TSNF 20

Chapter 20

An unexpected peace settled over the First Defensive Line.

Of course, it was a peace so brief it would pass in the blink of an eye, but for those who had been fighting almost every day, it was desperately precious time.

“Never thought those stubborn bastards would retreat.”

“Well, they took some serious damage this time. Compared to that… we barely suffered any losses.”

A soldier said, looking toward the north.

The middle-aged man listening to him frowned.

“Hey, watch your mouth! Don’t you go around saying things like that. Even if you say the damage was light, more than fifty of our soldiers died.”

For those who lost comrades close to them, it was nothing but grief.

They died leaving nothing behind.

However…

“For now, relish the joy of victory instead of sorrow. You never know when you’ll get to feel it again.”

“I— Iron Heart!”

“Iron Heart! Platoon Leader, sir, you’re here!”

Third Platoon Leader of First Company—Tertian.

With a bit of breathing room finally gained, he went around the camp, reorganizing their situation.

With everyone’s spirits high from their first real victory in a while and the upcoming commendation ceremony, it was to prevent any possible accidents.

Then the middle-aged soldier spoke to Tertian.

“Platoon Leader, sir, is the injury from the last battle alright?”

“It was nothing but a scratch. Thanks for asking.”

“N–No, sir!”

The wound on his left back had come from fighting three of the Kar tribe’s Ziren warriors.

It could be considered fairly deep, but in the north, an injury like that was nothing.

At Tertian’s reply, the middle-aged man hurriedly answered, then glanced around and continued cautiously.

“But… have you heard the rumor?”

“What rumor?”

“They say the Division Commander is coming here.”

“…The Ogre?”

The monster among monsters who commanded the entire Benhard northern region, including the First Defensive Line.

The Division Commander known as Benhard’s Ogre leaving his seat to personally come here?

Tertian let out a short laugh.

“That information must be wrong. There’s no way that heavy-bottomed monster would come all the way here.”

“R–Right? I also only heard it as a rumor… haha.”

“In any case, forget the sorrow and enjoy the victory for now. But don’t neglect guard duty.”

“Understood!”

“Iron Heart! Thank you for your hard work!”

Waving his hand, Tertian soon headed elsewhere.

But then…

“Platoon Leader! There’s an order for everyone except guards to assemble!”

At the shout of a soldier running toward them, Tertian nodded.

At last, the commendation ceremony for this victory was beginning.

A great number of soldiers had gathered.

No one raised their voices, but with nearly five hundred soldiers in one place, it was noisy all the same.

Then…

“Attention!”

An officer shouted loudly toward the gathered soldiers.

At the booming voice, the area instantly fell silent.

“From this moment, we begin the commendation ceremony for the defense of the First Northern Defensive Line!”

“Uwoooooooohhh!!”

“Yaaaaahoooo!!”

With the announcement marking the start of the ceremony, thunderous cheers burst from the soldiers’ mouths.

With the atmosphere heating up instantly, the officer lifted his hand high and clenched his fist.

Once the cheers died down, Fierland stepped up onto the crude platform.

Looking over the soldiers, Fierland spoke.

“Great Imperial soldiers of the North. Thanks to your sacrifice, dedication, and efforts, we have achieved an unprecedented victory in this battle.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but imbued with mana, it carried clearly to every soldier.

“Before this commendation begins, do not forget that the greatest contributors… are all of you.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes, understood!”

“Understooooood!”

Following someone’s answer, loud responses erupted one after another.

Fierland smiled faintly and continued.

“Even so, among this battle, there are those whose achievements stand out especially. First—every member of Third Company, Fourth Platoon.”

“Fourth Platoon Leader of Third Company, Lieutenant Hendris, step forward!”

At the call, Hendris stepped onto the platform. Fierland spoke.

“Fourth Platoon not only blocked the enemy’s fierce assault but also broke through their encirclement and struck their rear, greatly contributing to victory. For this, Lieutenant Hendris is hereby promoted one rank and awarded 50 gold coins.”

“Ooooooh! Congratulations, Platoon Leader!”

“Congratulations on becoming a Captain!”

Several members of Fourth Platoon shouted loudly, but soon shut their mouths under the surrounding stares.

The ceremony was not yet over.

“And to every member of Fourth Platoon, 10 gold coins each and a reduction of two years of service shall be awarded.”

Fourth Platoon was a punishment unit formed from criminals. Most were forced into military service, for periods ranging from six to seven years at minimum, up to twenty years for some.

And yet now—two full years reduced.

To them, this was something priceless.

“T–Two years…?”

“T–Then… I’m discharged next year…?”

The mood instantly turned solemn.

Though they had indeed committed crimes, it couldn’t be denied that many were unfair or excessively punished cases.

Some soldiers even shed tears upon realizing they would soon be free.

The commendations continued.

“Next—Third Platoon Leader of First Company, Master Sergeant Tertian! Guardian of the First Defensive Line until now, death god to our enemies, step forward!”

At the officer’s words, Tertian strode confidently onto the platform.

With every step he took, glimpses of his scarred skin could be seen—but everyone already knew.

That scar was proof of the life he had saved.

And that without Tertian, the First Defensive Line would have long since fallen to the Kar tribe.

Until now, due to a lack of true victories, he had never received the recognition he deserved…

“F–Finally, Platoon Leader…”

“Kh… I must have lived this long just to see this moment…”

Members of Third Platoon watched him with overwhelmed faces.

Looking at Tertian before him, Fierland spoke.

“…This commendation is long overdue. I apologize for failing to properly acknowledge your hardships until now.”

“Iron Heart! I merely did what needed to be done!”

“Master Sergeant Tertian of First Company’s Third Platoon has slain countless Kar warriors on this battlefield and saved innumerable comrades. Furthermore, in this recent battle as well, all acknowledge him as the unsung hero who single-handedly held the center and blocked the enemy.”

The officer paused briefly and glanced at the soldiers below, then shouted loudly.

“In recognition of his achievements—Master Sergeant Tertian is hereby promoted one rank! In addition, he is awarded 70 gold coins and granted 30 days of special leave!”

“…!”

Tertian’s eyes trembled violently for a moment.

Not because the reward felt excessive or insufficient.

Because of the last part—30 days of special leave.

According to military law, soldiers serving punishment sentences were not allowed to take leave.

And there was only one reason someone as powerful as Tertian remained merely a platoon leader—at the rank of Master Sergeant.

A single incident from when he had belonged to the Central Army.

Because of that, he had been demoted and exiled to the northern front as punishment.

As Tertian stared in shock, Fierland spoke.

“The Division Commander worked quite hard to make this reward possible. I understand he has been persistently petitioning Central Command.”

“…Is that so.”

So Benhard’s Ogre had gone to such lengths?

Tertian smiled faintly.

“Then if I get the chance, I must thank him personally.”

“No need to worry about that… you’ll be able to do so soon enough.”

“…Sir?”

“The final commendation will not be given by the Company Commander… but personally by the Division Commander.”

“…!”

At the officer’s announcement, not only Tertian but every soldier present widened their eyes in shock.

What… did they just hear?

And then—

“The Division Commander enters!”

From the opposite side, with a great shout, someone slowly approached on horseback.

Clip-clop… clip-clop…

Hoofbeats rang out, small but clear. The clanking of armor echoed.

And soon, with a fierce gust of wind, a massive man appeared.

Benhard’s Ogre.

Supreme Commander of the Northwestern Region—Velkain Kaeron.

He dismounted and walked straight through the soldiers.

Shwaak!

As if rehearsed, the soldiers of the First Defensive Line split neatly to both sides.

Velkain walked between them and stepped onto the platform.

Fierland quietly stepped aside, placed his right fist over his left chest, and bowed.

“Iron Heart.”

“At ease.”

With those short words, Velkain looked down at the soldiers below. Then, imbuing his voice with mana, he spoke.

“I have received all the reports. The greatest contributor to the defense of the First Defensive Line—Arteon. Step forward.”

Velkain personally called his name.

Murmurs immediately spread among the soldiers.

“Arteon? Who’s that?”

“What unit is he from?”

But the moment Arteon stepped forward, the soldiers who saw him couldn’t hide their shock.

A face somewhere between boy and young man.

Because of that, even the soldiers of First Company didn’t know how to react.

However, as Arteon walked forward without hesitation, his sheer presence made them unconsciously straighten, watching him seriously.

Though his face was still youthful, the boy standing on the platform did not shrink in the slightest—even before Velkain, the Division Commander known as Benhard’s Ogre.

Standing upon the platform, Arteon clenched his right fist and struck his left chest.

Thud!

“Iron Heart!”

“Fourth Squad Leader of Fourth Platoon, Third Company—Corporal Arteon.”

Velkain precisely stated Arteon’s name and unit.

Then continued, after quietly observing him.

“In the Kar tribe’s recent assault, Arteon not only defended against their attacks but contributed most greatly to victory by breaking through and striking the enemy main force’s rear. Furthermore, he detected the surprise attack of the special unit known as ‘Ziren’ in advance, slew five of their warriors, and even defeated their captain—a mid-level Kar warrior—in single combat, greatly boosting army morale.”

Such incredible accomplishments…

All done by a single ordinary soldier, in just a few short days.

“In recognition of this, Corporal Arteon is hereby promoted two ranks and awarded 100 gold coins. In addition, he is granted 30 days of special leave and an extra five-year reduction in service.”

Arteon had been sentenced to ten years of punitive service when sent here.

But with this one battle, a full seven years had been erased.

Yet Arteon simply looked calmly at Velkain.

Whether ten years… or three…

Until he achieved his goal, he had no intention of leaving the north anyway.

However…

“Leave, huh…”

Those unexpected thirty days would be the perfect opportunity for Arteon to obtain the things he currently needed.

He was already planning his next moves in his head.

But first—

“Iron Heart! I will do my utmost to continue defending this northern battlefield!”

Arteon saluted Velkain and shouted loudly.

Velkain simply watched him silently with the same unreadable expression.

Wondering… what this boy was truly heading toward.

“With this, the commendation ceremony is concluded.”

He had become curious about the boy’s path.

On the First Defensive Line, where the stench of blood always lingered…

It was, for once, a day not of cold winds—but of warm sunlight.

And when the ceremony ended, the platoon members all rushed toward Arteon, offering congratulations.

But then…

“Staff Sergeant Arteon.”

The officer who had conducted the commendation earlier approached him.

“The Division Commander is calling for you.”

Benhard’s Ogre had summoned Arteon once more.