The next dawn, the 3rd Platoon marched toward the Ashen Forest. Fatigue had piled up from the hellish training, but their discipline was as sharp as ever.
The forest lived up to its name. Trees scorched black by relentless shelling stood in silence, and ashen dust puffed up from the ground with every step. There wasn't a trace of living life to be found.
I kept my eyes glued to the minimap, but no red dots—the enemy markers—showed up.
'Is there really nothing here...?'
I didn't forget to use [Status Analysis] on the platoon members here and there, either. The now Level 2 skill was far more useful than before.
⚔ STATUS ANALYSIS ⚔📛 Name: Gunter 😌 Emotion: Suppressed fear of unknown threats, vague trust in the platoon leader⚔ STATUS ANALYSIS ⚔📛 Name: Kurt 😌 Emotion: Sharp vigilance toward surroundings, a sliver of doubt about the platoon leader's judgment
Most of the emotions fell within the expected range. But one soldier's info window particularly caught my eye.
⚔ STATUS ANALYSIS ⚔📛 Name: Hanna Meyer 🧬 Race: Human 🏛 Affiliation: Imperial Army 7th Infantry Regiment 🎖 Rank: Corporal 📊 Status: Detecting faint mana flows but unable to identify the source—confused state 😌 Emotion: Extreme anxiety, nausea from the unpleasant energy flowing around 🕵️ Hidden Trait: Mana Detection (Unawakened)
'Mana Detection?'
She was the squad leader of 3rd Squad. I'd always seen her as just a quiet, diligent veteran—never dreamed she had a special talent like this hidden away.
'All thanks to Status Analysis hitting Level 2.'
To explain briefly: mana, or magic power, is the fundamental energy of this world. It's said only special beings like mages or priests can wield it, and ordinary folk live their whole lives without ever sensing its flow.
But a tiny fraction of humans are born with a natural sensitivity to mana. With training, they can awaken that ability. Those are the ones with [Mana Detection].
Corporal Hanna had a talent she didn't even know about.
I immediately approached Corporal Hanna. Her brown hair was neatly tied back, but cold sweat beaded on her skin, and her face was deathly pale. Her wide hazel eyes trembled with unease.
"Corporal Hanna."
She jumped at my call.
"Y-yes, sir! Lieutenant!"
"You don't look well. Your color's off."
"No, sir! I'm fine!"
She answered reflexively, but I shook my head.
"Don't lie to me. Lying to a superior is a violation of military law. I'll ask again. What's wrong?"
Under my firm tone, her eyes wavered. She fidgeted with her lips for a moment before finally confessing in a small voice.
"...I don't know. Ever since we entered the forest... my head's been throbbing, and my stomach's queasy. It's like... an unpleasant noise keeps ringing in my ears."
What Hanna was sensing was likely the mana flow picked up by her unawakened talent. The fact that it felt unpleasant meant it wasn't natural. My instincts were screaming a warning. This had to be connected to the missing scouts.
"Where does that unpleasant energy feel the strongest?"
"Over there. Northeast, beyond the valley... it really gets to me."
"Good work, Corporal Hanna. That's vital intel."
I reached out and patted her head once.
"E-eh?!"
Caught off guard by the touch, she let out a hiccup-like squeak. Her cheeks flushed pomegranate-red. Ignoring it, I turned to face the platoon. This was a chance I couldn't pass up.
"Everyone, follow me. Advance."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
With Corporal Hanna at the lead, we pushed deeper in. Crossing the valley she mentioned, an eerie chill hung in the air. A fishy stench wafted through.
"It's... getting stronger. My head feels like it's splitting."
Hanna staggered as she spoke. That's when it happened.
"Lieutenant, sir! Look at that!"
A soldier pointed. There were boot prints that looked like the scouts'. But something was off. The tracks cut off abruptly at one spot, as if the people standing there had shot straight up into the sky.
I immediately used [Status Analysis] on the spot.
⚔ STATUS ANALYSIS ⚔🎯 Target: Faint remnants of mana 📊 Grade: Unknown 📈 Status: Traces of a 'Spatial Trap' that forcibly transfers targets to another dimension. Inactive now, but high chance of similar traps nearby.
'A Spatial Trap, huh...'
No wonder no bodies turned up. The scouts hadn't been ambushed by orcs—they'd triggered this trap and vanished somewhere. And this wasn't something regular orc grunts could set up.
"There's a shaman."
I muttered under my breath. The soldiers who'd overheard stirred.
"You hear what the platoon leader said...?"
"He definitely said shaman..."
"Damn it, an orc shaman's too much for a single platoon head-on... It's in the field manual, right...?"
"Quiet."
The chattering platoon fell silent at my voice.
"Corporal Hanna."
"Ugh... Yes, sir!"
I called on Hanna again. She was trembling so badly now she could barely stand.
"Where's the energy strongest from here?"
"...O-over there."
After groaning for a while, she pointed in one direction.
I pondered for a moment. Turn back now? Just reporting an orc shaman would be a big merit. But since we'd come this far, pushing a bit more seemed fine. The operation had barely started anyway—no issue with pressing on.
'Tricky as a shaman is, take him out first with a surprise attack, and we can win easy.'
I made my call.
"3rd Platoon, battle stations. Move out now."
The soldiers slung rifles off their backs and checked magazines and bayonets. Metal clinked and clattered. Once I confirmed their prep, I advanced.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
We were moving in the direction Hanna indicated when I spotted blinking red dots at the edge of the minimap. At first just one or two, but as we closed in, they multiplied endlessly.
This was definitely the enemy camp.
Until now, they'd been out of minimap range, so we'd relied on Hanna. But now close enough, I switched to guiding the platoon via minimap.
The minimap's cheat-like power was on full display. It didn't show terrain elevation or obstacles, but nothing beat it for tracking enemy positions and rough movement paths. I watched the red dots' motions and slyly stuck to the blind spots in their patrol routes as I led the men.
After a long trek, we reached the area where the red dots clustered thick. A small basin ringed by rocks and fallen trees. At its heart stood a bizarre altar.
I signaled the squads to halt and cautiously peeked over the ridgeline.
Inside the basin, over twenty orcs had set up camp. Most lounged by campfires or stood watch, but one orc by the altar gave off a totally different vibe. Decked out in animal bones and feathers, clutching a staff topped with a skull—an orc shaman.
The shaman chanted unintelligible spells, performing a ritual atop the altar. The ground around it was blackened, and faint mana haze rose from it like steam.
'Just take that guy out.'
I immediately used [Status Analysis] on the shaman.
⚔ STATUS ANALYSIS ⚔📛 Name: Grimtusks 🧬 Race: Orc 🏛 Affiliation: Ashen Claw Tribe 🎖 Rank: Shaman 📊 Status: Draining massive mental energy to maintain complex spatial ritual. Extremely lax vigilance against external threats. 😌 Emotion: Deep focus on the ritual
'Perfect opening.'
Thanks to [Resilient Mind], the rising excitement settled, and my head went ice-cold. I immediately dropped low and signaled the platoon. They smoothly crouched and took cover behind rocks and trees.
"Platoon leader, sir... you planning to take all those...?"
Corporal Kurt, prone beside me, whispered with a face gone blue.
"No need to fight them all."
I replied softly, scanning the platoon. Who'd be best for this job? My gaze locked on one soldier. Quiet type, never stood out.
'Status Analysis.'
⚔ STATUS ANALYSIS ⚔📛 Name: Klaus 🧬 Race: Human 🏛 Affiliation: Imperial Army 7th Infantry Regiment 🎖 Rank: Lance Corporal 📊 Status: Extreme tension, fear of combat 😌 Emotion: Pressure to support family, desperate will to survive 🕵️ Hidden Trait: Eagle Eye — Innate superior vision and focus. Specialized for sniping.
'Found him.'
I beckoned Lance Corporal Klaus right away. He crawled over, face full of terror.
"Lance Corporal Klaus."
"Y-yes, sir! Lieutenant!"
"You know how to handle a sniper rifle?"
"Just... what I did back at training camp."
"Good enough. You're our platoon's sniper starting now."
His eyes filled with despair at my words.
"M-me, how could I...!"
"You can do it."
I gripped his shoulder hard.
"Your family's counting on you, right? If you want to get back alive, play your part now. That shaman on the altar—blow his head clean off. Can you?"
I deliberately used the family info from his [Emotion]. It worked instantly. The fear drained from his eyes, replaced by venomous resolve.
"...Understood."
Klaus nodded grimly and started attaching the sniper scope to his rifle.
I called over Sergeant Gunter and the other squad leaders next.
"Here's the plan. The instant Klaus snipes the shaman, 2nd and 3rd Squads under me hit frontal with grenades, then all-out fire. Sergeant Gunter."
"Yes, sir."
"Take 1st Squad and flank around that ridgeline. While we draw their eyes, you hit the side. Goal's maximum chaos. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
Gunter and the squad leaders brimmed with fighting spirit. I met every soldier's eyes one by one.
"Questions?"
"None, sir!"
"Then let's begin."
I watched 1st Squad move out, then shifted to optimal position. Right beside me, Lance Corporal Klaus went fully prone in cover, aiming dead at the shaman's head.
"Fire on my signal."
I waited till 1st Squad was in position on the minimap—the green dots fully flanking the red ones. All set.
I took a deep breath, then ordered Klaus.
"Now."
BANG!
The silence of the forest shattered.