by Carlo Zen
Copyright
The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 6
Carlo Zen
Translation by Emily Balistrieri Cover art by Shinobu Shinotsuki This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
YOJO SENKI Vol. 6 Nil Admirari ©Carlo Zen 2016
First published in Japan in 2016 by KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo.
English translation rights arranged with KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo, through TUTTLE-MORI AGENCY, INC., Tokyo.
English translation © 2019 by Yen Press, LLC
Yen Press, LLC supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Zen, Carlo, author. | Shinotsuki, Shinobu, illustrator. | Balistrieri, Emily, translator. | Steinbach, Kevin, translator.
Title: Saga of Tanya the evil / Carlo Zen ; illustration by Shinobu Shinotsuki ; translation by Emily Balistrieri, Kevin Steinbach Other titles: Yōjo Senki. English Description: First Yen On edition. | New York : Yen ON, 2017-- Identifiers: LCCN 2017044721 | ISBN 9780316512442 (v. 1 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316512466 (v. 2 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316512480 (v. 3 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316560627 (v. 4 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316560696 (v. 5 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316560719 (v. 6 : pbk.) Classification: LCC PL878.E6 Y6513 2017 | DDC 895.63/6---dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017044721
ISBNs: 978-0-316560719 (paperback) 978-0-316-56073-3 (ebook) E3-20190628-JV-NF-ORI
[chapter] I Winter Operation: Limited Offensive
LATE NOVEMBER, UNIFIED YEAR 1926, IMPERIAL ARMY'S FRONTLINE AREA IN THE EAST, SALAMANDER KAMPFGRUPPE'S GARRISON
A vast number of horses and vehicles are dropping off the cargo they transported... It's the arrival of the supplies we've been hoping for.
I have to hand it to the supply unit, pulling off this superhuman feat despite the falling snow. The guys in the rear deserve praise for chipping away at this difficult job.
Everything is being unloaded in an organized fashion and promptly turned over to the Salamander Kampfgruppe. The shipment includes not only food and ammunition but cold-weather gear, among other matériel necessary for a winter battle.
For that in itself, I'm thankful.
But humans always put themselves first.
Commander of the Salamander Kampfgruppe Lieutenant Colonel Tanya von Degurechaff looks up at the gloomy sky, and a complaint slips out along with her sigh.
"All this is for use in the home country."
"Yes, Colonel."
Cotton-padded cold-weather gear is much too thin for winter in the Federation. The sight alone is enough to make her frown while she watches the brand-new gear getting unloaded.
This is no good. Tanya scans the receipt as her adjutant, First Lieutenant Serebryakov, nods awkwardly next to her.
It's still essentially a list of things they don't have.
In this ultrapractical wartime world, a major worry is how to obtain socks. To think that, driven to avoid frostbite though they may be, every single veteran officer from the lieutenant colonel on down would be worried about socks! The fact that Tanya had to rely on her connections to find any is a terribly unfunny joke.
Thanks to General Winter, even the idea of holding training flights that are essentially trips to smuggle socks isn't beyond consideration.
As far as Tanya has been informed, the Salamander Kampfgruppe is actually getting preferential treatment when it comes to supplies. Since the group is serving directly under the General Staff, friends like Lieutenant Colonel Uger are offering the best possible already. There's nothing better to hope for in the east.
And on top of that, the aerial mage battalion has received a replacement company of mages. We're quite blessed, considering that by simply running little delivery errands, we've been able to make a name for ourselves and get extra accommodations.
"In other words, even we can only get stuff like this..."
The grumbling of the commander of the Salamander Kampfgruppe is indicative of the current situation in the east.
There's an ancient saying about how meat and clothing make a man courteous, but sadly, in war, even clothing never works out the way you'd hope.
"I guess our only saving grace is that we have enough food and ammunition, but..."
Though Tanya is relieved to be resupplied, the gloomy state of the Imperial Army is enough to make her dizzy.
When she looks up without thinking, even the color of the sky annoys her, although she knows she's venting her feelings. Even a single white cloud in the Federation sky would annoy her---she can't help it.
"Colonel?"
"Oh, uh, it's nothing."
The supply personnel must have sensed Tanya's dismay. In response to their concerned expressions, she puts on a wry smile as if to say there's nothing to worry about.
Smiling calmly even when things are bad is a commander's duty. It's been a long time since she desynchronized her inner thoughts from her facial expressions. Having a fearless smile equipped as standard gear is a job she's gotten used to.
"I'm glad I had a chance to be here to observe. Sorry if I got in your way. You can keep working."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The soldiers swallow their questions and tactfully return to their tasks. It's wonderful how disciplined they are. I suppose I should be relieved that this is what the Imperial Army is known for...but I need to make sure the troops don't wear themselves out.
Though their complexions are still all right, I can't deny that the snow and the cold are slowing them down. What would happen if we were cut off from supplies at this point?
Requesting high-calorie rations to replace the insufficient standard meals already puts additional strain on logistics. Most of the supplies the horses and vehicles are struggling to bring us go straight into the soldiers' stomachs. Barely any progress has been made on updating the front's winter gear or stockpiling ammunition for an offensive.
It's not that I'm not grateful for the supplies that do arrive. It's just that their transient nature gives me a headache.
But... Tanya shakes her head to clear away those pessimistic thoughts.
In this irritatingly cold weather, even sighs become visible. It's time for her to leave before her gripes accidentally emerge as a cloud of white breath.
"Okay, Lieutenant Serebryakov, let's head back." Tanya calls her adjutant and sets off.
Her destination is the building their forces requisitioned to use as a headquarters building. The defensive positions have been erected throughout the garrison village with the usual aim of securing the settlement's perimeter.
Tanya smiles smugly at the thought of how much progress has been made if she can walk around openly
without worrying about harassment attacks from enemy forces, partisans, or snipers.
Two officers freely walking side by side is truly a luxury.
If other units stationed on the eastern front hear about the conditions the Salamander Kampfgruppe is enjoying, the stories alone will make them jealous.
The level of safety that allows officers to come and go without needing escorts is enviable. This snapshot shows how incredibly unstable the situation has become in the east.
"...Anyhow, we need to prepare for winter. Let's be frank, Lieutenant Serebryakov. What did you think when you saw that gear?"
"...Colonel, with that stuff, we'll be..."
"Okay, I get it. That's fine. You don't need to say any more."
Serebryakov's voice is even gloomier than expected, so Tanya immediately ends the conversation.
Allowing the men to witness their superior walking around with such a grave expression can't exactly be called proper behavior for a commander.
Once your job entails leadership, you can't be openly agitated.
"Sheesh, I want to wash this down with some hot coffee."
"Luckily, some happened to be delivered with the supply shipment."
"Is that true, Lieutenant?" Tanya cracks a smile. That's good news.
The fact that supplies are still reaching the front means logistics is functioning properly and there's no doubt the army puts some thought into provisions but...for tense war zones like the eastern front, luxury items have a tendency to be low priority.
"The coffee rations are military-grade, or... How should I put this? It meets the lowest standards possible while still being the genuine article."
"I won't ask for anything more, given our circumstances... As long as it's not that nightmarish ersatz stuff they serve in the General Staff dining room, I'll be happy to have it."
"Understood. Leave it to me." Serebryakov wears a winning smile. What an encouraging reply.
"Looking forward to it."
Smiles are proof of composure. Hearing bad news all the time by choice is poor for mental health. Some amount of stress can be motivational, but too much of it is just as debilitating as not having enough.
Time for a break. Tanya cheers up and follows Serebryakov back to their provisional headquarters.
It's nice to have something to look forward to, no matter how small.
"If nothing else, happiness."
"Ma'am?"
Tanya brushes the snow off her clothes, hangs her socks in front of the hearth to dry, exchanges them for a spare pair, and then settles in as she finally gets to enjoy a chance to catch her breath.
I empathize with that poet who missed the sun so well that it makes me sick.
"Ahhh, give me more sun."
"I didn't know you were a poet, Colonel."
"I used to look down on poetry as a pursuit that was creative but unproductive. I was wrong. It's a very human, civilized way of thinking that deserves respect."
It's because we inhabit the extraordinary that we can find joy in how easygoing the ordinary can be.
"So are you going to serve me up some coffee?"
"I'll aim to make it black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, and sweet as love."
"Thanks."
Serebryakov's only joking, but the quip, redolent with her wit and education, is utterly delightful.
She leaves the room with a salute---what a capable adjutant.
Ever since we were paired up on the Rhine front, I've been dragging her around everywhere, and, well...from a human capital perspective, she's making the investment truly worthwhile.
Following the completion of her training, she accumulated a host of experience and is undoubtedly a veteran.
At least we can say that it's not a bad thing for the NCOs who form the foundation of the military to have their act together.
The problem is that it's not the volunteer mages but the conscripts who have evolved into veterans.
Ahhh, Tanya wants to cradle her head and moan. But the shortage of old-hand volunteers is a reality she has to deal with.
"War is lousy, but that doesn't mean we have to be lousy, too. I want to get out of here, but it's tricky. The eastern front right now is a literal quagmire. There's no way out."
They can send tons of personnel to bulk up the front lines, and they can send a whole mountain of supplies to support those personnel, but all of it will simply be swallowed up by the enemy and the snow.
Winter is dreary even in the Empire but it's a world apart from the Federation's winter. If the former is a gloomy sky, then the latter is an endless battle for survival against General Winter. Since neither side seems to mind squandering resources despite the season, this madness continues.
Tanya, who loathes waste by her nature, is simply astounded. Way to go, everyone.
"It's ridiculous to fight a war in weather like this."
Though military rationale demands it, the lack of regard for the national economy is absolutely staggering.
The way each warring country is pouring their budgets into this and racking up debts doesn't strike her as sane. It's less like military expenses are eating into the national budget and more like the budget is military expenses plus a couple of extras---insanity.
Of course, if you're sane and fighting a war, something else is wrong with you.
In the extraordinary, sanity is extremely rare. As a representative example, take the complete breakdown of supply and demand during wartime.
It's quite a vexing problem, deciding whether to call it a failure of the market, curse it as a warping of economic principles caused by government intervention, or classify it as an exception that occurs only under certain circumstances.
As a problem in the fields of economics and ethics, this battle is complex enough that I could probably aim for a doctorate with it. That is, if I get to write a thesis after the war.
What little remaining sanity I have is terribly precious. I can only hurl myself into the world of philosophy and sacrifice my sanity for a degree once this war is over and things return to normal.
On the battlefield, all you can do is keep attrition to a minimum and sleep when sleep can be had. The duties demanded of Tanya now are fighting with all her might, resting as much as possible, and keeping herself in good condition however she can.
In that sense, a luxury item like coffee is certainly a welcome refreshment.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting, Colonel."
It's here? Tanya looks up without thinking; she's missed coffee for so long. Getting to drink real, hot coffee in a war zone---and at the frontline headquarters of the Kampfgruppe---is priceless.
When Serebryakov returns, Tanya smells a fragrance she had nearly forgotten.
"I'm surprised, Lieutenant. Could this be...?"
"Yes, I don't think they've managed to replicate the scent artificially yet."
Tanya's eyes pop open because it catches her off guard. She looks at the cup of coffee she's been offered and murmurs, "It sure doesn't smell like the military stuff."
Even with a body overwhelmed by the snow and cold, there's no way she would mistake it. This beautiful fragrance is coffee. When she takes a sip, she thinks, Ahhh, this is what it means to get emotional! Unfamiliar, alien flavors are minimal, while the taste of the coffee has kept well enough that it's palatable.
Any coffee lover would be able to tell the difference between this and an ersatz version immediately.
"Can I ask if this is really...government ration?"
"Um, I understand how you feel, but...it is government ration."
Serebryakov notes that you never know what you'll get sometimes, but I'm also sure the fact that she was the one who prepared it for me is an important factor in the taste.
Finding someone who can make a good cup of coffee is another difficult thing to do without investing in human capital. Usually, though, the bottleneck is the beans.
It is my firm belief that making a drinkable cup of coffe
e from miserable coffee substitute or poor-quality beans is a feat approaching the realm of alchemy.
"Where is this imported from? I'm surprised they were able to get enough for a whole army, even if that only includes the troops on the eastern front. It must have been quite the challenge."
This is what it means to be grateful yet taken aback.
Tanya had only just been explaining in the document she's writing how frostbite eats into the fighting capacity of the Kampfgruppe.
When your job is to write a petition requesting socks and cold-weather gear while drinking nice coffee, you're bound to feel a little cognitive dissonance.
"Personally, I'm glad the coffee has gotten tastier, but I'd really prefer if command could supply us with what we need to make it through the winter..."
It's fine that they value the effect luxury goods have on frontline morale. But the fact of the matter is that proper food, clothing, and shelter are the most basic necessities, and not having those needs met will be a problem.
Plus, the food, clothing, and shelter usually offered to soldiers are not particularly luxurious.
The bare minimum of civilized conditions and only enough nutrients to do light work will leave them short on calories.
In the army, eating is a duty. To be a good soldier, one must eat. Being able to sleep as required is another quality perennially sought in soldiers.
The reasons are clear.
Energy must always be maintained and combat strength should constantly be kept as high as possible.
Shortages of cold-weather gear and food shouldn't ever happen.
"Should I just have them avoid unnecessary exercise and nap instead? It's not as if we're underwater in a submarine..."
"Excuse me for saying so, ma'am, but though we may not go hungry that way...I think not having the chance to warm up our bodies will also cause problems."
"So you're saying it'd be better to have them outside exercising?"
"Regardless of what we do in the summer, I think it's unavoidable in the winter."
She's right, thinks Tanya, shaking her head to change gears.
It's great that cold-weather and other gear are being sent over with a winter battle in mind.
Issues are piling up little by little, but we don't have to despair yet.
