Research Project Implementation

The promise with Helena began to bear fruit about two days later.

“Yena, good morning.”

Lina, who always tried to smile as if nothing was different but couldn’t hide her dejected voice, was surprisingly full of energy this morning, even greeting me first.

Ernst must be quick to respond.

He had shown overt hostility towards the imperial family, saying he would send a letter of protest.

What’s a week?

Not even three days had passed, but judging from Lina’s reaction, I couldn’t even guess how quickly he had sent the letter.

“Yena, would you like some meat? I’m full.”

“Oh, I’d like…”

“Ahem! Yena, can I eat it instead?”

“…Sure, you can eat as much as you want.”

Thanks to this, we welcomed a day full of vitality incomparable to usual.

If we had moved our forks and knives silently during lunch, influenced by Lina’s gloomy appearance before, today we shared our meal in a friendly atmosphere, like a family sitting around together.

“Munch munch, Lina, if you’re not going to eat this sausage…”

“Yes, you can have it.”

“Wow, thanks!”

“Hold it right there, I didn’t say you could take the pasta.”

“Oh, is that so? Hehe…”

I drew an upward curve at the corners of my eyes as I stared intently at Erika and Lina engaged in conversation close to a comedy act. Lina’s favorable attitude implied two important things.

One was that Ernst had finally stepped up as the resolver of the incident, as mentioned earlier, and the other was none other than Helena.

It meant she was keeping her promise well.

If Helena had broken her oath and revealed everything to Lina, from the conflict at the cafe to all that had happened in Sevirpol, I can assure you we wouldn’t have seen that face of Lina’s.

She would have approached with clenched lips and stiff steps from the start of class, and by now, instead of having a meal at this time, she would have called me out somewhere like on the enrollment day and made some kind of threat.

“You look particularly happy today.”

“Ah. Do I?”

“Yes. Your expression has brightened up.”

“Hmm─, something like that.”

Just imagining it was annoying. The fact that Helena had betrayed her would have made her blood boil, starting the day in the worst mood possible.

“Shall we get up now?”

“Sure.”

“Wait a sec, I’m not done eating!”

I put down my utensils and headed out of the dining hall. Usually, after finishing the meal, we would have headed to the training ground or physical training area.

Thud, thud!

But today was different.

Creak!

“Oh, you’re here!”

“Senior Itrit, it’s an honor to see you.”

“Yena Freud, fortunately, you’re not late.”

“Senior Berto, I hope you’ve been well.”

It was the day of presenting the research report, after all.

“Th-There are so many people…”

“Yes. It’s the top research department of the military academy. There will be more observers than in other places.”

Although I hadn’t visited the Magic Tactics Planning Department for a long time due to preparing for the presentation recently, not much had changed since my last visit. If there was one thing clearly different from before:

The human wave, men with their shoulders adorned with brilliant rank insignia, forming a sea of people filling the department room.

“Oh, Instructor Gartel? And isn’t that the Principal next to him?”

“Hmm, it’s been two months, hasn’t it, Yena? It’s good to see your face. What’s your topic?”

“Wouldn’t it reduce the fun if I revealed it in advance? I’ve prepared a subject that I’m sure you’ll find satisfactory when you see it, Principal.”

“Hoho, I see. I’ll look forward to it.”

Gartel, Administrative Officer and Candidate Instructor.

Rustet, Commander-in-Chief of Eastern Bern and Principal of the Military Academy.

“Your names were… Erika and Lina, right?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“It’s an honor that you remember us, Principal.”

“Hoho, it’s nothing. I’m just trying to maintain the proper attitude of an educator. Anyway, I hope you’ll do well in the evaluation without getting nervous.”

“Yes, thank you!”

The two cornerstones of the military academy had both gathered. Even this alone was enough to make for a daunting level of observers, but the department’s popularity didn’t end there.

“Oh my, isn’t that General Derian! It’s been so long!”

“Haha, indeed it has.”

“And could that be…”

“Erwin Rommer, instructor at the Bern Military School.”

“Ah, the one who’s taking on the role of temporary officer in charge?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Hoho… Nice to meet you! I’m the 3rd year instructor…”

Following dozens of instructors who came to the department room to get acquainted with Derian and Rommer, who had given numerous teachings while being in charge, and other staff members who came to see Gartel and Rustet.

It’s like a social gathering.

Without exaggeration, most of Astrakhan Military Academy’s forces had gathered. It was truly a moment to feel the status of the Magic Tactics Planning Department.

“Y-Y-Yena. Shall we go sit over there?”

“Why are you so nervous?”

“How can I not be? Look around…”

Naturally, such a scene did not have a good influence on the cadets.

If they can’t even easily face their own class instructors, how would it be when people they’ve never even seen before come?

It would be good if they just became stiff in their movements or stuttered, but with the pressure squeezing the air, there would surely be at least one cadet who would forget their script.

Moreover, since today’s protagonists were still candidates showcasing their immaturity, I was certain that many mishaps would occur.

“I’m rather looking forward to it.”

“L-Lina?”

“It’s an opportunity to show the report we’ve prepared diligently in front of the instructors.”

“Huh…”

Of course, there were some cadets who interpreted the situation optimistically like Lina.

That’s a good attitude, regardless of the outcome.

Children with this mindset eventually become heroes of Bern. Confidence is the most necessary virtue for a soldier, and there is no one braver than those who express their opinions with conviction without being daunted by pressure.

“I believe in Erika. You’ve been practicing hard all this time, right?”

“Y-Yes!”

“There’s no need to be scared, just do your best.”

“Okay, I got it!”

Erika quickly regained her spirit with the endless encouragement and straightened her shoulders. We were only able to find our seats after saluting dozens of times to the instructors.

“Then, we will now begin the public presentation of research reports for the Magic Tactics Planning Department. I ask all the distinguished guests in attendance to please take your designated seats. Department members, please come up to the podium in the order you are called to introduce your reports.”

Just before the department room transformed into a meeting place with the spreading hubbub, Derian picked up the microphone to restore order in the room.

“Cadet Number 1, Adelheid von Müller.”

Finally, as the commotion that had filled the air subsided and all the faculty members, including Rustet and Gartel, sat down, the presentations began.

“Hmm…”

“Hm, is this really the Magic Tactics Planning Department? Disappointing…”

“Let’s wait. There are still more than fifty left.”

As each cadet took their turn, while Derian and Rommer quietly played with their pencils making evaluations, the instructors in the back showed various reactions.

Some let out sighs close to criticism, sometimes they just fiddled with their mustaches as if indifferent, and occasionally, for reports worth listening to, they leaned forward to focus on the cadet’s voice.

Clap clap clap!

“That was good content! I’d even like to make it a thesis topic myself!”

“You there, how about working in my direct department after you graduate from school?”

And then, for the few perfect presentations among all presenters, that is, presentations deserving full marks considering they were candidates, they gave praise along with applause.

“Phew, phew!”

So far, the only student who received so-called high praise was Erika.

“Good job, Erika. It was an excellent presentation.”

I patted the back of Erika, who was holding her chest with both hands folded neatly, sticking out her tongue and taking deep breaths, as if her heart was pounding.

You showed skills surpassing your practice.

“Is it not possible to conduct an advance operation bypassing the terrain called Rasputitsa?”

“Yes, unfortunately, it’s impossible!”

“Why?”

“To occupy the capital Moscow or other major cities like Sevirpol, it’s inevitable to pass through this area, and even if we somehow advance ignoring the terrain, we can’t maintain the supply line and soon reach the culmination point of the offensive!”

“…I see. And the improvement measures are logs and wide-gauge tracks, right?”

“Y-Yes, that’s right.”

She handled Rommer’s sharp questions well without getting flustered. In addition, as if she had practiced pronunciation separately, she barely stuttered during the long twenty minutes, except for two or three times.

“Y-Yes, if Yena says so, that’s a relief… I was really nervous.”

“Now you can rest easy.”

While stroking the crown of her head as she completely relaxed in her chair like melting jelly, I glanced at the scoring sheet faintly visible in front.

Scribble, scribble, scribble!

Even at a glance, the paper full of circles compared to other cadets allowed me to guess her score. Just looking at the actions of the officers in charge shrugging their shoulders showed how excellent it was.

I was certain it was the highest score among the cadets who had presented so far.

“Next, Candidate Number 21.”

Soon, that record might be broken.

“Lina Victoria Wilhelm Hohenzollern.”

Murmur, murmur!

Coincidentally, the next in line after Erika was the girl who attracted everyone’s attention. The instructors naturally stopped what they were doing and turned their gaze to the podium.

“Fighting, Lina!”

“…Thanks.”

Lina stepped onto the podium with Erika’s encouragement at her back.