episode_0018

A few days later, five people gathered in the commander’s office.

First of all, it was natural that I was the commander, and then there was my closest associate, Ensign Mario. As soon as I came to the North, I benefited a lot from him sticking by my side in many ways.

Thirdly, former Captain Chloe. Although she was stripped of her captaincy, she continued to remain in the military as a tutor to me, a nobleman.

The third and fourth were Sergeant Andre and Sergeant Rao. These four people, who were used as bodyguards and scouts respectively, were talented people that I focused on and would become key figures in my faction in the future.

“Thank you for gathering today. We have called you to discuss future policy.”

“What is the future policy… ”

Ensign Mario asked back, and I started writing [Operation Meeting] on the large blackboard.

“It would be convenient to think of it as an operational meeting. In the future, Deputy Commander Bernitz will try to keep us in check, and this will be an opportunity for consultation on how we should respond and, furthermore, how we should counterattack and destroy the Bernitz faction.”

“Oh my… ”

Ensign Mario was a reaction restaurant. He obviously knew the content roughly because he had created the raptor with Ensign Mario, but he was making exclamations as if he was hearing it for the first time.

‘This is how you become the closest person.’

I expressed satisfaction with Ensign Mario’s reaction and started the main game.

“Then, anyone is welcome, so please raise your hand and freely plan a strategy.”

But no one raised their hand. Sergeant Rao didn’t seem to be interested at all, and Sergeant Andre was interested but didn’t seem to have any confidence in using his brain. Ensign Mario seemed reluctant to launch the operation himself, wanting to remain in a facilitator role, and Captain Chloe…

‘Why aren’t you planning an operation?’

In fact, it was a time of operation that started with only Captain Chloe, but Captain Chloe did not carry out the operation. I continued to wait for Chloe to come up with a strategy.

“Is there no strategy that comes to mind? Even small things are okay.”

“Hmm… Would you be okay with something really trivial?”

The first to raise his hand was none other than the large, muscular Sergeant Andre.

“Good.”

“The reason I started following you, Commander, was largely because you met His Majesty the Emperor in person.”

What!? What does that mean?

“The commander is a person who has achieved such great achievements that he has even received an award directly from someone as high as His Majesty the Emperor, and is a role model for all soldiers. Since he was that kind of person, I thought I should definitely follow him.”

I’m a little embarrassed. It’s not like he’s a role model for all soldiers. To begin with, he wasn’t even a soldier in the original world.

“But when I met him in person, I felt a little disappointed.”

“Huh? What are some regrets?”

“That’s right… ”

Andre took a long pause and then spoke.

“Muscles… The problem was that I had no muscles. The lack of muscles that a man should have is directly related to his dignity. If you grow some muscles and a beard, I think you will be able to develop a dignity equal to, or even greater than, that of Deputy Commander Bernitz.”

“Muscles and whiskers… memo… ”

Ensign Mario was seriously taking notes on Andre’s nonsense. I held my head. Sergeant Rao was making a bewildered expression, and Captain Chloe was still sitting quietly with an expression of confusion. Soon it was Sergeant Rao who raised his hand.

“Money.”

“Money?”

“To be honest, I joined this faction for the money. I think it would be better to be in one faction or the other. I don’t care whether you are a righteous group or a secret organization trying to summon an evil spirit. As long as the pay is certain. Do you think I’m mean? Unfortunately, there are a lot of people like me. In that respect, the prize money I gave last time was very good. Also, I think that if we win and give away prize money a few times, everyone will naturally turn to this side.”

“Prize… Ira… ”

Mario started taking notes again. He seemed to be planning to take note of all the opinions coming out of this meeting. I also expressed a few opinions, and the meeting proceeded actively. And after some time has passed.

An unexpected person raised his hand. That was former Captain Chloe, who had kept quiet until now.

“Mr. Chloe?”

“I listened carefully to everyone’s opinions. So can I tell you my opinion now?”

For some reason, Chloe’s voice as she said that contained some irritation.

—–

After a while. Chloe wrote the terms Commander Faction and Deputy Commander Faction on a blank blackboard and began explaining the differences between the two factions.

“Commander What do you think the factions came together for?”

“That is out of loyalty to the commander… !”

“Money.”

“Isn’t it an aversion to corruption?”

Each person said something, but Chloe quietly shook her head and wrote something on the board. It was written there:

[safety.]

safety. Only after seeing that word was I able to understand.

“More than half of the commander’s faction is gathered for safety. Those who want to protect themselves from the deputy commander’s faction gather in the commander’s faction. Added value such as money and fame comes next. First, the primary value of safety must be guaranteed for other values to shine.”

“Indeed… ”

“Then what do you think the Deputy Commander faction gathered for?”

“Isn’t that safer too?”

Chloe shook her head and wrote something again under the words “Deputy Commander.” It was written there:

[money.]

Our side is safety, but your side is money? It was quite an interesting story.

“Deputy Commander’s faction is different from ours. They are the owners of this fortress. They are safe from the beginning. The reason such people formed a faction and gathered together was to avoid being exposed to corruption. It’s to make money consistently.”

“… ”

“Then the victory conditions for this game begin to appear. For the Commander faction, the moment safety is lost, everything will fall apart. However, even if everything else falls apart, the officers of the Commander faction will not want to leave without thought. However, the method of causing the deputy commander’s faction to leave is a little different. If you just cut off the money line, you can easily leave. That’s the victory condition for this game.”

I couldn’t help but be amazed when I heard that. I had no choice but to realize it again. I am talented in battle, but when it comes to politics, I am worse than an ordinary person. As expected, I need someone to be my head. In that respect, Chloe was quite an outstanding person.

“But how do you cut off the money line?”

When Ensign Mario asked about the timing, Chloe said something that didn’t make sense.

“Commander, do you have a title?”

“Act? I don’t have any?”

My father, that is, the father of this world, Guillaume Brestmeyer, has it. You will probably pass it on later when you retire.

“I will aim for that.”

“Yes?”

It was only after speaking with her alone that I understood what she meant.

—–

Two weeks later, the capital.

[To my father. I’m doing well. People are saying bad things about the North, saying it is hell and not a place for people to live, but in reality, the North is not that kind of place. It’s a place worth living if you get used to it. It’s a place with lots of nice people, nice scenery, and nice animals. Although it is less warm and barren than the central region due to lack of farming, the northern part is also a place where people connect, so don’t worry too much. Son Georges Brestmeier to father Guillaume Brestmeier.]

Guillaume Brestmaier was smiling with satisfaction as he read his son’s letter. Until last year, I was wondering when I would come to my senses because I was behaving like a fool, but after going to the battlefield and facing the risk of death, I suddenly became more mature and was able to do my part to the best of my ability.

However, the letter was not just one page. There was another letter hidden inside the letter. Guillaume accepted the letter.

[But I have one concern. In fact, the North is divided into two factions and is currently at war. One is my faction, which supports the commander, and the other is the Bernitz faction, which supports the deputy commander. I knew that my father had warned me not to fight with Bernitz and that if I did, I would lose, but it didn’t work out that way. However, I will write in detail the water that has already been spilled and the current situation, so if you do something helpful for me, I will not forget this incident and will repay the favor for a long time in my family.]

Guillaume Brestmaier held his head. Bernitz is also an aristocrat. Although it is not as prestigious as the Duke of Brestmaier, the Bernitz family is not far behind, and the Bernitz family’s influence is stronger in the northern part of the country. That’s why they told us not to fight, that they would inevitably lose if we fought in the center, but why did they end up turning us into enemies?

However, if you have already turned your enemy, you must win. There are unfavorable battles in the world. Guillaume Brestmaier is also a man who has overturned several unfavorable fights.

“It’s an unfavorable fight… ”

For the first time in a long time, I felt my blood boiling.