A convoy approached the fortress city of Nasist.

 

"Understood. Best of luck, Commander-in-Chief."

 

"Ah, indeed, Sergeant."

 

With those words, Sergeant Funasaka saluted Kazuya and bid him farewell.

 

Accompanied by seven vehicles assigned to the 4th squad (two Humvees, one M1126 Striker ICV armored vehicle, two M1128 Striker MGS armored vehicles, and two Type 73 large trucks), they aimed for the southern gate.

 

...There it is, coming into view now.

 

After driving along the plain for several minutes beside the walls, the southern gate finally came into sight.

 

Despite roughly twice the number of enemy soldiers gathering at the southern gate compared to the northern gate, they were too engrossed in transporting loot from the fortress city to notice the 4th squad's approach.

 

"Vehicles 3 and 4, fire two grenades towards the enemy near the gate. After we breach, intermittently launch white phosphorus incendiary rounds outside the gate to prevent enemy reinforcements from entering."

 

"Understood!"

 

Following Sergeant Funasaka's orders, the two M1128 Striker MGS armored vehicles fired grenades from their M68A1E4 105mm cannons.

 

"Hm? What the—"

 

"Hey, don't stop—"

 

Suddenly, grenades struck amidst the soldiers busy with looting, instantly claiming the lives of many.

 

"Help! Someone! Help me!"

 

"My, my legs! I-I've lost my legs!"

 

Fortuitously (or unfortunately), surviving soldiers screamed and flailed.

 

"Now's the time! Charge!"

 

Amidst the chaos caused by the sudden attack, Sergeant Funasaka and his team forcefully breached the gate and penetrated into the interior of the fortress city.

 

"Disembark! Commence combat!"

 

Shouting so, Sergeant Funasaka leaped out of the Humvee, brandishing a Type 30 bayonet attached to his Type 38 infantry rifle with one hand, plunging into the midst of the enemy alone.

 

"Argh!"

 

"Aaaargh!"

 

"Weak! Too weak!"

 

Not understanding what was happening, Sergeant Funasaka shouted loudly while mowing down fleeing enemy soldiers in panic.

 

"Captain! Again?! Please don't charge in alone without authorization!"

 

Sergeant Makino, Funasaka's adjutant, took command of the squad while exclaiming in exasperation at Funasaka's rampage.

 

"What, as long as you're taking command, there shouldn't be a problem."

 

Though responding to Makino's words, Sergeant Funasaka shot one of the two attacking enemy soldiers directly in the heart with a Type 38 live round—6.5mmx50SR, killing him instantly.

 

Then, deflecting the other's sword strike with his Type 38 infantry rifle, he smashed the enemy's head with the butt of his rifle, exploiting the enemy soldier's momentary stagger to thrust the bayonet of his Type 38 infantry rifle into the enemy's chest, killing him with precise movements.

 

"That's not the issue! Moreover, please don't charge in with such outdated equipment! It's nerve-racking for us watching!"

 

"What do you mean outdated equipment?! This Type 38 infantry rifle suits me best!—Oops!?"

 

As Sergeant Funasaka conversed with Makino while killing enemies, the Imperial soldiers, recovering from their confusion, began to counterattack.

 

About ten riflemen lined up in two rows, simultaneously firing towards Sergeant Funasaka.

 

However, realizing he was being targeted just before they fired, Sergeant Funasaka swiftly took cover behind an obstacle to shield himself from the bullets.

 

"Furthermore, I can't let go of this Type 38 infantry rifle personally bestowed upon me by the Commander-in-Chief!"

 

Peeking out from his cover, Sergeant Funasaka confirmed the riflemen hastily reloading their guns and, despite saying so to Makino, he reached for a Type 100 grenade discharger and a Type 10 hand grenade, attaching them to his Type 38 infantry rifle.

 

Then, leaping out from cover, he fired a Type 10 hand grenade towards the riflemen who were still struggling to reload their guns.

 

"Take this!"

 

With Sergeant Funasaka's small command and a thud, the Type 10 hand grenade exploded in front of the riflemen.

 

Close to the explosion of the Type 10 hand grenade, combined with the detonation of the gunpowder they held, the riflemen were blown away altogether.

 

"Directly?! That's because you persuaded the Commander-in-Chief forcibly that you wanted to use the Type 38 infantry rifle! The Commander-in-Chief was even laughing wryly at your insistence!"

 

"Is that so? Haha! I've already forgotten!—Hmm!?"

 

As Sergeant Funasaka, who had swept away the riflemen, removed the Type 100 grenade discharger, he attempted to reload his Type 38 infantry rifle with a set of five Type 38 live rounds inserted into the magazine. However, as he pulled back the bolt to load the rounds and slid it forward, the bolt handle got stuck, and the bolt wouldn't return.

 

...This is bad.

 

As Sergeant Funasaka struggled with the bolt of his Type 38 infantry rifle, the enemy soldiers, seeing it as an opportunity, screamed and rushed towards him.

 

"Fools who do not obey the Empire shall perish! Death to the heathens who ally with subhumans!"

 

—Zashu!

 

"What nonsense!"

 

With that, Sergeant Funasaka effortlessly released his Type 38 infantry rifle, drew the sword at his waist in the manner of Iaijutsu, and in an instant, severed the heads of the enemy soldiers who rushed at him.

 

"—!?"

 

The enemy soldiers, whose heads were instantly severed, spewed a considerable amount of blood from their severed necks and fell to the ground with a thud.

 

"Hmph! How trivial."

 

Sergeant Funasaka disdainfully flicked off the blood on his sword, sheathed it, and picked up the Type 38 infantry rifle lying on the ground.

 

Then, he hurled it towards the sorcerer who was about to cast a spell from behind, like throwing a spear.

 

—Thud!

 

"Ugh!"

 

The Type 38 infantry rifle flew straight as intended by Sergeant Funasaka, piercing the sorcerer's back, piercing his heart.

 

"Right on target... Well, slightly off."

Amidst muttered words, Sergeant Funasaka made his way to the fallen magician, stepping over the wizard's body. He exclaimed as he withdrew the Type 38 infantry rifle, which was wedged into the magician's body.

"Are there no more formidable foes?!"

―― Chonchon.

As Sergeant Funasaka taunted the enemy soldiers, someone tapped his shoulder.

Noticing this, Sergeant Funasaka turned to find Sergeant Makino, who was poking his shoulder with a bemused expression.

"Um... isn't it already over...?"

"Hm, I see."

Upon Makino's remark, Sergeant Funasaka looked around. He spotted fleeing enemy soldiers heading towards the castle gate, abandoning their weapons.

However, outside the gate, the phosphorus from the Striker MGS armoured vehicle's incendiary rounds lingered on the ground, emitting white smoke and burning fiercely. Consequently, the fleeing soldiers plunged into this scorching hell.

"Ouch!"

"It's hot!? What's this fire!? Even water won't put it out!"

"Gaaaah! It burns! It burns!"

Unfortunate soldiers, their skin exposed to phosphorus during their escape, writhed in agony as the fire wouldn't extinguish even when water was poured on it.

Incidentally, phosphorus burns, unlike regular burns, result in the surrounding skin turning yellow with a garlic-like smell.

Moreover, phosphorus is not easily extinguished by water. The only solution is to cut away the skin affected by phosphorus. However, the soldiers who returned to the imperial army headquarters were unaware of this, desperately trying to extinguish the fire on their bodies with water.

The day after repelling the imperial army.

"Good morning, Sergeant."

"Ah, good morning."

The Fourth Squad had spent the night constructing fortifications near the conquered castle gate.

"Here you go."

Sergeant Makino brought a warm drink for Sergeant Funasaka, who had been on watch all night in preparation for a night attack.

"Thank you."

Sergeant Funasaka accepted the drink from Makino and took a sip.

"...Say, Sergeant? There's something I want to ask."

"What is it, Sergeant?"

"I'm bothered by something the enemy said during yesterday's battle. Do you know anything about it?"

"What did they say?"

"They mentioned death to the heathens who consort with demi-humans... I think? Are they fanatics of some religion?"

"It's a bit delicate. I'm not well-versed in it either... but if I recall correctly, the Elzas Magic Empire was promoting a religion called the Loewen Faith. It's true that the enemy's religious fervour is quite intense due to that."

"What kind of religion is Loewen Faith?"

"Well... roughly speaking, the Loewen Faith allows only humans, who are deemed to exist in the eyes of their god, to exist. Demons and beastmen, considered to be imitations of humans, should be destroyed. Or they should be eradicated. Something like that."

"...That's quite an extreme religion. ...Hmm? Wasn't the imperial army not supposed to use monsters? Are monsters exempt?"

"I'm not entirely sure about that either... Also, I heard that there's a place within the empire's territory where the god of Loewen Faith is said to have descended. It's called a holy land, and fanatical believers manage and operate it, making it somewhat like an autonomous zone."

"There's such a place... Hmm, I have one more question. How strong is the enemy's faith? If there are many individuals with the level of devotion of Colonel Chitose, it could be quite troublesome..."

"I think it'll be fine. There shouldn't be anyone with the level of faith... of Colonel Chitose. Well, if the fanatical enemy's faith is a 10, then Colonel Chitose's faith (dedication) would be around 100, wouldn't it? After all, that's Colonel Chitose we're talking about. If something were to happen to the Supreme Commander, he'd unhesitatingly launch a nuclear strike against the enemy, wouldn't he?"

"I doubt they'd go that far... But I can't argue against you, Colonel Chitose. If it's you, anything's possible," Sergeant Funasaka remarked.

"Ha ha ha ha!!"

Sergeant Funasaka and Corporal Makino exchanged glances and laughed together.

"What!? Everyone, get down!"

As Sergeant Funasaka, noticing something, ceased laughing and shouted, he leaped at Corporal Makino, pushing him down to the ground in surprise.

―― Boom!

The castle gate suddenly blew away without a trace.

Exposed to the intense blast and deafening noise, Sergeant Funasaka and Corporal Makino temporarily lost consciousness.

"―― Cough, cough!! What in the...?"

"Cough, cough!! I don't... understand."

As Sergeant Funasaka and Corporal Makino, buried under rubble, regained consciousness and crawled out from beneath, they were coughing from the sand and dust filling their mouths.

"Cough, cough!! Corporal Makino, check on the troops' safety, quickly!"

"Cough, cough!! Understood!"

Receiving the order, Corporal Makino hurried away while Sergeant Funasaka, close by, lent a hand to a soldier buried under nearby rubble, dragging him out from underneath. Just then, through the radio he held, Kazuya's voice came through.

"―― White!! Fourth squad!! Is anyone there?! Hey!! Sergeant Funasaka!! Respond!"

―― Static, static, click

"Guh, this is Fourth Squad... Cough, Sergeant Funasaka... Somehow, we're all safe."

"What's the situation there?!"

"Yes. Cough, Fourth Squad... Many casualties... but we can still fight――"

Despite the swirling dust entering his mouth and nose, causing him to cough repeatedly, Sergeant Funasaka, while responding to Kazuya, glanced around. Soldiers, despite various wounds, were emerging one after another from under the debris.

Damn...

However, at the end of Sergeant Funasaka's gaze, there was a soldier, half-buried under the rubble, not moving at all.

"Fourth Squad!! Enemies are coming! Retreat to the second city wall, all units!! Hurry!"

"Commander... it's too late for us to evacuate now. Please... abandon us."

"You idiot!! Who said anything about giving up?! If you can't evacuate in time, we'll come to get you! Just wait! Don't you dare die!!"

―― Click.

With Kazuya's voice as the last sound from the radio, it fell silent.

"Was that the commander just now?"

Returning from checking on his subordinates' safety, Corporal Makino asked as he approached Sergeant Funasaka.

"Yeah, they're going to pick us up."

"...Will they make it in time?"

"I don't know. But what's the situation?"

Preparing for combat, Sergeant Funasaka, with an anxious expression, asked Corporal Makino for a current report.

"Well, the traps set near the castle gate were destroyed by the explosion, and all vehicles were overturned by the blast. Due to the explosion of the Type 73 large truck, we only have the ammunition we're carrying."

"I see... What about the troops?"

"Four dead, four severely injured, seven lightly injured, and two missing."

"The damage is severe..."

As Sergeant Funasaka listened to the report, soldiers watching the enemy's movements shouted.

"Enemy approaching!! Monsters are coming!"

"They've arrived... Corporal Makino!"

"Yes, what is it?"

"I leave command to you."

"Yes!! ...Wait, where are you going, Sergeant?!"

"It's obvious. I'll find the two missing before the commander arrives."

"What?! Wait!! Sergeant!! Sergeant!!"

Ignoring Corporal Makino's call, Sergeant Funasaka charged at the approaching horde of monsters, wielding his sword.

A sudden, intense agony roused Sergeant Funasaka from his unconsciousness, coursing through his body like wildfire.

After slashing his way through a horde of monsters... discovering the bodies of the two missing comrades... His memories dissolved into nothingness as he attempted to carry them to safety.

As Sergeant Funasaka gazed blankly at the white canvas ceiling, the rustle of fabric heralded someone's approach.

"Oh, you're awake," spoke a woman dressed as a nun, settling into a chair beside the bed where the sergeant lay.

"Where... am I?" he inquired.

"You're in the Imperial Army's encampment. You've become... a prisoner," she replied calmly.

"What!?... I see. A prisoner... Guhh!! Ooohhh!!"

"Please don't move!! You've sustained severe injuries all over your body... it's impossible for you to move... like this..."

The nun's voice trailed off as she witnessed the seemingly impossible: the man, previously thought immobile, rising to his feet before walking briskly as if untouched by injury.

With a battered body, Sergeant Funasaka burst through the tent flap, knocking aside the sentry stationed by the entrance. Seizing the spear the sentry held, he brandished it, shouting, "Your enemy is here!! Come at me!! And kill me!! Hurry, kill me!!"

The Imperial soldiers, astonished by the sudden rampage of a prisoner presumed incapacitated, swiftly raised their weapons and charged at Sergeant Funasaka.

"Huff... Finally... he's dead, this one," gasped a soldier, arrows protruding from his body, as he witnessed the sergeant, presumed deceased, lying before him, a look of bewilderment on his face.

"Damn, he gave us quite the trouble!!"

Another soldier muttered, surveying the area, only to find dozens of their comrades' corpses strewn about, victims of Sergeant Funasaka's rampage.

Amidst the commotion, a towering figure emerged, breaking through the soldiers' ranks. Clad in a pristine white robe and wielding a staff larger than herself, a young girl named Sericia appeared.

"What is the meaning of this!?"

With her commanding voice, the soldiers became aware of the girl's presence, hastily bowing in deference.

"W-We, uh, had a prisoner who began to act violently... We apologize. Lady Sericia, it was deemed impossible to capture him alive again due to his fierce resistance, so he was executed."

"I see... There were matters I wished to inquire of him... Nevertheless."

With a glance at the prone form of Sergeant Funasaka, Sericia departed without further ado.

The relieved soldiers, spared from punishment, breathed a collective sigh.

"For now... let's clean up the bodies."

"Agreed."

With these words, the soldiers lifted Sergeant Funasaka's limbs and cast his body, along with those of his fallen comrades, into a makeshift grave within the encampment.

 

Slither, slither...

In the dead of night, all but the sentries were asleep.

Within the Imperial encampment shrouded in darkness, the crackling flames of scattered bonfires cast a dim glow around.

Yet, from beneath the supposed sanctuary of the corpse-laden pit, faint sounds of movement could be discerned.

Slither, slither... Thud!

"I... am not... yet... dead!!"

Emerging from the depths of the burial pit, Sergeant Funasaka, presumed deceased, proclaimed his defiance.

Perhaps a testament to his resilience, all wounds on Sergeant Funasaka's body had inexplicably healed.

However, whether due to excessive blood loss or the toll of his injuries, his vision blurred, and his hearing dulled.

"Not yet!! I can still... kill you all!!"

Despite his sealed wounds, he struggled to move his body, crawling with determination and whispering in a feeble voice akin to a mosquito's hum.

"Here... I am!!"

After an hour-long crawl, Sergeant Funasaka, still bearing the scars of battle, arrived at a tent where gunpowder and supplies for cannons were stored.

"Watch... this!!"

Entering the tent, he gathered several bags of gunpowder before returning, crawling along the ground once more, scattering the gunpowder little by little, back to the pit of corpses.

"Huff... huff..."

As dawn approached, Sergeant Funasaka, having returned to the burial pit, ignited the gunpowder trails with a flint brought along.

The ignited gunpowder traced its path toward the stockpiled explosives within the tent.

Boom!

As the explosion reverberated through the surroundings, signaling the success of the detonation, a smirk crept onto Sergeant Funasaka's lips before consciousness slipped away.