Chapter 10

Captain Gordon irritably smacked Aethlyn’s arm away.

“Don’t.”

“…Sir?”

The atmosphere instantly turned cold, as though someone had thrown a bucket of icy water over the room. At the same time, everyone’s eyes shifted toward Aethlyn and Captain Gordon.

Still bewildered, Aethlyn looked at him as the captain snapped irritably,

“Starting today, no more saluting. And no more calling people ‘Battalion Commander,’ ‘Platoon Leader,’ or any other titles.”

“…Understood.”

The moment she heard those words, a chill ran down her spine.

It wasn’t because she didn’t understand the order.

It was because she understood it immediately.

At the very front lines, salutes, titles, and even rank insignia were normally forbidden to keep enemy snipers and observers from identifying commanding officers.

If those restrictions were only now being imposed at the Kran Trench…

‘Does that mean the enemy is close?’

Her ominous premonition soon became reality.

Lowering his voice, Captain Gordon spoke.

“The Imperial Army has dug a new trench nearby. That’s what yesterday’s reconnaissance patrol reported.”

“…What?”

“It’s right in the middle of No Man’s Land.”

Aethlyn’s eyes widened.

If what he said was true, the situation was extremely serious.

A newly constructed enemy trench, only a short distance away?

How could something like that even happen?

Captain Gordon let out a bitter laugh.

“It’s absurd. Just how sloppy was our reconnaissance that the enemy managed to dig a trench practically under our noses without anyone noticing?”

“They may have concealed it with illusion magic.”

“Even so, it’s completely unacceptable.”

‘He’s right.’

Aethlyn barely swallowed the words rising to her lips.

The reconnaissance methods here had been terrible.

Even when patrols ventured into No Man’s Land, they only covered the bare minimum, followed the same familiar routes every time, and submitted vague reports.

Apparently, it hadn’t always been this bad.

She had heard that after Second Lieutenant James B. Colson disappeared during a reconnaissance mission, everyone had become overly cautious.

If they ran into a magical beast in No Man’s Land, they’d just die for nothing, so the mindset had shifted to doing the absolute minimum.

‘And now this happened.’

The captain continued.

“If headquarters finds out we’ve let this go unchecked, we’re finished. Every last one of us will be held accountable… no, disciplined.”

Just in case someone might overhear, Aethlyn quickly glanced around.

Fortunately, no one was nearby.

The soldiers—and Sergeant Gennadi Vilev as well—had apparently taken the hint and left.

Captain Gordon continued.

“But we still have a chance. Their new trench isn’t fully completed yet.”

Aethlyn turned back to him.

“Then… are you saying we should raid the trench?”

At her immediate conclusion, Captain Gordon finally smiled, looking pleased that someone understood him.

He casually patted her left shoulder.

“Exactly. You’re quick. As expected of a mage.”

It was the first compliment she’d received since arriving here.

“Do you know why I came to see you? I want you to lead this trench raid.”

“…!”

This was the combat assignment Aethlyn had been hoping for ever since she arrived.

She should have been delighted.

Yet strangely, the first thing she felt was anxiety.

A trench raid.

A direct assault on a heavily fortified enemy trench.

Far more dangerous than ordinary reconnaissance.

And judging by the captain’s wording, this would be a nighttime assault.

That meant they couldn’t expect any support from the rear.

Aethlyn cautiously opened her mouth.

“I—”

But isn’t this far too dangerous?

That was what she wanted to say.

She was certain of it.

“I’ll do it.”

Instead, those words came out.

Unlike Aethlyn, who froze in surprise at her own answer, Captain Gordon looked visibly relieved.

He nodded repeatedly.

“Good. Pick about ten men of your choosing. Any more than that and they’ll be more likely to detect you. Report to the company command bunker before you leave tonight. I’ll brief you on the enemy trench’s location and everything the reconnaissance patrol has gathered.”

“Yes, sir.”

Captain Gordon gave her shoulder a few encouraging pats before leaning close and whispering,

“If this goes well, you might even earn yourself a medal.”

Leaving those words behind, he disappeared around the bend in the trench.

Almost at the same moment, a low voice spoke from directly behind Aethlyn.

“You can’t.”

“Ah!”

The voice came so close that it made her whole body jolt.

She whipped around—

—and was startled all over again.

Sergeant Gennadi Vilev, who had seemingly vanished moments ago, was now standing immediately behind her.

He wore the fiercest expression she had ever seen on him.

The only thing keeping him from looking ready to tear someone apart was that he hadn’t bared his fangs.

One thing struck her as odd, though.

His gaze wasn’t on her.

He was glaring at her left shoulder—

The very spot Captain Gordon had touched moments ago.

Aethlyn didn’t dwell on it.

Trying to decipher the intentions of a Wildman was about as pointless as it got.

She muttered,

“You startled me. At least make some noise when you come up behind someone.”

At those words, the oppressive air surrounding the sergeant eased ever so slightly.

He snorted through his nose, fixed her with his amber eyes once more, and repeated,

“Either way, you can’t.”

“What exactly can’t I do?”

“The trench raid. You… don’t do it like this. Not without preparation.”

“Were you hiding there eavesdropping?”

“Even if I don’t want to, I can still hear it. What am I supposed to do?”

“…What did you just say?”

“Either way, you can’t do it.”

A throbbing pain pulsed through Aethlyn’s temple.

She didn’t even have the energy to question why he was suddenly acting like this.

Sergeant Gennadi Vilev looked just as frustrated.

He let out a low groan, took a moment to gather his thoughts, then spoke each word clearly.

“If you go like this, everyone will die. You especially.”

“…What?”

In an instant, all of her frustration vanished.

Only anger remained.

Keeping her voice low, Aethlyn glared at him.

“There’s a limit to how insulting you can be.”

Even if he was a Wildman unfamiliar with human etiquette, that statement had crossed the line by a mile.

But Gennadi didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong with what he’d said.

Tilting his head slightly, he looked down at her and replied,

“I wasn’t trying to insult you. I’m only stating the facts.”

“Really? Then what exactly do you expect me to do? Refuse the company commander’s orders to his face?”

“Yes. If necessary, you should have.”

This damn werewolf…

A curse she’d never uttered in her life nearly escaped her lips.

Aethlyn barely held it back through sheer force of will.

No matter how much higher her rank was, he was still a veteran non-commissioned officer.

She couldn’t simply browbeat him the way she would an ordinary enlisted soldier.

“So it wasn’t an insult—it was advice? How thoughtful of you. But have you ever considered that you’re overstepping your bounds?”

She took a step closer and looked up at him.

The difference in their heights forced her neck back almost painfully, but she refused to retreat.

A primal sense of intimidation pressed down on her, yet she stood her ground.

She couldn’t afford to lose any more authority here.

She spoke through clenched teeth.

“Don’t act like you have the right to interfere in the affairs of the Fourth Platoon just because you’re a sergeant from another unit.”

For the briefest moment, Gennadi’s amber eyes wavered.

His dry lips parted slightly.

Silence lingered between them before he finally spoke.

“…You’re right. I don’t have that right.”

His unexpectedly compliant answer made Aethlyn frown.

Gennadi continued.

“But I’ve seen what happens when people launch trench raids like this. Countless times. May I speak honestly?”

“…”

“If you go out tonight like this, it’ll be a miracle if even one person comes back alive.”

The sergeant’s thick brows drew together.

The expression on his face robbed Aethlyn of her words.

It was the same expression he’d worn a week ago, when he’d shaken her hand.

As if he’d been cut by a tiny shard of glass.

This time…

He looked worried.

That couldn’t be right.

Why would he be worried about her?

No.

Sergeant Gennadi Vilev was simply a veteran looking at a reckless new officer with exasperation.

That had to be all it was.

His face returned to its usual impassive expression as he continued calmly.

“You need at least half a day to prepare. Reconnoiter the terrain. Identify the enemy’s observation posts. Confirm the locations of their barbed wire and minefields.”

His explanation was so systematic that Aethlyn found herself momentarily speechless.

The halting way he usually spoke had completely disappeared.

He was remarkably articulate.

Could he always speak this fluently?

Regardless, she found herself being persuaded.

At the same time, she realized just how reckless she’d been about to act.

Fear and shame welled up inside her.

Without meaning to, she blurted out what sounded like an excuse.

“…But the captain ordered us to leave tonight.”

“I’ll help you.”

Aethlyn slowly lifted her head and looked up at him once more.

She simply couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.