“Alright. Let me brief you all once again.”

“Sir!”

It’s near evening and the sun has started to set. The road is now painted with orange as the car’s casts a long shadow at the opposite direction.

Now Schmidt’s squad is travelling their way to their target point. They are in their armored SUV, having all six soldiers including the Commander. Two days have passed after they received the contents of their mission.

“The mission’s first target is to infiltrate the research facility that contains secret weapons that is being developed by the enemy, which is found underlying the forest just near the main city. The first stage is to seize the facility and find valuable information.”

In this day and age, information is one of the greatest weapon you can use against others. The more you know about your foe, the more chances you have in overturning any dire situation.

That is why their mission right now is one of those which cannot be failed.

“Then next comes the main dish. We will be sent as a re-enforcement for those who are trapped in the crossfire within City F and rescue them. That will be all.”

“Phew… That’s a bit harder than I thought it would be. I mean why are we sent with only one squad to seize the whole research facility? I bet the security would be tight if it’s really a research facility of a secret weapon.”

Pola’s concern is without a doubt correct. Even with how one would look at things, it is definitely hard for one squad to seize a whole enemy research facility. Much more it is the main base. No matter how weak the enemy may be, with the squad’s number of only 6, they may still be overwhelmed depending on the situation.

“Gaha! Recruit, you’re still naïve if you think that way.”

“Huh?”

Pola is almost seen with a question mark floating above her head as she tried to understand the hidden implications of Dan as he make a smug expression while looking at the road as he drives.

“Haven’t you heard anything from Ms. Devil Instructor?”

“D-Devil Instructor… *shiver*”

“Gahahaha! With you reacting that way, it seems she has never changed.”

“Do you know her, Sir Dan?”

“Well it’s more like, we’re stuck with each other for some reason since we’re brats.”

Dan smiled wryly while scratching his heard.

“We grew up together and later on she studied in the military and ended up being the Devil Instructor. While later then I joined the military only to find her as my instructor. Funny how fate works, eh?”

“Ohhh.”

Dan let out another hearty laugh after remembering his past while Pola’s looking at him surprised.

“But what’s more amazing is the Commander!”

“Just leave it at that, Will.”

“Ah! My apologies, Commander.”

“Ehhhh? Tell me!”

Everyone except for Pola who is a new recruit the circumstances within their squad and what kind of squad it really is. Pola was placed in Schmidt’s squad without prior notice and proper explanation about what kind of squad she’s now in.

“Hmm… First of all, why do you think the Major General himself gave the order to us?”

“…?”

Pola taps her chin with her finger posing a thinking gesture.

“It’s because of the Commander!”

William, who could not wait for Pola’s answer, answered the question himself.

“Is he that great?”

“Why do you think a 21 year old man would be a Commander of a squad that early?”

“Ah!”

“Oh, you got it then, Becker?”

“He climbed up using the back door! Hmmm… I smell corruption…”

“I did not, idiot.”

*thud!*

Schmidt who was seated in the front seat turn around and gave Pola a slight knock on her head with his fist. He did not put much force in it was it was just a little gesture of correcting his subordinate.

“Ow…”

“Well, just wait and see…”

Johannes ended the conversation with a few words trying to make it as puzzling to Pola as possible.

“But wait… Isn’t it weird for a new recruit who is as young as Becker to join the squad?”

“Will… you haven’t heard about Recruit before?”

“What about me?”

Pola joined the conversation while rubbing her head where she was hit.

“And it seems the person herself doesn’t know either. Gahaha!”

Dan laughed it off and focused back on the road.

“Really now…”

…

..

.

*screech*

“Okay, we’ll make a camp here for tonight. We’ll continue our travel the next day.”

“Uggh…! My butt hurt!”

“Will, don’t just stand there and help us.”

“Roger…~”

“Dan, how’s the tank?”

“No problem so far, Commander. Two more days won’t be much of a problem.”

The squad stopped by the side of the road in an abandoned city.

The city is already deserted and no signs of activity can be seen without further inspection. The houses are either partly or fully destroyed to the ground and vines have started to grow and cover the entirety of each. The road is slowly crumbling into the asphalt and the poles which connect each line were either broken in half or have already fallen down.

But in contrast to the destruction lies a better view of the night sky. It’s illuminated enough even without the help of artificial lighting.

“Good. Johannes and Will, gather any kind of dried wood you can find by the park. There should be a lot of trees there. Dan and Frank, look for a suitable place for our temp camp and contact us if you find one. We’ll make the rendezvous point here before proceeding to the found place.”

“Sir!”

“Pola is coming with me to scout for possible enemy.”

“Sir!”

All of them made a gesture of salute before each group began to proceed with their own task to do. Their relationship as their basis for their activity during their missions, their paring is the best way to group them is what was on the Commander’s mind.

Dan and Frank was once together in a squad before coming to Schmidt’s, that is why they are already familiarized with each other’s behavior. Johannes and William are the same age and are often seen together. While Pola is the new recruit who still needs to be supervised by the Commander.

…

*crumble* *crumble*

“But looking at this place… it’s really deserted, eh.”

Not far from the rendezvous point, Pola and the Commander went inside a deserted house which looks like it will crumble at any moment. Holding their handgun with both hands preparing for possible sudden assault, they carefully surveyed the area.

“This was one of the bombed city during the first wave of the Russian’s invasion. It’s far more devastated than in other places.”

“Have you been here before, Commander?”

“… Yeah.”

“Hm?”

“Here was the site of my first mission.”

“…!”

Pola almost went to reach for her mouth and cover it but rejected the idea since it will seem rude after hearing something personal about the Commander.

Every soldier, moreover, an experienced one, have their own share of a past. It is a common thing for a soldier.

When Pola heard that the place is where his first mission happened and adding the fact that it is now a deserted place, she came up to the conclusion that the fight was their loss.

It is in fact indeed one of the commander’s tragic past.

“Haha. Don’t make that face. It’s not that of a big deal. We only suffered a few casualties but still most of us came back alive.”

Without noticing, Pola’s face had already contorted into a frown and showed her feelings unintentionally.

“I… see.”

Pola breathe out a sigh of relief as she heard the Commander laugh it off as a simple memory.

“But this was the place where I experienced the harsh reality of being a soldier.”

“…”

There was a short silence between them. Perhaps they just ended the conversation with that. Or maybe they just cannot think of something to say. But it was Pola who broke the silence and asked a question.

“If I may ask, Commander, you’re 21 right now, right?”

“Yeah. What about it?”

“When did you’re your first mission happened?”

Schmidt paused for a few seconds and made Pola rethink of what she just said. She suddenly thought maybe it was too much of a personal thing to ask, but that the words have already left her mouth and now she can only wait for the Commander’s answer.

“… Do you really want to know?”

“Y-Yes…”

She gulped what remains in her dry mouth.

“*sigh* nearly 10 years now.”

“… T… T-t-t-ten years… so you mean…?”

Pola counted with her fingers in her left hand while the gun is held by her right hand.

“I was 12 years old that time.”

“What did y- Mmmm!?”

“Shh! You may attract something troublesome!”

The commander hurriedly covered her mouth with his hand, jumped around Pola and end up in a seating position to hide at the shadow of the wall inside the house.

The Commander took a peek from the wall at the surrounding to confirm if someone noticed the noise while having his arms around Pola and covering her mouth.

“…!!”

Pola was wrapped around the Commander’s arm from her back.

[“Wha? Wha? Wha? What just happened? When did he appear in my back? And why am I stuck close to Commander right now??”]

“Phew...”

[“He’s breath… in my ear…!”]

Pola’s body squirmed involuntary because of the sudden stimulation and closed her eyes in an attempt to endure it.

“Mfmfm…”

“Seems like no one’s really here…”

“Mmfhmfmmm…!”

“Ahh! Sorry about that. Did that hurt?”

The Commander released his hands that is wrapped around Pola from behind.

“Puhaa… N-no…”

They stood up from their place and pat the dust away from their pants. They both look at the window for another confirmation. The place was brighten by the moon and gave the almost crumbling house a natural light.

“But seriously, you almost gave me a heart attack.”

[“I’m the one who almost had a heart attack!”]

Thinking about that, Pola held her hands tight to her chest, calming the now fast beating heart of hers.

“Hm? What’s the problem, Pola?”

“N-Nothing…”

Pola sighed heavily releasing the sudden burst of emotion inside her.

“Wait… Your face is red… Did you perhaps catch a cold??”

“W-w-w-w-what are you t-talking about, Commander? It’s even dark in here! It’s hot… It’s hot in here. Phew… It’s so hoooot~”

She fanned herself using her hand while sweat started to appear on her forehead.

[“But it’s rather cold right now, most especially in this season…”]

But Schmidt didn’t voice out his concern in the moment out of consideration.

There are thing he still doesn’t know about girls that is why he thought it would be better to now pry any further. It was his inexperience with the opposite sex that led him to that conclusion.

“W-where were we?? Uhh… Yes! S-so… *sigh* you were still 12 when you had your first battle?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmmm.”

She was without a doubt curious to how the Commander’s life turned out to be like that.

Even in this world where the young ones are trained to be in the military, it was still strange for a 12 year old to have his or her first battle. Normally, that age should be the years of their training then their first battle will not be before they turn 16.

It must be an extraordinary reason for the Commander to have joined the military at such a young age. That is why Pola chose to just keep her curiosity to herself.

“We’re clear.”

“Roger.”

*bzzzt*

“Commander, we’ve found a spot.”

“Copy. Good work. Tell the other two. We’re on our way.”

“Roger that.”

After the communication from Dan ended, Schmidt and Pola headed out of the deserted house which was the last house they had entered.

…

..

.

*crackle*

“Commander, the fire’s ready.”

“Alright, Will. Tell the other’s I’ll be cooking something so they should finish what they are doing so we can have dinner.”

“Roger!”

Schmidt prepared all the ingredients on the table and placed the chopping board in front of him. He wore the apron without a moment of unnecessary movement, much expected from a professional chef.

“But first…”

He brought out a knife from a small suite case which one would consider something special to him from the first glance of the case and the cover inside. It was carefully placed with the edge facing downwards.

“Sherry…~”

The knife was brought to his hands, caressed its side softly and brought it upwards where it reflected the blue reflection of the night sky.

“Kufufu…~ You’re shining brightly today as always…~”

Schmidt, while grinning, blushed creepily as he laid his knife alongside the ingredients.

“I’ll be in your care now too. Let’s make another dish that will knock ‘em off…~”

“He’s at it again…”

Pola who just arrived at the fireplace saw a glimpse of her Commander creepily enjoying his time with his knife.

“What’s up with the Commander, Becker?”

“Will... It’s nothing… Or rather, he’s usually like that before he cooks. With her lover, Sherry, his chef’s knife.”

“What’s with that…?”

“Kufufu… Here we go!”

Schmidt held Sherry firmly as he proceeded to cut the ingredients with finesse. Everything was done in a flash and without a moment of delay the dinner is prepared.

“We’ve been eating his food while he’s like that when he cooked it…?”

“Gahaha! As long as it’s good!”

“More beer! Aha~”

“Too close, drunkard…”

…

..

.

“Alright! Here’s the dinner! It’s…”

Schmidt brought the sizzling dish onto the table. All the while the aroma of the dish spread throughout the place with the vapor that comes along with it.

“Yahoo! It’s another one of Commander’s meal!”

“Gahaha! No matter how many times I’ve eaten it, I still can’t wait patiently every time he brings it!”

“Dan was far longer in Commander’s squad than most of us here, right?”

“Right!”

“But I still can’t seem to remove the image in my mind before he started cooking…”

William held both his arms and rubbed them while shivering slightly.

“If you don’t want it, then I’ll eat it!”

Pola tried to reach for his spoon and fork.

“Waha~! The food’s so delicious! Hmmm~! Yummy!”

“We haven’t started eating yet, idiot…”

“… This! Tofu Hamburg Steak!”

“Oooooh!”

Hamburg Steak. It is a dish made from minced meat, usually beef, mixed together with onions, grated carrots, eggs, and others. Formed to a flattened, thick circular shape and is served along with a sauce. But this time, the commander used minced tofu instead of meat. The appearance is the same with a normal Hamburg Steak glazed with the Commander’s original brown sauce.

“Of course it’s hard to procure meat nowadays so I thought of an idea to have some from our usual ration, which is tofu, into making it a bit more special. Tofu is rich in protein so it will be healthy for all of us. To the point it’s also called the meat of the farm!”

“It looks exactly like a Hamburg Steak though… Is this not really meat…?”

Johannes tried poking the dish with his fork and the juice from the steak started too ooze out from the inside. Another explosion of aroma of onion and pepper began to enter their noses.

“Nope.”

“Man… You really did this…”

“Of course. A soldier has to stuff his stomach before going to battle. Then why not making it more special? This is the least thing I can do for you all.”

“Commander… Sir…!!”

William looked at his commander with teary eyes while curling his hands into a fist.

“I’ll follow you forever!”

“Hahahaha.”

The other’s followed with a laughter at the display of William’s emotional outburst. Everyone thought of the same thing while they heard the Commander’s words.

It’s not simply because he is their superior anymore at this point. The bond that was created within them made them understand in their selves that the squad they are in right now is definitely where they belong and where they want to stay from here on out.

“Without further ado… Let’s eat!”

“Roger!”

Everyone began to cut their own steak into small bite size pieces and brought it in their mouths using the fork.

“…! It tastes like meat…”

“I-Idiot!”

Suddenly remembering about the Commander’s usual food talks, Pola called out William because of what he just said.

“I see, you noticed that as well… That is because!”

“Aah… it began…”

“*sigh*”

Pola heaved an exasperated sigh while having her own meal.

“Remember the beef Pola brought before? The truth is, I separated some of the stock and reserved it for next time. And here I used the stock to boil the tofu before crushing it to make…”

“Oh well…”

Letting their commander have his way with his food talks, they continued to eat.

“The sauce is one thing too…”

“Yeah… The sweetness of it too but the subtle taste of garlic blends perfectly with the meat.”

“It’s not meat though. Haha.”

“The more I chew the more I want to bite to eat! The texture of the tofu with the slight taste of egg is irresistible!”

They enjoyed another meal of the Commander with smile on their faces …

“And then I mixed the rest of the condiments together with the…”

… while their Commander is still in his food talks.

…

..

.

“What are you reading, Commander?”

“Hmm? It’s a comic book.”

After dinner, everyone began to rest for tomorrow but just outside the camp, there sits on a chair was the Commander of the squad reading a book. Pola went out with her usual alone time when she found Schmidt just right before she went back to sleep in her own tent.

“Comic book?”

“Yeah. These were very popular in the olden days before the war happened. Along with these, games and books are my best friend when I was a child after all.”

“Hmm~ what’s it about?”

Pola was quite sleepy because of the long travel they had during the day. But curiosity got her this time and before she knew it, she was already asking the Commander.

“It’s a story set in a fantasy setting. Well basically, it’s the story of the protagonist who is a commoner in their kingdom and went to save the princess from the demon lord and came back as a hero.”

“Is it interesting?”

“It sure is. This is already my 8th time reading it.”

“Heee… So Commander must love reading then?”

“I do, actually. Every now and then whenever I have my free time, I would read. From novels, comic books, and the likes.”

“I see.”

Pola glanced at the figure of the Commander while he reads. A stern face while his eyes continue to follow the letters in each pages. Slight sweep of air slowly moved his hair but is still unperturbed with his reading. It was another side of the Commander which Pola has never seen before.

[“His eyelashes are long…”]

The longer she started, the more she noticed the small details in her Commander’s facial structure.

“Sir, can I read some too?”

“Sure. Here’s the first volume.”

“Thank you.”

Pola sat by the side of the commander where she opened the book ever so slightly and began to read it. The protagonist of the story is just a simple commoner who was born and raised in a normal household in a small village. Their kingdom is in a crisis of the invading Demon Lord and then their village was targeted next.

“It’s like it’s the same with our circumstances, right Commander?”

But the commander didn’t reply as he was focused with the story he was reading. Pola smiled wryly and continued reading the comic book.

All of the main protagonist family and friends we’re killed during the attack and he was the only survivor. He swore revenge to the Demon Lord to defeat him. He trained himself to the bone until he became the strongest knight in the whole kingdom.

One day, due to his great exploits during his quests from the Adventurer’s Guild, he was called to the palace by the king. He was granted the title of the Guardian Knight, a personal title for those who serves under the direct command of the king.

There, he met the first princess who is in the line for succession and they instantly fell in love with each other. They treasured each other and everyone in the kingdom blessed their relationship. It was almost decided that they would end up together and eventually get married.

But before the day of their wedding, the Demon Lord invaded the kingdom and wreaked havoc inside. Picking up his sword and shield, the knight rose to fight the demon lord.

“Pola?”

Schmidt felt a light weight on his shoulder from beside him where Pola was seated.

“… Hrmm…”

“Haha. She fell asleep, huh.”

“Mr. Knight… no…”

“She even dreams of it. It seems like she quite liked it too.”

The sleeping Pola who is now leaned on Schmidt’s shoulder talked in her sleep about the story she was just reading. Schmidt left her to sleep for a while before carrying her to her own tent.

“This story is quite tragic at the end though…”

During the attack of the demon lord, everything was going well until the demon lord was on the verge of defeat. But because of an unforeseen circumstances, the demon lord attacked the princess. Protecting his beloved, the knight used his own body to take the attack. In the end, the knight suffered fatal wounds and died after saving the whole kingdom from the demon lord. He was reigned as the greatest hero because of that.

“If I were in his shoes… would I do the same…?”

Schmidt closed the book and stopped from reading and let that thought sink in to him.

The cold breeze of the night blew both Pola and Schmidt’s hair while directly bathing in the light of the stars with the fireplace their only light.

Who would ever thought that the place they are in right now is in the verge of collapsing because of the war? With this beautiful and serene scene pictured in the commander’s eyes, he also followed Pola to the land of dreams.

…

..

.

Chapter 2 End