Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Mutual Defeat
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As consciousness returned, the first thing I saw was a gray ceiling. The herbal scent suggested it was a field hospital tent.
Regaining sensation in my body, I instinctively focused on my right shoulder, but there was no pain.
It wasn't anesthesia.
Examining my shoulder, the wound had healed cleanly, leaving only a faint scar. The shrine maidens from the medical corps had treated it.
They had mended a major injury that could have left me crippled, reducing it to this tiny mark—which could be healed entirely with a bit of focus.
They'd even cured any risk of sepsis or tetanus, leaving no aftereffects.
No wonder the Pensilon Empire had branded them the culprits behind population growth.
"Urk!"
They hadn't replenished my lost blood, though. Sitting up made my head spin from anemia.
Looking around, I spotted familiar ears.
Those distinctive animal ears. Ymir was slumped over asleep by the bed.
'What? Why is Ymir here?'
It was Eo who'd saved me.
Assuming she'd come along anyway, I fiddled with her ears.
They twitched! Ymir's head shot up.
"Young master!"
"Yeah, I'm awake."
"Ah...!"
Ymir threw her arms around me. Just a few days away from home, and this reaction.
"How long was I out?"
"You slept a full day straight."
"That's a long one. Is this the Caliper Army's field hospital?"
"No, this is our camp."
"Our army...?"
Before I could question it, Eo and Olaf appeared.
"Oho! Mirabel was making such a fuss, and sure enough, you're awake. Is it some kind of warrior's intuition?"
"Als!"
Eo rushed into the tent and froze momentarily seeing Ymir clinging to me. Once Ymir pulled away, she gave an awkward cough and offered a light hug.
"...Why so sudden?"
"B-because Ymir did it!"
"Ugh! My ears are ringing. Could you keep it down?"
"S-sorry...."
Only after things calmed did I hear the full story.
In short, it was Olaf's meddling.
"I told you before. If you die, I'm in trouble."
"So you acted shrewdly."
"Call it a smart judgment."
Olaf had gone to Bisceta right when I left for the front lines, asking to borrow troops for training Kurabel recruits.
Bisceta didn't know his intent but approved once he showed Lutger's signed approval. Eo had tagged along to lead the soldiers.
With command of 10,000 troops, Olaf chose Karten as the training site.
It was close to Bekavia and the fastest city for battlefield intel.
"The moment we heard your Caliper Army was engaging the enemy, I requested to join from Crossing command. Said we'd participate since we were nearby."
From then, Olaf gathered intel and headed straight for the Delston Mountains where I was.
"I wasn't sure we'd arrive in time, but we saved you and my subordinates' lives, so it worked out. Thank Mirabel for that part. She suddenly said she knew your location and bolted off alone. Who'd have thought it was spot on? If not, we wouldn't have reached you in time."
"Ymir, how'd you get here?"
Her ears drooped at my question.
"Lord Rosenberg gave me the intel. I hurried over, but it was already over.... I couldn't do anything."
"Lutger too? Everyone's so overprotective. Maybe that's why my master pushed for independence."
Well, there had been a real brush with death, so I understood the retainers' protectiveness.
Olaf mentioned it too.
"Illya Anpei will understand this much. Looks like your solo stint was pretty rough."
"You have no idea."
This spot where I was resting was Olaf's camp, positioned at the base of the Delston Mountains.
"More importantly, what's the battle situation?"
"Mutual defeat, it seems."
"Mutual defeat...?"
"First, the enemy. Word is their commanders are dead."
"Right. I killed them. Both."
"What...?"
Olaf's eyes widened in disbelief.
"I'll explain that later... or Dillas can tell you. Continue with what you were saying."
"Right. Anyway, the Western army, leaderless, fell back and joined the forces besieging Arandal. Our sudden appearance probably helped."
"To Arandal...?"
"Yeah. And those besieging Arandal broke off and withdrew. Bekavia's 1st Army seized the Biyan Mountains, collapsing the encirclement. So they retreated to the Coqueen Mountains."
The three key bases we'd aimed to retake.
Biyan Mountains, Coqueen Mountains, and Delston Mountains.
Sophia Veron had flanked Bekavia's 2nd Army attacking Coqueen via tunnels to strike Biyan instead.
It was a strategy possible because they knew the terrain far better.
The Tunkai forces didn't know about the tunnels, but Bekavia did. Fighting on home soil has its advantages.
Once Bekavia retook Biyan and Delston fell, the encirclement shattered.
They hadn't retaken Coqueen, but the Arandal liberation succeeded overall.
At a tremendous cost.
"Mutual defeat means our side took heavy losses too."
"Yeah. Bekavia reports 20,000 total casualties. Worse, your Caliper Army lost its top commander. Their troop losses match the enemy's. We took the mountains, but it's hardly a clear victory."
"General Delbadova...."
It was clear.
He'd staked his life to keep Fisher from reaching me.
'So that was the look in his eyes.'
When I explained the plan's risks, his gaze had seemed resigned to death—as if that was his duty.
"What about the Caliper Army now?"
"They're camped at Delston Mountains, tending wounded."
"Then we can't stay here."
I had to return to my unit.
*
*
*
I headed back to my unit as soon as Aegert, receiving treatment nearby, woke up.
Aegert had lost so much blood his usual spunk was gone; anemia made him wobble.
"Hey, weakling. No showing off—let someone carry you."
At my taunt, Aegert snarled.
"Who's weak! This is nothing... nothing...."
He collapsed. Dillas hoisted him like luggage.
"Put me down, Dillas! I can walk...!"
"Keep it up, and I'll knock you out and stuff you in a bag. Quiet."
"Urk...."
At the Delston Mountains entrance, someone greeted us.
"Als! You really survived!"
Dorothy had dark circles under her eyes, like she'd been waiting anxiously.
She'd commanded the center with Ironheart General and seemed bothered by missing the fierce battle.
Dressed like a medic, she'd probably been tending wounded herself.
"And that's Aegert! Glad you're alive! But why's he like that?"
"He turned into a weakling. Perfect timing, Dorothy. Tease him about being weak."
"Haha.... I'll handle Aegert and your unit. You go see General Ironheart."
"Thanks."
I left the unit to Dorothy and headed to the command tent.
Officers were gathered, discussing next steps. Ironheart, interim commander, sighed in relief at my sight.
"You're alive after all. When I heard the sudden Crossing force was treating our officers, I figured it was you."
"You guessed right."
"They added details. Pretty blond officer."
"Haha...."
"Sit. I'll brief you."
But before I could,
"Answer me, Ilrain! Is it true?!"
It was Ruan Chase.
He demanded, face flushed.
"Did you really kill that spearman? Fisher Partin?!"
Fisher's body had been recovered by the enemy, so our side wasn't certain he was dead.
Ironheart nodded.
"I want to know too. Ilrain, did you really kill that spearman?"
"Yes. I stabbed him through the heart—no chance he survived."
"I see...."
Delbadova's aide bowed to me.
"Thank you truly, Ilrain!"
"The general gave his life to protect you. He'd have no regrets with this outcome."
Delbadova's death left me conflicted.
He wasn't an exceptional general.
No great strength or cunning.
But an excellent soldier. Fair in gathering opinions, never blaming or lording authority.
He was the model general for troops.
"N-no way! How could you... how could you kill that monster?!"
Ruan yelled, agitated. What was his deal?
"Luck. General Delbadova weakened him."
"Kuh!"
For some reason, his eyes burned with inferiority.
"Urgh...! Damn it!"
Unable to contain himself, he stormed out.
I glanced at Ironheart questioningly; he sighed.
"War breaks people, I suppose."
Come to think of it, Casper's group was absent.
"Don't tell me the Casper boys fell?"
"They're alive, fortunately. Whether that's a mercy is another story."
"...?"
Ironheart detailed the losses.
Attacking Delston with 16,000, we'd suffered 8,000 casualties—half the force.
More wounded than dead was encouraging, but we lacked priests and time to heal them all.
"Thus, we'll withdraw to the rear for treatment."
"That's wise. We got dragged in ambiguously and took the hit. Bekavia will understand."
"Indeed. Sigh...! Retreating from Karon Mountains to Albal for supplies was the right call. This needless fight cost too many comrades."
"Hindsight. If Bekavia had cooperated, none of this happens."
"True."
Ironheart outlined the withdrawal, then probed.
"But what about you now?"
"Pardon?"
"After Arandal, cadets can return first. You'll be free then."
"...."
Asking if I'd continue fighting as Wade.
My answer was set.
"If possible, I'd stay on the front and see this war through."
"Hah! I see."
Ironheart grinned.
"Then the enemy is in real trouble now."