Royal Road of the Extra Scribe

95

When I came to, the first thing I saw was a gray ceiling. The smell of herbs indicated it was a medical tent.

Regaining sensation in my body, I absentmindedly focused on my right shoulder, but there was no pain.

It wasn’t numb from anesthesia.

Inspecting my shoulder, the wound seemed to have healed as if washed. The medical officers at the infirmary must have treated it.

To think they could heal a significant injury to a mere small scar. They could even recover this scar if they wanted.

It seemed like they had treated sepsis and tetanus as well, as there were no complications.

Indeed, the Epsilon Empire was a likely culprit for the population increase.

“Ugh!”

Despite that, when I raised my upper body to replenish the blood I had lost, I felt dizzy due to anemia.

Glancing around, I spotted a familiar ear.

Distinctive animal ears. It was Yumir, who had been sleeping curled up at the bedside.

“What, why is Yumir here?”

It was Eo who saved me.

Vaguely assuming that Yumir must have come along, I lightly touched her ear.

Then, with a squirm and a start, Yumir suddenly lifted her head.

“Young master!”

“Yes, I’m up.”

“Ah…!”

Yumir hugged me tightly. It was quite a reaction after being away for a few days.

“How long was I asleep?”

“You slept for a whole day.”

“You slept a lot. Is this Calipher Army’s field hospital?”

“No, this is our army’s camp.”

“Our army…?”

Before I could ponder, Eo and Olaf appeared.

“Oh! Mirabel suddenly woke up after making a fuss. Is there something that even a layman can sense?”

“Lord Alsc!”

Eo, who hurriedly entered the tent, paused for a moment when he saw Yumir hugging me tightly. Shortly after Yumir let go, he awkwardly embraced her.

“Why all of a sudden?”

“Y-Yumir did it too!”

“Ugh! My ears are ringing. Could you lower your voice a bit?”

“S-Sorry…”

Only after the situation calmed down could I hear an explanation.

In short, it was Olaf’s meddling.

“I told you before. If you die, I’ll be in trouble.”

“So, I acted quickly.”

“Call it a shrewd judgment.”

When I left for the battlefield, Olaf visited Viscetta and delivered a message.

He wanted to train the soldiers from Kurabel and asked for troops. Viscetta didn’t quite understand his intentions, but when Olaf returned with Ruttger’s signature, he agreed. Eo followed along to oversee the soldiers in the process.

With command over 10,000 troops, Olaf chose Karthen as the training ground.

Karthen was not far from Beccabia, and it was the city where battlefield information spread the fastest.

“As soon as we heard that your Calipher Army was in combat with the enemy, we requested the Crossing Army headquarters. We said that we, who are nearby, will join the battle.”

From that moment on, Olaf collected information and headed straight to the Delstone Mountains where I was.

“I wasn’t sure if I would make it in time, but in the end, I saved you and risked the lives of my subordinates. So, be grateful to Mirabel here. She seemed to know your location and went out alone. If that wasn’t the right move, I wouldn’t have arrived on time to your location.”

“How did Yumir come here?”

Yumi’s ears perked up at my question.

“Lord Rosenberg provided information. I rushed over, but it was already over… I couldn’t do anything.”

“To Lutger as well? Anyway, they say everyone’s overprotective. Maybe that’s why the master advised to stand alone.”

Well, there was a real danger of death, so it was understandable that those who went took protective measures.

Olaf also mentioned that.

“Ilyan Pay would understand this much. Judging by it, this last stand seemed quite intense.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

The place I was resting in was a serious place set up by Olaf, located in the lower part of Delston Mountain.

“How did the situation unfold?”

“It seems like a pincer movement.”

“A pincer movement…?”

“First of all, it’s the enemy. From what I heard, it seems like the commanders are dead.”

“Right. I killed them. Both of them.”

“What…?”

Olaf widened his eyes, asking what I meant.

“I’ll explain this part later… No, you can ask Dilas about it. Please, continue with what you were saying.”

“Oh, right. Anyway, it seems like the Western army, having lost their commander, retreated and joined the forces surrounding Arandal. Our sudden appearance must have played a part.”

“To Arandal…?”

“Yes. And when it comes to the forces surrounding Arandal, they lifted the siege and withdrew. It seems they retreated to the Coquin Mountain because the first army of Beccabia lost the Bian Mountain due to seizure. So they retreated to the Coquin Mountain.”

The three strongholds we were trying to retake.

The Bian Mountain, the Coquin Mountain, and the Delston Mountain.

Sophia Baron attacked the Bian Mountain by bypassing the second army of Beccabia through tunnels they knew well.

This was a strategy made possible by their superior knowledge of the terrain.

While the Tonkai army was unaware of the existence of those tunnels, Beccabia knew. Fighting on home soil had its advantages.

So, when the Beccabian army recaptured the Bian Mountain, and Delston Mountain was also neutralized, the siege was broken.

Even though the Coquin Mountain might not have been recaptured, the operation to retake Arandal was ultimately successful.

However, the casualties were severe.

“A pincer movement indicates that our army also suffered significant losses.”

“Yes. The Beccabian army alone reportedly had casualties nearing 20,000, and above all, the Calipha army where you were, the general died. The casualties were almost equal on both sides. We retook the mountain, but it’s not really a victory.”

“General Delvadova…”

It was clear.

He was determined to prevent Fisher from reaching me, even if it meant risking his life.

“Indeed, that was the look in his eyes.”

When I explained the risks of the operation, his eyes already seemed resigned to death, as if that was his role.

“What about the Calipha army now?”

“They are encamped at Delston Mountain, tending to the wounded.”

“Then we don’t have time to linger here.”

We had to return to the unit promptly.

* * *

As soon as Agate, who was receiving treatment with me, came to his senses, I returned to the unit.

Agent, perhaps due to severe bleeding, was no longer his usual spirited self but staggered as if anemic.

“Hey, weakling. Stop pretending and let me carry you.”

My teasing angered Agent.

“Who’s a weakling! This much…! This much…!”

With a thud, Agent fell. Delas lifted him as if shouldering a burden.

“Let go, Mr. Delas! I can walk by myself…!”

“If you keep it up, I’ll make you faint and carry you like a burden. Be quiet.”

“Ugh….”

As we approached the entrance to Delstone Mountain, there was someone there to greet us.

“Alse! You’re indeed alive!”

Dorothy, with dark circles under her eyes as if she had been anxiously waiting, had led the Central Army with General Ironheart but seemed bothered by not personally participating in the frontline battles.

Judging by her attire suitable for a nurse or someone tending to the wounded, she seemed to have been caring for the injured soldiers herself.

“Ah, that’s Agent! I’m glad you’re alive! But why are you in that state?”

“He’s become a weakling. Mock him about it, Dorothy.”

“hahahaha…. I’ll take care of Agent and your troops. Alse, go see General Ironheart.”

“Thank you.”

After entrusting Dorothy with the return of the troops, I headed towards the main headquarters.

Inside, officers were gathered, likely discussing the next steps.

General Ironheart, who had temporarily taken on the role of Commander-in-Chief, sighed in relief upon seeing me.

“You’re indeed alive. When I heard that a Crossing officer suddenly appeared to treat our wounded officers, I thought it might be you.”

“I guess you thought right.”

“They attached a note from there. Described him as a handsome blond officer.”

“hahahaha….”

“Sit down. Let me update you on the current situation.”

But before I could sit down, Ruane Chaise spoke.

“Answer me, Iline! Is it true?”

It was about Fisher Partin’s death.

Fisher’s body seemed to have been taken back by the enemy, leaving our army unsure if he was truly dead.

General Ironheart nodded in agreement.

“I’m curious about that too. Iline, did you really kill that Crossing officer?”

“I did. I stabbed him in the heart, so there’s no chance he’s alive.”

“I see….”

At this, a Delbadoova aide expressed gratitude towards me.

“Thank you, Iline! The general sacrificed himself to protect you. If this is the outcome, he must be satisfied.”

I felt awkward about General Delbadoova’s death.

He wasn’t an exceptional general.

Being powerful was not extraordinary, nor was being strategic exceptional.

However, he was an outstanding soldier. He was adept at gathering opinions, never blaming anyone or asserting authority.

He was a general worthy of being a mentor to all soldiers.

“Don’t, don’t lie! How could you…! How could you handle that monstrous guy…!”

Luan shouted in agitation. Why was he suddenly acting this way?

“I was lucky. General Delvadova eased up on him.”

“Kuh!”

For some reason, the boy’s eyes were filled with inferiority.

“Ugh…! Damn it!”

Unable to contain his emotions, he stormed out of the military conference room.

Ironheart General sighed when asked with a glance why the boy was behaving that way.

“War destroys people, doesn’t it.”

Come to think of it, there were no signs of those Casper guys.

“Surely the Casper boys didn’t perish in battle?”

“Fortunately, they’re alive. Whether that’s fortunate is unclear, but anyway.”

“…?”

Ironheart General informed about the military casualties.

With 16,000 troops, we attacked the Delstone Mountains and suffered about 8,000 casualties.

It was discouraging that there were far more wounded than dead, but we lacked the resources and time to heal them all.

The number of medical officers in the unit was not high.

“Therefore, we plan to retreat from the front lines to treat the wounded.”

“That seems like the right decision. We were in a vulnerable position to begin with. Bekabia will probably understand, too.”

“Indeed. Phew…! It seems withdrawing from the Calon Mountains to resupply was the right decision. Engaging in a futile battle resulted in too many comrades dying.”

“It’s all in hindsight. If Bekabia had cooperated, this might not have happened.”

“That’s true.”

Ironheart explained the withdrawal process and then asked me as if seeking my opinion.

“But what will you do from now on?”

“What do you mean…?”

“After heading to Arandale, I plan to make arrangements for you to return first among the cadets. From then on, you’ll be a free man.”

“….”

Whether Wade would continue to participate in the war as Wade. That’s what he was asking.

And my answer was already decided.

“If possible, I would like to stay on the battlefield and see the end of this war.”

“hahahaha! I see.”

Ironheart chuckled.

“Then the enemy is in big trouble now.”