Chapter 64
September 21st
06:00 A.M.
Operation Name: Cast Net
Operation Number: 05-0078
Location: Valleland, Coordinates 05-46.75
Leader: General Bel Artura
The next day, at a time when the sun had yet to rise.
Bel arrived an hour early at the designated place to check his equipment.
By 5:30, all soldiers participating in the operation had gathered, and they habitually inspected their equipment again despite having checked it many times already.
“Take this.”
At 55 minutes past the hour, Bel Artura distributed full-face masks to the soldiers. From the outside, they looked not much different from the ones doctors used to treat plague patients.
The unique feature was that the long, beak-like part of the mask had been cut off, replaced with large, unknown containers attached on both sides of the cheeks.
“These are specially made by the dwarves. They allow you to breathe in areas filled with gas and poison. It costs around 29 gold pieces just to make one of these.”
“Huh, it’s more expensive than my annual salary.”
One of the soldiers, listening to this, chuckled in disbelief while examining the mask in his hand.
“They’re expensive and heavy, but they allow free movement even in enemy territories filled with toxins and waste. There’s also a communication enchantment embedded inside, so there should be no issues with communication.”
The soldiers gradually covered their faces with the masks and tightly fastened the buckles behind their heads.
“Let’s move. Lead the way, lieutenant.”
Inside the masks, the communication enchantments faintly glowed.
It was exactly 6:00 A.M.
Following his orders, a high-ranked elf archer stepped forward with ease, leading the march.
They cautiously crossed the front line veiled in silence and tension. Soldiers stationed in trenches looked bewildered as they noticed Bel, who had arrived unexpectedly wearing a mysterious mask.
The lower-ranking soldiers had no knowledge of today’s operation, and even some of the higher-ranking officers were curiously staring at Bel moving somewhere with this obscure mask early in the morning.
After walking a few meters, they soon reached the end of the extended trench.
Compared to the battlefield where everything was buried in mud, there was still a faint trace of old Valleland at the edge of the battlefield where Bel and the soldiers currently stood.
Ruins of walls that once stretched impossibly high, workshops of dwarves half-destroyed from bombardments, and old fruit shops that had collapsed entirely still remained either half-buried in mud or crumbled to dust.
“Watch out for landmines. Though this is the periphery of the battlefield, lacking strategic importance, our reconnaissance team reported a few mines in the area.”
With a light warning, the elf lieutenant swiftly moved from the trench and hid between building ruins. Following him, Bel and the other soldiers charged out, and Add also smoothly found cover among the ruins.
After passing through a collapsed building, the Forest of Fire appeared before them. Though thick smoke clouded their vision, they faced no issue breathing thanks to the masks.
They spent around two to three hours walking through the burning forest.
The elf lieutenant, Menes, who acted as their guide, warned occasionally about the positions of landmines, which constituted practically all the dialogue exchanged during those two hours.
“…Beyond this point lies enemy territory. Since we have infiltrated the rear lines, support from the main force will be difficult to obtain.”
From time to time, the sound of random landmine explosions and soldiers’ cries faintly reached their ears, but except for Add, nobody showed any signs of surprise.
“Consider that if we’re discovered, we will die instantly. Proceed with caution.”
Menes gave a brief warning before moving out of the burning forest.
“….”
The formation of the marauders was… eerily silent.
A stark contrast to the camp of the allied forces, which never saw a quiet day due to the groans of wounded soldiers and the madness of others, this was a chilling silence.
Add was so overwhelmed by the silence that he momentarily forgot to breathe.
“We move.”
Menes confirmed the slight reorganization of the ranks and led the charge.
The smell of blood, which never seemed to grow familiar no matter how much it was smelled, grew stronger with every step. For some reason, this smell seemed unaffected by even the most expensive and high-performance masks, refusing to be entirely expelled.
Menes led the way through muddy waters mixed with blood and flesh while Bel followed closely behind.
The surroundings were littered with the corpses of mutants expelling unknown gases.
There were bodies separated into upper and lower halves, mashed mutant masses, the giant arm of an orc, and an enormous bone that made it impossible to even guess whom it might belong to.
“First location secured.”
After ensuring the surrounding area was safe, Menes announced quietly.
Bel immediately retrieved a thick piece of parchment from within his burgundy-colored robe.
This parchment, filled with symbols and writings incomprehensible to Add, began emitting white smoke like meat sinking into a pit of poison as it touched the ground, fading away immediately.
Light-emitting texts were carved into the muddy ground, which Bel quickly covered with mud by moving his boots.
“…Do this eight more times, and we’ll be done. It’s a simpler task than expected.”
Add was unable to understand the significance of what Bel had just done.
Having not been notified of the purpose of this mission beforehand and not being knowledgeable about magic, he only knew that his task was to “escort the mage.”
Several questions came to mind, but considering they were in the heart of enemy territory, it was not the time to ask. He decided he could inquire after returning to base, so he remained silent for now.
“Our job here is done. We’ll move to the next area.”
Menes moved forward past Bel toward the next objective, located quite a distance away.
With heightened senses, Menes carefully advanced, checking their surroundings, and Bel and the other soldiers followed silently.
Around ten minutes of sharp silence passed.
“Stop.”
Through the rune inscriptions embedded in their masks, Menes’s voice could be heard. He had spotted something as he led the way.
“…We need to change our route. There are way too many flesh masses filled with poison ahead. One misstep, and our limbs might melt.”
“How much will we have to detour?”
“It’ll be a difference of only about five minutes. The operation won’t be affected.”
Menes assured them, but strangely, a cold wind ran down Add’s spine.
‘Perhaps this operation is fully known only to this elf lieutenant and General Bel Artura. Even though it wasn’t disclosed to us low-ranking soldiers, they must’ve meticulously planned every detail, from which path to follow to every small movement.’
The meticulously reviewed optimal route had twisted. The mere five-minute delay signified there was a flaw in what seemed like a ‘perfect operation.’
“…Even in the worst-case scenario, our mage will remain hidden and provide no support. If an army-grade mage is discovered wandering around here, the operation will be rendered useless. Everyone remember that, right?”
As if to confirm that Add’s unease was not baseless paranoia, Menes once again raised the “worst-case scenario” they had emphasized repeatedly before the mission began.
The sticky mud was crushed under the heavy boots.
The lightly-dressed soldiers, chosen for their stealth rather than their thick, heavy armors, quietly swallowed their saliva.
In a situation where there’s no shield or armor to protect them, encountering marauders or mutants would certainly lead to severe injuries.
And in the enemy’s territory, severe injuries equate to… imminent death.
“Stay hidden at all costs. Keep your tension and follow.”
Menes drew out his sharp dagger with a keen edge, crouched low, and skillfully moved between ruins. They overcame decaying wood and repulsive mud heaps until they reached the second objective.
Bel silently muttered a spell through his mask and placed another parchment from his possession onto the ground. Once again, the parchment slowly delved into the mud before vanishing completely.
While Bel was planting the parchment, the soldiers kept guard. The armor that had felt cumbersome all day suddenly seemed dearly missed.
Thud!
A sharp, eerie noise cut through the silent stillness, resonating deep within their chests. Normally the vibrations might have rattled their armors, but today, the powerful resonance reverberated directly through their bodies.
“…Get down!”
At Menes’s command, most soldiers quickly bowed their heads. Though they would have pressed their faces into the ground if possible, the mud here was thick with blood and poison, limiting them to just bowing their heads down tightly.
“Save me! Save meeeee!”
The area where the loud vibrations occurred revealed a towering giant whose shoulder towered over the remnants of a wall. The creature’s entire body was patched together with visible seams, and its sagging skin resembled rags. This wasn’t a well-crafted mutant created by a skilled marauder.
The mutant’s hand was clutching a chunk of a crushed and destroyed armor.
“AAAAAAH!”
A horrifying scream emanated from within the armor drenched in filthy venom.
“Da… ni…”
One of the soldiers paled at the sight, muttering a name.
“Do you know him?”
“…A recruit from the training camp. We worked together for five years… he twice saved my life, dammit. They said he went missing in the last battle… fuck, fuck….”
The soldier with the short-cropped hair narrated blankly, his mind seemingly lost. His gaze was fixated on the towering mutant.
His vision blurred as his breathing turned rough and his focus faltered. Eventually, the soldier who had been staring blankly at the towering mutant turned to Bel, seemingly asking for an order.
“…He’s practically my brother.”
Shifting eyes became visible through the mask.
“Give your order.”
Menes waited for Bel’s decision while Bel did not even glance at the giant.
In this battlefield, being captured is far more horrific than death. While the dead merely become part of the muddy puddles, the captured have their bodies twisted and their minds melted, transforming into mutants.
“Proceed with the operation. Let’s move.”
Without giving it a moment of consideration, Bel spoke.
“….”
The short-haired soldier felt a vile odor pressing down heavily on his shoulders. The horrifying screams of his comrade, nearly familiar yet distant, continued to echo.
“…This mutant is big but slow. If you give the order, I can bring him back immediately.”
Add placed his hand on the giant sword strapped to his back and said this. He knew all too well the fate that awaited those captured by the marauders.
“Don’t be absurd and remove your hand from the sword. I said we’ll proceed with the operation.”
Bel sharply dismissed Add’s suggestion with an exasperated voice.
“…We’ll still have more than enough time.”
Add seemed poised to draw his blade and charge towards the mutant at any moment. Other soldiers cautiously positioned their hands on their weapons, ready to cut down Add’s neck if he made any foolish moves.
The short-haired soldier could only gaze dumbly at his comrade, who was being dragged away by the monstrous mutant’s hand.
“Depending on the individual, there are marauders who maintain a real-time consciousness link with their mutants. If they spot us, it’ll get complicated. Our mission is not rescue. Understand, private?”
Bile tasted in Bel’s mouth. It was a taste he could never get accustomed to.
“…You obviously know what’s going to happen if we leave this be, right?”
Add glanced between the short-haired soldier and Bel, seemingly exasperated.
“Didn’t you hear him say it was his training-camp recruit? They’ve worked together for five years. If you fight through a battlefield for five years, that’s almost like… family…”
“Shut up.”
The short-haired soldier silenced Add by gripping his shoulder tightly. The force of the grip made Add’s shoulder momentarily twist.
“…Sergeant?”
“Just… please shut up.”
The eyes of the short-haired soldier were filled with confusion, self-loathing, guilt, and various other emotions, all shaking immensely.
“…”
The other soldiers stayed silent. They were unable to support either Add or the short-haired soldier.
Because they couldn’t be sure what decision they’d make if put in the same situation.
“…”
Add had to make an immediate decision.
Whether to rush towards the pitiable soldier, whose body was about to be horribly melted and torn, or turn a blind eye and continue with the mission?
“…”
It didn’t take Add long to decide. Slowly, he dropped his hand from the handle of the large sword strapped to his back.
“If we make a commotion, other mutants will flock here, leading to the entire team’s annihilation.”
…Add understood this clearly in his mind.
“Are we really going to walk away like this, General?”
Still, he asked. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
He couldn’t make his feet move away easily.
This was unbelievable.
A hero.
Isn’t that word, juvenile and clichéd as it might be, what closely describes sword saints and generals?
Yet, here they were: so-called heroes standing idly by while an ally died cruelly.
The illusion about heroes he’d admired since childhood was torn apart like wet paper.
Stories of their heroics that he’d heard through mouths or newspapers now felt like lies.
“We’re on a battlefield.”
Bel gave no further explanations.
“Please help meeeeee…”
The soldier’s voice, being dragged away by the giant, had almost ceased to be heard.
“…We’re just following the orders, that’s all. There’s no such thing as a choice for us. Yeah, just following the orders… We are soldiers.”
The short-haired soldier, whose comrade was being kidnapped after surviving over five years together in the battlefield, muttered these painful words like a spell. His agonizing mutters reached the ears of all soldiers through the runes on the masks.
“This is a battlefield. This is a battlefield, people die. That’s why it’s a battlefield.”
The hand of the sergeant, who couldn’t ignore his brother-like friend, was trembling with anger and grief.
And… others could only hope that the sergeant’s mental fortitude would hold up until they return to base.
“Yeah, this is a battlefield. It’s okay. Things like this happen in a battlefield. Come on, private. Let’s go.”
The short-haired sergeant tapped Add’s back with a trembling hand while saying this.
Behind the mask, his eyes revealed emotions so complex and deep that they couldn’t be described with a single word.
His gaze was on Add, but it wasn’t really seeing him.
His eyes were looking at somewhere far away, somewhere that had nothing to do with here.
Seeing this, Add and the other soldiers felt a spine-chilling sensation for some unknown reason.
Add wasn’t sure if this was the right thing to do.
“Because it’s an order.”
“Because this is a battlefield.”
Such convenient excuses weren’t enough to easily brush off the gravity of a life.
… That’s what he’d believed until now.
“….”
The faint cries faded away as well, leaving only the intense silence that had greeted them initially.
The smell of blood, hidden in the mud, became even stronger endlessly.
Thud.
The sticky sound of mud and boots separating was heard.
Add eventually caught up with Bel and the other soldiers’ formation.
For the first time in his life, he felt disgust for himself.
