novelRetreating from Hell
| ← Ch.69 | Ch.71 → |
It was a normal day, where all the assignments were fulfilled without issue. The young soldier read reports from each company as they came in.
He had completed almost all of the assignments given by the Colonel, and was scheduled to continue his work in another garrison.
His military life was on a smooth course to success, but echoing sirens cut through that optimistic vision.
The young soldier almost couldn't believe it. For that siren signalled the collapse of the front.
The quiet garrison immediately began to move. Human and homunculus soldiers alike both quickly prepared to retreat to the rear reserve position while reports continuously flew in.
Apparently, the front line was ambushed. The trenches were blown away, and the friendly forces were routed, retreating towards the comp. It seemed like the enemy was keeping up their attacks during their withdrawal.
Hearing information of their complete disadvantage, he also gathered his homunculi and began his retreat to the rear, though a frantic lieutenant interrupted him.
「Oh! So here's where you've been!! The Colonel has given you an order!!
He didn't have the luxury to write it down for you, so listen carefully!!」
The lieutenant, out of breath, communicated the orders of the Colonel, but the young soldier couldn't hear.
...No, he could hear the order, but his brain refused to acknowledge it.
「Until the withdrawal of the army is complete, you are to buy us time at the garrison. 」
When his brain finally comprehended those words he was struck with a round of dizziness.
But he could not fall. Because only he was willing to protect his girls. His will alone supported his feet.
「Lieutenant! What are the enemy forces!?」
The young soldier forced out his voice with an emphasis on each word.
「The exact scale is unknown, but it seems that at the very least is it a regiment level force. 」
「re- regiment...」
Hearing those words his body again neared collapse. At this time, the number of homunculus soldiers he owned could only be battalion scaled even if he had worked himself to death. On the other hand, he was to face an enemy that was at least regimental class... an enemy that had more than four times his strength.
「Lieutenant! My forces are a single battalion! Suppressing a regimental scale force...! It's impossible!! Furthermore, they have no weapons!! At best they only have a few tools fit for civil engineering!! As for combat wands, I only have the ten initially provided!!」
He desperately tried to refute his order.
But it was useless.
「I know. As of now, the wands in the remaining wands are being collected.
Although it will be a very disadvantageous battle, this is not a battle that needs to be won. If you can lead your forces and just halt the enemy even a little, that's fine...
Please! I beg of you!! Please maintain the chain of command! You are the only one with a large enough force! If you give up this mission, they will completely break through!!
If that happens, the enemy will be able to flank our armies and launch pincer attacks on our army!! If all fronts collapse, we will no longer be able to protect the people on the home front!!
For our homeland! For the people who live in this country!! I beg of you again!! Earn as much time as you can!!」
And so the lieutenant deeply bowed to this rookie recruit.
The young soldier regretfully nodded with a distorted face.
?????
「Only- Is there only this!? Only this to stop an entire regiment!?」
The young soldier looked in despair at the combat wands lined up in front of him.
All the wands left at the base were lined up, but by any estimate, it could only arm a single company.
「Katamimi!! Is this really all!? Is this really no other stockpile we could use!?」
He asked Katamimi who stood next to him,
＜Captain, the wands here are all the wands left at this base. Apparently, supplies have yet to arrive at the rear position, and it seems that the friendly forces are also withdrawing with the remaining supplies at this base. ＞
She answered.
「With this much!! I can only arm a quarter of my forces! Even though I'm already outmatched by a force four times mine!! What could I possibly do!?」
Katamimi spoke to him, as the young soldier held his head and lamented.
＜Captain. Our mission is just to earn time. Fortunately, the withdrawal route has been established.
If you retreat while using the defence facilities en route, you can buy time for the withdrawal. Now, let's do our best under these conditions. ＞
She said, as she put the operational instructions from HQ in his hands. The young soldier gradually regained his sanity thanks to her ever calm demeanor.
「...Shit... That's right...
...Katamimi, gather our forces in front of the building... I will... give orders directly...」
Katamimi heard his words and took off.
The young soldier spread open the instructions from HQ.
His face showed an expression on the border between anger and despair.
?????
When the young soldier arrived at the front of the building, his battalion had already formed.
He climbed up the stage as usual, and carefully observed his forces. The homunculi stood with their same disciplined posture, waiting for his orders.
And an order he gave. Word by word, he gave them their instructions.
?????
It had been tens of minutes since the young soldier stood on that stage. He ran urgently to follow the path of retreat. Around him, a ground of homunculi smaller than his normal forces were running the same way.
When the bunker came into view, a platoon-sized force of homunculi rushed into the facility and unsheathed their wands.
The others continued to run with that unit fading into the background.
The strategy written on the operational instructions could not be called a strategy. It called for his troops, already inferior in strength and numbers, to be divided into platoon-sized units and engage with the enemy, in hopes of buying time.
Many homunculi platoons manned the defences behind them as the ground continued to run. Furthermore, unarmed homunculi were lurking in the woods and in naturally formed pits.
The instructions called for the use of platoon-sized forces without equipment to launch surprise attacks on the enemy to further gain time.
「Because- because of the dumbasses in the upper ranks who can't think of anything better than this strategy!! This whole situation happened because of them!!」
The young soldier continued his run while cursing loudly.
A blue light illuminated his back.
He looked behind him, and continued his run, as he bit his teeth regretfully, shedding tears.
And as he ran, he continued to spit poisonous words on the lieutenant, the Colonel, the imperial headquarters, the army, and his motherland.
No matter what happened, he could only keep running.
Even if his beloved homunculi were slaughtered. Even if his beloved homunculi flew into the enemy ranks and self detonated, turning into nothing but sparkling blue dust.
He could not stop. He could only keep running towards the rear position.
| ← Ch. 69 | Ch. 71 → |