Chapter 57
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Squad Evaluation (4)
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“We will be arriving at the 3rd Battalion soon.”
“Understood.”
Colonel Viktor Zelensky, the Magic Staff Officer of the Northern Legion, replied in a grave voice. The 3rd Battalion was a unit he had heard of countless times in the reports that had recently come up.
“They played a significant role in repelling the bandit group that attacked the fortress during the 8th Division's Belgorod Fortress Recapture Operation. This time, they responded to the request for cooperation from the National Gendarmerie and succeeded in tracking down the defector in just one day…”
“It seems they also solved the problem that was giving the Legion's Inspection Office a serious headache in an instant.”
“That's not because of that Lieutenant, but the Gendarmerie's achievement.”
Viktor drew a clear line. His adjutant, who was accompanying him, quickly corrected the fact.
“However, it seems we cannot deny the fact that they provided decisive evidence and other forms of help.”
Only then did Viktor nod his head.
It was a name that had even reached the ears of a man who originally paid no attention to external affairs. He wasn't dismissing the possibility, but there was a high probability that it was greatly exaggerated.
‘It was Enok Levandel, the Lieutenant, I believe.’
A magic officer so hot a topic that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was the most talked-about figure in the Legion's Magic Staff Office.
The fact that a mere novice, just one month into his commission, had received a direct promotion from the Grand Duke of Orlando Ross was enough to pique the interest even of Viktor Zelensky.
‘This will be an evaluation to see what that Lieutenant's skills are really like.’
A battalion evaluation, no matter what you call it, is nothing more than a formal and tedious schedule. Rather, watching this kind of irregular was a form of pleasure and amusement for Viktor Zelensky, the Legion's Magic Staff Officer.
Either he would be surprised.
Or he would make a fool out of him.
Viktor Zelensky faintly smiled as he watched the approaching unit's scenery.
“Is the 5th Platoon ready?”
Captain Arendt Schultz, the company commander, said. I looked over my platoon members once, then answered confidently.
“It's a company evaluation, but it seems the evaluation officer, the Colonel, is particularly interested in your platoon, Lieutenant Enok. Just do what you've been doing so far.”
“I will keep that in mind, Captain.”
“As expected, you're reliable. I'll leave it to you.”
He gave a satisfied smile and turned to leave. The reason Arendt could afford such composure even though it was a company evaluation was, as he said, because Colonel Viktor's interest was focused on my platoon.
From the start, the assignment itself was to show the 1st Platoon, which could be considered the company's elite, first. They would draw attention with dazzling attack magic, and then assign our platoon to the situation at the very end of the schedule.
The other platoons or evaluation items would definitely not concern Viktor Zelensky, the evaluation officer, much. Even if he had a meticulous personality, if nothing was particularly bothersome, he would usually just pass over it without pointing it out.
That happened often in the Korean military too.
“Sergeant Roxana, how is your physical condition today?”
“I got a good night's sleep early last night.”
“Good.”
We decided to have Claude and Lumia handle the demonstration of attack magic. The roles stemmed from the idea of showing defense methods corresponding to different elemental attributes, now that we had successfully pulled it off.
Claude would demonstrate a lightning-element magic maximized for penetration power and speed, and then Lumia would unleash an explosion-element magic maximized for destructive power and range.
That way, it would also prove to some extent the resistance to the ‘lightning element’ that Claude had pointed out first, and it would also be a side that could sufficiently appeal to Viktor Zelensky, the evaluation officer.
Soon, the figure of the evaluation officer appeared among the neatly lined-up unit members.
Colonel Viktor Zelensky, chatting affably with Lieutenant Colonel Rockheart Cromwell, the battalion commander.
He was a middle-aged man whose cleanly waxed hair, like a skinhead, suited him very well. As he had the typical impression of a Slavic man, the intimidation he exuded from his face was considerable.
In many ways, he gave the impression of a man worthy of the name 'Legion's Magic Staff Officer'.
“Glory to the Fatherland!!”
“Glory.”
Viktor neatly accepted the salute from Captain Arendt, who was waiting at the center, and lightly shook hands with him.
“Well, there's nothing more to say. Let's proceed with the evaluation right away.”
“Understood. Each platoon, to your positions!”
“To your positions!!”
At Captain Arendt's command, the company members moved in an orderly fashion. As expected by everyone, the first turn was the 1st Platoon.
“Platoon, deploy!”
When Lieutenant Crenpus Adel, the platoon leader, gave the command in a thunderous voice, eight mages quickly scattered.
“Enemy: one mixed infantry regiment. The 2nd Company's 1st Platoon is being deployed to secure the retreat route of our surrounded division.”
As if he had the scenario memorized, the Colonel skillfully assigned the situation without even reading a script.
“There is no enemy mage support or artillery support. They are maintaining the encirclement while forming a second line of defense.”
From the situation alone, it was clearly a main assault and breakthrough scenario.
“The company commander may give instructions to the platoons under his command.”
I carefully watched how Lieutenant Crenpus Adel would respond while scribbling in my notebook. I was a user of Hearts of General and a former army officer, but that was all I was.
After all, the overall strategic understanding of this era—especially regarding mage troops—was bound to be lacking compared to other factors.
Learning is power.
I was a Lieutenant because I was promoted, but in truth, my skills were no different from a newly commissioned Second Lieutenant. I had to gather all possible information and know-how.
“1st Platoon, deploy in formation 4 and break through the enemy's depth. Concentrate red magic bombardment on the right and left flanks to break the enemy's momentum, then break through the defense line!”
Soon, Captain Arendt's command was relayed to the 1st Platoon.
“Deploy formation 4!”
“Formation 4!”
The mana of different colors emitted by the 1st Platoon leader and his subordinates simultaneously swallowed the air.
There was no particular reason why the ‘main assault and breakthrough’ scenario was assigned to the 1st Platoon, the elite among the five situations.
It was because this situation comprehensively included close-range and long-range bombardment and defense against enemy infantry.
In a situation where most combat itself takes place within a range of 100 to 200 meters, it was, in a way, natural for mage troops to perform a role similar to that of modern tanks.
With no more than 10 people, they would unleash suppression fire, break through the enemy's defense line once, and then provide close-range fire to allow the friendly infantry to secure a breakthrough point.
That was the current significance of mage troops.
Kwa-aaaang!!
A fire, like artillery fire spewed from a tank, surged forward. Magic was poured down mercilessly, shaking the ground of the clearing.
“Charge!”
“Uraaaaaa!!”
Having judged that a certain level of suppression was complete, the platoon leader drew his pistol and charged. The mage troops followed behind, drawing their respective weapons and rushing in.
A truly standard breakthrough strategy.
Crenpus, who had reached his pre-designated position in an instant, raised both arms with a satisfied expression.
Even from my perspective, it was a clean strategy with no unnecessary frills.
It would be nothing more than a suicide act by modern military doctrine, but in this day and age, where machine guns, trenches, and barbed wire had not yet been developed, it was certainly an effective action.
However, Viktor Zelensky's expression was far from good.
“Is that all?”
“Yes, that is correct. Judging from the terrain and the assigned situation, we have determined that our side suffered two light injuries.”
“Wrong. Our side's casualties are three seriously injured, including you, and one dead.”
“I didn't hear you clearly…?!”
Lieutenant Crenpus urgently asked again, but Viktor simply scribbled on the evaluation sheet instead of answering.
“6 out of 10 points. Let's assign the next situation.”
Captain Arendt Schultz looked visibly flustered at the situation where the company's elite platoon had sunk without mercy.
It wasn't just the commander; the other platoon leaders also seemed unable to understand why the 1st Platoon leader had received such a harsh evaluation.
As a result, the subsequent situation handling could not be smooth. Even Rockheart, the battalion commander, was starting to look grim at the result that couldn't be called good even by polite standards.
“So far, this company's evaluation score is 5.7. That's fairly decent.”
Decent, even after getting slapped with a 5.7 in the evaluation.
I wondered just how harshly he had to grade for that to be considered a decent score. I felt like I understood why Lieutenant Debra Bennett trembled and feared Colonel Viktor Zelensky.
“Now, the last platoon… This seems to be a situation assuming a counter-mage battle against enemy mage troops.”
Viktor Zelensky's gaze swept over me lightly.
“The platoon leader is Lieutenant Enok Levandel, I presume. Begin your command, Company Commander.”
“Y-Yes, understood…”
Captain Arendt, who had been full of vigor before the evaluation, was now completely cowed.
So, in the end, the hope lies with me and the 5th Platoon.
“Hoo.”
I took a deep breath and wordlessly exchanged glances with my platoon members.
“Let's just do what we've been doing.”
“Don't worry!”
Lumia thrust her fist out with determination. I showed them my unwavering trust, just as much as the trust they were sending my way.
“Enemy scout unit has identified the position of the 2nd Company's 5th Platoon. Long-range bombardment centered on intermediate red magic has been detected. There are no friendly forces nearby. Survive the enemy's attack using only the platoon's own capabilities.”
“Could you wait a moment?”
I stepped forward in front of Viktor Zelensky, who was assigning the situation, and spoke.
We will proceed with live fire.”
“You'll proceed with live fire?”
“Yes. Two of our platoon members will directly strike the magic barrier with intermediate red magic.”
When I turned my gaze to look at Lumia and Claude, the evaluation officer replied with a very intrigued look in his eyes.
“Good. Go ahead and proceed as you said.”
I had already discussed this part with the company commander to some extent. I walked out to the clearing in front, leaving behind the other platoon leaders who were looking at me with surprised eyes.
‘Everything is going according to the scenario I expected.’
Thanks to Roxana practicing repeatedly, she was now able to conceptualize the magic barrier without having to piggyback on my back. It was safe to say that we were fully prepared.
“Then, we will begin!”
The moment I declared in a bold voice, Roxana's magic barrier was deployed. At the same time, Lumia and Claude's magic fell.
Kieeeeng—!! Kwa-gwaaang!!!
The firepower, which far surpassed even the magic shown by the other platoons earlier, covered the clearing in an instant.