The End of War and Mass Homecoming
Mongrel and his merry band of companions rested at the fortress, and those with energy to spare joined in the fortress maintenance work for several days.
Even loading consumables into the fortress is proper supply work, and there’s also maintaining the earthworks and horse barriers around the fortress.
Someone like me has energy to spare, and more importantly, I had to ingratiate myself with the fortress folks and curry favor, because it would be terrible if I couldn’t get my allies to protect me when the time came. So I was working pretty desperately.
More kindly than usual, working harder than usual.
Honestly, it’s troublesome. But if I think I might not get protected by my allies unless I do it, I have to do it. War really is shit.
I thought such labor would continue for much longer.
“Huh? Retreat?”
“Apparently there’s going to be a peace agreement. I don’t know the details either.”
The end of the war came much earlier than I had expected.
From someone at the bottom like me, I can’t see the negotiation table at all, so it was a sudden peace.
The one who told me was a retainer from the cavalry unit, who at least has a wider network than me. It’s probably reliable information.
…Was Sunglaire that cornered?
But seven years, you know? If you stockpile for seven years, wouldn’t that become a decent preparation? Is it normal to quit this early?
Or did they take the fact that invasion information had leaked beforehand seriously…?
“End of the war, huh.”
“Thank goodness… We can go home.”
“Did we win? Lose? Which?”
In any case, the fighting seems to be over. The information still isn’t clear, so I don’t really know if it’s true…
But thanks to the talk of peace negotiations spreading, the atmosphere at the fortress relaxed all at once.
The men were relieved they could return home, and the tense air that had continued also softened.
Without knowing that this would be a momentary peace…
Actually, nothing like that happened, and the next day the end of the war was officially announced.
A war that started smoothly ended smoothly.
Really, from the bottom ranks you can’t tell when a war begins or ends. It would be easier to understand if they rang gongs or bronze bells or something.
Well, I hope they never have to ring such things again. Let it be a peaceful world forever. Even if it’s just for as long as I’m alive.
“Apparently Harpelia stole treasures from the enemy and called it even!”
“I heard they executed some important guy from the other side and sheathed their swords.”
“Serves them right, those Sunglaire bastards.”
“I’ve got to tend to the fields when I get back. Good thing it ended early.”
“From what my old man told me, it was much worse before. This one was quick, so I guess it’s completely different from the previous one.”
Probably, Harpelia and Sunglaire decided on some kind of… armistice conditions. But those conditions don’t trickle down to us.
From rumors, I hear the conditions were considerably favorable to Harpelia, but that kind of pleasant-sounding talk is probably circulating on the Sunglaire side too.
I think there’s probably a lot of convenient rhetoric to placate the soldiers’ frustrations.
Still, the fact that it was settled this quickly probably means it ended in Harpelia’s favor…
“Damn it, the war’s over but our work isn’t!”
“I hate logistics. I’m gonna rise to Silver too…!”
Well, even though the war is over, our work remains.
The war isn’t over until we get home.
“Alright, let’s keep loading everything up, you guys! You’ve rested plenty, so work hard!”
“Ugh…”
“In the end, we’re tired until the very end…”
“War sucks…”
Yes, war sucks.
Well, that said, the side being attacked can’t really say that. If you get hit, you have to hit back or there’s nothing you can do.
…Sheesh.
I wonder how long this peace will last.
“Mongrel-senpai!”
Raina was alive. Actually, all the Artemis members including Raina were completely unharmed.
“Mongrel-senpai was safe too!?”
“Of course. I had a copper coin in my chest pocket. Here.”
“I don’t want it!”
“He really did put it there himself…”
On the way back to Legol, in the towns we passed through, there were more opportunities to meet acquaintances.
With the war over, everyone was in high spirits like it was a festival. I’m happy too.
“How was it, Raina? Did you use the fang whistle I gave you?”
“No, I never had a chance to use it. We spent our time leisurely on top of the fortress.”
“What? If you don’t get in a pinch, I can’t come rescue you in a cool way.”
“Mongrel-senpai, were you even in range to hear it if I blew it?”
“No.”
“That’s no good!”
“Well, in your case, you’d probably be fine with everyone from Artemis. Rather, I was the one who had it tough. Loading work is exhausting, I had to look after the rookies, and I got bothered by that traveling comedy duo and got tired.”
“What’s that about?”
“Logistics units have it hard. I still have work left in this town too.”
After this conversation ends, I still have cargo work to do. Good grief. I wonder when I’ll make it back to Legol.
“Mongrel-senpai, when we get back to Legol, let’s drink at the ‘Forest’s Bounty Inn’ again.”
“Yeah.”
I’ve finally gotten to the point where I can accept this kind of line normally without it being a death flag.
I’ve got the pay from being conscripted too… When I get back, I should be able to have a pretty good time. It looks like shopping will go well.
“Hey, this is the last loading work. Once we transport this to Basin, our job will be done too!”
“Finally the last one, huh.”
“Basin… We can return to our Basin…”
“That’s nice. Since it’s me and Mongrel-san going to Legol, our journey still won’t end.”
Near dusk, with only a little work remaining. We’re working on the last wagon.
“Hm? Hey Mongrel-san, what are we carrying here? Bags?”
“What? You don’t know? Ah, is this your first time seeing something like this?”
“The bags are tied with dog tags…”
“Hey, these are…”
What we’re about to load onto the wagon are bags light enough to carry in our arms. The contents range from large solid objects to sandy materials.
The leather bags are tightly sealed and bound together with dog tags.
“They’re the fallen of the Guildmen. Those of us conscripted from Harpelia, Silver rank and above… Heroes who died defending the country.”
The movements of the rookies who were about to carry them casually stop.
In front of them, about thirty bags were piled together.
In this world, dead humans often start moving as undead. So in principle, corpses are quickly cremated. Only the remaining bones and belongings return home.
I really thought this was an easy war.
But since we’re killing each other, naturally, someone dies.
This wagon carries the remains and belongings of such war dead.
“Don’t try to steal the Silver tags. Of course, don’t open the bags either. Handle them carefully so nothing spills, and load them up. Got it?”
“…Yeah.”
“I understand.”
“…Seriously? This many people died…?”
“Ah, uh… Jacob-san… Seriously? Jacob-san died…?”
“No way, he wouldn’t die, not to some Sunglaire bastards…”
Carrying the luggage to the back. Moving as quietly as possible without changing anything.
“Come on, work everyone. If you dawdle, the dead senpai will become ghosts and yell at us.”
“…Hehe, true. They probably would yell.”
“He gets scary when angry… that person…”
After that, we worked silently with few words, occasionally checking the names on the dog tags we were loading.
Funerals in Harpelia are apparently conducted relatively simply. Post-death ceremonies also aren’t performed with much money or solemnity. Most of the guildmen packed into this wagon would probably go to mass graves. They’d be poured together into a hole and made into one.
So well, it’s crude if you call it crude. For countries with tons of extra land who can make large cemeteries. In this country, human death gets treated about that casually.
“…Ah, Mongrel-san. Look at this.”
“Hm? What is it, Warren?”
“This dog tag… It’s Randy-san’s…”
…Ah, Randy.
From Earth’s Shield… He was a serious, caring man. But when he drank, he became troublesome and would only talk about cavalry tactics, waving his fork around and giving lectures with a know-it-all attitude. A troublesome guy.
Randy, so you died.
“Seriously… Randy-san…”
“Load him onto the wagon, Warren. Let’s take him back to Legol with us.”
“…Yeah, you’re right. Got it. I understand…”
Warren didn’t cry. I didn’t cry either.
He’s an acquaintance. We had quite a relationship and talked sometimes. It’s shocking, but there are also people who you don’t cry for even though you’re affected. That’s how it is.
But I’ll never see that guy again, never speak with him again.
Walking alongside the wagon, I found myself thinking such things, and my mood became heavy.
In other words, war is shit.
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