All Quiet on the Northern Front (2)
All Quiet on the Northern Front (2)
I discarded the name Anvelrum.
From today onwards, I will live as Piel Marshall.
Making this northern region, the Ainshuvan territory, my hometown.
"Oh my. I actually planned to gift you Carlton Castle, but it's a shame it didn't work out."
"Carlton Marquis!"
Rebecca threw out the joke with a bright smile, and Hildea was utterly startled.
"Don't say such terrible things!"
"Why is it terrible? Piel Carlton, it has a good ring to it. Right, Piel?"
"Piel will remain here in Valkenhart rather than go to the Carlton Marquis's territory! Right, Piel?"
Of course.
Though the ranks of the two commanders differ by a single star.
But I can't embarrass her in front of Rebecca.
"I am simply a person of Ainshuvan from now on."
Let it slide softly like that.
I changed the mood.
"Commander Hildea-nim, what about my promotion?"
An officer openly harping on about a promotion looks a bit lacking, but I'm allowed to do it.
After all, if I hadn't awakened the Defense Core, both the 3rd and 4th Armies would've been annihilated, and both commanders would have fallen in battle.
"I'm sorry. As you know, the capital is currently turbulent... with the rebellion, it's not the right time to demand honors and rewards."
I know, but I brought it up to remind her not to forget that I am that desperate for a promotion.
"To celebrate being reborn by abandoning my family, how about a glass of whiskey?"
"Whiskey! I welcome it wholeheartedly!"
"Whiskey? You're talking about that high-proof, premium spirit specially brewed by Piel's maternal family, right?"
Rebecca's eyes sparkled.
Her throat visibly bobbed with a gulp.
"Since it's a special day, skipping drinks seems out of the question. I'd like to get drunk too."
"A great idea! I shall enthusiastically welcome your momentous decision!"
"Piel, may I drink with you too?"
"Of course. Good spirits always taste deeper when shared with good people."
I brought out cookies, chocolate, roasted almonds, smoked duck jerky, and marinated dried grapes from my supplies.
'I'm a bit worried I'm corrupting their palates too much.'
But on a special day like this, shouldn't I leave an impression with an intense flavor to match?
Since I'll have to live on as an officer of the north from now on.
【Requesting supply of Valentine 17-Year (700ml).】
And at the whiskey's intense proof and novel flavor, Rebecca was utterly entranced.
"How can a spirit be so strong! I-it feels like my throat is burning up!"
"Ho ho, that's the charm you drink it for. Carlton Marquis."
Even Hildea, who had been acting like a senior and boasting because this was her second time drinking whiskey, lost all resistance in her body at the snacks I brought out.
"Ma-Major Piel. Just what is this jerky?"
"It'll be a bit different from the jerky taste you're used to."
"A bit different is an understatement! This is no mere jerky!"
It was jerky smoked with cherry wood for 72 hours in a low-temperature smokehouse managed by a computer for humidity and temperature,
then dehydrated in a near-vacuum environment and finished with a special seasoning.
It's incomparable to the medieval land jerky that's roughly sprinkled with salt and haphazardly dried in the sun.
The breed of duck and the quality of the meat itself are on a different level to begin with.
"Piel! To even think of marinating dried grapes and eating them! And what on earth is this grape? Why is it so sweet? I feel like my tongue is going to rot...."
"Ma-Major Piel.... Why do these hard acorns keep going in endlessly...."
"Those aren't acorns, they're called almonds."
"Almonds, almonds."
We emptied over 10 bottles of whiskey.
I remember drinking less than half a bottle myself.
***
"Ouch...."
I got up clutching my throbbing head.
The commander's office still bore the complete traces of last night's wild party.
Empty bottles rolling around.
Snack plates without a single trace left.
I felt something squishy on my cheek and looked, good heavens.
Disrespectfully, I had dared to lie with my head pillowed on Hildea's stomach.
I sprang up in utter shock, but this time something grabbed my leg and wouldn't let go.
'Ughhh....'
Rebecca was asleep down below, clutching my leg tightly in her arms.
I tried to pull my lower body free, but her strength was too great, and I couldn't budge.
"Commander Rebecca-nim, Commander Rebecca-nim, please rise and shine."
"Mmm.... Valentine... dried grapes... smoked duck jerky...."
She has no intention of waking up.
Then I'll have to use my trump card.
"Commanders, it's time for hangover ramyeon."
"What?!"
"Hangover ramyeon!"
Both commanders sprang up instantly like a lie.
A reaction so immediate that I almost suspected they had been pretending to sleep until just now.
I naturally slipped out of both commanders' arms and stood up, straightening my rumpled clothes.
"For hangovers, ramyeon is the best. I'll bring it right away. Ah, how many will you each have?"
"4! No, no, 5!"
"I'll have 5 too!"
"Will that be enough?"
"...."
"...."
Both women watched my reaction, then stole glances at each other, before surreptitiously raising both hands.
Both Hildea and Rebecca were spreading out all 10 fingers.
"Understood. Then I will prepare 10 Chil-do Jumbo Cup Ramen each."
It's a jumbo-sized cup ramen, so for me it's a 6-serving portion.
And 10 of them is 30,269 kcal.
'Could Hildea have actually been suffering from malnutrition before I came?'
I also ate a spicy yukgaejang cup ramen as my hangover cure, the kind made for Korean-descended soldiers.
Both women devoured theirs faster than I did.
***
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
The cute sound of baby mortars could be heard from afar.
The dedicated gunner, Colonel-Lord Dvill, having obtained my (Major's) permission, is practicing firing illumination rounds.
Partly to maintain his senses.
Partly to demonstrate force to the Elf scouts who might be observing from afar.
Every day, I give him 10 illumination shells for practice.
We do it deliberately during the day, not at night.
So as not to give the Elf bastards as much information as possible about how effective the illumination is at night.
I heard that other knights watch from the side too.
The Elves are still quiet for now.
The annihilation of the Ancient Tree Legion, the explosion of the corrupted World Tree stump, the destruction of thousands of archers.
They've been utterly crushed three times in a row, so they probably won't move recklessly.
After the withdrawal, I had been continuing experiments on the Elf prisoners.
Not cruel human experimentation, though.
"Select three and shave their heads."
"Yes, Major-nim!"
How would they photosynthesize after being shaved?
The answer is 'through the skin.'
"The skin of the shaved Elf bastards has turned green!"
"Vary their sun exposure times. Cut it off in 1-hour intervals."
"Yes, Major-nim!"
Is the battery... no, the maximum photosynthetic capacity fixed?
The answer was 'yes, it is.'
"Major-nim, after being exposed to the sun for 4 hours, their hair color has returned to its original white!"
Is 4 hours really the time needed from complete discharge to full charge?
Maybe the battery was already somewhat charged?
What about the difference in consumption rate between intense combat and rest?
I set up various comparative environments and experimented on the photosynthetic mechanisms of the Elves.
How long it takes to charge, how long a full charge lasts, what the charging efficiency is, and so on.
I recorded all the data obtained by using my soldiers into my Tactical PDA.
I also performed autopsies on the fallen Elf warriors we had collected separately.
The remaining thousands of fallen Elf warriors were all buried far away, outside the 2nd Army's barracks.
I didn't perform the dissections myself, but had soldiers with strong minds and bodies do it.
And the confirmed fact.
'They have no reproductive organs or anus, but they do possess internal digestive and excretory organs.'
If I were to compare it to a house, it's like the entrance door was blocked up with a wall right before completion?
'It seems they evolved to function solely on sunlight without needing to eat.'
It's highly likely to be an artificial evolution using magic.
***
I was going about my daily routine, starting with the Elf prisoner report and touring the cookhouse and logistics warehouse.
When Lord Deville, having finished his shooting practice, came striding over with a swagger, holding the folded mortar in one hand.
"Major Piel! I've safely completed today's shooting practice as well!"
Lord Deville handed me the 10 safety pins.
I had confirmed that the firing sounds went off 10 times, but still, ammunition management must be thorough.
"Good work."
"My marksmanship has become even more perfect. I'll show you in real combat, dropping them precisely over the Elf bastards' heads without a single mistake."
"I heard many other officers are coming to watch as well."
"They were all so envious, begging me to let them shoot just once. I flatly refused them all, saying absolutely not, and if you really want to shoot, go get Piel's permission first."
How carefully he cherishes that mortar.
Even now, while making eye contact and talking to me, one hand was busily polishing the mortar.
"Have you heard any news from the capital?"
"First of all, it seems the 1st Army's straggler unit hasn't been executed yet. The rear nobility are strongly demanding execution, but I heard His Majesty the King is blocking it."
I saw the King's character when I heard he personally eats only two meals a day to set an example.
Not just anyone can do that.
"In my heart, I'd even like to start a movement to save them... but it might actually put them in more danger if we step forward, so we're keeping quiet."
"If we step forward, the pig nobles in the rear will feel more threatened and raise their voices for execution even louder."
"It seems His Majesty the King is striving hard to save them somehow, so we'll have to pin our hopes on that."
"At any rate, His Majesty the King and all the nobles of the capital must make a wise decision."
At that, Lord Deville flinched in surprise.
"Others might not know, but when you say that, it's frightening. After all, your maternal family experienced what happened 25 years ago...."
That the 'Marshall Family' collapsed after being falsely accused of treason.
Dvil seems to think I'm sharpening my sword for the capital.
Just then, a few soldiers came running quickly toward me.
"Major Piel-nim! A report!"
"Report."
Even at a glance, it didn't look ordinary.
Lord Deville's complexion hardened as well.
"An unusual phenomenon has occurred where the autopsied fallen Elf warriors were buried! It seems you must personally come!"
"Unusual phenomenon? Guide me at once! Lord Deville!"
"Understood! I'll join you as well!"
The fallen Elf warriors we brought with us were all buried outside the barracks in a remote place after the autopsies were finished.
They were all ones who died in the field; not a single prisoner has been executed or died yet.
When I arrived at the burial site, my heart lurched.
The ground where the Elves were buried was heaving violently.
As if something below was turning itself inside out.
"No way...."
Tumble! Tumble tumble!
As the earth split, a gigantic green sprout burst upward.
No, it wasn't a sprout, but a branch-like hand that looked like a sprout.
A large hand made of leaves and thick tree bark pushed hard against the ground and surged up.
What finally revealed itself was a monster that looked like a half-mix of tree and Elf.
Lord Deville's mouth gaped open as he stammered out.
"An-Ancient Tree Monster...!"
I pointed at a soldier and gave a rapid order.
"You there! Immediately report to the Commander-in-Chief that the 2nd Army's Elf burial site must be checked! Tell them I advised it!"
This is serious.
We buried over thousands of Elf corpses outside the 2nd Army area.
"Understood!"
***
The ruined barracks of the 2nd Army.
A small number of surveillance troops were observing the northern clearing all day from a position good for concealment.
Their mission was to immediately retreat and report to the main base if any movement of the Elf Legion was detected.
The wide plain spread out north of the barracks has no place to hide, so if you watch from a high place, you can easily notice the movement of a legion.
That was the moment.
Rumble! Rumble!
"What's that sound?"
"It seems like an Ancient Tree Monster legion is moving? The sound is exactly the same!"
"No, where did those bastards come in from? We've been keeping our eyes wide open watching the clearing continuously!"
"Over there!"
A watchman pointed to one side and shouted.
Everyone looked that way and turned pale.
"At least thousands of entities... No, f*ck! Where on earth did those bastards come from to get this close right under our noses!"
"You go back immediately and report this situation! We'll continue to monitor!"
"Understood!"
Over thousands of Ancient Tree Monsters, who had appeared from nowhere without crossing the clearing, were shaking the earth as they advanced south.
***
The Ancient Tree Monsters that emerged from the burial site near our camp are only a few.
The problem is the thousands of fallen Elf warriors we buried outside the 2nd Army's barracks.
By now, those bastards would be advancing south through the wide-open front line.
Hildea and Rebecca simply couldn't believe it.
"A combat Elf turns into an Ancient Tree Monster when it dies? Is that really true?"
Rebecca ground her teeth.
"Damn it, even if their night raid failed, those bastards had already set up what came after!"