All Quiet on the Northern Front (4)
All Quiet on the Northern Front (4)
Kwaang! Kurrrrrrng! Kwaang! Kurrrrrrng!
Every time the rain of explosive shells fell, the Ancient Tree Monsters were torn apart.
The soldiers briefly thought the Ancient Tree Monsters looked pitiful, then were startled by their own thoughts.
'Have I gone mad? Those things are pitiful? What kind of stupid thought is this!'
The soldiers and knights gazed at Piel, who stood with his arms coldly folded, with eyes full of wonder.
"Cease fire! Cool the barrels with wet towels!"
"Cease fire! Barrel cooling!"
A truly bizarre scene was unfolding.
A mere major was giving orders in casual speech, and knights of colonel rank and above were briskly moving to follow his instructions.
As the soldiers hastily handed over wet towels, the knights covered the barrels.
Chi-i-ik, a sound rang out as hot steam rose from the towels.
"Cooling complete! Soldiers, distribute the explosive shells!"
"Understood!"
"Responses are only to be given as repeat-backs!"
"Repeat-back!"
The explosive shells were distributed once more.
The knights skillfully tore open the packaging and adjusted the charges.
"Commence volley fire! Kill them all!"
"Commence firing!"
Once again, the ear-splitting roar tore through the sky.
No more Ancient Tree Monsters could be seen clustered together with their branches entangled.
"Commander-nim, any more is a waste of shells. Now, give the charge order."
"Understood."
Hildea raised her machete high.
An Aura Blade, larger and more dazzling than ever before, blazed to life.
"Everyone, cross the river! Let's annihilate every last one of the remaining bastards!"
"Waaaah! Cross the river! Cross the river!"
"Charge!"
The knights set down their cannons, drew their machetes, and leaped into the river.
Wearing heavy armor, they swiftly crossed the river. The soldiers followed behind them.
The remaining individual Ancient Tree Monsters were mercilessly cut down by the blades of the knights and soldiers drunk on the electrifying, overwhelming victory.
The troops who had remained at the base watched Piel with eyes filled with awe.
Lord Deville, who had not charged forward in order to oversee the recovery of the mortars, mulled over the rumors secretly circulating.
'Is the Marshall family truly supporting the commander-nim with the pure aim of settling here?'
It was a power too immense for a house that had risen from decline to revival.
And it wasn't just the weapons.
The staggering amount of food—that was the true power the Marshall family possessed.
Right now, Piel was single-handedly feeding the 3rd and 4th Armies, a combined force of 40,000 men, until their stomachs were full.
The brick biscuits, rye and oats for making soup, and turnips the army originally consumed were no longer being used and were instead stockpiled as emergency supplies.
They were, unbelievably, stockpiling food on the Ainshuvan Front.
'Piel Marshall. You and your family, with that power... what exactly do you intend to achieve here in Ainshuvan?'
Dvil forcibly swallowed that question.
Maintaining his usual hearty expression, he grinned and gave Piel a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"Hahaha, Major Piel! Truly remarkable! These magical devices called mortars are astonishing! To think we could defeat that Ancient Tree Legion so easily and without casualties!"
"They merely did their job worth the price."
"Hmm? Worth the price?"
"Do you know how much a mortar costs?"
"Uh, h-how much is it?"
"10 tons of flour per tube."
"H-huhk!"
"And each shell is 250 kilograms of flour."
"Kkeu-eok!"
The atmosphere around them froze solid.
The knights and soldiers stood rigid, trembling uncontrollably.
They had all watched the volley of shells pouring from 80 mortars with a feeling of exhilarating catharsis.
But after hearing the price, it felt as if that unblocked feeling had suddenly become completely clogged again.
'So then, we... no, how many tons of flour did Major Piel-nim just dump onto the heads of those bastards...?'
Dvil, who had frozen in shock, forced out a laugh with great effort.
"Hahaha! Hahahaha! Uhahaha! Major Piel, your boldness is truly tremendous! To pour out those incredibly expensive magical devices so nonchalantly!"
Dvil kept laughing.
To erase the image flickering before his eyes.
The mental image of an astronomical number of flour sacks exploding pow after pow over the heads of the Ancient Tree Monsters.
"Truly amazing! Uhahah, uhahahaha!"
***
These guys are insane, really.
Are they even human?
'Without a sighting scale, they just turn the barrel by hand and roughly eyeball it to score hits?'
Even the initial shots were all direct hits.
And everyone except Dvil apparently just learned by watching, without any experience handling mortars.
'They're not people, they're beasts. Predators, apex predators. Or should I call them combat machines?'
Their mobility is better than a horse, and they can carry a mortar by themselves and run around tirelessly without getting fatigued at all?
'This is basically a bionic self-propelled howitzer.'
The combination of small, cute mortars and medieval fantasy knights is this terrifying, huh.
At this level, I won't have to fear the Plant Legions anymore.
The problem is the budget.
'Aigoo, how much just went out? It hasn't been long since my paycheck came in.'
Out of the 7 million that came in this month, 1.99 million just vanished in that battle.
Subtract 1.6 million for the combined food expenses of the 3rd and 4th Armies and the Farm Soldiers' pay, and another 2 million set aside for emergency savings.
'So the remaining usable budget is 3.41 million.'
If we fight just two more battles like that one, this month will be in the red.
A major's budget is seriously too tight. Being a second lieutenant actually seemed more comfortable.
As my rank went up, the budget got bigger, so why does my financial situation keep getting squeezed?
【Major: 1,500 troops】
【Lieutenant Colonel: 2,000 troops】
【Colonel: 6,000 troops】
'Once I make colonel, the base budget quadruples. The Special Strategy Budget will definitely increase too.'
I firmly believe that just becoming a colonel will let me breathe easier.
***
The troops who had finished crossing the river, under Hildea's command, annihilated every last surviving Ancient Tree Monster.
There were zero casualties. Not a single wounded soldier occurred.
Everyone cheered like mad at this encouraging, overwhelming victory.
"Major Piel! This great victory is entirely your achievement! We did nothing!"
Hildea, returning to the base, encouraged Piel, her face thoroughly flushed with excitement.
Her intensity was such that she looked ready to embrace him right then and there if there were no eyes watching.
The knights and soldiers who had returned brimming with triumphant pride gazed at Piel with eyes full of warmth and anticipation.
'Since we've won a great victory, he'll give us those noodle dishes again like last time, right?'
Like Pavlov's dogs, everyone's mouths began to water.
"Commander-nim, the battle is over, so how about we have a meal now?"
"Understood. Everyone, prepare for mess!"
"Prepare for mess!"
The knights and soldiers 'who had crossed the river and returned' shouted out, brimming with joy.
On the other hand, the knights and soldiers 'who had remained at the base' were looking at them with pitying eyes.
As if they knew exactly what they were thinking.
"Glucose Combat Biscuits. The taste isn't great, but they're high in calories, so everyone, eat plenty."
What Piel brought out were compressed glucose combat biscuits.
The same ones he had taken out when the 4th Army was ambushed by the massive Ancient Tree Monster legion.
Of course, back then, for starving soldiers facing death, they tasted like a fortune in gold.
But now...
'D-did these always taste like this?'
'They are soft, but the taste is somehow strange. It feels like swallowing mana, not food.'
'W-well, it's still much better than the brick biscuits we originally ate...'
Hildea was also eating the compressed glucose biscuits, just like the soldiers.
It was due to the principle of eating the same meals as the troops in the field.
'What's this? After winning such a great victory, why isn't he giving us those noodle dishes?'
'Did Major Piel-nim perhaps watch our battle and feel disappointed?'
As the knights and soldiers who had crossed the river and returned grew confused, Dvil clicked his tongue and shouted.
"You fools! Do you have any idea how much those magical explosive shells we fired like crazy earlier are worth altogether?"
"...?"
"In terms of cost, that's 1.2 million servings of the noodle dish we ate before, 1.2 million!"
"Huh, hiiiik?"
"Hrk, hrrrk...."
"We achieved victory by blowing up 1.2 million servings of noodle dishes! Without anyone dying or getting injured! So isn't that good enough! Can't you at least be grateful for that!"
The knights and soldiers who hadn't known the situation turned pale.
In particular, the knights quickly rushed over to Piel and apologized with an intensity that seemed like they might bow their heads.
"Major Piel, my apologies. I felt disappointed without even knowing that."
"They were called glucose compressed combat biscuits, weren't they? Compared to the basic biscuits that are harder than bricks, it's a feast. Indeed, absolutely."
Hildea also looked as if she might collapse, her eyes spinning around.
"Pi, Major Piel.... I didn't know those magical devices were that expensive."
"It's fine. However, going forward."
As Piel paused for a moment, a silence as if a mouse had died fell over the camp.
From the soldiers to the 3-Star, everyone focused their minds sharply on Piel's words.
"I will be tightening my belt a little. I ask for everyone's cooperation."
It was a situation where if they fought just two more battles like the one just now, they would have to dip into the emergency reserve budget.
As far as Piel was concerned, he had no choice but to conserve as much as possible.
***
On the way back.
As he was traveling comfortably aboard the palanquin carried by soldiers front and back, Piel called out to Hildea.
"Commander-nim, I have something to say. Could you come up for a moment?"
"Very well."
Hildea lightly jumped up and sat beside him on the palanquin.
"To be honest, I need a promotion. The higher my rank, the more support I can obtain."
"Hmm, I understand what you mean. So the Marshall family wishes for me to demonstrate some sincerity."
"This is beyond my personal will, so please do not misunderstand me. I too wish to help the commander-nim and the Ainshuvan Front without limits."
"Do not worry. I know your sincerity better than anyone."
Hildea smiled brightly and patted Piel on the shoulder with a thump, thump.
"If we combine all the unrequited military merits you've accumulated so far... I believe even a promotion to Colonel would be no problem. Please convey this well to the Marshall family."
"Truly?"
"Of course. However, due to the unrest of the 1st Army, the capital's situation is currently unstable, which is delaying the reward proceedings. Once things are settled to some degree...."
Hildea stopped mid-sentence.
Piel also realized why she stopped, his face crumpling.
"Major Piel, you said earlier that we faced 2,213 monsters, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Then the remaining 2,800 or more are...."
The one who held the answer to that question arrived.
A soldier who had been on surveillance duty at the 2nd Army barracks had finished tracking and was returning, joining up with Hildea's mobile unit.
"A legion of Ancient Tree Monsters, estimated at a minimum of 2,800, has crossed southward and entered the territory of Marquis Oltain!"
"What happened?"
"I returned immediately upon witnessing the engagement!"
***
The territory of Marquis Oltain was the domain directly below the Ainshuvan Front.
It was also the place that supplied the most provisions to the front lines.
The Marquis did not fight the elves directly himself, but he knew well that if the Ainshuvan Front collapsed, his territory would be next.
So for the past few years, he had squeezed out food and supplies and sent them to the Ainshuvan Front.
Of course, he received equivalent tax relief in return.
When the Ainshuvan western front collapsed and the 1st Army deserter unit caused unrest in the capital, he intuited his own fate and that of his territory.
So he had his son make preparations to evacuate, taking the family and the residents of the territory.
"Father, why are you not leaving with us? You know that if you stay here, we all die!"
"My son, listen well. For a lord who abandons his family's land, all that remains is a fall more miserable than death."
The north was still quiet.
But the Marquis knew this was the calm before the storm.
"Take the family and the residents and survive without fail. And one day, far in the future, you must return and rebuild this land. Never surrender it to anyone."
"But, Father. There are no signs yet...."
"It is only a matter of time."
Finally, by the time the evacuation preparations for the successor group were complete, the time the Marquis had predicted arrived.
Deng! Deng! Deng! Deng! Deng! Deng!
"A Plant Monster Legion! At least thousands of entities!"
The son of Marquis Oltain froze stiff upon seeing the giant Ancient Tree Monsters advancing from afar.
His voice, barely squeezed out, trembled uncontrollably.
"Has the Ainshuvan Defense Force been dealing with such things all this time?"
"My son! Go! Never return until the time comes to rebuild this land!"
Under his father's coercion, the son departed with the family and residents of the territory.
And some time later.
In the news delivered to the son who had fled to the capital, there was no miracle.
"The Marquis has fallen in battle, and everything in the Marquisate has been destroyed."
"Ah, Father! Father!"
***
The atmosphere of the royal audience chamber turned icy cold.
"What of the 3rd and 4th Armies? Surely they have not also already collapsed?"
"With the 1st and 2nd Armies collapsed and even the territory of Marquis Oltain completely devastated, it is highly likely the 3rd and 4th Armies have also been annihilated."
The voice that had been calling for the execution of the rebelling 1st Army deserters had suddenly vanished.
"Fortunately, immediately south of Marquis Oltain's territory lies the massive Dwein River. Even the Ancient Tree Monsters will be unable to cross that river."
The Dwein River was a river in name only, being no different from a small inland sea.
This was because it was seawater stretching across the kingdom from east to west.
And plant monsters dislike the saltwater river.
As expected, the Ancient Tree Monster legion halted its advance before the great Sogeum River.
"We must destroy them and reclaim the northern part of the river! All the major mines are over there! Without those mines, the kingdom's economy will ultimately collapse!"
"But with what means? Is there anyone among us who knows how to subjugate the Ancient Tree Monster legion?"
Amid the unending turmoil in the audience chamber, a messenger unexpectedly arrived from the north.
"What? The northeastern region is safe?"
"Yes. The 3rd Army prevented the Ancient Tree Monster legion from crossing the Baltics River. The northeast is safe. The 3rd and 4th Armies are also standing strong."
At the news that the 3rd and 4th Armies had subjugated over 2,000 Ancient Tree Monsters, the capital took on a festive atmosphere.
"We must send war supplies to the Northern Front! And all nobles shall levy troops to send to the breached region! There are no exceptions!"
A stronger power than ever before was imbued in the royal decree, and the complacent nobles cautiously watched each other.
Count Anbelreum, who had greatly contributed to quelling the capital, stepped forward as if to set an example.
"Your Majesty, this humble servant shall offer two-thirds of the reserve food stocks from his territory."
"You have my gratitude."
The other nobles also watched each other before reluctantly opening their warehouses.
In this time of crisis, the king's majesty was higher than ever.
"Embezzling even a single sack of rye flour shall be punished by death!"
***
"Haah...."
I, no, this Major was disappointed.
They didn't send the new rank insignia I'd requested, only sending a bunch of heavy, bulky junk.
