Brilliant Idea

“You also attended the Labor Party’s banquet, didn’t you?”

“How did you know about that…”

The man, as big as a grizzly bear, shot a light close to incandescent from his eyes. A boyishness seeped through Berto, who always boasted a cold and solemn atmosphere.

It was a rare sight, giving me a subtle pleasure, but on the other hand, I was perplexed as I had never received such an enthusiastic welcome before.

“I’ll tell you slowly, so please calm down…”

Thud, trudge!

Even I, who had steadily maintained my steps in front of a big shot like the Prime Minister, retreated a step or two.

I didn’t know he was such a zealous party member.

“I attended at the invitation of the Party Leader.”

“A-ahem. Invitation?”

“Yes, he kindly invited me to his mansion to commend my strong contribution to the arsonist’s arrest. Minister Erius and Paulo were also there…”

I burst into silent laughter as I answered the questions that poured out like a floodgate opening.

I knew he supported the Labor Party. After all, he was a person involved in the “Night of Long Knives” incident. However, I didn’t expect him to be at a level where he would openly talk about it.

He’s a soldier who should advocate political neutrality and a representative figure in the department who needs to establish discipline among the members.

“The Party Leader bestowed quite a luxury upon me.”

“Party Leader… I see. You were already a party member, Yena.”

But look at this man.

“A cadet who’s a Labor Party member, hahaha! I thought all the new recruits were stupid, but there were indeed gems among them!”

Pat, pat!

“Yena Freud, if anyone tries to criticize you for trivial reasons, don’t hesitate to tell me. It’s a senior’s natural duty to protect their junior.”

Far from political neutrality, he’s openly taking my side.

A senior’s duty to protect a junior?

Unlike Ithrite, Berto isn’t such a kind-hearted guy. Anyone can see that he’s sending a warning to all the cadets in the department who are present at this meeting.

Touch her and you’re dead.

“Let’s, let’s quickly go do our assignments.”

“Yeah, let’s do that…”

The effect was tremendous; those who had been subtly gossiping behind my back until just now clamped their mouths shut and started to slip away.

“Hmm, the instructors want to see you, so I’ll be going now.”

It was a favor that naturally made me feel secure.

“Then, take care.”

In response to such a kind gesture, I bowed at a right angle more than usual and sent Berto a fresh eye smile reminiscent of a cat.

Why would I have any reason to refuse when he’s offering to treat me?

Trudge, trudge!

By the way, I didn’t expect Labor Party members to reveal themselves on campus so soon. Before having a joyful reunion with the instructors, I briefly turned back to stare at Berto while scratching my cheek.

They didn’t operate to this extent in the past. Moreover, the Labor Party hasn’t even taken power yet.

Did my actions become a catalyst?

Even within the military, the faction supporting the Labor Party is not insignificant, so how would the military academy be any different? My radical actions have stimulated those who were shrinking back.

Berto must be one of them. It’s small, but my actions have brought about political change for the first time.

Can this be seen as part of changing history too?

Creak!

I pushed open the firmly closed office door, wondering if this change might cause ripples.

“You must be tired from coming from far away, rest comfortably.”

“Thank you for your words, then I’ll be going.”

“Yes, don’t worry about the punishment.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Click!

I came out of the office after putting a period to the conversation that lasted nearly an hour.

“Yena, are you leaving now?”

“Yes, I think I need to put my luggage in the dormitory.”

“Ah, right… You really need to rest too. Alright, see you tomorrow!”

“Then I’ll be going first.”

Then I greeted Ithrite, who was concentrating on work in one corner of the department room, and slipped out of the building.

“Haah…”

Finally, the long, long schedule has come to an end.

It really was eventful.

I looked down at my clothes. I had to spend tiresome hours being called here and there without even having time to change my coat, which had become dirty from the long journey.

The fatigue was even greater because the people I dealt with were not just fellow cadets, but instructors, and people of a level I couldn’t treat carelessly.

It ended quickly because Rommer and Derian didn’t say much.

“…They’re really interesting men.”

I gently raised the corners of my mouth as I recalled the brief but intense conversation with them. It was a favorable attitude different from Lustet’s.

They didn’t say much about my speech representing the Labor Party and my actions of joining the party. They just gave basic encouragement, saying I did well and should rest comfortably.

What does that mean?

Trudge, trudge!

How can I lose my smile when I can roughly guess the reason? I moved my steps cheerfully, swaying my black hair.

“If it’s Derian and Rommer… it might be possible.”

It’s a future I’m really looking forward to.

---

“Get up, we need to continue.”

“Mmm!”

Crunch, bang!

A thunderous sound that didn’t match the bright early summer weather split the heavens and earth.

“Eeek!”

Following that, a girl’s scream-like groan rushed into the desolate open space.

“One, one more time please!”

“Alright.”

It was Erika’s training scene.

Of course, nothing had changed in that it wasn’t a normal process where sparring partners grow together, but rather a process of repeatedly breaking and shattering alone, but there were changes nonetheless.

She’s improved a lot.

Whoosh, whoosh!

The punches should be light, but don’t they feel heavier than before, and hasn’t she become considerably agile?

“There’s an opening here.”

Poke─

“Eek!”

Although not perfect, it’s a great improvement compared to the beginning of the semester. I was satisfied just seeing Erika’s daily changes in the two weeks since returning to the military academy.

She’ll be able to take care of herself now.

I no longer worried about her. If I had to care about something, I’m more interested in my own tasks ahead.

Swish!

“That’s it for today, good job Erika.”

“Huu, is, is it over?”

“Yes.”

“Aah─, finally!”

Thinking we’ve met today’s quota, I showed my palm to her, who was standing almost on the verge of fainting, signaling the end of the sparring.

“Then I’ll rest for a bit…”

Then, passing by Erika who lay down on the ground like a broken reed and closed her eyelids, I sat in the shade in the corner of the open space to take a break.

Rustle!

Taking out the newspaper I had left off reading in the morning was a bonus.

“Labor Party wins unprecedented 300 seats in general election landslide, Communist Party shocked by crushing defeat with 19 fewer seats than before…”

“Prime Minister Erdoff expresses gratitude for each precious vote from the people and promises to do his best to realize the wishes of the Bern people…, Communist Party leader absent from parliament today.”

“Social Democratic Party spokesperson declares cooperation with Labor Party for national prosperity, shows movement to jointly submit Enabling Act…”

“It’s over.”

I briefly read a few passages, but what stood out was already determined.

The Labor Party securing a majority of seats, and the submission of the Enabling Act, also known as the Plenary Powers Act. It was a signal that the Imperial Parliament had completely fallen into Erdoff’s hands.

Soon, all parties except the Labor Party will be dissolved, and Bern will fall further into the Prime Minister’s embrace.

Moreover, perhaps due to the influence of my actions, the Labor Party has gained more seats than in the past and has become even stronger. It was a situation that couldn’t be better for me.

In the end, they will handle external affairs well on their own, and I only needed to focus on matters inside and outside the military academy.

How nice it would be if it were as easy as it sounds.

“Ugh, my body won’t move, Yena…”

“Tsk.”

While watching Erika sprawled out and rolling her eyes, I frowned as I tapped the roots that had fallen from the tree trunk to the ground.

Reality wasn’t so easy.

What good is it if things go well with Erika or the external political situation? Somewhere, the thread always gets tangled.

The number of troublemakers has increased.

Was it since I returned to the military academy, or to be precise, right after I gave the speech at the Ministry of Interior?

It was like that from the beginning, but after returning under the media spotlight, the checks became even more severe. The pathetic antics of narrow-minded officers continued.

“Hello, I’m Yena Freud.”

“Oh, yes.”

“I came to get approval for accessing military data for a research project under Instructor Hintz von Derian’s department. If it’s not too much trouble, would it be possible?”

“…I’ll contact the superiors once and call you back.”

It’s been almost a week since I heard these words.

If this isn’t blatant obstruction, what is it? Approval from superiors? I knew better than anyone that such a procedure wasn’t necessary.

“Erika.”

“Phew… Yeah? Why did you call?”

“Did you receive the statistics I requested before?”

“Yes! Why?”

“Just that I find it admirable how diligently you’re working on the research project.”

I didn’t even request data that falls under military secrets, so what permission is needed, and even that blue-haired girl smiling innocently over there easily received the data?

They must be in the process of stalling.

The anti-Labor Party faction, their beloved Communist Party not just crumbling but the protagonist being a commoner, they must be filled with malice.

Swish─

It’s just laughable. If they mistook me for an ordinary cadet who would stupidly just take it, it was a big mistake. If they come at me so disgustingly, I had my own methods too.

“Erika, let’s go now.”

“Okay! But where are you going, Yena?”

A very innovative method.

“I’m going to borrow a phone for a moment.”