Torn Asunder by War, A Sword Saint for Tomorrow X The Knight Wizards!! – Chapter 125

Chapter 125: A Long Day for a Certain Unit
  The early winter twilight arrives quickly. Since humans have poorer night vision than the small magical beasts roaming the city blocks, the Imperial soldiers are struggling to reduce the number of enemies as much as possible before sunset. The 1st Brigade, 1st Battalion, 2nd Company of the Rigsia Territorial Army, which has suffered a considerable number of casualties, is no exception.
  
  Rather, now that the tide has turned, their remnants, who were unfortunately not assigned standby duty and ended up being the first to engage in battle and lost nearly half of their comrades, are being hunted relentlessly.
  
  “Scour every alley in the area! We’ll exterminate them all, leaving not a single one alive!”
  “””Understood!!”””
  
  In a corner of the city where the bodies of unfortunate citizens are scattered, officer Kurt, who usually has a gentle personality suggesting a good upbringing, shouts with a frantic expression, giving instructions to the squad of about fifty men under his direct command.
  
  There’s a Far Eastern idiom that says, “If you haven’t seen a man for three days, look at him with new eyes,” but apparently, about half a day is enough.
  
  ‘Maybe I’ve just seen too many people die, and my heart has become numb…’
  
  Since the emotions he’s suppressing now might overflow and cause a mental breakdown when he calms down, his adjutant, Berta, looked at her younger captain, thinking she would gently comfort him if necessary.
  
  She herself is also sickened by the sight of the main streets destroyed by giant rock golems and the numerous mutilated corpses devoured by magical beasts, indulging in sentimental thoughts unbefitting a battlefield.
  
  Immediately after scoffing self-deprecatingly upon realizing this, an eagle-headed lion, which had apparently been alternately kicking off the walls of a narrow back alley, leaped onto the roof of a building and jumped down about 15-20 meters ahead.
  
  “… I’ll lecture whoever missed that one.”
  
  With a curse, she aims her gun and fires a bullet at the disproportionately large head, but it’s dodged with a nimble step forward and to the side, only grazing the right shoulder.
  
  She hurriedly operates the cocking lever to eject the spent cartridge, and the next bullet, fired into the larger torso, pierces the opponent’s left foreleg as it tries to dodge, causing it to fall spectacularly onto the hard cobblestones.
  
  Berta is captivated by the valiant figure of Kurt, who mercilessly slashes the neck of the magical beast that slid over with the momentum and stains the hem of his uniform with red-black blood, when light infantrymen rush from the alley in question and bow their heads.
  
  “Sorry.”
  “We apologize for troubling you.”
  
  “No, it’s fine. Let’s finish up quickly and return to the temporary camp.”
  “We need to receive torches and lanterns during our break.”
  
  Nodding at his adjutant’s words, muttered while looking up at the darkening sky, the soldiers under his command salute and dash off.
  
  About a quarter of an hour later, when they return to the central square, which has restricted entry in anticipation of the chaos caused by the influx of evacuees…
  
  Amidst the scene of four giant knights standing majestically as if guarding the bleached and lusterless Spirit Gate, only one Valer family banner is mixed in with their army’s flags, fluttering leisurely in the wind.
  
  “I wonder if it’s a meeting between Lady White Fox’s envoy and the brigade commander. What do you think, Captain?”
  
  “I agree. Baron Ramsey currently has emergency powers granted by Imperial law during wartime, and he should be a suitable temporary negotiator.”
  
  It can be assumed that he has authority equivalent to a lord until Cedric Ballenstein, the heir to the Rigsia Marquisate who governs the second largest city of Dresden, arrives and assesses the situation.
  
  Fortunately, the gentleman in the responsible position is someone who has risen through the ranks through military achievements. Unlike the nobles in the rear, he doesn’t issue misguided and troublesome orders. Instead, simple meals, night equipment, and precious ammunition have been prepared within the castle for the returning troops.
  
  While expressing his gratitude inwardly, Kurt moves to the church grounds in the castle courtyard, guided by a messenger, takes a roll call of his unit, and gives the surviving hundred or so men a rest. Meanwhile, he asks a dozen or so men with remaining energy to receive the supplies.
  
  After giving the necessary instructions, he collapses onto the grass as if his strength has been drained. When he looks up, he notices the localized earthquake that was the harbinger of the incident and the castle ruins destroyed by the giant golem’s fist.
  
  “It’s a sight that somehow amplifies the feeling of exhaustion…”
  “But this is about the only place within the city that can serve as a base for the territorial army.”
  
  Berta sits down heavily behind him, leaning against him without hesitation. As he resists and pushes back, an exasperated voice comes from above.
  
  “Don’t waste your energy needlessly. You’re a troublesome bunch.”
  
  “… It’s unavoidable, Father.”
  “Deputy Brigade Commander, do you have some business with our company?”
  
  The two of them start to stand up as a general courtesy to a superior officer, but the stern, large man in his late forties stops them, his expression slightly awkward.
  
  Kurt and Berta are a little perplexed by his unusually subtle attitude, and he mutters his words.
  
  “No, I just heard that the 1st Brigade, 1st Battalion, 2nd Company had returned safely…”
  “Ah, is that parental affection? You’re loved, Captain.”
  
  At Berta’s teasing remark, Kurt sighs, and the image of his family flashes through his mind. He’s about to ask his stubborn father, but reconsiders, thinking that he wouldn’t prioritize checking on his family’s safety in the face of such a disaster.
  
  Therefore, he switches the subject of his question from a personal one to an official one.
  
  “What will become of the Rigsia territory? The future is uncertain.”
  
  “It’s not something to be spread around, but… after this, I’m going to visit Baron Ramsey and the Margrave of Zephyrus’s camps. I plan to finalize the ambiguous ceasefire agreement and also express my gratitude for today.”
  
  Out of respect for Lord Cedric, who will inherit the territory and title, they can’t make any major decisions, but they can’t neglect the guests they’ve invited.
  
  Muttering that it can’t be helped, the Deputy Brigade Commander, who is also a lower-ranking noble, turns on his heel and leaves to attend the heavy-hearted meeting.