's rather a good thing. Shouldn't the fat pigs in the rear experience firsthand what happens when the front line is breached?"
"Carlton Marquis, border defense is not a matter to approach with such personal feelings."
"Now that I see it, Luna was right. Those who don't cherish the front lines need to realize firsthand what happens when it's stripped away. Then the situation might change a little."
"...."
"Anyway, we can't split our 40,000 troops to defend an area that 60,000 were holding. Commander-in-Chief, your jurisdiction is the Ainshuvan eastern front, not the western front."
All the commanders were looking at Hildea with eyes that shared the same sentiment.
And even Hildea's expression showed she acknowledged that Rebecca's thinking was correct.
However, the weight of responsibility and conscience Hildea carried as the Commander-in-Chief of the border region seemed higher than I thought, making her hesitate to make the decision.
'We could block it, though.'
【M-EXR11 Smart Anti-tank Mine】
【Function: Real-time location tracking, remote detonation, sensor-type automatic detection initiation】
【Weight: 12kg】
【Budget: 2,000】
I could just lay these outside the front line in manual mode and detonate them whenever the Monster Legion invades.
It's fully coverable within the current budget limit.
'Do I really need to tell them?'
I had thought this up beforehand to help Hildea with it.
I also have the desire to establish merits and get promoted faster, but it's also because I don't want the kingdom to be breached either.
However, I chose silence.
'Rebecca is right.'
Pain is the body's warning to the brain to please take care of your health.
A clearer and more definite warning must be delivered to the rear.
Only then can things change.
"I will deploy my territory's defensive line at the Baltics River. We abandon the 1st and 2nd Army areas. Instead, we will place surveillance troops here to constantly monitor the Elf Legion's movements."
"A wise decision, Commander-in-Chief."
"I will carry out your orders."
Hildea's complexion was haggard, but she showed no lingering attachment to the decision she had made.
"We withdraw today. Take all the wounded soldiers from the 1st Army as well."
We left the Ainshuvan western front, which had collapsed in 36 hours.
Along with the captured elves and hundreds of wounded soldiers from the 1st Army.
'There's no way all those many knights and soldiers could have died while hunting. Where did all the survivors go?'
"Major Piel, ride in this palanquin."
"How can I alone ride when everyone else is struggling...."
"Aigo, Major Piel-nim. Please, do not say such things and get on quickly."
"Only when the Major-nim's body is comfortable can our Eastern Army be comfortable too."
The officers and soldiers all chimed in and actively insisted, so I had no choice but to board the palanquin (a noble's riding carriage carried by people).
'I'm not some kind of king...'
If the elves see from afar, they'll think I'm the Commander-in-Chief.
Feeling unnecessarily bothered, I picked up my binoculars and scanned around, but no suspicious figures were caught.
***
When we returned, the atmosphere of the 3rd Army was extremely chaotic.
"Lord of the territory."
"Head Butler Andrea? What brings you all the way here?"
"I have an urgent report to make."
Did something happen in the territory?
While Hildea had a private meeting with the head butler, I went to find my fellow second lieutenants.
Perhaps thanks to firmly establishing military discipline with whiskey last time, their attitude towards me was cautious.
"Why is the unit so chaotic? What happened?"
"Piel, the deserter unit from the western front looted the county. And they caused a disturbance in the capital."
"What? Is that true? How many?"
"I heard about 200 knights alone. My main family sent someone because they were worried about it."
No wonder, I thought I saw a lot of carts from my fellow officers' families arriving when it wasn't the right time.
'What the hell? Why isn't there a single letter asking how I'm doing for me?'
My fellow officers' families sent supplies loaded up because they were worried, but Count Anbelrum's family didn't even send a single letter?
'Even noona Elenoa is doing this?'
It's strange.
Noona always sent me books without fail whenever I asked.
She's at least the type of person who would send a letter out of worry for me.
"So what happened with the disturbance?"
"It seems it hasn't been suppressed yet. But there's a time difference between when my main family assessed the capital situation and sent the letter, so I don't know what's happened by now."
"I heard it's a disturbance led by 1st Army Vice-commander Luna Rosenberg."
Fortunately, Hildea's territory, which was looted, seems to be safe.
The supply cheat told me.
【Private Hanson (Normal)】
【Private Volk (Normal)】
....
All 1,500 members of my direct unit are in normal status.
It seems they just took the supplies and left quietly.
Still, they had some sense of regional consciousness, having suffered together at the border.
'It's a shame. They should have just come here.'
200 high-ranking mages and knights is really a regrettable loss of combat power.
'But why isn't there even a single letter from noona?'
Could it be that the Count is cracking down?
Telling her not to give any more affection to the abandoned illegitimate son?
***
The 3rd Army set up defensive outposts at the eastern Baltics River and prepared for an attack by the Elf Legion.
They also sent surveillance troops in rotation to the area the 1st and 2nd Armies had been blocking to confirm any elf infiltration.
Several days passed without any signs.
As if that fierce battle had been a lie, there were no more of the intermittent wyvern attacks either.
It was an unbelievable peace.
"It's all thanks to Major Piel. We defeated the Ancient Tree Legion, blew away the World Tree stump contaminated with Emilpharm, and all the elf archers were either killed or captured, so they're being cautious too."
Though the fact that I blew away the stump with a 6.5-ton TNT demolition bag is a secret just between the two of us.
The officers also thought that the annihilation of the elf archer unit, numbering over a thousand, was the reason for this tranquility.
"Commander-nim Hildea, we still must not let our guard down. If they were surprised and pulled back for a moment, they'll attack next time with more certain combat power."
"Of course."
Some time later, the situation in the capital was finally revealed.
I learned the reason why there hadn't been a single letter from Elenoa.
"The 1st Army deserter unit has been designated as a rebel force... Successfully suppressed entirely... The rear nobles' capital villas were intensively attacked...."
Because in the news of the capital rebellion, there was also news of Elenoa.
"...It is said that your sister, Elenoa, established distinguished merits and received a knighthood."
Hildea watched my reaction as she said that.
Rebecca's complexion wasn't good either.
'I understand how they feel.'
The two commanders emotionally sympathize with the situation of the 1st Army deserter unit, who had no choice.
But my half-sister, the Count Anbelrum family, established great merit in suppressing the rebellion.
Establishing great merit also means they inflicted the greatest damage.
Since it's said Anvelrum sent the largest army to help suppress the rebellion.
So both of them are watching my reaction.
"There is no need for concern. I am an abandoned child anyway."
"But still...."
"I've been putting it off because it was bothersome, but I'll settle it clearly this time."
I looked Hildea and Rebecca in the eyes one after another and declared clearly.
"From now on, I will discard the name of Anvelrum and live under my maternal family's name."
A declaration of intent to completely draw a line with Anvelrum.
The two commanders' complexions brightened, sensing my resolve.
"Then what is the family name of your maternal family?"
"It is Marshall."
A name I had thought I would definitely use if I ever became a general and started my own family someday.
"From now on, please call me Piel Marshall."
"Marshall, Marshall.... Finally, I hear the family name of your maternal family."
"It's a family name I'm hearing for the first time. But... somehow, it feels like it will be incredibly amazing."
As someone destined to become the overall supply officer of the Ainshuvan Front against the elves, I simply couldn't think of any other family name.