Chapter 28
"This operation is a regimental all-out battle."
She continued explaining in an emotionless voice. The details of the operation itself were nothing special. The main plan was for the 2nd and 3rd Battalions to stage a feint while the 1st Battalion handled the main attack.
"That concludes the briefing. Do your best at your respective positions."
When Major Helga finished explaining the operation, the regimental commander brought the meeting to a close in a low voice. The officers saluted in unison, then began dispersing amid a heavy silence.
I, too, was just turning around to leave the barracks.
"Captain Reinhardt, Lieutenant Jaeger, stay behind for a moment."
Major Helga's voice stopped me from behind. Seraphina and I halted, while the other officers cast curious glances at us as they filed out of the operations room. Erika shot us a look as well before leaving ahead of us.
Once the heavy door closed, only four people remained in the operations room: the regimental commander, Helga, Seraphina, and me. The regimental commander finally relaxed his stiff expression and approached us.
"Captain Reinhardt's 2nd Company will be the spearhead of this operation."
There was weight in the regimental commander's voice. He pointed to a file lying on the desk. Its cover read, '2nd Company Combat Strength Assessment and Ashen Forest Operation Progress Report.'
"The results you achieved in the Ashen Forest were more than a simple victory. You struck at the enemy's core with minimal losses and adapted flexibly to unexpected variables. In particular, Lieutenant Jaeger's judgment was highly impressive."
"Thank you."
I answered readily and lowered my head. But inwardly, I didn't let the opportunity pass and used [Status Analysis].
'Status Analysis.'
[Name: Karl von Dietrich]
[Emotion: Strong confidence in and anticipation of the operation's success.]
[Hidden Desire: To become a hero of the Western Front by making this operation a success, then enter central politics.]
'…Enter central politics, huh.'
I chuckled inwardly. He had made grand statements about the fate of the Empire and all that, but in the end, this old fox's true motive was his own advancement. Well, there was nothing wrong with that. An ambitious commander was bound to give his subordinates more opportunities to earn merit.
The regimental commander smiled in satisfaction and gestured to Major Helga. Helga pointed to the map with the pointer and began explaining.
"The key to an all-out battle is speed and surprise. 2nd Company will lead the charge, striking and breaking through the weakest eastern flank of the enemy's defensive line to create a breach. The main force will then surge through that opening into the heart of the enemy's position."
Her explanation was concise and clear. After finishing, Major Helga handed the pointer she was holding to Seraphina.
"Captain Reinhardt will explain the details of 2nd Company's deployment herself."
"Understood."
Seraphina stepped forward and took the pointer from Helga. As her snow-white fingers closed around the ebony pointer,
"……!"
Seraphina's fingertips twitched faintly. It wasn't enough for her to drop the pointer, but they trembled as though she had been shocked by electricity. I didn't miss it. Her complexion turned as pale as a sheet of paper for an instant, then the color returned. She pretended nothing had happened and gripped the pointer more firmly.
But I saw it. She was gritting her teeth. The pain must have been that severe.
'…Is it starting again.'
I activated the skill immediately.
'Status Analysis.'
[Name: Seraphina von Reinhardt]
[Status: Signs of an impending mana reflux attack. Suppressing excruciating pain with sheer willpower.]
"…As you said, the enemy on the eastern flank is expected to be the most vulnerable, so 2nd Company will attack there with artillery support."
Seraphina continued her report calmly. Her voice did not waver, but every knuckle of the hand gripping the pointer had gone as white as paper. I couldn't take my eyes off her status window. The words [Suppressing excruciating pain with sheer willpower] kept catching my attention.
"…The basic plan is for 1st and 3rd Platoons to form the main force and break through the center, while 2nd and 4th Platoons support the rear as reserves. But the most important thing is, of course…"
It was at that moment that she raised her arm to point to a location on the map with the pointer.
"Kgh…!"
Seraphina could no longer hold back and let out a small groan. Her complexion had now become noticeably pale, and the tip of the pointer that had been indicating the map lost its aim and wandered through the air. The pointer, which had been trembling unsteadily, began slipping from her sweat-dampened hand.
"…Captain Reinhardt?"
The regimental commander's kindly gaze sharpened in an instant. Major Helga also furrowed her brow and watched Seraphina's trembling arm with a puzzled look. The air in the operations room froze.
'It finally happened.'
[Hidden Trait: Mana Reflux (Mana Overload) - Chronic internal injury. Currently experiencing an attack.]
I confirmed the words [Currently experiencing an attack] in her status window. There was no time left to hesitate. I stepped forward. The regimental commander and Major Helga naturally turned their gazes toward me.
"Captain, a moment."
I stood beside Seraphina and naturally reached out. My hand gently overlapped the hand holding the pointer. The warmth of my palm spread across the back of her cold hand.
'Touch of Tuning.'
Ding-
[The skill 'Touch of Tuning (Lv.1)' is activated.]
In an instant, I felt the flow of mana raging inside her through my palm. No—it wasn't something that could be called a flow.
It was a glacier frozen solid and on the verge of shattering. Countless tiny shards of ice ground against one another inside it like awls, creating a merciless cold and pressure that bored all the way into her bones.
The dreadful cold seeping through my palm seemed to climb up my spine, and I shuddered involuntarily. I understood at a glance. This was far beyond what I could safely tamper with using a mere Level 1 skill.
Even so, I had to do what I could. First, I imagined a very thin, warm stream flowing into a massive block of ice.
Then, through the point where my hand touched hers, a tiny stream began to flow. It crossed the glacier and formed a small spring. The glacier slowly began to melt around that spring.
[The target's biological energy is stabilized.]
"Hk…!"
Beside me, I heard Seraphina draw in a tiny breath. The trembling stopped in the hand gripping the pointer, and a faint flush returned to her pale cheeks.
'Status Analysis.'
[Name: Seraphina von Reinhardt]
[Status: Mana reflux attack has subsided. Suppressed fatigue.]
[Emotion: Bewilderment at the sudden relief from the attack.]
[Hidden Trait: Mana Reflux (Mana Overload) - Chronic internal injury. Temporarily alleviated condition.]
'Is this enough?'
But I soon furrowed my brow. The spring, which had been growing as it melted the ice, suddenly stopped expanding. Looking closely, I saw that the water at the edge of the spring was repeatedly freezing and thawing. In terms of her body, it corresponded roughly to her wrist. That seemed to be the limit.
'To melt more ice… raising the skill's level would be the surest way. Otherwise, I could widen the area of contact.'
I had barely managed to suppress the attack through Seraphina's hand, but apparently I couldn't cure it completely.
I came to that conclusion, but this was no time to stand around. The regimental commander and Major Helga's gazes were pricking me like needles. Now I had to make up for suddenly placing my hand over my superior's.
I smoothly moved the hand I had placed over Seraphina's. The pointer drew a smooth arc across the map. Soon, its tip came to indicate a specific location.
"The point the captain was about to explain is right here—the crossroads where the enemy's supply routes intersect. After striking this place first and throwing them into confusion…"
My natural action softened the regimental commander and Major Helga's stiff expressions somewhat. They looked at me as though I were a capable subordinate covering for his superior's mistake.
And in that brief moment, Seraphina regained her composure. She smoothly pulled the pointer from my hand and interjected.
"Lieutenant Jaeger is right. The supply route must be cut off first."
She took over my briefing and continued in a voice that had regained its composure.
"The breakthrough in that area will proceed after securing a bridgehead with support from the headquarters engineer unit…"
I quietly returned to my position. Soon, Seraphina's report ended, and silence descended over the operations room. The regimental commander broke it.
"Excellent."
He wore a satisfied expression as he gave a light clap. Major Helga, standing beside him, nodded without saying a word.
"Captain Reinhardt's flawless plan, perfectly supported by Lieutenant Jaeger's quick thinking. Seeing how well the two of you work together, I can practically see this operation succeeding."
'Status Analysis.'
[Name: Karl von Dietrich]
[Emotion: Pride at seeing a subordinate support his superior. Generous acceptance of Seraphina's mistake.]
[Name: Helga von Strauss]
[Emotion: A critical assessment of Seraphina's small mistake, along with recognition of Max Jaeger's natural support.]
Fortunately, the two of them seemed to write off Seraphina's hesitation as a minor mistake and move on. You know the sort of thing: forgetting something and panicking during an important briefing in front of a superior.
Having let it pass, the regimental commander gave us his final words.
"That will be all. Now go out and prepare for actual combat. May the glory of the Empire be with you."
"Loyalty!"
Seraphina and I saluted simultaneously and turned around.
[Name: Seraphina von Reinhardt]
[Status: Deeply suspicious of the anomaly that had occurred in her body.]
[Emotion: Greatly confused by the comforting sense of stability lingering where Max Jaeger's hand touched her.]
And as soon as we left regimental headquarters, Seraphina called me to the company command barracks.
"Lieutenant Jaeger, follow me."