"How long are you going to sleep?! You maggots!!"

On the fourth day of being stationed on the Western Front:

"Our squad has just been given the mission to invade enemy territory! Hurry and prepare!"
"Understood."

Early the next morning, before the sun had even risen, I was awoken by the angry voice of Sergeant Garback, my squad leader. Still groggy from sleep, it seemed like we were about to be sent into battle right away. Ugh...my whole body hurts from sleeping on the ground. I miss the beds at the orphanage.

"Sergeant Garback...wait, we're going now!?"
"You idiot! Are you talking back to me with orders!?"

I quickly changed clothes and began checking my equipment, but my fellow rookie, Salsa-kun, had spoken out of turn and got punched. Why would he willingly step on a landmine like this?

"No, if only you had told us beforehand, not at the last minute."
"Are you a spy!? Do I need to explain our important military strategy to you!?"
"I'm sorry! It hurts, please don't hit me!"

That's right. As low-ranking soldiers, we should not expect to be given explanations of when we will be sent into battle. We are suddenly given orders like this.

"Marieu Infantry Squad, 3 members ready."
"Allen Recon Squad, 2 members ready."
"Touli Second-Class Medic, ready."
"Okay, Salsa Second-Class Private! Ready!"

This Garback squad is a 10-person team led by Sergeant Garback, but currently, there are only 8 members because 3 soldiers were killed in combat 4 days ago. Since then, Private Salsa has been added to the team at the squad leader's request, making the current number 8. By the way, Salsa-kun arrived at this front just four days ago, so he's a newbie like me.

"Marieu squad, move out first. Allen squad, standby beside me. Touli and Salsa, follow directly behind me."
"Understood, Sergeant Garback."

The soldiers with handsome faces answered Sergeant Garback's call, and I had received lectures under Chief Gael of the Medical Department for the past three days, so I hadn't even had a chance to greet them yet. It's nerve-wracking to suddenly be thrown into a team with people I haven't really talked to before. But maybe it's a good thing we didn't get too close. Everyone here has a low chance of making it through the night.

"Oh, as expected of the magical forces. There's hardly any work left for us," said one person.

Today's attack began with long-range artillery fire by the magical forces. Took their time, spending several hours to burn down the enemy's fortified positions and traps they have set up. This seems to be a common tactic in this world. Rather than launching an infantry attack, they first kill enemy soldiers with a plentiful barrage of attack magic. This way, they can secure territory with fewer casualties.

"It's impressive, isn't it?" said someone.
"The main players in war, frustratingly, are them. Rather than us charging into the enemy desperately and cutting off their heads, they can cause much more damage with magic fired from afar," said another.
"Then why don't they bombard every day?" asked the first person.
"Well, they have to eat a massive amount of magic stones to use large-scale magic. Even if we bombard every day, the budget wouldn't be enough," explained the second person.

Furthermore, the squad leader continued.

"If the enemy anticipates an attack and clears out the planned target area, it would be a huge loss. We can't do it without the assurance that the enemy is definitely in that position," said the squad leader.
"I see, it's informative," replied the first person.
"Alright then, we'll charge after the artillery fire ends in five minutes. The tactical objective of this squad is to advance to the riverbank and if possible, coordinate with other units to secure the river," announced the squad leader.

With that declaration, the squad leader wore a fierce smile and drew his bayonet from his waist.

"Now, let the massacre begin. Let's turn these rotten invaders into dog shit," he declared.

With those words, the Garback squad charged towards the enemy's position.

The result was terrible.

"Squad Leader! Flames are rising from somewhere--"
"Damn it!"

But when they rushed to the location, there was nobody there. All they found was an empty, burnt-out enemy campsite with a single dead body lying there. The squad leader looked around with a puzzled expression, and then he heard angry shouts from his surroundings. He quickly declared a retreat.

"Retreat! This place is going to be heavily bombarded soon! They've figured out our strategy. What the hell is the command doing?"
"Help! I'm going to die! I'm going to burn to death!"
"Salsa, burn to death there by yourself! You idiot!"

Suddenly, flames burst out of the ground that appeared to be empty, causing Private Salsa to roll around in pain. It was probably a trap called a "set-up magic circle," which was like a vicious landmine that burned anyone who stepped on it. The fact that they had set up such a trap beforehand suggested that the enemy had already been aware of today's attack.

"Roll on the ground vigorously! We'll put dirt on you to extinguish the fire!"
"Ow, it's hot! Hurry, quickly!"

I couldn't just leave my comrade there, so I helped extinguish the fire by sprinkling dirt on him. Then, I ran with the squad leaders who had already started to retreat.

"Ah, my leg!!"
"Okay, wait a minute."

However, Salsa couldn't run and collapsed on the spot. It turned out that his foot was swollen with blisters and he couldn't walk.

"... [Heal] ... [Heal]."
"Ah, ha, ah..."
"I used my recovery magic twice, so your leg should feel a bit better "

It was a recovery spell that only had a slight effect, like a charm. As a result of repeating it, the swelling in Salsa's foot had slightly decreased, but he was still seriously injured. I could only use it twice in a row.

"If you can't run like that, I'm sorry, but I'll have to leave you, Salsa."
"Ugh."
"I don't have the strength to carry you and run."
"Okay. I'll run, I'll run, so don't leave me behind!"

Despite the probably still excruciating pain in his leg, Salsa stood up and started running again. After making sure of this, I resumed the retreat with all my might.

It seems that the enemy's magical artillery fire had already begun, as explosions and cries of agony were heard everywhere.

"Huff, huff, huff! I'm going to die for real!"
"Yes, we're relying on divine intervention. Let's pray that the shelling won't come in our direction."

We ran desperately, trembling at the sound of explosions, chasing after the senior soldiers who had already run far ahead. All around, explosions and raging fires erupt, suggesting the enemy's attacks.

If those hit directly, there would be no chance.

"Ha...haa..."

I am not someone with particularly good stamina. In my past life, I was a game addict who didn't exercise, and in this life, I was a bookworm who stayed in the library of an orphanage. How long have I been running now? Thanks to an abnormal secretion of adrenaline due to the danger to my life, I can keep running, but it is an amount of exercise that would have caused me to pass out under normal circumstances.

"I don't want to die, I don't want to die! I haven't repaid anything to my mother yet!"
"If you have enough energy to shout that much, then keep running."

Salsa surprisingly has a lot of energy. Although his legs hurt terribly, he still has the energy to run while screaming. Every time I breathe, I taste blood in my mouth.

"Uaaaaaaah!"

Running alongside the endlessly noisy Salsa for a few hundred meters. Fortunately, both Salsa and I were able to retreat to our army's rear without being hit by any magic attacks. Here, we should be out of range from the enemy's artillery fire.

"..."
"Huh? Oi! Touli!?" 

I don't remember anything after reaching the finish line. Apparently, I lost consciousness. And I heard that Salsa-kun carried me all the way to the medical facility.

"You idiot!!"

After waking up, I was summoned by the squad leader, only to receive a punishment with an iron fist.

"Why did you use healing magic without my permission? Why did you disobey my retreat order and rescue Salsa!?"
"I'm sorry."

It seems that my rescue of Salsa and delaying the retreat was seen as a violation of orders. Although I didn't intend it that way, it seems better not to say anything unnecessary at this point.

"Did your emotions get the better of you?  How much trouble do you think you caused everyone around you because of that!?"
"I don't know."
"I see. Let me tell you then. It was just a coincidence. Both you and I were lucky enough to return without being attacked by the enemy. Lucky, huh?"
"Yes, it was very lucky."

As soon as I answered, a dull impact ran through my stomach. It seems that the squad leader punched me in the stomach.

"..."
"Suppose I was unlucky and got bombed. And you, who came late, happened to pass by."
"Yes..."
"At that time, would you have had enough magical power to save me?"

Then, he slapped me repeatedly on the cheek. Finally, with a hateful look, the squad leader kicked me hard.

"That's what you did. You risked my life to save that useless newbie."
"I'm sorry."
"Using healing magic requires permission from your superiors! It's unthinkable to use magic without my permission!"
"I'm sorry."
"Besides, your healing magic is basically never used by anyone but me! Why do you think I bothered to request more medics? It's so that I can cut deeper into enemy territory and end this war!"

The squad leader's assault was ruthless. My uniform was torn by his violence, and my bruised and swollen side was visible through the tear. The pain was so intense that I could hardly speak.

"It's punishment. You will go without lunch today. And you will stand in front of my tent, in an upright position, until the sun sets."
"Yes."

That was the punishment imposed on me.

Afternoon had passed and the sky had taken on a reddish hue. Salsa spoke to me as I stood there with a bruised face.

"I'm sorry about that, I apologize."
"It's my fault. You don't need to worry about it."

Honestly, I don't think Garback's physical punishment is necessary. It seems highly inefficient to beat subordinates to the point where it could affect their combat abilities in future battles.

However, it was natural to obtain permission from a superior to use healing magic. I undoubtedly made a mistake by neglecting to confirm that and acting on my own.

"But, if it weren't for Touli, I would have..."
"You would have died. You were left to die by the squad leader. You don't need to worry about your punishment, but please feel gratitude for saving your life."
"O-of course!"

Salsa looked at me as if I were a goddess. This is a little uncomfortable. 

"If you feel grateful, could you share a little bit of your dinner with me? I'm a little hungry."
"Oh, sure."
"That's all I ask."
"It's cheap, considering it's a debt of gratitude..."

Honestly, I don't intend to become too close to him. Well, because he's probably going to die, anyway. We haven't worked together enough yet, and he's quite reckless and can't read the atmosphere. He doesn't seem like an excellent soldier who could survive until the end of the war. And I'm the type who would be severely damaged if someone I've become friends with dies. If I'm going to be hurt anyway, it's better not to become friends from the beginning. Love is not necessary.

"All right, if you skipped lunch, you must be getting hungry."
"Thank you. Well then, I have to stand here until the sun sets."
"Okay. I was called by the squad leader just now, too. Excuse me."

Salsa saluted me and went into the squad leader's tent. This distance is good for comrades. Not too friendly, but not hostile either. Cooperate in battle, but don't have too many private conversations. It will be a short time, but I think I can work well with Salsa-kun.

"You idiot, moron, piece of trash! Die already!! If you're just going to throw away the life we spared, then I'll personally take care of you!!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry─"

A few minutes later.

He was made to stand in front of the tent as well, with more severe injuries than me.

"..."
"..."

Salsa's face was swollen and bleeding in places. A black liquid was trickling out of his nose, and his right arm seemed to be broken. This is beyond the level of instruction. Salsa probably cannot withstand combat for a few days and needs to be healed with recovery magic. This is clearly inefficient.

"Damn, it hurts..."
"Excuse me. What did you do, Second-Class Private Salsa?"
"I forgot about the briefing at noon..."
"I see."

But this man is also quite something. Is it the squad leader's judgment that punching him this hard is necessary for correction?

"Um, this hurts like crazy. Touli, could you secretly use some recovery magic or something?"
"The reason I was scolded was that I used magic without permission. If I use it without permission while standing as punishment for that very offense, the squad leader will hang me."
"...I see."

Is this man really reflecting on his actions? Or is he planning to throw himself into a storm of corporal punishment again? Even if I was allowed to use magic, I would use it on myself first. After all, I am also seriously injured.

"Also, sorry Touli. I was told to skip dinner..."
"..."

...