The Devil of the Battlefield
The Devil of the Battlefield
Upon hearing my words, Sergeant Glendi turned back to the soldiers with a face brimming with loyalty and issued the orders.
Adding the nonsense about how the company commander had demonstrated astounding foresight, of course.
While the soldiers, having received the order, prepared for battle with grim expressions, I climbed a nearby hill with Lieutenant Mekkel.
It was to verify whether LieutenantMekkel's report was accurate.
"As expected of Captain Daniel. Every move you make is always backed by a plan."
......For some reason, Frien had followed along, but she didn't particularly try to stop me.
Ignoring Frien's chattering, I reached the top of the hill and took the binoculars from Lieutenant Mekkel.
"Over there, Company Commander."
When I turned the binoculars toward the spot Lieutenant Mekkel indicated, I saw a clearing a little way off.
In that clearing, soldiers in Kingdom Army uniforms were busily setting up camp.
I increased the binoculars' magnification and scanned the surroundings.
Several transport vehicles piled high with all sorts of supplies came into view.
Inside them were food, fuel, ammunition, medical and military equipment, radios and batteries, and even barbed wire, sandbags, mines, and concrete for constructing defensive lines — all loaded to the brim.
'......It is a supply unit, after all.'
The soldiers numbered roughly over 300. That meant it was a battalion-scale force.
'But.......'
Supplies on that scale were meant for at least a brigade, possibly a division.
As far as I knew, the only Kingdom Army force concentrated on that scale nearby was the Ironclad Division, responsible for defending a coastal city.
But how could they resupply a place already encircled by the Imperial Army?
I was puzzled, but that wasn't what mattered right now.
Lowering the binoculars, I turned back to Lieutenant Mekkel.
"There don't seem to be many with combat experience. Am I correct?"
"Yes. Judging by their ranks, they are mostly new recruits. The veterans are either at the front lines or have mostly been killed, so the Kingdom Army likely had no choice."
"Then they'll be that much easier to cook. Cadet Frien?"
Frien looked at me with gleaming eyes. To be honest, it was a little overwhelming.
"......You said you did vocal music, right?"
"Yes. I was in the choir when I was young, you see. I was even chosen as a soloist."
A soloist was someone with exceptional singing ability and technique, even among the choir.
Well, considering that Frien would eventually reach a level where she could imbue her songs with mana to strengthen soldiers, it wasn't surprising at all.
Of course, I couldn't ask the current Frien to demonstrate such an art.
Because Frien herself probably didn't yet know exactly what her ability was.
If so, I had no choice but to use what was available right now to gain an advantage in battle.
'If it's a fight we can't avoid anyway, it's right to minimize allied casualties.'
Because that would directly lead to my survival.
After running through the calculations in my head, I grabbed Frien's shoulder.
"Cadet Frien. Your role in this assault is immensely important. So, will you trust me from now on?"
There was no one better suited for deception tactics than Frien.
Frien's face went blank for a moment, but soon a radiant smile bloomed.
"Yes! Gladly, for you, Captain!"
*
Dawn.
Taliam, a Kingdom Army soldier standing guard with his comrades, stopped mid-yawn.
Because a faint singing voice was coming from beyond the forest.
At first, he thought he had misheard, but the singing was drawing closer and closer.
Wondering what on earth it was, Taliam stared in the direction of the singing, then hurriedly raised his rifle.
"It's the Imperial Army!"
At Taliam's shout, the other soldiers on guard also raised their rifles.
However, none of them opened fire.
"......What the?"
"She's alone, isn't she? And without any weapons too......."
The woman approaching with her eyes closed, singing, was clearly wearing the uniform of the Empire.
She was unquestionably an Imperial soldier.
But her uniform was covered in dirt and dust, and the edges were torn.
"A deserter?"
"Not sure. But man, her singing is absolutely insane."
Frien was singing a sacred song.
With every step Frien drew closer, the beautiful voice singing praises to God echoed in all directions.
For soldiers with absolutely no entertainment, it was quite stimulating.
Before they knew it, the soldiers had lowered their rifles and were appreciating Frien's singing.
A few had even set down their rifles and crossed their arms.
It wasn't conduct befitting soldiers on sentry duty, but no one pointed that out.
After all, the enemy was just one fragile woman without a weapon.
And what's more, a woman who appeared to be a deserter.
Deciding there was no need for caution, the sentries giggled among themselves and chatted.
"Reminds me of the old days. When I was young and went to church with my parents, I'd always hear hymns like that."
"Tell me about it. The war needs to end quickly so we can go back to our hometowns. Those damn Imperial bastards......."
"But what should we do with that woman? Seeing as she walked here on her own two feet, I wonder if she's planning to defect."
"Dunno. Wanna have a taste before reporting her to the battalion commander? She looks pretty decent."
While the soldiers giggled and exchanged various opinions on what to do with Frien, the distance gradually shrank.
Taliam, who had been chatting just like the other soldiers, suddenly felt something strange.
'......Has the forest always been this dark?'
The area behind the woman approaching the encampment was strangely dark.
Normally, the outlines should have been faintly visible, but nothing could be seen, as if it were covered by a curtain.
Feeling suspicious, Taliam tapped the soldier in front of him on the shoulder.
"Hey. Isn't something weird? The visibility up ahead is way too dark."
But the soldier only let out a scoff.
"Taliam, you cowardly little shit. You worry too damn much, you know? The moon's covered by dark clouds tonight. That's probably why it's darker than usual."
No. That couldn't be it. He hadn't stood sentry just once or twice.
Taliam, feeling a creeping anxiety, looked around at the other soldiers, but they were all deeply engrossed in talk of their hometowns and the woman.
By then, Frien, now right in front of the encampment, finished her song.
With that, the eyes of the chatting sentries fixed on Frien.
"Soldiers of the Kingdom Army who have joined hands with the Allied Forces."
Frien spoke in a melodious voice, then smiled.
"I do hope you fall straight into hell."
At that moment, Frien pulled back all the mana she had spread behind her like a curtain at once.
And what was revealed were two hundred Imperial soldiers.
Every single one of them was aiming their rifles at the Kingdom Army, standing in perfect order.
"......!"
Only then did Taliam realize.
That Frien had amplified her voice with magic and sung a sacred song solely to cover the sound of two hundred soldiers' footsteps.
However, a mistake is always realized too late.
While Taliam and the other sentries were frozen in panic, Daniel, at the head of the Imperial Army, spoke in a dry voice.
"Fire."
No sooner had the word left his mouth than countless flashes burst from the muzzles of the Imperial soldiers.
*
Tadadang─! Taang!
At the sound of the gunfire, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Puer of the Supply Battalion snapped his eyes open.
He wondered what the hell the noise was, but no adjutant came in to report.
While he blinked dazedly, the gunfire continued to ring out.
"Huh, huff......!"
Regaining his senses, Henry hastily threw on his uniform, grabbed his pistol, and stepped out of the command tent.
Hurrying forward, Henry couldn't help but be horrified at the scene unfolding outside the tent.
Flames and smoke were spreading thickly in all directions.
In the midst of that chaos, Imperial soldiers in black uniforms were occupying the encampment.
Soldiers who rushed out of their tents at the sound of gunfire only to collapse instantly, struck by Imperial bullets before they could even let out a final scream of agony.
"Wh-what in the world......."
The supply route had been discovered by the Imperial Army? How? Why?
Amid the shocking situation, his mind couldn't process things clearly.
His eyes darting around, Henry spotted a lone man approaching the command tent.
Amid the chaotic din of shouts and screams, the man walking with dignified steps was a black-haired Imperial officer.
The figure seemed somehow familiar, and when Henry saw the Golden Medal of National Order worn on the officer's chest, he immediately realized.
'Daniel Steiner......!'
Wasn't he the one revered as the hero of the Empire?
Feeling dread, Henry raised his pistol and aimed it at Daniel.
"Do not come any closer! You monster of a bastard!"
Daniel stopped.
As they stood facing off in silence, Daniel slowly moved his lips.
"If you wish to kill me, then shoot. I will not stop you."
"You think I can't shoot you if I want to!?"
"No. You could. But if you kill me, what will happen to your soldiers?"
Henry's hand trembled.
Because he understood what Daniel was implying.
"Imperial soldiers who have lost their chain of command are no different from wild, unbridled colts. They will try to slaughter every last Kingdom soldier here. But we can change that terrible future."
Daniel's voice was like the temptation of a demon.
"Battalion Commander. Order your surrender right now. Then I will also order the attack to stop. Please, think of your subordinates. You must think of the sorrow their families will share."
Make the decision while you can still save even one more.
At that serpentine eloquence, Henry gritted his teeth.
It wasn't wrong. If he stubbornly insisted on a desperate resistance out of pointless obstinacy, they would all simply die dog's deaths.
Henry wasn't competent, but neither was he an incapable commander.
Letting out a low sob, Henry lowered his pistol.
He had no choice.
"I surrender......."
Slowly unclenching his fingers, Henry let the pistol drop and spoke.
"......I will surrender."