Reversed Situation

“She’s a sore thumb.”

Rustet clicked his tongue as he prepared administrative documents to proceed with the ‘Eastern Military Advisory Group Dispatch’.

It was a decision he had to make reluctantly, as he needed to remove her, the source of conflict, from the military academy.

No matter how talented she was, she had to follow the military’s laws like everyone else. Yena was someone trying to break those rules.

‘Regardless of her intentions.’

It didn’t matter what her true intentions were. As long as she caused significant cracks in the discipline of the military academy, she would be cut off like pruning a tree.

Even if Yena opposed this, it would be a meaningless resistance.

‘No matter how capable she is, she’s still just a cadet.’

He acknowledged her talent.

She was the most promising student he had seen in his life.

But Yena was only a first-year student. She had no authority to defy the military academy’s decision.

“Commander, we must remove Yena Freud from the military academy to maintain discipline and finally resolve conflicts within the military! Isn’t she an agent of the Workers’ Party? Please make a wise decision!”

“That’s right, how about sending her to the East this time?”

“I also cast my vote in favor of this person’s opinion. If we use the method of dispatching her as part of the military advisory group, there won’t be any procedural issues.”

“Commander Rustet, please make a judgment for the greater good! She’s just someone clinging to a prime minister who’s nothing more than a former corporal.”

How convenient it was that once the stage of the instructor meeting was set, the men who valued the military academy’s discipline and rules naturally agreed to Yena’s disposition.

As many as ten people, ten.

Yena didn’t yet have the ability to face the principal of Astrakhan Military Academy and ten instructors. This was a battle decided by political standing built over decades, regardless of individual prowess.

‘Erika and Lina will be separated into different classes.’

If Yena were to leave Astrakhan in four days, he planned to neatly dismantle her core group.

The focal point of the Workers’ Party must be crushed.

Then the school would regain peace once again.

“Phew…”

I’m sorry, but what can I do? The principal must prioritize the fate of the entire school over a single cadet.

Rustet lit a cigar, put it in his mouth, and continued writing the unfinished documents.

Clank!

“Hm?”

Creeak─

Until the firmly closed wooden door opened.

“I greet you, Principal.”

“Gartel?”

It was his first visit to the office since their severe conflict over Yena’s disposition last time.

“What brings you here?”

Rustet put down his cigar in the ashtray and looked up at Gartel, who was approaching with his back straight.

“If you’ve come about Yena, forget it. It’s already out of your hands.”

Rustet sternly warned him that if he had come with the intention of overturning the disposition order, still not giving up, it would be reckless.

‘I understand the strong attachment due to the teacher-student relationship, but…’

Sometimes one needs to know how to accept reality. She might be a cadet he’s more fond of than others, having even written a recommendation letter for the Magic Tactics Planning Department, but what can be done?

It was an official order from the military academy.

As an instructor, he needed to follow it.

Shoo, shoo!

Rustet waved his hand, meaning to quickly let go of the idea if that was the case. His intention was to prevent another argument with Gartel like before.

Thud, thud, thud!

But Gartel didn’t stop walking.

Rather, seeing the principal casually gesturing, he increased his pace even more.

He strode closer to the desk where Rustet was working.

“Wh-What are you doing?”

It was no use even when Rustet raised his hand, looking at Gartel approaching with an expressionless face. He narrowed the distance to where their bodies would collide in one step, stomping his military boots forcefully.

“Principal Rustet.”

Gartel’s face, visiting the principal’s office without warning, was more detached than anyone’s.

Is this what it looks like when a person maintains extreme composure?

“I’ve come to speak about Yena Freud’s 《Order of Affiliation Disposition》.”

Although Gartel had golden blonde hair that shone brilliantly, his expression remained colorless in contrast as he looked down at the principal.

“I told you there’s nothing more to say about that!”

Despite Rustet’s repeated warnings, he finally brought up the controversial topic.

‘Has he lost his reason?’

Rustet shook his head, meeting Gartel’s unyielding gaze.

How can someone who’s supposed to be an instructor be swayed by emotions?

Even if he thought Yena Freud’s disposition was unfair, his current behavior was irresponsible, ignoring a decision made through proper administrative procedures.

“I’m disappointed that you’re acting like this.”

He had trusted Gartel until now because he maintained composure in any situation and cleanly followed the military’s judgments…

“Leave immediately, Administrative Officer Gartel.”

He shows an ugly side, disobeying a superior’s order because he’s fond of a single cadet.

Rustet stood up abruptly to match Gartel’s eye level and pointed his finger at the wide-open entrance where the corridor was visible.

Thud!

However, Gartel didn’t budge an inch. It was a declaration from Rustet, who once commanded the empire and had overflowing authority as a soldier, but he ignored it and stood his ground with both feet firmly planted.

“Instructor Gar-!”

A chilly air enveloped the principal’s office. Just as Rustet was about to express his anger at Gartel for treating a superior’s order lightly,

“Come in.”

Gartel suddenly gestured to the air.

“What…?”

Rustet stopped mid-sentence, considerably flustered by his sudden action.

Thud, thud!

“Wh-Who are you all?”

Gartel wasn’t alone.

He hadn’t come to the principal’s office to act rashly.

“We greet you, Principal.”

“We greet you, Commander Rustet.”

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen you.”

In an instant, the room was filled with men in officer uniforms. Rustet couldn’t continue speaking and looked at the men surrounding his desk.

‘What’s going on all of a sudden?’

They’re all instructors, aren’t they?

Why is Gartel commanding them?

Some were officers in charge of second and third-year classes, so they shouldn’t have had much connection with Gartel. But without exception, they all complied with his gestures and their movements were controlled by him.

“Principal Rustet, with the agreement of ten instructors including the Administrative Officer of Astrakhan Military Academy, we request the convening of an 《Emergency Meeting》.”

“Wh-What?”

“According to the military academy management regulations, when requesting a reconsideration of an agenda passed in the 《Instructor Meeting》, discussion is possible on the condition of obtaining consent from instructors equal to the number of participants in the original meeting.”

Rustet’s shock didn’t end there.

“The total number of instructors who approved Yena’s 《Order of Affiliation Disposition》 was ten, and the total number of instructors gathered here is also ten.”

He hadn’t expected Gartel to launch a counterattack with such thorough preparation.

“Ah, but what about those two over there? Didn’t they disagree with the Eastern dispatch until then? How can they change their minds now!”

Moreover, weren’t some of the men who entered this room participants in the original instructor meeting? Could they have betrayed him?

“Ah, ahem. I’m sorry.”

“Upon reflection, it seems it wasn’t the right decision.”

To think that these individuals, who used to have fits at the mere mention of the Workers’ Party and were most supportive of Yena’s military advisory group dispatch, now expressed regret.

This is nonsense.

Someone’s influence must have intervened.

“Ha, haha…”

I’ve been completely outmaneuvered.

“Gartel, I underestimated you.”

No, did I underestimate Yena?

Plop!

Rustet sat back down in his chair with a dejected laugh.

‘Someone capable of bribing ten instructors…’

And someone who’s okay with opposing me for Yena’s sake.

Yena Freud, that girl who outwardly looked so delicate, must have had a much larger backing than expected.

“Here.”

To think she even got Gartel involved.

“This is the consent form.”

The 《Emergency Meeting Convening Signature Form》 that Gartel handed over was filled with the signatures of ten instructors.

Only the [Principal] box in the bottom right was blank.

This seems like the roles have been reversed from the previous situation.

“Hah.”

It was a moment when he keenly felt that Yena’s declaration wasn’t just empty boasting.

For the principal, who held the highest authority in the military academy, to be unable to prepare for such a counterattack – there couldn’t be a more shameful display.

‘Damn it.’

A clear sound of teeth grinding could be heard from his tightly clenched jaw. He felt like punching those traitors who had readily cast their votes in favor during the instructor meeting but now betrayed him.

“Alright… let’s do this.”

But after all, hadn’t he emphasized following regulations? He had stressed ‘administrative procedures’ so much to Gartel, so he couldn’t show such a petty attitude by not accepting the results himself.

Scribble, scribble, scribble!

[Principal: Gerd von Rustet]

Rustet picked up his fountain pen with a heavy heart.

In his tough life of over sixty years, this was probably the most embarrassing day.

Gulp!

In contrast, for Gartel, this was the most brilliantly shining day of his life. He took a deep breath, trying to hide his trembling hands behind his back.

‘Ernst von Stresemann.’

I’m glad I followed his suggestion.

Gartel reflected on a phone call that came to his office the night before.