Oh, My Love, the Lisa Fox Operation (1)

One day earlier.

Company Commander Leonel Jorge's office.

"Is that your plan?"

"Yes."

"It's sloppier than I expected."

Then why don't you try making one, Company Commander.

"It can't help but be sloppy since a frontal attack won't work."

"Anyway. You're saying this is the only plan that will allow you and your squad to survive and still faithfully fulfill the role of the 1st squad?"

"Yes, for now."

"You're implying you might find another way later?"

"It's not impossible."

"Alright, let's do as you say. But this operation doesn't seem sustainable over the long term."

A plan that can be used long-term?

There could never be such a thing for the cannon fodder squad.

And even if there was, I'd have no reason to make that kind of plan.

I'm not going to be in the cannon fodder squad for my whole life, so why bother?

"If you're done with the interview, I'll be going."

"Go ahead."

As I opened the door to leave.

"Evan."

Company Commander Leonel Jorge called me.

"Yes, sir."

"If any squad members of the 1st squad survive the battle tomorrow, I'll pull them out of the 1st squad."

At a time like this, you're supposed to say something like this.

"Thank you."

* * *

The crescent moon dimly illuminated Chiron Gorge.

To the north of Chiron Gorge.

The 4th legion, 3rd battalion of the Sathus Kingdom had finished preparations to camp.

20 km south, the main force of Romina Kingdom had arrived.

20 km.

It's a distance that can be covered in under 30 minutes on horseback.

"First senior, be careful not to mess up your hair."

Lisa Fox, who was about to flop down carelessly in the barracks, glared at me.

"You said this was a matter of life and death, so I did it. But to make a person look like this? Just see if this turns out to be unnecessary. If it is, you'll get it after the battle tomorrow."

"Do you know how sharp knights' senses are? If anything about our setup doesn't make sense, they'll notice something's wrong."

"Damn."

Knight.

Usually, it refers to a higher-rank swordsman who can wield aura.

But not every knight can wield aura.

And not everyone who can wield aura becomes a knight.

If you're part of a high-ranking noble family or have some special talent even if you can't wield aura, you can become a knight.

Most knights, though, can wield aura and have no serious issues with their social status.

To wield aura.

That means using your internal power to channel a special energy into your sword.

There are far more types of aura than you can imagine.

Even the academies that specialize in teaching swordsmanship don't know them all.

Ah, of course, I never intended to go to a place like an academy.

Whether it's a minimum three years or up to seven after enrolling.

That kind of slow, step-by-step education doesn't suit me.

Honestly, there's nothing more for me to learn anyway.

Anyway, back to the topic of knights.

Knights who wield aura have not just excellent combat abilities but also such heightened senses that ordinary people can't even imagine it.

That means you can't overlook even the smallest details if you want to fool their eyes.

I handed Lisa Fox the perfume I'd brought.

"Apply this lightly to your neck before the battle begins at dawn tomorrow. Not too much, just a little."

First Senior Lisa Fox gently laid down, carefully smoothing the back of her head so as not to mess up her hair.

"Damn it, really. How is this supposed to be a way to survive?"

* * *

Before departure.

I'd requested in advance from Company Commander Leonel Jorge, so First Senior Lisa Fox could use the bath alone.

She grumbled but came out freshly washed.

Just scrubbing her body and face had upgraded her looks several times over.

While I was out buying Dirk's armor, I had bought some cosmetics for Lisa Fox as well.

Luckily, she knew how to apply makeup—no idea where she learned it, but at least I didn't have to do it for her.

Not too heavy, but attractive.

First Senior Lisa Fox carried out my instructions faithfully.

She looked like the prettiest girl in the village who'd just started learning how to put on makeup.

She said she'd never styled her hair before, so I personally heated an iron club to make her hair wavy.

Why do I even know how to do these things? Because even when I was a sword, not all my comrades were men.

"It's better than dying, isn't it, First Senior."

Of course, she was hard to persuade at first.

A real war had started, and yet I was telling her to put on makeup and style her hair before going to the battlefield.

Lisa Fox protested fiercely, but finally accepted my proposal—grudgingly—when I told her it was the only way for 1st squad to survive.

"You don't intend to make me wear some kind of dress, do you? If you do, I'll just commit suicide. Let the rest of the squad die as they will."

"No, of course not. A soldier in a dress?"

"But it's okay for a soldier to have wavy hair and wear makeup?"

Of course.

I've actually seen it a lot.

I still can't forget the sight of Knight Arina Kartlie with her wavy blonde hair and Goddess-like radiant face.

She showed off amazing martial prowess.

"Your current clothes are enough, First Senior. Those leather pants are tight and really draw attention. Your body's in pretty good shape, too."

"You little—!"

* * *

The sun peeked over the left cliff wall.

The Sathus Kingdom 4th legion, 3rd battalion regulars had already packed up camp and finished preparations to march.

At last.

Today, we're to fight the main forces of Romina Kingdom.

The 4th legion, 3rd battalion I belong to numbers about four thousand.

According to the scouts, the enemy force is just under three thousand.

And we're the defenders while they have to push up toward us.

Barring any unexpected developments, this battle should favor us.

But the problem is, that's only true if you look at the big picture.

Just because we have the strategic advantage doesn't mean there won't be casualties.

And in war, those casualties could be you.

Just because it's a favorable fight doesn't mean the men on the front are any less tense.

"We're all going to die..."

"I told you to shut up, Bier."

After touching up her face from early morning, Lisa Fox's complexion was even brighter as she grabbed Bier Nolan by his collar, frowning.

Since yesterday, third Senior Simon has been sneaking glances at First Senior Lisa Fox more and more often.

Idiot.

It's not for fools like you that I had her make herself up.

Marching south began again.

Today's march will probably be short.

We'll be running into the Romina Kingdom's troops soon.

Step, step.

The heavy footsteps of the soldiers continued.

The sun hadn't fully risen yet.

But off in the distance, the enemy force was beginning to be seen.

Bwoooo.

A trumpet sounded, meaning halt the march.

The 4th legion, 3rd battalion formed a line stretched wide across the Chiron Gorge.

As usual, spearmen and shieldmen at the very front.

Behind them, the infantry formed up in a rectangular block, ten files deep.

Paths between the infantry companies remained open so the cavalry and knights on horseback could move freely.

And then.

The First Squads of each infantry company started to hesitantly step forward to the front of the formation.

My own 4th Company was assigned to the far right edge of the gorge.

The 4th Company has six infantry squads.

Each squad has a 1st squad, so in total six First Squads advanced to the front.

Deputy Squad Leader Leonard Schuler put his hand to his chest and took a deep breath.

"This is more nerve-wracking than I expected."

"We're all going to die..."

"I said shut up."

"Damn. I can't believe an actual war is breaking out."

The last speaker was Squad Leader Cliff Shannon.

Despite the squad leader's insignia on his shoulder, his plump legs were shaking badly.

The further we got from the main formation, the worse the trembling.

The agreed-on distance from the main body was 100 meters.

Each 1st squad moved forward to a position 100 meters ahead of the formation, setting up their "defensive" lines.

Call it defensive, but all it meant was ten people huddled together, holding their shields up.

"Squad leader."

"..."

"Squad leader."

"Huh? Oh, Evan."

"Gimme the order for formation one."

"Huh? Formation one?"

We'd practiced five formations in preparation for squad tournament.

We used formation four for the contest against 2nd Squad.

And the one we practiced the most—formation one—actually wasn't for competition.

It was designed and rehearsed for today.

Squad Leader Cliff Shannon's glazed eyes wandered.

"Never mind. Forget chain of command. I'll just lead directly. No need to add more layers when it's anyone's guess whose head will fly next."

"Huh? Oh."

Squad Leader Cliff Shannon, half out of his mind.

"Deputy, seniors, Bastian."

"Yeah!"

The only one to reply was Bastian.

At least Deputy Leonard Schuler and First Senior Lisa Fox turned their heads to look at me.

Second Senior Bier Nolan stared down at the ground muttering about death.
Third Senior Simon was, like the squad leader, half out of his mind.

"From now on, I'm commanding 10th Platoon's 1st squad. If you want to live, do as I say."

"You, Evan?"

"Yes."

While Deputy Leonard Schuler hesitated—

"Damn. If you've done this much, you must be planning something. Okay, let's see your idea, Evan Dagon."

First Senior Lisa Fox decided to follow my lead.

"Deputy?"

"Huh?"

The battle will begin soon.

There's no time here to stay polite, adding 'Sir' to every rank for smooth social life.

This is a field where life and death flip in a second.

"Don't you want to live?"

"What?"

"I asked, don't you want to live? If you do, follow my orders."

Deputy, surprised by my suddenly changed tone, was nudged by First Senior.

"Hurry up and answer. We're already this far, what else can we do? Evan seems to have a plan. We've seen him fight."

After a moment of consideration, deputy Leonard Schuler nodded.

"Have you had a survival plan for us since your first day in 1st squad, Evan?"

"Since the day I arrived."

"Alright. Let's do this. What should we do? Ah, formation one?"

"Yes."

Lisa Fox stood center at the front.

On either side: Leonard Schuler and Bier Nolan.

Cliff Shannon and Simon on the far right.

Bastian and I on the far left.

A sharp V-shaped formation.

The knights must be made to jump over us.

Other charging cavalry must be split left and right, skimming past our squad.

For infantry, a collision with charging cavalry means certain death.

"Evan."

"Yes?"

"You're not putting me front and center, all washed and dolled up, so I'm the first to die, right? Just so I look good on my way to the underworld."

"Of course not."

"So my role is, when Dirk charges out, I turn and shout 'Dirk!'

That's it, right?"

"Yes. And the next part too."

"You mean, throw a dagger at the cavalry charging Dirk?"

"Yes."

"You think the knights will jump our heads and pass by?"

"Yes."

"But you said any cavalry charging at Dirk will definitely be knights. Can my dagger do anything to a knight on horseback?"

Lisa Fox.

She really underestimates her own skills.

She must have once lost badly in a real fight against a man who knew what he was doing.

"It will. Against a knight standing on the ground, maybe not. But against one leaping overhead on horseback, even more so."