Chapter 20: Personnel Reassignment

“Too soon!? It was supposed to be at least two weeks away!”

“Th-that was the expectation, sir… but it seems the Austin Empire has exceeded central command’s projections. A large-scale offensive has already begun on the eastern front, and the Lunoa Eastern Army is… barely managing to hold the line.”

“…How long can they last?”

“…They won’t. Orders have been issued to redeploy troops from the western front to the east.”

“…And yet, the Friez Kingdom still stands. We haven’t brought them down.”

“The Second Army has already received orders to cease its offensive and prepare for reassignment.”

“…So what does that mean? That the operation… has failed?”

“……”

At my words, the messenger fell silent, his gaze dropping as if crushed beneath their weight.

“…No, forgive me. Ah… I’m truly sorry. Taking it out on you won’t change anything—you’re just delivering the message.”

“N-not at all! It’s just… I’ve seen how hard you’ve fought for this war, Noah-sama—more than anyone. For things to end like this… it’s our failure. All of ours.”

“No… that’s not true,” I replied softly, shaking my head. “You bear no responsibility. The soldiers on the front lines have fought bravely—more than enough.”

“…There is also an order for you, Noah-sama. You are to leave the western front immediately and proceed to the eastern front.”

“…Me as well?”

“Yes. General Newsbeck of the eastern forces has specifically requested those capable of earth-element magic—individuals skilled in constructing defensive lines.”

“…I see. That makes sense.” I let out a quiet breath. “Understood. I’ll depart at once.”

I exhaled slowly and tilted my head back, staring up at the ceiling as if searching for something beyond it. After a brief silence, my gaze returned to the map spread across the table, my fingers brushing lightly across its worn surface.

“What of the North Sea Empire to our north? Have we received any word?”

“Huh?”

“No reports yet, I take it. Then I’ll need to confirm once I return to the capital. We’ve committed the barbaric act of invading a neutral nation—there’s every chance other countries, still uninvolved in this war, will condemn us… or worse, intervene.”

My voice lowered, turning grave.

“Especially the North Sea Empire—the strongest naval power in the world. If they become our enemy, it would be disastrous. Our nation depends on maritime imports for food. If those routes are cut…”

The war would drag on.

And if it did, we could no longer afford to focus on just two nations.

“You may stand down now.”

“Yes, sir.”

After dismissing the messenger, I turned my attention to Colonel Kernel.

“There’s been a reassignment. I’ll return to the capital briefly, then be deployed to the eastern front.”

“That’s… unfortunate. It will be lonely without you.”

“I appreciate you saying that.” I allowed myself a faint smile, though it quickly faded. “But listen—this war will be a long one, Colonel.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m entrusting this theater to you. I won’t demand you advance… but whatever you do—don’t fall back.”

“Leave it to me.”

I owed a great deal to Colonel Kernel. Watching him give a firm, respectful nod, I sank back into my chair and once again looked up at the ceiling.

“Haha… damn, that hurts.”

Not just strategy—he had helped keep me alive, too. Countless times, I had relied on him to stop the bleeding. Without him, none of this would have gone nearly as well.

“…Noah-sama? Are you alright?”

“No… it’s just… a little, that’s all.”

Had something finally snapped?

The sense of unreality that had kept everything at a distance suddenly vanished, and in its place came the sharp, undeniable presence of pain—my body sounding its alarms all at once.

“…I really pushed myself too far.”

“Yes. Far beyond reason. Frankly, the fact that you’re still alive is a miracle.”

“If even one of those bullets had hit my heart, I’d have been finished.”

“You would have died without a skilled surgeon. Several of your internal organs were damaged. We had no choice but to cauterize the wounds with fire—an atrocious form of first aid. The fact that you survived without a major infection is nothing short of miraculous.”

“Operating without anesthesia was… rough.”

“…You are truly insane.”

“You’re not wrong. I was a little out of my mind these past few days.” I let out a quiet breath. “Still… at the very least, I’ve pushed the Lunoa Kingdom further from defeat. I couldn’t secure victory, though.”

Adrenaline had carried me through the battlefield.

Without it, there was no way I could have endured such reckless strain. I supposed I had my bloodline to thank—the Willard family was known for its resilience. It seemed I shared the same iron constitution as my older sister, who once boasted she could face a thousand enemies alone.

“…Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded dying.”

“Noah-sama?”

“Half a joke.” I gave a faint, tired smile. “As long as the war continues, I don’t have the luxury of dying.”

I didn’t consider myself an optimist.

I didn’t believe my sister’s fractured state of mind would recover in just a few years.

But neither did I believe I could survive on this battlefield for that long.

“…That’s why I thought we had to win. Quickly.”

For Lunoa to win, a swift conclusion was essential. Failing that, we’d be forced into a two-front war—at which point, victory would drift far out of reach.

And surviving as a soldier in a nation headed toward defeat…

Yes. That was impossible.

“Noah-sama, you’ll be returning home for the first time in a while, won’t you? Please, take some time to rest. Take care of your body.”

“I don’t think that will be possible.”

“No—you must. If you keep pushing yourself like this, your body will give out. You’ve already reached your limit.”

“The eastern front is at its limit as well,” I replied quietly. “…I’ll manage. I have to. I can’t die.”

“…Noah-sama, you’re still young. If you keep overexerting yourself like this, you’ll never even grow properly.”

“Haha… that would be a problem. I’m already small as it is.” I smirked faintly. “Then again, being small makes it easier to dodge bullets, doesn’t it?”

“You won’t be popular with the ladies.”

“Ouch. That one hurts!” I laughed weakly. “Well, I’m practically made of dirt anyway!”

“…Ah—”

“Don’t feel bad,” I added lightly. “I’m used to being looked down on.”

“I would never look down on you!”

“Not now, perhaps,” I said with a soft chuckle. “But truly… I was fortunate to have you as a subordinate. You followed me well, even though I don’t yet hold an official military rank. Thank you.”

I stood slowly, steadying myself.

“Well then… until we meet again on another battlefield.”

“…Yes,” he exhaled deeply, then nodded. “We’ll meet again. Alive.”

“Yeah. See you.”

And so, that was where I parted ways with Colonel Kernel.

With that farewell behind me, I began preparations to leave the western front.