The Frail Soldier (4)
"Sergeant?"
Peering inside the partition, I saw the Illian Sergeant slumped against the tub wall, half-asleep in the bathwater. Her round, slender shoulders peeked out above the bubbles, looking utterly pitiful. She'll catch a cold like that.
"Sergeant. Sleep in bed."
I lightly tapped her shoulder, and she bolted upright with a start. Water sloshed over the tub's edge, splashing everywhere.
"Gah! No, sir! I'll correct it right away!"
She'd been mumbling nonsense in her sleep, then spotted me and froze for a second before screaming.
"Kyaaah!!"
The Illian Sergeant dunked herself under the water with a splash. The tub churned violently, spilling over the sides. Hiding beneath the foam, she curled into a ball and turned her back to me.
"S-sorry..."
I bolted from the room, slamming the door behind me and leaning against it. She really is a woman... No way I could go back in now. I'd apologize properly tomorrow.
Down on the first floor, I poured the milk I'd brought back into its container and washed the glass. But how did a delicate thing like her end up in the guard squad? It's not like there were no women in the guards or the legions—rare, but they existed among the rank-and-file. Still, I never imagined one would show up for something dangerous like hunting Golluks.
That's why I'd assumed the girly-looking Illian Sergeant was just a pretty boy. She didn't seem cut out to lead a squad in some backwater outpost anyway. So fragile—she couldn't catch a thief, let alone hunt Golluks. She should transfer to logistics or something.
I lit the candles at the bar and started tallying the day's ledger when footsteps echoed from the stairs. Thinking it was some soldier sneaking down for beer, I turned—and locked eyes with the Illian Sergeant, who froze midway down.
"Ah, Sergeant."
"Uh... um... boss..."
Stuck awkwardly on the stairs, she fidgeted, not knowing what to do. I remembered the milk I hadn't given her earlier.
"Want some warm milk? Come on down."
"Milk...?"
"Hurry up. It's fresh from this morning."
She hesitated, then came down alone. She—no, she—sat on one of the backless round stools at the bar. I heated some milk in the kitchen and brought her a glass. In that time, she'd been peeking at the ledger and quickly straightened up.
"Thank you..."
She cradled the glass in both hands and sipped the milk, with yellow globs of fat floating on top.
"Haa..."
She took several more sips, growing a milky mustache on her lips. She smacked her lips contentedly, savoring the rich flavor. I apologized to her.
"Sorry about earlier. You didn't answer, so..."
"Oh... that..."
Her face flushed as she carefully set down the glass.
"It's fine... You didn't mean any harm..."
Good, she understood. "Thanks for forgiving me."
She nodded vigorously. She licked her lips several times, like she was trying to speak, wiping away the milk residue in the process. Finally, as I waited, she opened her mouth.
"I came to apologize too..."
Apologize to me? For what? Did she break a mirror or something?
"Um... for being a woman... sorry..."
"Huh...?"
What the hell? When did I ever complain about that?
"Why apologize for that? I don't care if you're a man or a woman."
"The administrator said we were your first customers here."
"True, but what does that have to do with you being a woman?"
"Um... having a woman as your first customer is bad luck..."
I stared at her blankly, trying to process it. First customer? Woman? Bad luck? It reminded me of an old diner incident. It had been early morning after I'd dealt with a swamp monster the night before. Exhausted and starving, I'd gone into the first open place, only for the owner to chase us out. When I asked why, he said taking a woman as the first customer would ruin the day's business. Our saintess was with us, and that's who he meant. I remembered holding back my comrades who wanted to smash the place after he threw salt at us.
It was the "beast hook" superstition. "Beast hook" refers to the first trade or customer when starting business, and every region has its taboos. Like, bad luck if the first is a woman or someone with glasses. Or running a tab, or ordering the priciest item. I didn't buy into that crap, but...
"Sorry... for ruining your business..."
"Nah, I don't believe in that stuff. Man, woman—paying customer is a paying customer."
"...Yes, sir."
She quietly sipped her milk.
"How do you know about that, anyway? Most merchants don't even know."
"My mom ran a diner in Lugano."
"A diner? Then why join the army?"
Usually, kids help their parents and inherit the trade. Blacksmith dad, blacksmith son, and so on. That's the norm.
"Ah... why I became a soldier...?"
She faltered, unable to continue.
"If it's hard to talk about, no need to answer."
"Yes..."
She sipped her milk in silence for a while. No sign of more chat, so I picked up my pen and resumed the ledger.
"Um... but..."
As I wrote, she hesitantly spoke up.
"Is the path to the Golluk habitat complicated?"
Right, she'd be worried about that. Leading her squad into the mountains only to say "wrong mountain" would be a nightmare.
"You have a map, right?"
"Wait a sec."
She went upstairs and came back with a Rosens map. Being military, it had detailed contour lines of the Vurn Mountains. I circled the area around the Golluk habitat I'd scouted days ago.
"This is the main habitat."
"You've... been there?"
"Just from afar. Saw a group with young ones. As you know, Golluks don't bring cubs out unless it's their turf."
"How do you know so much?"
"Picked it up wandering before opening the inn."
"I see..."
She sighed softly at the map. Clearly burdened by tomorrow's op.
"Worried?"
"N-no... not at all..."
Every time she spoke, she seemed to shrink a little. Her hunched shoulders looked so pitiful. If she led tomorrow's search lacking confidence, it'd be a mess—and my report to Bue would be grim. Either way, for my inn to thrive, this timid sergeant needed to succeed and put in a good word about the city. Might as well help.
"Tell me. I'll do what I can."
"How can guards ask a civilian for help..."
"Sergeant, when it's about making the direct territory prosper, what's civilian or soldier? I'll help."
"Still..."
She trailed off, lips trembling. Pouting, she suddenly burst into thick tears.
Maybe all her pent-up frustration? She sobbed quietly, shoulders shaking.
"Truth is... sob... I'm so scared... What if we get lost... or I lag behind my men..."
She rubbed her eyes with her sleeve and continued.
"My squad... they ignore me... 'cause I'm a rookie female sergeant... won't follow orders..."
Hmm, I could guess the situation.
"They won't obey you?"
She nodded through tears.
"Then make them obey."
"How...?"
"Soldiers aren't idiots. And leaders have to be smarter than them."
I moved around the bar and sat beside her, placing the map between us and picking up the pencil.
"I'll make sure your squad won't dare open their mouths to you."
She looked at me with teary eyes. Hmm... tiny thing's kinda cute.
The next dawn, I woke the sergeant first and had her rouse the squad. Breakfast was bread, cheese, and warm milk—simple fare. Before departure, as I'd instructed, she lined them up in the front yard for gear check. The squad looked puzzled but complied, verifying uniforms and weapons under her command.
Once done, she called them close. They formed a circle; she had one hold the map and pointed as she explained the op. It was the maneuver plan we'd hashed out last night.
"This search's goal is confirming if the Golluks occupying this area have fully abandoned their habitat."
She pointed to the marked spot.
"This is the probable habitat. Golluks like spots mixing bedrock and brush. Stream here for water, and this ridge leads straight to town—perfect for raids."
A few squad members whispered, heads together. They seemed thrown by her sudden sharpness.
"Private Anchif?"
"Y-yes...?"
The suddenly called-out private stammered.
"What signs show they've left the habitat?"
"Uh... um... dunno."
"Daytime, cubs and females stay in the den. If not, the group's broken up."
Squad members exchanged shocked glances.
"That's the surest sign, among others."
She explained the route: formations per section, times, search directions, etc. At first baffled by her change, the soldiers soon focused intently, faces serious.
"Let's move...!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
With her in front, the squad clanked out of the yard in full gear. Clueless Kali wagged his tail, trotting after the guards. I waited till they vanished at the crossroads heading north, then followed at a distance. Had to check if she pulled it off, even from afar.