Chapter 283

The smell of blood wafted everywhere.

Here and there, no matter where I went, the pungent scent of blood seemed to poke at my nose.

Colonel Meijhem grimaced and coughed softly. The mixed odor of blood and acrid gunpowder was nothing short of horrible.

“What about casualties?”

“It’s not easy. There are just under forty dead, and around sixty injured. First Company suffered particularly high casualties.”

“Damn it….”

The battalion’s full strength is 850 men. Each company holds around 200. For forty men to have died in the battalion means that… roughly one-fifth of a company has perished.

Of course, it’s not just First Company that suffered; all the companies under the battalion took significant damage, but the losses suffered by those most affected were still considerable.

“…What about the adjacent battalion?”

“Battalion 848 has it even worse. They report nearly seventy dead. One of their companies is nearly wiped out, and they’ve expressed a desire to reinforce and move their troops, but….”

The aide’s face fell bitterly. Colonel Meijhem felt an overwhelming urge to smoke a cigarette.

“Yeah, I guess that’s not possible.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

“But if the cooperation with Battalion 848 had been a little better….”

Battalion 848’s magical infantry battalion was advancing from the left flank, and about twenty of the dead were casualties resulting from friendly fire from our artillery battalion.

Furthermore, the one who discussed the shelling time with Battalion 771 was the aide of the main force leading the offensive.

In other words, it was Colonel Meijhem’s aide.

“Twenty men. Twenty men, just like that….”

The aide covered his face with his hands and quietly sighed. His trembling sigh carried a multitude of emotions.

“…It’s not your fault.”

Though he uttered those words, a small doubt flickered in Colonel Meijhem’s mind.

Could it really not be the aide’s fault?

“Damn….”

Colonel Meijhem shook his head forcefully to dispel the troubling thoughts, enough for the cap slightly askew on his head to almost fall off.

“Anyway, it really isn’t your fault. So lift your head.”

“…….”

“If you keep this up, it will only make everyone suffer. Me included, and the soldiers under us too.”

When the aide removed his hands and lifted his head, the strength he’d had before returned to his eyes.

“I’m sorry. I acted disgracefully.”

“No, it’s understandable. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

“Understood, I will keep that in mind.”

All the while, the command vehicle they were riding in rattled along. Setting up a temporary bridge over the trench and crossing was no easy task, but leaving the vehicle behind would leave them no choice but to walk several dozen kilometers.

Colonel Meijhem looked back. Numerous trucks were swaying as they followed the command vehicle entering the city.

Soldiers, appearing relatively unscathed, shuffled along beside the slowly crawling trucks. Colonel Meijhem’s eyes kept landing on them.

“If only there were a few more trucks….”

It was impossible to keep all the trucks intact. The fifteen vehicles from the 72nd Cavalry Armored Regiment that had come to assist had now dwindled to just nine.

Despite having achieved victory, the scene felt like that of soldiers who had lost a battle. A bitter taste ravaged Colonel Meijhem’s mouth.

“Still, it’s much better now that we’re in the city.”

“The roads outside were, after all, unpaved.”

“Field roads are always like that.”

The command vehicle rattled on, neither fast nor slow, heading straight for the city hall. The main road that cut through the center of the city stretched out, and by following this path across the square, they would soon reach the city hall.

While traveling along the large road that could be considered the city’s artery, Colonel Meijhem noticed something strange.

“…There’s no one.”

No one to greet the Imperial army, no crowd to watch the moment Colonel Meijhem entered the city, no urban sounds of busy lives mixed with the war should have been heard… not a single sound.

It was odd. How could it be that the citizens of this city had not vanished entirely somewhere?

Yes. Perhaps the citizens, terrified by the sounds of cannon and gunfire that had echoed throughout the night, and the screams and cries that had come faintly on the wind, had hidden at the sudden appearance of soldiers. That made some sense.

But could it really be that not a single person would come out?

Since entering the city, they had driven along with loud noises.

To the outskirts of the city, an artillery battalion that hastily dug in was stationed, and the remnants of Battalion 848, which had sustained casualties in the last battle, would also be there to clear out any remaining enemies.

Now that the soldiers under Colonel Meijhem had reclaimed the city hall, there likely wouldn’t be any threats left in the city. Moreover, this place had originally been an Imperial city.

At first, they might be scared of the sudden appearance of soldiers, but seeing the flags of the Empire proudly flying, the soldiers had also engaged in brief combat against the remaining elves and dwarves as they entered.

To the citizens of Palts city, Colonel Meijhem and his soldiers would be akin to saviors. But….

“…Hey, aide.”

“Yes, Colonel.”

“Which company entered the city first?”

“Battalion Headquarters Company and… Third Company, I believe.”

“Connect me to the Headquarters Company.”

The aide quickly saluted and bent down to find the communication device available in the command vehicle.

An anxious look did not fade from his face as Colonel Meijhem, receiving the communication device, promptly turned it on. The device began to function as it confirmed Colonel Meijhem’s identity.

As soon as communication was attempted, after a brief wait, the Headquarters Company commander answered the call.

The Headquarters Company commander was careful and strict with the hierarchy, a true embodiment of a soldier. They were stable and cool-headed, and their sense of justice was a part that gained Colonel Meijhem’s trust.

“Moled, Moled. This is Watcher reporting, asking if the reception is good.”

But, nothing was heard in response.

“…Moled. Is the reception good?”

[…….]

This was strange. A sense of unease surged across the command vehicle, as if something was very wrong. The aide sitting next to Colonel Meijhem began to tremble one leg restlessly, asking in rapid succession.

“C-Colonel. Should we turn the vehicle around now? Something, something is off. I don’t know what is happening in this city. No, perhaps that’s why the higher-ups ordered a quick occupation—.”

“Aide.”

“I don’t even know why I’m acting like this. B-But…. If we continue to go in like this, I have a strong feeling that I will regret it for the rest of my life.”

“Aide!”

Seeing the aide regain his senses abruptly, Colonel Meijhem sighed briefly. It seemed the fatigue from the extreme combat they had faced had piled up heavily on him.

“Calm down a bit.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I’m fine, but don’t act so childish as an officer.”

“Ah….”

The aide had a dazed expression. Turning his gaze away from the aide, Colonel Meijhem grasped the communication device again and called for the Headquarters Company commander.

After calling the code for the Headquarters Company three times, the communication device linked to the Headquarters Company finally began to emit a human voice.

[…This is Moled, confirming reception.]

“Moled. Switching internal lines. The lines are Crow, Thief, Rose. Crow, Thief, Rose.”

[Reception confirmed.]

Colonel Meijhem immediately infused it with magic. Since elves and dwarves cannot use magic, communications via magical lines cannot be intercepted by them.

“Headquarters Company commander.”

[…Yes, Colonel.]

“Not a single person can be seen in the city. What’s going on?”

[….]

Again, the silence was prolonged. Colonel Meijhem was starting to feel the limit of his patience.

In the military, accurate and prompt reports are essential. The Headquarters Company commander was uncharacteristically dragging out the conversation.

“Headquarters Company commander. I’ll ask once more. In the city—.”

[Colonel!]

And, Colonel Meijhem was taken by surprise.

No wonder, the voice that came through the communication device in his hand…

“…Is that you, Uma?”

[….]

The sobbing of the Headquarters Company commander came faintly through. Both the aide and even the driver, who had been operating the vehicle, flinched and turned to look back.

“You need to focus on the road while driving!”

“I-I’m sorry!”

Once the driver faced forward, Colonel Meijhem collected his surprised thoughts.

Yes, the Headquarters Company commander was still human. If pushed into extreme circumstances multiple times, it was only natural for a person to shed some tears.

“Headquarters Company commander. Please explain slowly what’s happening. First, are you at the city hall now?”

[…Yes.]

“We’re also heading for the city hall. Are all the Headquarters Company personnel safe? Any casualties?”

[Minor. No dead. The remaining enemy forces’ resistance was weak, so they surrendered unconditionally without their weapons.]

“That’s good news. Are all the prisoners gathered at the city hall?”

[Yes, we are doing that. But, but……. ]

As they conversed, the command vehicle had come to a stop in front of the city hall. Ruins of stone pieces and buildings were visible everywhere. They had suffered blind shelling.

“Or they may have been hit during the occupation.”

Colonel Meijhem got out of the vehicle, still holding the communication device. In front of the city hall, a slightly wider area was filled with soldiers.

“Headquarters Company commander. We have arrived.”

[…Colonel! I’m sorry.]

“What?”

[Shh-shhhh—. Uh… Company commander, what are you doing…. Hey, hey! Stop!]

A panicked voice came through. Colonel Meijhem’s complexion turned pale.

“Damn it… Aide! Follow me quickly!”

“B-But the soldiers…!”

“Just send a few to follow! The situation is urgent!”

Quick-witted soldiers grabbed their weapons and ran. Colonel Meijhem, along with the aide, sprinted toward the city hall.

Colonel Meijhem’s eyes captured the city hall.

The semi-burned city hall building felt like a massive tomb.

And the commotion happening in front of it slowly came into focus for Colonel Meijhem.

The Headquarters Company commander was struggling with a handgun.

“What is….”

The situation was developing in a way that could not be controlled.

Like dense black clouds swiftly crossing a gloomy sky.