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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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Northern Bialystok territory. Once a thriving village, ‘Modor’ had become deserted after the mine closed.
The village, devoid of human activity, soon became a haven for wanderers with nowhere to go, and a new hotbed of crime, teeming with criminals from both the Soviet Union and Ukraine who had crossed the Carpathian Mountains for various reasons.
Thanks to its proximity to the Carpathian Mountains, which were rich in resources, the bandits grew into a powerful organization in Bialystok territory. They were no longer content with robbing passersby or occasional raids; they were now aiming to incorporate nearby villages into their territory.
The Bialystok administrator and lord had sent punitive forces several times, but due to the village’s origins as a mining town and its geographical characteristics, they often failed to even enter and had to retreat.
While the local authorities continued their futile efforts, the suffering of the villages near Modor increased.
“Did you have some fun today?”
“Actually, it’s getting less fun. That bitch doesn’t even resist anymore.”
It was now commonplace for virgins from nearby villages who failed to deliver crops or other tributes to be captured and brought here.
Falco, still just a low-ranking member, wasn’t in a position to participate in such acts yet, but he thought he would be able to enjoy it quite a bit if he waited a little longer.
“I think it’s time we expand our influence towards the plains, not just the mountainous areas.”
“Actually, the boss was talking about that. The Bialystok guards are a disorganized mob anyway. He seems to be thinking of raiding and occupying a fortress.”
“That wouldn’t be bad.”
Slaughter. The thrill of pulling the trigger on innocent people was never-ending. The sight of them fleeing in terror, like baby rabbits, after he fired a shot was just… satisfying.
“Hey, look over there. Doesn’t it look like the stars are missing in that area?”
Falco’s colleague pointed at the night sky. It was certainly shimmering as if something was blocking it, but since the moonlight was unusually weak today, it could have been just an optical illusion.
“Ah, forget about that. I also want to grab a bitch and drain my balls. Don’t you agree, Kadyrov?”
Falco, spewing vulgar words as usual. But there was no reply. Was he still looking at the sky, saying something about how strange it looked?
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
The moment Falco clicked his tongue and turned his head…
“Ugh…!?”
A dagger plunged into the back of his neck. Before he could even scream, blood gushed out, and Falco collapsed. Before he completely lost consciousness, what he saw were devils cloaked in black.
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Blink, blink, blink.
Three blinking lights. I, who was watching the situation from the bridge with the Lieutenant Colonel and Chief of Staff, nodded towards them and said,
“It’s the signal that they’ve secured the watchtower.”
“Good. Let’s deploy the remaining troops. If it’s bandits, not civilians, don’t bother trying to capture them alive. Just shoot them all dead. They’re the human scum who attacked the nearby villages and committed all sorts of crimes.”
Sonya Zeppelin nonchalantly uttered chilling words. Was it called Modor village? I heard that bandits, who were a major headache for the Bialystok territory, occupied it. As Sonya said, there was no need to show them any mercy.
A bandit extermination as the final training exercise and the first real battle. It was a textbook HOI unit training process. I saluted Sonya Zeppelin and approached the company members who were lined up in two rows, waiting for the jump.
“The 3rd Company neutralized all the sentries. Our 1st Company will parachute down and wipe out all the bandits! There are reports that innocent civilians might be mixed in, so engage with caution!”
“Yes, sir.”
“Company, jump!!”
“Jump jump jump!!”
At my command, the company members jumped out of the airship one after another. Finally, Roxanna, who was in charge of equipment supply, and I, along with a large wooden crate, threw ourselves into the sky.
Wheeeee—!!
“Air Control Vertical!! Featherfoot!”
The sharp wind instantly came under Roxanna’s control. Emitting green mana, the two of us slowly descended to the edge of the village.
It was a weight of several hundred kilograms. No one was better suited for this role than Roxanna, who had exceptional aptitude for wind magic. The person herself, however, seemed more interested in piloting the airship than carrying supplies.
As I unlocked the supply crate, military supplies poured out. A small backpack containing minimal survival and food supplies, along with countless rounds of ammunition. The company members distributed the supplies swiftly and communicated using only hand signals, as we had practiced.
‘The fruits of our training.’
I couldn’t hide my sense of pride. Even though they were unit members I had only met a month ago, they were already at the level of an elite unit with decades of tradition. Judging by their spirit and pride alone, they would be even better than the famous National Guard troops.
‘1st and 3rd Platoons to the left. 2nd and 4th Platoons to the right. Infiltrate by flanking.’
As I signaled the order, the platoon leaders of each squad dispersed. Even Belle Meyer, who had been particularly afraid of the jump, was now properly participating in the operation as a platoon leader.
“Let’s wipe them out completely.”
“Yes, let’s.”
I nodded at Roxanna, who was organizing the supplies.
Bang!!
Bang!! Bang!!!
The once quiet village was instantly filled with the sound of gunfire.
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The equipment supplied to the 8th Assault Magic Infantry Battalion members were state-of-the-art standard equipment produced by the United Kingdom of Bretton. The Anfield M1 breech-loading light rifle and the Webley revolver.
The most advanced equipment among the Ukrainian army’s weapon systems, which used a mix of Western and Eastern weapons. Therefore, the bandits, who at best were equipped with third-rate Ukrainian army equipment, were helplessly overwhelmed.
“D-Damn it!! What the hell are these guys, shooting so many bullets!?”
“They’re not those pathetic guards! Look at their equipment!!”
It was natural for them to be overwhelmed by the sight of soldiers, clad in specially made parachute infiltration suits for night infiltration and wearing shiny helmets, mercilessly showering them with bullets.
“Devils! Devils are here!!”
“Cough…! Help me…!!”
Bang!!
As Private Rick Hanson of the 1st Platoon, 1st Company, pulled the trigger, the bandit who was fleeing in panic collapsed forward.
Thump-thump.
Rick felt as if his heart was about to explode. Real combat. He had volunteered because he wanted to join the brigade newly established by the famous Archmage Sonya Zeppelin, but he hadn’t imagined that he would be dropped into a real battlefield in less than a month.
His muscles tensed, and his mind went blank every time a gunshot rang out, but strangely, his body didn’t stop. Like a machine that kept running once activated.
Rick Hanson stepped over the fallen bandit’s body and advanced forward. He was afraid, but not afraid at the same time. He was trembling, but not trembling at the same time.
“Uwaaaaaah!!!!”
Gripped by a strange sensation he had never felt before in his military life, he ran forward, letting out an excited yell.
Crash!
He kicked open the wooden door of the house in front of him, and inside was a bandit frantically stuffing bullets and gunpowder into the muzzle of his gun. The clear sense of fear. Rick Hanson immediately pulled the trigger.
However.
Click, click-click.
“…?!”
He had forgotten to load his gun in his excitement. It felt as if time had stopped. Meanwhile, the bandit finished loading and aimed at Rick.
“D-Die, you fucking bastard!!”
Along with a scream, a chill of death ran down Rick’s spine. He belatedly turned to escape the house, but…
Bang!!!
A shock like a hammer blow to the back of his head hit him. His legs gave way, and he tumbled to the floor.
Did I get shot? Where did I get hit?
“You son of a bitch!!”
Before he could even think, the bandit pulled an axe from his waist and charged. At that moment, the scene unfolded like slow motion.
Bang
a gunshot rang out beside his ear. A red stain blossomed on the bandit’s chest, and a voice like a beast’s roar pierced his eardrums.
“Always check if your gun is loaded!! If you don’t want to die!!!”
He reflexively turned his head, and there was blond hair, clearly visible even in the dark night sky.
Captain Enoch Levandal.
Faint smoke rose from the pistol in his hand. He had fired in that instant.
“Platoon Leader Belle!! We have a wounded here!! Gunshot wound!”
“C-Coming right away!!!”
“Lumia, cover me! Relaying to all platoon leaders! Break through to the village hall!”
Even in his dazed state, the Captain’s voice was clear. Had he ever seen a commander leading troops directly on the field? Rick Hanson searched his memory. No. There weren’t any. Such commanders didn’t exist in the Ukrainian army.
When we started parachute training and he pushed us to our limits, I wanted to punch him, but after being deployed on the battlefield, there was no one more reliable or dependable.
“…Damn, he’s so cool…”
Rick Hanson chuckled.
“Rick, Rick Hanson! My god, you’ve been shot in the ass!? Sergeant Aiden!!”
“Yes, Platoon Leader!”
“Quickly move him to the rear!! He needs surgery to remove the bullet!!”
Feeling a burning sensation slowly rising from his buttocks, Rick Hanson looked up at the sky. The sky, which had been pitch black when they were deployed, was gradually turning navy blue. Along with the subsiding gunfire, dawn was finally breaking.
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