Why Are You Here?

“How did this year’s first-years seem, Ithrite?”

The long interviews were over. Officer Derian had left first to attend to his duties, and the cadets had gone. Only two second-year cadets who had been conducting the interviews until just now remained in the classroom.

“Hmm…… they didn’t seem too bad?”

Among them, the girl with light pink hair braided into two plaits seemed satisfied with the children she had passed, as she kept smiling even while moving the heavy chairs.

‘There were quite a few kids to look forward to.’

I think there was a famous child too, wasn’t she a former princess? Anyway, there were quite a few friends worth keeping an eye on.

This was good news for the research department head responsible for the department.

“Who did you like best, Berto?”

“Me, you mean?”

Ithrite continued her thoughts as she turned around.

“Even for someone as blunt as you, there must be a junior you liked best.”

And she stared directly at the man moving desks behind her.

“Was it Rina? Do you think that child was the best?”

As the department head, she needed to hear Berto’s opinion.

Looking at his magnificent pectorals, he might seem like an officer who likes physical work, but he was also clearly a person in charge of department operations.

His position could be said to be right below the research department head.

“No. You know I dislike the imperial family.”

“Ah, that’s right? Sorry……”

“I’ve been paying close attention to a different kid from the start.”

“You have?”

Clang─!

Ithrite was so surprised by Berto’s answer that she dropped the chair. She never thought he would actually be interested in someone else.

Berto usually had no interest in others.

He was strict and thorough, and as fierce in evaluating cadets as his muscles, so it was normal for him not to give a single glance to first-years. Today was an anomaly.

“What’s their name?”

So she was very curious.

Thud─

Ithrite stopped cleaning, approached Berto, and leaned forward with both hands on the desk.

“I’m curious about who this amazing child is that earned your recognition.”

She went close to him and stared intently with her round eyes.

“I’m sure they had blue hair……”

Creak─

Berto stroked his chin as he stood up and approached the place where he sat during the interviews. Then he pulled out one of the messily stacked documents, returned to Ithrite’s side, and flipped through the pages.

Rustle, rustle─

“Ah.”

“Who is it, who is it?”

“Found it.”

After about thirty seconds, Berto stopped at one particular page.

“Erika von Rosehilt, this child.”

And he pointed to the ID photo of a brightly smiling girl.

---

Erika looked happy. With a beaming expression, she moved with her hands fluttering and her feet crossing as if flying.

“Yena, I passed! Hehe……”

“I know. I think that’s the fourth time you’ve said that today.”

“Oh, is it?”

She’s really excited.

It’s getting annoying now, but it should be fine to let it go today. When else will she taste such joy again? She should enjoy it fully while she can, so there are no regrets.

The theory lectures I gave were crucial.

Hearing Erika’s feedback, the officer in charge and seniors asked a lot about theoretical knowledge related to tactics.

That’s probably where the line between failure and success was drawn.

“Anyway, Yena! Thank you so much!”

Erika must know this fact too, as she kept expressing her gratitude endlessly.

“We’re friends, so we help each other out.”

“Ah, I see.”

As if deeply moved, Erika repeated my words in a tiny voice that seemed to crawl on the ground.

“Fr-friends……”

She seemed to have slightly misunderstood my intention, but I didn’t bother to correct her. Well, isn’t it good to let good things be?

Erika follows the path I’ve paved and grows into a strong pillar of support, and I use that pillar appropriately in various events that will unfold in the future.

It was a kind of transaction. Of course, Erika wouldn’t know this fact.

It’s enjoyable too, isn’t it?

Of course, besides the simple transactional purpose, teaching Erika and seeing her grow was fun in itself, which is why I kept her around consistently.

It’s as if Erika’s innocence creates a sense of enjoyment.

To be this happy just from escaping that boring daily life, I wouldn’t have felt this way in my previous life.

I wonder how many diverse events will unfold from now on.

Graduating from the military academy with Erika, officially carrying out the duties of a magic officer, and eventually playing an active role in the great war that will break out someday. My body was already trembling with excitement.

“Yena. If-if you ever need anything like hair ties later, just tell me anytime. We’re the best of friends after all!”

“Okay, I got it.”

Whether she knew what I was thinking or not, Erika just looked up at my face with her clear eyes, pushing her hair that gave off a fresh shampoo scent closer.

“Let’s hurry.”

“Okay!”

I held her tiny hand tightly and quickened my pace.

We should arrive just in time.

The clock beside the dirt road was already running towards the end of lunchtime.

The day after Erika’s acceptance was announced had passed, and today, when the member appointment ceremony begins, we were on our way to the Tactics Planning Department to attend the induction event.

“We won’t be able to go to the department room after today, right?”

“Yeah, since joint training starts from tomorrow.”

“Finally……”

Erika seemed nervous about meeting the officer in charge and senior cadets, as she fidgeted with our tightly held hands.

Although she saw their faces during the interview, this would be the first time meeting them officially. I should guide her carefully with my years of experience and expertise.

“We’re here, Erika.”

“Okay!”

“Let’s go in.”

There was no time for preparation. Like last time, as soon as we arrived in front of the department room and confirmed the imperial text 【Magic Tactics Planning Department】 written on the wooden sign, I immediately turned the doorknob.

“Don’t be nervous. We’re all just cadets anyway.”

Erika followed, rolling her eyes and with stiff movements.

Click─!

As I opened the door wide, the scent of espresso I had smelled before wafted out strongly. We must have been the last to arrive, as the accepted children were already seated in what looked like a waiting room.

And.

And…

“Huh?”

I was looking around the interior without much emotion, but soon I froze as if stiffening at ‘something’ that caught my eye.

Among the accepted candidates lined up in chairs, I encountered a holy white-haired girl I never expected to see here,

“The princess?”

“……Yena Freud?”

---

Why is she here?

“Why are you there……”

“That’s my line.”

“Ah, hello! You’re a department member too!”

Rina blurted out the question floating in my head loudly, raising her finger in the air and trembling.

I heard another cadet’s voice from the side but didn’t pay attention.

Right now, all my focus was on Yena Freud, that incomprehensible person.

The fact that she opened this door and came in here means she passed the Planning Department, which means Yena, who was in the lower ranks, broke through the competition?

‘Ah……”

My head is complicated. Suddenly, dizziness came over me. Rina took a sharp breath at the reality that didn’t add up.

‘Of course, I know that with Yena’s true abilities, she could enter here.’

But her ‘official’ grades are at the bottom, aren’t they? If she went through normal procedures, it would be common sense for her to ‘fail spectacularly’ on paper without even getting an interview.

“How on earth did you join?”

Rina looked at Yena suspiciously, addressing her aggressively for no reason.

“I got a recommendation letter from Instructor Gartel.”

“What?”

However, that tone didn’t last long. A completely unexpected answer burst from her lips.

It was understandable.

Only Erika knew that Yena had received a recommendation letter, and since Yena and Erika only had each other as friends, rumors couldn’t spread.

“Re-recommendation letter?”

“Yes.”

Rina bit her lip as she looked at Yena’s innocent face.

‘When she acts like that, it really seems like she got a recommendation letter.’

She probably isn’t lying. If it were a lie, it would mean she used some trick to pass this department, but manipulating something in a place where even the Streman family’s power doesn’t reach?

That would be worrying in a different sense, not just suspecting Yena, but that the Empire’s security network was full of holes.

There was no reason to take such a risk just to join one department.

Tremble─

It means she joined fairly without any underhanded methods, but how on earth did she get a recommendation letter that even I couldn’t get, and in the first place, if she’s an undercover cadet, she shouldn’t be taking such risks.

Could it be that the idea of her being an undercover cadet was just a delusion I created?

‘No, that can’t be.’

It doesn’t make sense. She’s just trying to confuse me. Rina clenched her fist and pressed her nails hard to barely dispel her anxiety.

‘Let’s think positively.’

Since I’ll have more time with Yena Freud, the possibility of confirming aspects of her that I didn’t know has also increased. If I do well, I might be able to get a clue for decisive evidence.

“Helena. When can you give me the data?”

“Pr-Princess. Please wait a little longer……”

“It’s been over a week since I asked……”

“I’m so sorry……”

Rina steeled her resolve, telling herself not to give up, perhaps because of the memory from the previous day.

For some time now, Helena hadn’t been in the dormitory. When I woke up in the morning, she was gone somewhere. She must be anxious about not being able to find the data.

So I couldn’t just sit still.

I knew better than anyone that relying solely on others’ help would only lead to a miserable ending. So if Helena couldn’t do it, I wanted to cut this frustrating thread with my own hands.

I didn’t ponder on whether Yena might be a real cadet or not.

I’ve been acting based on this belief all along, and if that belief were shattered, I wouldn’t know what to do.

“Phew──.”

It’s completely meaningless to have such contemplations now. Solidifying my resolve is the best I can do at present.

“Yena. Let’s sit over there.”

“Okay.”

For now, let’s focus on removing Yena, the only obstacle in front of me.