A Groundbreaking Proposal

“Those of you instructors who are war veterans will all remember. A machine device that appeared at the end of the Great War, as big as a mountain and with a sturdy body.”

An easy explanation of tactics stems from perfect understanding.

To expound on the strategic doctrine of Blitzkrieg, which didn’t exist in the past, to the instructors, I recalled online lectures I had seen in my past life and continued speaking in a calm tone as if possessed by a famous lecturer.

“It was the equipment named ‘tank’ at the time. It was reinforced with armor plating that was difficult to penetrate with infantry rifles, and equipped with endlessly rotating tracks that helped neutralize infantry trenches and machine gun positions.”

While Erika had continued her speech meticulously, tensing up as per the textbook presentation style, and Lina had boldly shown her personal views in a confident tone,

“But looking at this new weapon, I had one question. Couldn’t it be used like the heavy cavalry of the medieval era?”

I used a friendly tone with the mindset of convincing everyone.

This occasion wasn’t set up to engage in a battle of wills.

Traditionally, a presentation isn’t just about showing off prepared content to others with an aggressive stance like ‘I researched this much! Don’t you think my opinion is the most rational?’, but it can also be done in a discussion format like ‘How about this method?’.

I decided to make them want to take me as a disciple, rather than giving an overwhelming impression by flaunting competence.

“I wondered if we couldn’t devise a groundbreaking operation by incorporating tanks into Bern’s unique strategy and tactics that emphasize mobility and firepower.”

“Hmm.”

“Well, continue speaking.”

Derian and Rommer put down their scoring sheets and looked up at the podium with interest.

It must be refreshing to hear such an argument from a candidate who at best might have just read through the basic textbooks. The instructors in the back weren’t much different either.

Everyone transformed into a single student listening to a lecture, opening their eyes and ears wide.

“Of course, you instructors might have concerns. How can we develop mobile tactics with that outdated equipment that’s even slower than infantry movement speed! That’s what you might be thinking.”

Tap!

“However, this concern only stands if technological development had stagnated since the Great War a decade ago. Our great Bern Empire is achieving continuous technological revolutions even at this very moment!”

Finally, the main point. As I ended the long introduction, I pointed to the drawings I had attached to the blackboard.

“Th-This is?”

“What quality of material…”

The instructors moved their gaze following my gesture, and soon let out exclamations.

“Where did you get this information, Yena Freud?”

“Ah, I hope you don’t misunderstand. These are all materials that candidates are authorized to handle. Like other children, I diligently searched through books.”

Changes in mobility figures according to the development of tank engines.

Statistics on tank performance that has been developing rapidly since around the Imperial Year 130 when the Workers’ Party began to seize power.

Excellent visual materials that could enhance the understanding of faculty members including Derian and Rommer were prepared on the blackboard.

“The only difference is that I was more diligent in my research.”

I drew a crescent-like curve with the corners of my eyes towards Derian, who was looking at the scene on the podium in a half-standing posture with his buttocks off the chair.

It wasn’t a lie. All the information shared by Director Serty was carefully composed of materials accessible to students to avoid any controversy about special treatment.

I had merely extracted data from documents boasting expertise that candidates could never interpret, such as theses or reports submitted by seniors as graduation projects.

“As you can see from these figures, if the rate of engine improvement maintains its current rate of increase, by at least Imperial Year 140, tanks can be sufficiently utilized as shock troops on the frontline.”

Even up to this point, the presentation was on a different level from the shoddy reports of the candidates.

“I am going to formally introduce the Blitzkrieg, a strategic doctrine of encirclement and annihilation using these advantages of tanks, aimed at striking and encircling infantry on a large scale.”

However, there were still many more pages left in the report.

“First, use air power to dominate the airspace, cut off the enemy’s supply routes such as railways to cause disruption of infantry, and bomb key strongholds to eliminate the enemy’s communication network while simultaneously weakening the front line.”

Tap!

“Second, assuming the restoration of magic battalions, deploy them to the rear along with airborne troops to secure passages that will become breakthroughs in advance.”

Thud!

“Third, mobilize as much artillery as possible in the rear of the front line to concentrate firepower, and carry out rapid mobile operations to the places previously occupied by the magic battalions by breaking through the enemy defense line with armored divisions gathering tanks.”

Tap!

“Fourth, while the leading armored units continue to advance, regular infantry divisions and reserves clean up the remaining enemy forces in the rear and fill the front line to establish a defensive posture.”

Thud, tap tap!

Seeing the generals’ heads moving up, down, left, and right following the wooden pointer, I felt as if I had become their commander.

As if showing that they had never even imagined using tanks, they marveled every time I uttered a line of dialogue.

“Is that a feasible tactic?”

“If tanks really progress as that child says…”

“Is, is that really a candidate? No matter how I look at it, this doesn’t seem like content a first-year could write?”

It wasn’t a passionate reaction reminiscent of Munch’s The Scream, grabbing their hair.

However, it was a satisfactory achievement just to have imprinted in their minds the idea of mobile warfare using armor, which was romance itself, besides passive infantry tactics.

“Haha, it’s an interesting argument. It reminds me of Superior Lutz.”

“Armor, huh…”

Derian and Rommer were even more impressed. With their flexible and quick-thinking minds compared to other soldiers, they had already recognized the true value of the report.

“You might think this is just an optimistic outlook from an immature cadet. However, I firmly believe that this tactic will effectively damage neighboring countries with outdated doctrines that emphasize infantry.”

I rolled up the papers with drawings that I had pinned up extensively.

Derian and Rommer couldn’t bring themselves to ask questions and just laughed heartily. I didn’t know exactly what it meant, but it was clearly a positive sign.

The observers were the same. Rather than critiquing, they were chewing over the contents of the report like Go players reviewing a game after it ended.

“This concludes Yena Freud’s presentation. Thank you.”

It was a perfect, no, an indescribably successful report presentation beyond that word.

Clap clap clap clap─!

It was the moment when a student who would become a legend of the Magic Tactics Planning Department in future generations was born.

---

“Haha, hahaha!”

The laughter doesn’t stop. Is this really a report made by a candidate?

“He’s crazy…”

Late at night, after successfully completing the research project, when the instructors and cadets had returned to their respective quarters, Derian was smoking a cigar alone.

On his desk in the Magic Tactics Planning Department office lay Yena’s research report.

“An advance operation using tanks? Ha!”

It was a crucible of shock. To think that the scrap metal that had only served as a shield for infantry with its trembling mobility would be used as a needle to pierce through the front line.

It was similar yet different from Superior Lutz’s style.

He advocated using armor like a hammer to soften the front line, and using the main force among the infantry as the piercing sword.

However, Yena’s position was to use armored units as both the hammer and the anvil.

At first, he thought this child could make mistakes too, and planned to rebuke her after the presentation, asking what nonsense she was talking about, but…

‘When she shows the statistics, I have to believe it.’

Moreover, the sources were literature from the Astrakhan Military Academy, which thoroughly guaranteed reliability.

Looking at the exponential improvement in tank performance, it couldn’t be said that Yena was wrong.

No, to be honest, she was right.

Like residents of a kingdom that erected anti-foreign steles unable to accept new things, he couldn’t believe it at once after listening to just a twenty-minute presentation at most.

“That’s why Officer Rommer left first, saying he’d research it alone…”

I, too, intended to independently verify the topic Yena had selected, following him.

‘Anyway, it’s a perfect score.’

Even if it wasn’t true, she had conducted novel research with a challenging attitude and prepared convincing supporting materials, so it’s a perfect score.

If it was true, it was a perfect score without question. No, it was at a level sufficient to formally commission her even before the qualification review.

“…I wonder if he’ll like it too.”

Derian picked up the report while brushing his forehead hair neatly rolled up with pomade with one hand.

There was one man who had a great interest in strategies using armor.

He would surely be interested in Yena’s report. Having been friends for decades, he knew the guy’s tastes better than anyone.

He must be working hard in a foreign land, shouldn’t I send him a gift?

It also conflicted with the topic he was currently researching, saying he’d write a thesis.

You never know?

They might meet later.

‘I should have a handwritten copy made first.’

Finishing his contemplation, Derian stood up to deliver the report to the secretary.

‘I should sleep comfortably today…’

Crack!

His shoulders were stiff from grading uniformly for nearly forty cadets.

…Could it be a cold?

The fact that he couldn’t move at all gave him a bad feeling. This looks like a terrible future awaits when I wake up tomorrow.

“Ah, the grading.”

Scribble, scribble, scribble, scribble!

On Yena’s evaluation sheet, which he hadn’t touched yet, he circled every item without exception.

Normally, he should decide the score in consultation with the other officer in charge, Rommer, but well, if he listened to the presentation normally, he would understand this score.

There was no additional work to be done here.

He moved to request a copy.

‘I wonder what that bastard Schumann will say.’

Grinning─

While imagining the reaction of his only close friend.