A Special Meal for You
A Special Meal for You
Piel asked with an expression full of admiration.
"How on earth did you hit them?"
"Well? Hmm, just because?"
"But you can't just shoot and hit them like that, can you?"
"I can see where the shells are falling, and I know the trajectory of my bullets. Then naturally, I can hit them, right?"
"I'm telling you, an ordinary person could never do that."
"I'm a Bow Master."
Rebecca chuckled and flipped her tied-back blonde hair.
Her white shining teeth were just smiling contentedly at Piel's surprise.
"You can do it too, Piel. You inherited the blood of a Bow Master like me."
"But I don't think I could ever do it."
"It's okay. I'll teach you. Until you can."
Hildea stared blankly at the two of them.
The inside of her chest felt strangely ticklish.
As if she had climbed to a high altitude, her breathing was a little short.
"By any chance, how many shots can you hit at once?"
"Well. Even for me, if it's simultaneous, I think about 10 shots would be the limit."
"What if you just spray wildly without caring about misses?"
"Then I could do more than 20 shots."
"Great. Then we'll use the drum magazine."
"Eek, what's this?"
"It's a magazine that holds 100 bullets. Attach this and use it. You can fire in bursts at a rate between 45 and 90 rounds per minute."
"Up to 90 rounds per minute? Then I think I can hit more than 30 shots!"
"Great!"
Piel, extremely excited, shouted to the knights holding the mortars.
"Prepare to fire, gunners 1 through 40 only!"
"Prepare to fire!"
The 40 knights loudly repeated the command.
Rebecca, with the drum magazine attached, also aimed her muzzle forward and waited with a beaming smile.
"Fire!"
Kugugung!
From the 40 mortars, shells simultaneously soared high into the sky, then drew parabolas and fell over the Ancient Tree Legion.
Piel was looking at Rebecca with eyes full of anticipation.
Rebecca, as if enjoying that gaze, pulled the trigger with a subtle smile on her lips.
Hildea couldn't bear to watch that scene any longer, so she turned her head toward the Ancient Tree Monsters.
Dududududu! Dududududu!
A loud, scraping roar.
The sight of more than dozens of bullets flying was clearly visible even to Hildea's eyes.
'I have good eyes too...'
Kwareureung! Kwagwagwang! Kugugung!
Although a few shots missed, the 40 shells simultaneously collided with the kinetic penetration energy created by the aura bullets and caused airbursts.
The shockwaves and shrapnel mercilessly swept over the Ancient Tree Monsters.
Finally, the bonds between the tree trunks and roots were severed, and they split into multiple groups of dozens each, beginning to float away defenselessly.
"Conserve shells! Fire 4 shells per group as finishing bombardment!"
"Fire 4 shells per group!"
"Commence bombardment!"
"Commence bombardment!"
The knights immediately divided the targets and sequentially fired shells.
Rebecca drew out airbursts with precise aimed shots, forcing maximum damage on the enemy with minimal shells.
Now, not a single Ancient Tree Monster was an exception; they were all floating on the water in a wrecked state.
"Commander-in-Chief Hildea-nim, the finishing touch."
At Piel's words, Hildea snapped to attention.
Chaeng! She drew her machete and grinned.
"Nobody step forward! I'll handle this alone!"
"Commander-in-Chief-nim! It's not dangerous... but won't it take too long?"
Vice-commander Basel asked as if shouting, and Hildea glanced secretly at Piel and showed a confident smile.
"How long would it take to finish off those bastards while swimming in heavy armor! Watch closely what this commander does!"
Hwareureureuk!
The aura blade rising toward the sky was more dazzling than ever.
"I'll show you what a Sword Master can do!"
'Yes, because Piel is here, I can do it! With that!'
Hildea leaped toward the river without hesitation.
The moment her combat boots touched the water's surface, she lightly kicked off and soared, and her body suddenly flew dozens of meters forward.
She kicked off the water's surface again and sprinted quickly.
The knights were all astonished without exception.
"R-running on water! This can't be!"
"As expected of a Sword Master! The footwork itself is different!"
"To witness such steps!"
Hildea kicked off the water like a feather and ran swiftly.
A light sprint as if her weight itself didn't exist.
Hwareureuk! Sseogeok! Hwareureuk!
The renowned machete wrapped in aura blade indifferently sliced the Ancient Tree Monsters into several pieces.
It took barely a few minutes to finish all that execution.
"Truly incredible steps!"
"If we had stepped in too, we'd still be swimming toward those bastards."
As the knights admired with their mouths agape, Piel tilted his head and asked.
"By any chance, is that something only a Sword Master can do?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I've never seen such steps before. I've never even heard of them. It's probably a swordsmanship footwork technique that the Commander-in-Chief-nim created herself."
Vice-commander Basel said seriously.
"Now I understand why she didn't use it before."
"Why is that? It looks good."
"She's spreading aura not only on her sword but also on the water's surface. Naturally, the mana consumption must be extreme."
"Ah..."
Piel nodded in understanding.
Not only is there no terrain suitable for that swordsmanship footwork on the Ainshuvan Front, but if the mana consumption is severe, there's no reason to use it at all.
"Probably thanks to you, the Commander-in-Chief-nim was able to use it without worry. Look, hasn't the cleanup already finished?"
"Then I should prepare something delicious. Since the Commander-in-Chief-nim used up a lot of energy for the first time in a while."
***
Feather Step.
This footwork technique developed by Hildea exhausts her quickly because of the heavy aura emission.
In severe cases, after using it once, she sometimes loses weight rapidly.
'Is it thanks to having eaten heartily because of Piel all this time? Still, it's better than the last time I used it.'
Even though she used Feather Step for this long.
To think the only side effect is that her stomach is 'quite severely hungry'.
Even this, Piel will solve.
Because his subspace bracelet is filled with all sorts of magical supplies sent from his maternal family.
As she slid across the water with Feather Step and stepped onto the riverbank, Piel greeted her with a bright smile.
"Commander-in-Chief Hildea-nim, that was truly wonderful footwork and swordsmanship. Today I properly saw what a Sword Master can do and to what extent."
"How about it? Don't you feel a surging desire to walk the path of the sword? This commander can provide close instruction until you master Feather Step."
"Let's eat first. You seem to have expended a lot of stamina."
Meal.
At that ecstatic word, Hildea's heart pounded.
Piel looked around and shouted.
"Since we've won a great victory! We will distribute Chil-do Jumbo Lunch Box extra-large cup ramen!"
"Uwaaaaah!"
"It's noodle dish! Noodle dish!"
"Damn, to think lunch today is ramen! I'm glad I volunteered!"
Piel took out a large field cooking pot, a large aviation fuel burner, bottled water, and extra-large cup ramen from his subspace bracelet.
The cook soldiers began to boil water.
"The two commander-nims don't need ramen! Since you showed the most overwhelming performance today, I will personally offer a special meal!"
"Waaaah! We're envious, Commander-nim!"
"Enjoy your meal!"
Hildea swallowed her saliva and asked.
"Special meal? You're not going to give us beef brisket combat rations even though it's lunch, are you?"
"That's something we eat for breakfast and dinner, so it can't be called a special meal."
Rebecca also wore an expression of euphoric anticipation.
"Piel, I'm so excited my heart is pounding. Is there anything that stirs a woman's heart like this?"
"...."
Hildea furtively shot Rebecca a glare without Piel noticing, but soon her pupils dilated to the point of bursting as she saw the food he brought out.
"P-Piel Major! Isn't this a Grilled Chicken Skewer!"
"On such a day, you should have a special meal like this."
"B-but, leaving the soldiers behind, how can only we...?"
"Since you've achieved the greatest military merit, it's only natural. It's a violation of military regulations for a commander to be unduly harsh on themselves in the evaluation of military merit just because they are a commander."
"Piel is right. But this looks so delicious. You've eaten it before, Commander-in-Chief?"
Hildea closed her eyes as if recalling the memory of the taste.
"It was an exquisite delicacy. It was Piel who first informed this commander that such delicious grilled meat existed..."
Piel laid out the barbecue charcoal, then called the mage commander, Sir Rodiel (Brigadier General), and simply lit it.
The one-star was not at all ashamed to ignite the charcoal at the major's request.
Because thanks to Piel, mages were completely liberated from kitchen duties and could have high-quality meals every day.
"Sir Rodiel, since you lit the fire, please take a few Grilled Chicken Skewers with you."
"I-is that really okay?"
"Since there's not enough even for the two commander-nims, I can only give you three."
"Thank you! Just give them to me! I'll grill them myself with a flame spell!"
So, the mage Rodiel got three Grilled Chicken Skewers in return for lighting the charcoal.
At the tantalizing sight of the Grilled Chicken Skewers sizzling over the charcoal, dripping with juices, the two commanders swallowed their saliva.
"Piel... I think I'm crazy. I'm feeling that food is beautiful, right now..."
"Hehe, the flavor is beyond its appearance. Don't be surprised, Carlton Marquis-nim."
Finally, the first batch of ten skewers were all cooked.
The two female commanders devoured them in an instant.
Piel continued to carefully grill skewers for the two of them.
At some point, the two women silently and repeatedly swallowed the golden-brown grilled meat and juices that had been caramelized by the Maillard reaction, without a word.
'Delicious, so delicious...'
Hildea, having stuffed herself with Grilled Chicken Skewers until her stomach would burst, lay down with her back against a rock and closed her eyes.
A feeling of fullness as if all the stamina she had expended while performing Feather Step was being refunded.
She was pleasantly enjoying the drowsiness creeping in when a noise suddenly grated on her ears.
"Really? You're asking me to help the mortar unit?"
"Of course, we must get the approval of Hildea Commander-in-Chief-nim, but if Commander Rebecca-nim participates, we can dramatically save shells while increasing destructive power."
"That's right. As expected, bursting them overhead can inflict greater damage on more targets."
"As you know, the value of one shell corresponds to 250kg of flour. We can save shells while increasing destructive power, if we use this tactic..."
"Not using it would be foolish. Commander-in-Chief! Did you hear all that?"
Hildea, who had been pretending to sleep, was startled awake and opened her eyes wide.
"Huh? Carlton Marquis-nim?"
"Ah, you were listening to everything. What do you think? Is it okay for me to participate in the operation of the 3rd Army's mortar magical device unit?"
"O-of course. It's a tactic that saves 250kg-of-flour worth shells and can increase destructive power; there's no reason not to adopt it."
"That's great. Then I'll leave the 4th Army's command to the vice-commander and stay with the 3rd Army from now on. Piel, please take good care of breakfast and lunch as well."
"Commander-in-Chief-nim, you will also have lunch in the mess hall with the soldiers."
"Oh my, really? But I want beef brisket for lunch too, what do I do?"
"I'm sorry. The amount of beef brisket is insufficient, so I can only serve it twice a day."
"I understand. Can't be helped."
Hildea slowly rolled her eyes and looked down at the wooden skewers piled up beside her.
'Grilled Chicken Skewers were a special meal that Piel gave only to me during reconnaissance...'
The events of that time flash through her mind in a stream.
The time the White Wolf individuals caught the scent and swarmed.
The night an elf assassin came, and following its traces led to the discovery of the corrupted World Tree stump and the tree legion.
The time they destroyed the contaminated stump with a mysterious magical device called Emilpalm (M183)...
The moment they slept tightly together in the same sleeping bag....
The special memories of that day all began from that Grilled Chicken Skewer.
'Carlton Marquis...'
It feels as if an unfamiliar intruder has suddenly barged into the memories without permission.
Hildea bit her lip alone.
***
After spreading out the scouts widely and ordering a search, the main force immediately withdrew.
The scouts who returned later reported that there were no more Ancient Tree Legions crossing the river.
Still, since Rebecca is maintaining a permanent observation post, if something happens, we can just come out to subjugate again.
And a few days passed.
I am training alone with Rebecca in the training ground.
Not my archery training, but training in how Rebecca handles firearms.
Of course, not shooting, but teaching her disassembly, assembly, and how to deal with jams.
"Piel, about the remaining individuals we didn't see."
"Yes, it roughly exceeds 2,000 individuals."
"They say the subjugation force caught them all using the Extinguishing Soul Torch. The remaining ones that fled at that time crossed the Baltics River."
"...."
As if realizing the meaning of my silence, Rebecca grins.
"Piel finds it strange too, right?"
"It's ominously strange. Could it be a false report...?"
"I'm glad you're cautious. Well, what does it matter? We'll be sharpening our swords to fight anytime."
How many times have incompetent and stupid allies wiped out units with false reports?
I must stay sharp.
Somehow, it feels like our real enemy is not in the north but in the south.
This won't do.
"Commander Rebecca-nim, today I'll entrust you with a new magical device as previously mentioned."
"Really? What is it?"
"Once you try this, the assault rifle you're handling now will probably feel like a toy bow used by children. First of all, the weight alone is 8 times."
"Whoa, 8 times?"
"It can launch larger and more powerful bullets more than three times farther. The rate of fire is also 1.5 times."
A masterpiece heavy machine gun that has been used for over 100 years, the M2 Browning.
'Who said you have to use only a rifle or only a machine gun? Just use both.'
It's possible because she's a human weapon who can carry hundreds of kilograms of gear while laughing.
Once she gets used to the machine gun, I'll have to hand her an anti-materiel sniper rifle later.
Dududududu! Dududududu!
Rebecca, who experienced the feel of the heavy machine gun, had a deep flush on her face more than ever.
"Piel! This magical device is insane! The feel is so, so thrilling! Ah! Aah!"
***
Hildea has been strange lately.
She's not even visible during the day, and at night she returns covered in dust.
When I ask... .
"I, I'm just diligently doing outdoor reconnaissance. Because such a tragedy must never happen again..."
Her dark expression bothers me.
And if my eyes aren't mistaken... .
"Commander Hildea-nim, it seems you've suddenly lost weight over these past few days."
"I-I haven't lost any! Where is there any more fat on this official to lose!"
Suspicious.
My rank-insignia ATM... no, no, my promotion broker seems to be malfunctioning somewhere.
'I should feed her something delicious to lift her mood.'