Chapter 233: Twenty-fifth Episode: Chapter 9-1 (2/2)
The Lieutenant answered each and every question patiently. Just as he was about to hop on his horse, Aunt Donna suddenly rushed out of the house. The officer was startled. He feared that the old woman would torture him with more questions that would make him want to jump into a river.
The widow was not shy to seize the officer's hand and pressed her palms on the palm of the military for a while. It seemed that this was the local customs for when they met the officials.
”I'm grateful for you. I apologize for my misbehavior earlier… My son has a good commander, thank you!”
Lieutenant opened his hand and found three warm, silver coins within. This should be two-months' worth of income for Ciel's family. The big man's eyes welled up and a tear rolled off his eye. He quickly wiped his face and jumped onto the horse, clasping the silver coin in his palm.
The four servicemen left quickly, but the pensive First Lieutenant turned around when he was near the exit of the village. He pointed at a swampy area nearby the village.
”Just right there – when His Highness Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette and his guards defeated the wolves, a memorial will be erected over there! In order to commemorate the heroes who sacrificed in the Silburt forerunner battle of Titan Second Defending War! You don't have to bury your son, as Staff Sergeant Ciel will be there.”
”Then... then what about you?” The widow hurried forward. She knew that this knight, who was about the same age as her little Ciel, was also a mother's son.
”Haha... I'll also be there!” The First Lieutenant kicked the horse's abdomen, and it galloped forward like a bolt of lightning.
The old woman was still chasing from behind, ”What is your name? What is your name...?”
”The History of Titan's Defending War” was an authorized history book, but no one could find the name of Staff Sergeant Ciel in the record, nor could they find a list of those killed in Silburt forerunner battle of Titan Second Defending War. Perhaps there was such a thing in the military archives, who cares? According to conventions, there was a need to add on some details not covered or not elaborated in the history books.
Church's year 801, the 23rd day of the 7th month. At half past eleven in the morning, the Imperial Guards Southern Army Group Fifth Region Frontier Defense Second Group set up kitchen range near that small river outside of Silburt Village. The young calves had already been slaughtered. Pieces of tender beef were placed on a board, drenched in blood, and next to it was a large pot boiling with mushrooms.
The soldiers of the Second Group gathered around the pot of softened beef slices and began eating while chatting happily. The soldiers seemed to have no idea of the significance of the forerunner battle. The empire was sending them to die. Some people thought that this idea was no different from crazy paranoia. Take the dozen or so deserters in the Second Group, for example, they must have thought that their actions were reasonable. However, most soldiers were lunatics. They ridiculed the escaping comrades in the same way one would ridicule prostitutes, and they even suggested the Regimental Commander to report those names to their superiors. If the tax officials were interested, they could deduct the taxes on deserters as though they were selling them off in the trade of prostitution. That would guarantee those guys to behave and stay in the army!
The Regimental Commander of Frontier Defense Second Group was a short Northerner of a civilian descendant. He, who had a strong Haussen accent, spoke only about the north; the northern barley was bigger than the south, the northern beef was chewier than the south, the northern potatoes were more delicious than the south, even the northern women were prettier than the south! The soldiers asked, ”Commander! Why did you come down south for these low qualities then?”
The Regimental Commander murmured in disgust, ”Because you little rascals needed to be looked after.”
In fact, the soldiers of the Second Group did not dislike their northern commander who hated everything about the south. They knew that they had a good officer on board. The concept they had for a good military officer was extremely simple; when confronted with the forerunner battle, there was no rejection, no flinches, no frustration, but agreed to the order without hesitation. This good military officer encouraged his soldiers, ”Your southern hometown is just behind your back, while mine is miles away...”
”Commander! Why are we fighting the forerunner battle?”
The Regimental Commander was rather enraged. How could they still be skeptical about the battle that was about to break out right under their nose?
He walked to the front of this soldier, grabbed a handful of dirt, and stuffed it into the guy's mouth.
”How does it taste like?”
The soldier coughed and vomited nonstop. His regimental commander then told him, ”This is the taste of mother earth! Go home and ask how your mother was pregnant with you. Then you will know why we must fight this battle.”
In fact, it was a question to which not one elderly at home would know the answer, as it happened too long ago. In the internal organization of the Imperial Army, there existed two views regarding the forerunner battles. One advocated abandoning this tradition to reduce meaningless sacrifices. The other then argued that they displayed the determination and courage of the Titans in protecting the home country. They kept the enemies out of the country and they delivered a declaration of resistance by sacrifices. How then, would the sacrifices of the forerunners be meaningless?
Would anyone choose to fight a forerunner battle with the enemies who were about to intrude their house?
Obviously, people who chose to inherit this tradition would always be the majority. People were absorbed in ostentatious of the world and nostalgia for all the good things. However, when the enemy's footsteps merged into one, and their horns of invasion rang in the ear, there were always a group of people who would step forward. They would abandon their right to life and fight with the spirit of sacrifice until the last moment, all for their motherland.
”But, what does this have to do with my mother?” the soldier who spat out a mouthful of dust argued softly.
”Of course it is related!” the Regimental Commander of Second Group smiled slyly, ”I heard that those guys across the street adore mature Titan women. If I told them you are a son to that woman, I believe they will willingly work together to be your second father.”
The poor soldier turned his head away, disgusted at the comment. He pulled tighter his armor and the weapons in hands. It seemed that he was planning to kill several more enemies who wanted to be his father.
It was already slightly late in the afternoon. The soldiers of the Second Group picked their teeth after a few satisfying burps and sunbathed lazily in the valley behind the river. The sun was unusually warm and bright. The sunshine warmed up both the armors and the heart of the soldiers.
A few people suddenly appeared from the woodland at the opposite of the river. Several highly-skilled archers on the team immediately lifted their longbow. Fortunately! Everyone came to realize that it was the First Lieutenant officer who sent Staff Sergeant Ciel back home. The Lieutenant ran past the river with a few of his scouts. The splashes under their feet sparkled with bright colors under the reflection of sunshine. It made a good sight to look at from afar.
”Almost there! Almost there!” The First Lieutenant shouted as he hurried to his commander.
”Commander! We nearly bumped into the Farans!” First Lieutenant glanced to the opposite side of the river bank while he spoke.
”How many are they?”
The First Lieutenant scratched his head, ”The enemies filled the mountains and plains. I couldn't see properly!”
The Regimental Commander nodded in silence, he knew that asking for details would only cause more trouble. He hadn't heard of anyone winning in forerunner battle with a lesser number. This was just a show arranged by the Titan, in order to demonstrate the spirit of anti-aggression by deploying the minimum forces in exchange for the enthusiasm of the entire army, the entire country, and the entire nation.
”Have the villagers been taken care of?”
”Yes, Regimental Commander!” The First Lieutenant nodded, but then he shook his head helplessly after thinking about it. ”It was my fault, I shouldn't have told Staff Sergeant Ciel's mother about the monument. The old woman did not want to leave after hearing that. She said... if everyone is gone, there will be no one to look after his son's tombstone.”