I picked this up because the main characters seems interesting after 3 chapters and I like the artist, and while there were a few decent moments plus good military stuff, it is ultimately underwhelming. It's not bad but it's not good either, usually I wouldn't have a problem with stories like that as long as the hook or premise is something that can make one read it regardless of it's flaws (especially if you have high tolerance for poor quality as long as it clicks with you in one aspect), but this manga doesn't have such a thing. I've never read the novel nor watchedthe anime so I don't really know what to expect, after some chapters in it promised some grand plot about "losing the war, but not be left devastated in the aftermath" or something along that line. That doesn't happen. The manga just abruptly ends with a time skip, and not even close to the anticipated premise it set up. In summation the story feels like a prologue to what should have been the real plot, and it ends just before that plot could begin.

It's not all bad however. As mentioned earlier the military related stuff (it's mostly just tactics and less strategical in nature) are for the most part enjoyable, the characters are bland and very stereotypical but Ikta the main character carries the whole thing; in other words, if you don't like him there's really no reason to read this whatsoever. There is one, admittedly cheap, scenario that tugged my heartstring, but one decent moment isn't worth reading what felt like 30 chapters of filler content.