I Won’t Let the Execution Battalion Die, ~Even If the Empire Falls, We Want to Survive~ - Chapter 71: In the Prairie Fire ⑤

We threw the body wrapped in rags into a large pit at the common cemetery and gave the gravekeepers a tip to handle the rest.

There were people who believed condemned prisoners’ bodies had occult power, and such folks would come to steal bodies. Without tips, gravekeepers wouldn’t protect bodies, so this was also a necessary expense.

“Since there’s no execution scheduled tomorrow, we can do paperwork.”

“Let’s train, Company Commander.”

Second Lieutenant Crimine said dissatisfiedly, but since her idea of training was advanced perverted play, I ignored it.

We left the cemetery, found a suitable restaurant, and piled in as a group. A pub serving light drinks and snacks.

Since window seats faced the street and were visible from outside, I packed the subordinates into seats further back. While not against work regulations, I didn’t want to show the Ceremonial Battalion relaxing.

“Beer and boiled sausages for everyone, please.”

“Right!”

Perhaps because it was slightly unusual for an officer to speak politely, the pub owner chuckled and nodded good-naturedly.

While everyone guzzled room-temperature dark beer, I noticed foot traffic outside the window had increased.

“What’s this?”

Since I didn’t want to be seen, I carefully peeked from the window frame to observe outside.

People heading toward the capital’s center were increasing. This was unnatural for foot traffic at this time. Was there some event?

Speaking of unnatural, their appearance was also strange. People of various ages and classes, but most wore “runnable footwear.” More precisely, travel-ready foot gear.

While stuffing her cheeks with extra-thick sausage, Second Lieutenant Crimine came over.

“Wha’s happenin’?”

“Look at their shoes.”

“You wanna wash ’em?”

“I don’t want to do laundry.”

During this silly exchange, the pub owner interjected:

“Officer, you notice things well.”

Since I heard it frequently, I was embarrassed to answer honestly and deflected.

“Old man, is there usually this much foot traffic at this hour?”

“No, there isn’t. More people should be heading toward downtown.”

Definitely strange.

I told Second Lieutenant Crimine:

“Ages, genders, and classes are all mixed, but everyone’s pace is unified. They recognize each other as one group.”

“Wha’!? Tha’ means they’re…!?”

“That’s what it means.”

The owner behind the counter was impressed:

“Wonder how that conversation gets through…”

I’d appreciate not digging deeper into that.

I thought briefly, then returned to the table with Second Lieutenant Crimine.

“Gentlemen, the situation outside is strange. But going out might be dangerous. We’ll drink and eat here a while longer, waiting for foot traffic to calm down.”

Since it was a company commander’s order, no one objected, and the men with beer foam on their mustaches silently nodded.

After everyone had consumed beer and sausages, foot traffic finally calmed down. That strange group seemed to have passed.

“We’ll detour south back to battalion headquarters. Second Lieutenant Crimine, remove your uniform.”

“Eh?”

Don’t make such a happy face.

“I’m sending you out as a scout. Removing your cap and jacket should let you disguise as a civilian. I’d like you to go ahead and investigate.”

Properly I should go, but having a company commander scout was definitely strange. But I’d be uneasy with NCOs or below.

“If you see strange groups, come back. Absolutely don’t leave us behind and advance alone.”

“Understood.”

Since Second Lieutenant Crimine was skilled at escaping and hiding, I’d leave this to her.

“Please do.”

“Okay!”

Second Lieutenant Crimine, wearing a shawl, went outside looking somewhat pleased.

“We’ll follow too.”

“Yes sir.”

Let’s hurry. If my prediction was correct, today might be the Empire’s last day.

*****

En route, we detoured around suspicious groups twice and somehow returned to Ceremonial Battalion headquarters.

“Fonkt! Riesha! Are you safe!?”

The moment I rushed into the battalion commander’s office, the anxious-faced battalion commander’s expression brightened. She must have been very worried.

I saluted and immediately reported:

“We encountered groups disguised as citizens and returned while hiding.”

“Ah, those guys—there are reports they’ve gathered around the palace. Unarmed but apparently three thousand strong.”

Quite a number they’d gathered.

“They’re apparently pressing toward the palace front while chanting ‘Let’s protect His Majesty the Emperor’ and ‘Don’t forgive the Kavaraf traitors.’ Since they’re pretending to be pro-imperial faction gatherings, the palace guards seem reluctant to act.”

Such obvious pretense.

“We’ve been had. Since they’ve even won over Second Division’s Cavalry Lieutenant Makaran, I thought they’d attack with defected units.”

I sighed. I’d been tripped up by rigid military thinking.

“Revolutions can be started by citizens too.”

“Mm?”

No, that was about my previous life. For commoner-born Yuo, it probably wasn’t a clever stratagem at all, but a perfectly natural option.

As for me, mobilizing civilians in private clothes for combat violated previous life international law and wasn’t done in this world either, so I’d completely forgotten. Too stupid.

The battalion commander crossed her arms:

“Imperial Guards Division has been placed on emergency call-up. Since the Ceremonial Battalion also has fifty line infantry, orders came to immediately guard the palace.”

“Since Imperial Guards Division strength has been pulled for Kavaraf region rebellion suppression, fighting three thousand people is impossible.”

The Imperial Guards Division had several hollow units like the Ceremonial Battalion, plus military bands, so it never had full divisional strength originally.

With main forces pulled to the front now, it should be quite unreliable.

After all, muskets were finished after one shot, so they were weak against numerical force. Even trusted bayonet charges could lose to mob stone-throwing if done poorly.

The battalion commander sighed:

“But it’s the divisional commander’s orders. I want to establish the fact that we deployed.”

Apparently the battalion commander still intended to seriously play soldier.

But I shook my head:

“Following that order will get us killed. We should burn all documents instead.”

The battalion commander naturally understood what I meant. Her eyebrow twitched.

“Isn’t it early?”

“No, if anything it’s late. Penderltaine Fortress north of the capital has Yuo’s collaborators. Kavaraf region rebellion army movements are probably being reported to Yuo. It’s natural to think she made her hidden comrades in the capital rise up based on war conditions.”

Meaning she was coming to win.

But the battalion commander still seemed hesitant:

“Burn documents and all of us flee? What if this is just a peaceful gathering?”

“It doesn’t matter. By the time burned documents become a problem, I doubt the Imperial Household will be safe. The most frightening thing is being too late to escape when the Empire collapses.”

I clenched my black-gloved fist tightly:

“We’ve been executing ‘anti-imperial faction’ day after day. Do you think we’ll be safe after the anti-imperial faction seizes the capital?”

The battalion commander laughed:

“Hardly. Even before that, pro-imperial faction people will offer us as sacrifices to save their own lives, saying ‘These are the bad ones.’ By then we’ll be made into voiceless corpses, unable to even protest.”

She said it so cheerfully. Maybe this person was also the type with loose screws.

Then Second Lieutenant Crimine, who had been unusually quiet until now, muttered quietly:

“In other words, whoever betrays first wins.”

The battalion commander and I looked at Second Lieutenant Crimine, then at each other.

“Right.”

“Exactly.”

The battalion commander clapped her hands, then declared quite cheerfully:

“Alright, closing time! Third Company will prioritize burning classified documents! First Company will prepare dummy documents!”

“Yes ma’am!”

I didn’t know if this choice was right or wrong, but I’d do my best to avoid regrets.

From here began the time to exhaust our strength unto death.