Youjo Senki - Volume 12 - Chapter 3.7

THE SAME DAY, THE IMPERIAL ARMY VANGUARD

Things are simple on the battlefield. The rule is, when things get complicated, surviving always takes the highest priority.

Even a Nobel Prize–winning brain is just like any other brain in physical terms. The brightest mind will explode just like the dullest if hit with a bullet, and every second you spend thinking is just another chance you’ll end up shot. Even the minds that created nuclear weapons would splatter when met with a single bullet, and there’s no wisdom to be shared by a brilliant mind if it’s mush in a corpse. This is yet another reason why Tanya is such a large proponent of peace.

“People can do such amazing things if they aren’t busy fighting a war.”

I make this comment from atop an advancing Imperial vehicle before reaching for a phone. Incidentally, this phone connects to the inside of the tank that I’m sitting on top of. A phone is necessary for the passengers enduring the bumpy ride on the top of the tank to communicate with its drivers, who are deafened by the delightful sound of a revving engine. It should also be mentioned that these aren’t standard. A bit of ingenuity to make things easier on the field, and though making such modifications is technically a violation of the rules…there just so happens to be a few open spaces in the tank’s armor large enough for a telephone cord to pass through. With enough ingenuity, anything is possible.

Anywho, I’m using the phone to talk with the leader of the panzer unit, Captain Ahrens.

“Any signs of enemy’s reinforcements?!”

My shout is almost as loud as the battlefield, which is so muffled by the tank’s roaring engine that Captain Ahrens must yell over it to be heard.

“According to reports, none have been sighted! The enemy may not be falling for our diversion!”

“It seems that way!”

The air nearby warps as I respond. A mortar round must’ve landed a bit too close for comfort. The enemy soldiers are doing a decent job putting up resistance. The artillery that falls upon them seems incessant.

Examining my shell, I find it hard to tell what kind of shrapnel is lodged in there. Was it a cannon round, a missile, or anti-aircraft artillery?

Tanya gives her defensive shell a nudge with her finger before showing a wry smile. Surely the foot soldiers on the ground with neither a protective film nor a defensive shell to shield themselves with must be at their limits. Unlike them, Tanya and her battalion, however, had the privilege of being a part of the tank desant…!

While I have no qualms about using human shields, it’s definitely strange for me to shield a tank with my own body. I wonder who came up with such a ludicrous idea before that chain of thought comes full circle and I realize it was me. Should I question my own sanity or blame the absurdity of war?

“The world is a tough place for a pacifist.”

Setting aside who’s at fault here, the enemy’s impressive volume of fire and lack of a reaction to our diversion would normally be the signal for us to hightail it out of here to save fuel and ammo.

The enemy reacts with nothing but artillery fire, or at least that’s what it seems like. It’s almost strange how little movement there is in the base itself.

Though I question whether my intuition may be misguided, there’s also a rush of anticipation.

“Captain Ahrens! We must bear in mind the fear they must be feeling. What if they aren’t ignoring our diversion?! What if they are simply ignoring our assault as a whole?!”

“I’m sorry, but what did you just say?!”

“I’m asking what you make of this if they are ignoring our assault.”

“That can’t be right, can it?!”

I want to agree with him. If the enemy is keeping themselves cooped up in their base… If they are trying to fend us off with artillery and not even venture out…

The Kampfgruppe needs to capitalize on this chance and fast. The proper response would be to fly in, blow them to bits, and scatter the survivors. To do so would be a large gamble, though.

A frontal assault on an enemy base bears significant costs. If they have a thoroughly thought-out counteroffensive prepared, the Empire could easily be fended off.

I want to believe in my instincts. After factoring in my personal desires, it’s no longer a very objective decision…but…

Whether it be a regiment or a division in there, whatever’s in that base isn’t showing any signs of life. The utter neglect to take initiative in their counterattack shows that they’re cooped-up badgers in there—or fish in a barrel. Blowing a single hole in their base may well be all it takes for it to fall apart. Maybe even worse than falling apart. The Empire could absolutely dominate the base.

I close my eyes for a moment and mentally weigh the potential returns against the heavy risk. The possibility of dominating this base, and the dangers of attacking a well-defended base.

The idea of going out on a limb and risking it all is agonizing, but my hunch is supported by experience—the blood and sweat I’ve paid in tuition tell me that this is a chance worth taking.

We need to take our shot, and it needs to be a big shot.

It’s time for a recon in force. That’s what mages do best.

“Mage battalion! Prepare to charge! I say again, mage battalion, prepare to charge!”

Clear orders to start up the instrument of violence. My battle-ready battalion of mages grip their rifles and rev up their orbs, as they each shoot Tanya a questioning look, the answer to which she’ll give in her next address to them.

“We’re engaging in recon in force. Our target, the enemy base! I say again! Our target is the enemy base!”

The 203rd is a bloody mage battalion—drenched in the blood of their enemies—and its commander, who embodies this the most with her Rusted Silver moniker, grew up fighting in the trenches on the Rhine front. In an age where veteran soldiers are rarer than diamonds, this mage battalion, which honed its fangs in the north, south, east, and west, is a precious strategic asset for the Empire—and Tanya is going to bet this precious asset on one single attack.

“They think they can hide in their base?! Well, we’ll just have to pop their war cherries for them! Aerial Magic Battalion! We are proud comrades! Our battalion of Named mages shall devour the world! The time has come for us to show the world what we are capable of!”

Yes, mages excel at anti-tank warfare. The tough exterior of a tank means little against a top attack.2

Even against anti-air attacks, they could manage, though not without more difficulty. Mages are capable of taking an entirely different trajectory than conventional aircraft, with their ability to almost instantaneously change directions and lift off or land at the drop of a hat, giving them a much better defense against incoming AA fire.

Support fire is another strong point for mages. Needless to say, explosion and optical formulas lead the pack in quick and effective aerial fire support. We’re essentially flying artillery. When used in tandem with actual artillery, they become artillery observers that can also fill in the blanks.

That being said, the Imperial Army’s aerial mages are, in essence, hunting dogs. Their ultimate raison d’être is to chomp down on their enemies. Concealing a sense of repugnance and resignation for what I’ve become, I rally the troops.

“My Imperial hunting dogs! Follow me! I’ll lead the charge!”

I bark more orders before taking flight, and her troops need nothing more than a commander willing to commit and lead them. They follow Tanya, with her adjutant covering her rear as always.

With Lieutenant Serebryakov at my side, most challenges can be overcome. My other subordinates? There’s no need to worry whether they will follow, either. There isn’t a chance in hell my officers won’t perform their duties. This is where aerial mages excel the most! Chipping away at the stalwart fortification that blocked their path, perhaps even flying in and dominating it alone.

I shouldn’t have to explain all this. This much has been driven home to the leaders of each company, and three of the four that were conducting a tank desant came together as soon as the orders to charge went up. In their current wedge formation, they keep close to the ground as they hurtle toward the base. Suppressing fire from enemy rifles and machine guns does little against our defensive shells, and it’s a simple matter to add a little evasive maneuver to make it harder for the enemy to hit us in the first place. Think of it as an Imperial Mage Panzerkeil.3

As I lead the charge, I take out the Elinium Type 95 usually kept tucked away. In exchange for sullying my free will, this device provides the thickest of defensive shells.

“Lord and savior, guide my way. I walk with you, in pursuit of hardship. I will climb a mountain of thorns and praise your glory from its bristly peak.”

Littering the Ildoan soil with verbal rubbish, I manifest optical decoys one after another. That, combined with the speed of a fighter plane, should be enough for a successful assault.

The shellshocked enemy doesn’t even have time to keep up with the sudden action, and as glittering spells fill the sky with explosions, they will soon be reunited with the shit they soiled their pants with.

“Dominate them! Dominate everything! My battalion! Dominate!”

Explosion formulas pepper the base, with a single penetration formula blasting through its wall, turning the part of the base the mages come into contact with into a hell on earth. The outer wall of said corner easily caves to the attack.

Intent on causing fear for whoever is in the base, be it some mythical hero or whoever, the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion, a battalion that specializes in raiding, penetrates their walls.

The good soldiers of the Ildoan Army take out their handguns with quivering hands as the horde of Named mages come piling toward them with shells that would require at least a cannon to penetrate.

Those who actually get a shot off are real modern heroes. Those who try to aim first, wise sages. But neither of their fine efforts amounts to anything in the face of the rich experience that has gone into honing the pinnacle of the Empire’s art of war in its aerial mages.

Now, with this fearsome threat before them, just how intense is the utter shock they must feel watching their brave brethren be crushed? How intense is it, to watch the base they believed to be impenetrable be demolished?

The result is simple. The second line of defense watches as its first line falls in a single fell swoop.

“So this is what happens when you throw a scant thirty mages at the problem.”

Tanya sighs to herself and turns to find her adjutant smiling awkwardly.

“I mean…it is us we’re talking about here. I think it would be different against any other group of mages.”

“Veterans we may be, for them to crumble like this says a lot about their forces.”

Ignoring Lieutenant Serebryakov, who looks like she has more to add, Tanya takes a radio that she seems to have acquired from the base and listens in.

“Chaos, confusion, and no composure. Mm-hmm, sounds like the momentum of a losing army. Ah, it’s so easy on the ears.”

Tanya grins widely.

A firm defense is only effective if the defending side seeks taking initiative in defending itself. Even the dogmatic and rigid Federation showed a hunger for taking the initiative from the onset of the war.

“The enemy is mistaking a defensive war for defending its line. It seems they’ve forgotten what it means to defend.”

With this attack, on top of the fact that enemy forces have yet to try and recapture or destroy taken land in retaliation, This gives me a general sense for the enemy’s will to fight.

Defensive wars are retaliations, attempts to cause stagnation, and the exchange of space for time, and no bars should be held to do so. But look at these fools.

“I think I may like the Ildoans, Visha.”

“Then I guess I, and the rest of the battalion, will like them, too.”

“I bet you’re right! Judging by Captain Ahrens’s response earlier, it seems we do, in fact, share our own common sense.”

A shared common sense is a beautiful thing. Two coworkers getting along is worth celebrating. Everything is going well.

Well, it’s about time to call the troops.

“Captain Ahrens, can you hear me?”

“How was the assault reconnaissance?”

“We ripped apart their defensive line. Sorry, there’s nothing left for you.”

“Oh, lord…”

The loud tank engine that can be heard over the radio isn’t enough to drown out the captain’s surprise. His reaction is limited to that outburst, though, as Captain Ahrens has worked with this battalion long enough to know not to verbally question news like this.

“Then…I assume now is our chance to pursue the enemy?”

Instead, he responds with a question about the situation. He’s a good officer, who knows when to pitch ideas. I appreciate his enthusiasm to create more value in our operation and admires him for the fine human resource he is. Setting aside his delightful response, though, I must correct the slight misunderstanding he’s making.

“Not exactly, Captain. We can’t expect to pursue them.”

“Is the royal army on their way?”

“No, not quite!”

Tanya ends up grimacing at her own giddy enthusiasm while she relays the unexpected sight that is unfolding before her to Captain Ahrens so he can enjoy the news as well.

“It seems enemy command doesn’t intend on letting go of this position. They’re hunkering down at a different part of their base. It appears we won’t need to pursue them after all. Not if they’re just going to stay here for us.”

“What? They’re not going to retreat and reorganize?”

“Common sense dictates they should, but evidently, we don’t share the same common sense as the Ildoans. They’re digging their heels into this base to fight.”

This time, the captain cannot hold back his doubt.

“That can’t be true, Colonel.”

“Why is that, Captain?”

“They have a city right behind them! Even a civilian can hold out and stall a battle until reinforcements arrive by escaping into an urban area. But you’re telling me they’re going to stay out in the open to get surrounded?”

The enemy shows no signs of heading for their city at all. For a soldier with ample experience, yes, it makes sense that not doing so is out of the question. It’s clear from his voice that Captain Ahrens is in utter disbelief at how the enemy is handling themselves.

Which is why I’ve taken it upon myself as a civilized person to teach him the glaring truth.

“Calm yourself, Captain. Escaping to a city is out of the question for most armies around the world.”

“What? No, I’m not saying I would ever actually want to fight the Ildoans in their own city or anything, but…”

No, no. I signal with my hand even though I’m on the radio. He’s not understanding me.

The captain’s opinion is correct for someone who’s been fighting in this great war, but he’s forgotten a truly basic part of being a civilized person.

“These people do not understand total war.”

“What do you mean by that, Colonel…?”

“The Ildoans still have their sanity. Their too afraid to bring tanks, cannons, or Gatling guns to use against mages into the places where civilians live.”

What is common sense for the great war is utterly out of the question for the rest of the normal world. It reminds me of Colonel Calandro when he came to see the Imperial forces as a military observer. He was trembling. Trembling at the current state of the war in the east.

Tanya and the rest of the Empire have long accepted what it means to fight in this war, but for the rest of the world, it must look like the deepest part of hell. It’s almost possible for her, as an objective observer of this reality, to feel a personal benefit from their relative difference in values.

“The enemy is too civilized.”

And that’s exactly why…

Tanya chuckles scornfully.

“We have to give our civilized friends a much-needed dosage of the violence machine.”

Now that Tanya has peered into the minds of her enemies, there is no longer a need for her to hold back.

“Salamander leader to the 8th Panzer Division. Break through the enemy line at a point of your choice and surround them.”