The End of the War (1)
It's now the 7th week of the war, the 48th day.
«Everyone, before we head out, grab an energy drink each.»
The battles had been nonstop, scattered across multiple fronts.
On the border with the Croisen Empire, explosions echoed constantly as raids and counter-raids happened without pause.
The fatigue on both sides had accumulated heavily.
Our own division was no exception.
I had finally reached the point where I could sleep even inside the explosions.
Just hearing the sound, I could tell whether it was our side or the enemy.
«Thank you.»
Yet despite the fatigue weighing on everyone, the Vanguards of our division looked as lively as ever.
«Tastes good no matter when you drink it.»
The reason was the clear liquid being poured into their cups right now.
It offered excellent performance in restoring stamina and fatigue, plus a major boost to aura recovery.
So what exactly was this liquid…
It was the Miracle All-Purpose Potion, the 'Elixir', that we had obtained by clearing Quest Step 4.
«No, more accurately, it should be called Elixir Diluent.»
Only one drop had been mixed into fifty liters of water.
But like any treasure, even that tiny amount produced huge effects.
Thanks to that, the Vanguards of our division swept the battlefield without any sign of fatigue.
They steadily accumulated merits and gained fame across the entire regional army.
«Then I’ll go on reconnaissance.»
Military reconnaissance carried out by the Vanguards who had become completely routine.
Vice-Commander William greeted me with a salute before departure.
«Don’t overdo it.»
The Vanguards followed William out with eager expressions.
Four weeks ago, after I had rejected William’s proposal to help with the succession struggle, our relationship had seemed slightly strained.
But through various incidents during the lengthening war, it had slowly recovered.
Now he was showing affection toward me again.
Unlike last time, he wasn’t making sudden proposals, probably meaning he wanted to watch the situation first.
But because he was a Vanguard, he simply didn’t know how terrifying human eyes could be.
—Thud.
After the Vanguards left, the staff officers and nearby command soldiers glanced at the water bottle in my hand.
I closed the cap without hesitation.
«I can’t waste this precious thing.»
As the boring trench warfare continued, the regular energy drinks and healing potions were no longer enough to relieve the Vanguards’ fatigue.
So when I had been seriously considering using stimulants, I remembered the three dormant Elixir bottles hidden in one corner of my inventory.
Stimulants could ignore aftereffects, and healing potions showed excellent wound-healing effects, but neither could relieve accumulated fatigue.
So I debated for a long time, then decided to use them with the hope that the war would end a little faster.
I had used only about five drops so far—less than one-tenth of one bottle.
Yet the current Elixir was something even hundreds of billions of gold couldn’t buy.
Even if it seemed like a small amount, its value was equivalent to hundreds of billions, so I couldn’t ignore my investment.
«Oh, I feel amazingly refreshed!»
I had drunk the Elixir Diluent as the family’s special fatigue-recovery potion, claiming it was made by Arisa’s house in the holy land Everhill.
The result far exceeded my imagination.
A miracle fatigue-recovery potion called “God’s Dewdrop” had been born among the Vanguards of the Second Division’s Third Brigade of the regional army.
«I never imagined Miss Arisa would be this helpful.»
Captain Haman clicked his tongue.
I handed him the potion instead.
«We won’t have much of the fatigue-recovery potion left now. Our Vanguards will face an even heavier burden ahead.»
It could be made in unlimited quantities, but lately many people had been curious about the production method of fatigue-recovery potions, which had begun to affect the war situation, so I had framed it that way.
«The raw materials are already used up. It’s fine if you take the liquid away for analysis, but additional production is impossible.»
Since nothing was being produced here, the higher-ups could only show their regret.
Well, the Duke of Otis either didn’t care or was simply focusing on the fact that his own division was active.
«Sir Battalion Commander, the Division Commander is calling for you.»
«Again?»
Having rested in the command seat while the Vanguards were out, I narrowed my brows at the messenger’s report.
The reason was that lately the frequency of the Duke of Otis summoning me had increased sharply.
When I made an annoyed expression, Captain Haman smiled faintly and said not to be so tense.
«That means you’re trusted quite a bit.»
As the summons came from a grand duke, I had no choice but to go even if it was troublesome.
I moved to the rear of the mobile infirmary train, which served as the headquarters.
The rear section housed a vehicle compartment that also functioned as a cargo hold.
Arisa always accompanied me like a shadow, and two knights followed behind her.
«Let’s go to the brigade headquarters.»
«Understood.»
A pre-notified driver soldier was already waiting inside the armored vehicle in the vehicle compartment.
The nine-person armored vehicle we boarded rose silently into the air, and as the outer wall of the mobile infirmary train opened, it took off with a roar.
—Ziiiiing.
To someone looking from Earth, it was no different from a science-fiction movie.
But in Rondel, where magic existed, this wasn’t a difficult technique at all.
It was only a combination of three-circle Float Magic, two-circle Lightening Magic, and one-circle Wind Magic.
Personally, I thought one of Rondel’s great points was that these equipments had been widely popularized so they could be used by everyone.
Through automation, the burden on mages was reduced, efficiency was raised by combining low-circle spells even with the same driving method, and large-scale production succeeded in lowering costs.
As a result, artifacts had penetrated even the homes of common people, just like Earth’s machines and electronics.
The technological revolution in magic-industry had created today’s Rondel.
—Kiiiieee!
The sight of mobile infirmary trains from various families lined up in the distance, each capable of carrying up to eight hundred people, was always magnificent, like our Lawrence family’s train.
Even though it took only five minutes to reach the mobile infirmary train of the Division Commander, Duke Otis, the Black Eagle that had spotted my departure like a ghost from the sky lowered its altitude and landed gracefully on the vehicle.
—Kung!
«Gabe, lie down.»
Opening the window and standing up, I offered my meat jerky to that Black Eagle.
By the way, Gabe was the name of that fellow.
The name Black Eagle had seemed too formal, so I had given him a more comfortable name.
The Black Eagle that had taken the meat jerky flapped its wings vigorously and soared high into the sky.
Now the surrounding people were accustomed to Gabe and showed no special reaction.
«Good work.»
Shortly after, upon arriving at the mobile infirmary train of the Duke of Otis’s family, I watched other brigade commanders’ vehicles arriving one after another and felt puzzled.
From the situation, it seemed they had called all the senior commanders of the division together.
«If it was something related to the battle, they could have just informed me through communication… not by summoning everyone.»
The other brigade commanders I had become quite friendly with also looked confused.
Was there some critical announcement that couldn’t be told through communication?
«Everyone, come in.»
Inside the mobile infirmary train, a luxurious hall had been prepared.
This was the battlefield office of Duke Otis.
The duke, who had become as familiar as the neighbor next door, opened his arms wide to welcome the commanders.
As I saw his bright smile, a thought flashed through my mind: «No way…?»
Under the deepened war, the only reason the duke would show such a reaction was one.
And as if confirming my guess, the duke picked up the wine bottle placed on the table and shook it.
«Relax. You won’t have to hear that horrible artillery sound anymore.»
«What do you mean?»
«The war is about to end. The foreign ministers of both countries are currently in contact.»
It was truly good news.
From the commanders’ reactions, they all let out sighs of relief.
«They probably never even intended for full-scale warfare.»
Although the current situation was tense, full-scale warfare wasn’t really happening.
No matter how powerful our Lheinhatz Kingdom’s power was, facing the full force of the Croisen Empire would have been difficult.
If it had turned into complete full-scale warfare, not only our kingdom but also allied countries would have joined, and it could have expanded into a continental war.
In the end, this war was nothing more than a local conflict on a grand scale, not a recurring event.
«Those crazy guys… Why on earth are they doing this…?»
«It’s obvious. The goal is to strengthen royal authority.»
As always, politicians everywhere seemed to think the same way.
Why, even in the neighboring countries of South Korea where I had lived in my previous life?
They created tension between nations over trivial matters, incited anti-American sentiments through the media, and directed people’s attention outward.
Even in this life, I seemed to have unlucky neighbors.
The commanders all wore bitter smiles at the duke’s words.
But just as soon as the thought of the war ending arrived, everyone’s expressions relaxed.
«What about the Vanguards we sent out?»
At my question, the duke personally poured wine into a glass and handed it to me.
«Until the declaration of surrender is confirmed, we have to continue this war play.»
War play…
It was truly an aristocratic way of speaking.
Thinking of the dead, it wasn’t the right thing to say, but it was a metaphor no one could help nodding to in their hearts.
Those who die due to decisions by their superiors are always the subordinates.
This wasn’t so different even on Earth.
«Come on, Battalion Commander Adrian. Cheer up.»
At the duke’s words, I snapped out of it and quickly changed my expression, forcing a smile.
He pointed at the gold lion medal pinned on my chest.
«After all, that golden lion medal of yours is just war spoils. If the war ends like this, you won’t be able to ignore the little bit that will come your way, so enjoy the moment while you can.»
It was a convenient way of thinking, but it made perfect sense.
When it came to fairness, I had gained too much in this war.
«Yeah, when did I become so righteous?»
I clinked my glass with the duke’s and thought more about my future than the victims of this war.
Ending the war meant returning to my family.
«I have to level up even more harshly.»
Since achieving the sixth circle right before the war, six weeks had passed.
Currently, my level was 199.
Although the connection time had been irregular, it had taken a long time, but now only one more step remained to reach level 200—the original goal.
Completing the Quest with the level 200 achievement would mean a new seventh-circle archmage was being born in the kingdom.