Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Summer Grand Offensive
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“Thank goodness, Richi. You're safe.”
Dust- and blood-caked Erwin let out a sigh of relief.
His appearance was a total wreck. Looked like he'd run into the enemy again on the way here.
For a guy like that to look at me and call me safe felt a little strange.
“What's the situation?”
“It's a disaster. The enemy has shoved the front line up like madmen, so we can't even tell ally from enemy anymore. There seem to be some stragglers or remnants we haven't rounded up yet...”
“Drink some water first. Here.”
Erwin grabbed the canteen I'd offered and paused right as he was about to drink.
Not like he thought it was poisoned or anything. So what was it?
“Shouldn't we... be conserving water?”
“Don't worry about that. I've had it prepared since we set out.”
Ever since deployment, we'd gathered supplies to the max whenever we set up camp.
And stashed them in spots where we could access them anytime, hidden just right.
Kind of like base camps. Thank goodness we had soldiers who knew the terrain well.
I explained the process, and Erwin looked somewhat relieved.
He must not have managed supplies properly amid all the chaos.
“Thanks to that, Ar and I have been lugging around this much gear since we left.”
Ar grumbled with feigned complaint, shooting me a reproachful glance.
As if she hadn't been the one insisting, “We need to take even a little more!” and sacrificing her own clothes!
Thanks to her, the top she was wearing now was mine. Ahem.
“There are two supply camps I've set up around here. As long as the enemy doesn't target them, we should be fine. Of course, we can't hole up here for a thousand years.”
“Right. Otherwise, we'll end up like splintered boats lost on the open sea.”
Erwin downed every last drop of the water I'd given him and ground his teeth.
“Never thought the Koeni bastards would push this deep without a care behind them.”
Ar and Enter nodded vigorously in agreement with Erwin's words.
The reasons Father, Brother, and the entire Imperial Army had been pushed back so easily.
This grand offensive was beyond rational comprehension. No one in their right mind would attempt it.
A total assault across the entire front? Overwhelming the lines to secure the rear?
If it worked, great. Might even break even, at best.
But if it stalled? Koenihesen's entire force would get utterly pulverized.
Why had the Empire and Koenihesen dragged out their endless war? Because neither could land a decisive blow.
Fear that a solid counterpunch would outright destroy their nation.
That's why, even in recent large-scale clashes, neither side had ever committed over 100,000 troops.
But this time was different. From what I knew, they'd thrown in hundreds of thousands for this push.
A total assault across the front. Koenihesen's desperate, do-or-die final offensive.
“Are they insane? After dumping everything like this, what do they do next?”
“Something must've gone wrong internally. Like they can't afford to drag it out anymore.”
The enemy had committed without looking back. They'd bet it all.
From an outsider's view, it was some setup for the 'protagonist' Erwin.
Internally... yeah, hardliners in Koenihesen must've pushed hard for this.
“No, Richi. Even so, victory isn't guaranteed—how does that kind of talk even come up internally? There had to be opposition.”
“Ar, the world runs more on madness than reason, more than you'd think.”
People are ridiculous. When cornered, they delude themselves toward the path of least resistance.
Happy delusions? Self-justification? Escapism?
Whatever you call it, they barrel ahead assuming it'll all work out perfectly.
Ignoring any chance of disaster from the start.
In my eyes, Koenihesen was smack in that situation right now.
It was a wave. One that crashes a few times before collapsing into the grass.
But that didn't make it easy to dismiss—not when getting swept up could drown you.
No matter how brief, a wave still kills if it takes you under.
“This area's safe for now. The enemy's all-in on shoving the front forward. I've got scouts circling nearby, so we've got a moment to rest.”
“But...”
“Of course we can't stay put forever. What I'm waiting for is to round up as many scattered soldiers as possible. If we're lucky, we might link up with units that haven't retreated yet.”
Erwin nodded, agreeing with me.
“Never faced an enemy like this.”
After the briefing, Erwin muttered around a cigarette clamped in his mouth.
“I've been through big and small battles before, but nothing like this crushing defeat.”
“Don't dwell on it. Wins and losses are just part of fighting.”
“Wish my fallen comrades saw it that way.”
Erwin's cigarette-holding hand trembled. He couldn't even light it.
Anyone ignoring that look wasn't right in the head. Something was up with the guy.
“Something happened. What is it? Spill.”
“...”
“You're our company commander, Erwin. If you don't snap out of it, we're all dead.”
Better to vent or forget it than stew inside.
Pick one. But Erwin just fiddled with his cigarette.
“The battalion commander... he was KIA.”
“...My condolences.”
“He'd looked out for me since my private days. Such a good man.”
Erwin snapped the cigarette in his grip and clutched his face.
“The guys who came with me earlier are from other companies. All shattered and scattered everywhere. How does this happen? We're the Empire's sharpest spear, the 1st Cavalry Division.”
“Erwin.”
“We got complacent. Thought they were paper tigers now. Should've stayed sharp. Even if they're all veterans and green boys, we needed eyes wide open. We didn't... ugh.”
I slammed my palm into his back, and Erwin crumpled to the ground.
Hm, too hard? My hand was stinging fierce.
“Forgot what I said earlier? They came risking their lives too. Bet the farm and charged. If it was easy, that'd be weird. If they were that feeble, the Empire's past struggles would insult our fallen heroes—insult them. Got it?”
He kept fixating on our recent wins and forgetting.
Those Koenihesen bastards nearly wiped out the Empire decades ago.
We hadn't crumbled from carelessness against weaklings.
If he didn't snap out of it, I'd have to tearfully administer some rational injection.
Method? Simple. Beat him till sanity returned.
“...Yeah. You're right, Richi. Gotta get my head straight. If we want to punch those Koenihesen bastards hard.”
Guess he didn't fancy getting hit. Fortunately, Erwin came around quick.
Almost turned the future war hero into a pre-battle panda.
“Troops gathered so far?”
“Numbers-wise, we've passed company strength ages ago, but they're all from mixed units.”
“That could cause confusion...”
“So I ground everyone up—including the originals—and reorganized from scratch. Turns out, even from different companies, they know each other, so no fumbling even if thrown straight into action.”
“Huh?”
“Not stuffing vacancies willy-nilly. Kept them in their original roles.”
“...That must've been a real headache.”
Of course it was. Amid the chaos, rejigging the roster felt skull-cracking.
People stuff really is the toughest part of any job.
But that's why I'd volunteered to come to this dangerous spot.
Time to do it faster and better than anyone. Administrative Department chops shine here.
“And over half the warhorses left here are injured. Near half of those are barely clinging to life. Force 'em into battle, and they'll drop dead for sure.”
“Even the lightly wounded ones are trouble. Wounds won't heal—they'll worsen...”
“Ah. Brought separate meds for the horses. The ones with just cuts or stabs to the hide can move again after a day or two of rest. No worries.”
Erwin suddenly gave me an odd look. What? Why that stare?
“Weren't you just gonna soak in the field vibe for a month or so, then head out?”
“Yeah?”
“But looking at these preparations...”
“I've heard the rumors too. Felt off, so I prepped bit by bit.”
If the situation had been better—or if this were truly the rear—I could've offered way more support.
Regrettably, this was the full extent of what I could do for Erwin right now.
Max out the troops so he could command them properly.
Manage the injured horses and prep them for combat somehow.
Bonus: Solved water shortages and forage issues, more or less.
Now it was up to Erwin to navigate this mess the way he originally would.
No—smash right through it?
“Your move, Erwin. After all this, you're not gonna say 'let's find a way to survive,' are you?”
Koenihesen was busy too. Slack the advance, and the Empire regroups for a counter.
With no eye for a prolonged war, they'd get hasty and slack on the rear.
“As if.”
Erwin grinned and began laying out the next operation plan.
This was the moment Koenihesen's greatest nightmare stirred awake.