I am a Second-Class medic, Touli Noel. I have been stationed on the Western Front for a week now. Fortunately, I am still alive today without being killed. I struggle with unreliable peers and a violent superior, but I want to do my best today for the sake of the orphanage in my hometown.

Let me briefly explain the current situation. The Western Front, where I was sent, is the frontline of the 10-year war between our country, Austin, and the enemy country, the Sabbath Federation, known as the East-West War. The war situation has been in a stalemate in recent years, and we have been fighting a back-and-forth battle from the starting point of the original border, the "Thar River".

However, we seem to have been pushed back a bit recently, and currently, the Thar River is completely under enemy control. This is not surprising considering the current military strength. The estimated enemy forces outnumber our army by 180,000 to 100,000. It's impossible to win.

Given the situation, the recapture of the Thar River has become the immediate goal of our army. Three days ago, the assault mission, supported by the magical troops, was also aimed at retaking the Thar River. 

However, whether the enemy had leaked or intercepted the operation, the shelling hit an empty camp, and the desperate efforts of our magical troops missed the target. As a result, the infantry, including our Garback squad, who launched the assault, were ambushed and suffered a crushing defeat. As a consequence, the abandoned positions and supplies were taken by the enemy, and the front line was forced to retreat more than 100 meters.

The Thar River has become even further away.

Currently, we are in the process of hastily constructing new trenches along the new defense line we have retreated to. Trenches are crucial. After the front line has moved, infantry soldiers spend their days digging holes with a shovel in hand. One-tenth is risking your life in combat, while nine-tenths are risking your life in civil engineering work. That is the soldiers' daily life.

"It's time to wake up. Please prepare yourself promptly."
"Uh, ugh...Good morning, Touli."

The mornings of low-ranking soldiers start early. At around 5 in the morning, when the sky is beginning to lighten, there is a regular briefing for the squad. Therefore, you need to wake up by that time, inspect your equipment, and prepare yourself so that you can go out anytime. There is no convenient alarm clock, so if you oversleep, your colleagues or the night watch will have to wake you up. Personally, due to stress, I have developed a habit of waking up easily when the people around me start stirring, so I don't have much trouble waking up.

"I have already finished preparing myself. If Salsa is late, I will also be held responsible, so please prepare yourself promptly."
"Okay, I understand."

Whether or not there will be an operation that day will be announced during the briefing. In some cases, if you show up for the briefing, you may have to go into battle immediately, so you cannot afford to be late.

After receiving an orientation from Chief Gael of the Medical Department, I officially became a medic assigned to the Garback Squad and was to sleep in a trench near the squad leader's tent. Personal tents are provided for Garback, but there are no such things for low-ranking soldiers. Men and women sleep side by side in a long-dug trench. Female soldiers sometimes have their bodies touched or are attacked while sleeping. However, rape is, of course, a violation of military discipline, so if reported to a superior officer, significant penalties will be imposed. Even if it is consensual, if a female soldier becomes pregnant, it is a severe crime as she must be evacuated from the front lines.

"Touli, Second-Class Medic, ready."
"Salsa, Second-Class Private, ready."
"Okay, let's start the briefing."

Sergeant Garback is arrogant and violent, but he is extremely strict about military discipline. Therefore, if I were to be a victim of such behavior, Chief Gael said that I would undoubtedly receive appropriate punishment. Sergeant Garback can easily kill people if it is in accordance with military discipline. Thanks to that, I have not received any harassment from the members of the Garback Squad. 

"I give an order to Second-Class Medic Touli. Today, act according to Chief Gael's command."
"I understand. I will repeat the order. From the current time until 5 a.m. tomorrow morning, I will act according to Chief Gael's command."
"Very well."

Today's instruction was to assist Gael, the Chief of the Medical Department. Normally, Chief Gael, stationed behind the front lines ─ beyond the 5th defense line, constructs several makeshift field hospitals and attends to the treatment of wounded soldiers. Most of the medics work there. Medics belonging to squads, like myself, are also deployed to assist at the field hospital on days without combat.

This order will be a training as a medic, and it is safe since it is in the rear, including Chief Gael and all the medics who are kind, it is the best. It could be said that it is a privilege of the medics not to participate in the backbreaking physical labor of digging holes. Salsa-kun, the guy next to me, is secretly grumbling, "Digging holes again today..."

And recently, I learned something new. Captain Garback is allowed to stay in a tent in the safe 5th defense line because he is one of the "aces" of this front line. Yes, that's right. I thought it was strange how the Garback Squad, although they are new, were given a medical soldier and even their own tent. But apparently, it's all due to Garback's own accomplishments, and he has earned the right to these privileges.

"That's why no one dares to criticize him for his high-handedness. If anyone has a complaint, he'll say, 'If you can achieve more victories than me, then go ahead and try,' and everyone will be silenced."
"Well, that's, in a way, reassuring to have a direct superior who is competent."
"That guy's just a fool. He repeatedly makes reckless charges, disregarding his own life and the lives of his comrades, and survives by sheer luck."

He uses his comrades as decoys and abandons them, said Chief Gael, frowning.

"All the achievements of his dead subordinates are credited to Garback. He repeatedly makes reckless charges, and when things get dangerous, he abandons his subordinates to enhance his own accomplishments. ...He may be excellent as a charging soldier, but he is the worst as a commander."
"Um... Chief Gael, those kinds of comments..."
"Ah, yes, you're right. I'm sorry."

I gently stopped Chief Gael, who seemed like she was going to continue bad-mouthing Garback forever. Certainly, I don't have a good impression of Garback myself, but I don't think it's appropriate for Chief Gael to spread negative comments about other soldiers to her subordinates.

"I get a little emotional about it. He killed my brother," Chief Gael said.
"..."
"After I heard about my brother's death, he said, 'Your brother's life became our 15-meter advance. So be happy,' that bastard Garback."
"Well, that's..."
"According to what I heard, it was just him trying to cover up his mistake. Garback's squad had stood out too much and got into trouble. So to get out of the crisis, he retreated using my brother as a decoy."

Chief Gael's expression was just like that of an angry demon.

"When I received a request to send medical soldiers to his team, I strongly opposed it... but the higher-ups who recognized Garback's accomplishments approved it. Sorry, I've made you draw the short straw."
"It's okay. Following orders is what a soldier does."
"That's right. If there's anything I can do to help, I'll do my best. So hang in there."

I see, so that's why Chief Gael is critical of Garback. Certainly, I don't want to die as a decoy for the mistakes of a team leader.

Well, the current situation seems to prioritize Private Salsa as the decoy, rather than me, who is a valuable user of recovery magic. So as long as he stays alive, I might be able to say that I am safe too. Hang in there, Salsa-kun.

At the field hospital, we perform emergency treatment for the wounded and manage severely injured patients. However, as a rookie, I'm not yet useful enough to be considered a combat force. So, along with my fellow rookies, I help under the guidance of senior medics.

"Your magical technique is too weak! You need to channel more power into it like this, and then BAM!"
"Excuse me, senpai, but could you please be a bit more specific?"
"I mean, you need to pump your fist up like this, see?"

I received various guidance from different seniors and found that Chief Gael's lectures on healing magic were the easiest to understand. Explaining the intricacies of healing magic in theory seems to be very difficult. Most seniors only give vague advice. However, what all of them say in common is that "you'll gradually understand healing magic as you practice more." It's like the saying "practice makes perfect."

The demand for healing magic is always high at the field hospital. I was assigned to treat relatively minor injuries and used magic several times. I feel that the effect has improved slightly compared to when I first used healing magic. It seems to be true that magical proficiency improves with practice. It's enjoyable to feel my skills improving like this. I wish I could just stay here like this and not participate in any invasion operations.

"We will reclaim the territory that was taken from us last time. Garback Squad, move out."

The next day, we received orders to move out again. As expected, it seems like living in peace is nothing but a pipe dream when we're stationed at the frontlines.

"The enemy probably hasn't finished building their new territory yet. They're likely organizing their supplies and reinforcing their trenches in a rush right now. We'll shell them and then we'll charge in and take control."
"Understood."

The plan is the same as last time. The magicians will launch an attack, and then we'll charge in and take control.

...Honestly, I'm feeling uneasy because we failed last time.

"Second-Class Private Salsa, Second-Class Medic Touli. You two will follow me from behind."
"Yes, sir."
"If you break the rules again, I'll shoot you on the spot. Be prepared for your mission."
"Understood."

The squad leader gave me a stern warning because of my previous rule-breaking. If I'm executed for breaking the rules, the orphanage won't receive any money.

...It's depressing, but I'll obey dangerous orders without resistance and quietly accept death.

"Alright, let's go. I'll show you Garback's charge!"

Even though we're about to go to battle, the squad leader had a big smile on his face. It was the expression of someone who was happy to be able to kill others. This person's joy in killing the enemy surpasses his fear of being killed.

"Let's turn those foreign scum into filthy minced meat."

...Is this what happens to people when they've been on the battlefield for too long?

The end of this war is not in sight anytime soon. For the past 10 years, our country has been engaged in this ongoing battle for territory on this front line.

I heard this story from a senior medic. Near the Thar River, the ground used to be a refreshing grassland and soft brown earth. However, now, most of this area has been replaced with black soil. The reason is simple. When the iron content in the soil increases, the color turns black. It is said that so much blood has been shed on this land that it caused the soil's color to change.

"Charge!!!"

Today, I run across the plain where bullets fly, trampling on the pitch-black soil. This soil I am treading on could have been someone's beloved family member. Iron from all corners of our country is scattered here today. Being alive on this battlefield is a tremendous stroke of luck.

I don't want to die. I don't want to become just a source of iron soaking the gloomy soil. 

With that in mind, I desperately follow my squad leader.