Chapter 102

Chapter 102

I have a sense of foreboding regarding this.

Demian, do you share the same sentiment?

Yes, Sir Gardin.

That intuition, its likely not a misinterpretation.

So what should we do at this point?

Is there a solution? We must persevere, one way or another. We willingly pledged allegiance to this lord.

The group advanced slowly, the sound of footsteps echoing. At the back of the formation, Demian and Gardin sighed in unison.

Their attention was fixed on the carriage in the center of the procession, more precisely, on the Crown Prince inside the carriage.

But why is the Crown Prince doing this?

Im wondering the same thing. Honestly, I dont understand.

You too, Sir Gardin?

Yes. Who would willingly understand? A royal volunteering to heal foreign wounded soldiers who have nothing to do with him.

Thanks to that, you and I are also involved and dragged all the way here.

Sigh.

Whew.

Their sighs deepened.

This is the anguish of employees groaning under the tyranny of a ruthless employer!

Sigh. I had plans for next week.

Oh? Plans?

A date. Just a date.

You were seeing a woman?

Not exactly.

Then?

Just meeting.

Isnt that how everyone does it? If it works out, you date. If you grow apart, you break up. Ive always been like that. About twenty times? Maybe more?

Why are you looking at me like that?

No, just briefly getting angry, questioning if this is really a country.

Hmm? Why?

Never mind. By the way, since you missed a date, you must have asked for extra pay, right?

Extra pay?

Yes.

What extra pay?

Gardin tilted his head. Demian responded as if it should be obvious.

Deployment allowance.

Deployment allowance?

Yes. Weve followed the Crown Prince this far, all the way to a foreign country, Anbouaz.

Thats, thats true.

So, this is essentially a long-term deployment assignment. You should naturally get an allowance. Plus, this is a civil war zone, a country at war. You should definitely be guaranteed hazard pay for the work environment.

Uh, well

Why?

No, its just

Just what?

I didnt know about that.

You didnt negotiate for extra pay?

Yeah.

Heh.

1 win, 1 loss.

Damn.

Gardin and Demian.

A bitter smile formed on both mens faces. Truthfully speaking, neither of them was dissatisfied with having come all the way to Anbouaz. Rather, they both admired the Crown Prince.

He has the medical skills, and there are patients over there who need treatment. Its only natural to rush over and help It should be obvious, but nobody does it. Who would have thought that His Highness would actually do it

Gardin felt a swelling in his heart.

Suddenly, he recalled the time when he first studied medicine, a time when he was a bit more innocent and naive than he is now. A time when doing the right thing seemed only natural.

How does he appear now? He has changed. At some point, he ceased practicing medicine with the same pure-heartedness as the Crown Prince.

His calm demeanor was far too bizarre. Raciel could no longer hold back and asked.

What are you doing here? Are you aware of the situation inside this tent?

Eight people had lost their lives, and their bodies had been left unattended for days. It was astonishing, especially within the confines of a medical camp.

The soldiers response was even more bewildering.

Youre talking about inside the tent, right? Im aware. Theyre all deceased, arent they?

What?

Ah, is there anyone still alive? That could be problematic. We need space for the next injured soldiers.

What are you saying?

Ah, perhaps as a military officer, youre not familiar with how medical camps operate. The individuals inside the tent should all be deceased. This way, we can make room and accommodate the next injured soldiers.

What?

So, I came here to inspect the condition of the tent. If everyone inside is deceased, then we can remove the bodies for incineration. By the way, have a lot of flies gathered inside?

Why?

Theyre a nuisance when were clearing the bodies.

Raciel fell silent.

A fragment of historical knowledge briefly flashed through his mind. Something he had read in a book about the history of the Middle Ages.

Medieval Europe. The wars and the treatment of wounded soldiers back then

Wounded soldiers were not treated well at all. Conscripted soldiers, brought to the battlefield, were considered expendable, with no proper care or rehabilitation for the wounded.

Got a minor injury on the battlefield? Nobody cared. What if you were seriously injured? To the point of immobility? Again, nobody cared.

They were simply moved to the rear. Not for recovery or treatment but rather to keep them out of sight, a burden to the rest of the troops, dragging down morale.

If we keep the severely injured with the troops moving together becomes cumbersome and the morale of the rest of the soldiers drops. Thats why they sent the wounded to the rear. They were thrown away in an out-of-sight location and left unattended.

So what became of the wounded who were sent to the rear? It was pitiful. They were mostly left unattended, left to die, even if they received the bare minimum of treatment.

Among them, soldiers who miraculously recovered?

That was their fate.

The blessing of God.

Receiving tremendous luck.

They were simply sent back to the battlefield!

Exactly. Either die on your own or, if youre lucky, survive and get sent back to war.

At the time, he was shocked when he read this in a book. It was unimaginable that such a place could exist. And yet, this wounded soldier camp seemed just like that.

Looking at the indifferent soldier before him, or the dead inside the tent, he couldnt deny it.

Ah, life, seriously.

A deep sigh naturally escaped him.

Out of compassion for the miserably dead wounded? Because of an unexpected culture shock? Of course, that was obvious. On the other hand, there was another reason.

Ive come this far, and if the camp is like this, how do I get a bonus lifespan?

This is going nowhere.

Something has to be done.

The atmosphere in the camp needs to change. Attitudes and treatment toward wounded soldiers must be improved. Only then will the wounded survive. Only then will he achieve his purpose for coming here, a win-win for everyone.

So what should be done?

Shock therapy is needed.

Determined, Raciel spoke.

You said you are in charge of managing the camp, right?

Yes? Yes!

Full name and affiliation?

He asked for their full name and position. Sensing the unusual atmosphere, the soldier hastily answered.

I am Corporal Rueno, part of the 21st Support Battalion.

Alright, Corporal Rueno. Who is responsible for this camp?

Its the battalion commander, sir.

Who is the battalion commander?

Lord Provence, sir.

Is he? Is Lord Provence in this camp now?

Yes, he is.

Good. Tell him to come here.

Excuse me?

The corporal hesitated for a moment.

But Raciel didnt care. With a chilling voice filled with confidence, he said,

Go and tell him. Ill give this battalion commander one minute to come here.

(To be Continued)

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