Joint Training

With both hands now free after finishing his donut and cigar, he picked up chalk and paper instead, and dragged out a mobile blackboard that must have been stashed away in some corner.

“First-years, tomorrow is the joint training, right?”

“It’s a massive training that will take several weeks, so you won’t be able to come to school during that time. That’s why I’ve prepared this grand announcement to give you an assignment in advance.”

“The period is one month after the end of the joint training, so it’s convenient to think of it as about a month and a few days left.”

The story he brought up was not about department plans or team formations, but simply and clearly about the schedule for evaluations.

“Now, this is the topic you need to solve.”

Thud, tap tap, thud─!

Derian, sporting a shiny parting with copious amounts of wax applied, filled the blackboard unhesitatingly with characters.

[Independent Tactical Research Presentation]

And these three words in imperial language written at the top of the blackboard finalized the explanation.

“Wh-What’s that?”

“Are they telling us to start researching as soon as we enter?”

As it was an unfamiliar phrase with difficult-to-gauge intentions, the candidates were confused. The relaxed atmosphere from the appointment ceremony regained its chill with Derian’s bombshell declaration.

“You have to independently research tactics and present them. By the way, this applies to you second-years as well, so take note.”

The officer’s additional words made the department room even colder.

“Wh-What?”

“Ah……”

The few seniors sitting besides Ithrite and Berto covered their faces with their palms and despaired upon hearing Derian’s words.

Because one more tedious assignment had been added.

“Of course, I don’t expect perfection or anything. We plan to focus on judging your will, effort, and how passionately you approached the investigation, these kinds of attitudes.”

Derian continued his announcement, undeterred by this damp atmosphere. No, not undeterred, but even smiling as if enjoying the cadets’ bewilderment.

“It… will be reflected significantly in the qualification assessment, so it’s better not to plan on just skipping it. If you want to continue studying at this military academy, that is.”

“Second-years are no exception. It’s part of the graduation assessment process for all of you, so show at least better performance than the kids a year below you.”

After a speech lasting a full ten minutes, Derian finally,

“…Ah.”

Thump thump─!

“By the way, Instructor Osvalt Lutz’s vacancy will be filled by another officer who will arrive on the day the joint training ends, so greet them with reverent applause when you meet. They’re a person worthy of such courtesy.”

He concluded his speech by tapping the blackboard.

“Is, is this the right place?”

“Yes, you can sit there.”

After Derian’s successful task announcement, time was taken to assign seats within the department room for the first-years.

Befitting the bustling atmosphere, most of the first-year candidates expressed their joy through expressions and gestures at having their own work space for the first time.

“Fi-Finally……”

“I guess we’ll be writing with this!”

No matter how much they tried to restrain themselves to be quiet, it was difficult to contain the elation of becoming official members of the Magic Tactics Planning Department.

“Let’s get along well from now on, Yena!”

“Okay.”

Erika was no exception.

“If you need anything, just tell me anytime! I’m right next to you!”

She passionately organized her new desk, then clenched her fist, expressing her enthusiasm. By chance, we were seated next to each other, so I could observe her expression more closely than others.

So I felt proud on her behalf, you could say. Seeing Erika so happy made me feel pleased as her teacher.

“Anyway, we have to submit a research assignment within the deadline……”

I should start from today.

I lay back in my chair looking at the ceiling, then slightly lowered my head to scan the items on the desk.

Military manuals stacked like towers on the square desk exuding oak scent, and a black typewriter for document writing, these were all that was provided by the department.

There were no examples of what previous seniors had submitted, and I had to use only my head to produce results that would satisfy Derian.

“Wh-What should I do first?”

“Maybe I should skim through the manuals first……”

As seen by the students confused and unable to grasp where to start their work, it was a more challenging task than it appeared.

Especially for me, who had received a recommendation letter.

Shouldn’t I at least differentiate myself from other candidates?

Although he said he would only check the students’ passion, my pride wouldn’t allow me to just achieve this purpose and solve the assignment. I wanted to produce a perfect report.

So what topic should I choose?

Tap tap,

“Have you decided what you’re going to do, Yena?”

Just then, Erika came closer, propping her chin with one hand and tapping my shoulder with the fingers of her other hand.

“Have you decided?”

“Yes! I had something in mind originally.”

She seemed to have already grasped the outline of her topic.

“What is it?”

“Methods for the Imperial Army to endure the cold!”

“……The cold?”

“Yes, I noticed there’s a huge difference in weather between the Empire and the Federation! But it seems like we have less cold weather equipment than the Federation Army, and there’s no training to adapt to this kind of weather.”

My eyebrows twitched at the unexpected idea that burst from her mouth.

Preparation for severe cold, huh.

It was not at all lacking as a research topic. No, to be precise, it was an excellent topic that I wouldn’t have expected from Erika.

Changes in terrain due to cold, the limited operation of mechanized equipment because of it, preparation for heavy snowfall, etc., it was a comprehensive issue encompassing the vulnerabilities that the Empire needed to address.

Although Erika probably can’t investigate this at a professional level, at least she won’t receive a bad score.

“What do you think!”

“It’s good.”

“Hehe, right?”

Whether she knew the true value of this research or not, she puffed out her chest and patted it vigorously, looking full of confidence.

“Like creating extreme cold weather training similar to what the Federation does in their polar regions! Doesn’t it sound really fun? Eating warm pork in a snowy forest!”

“……Sounds good.”

“Right, right? I knew Yena would understand!”

There seems to be some serious misunderstanding, but there’s probably no need to correct it right away. Hoping that the enthusiastic Erika would produce a report of excellent quality,

“Good luck then.”

“Yes!”

I just encouraged her with a light smile in my eyes.

Click clack, click clack─!

As soon as the conversation ended, Erika started pounding on the typewriter. Her paper, which had been only white, was gradually covered with black ink.

Now I need to decide.

Only then did I ponder deeply. Since it was before the joint training, thinking it would be good to at least set a direction before leaving, I traced back through the numerous pieces of knowledge in my head.

Click, rustle!

Feeling that was not enough, I pulled out a few tactical manuals stuck in the corner of the desk and opened them side by side.

[Understanding Medieval Tactics]

[Trench Warfare and the Emergence of Breech-loading Rifles]

[Establishment of Magic Officers]

.

.

.

“Hmm……”

Thud.

This isn’t it.

Thud.

This is lacking too.

I needed to choose something that could not only help achieve the original goal of building a relationship with Derian, but also attract the attention of other instructors and have the ability to focus their attention.

I flipped through countless books and skimmed their outlines numerous times.

“This is it.”

When the desk had become a festival of manuals, I finally put down my hands that had been moving left and right.

[Changes in Tactics Due to the Emergence of Tanks]

And as if possessed, I opened the book to the page indicated by the subtitle.

Rustle, rustle─

How long had I been stuck in this department room? As I turned page after page, clumps of gray dust appeared here and there.

It was as if it were an ancient document. However, the content would be the most advanced and up-to-date of all.

“This part, huh.”

Whoosh!

After blowing hard to clean the surroundings, I quickly read through the long text that continued endlessly under the subtitle.

I’ll go with this.

I made up my mind while coming up with one topic.

The more I confirmed how the concept of tanks, which had not been around for long in terms of the times, was established, the more I could only think, “This is really outdated.”

Because all recent battles had been trench warfare, the tactics written were limited to the past war period. Even though a weapon of the century called armor had appeared.

Recognizing magic officers as special infantry filling the frontlines was the level of current imperial tactics.

“……This is good.”

So I decided to research this topic.

It’s like becoming a vanguard of tactics, isn’t it? From the perspective of someone whose skull is full of advanced tactical concepts of the future, it was no different from discovering a gold mine.

In other words, I could become the father… no, the mother of armored warfare. Just imagining this made the corners of my mouth rise and my cheeks flush red.

“Yena, did something happen?”

“Ah, I’m just looking forward to tomorrow’s training.”

I wondered if my feelings were showing on my face, so I quickly composed my expression and regained my coolness.

“Haah.”

I continued my thoughts with a clearer head than before.

If I establish an armored operation system in this era where there’s only the concept of infantry, and make that report receive high praise at the military academy so that even people in the capital see it?

It would be possible to supply the army with tactics far superior to other countries long before the Great War breaks out.

Following that, I can make a strong impression on Lutz and Derian, who were already researching armor-related military tactics. It’s an opportunity to greatly elevate my status at once.

Click clack, click clack!

My fingers, which had been lost, came together to form a collection of grand characters.

“Done.”

Only after finally putting the last period, I licked my lips and smiled.

[Breakthrough Tactics Using Magic Units and Mechanized Equipment]

Under the name of the report that was difficult even to pronounce,

《 Tactics of Storm and Lightning, commonly known as; Blitzkrieg 》

While looking at the subtitle.