9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 130 - Another World Military Commander (2)

“Long live the Great Supreme Leader!”

Above the barren ground where trees had been uprooted and grass torn out, dozens upon hundreds of barracks stretched out in rows.

Before them, the soldiers’ voices echoed thunderously.

“Long live the Supreme Leader.”

I too struggled to prevent a rotten smile from appearing as I responded.

This place was the 1st Field Army Command near Cortana’s western border.

Just 20,000 setins from here lay Batalland territory.

What I knew about that country was limited. It had an enormously large landmass, bordered the North Sea making its climate cold, had no direct border with Schufaben so harbored no particular feelings toward us, and about thirty years ago had undergone an incomplete revolution, leaving the king and prime minister still fighting for power to this day.

That was about it.

‘Oh, and it had traditionally maintained strong military power.’

And now I was heading off to attack such a country.

I climbed onto the platform and looked around at the young soldiers.

Though they were all trying to appear solemn, they couldn’t hide their excited elation.

Suppressing a sigh that wanted to escape, I extended my hand to the side. Captain Alina Himmel, who had been standing quietly, handed me a microphone.

“Thank you, Captain.”

Speaking softly, I turned the rune to activate the spell. My voice amplified and echoed throughout every corner of the command post.

“Greetings, gentlemen. I am Lucas Redan, commander of the 1st Field Army Command.”

Everyone listened intently to my calm tone. What could I possibly say to them?

“If you expected a magnificent speech, I apologize. I stand here simply to carry out the Supreme Leader’s orders. So I’ll say just one thing. Gentlemen! We will be victorious! For the Supreme Leader will always be with us!”

“Waaaaaaaah!”

The soldiers’ cheers shook heaven and earth. The belief that we would be victorious—a conviction pure and spotless, without a single stain.

That innocent faith reached me completely.

***

“Long live the Great Supreme Leader! Lieutenant General Rudolf Eisler! I greet the commander!”

“Long live the Supreme Leader. Good to meet you. So you’ve been responsible for 100,000 soldiers. No, including forces not stationed here, is it 500,000?”

Deputy Commander Rudolf Eisler was a sturdy man in his late thirties.

His tanned skin and solid build truly gave the impression of a ‘soldier.’ His cool gaze and disciplined bearing somewhat resembled Captain Himmel.

‘Come to think of it, the 1st Field Army arrived here about a month ago, but they’ve been operating without a commander until I came…’

Did Kruger plan to put me in this position from the start? If I had rebelled or died in prison, who would he have brought in?

‘Forget it, what’s the point of knowing that.’

I shook my head and received a status report on the unit from Deputy Commander Eisler.

“The direct units under our 1st Field Army Command include the 1st Logistics Support Command, 1st Transport Corps, 1st Infantry Division, and—”

“Ah, never mind. I read about the unit organization in the train on the way here. What about combat readiness?”

“We’ve maintained readiness to advance at a moment’s notice, even today!”

“You said the 1st and 2nd Corps are currently stationed here. That means roughly 10 divisions including direct and subordinate units, about 100,000 men. Of those, approximately 8 divisions—80,000 men—are combat forces.”

“Yes! Exactly! Currently there are no personnel shortages, and all 80,000 men are on combat standby!”

“No personnel shortages?”

I reflexively asked back.

How could that be possible? There should always be shortages due to training injuries or minor illnesses.

Deputy Commander Eisler answered resoundingly with blazing eyes that didn’t match his cool features.

“Personnel shortages cannot exist in the Supreme Leader’s army!”

I suppressed the urge to chew my lips and smiled instead.

“How excellent.”

Of course, it wasn’t sincere praise.

‘This bastard’s a lunatic too.’

Well, for a position a hundred times more important than a figurehead commander, they would have brought someone armed with military spirit.

“The Supreme Leader’s orders?”

“Here they are!”

Documents marked ‘Top Secret.’ Classified.

‘Let’s see what Kruger’s operation looks like.’

I silently read through the thick documents, struggling to maintain my expression.

The operation plan, which considered even minor details meticulously, was utterly reckless and…

‘Does this even make sense?’

Absurd.

That was my honest impression.

***

“The storm is coming!

The blizzard is swirling!

Even in blazing hot midday,

Even in frostbitten cold nights,

Charge forward! Charge forward!”

I could hear the soldiers singing the army song.

I was now leading 100,000 troops in an advance to invade Batalland’s border. The radio attached to my horse’s flank was blaring with an announcer speaking in Batalland’s language.

I didn’t understand their language, but it was surely reactions to our declaration of war. I raised my hand to stop the interpreter beside me from trying to explain.

The vanguard force of 20,000 I was leading consisted of 5,000 cavalry, 5,000 artillery, and 10,000 infantry.

In a world where internal combustion engines weren’t developed, all supply would be handled by either trains or wagons.

‘My ass is killing me.’

I grumbled internally while riding and galloping.

When I first got major general’s insignia and became a soldier, I practiced horseback riding somewhat during quiet moments at the border unit. Even after that, I rode horses a few times while working as Cortana’s military governor, but it was still uncomfortable.

“The storm is coming!

The blizzard is swirling!”

The soldiers seemed excited as their voices grew louder and louder.

The march proceeded smoothly. Well, the border area between Cortana and Batalland was truly an empty wasteland with nothing.

“Just a little further and we’ll reach Revik.”

Deputy Commander Eisler, who had been riding alongside me, spoke.

We had already covered 10,000 setins.

Revik was a border state of Batalland. Surely the Batalland government, having caught wind of our movements, would have sent troops there.

If this were before Cortana fell into Schufaben’s grasp, there would be no need to guard the border at all, but now was different.

A faint sound could be heard in the distance.

“Looks like they’ve come out to meet us. We should start preparing.”

Quite an abstract statement. But I didn’t need to give specific orders.

Everything was written in Kruger’s command document.

‘I just! Need to become a machine!’

Eisler relayed orders to the rear.

“It’s the Batalland army!”

Eisler relayed the observer officer’s report to me.

I raised the binoculars hanging around my neck and looked ahead.

Soldiers in splendid blue uniforms adorned with gold braid and carrying ornately decorated rifles and swords.

About 30,000 men appeared to be lined up in neat formation according to ‘battlefield etiquette.’

The moment they came into view, I felt like crying.

‘Please, please, please! Abandon your fantasies, you bastards!’

I screamed internally.

War is not a sport.

It’s not a chess game for kings either.

The leaders of this world, and the young people, were completely intoxicated with the romance of war.

Long peace, stories of beautiful and mighty knights passed down like legends, and a naive populace who had experienced nothing more than territorial disputes that began and ended through backroom agreements between lords at most.

All of this combined made it clear that everyone thought of war as little more than a game.

Just 200 years ago, when Schufaben had picked a fight with the continent, it had quickly self-destructed, and even then they hadn’t completely abandoned ‘etiquette.’

Moreover, all those who had participated in that war had already passed away and gone to heaven!

‘Fine, fine, etiquette and all that is just fine.’

I had no intention of criticizing them for harboring such romantic notions.

The problem was this.

Kruger, as if ahead of his time, planned to approach war with thorough coldness and cruelty, without any such romance.

Conquer Batalland in one month and bring all continental nations to their knees before this year ended.

Even if that plan was utterly absurd!

‘Couldn’t you tell from how we ambushed Cortana, you idiots!’

My inner cry naturally didn’t reach them.

“Please give the order!”

Deputy Commander Eisler’s voice reached me. I realized I was breathing heavily with a hardened expression.

It wasn’t just from the unfamiliar horseback riding.

“Now…”

My lips felt so dry they seemed ready to crack and fall off. The single word I was about to utter felt heavy as iron.

‘Stupid bastard.’

Cursing someone I didn’t even know internally, I finally gave the order.

“Prepare artillery. The target is… the Batalland army before us.”

Shortly after, the new field artillery developed in Schufaben began operating with tremendous BOOM! sounds.

Without raising battle flags or having generals come forward to politely announce the start of battle.

The Batalland army, standing around dumbfounded, was immediately sucked into the artillery fire.

***

“Aaaaah! Aaah!”

“Respond! Load the cannons!”

BOOM BOOM BOOM BANG!

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tang!

“Those cowardly bastards!”

Battle that began without warning.

The confused Batalland command quickly began organizing their formations and responding.

However, the losses in the initial five minutes were devastating.

Observer officers watching the Schufaben army through telescopes had reported artillery movement, but since artillery had never moved before a battle declaration, their response was delayed.

And in that time, countless artillery strikes severed the Batalland army’s backbone.

When they fell into confusion and frantically searched for their cannons belatedly, the Schufaben army had already begun charging with infantry, firing machine guns.

Soldiers being mowed down in an instant, commanders’ minds also being shattered as they watched, and only after what felt like an eternity was formation finally restored.

“Artillery! Fire the artillery!”

The commander’s shout was buried under countless hoofbeats before reaching the artillery brigade.

Schufaben cavalry with rifles aimed was charging toward the Batalland infantry.

Though Batalland’s belated artillery fire caused considerable casualties, more cavalry broke through before coordinates could be properly established.

Their rifle volleys, and military sabers swung with full force as they approached close, tore soldiers’ bodies apart.

***

“Hic…”

A sound that was neither laughter nor crying leaked from my mouth.

My hand gripping the binoculars was trembling violently, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

Even though the Batalland soldiers dying horribly under machine guns and cannons appeared vividly before me as if right in front of my eyes.

I couldn’t look away from this cruel massacre I was now perpetrating.

“Commander! Everything is proceeding smoothly!”

Deputy Commander Eisler, who had been busily giving orders in my place, shouted in ecstasy.

I slowly nodded.

“Now we need to finish this. It’s time to advance the infantry.”

“Yes!”

Only after the deputy commander moved away could I let out a groan freely.

“Ugh, urgh…”

Putting down the binoculars and suppressing the rising nausea, I bit my lips hard.

Like that day long ago when I first witnessed murder, I scratched frantically at my right cheek as if blood had splattered on it and it was itching.

“Commander.”

A low voice spoke as someone grasped my hand.

Looking to the side, I saw Alina Himmel standing at attention with only her arm extended.

“Captain Himmel.”

“Yes, Commander.”

She answered curtly to my weak question.

“Do you remember the operation name?”

“‘New Year’s Eve at Home.'”

“That might actually come true.”

***

「Revik State Captured」

「Advancing According to Operation Plan」

「Have not yet informed soldiers of the Cortana King’s declaration. Request instructions」

“Hmm.”

Friedrich Kruger read the report that Supreme Leader Secretary Eve had brought.

Lucas Redan, who had captured Batalland’s Revik State, had taken control of the railroad connecting to Cortana and Schufaben and sent his report via telegraph.

The battle progress was written in great detail, while the additional report was quite brief.

“Not bad at all, is it?”

“As expected of Your Excellency.”

Eve replied in her cold voice while bowing her head.

Kruger rose from the spacious bathtub. The magical solution had shed dead skin and regenerated new skin that gleamed.

Eve helped him into a robe, and Kruger approached the window.

“Just leave that Cortana brat alone. He can’t do anything more anyway, so let him feel helpless there.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“Tell General Redan he’s doing well. No need to worry about the brat’s declaration.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Since the young king Edvart Piast had declared that no magic stones existed in Cortana, the entire continent had fallen into chaos.

But Schufaben remained solid.

Though they had coveted Cortana’s magic stones, it was a problem that would be solved once they devoured the continent anyway.

They were a bit flustered, but that was all.

Tomorrow, when news of victory in Batalland appeared in the newspapers, everyone would forget about that incident.

“Magic stone reserves?”

“According to statistics, we can last until early next year.”

“Simple enough. Everything will be finished before then.”

It was a cheerful, clear voice filled with laughter.