chapter_0009

8 – An Unwanted Encounter

8 – An Unwanted Encounter

Hearing that the number of applicants had exceeded two thousand, I was seized by despair and questioned the officer in charge.

I asked why the announcement I had written was considered a well-crafted one.

The officer explained with a smile, even extending his fingers in a friendly manner.

–
As the war with the Allied Nations turned into a protracted conflict, children of parents who had died on the battlefield grew up and enlisted in droves, fueled by a desire for revenge.

–
The announcement from Lieutenant Daniel Steiner, the operations staff officer, effectively poured fuel on the vengeful sentiments of soldiers who had lost their parents, so it was only natural that the number of applicants would increase.

–
Furthermore, the battlefield was the northern front, where the imperial army had the upper hand. It is reasonable to assume that there were many soldiers eager to make a name for themselves in a favorable environment.

–
The phrase describing the rear as a “carnivorous insect” likely provoked resentment among the soldiers. Some of them probably took the announcement seriously and enlisted for the sake of honor.

–
Even setting aside the logical deductions mentioned earlier, there was something in Lieutenant Daniel’s announcement that stirred the hearts of men.

With all fingers extended, the officer added a compliment, saying, “You have a talent for propaganda. If you wish to change your assignment to the personnel department, feel free to let me know at any time.”

I responded to the job offer with an awkward smile, sent the officer away, and ordered the soldiers to sort the documents.

Logically, I couldn’t reject all the applicants exceeding two thousand, so it was almost certain that I would be going to the northern front.

In that case, it was best to select soldiers who were as normal as possible yet still elite to ensure safety.

Thus, anyone with even a minor criminal record was excluded.

Those whose sole motive was revenge were also excluded.

Individuals with subversive ideologies or those who appeared mentally unstable were excluded as well.

Anyone who had disobeyed a superior’s orders even once during training was excluded.

Those who failed to hit the target in the shooting test were excluded.

Those lacking magical aptitude were excluded.

After filtering the documents, the remaining number of applicants was 327.

From among them, I carefully selected those with excellent grades and exemplary military service, ultimately choosing twenty squad members and sending them acceptance notices.

Now, ten days after sending the acceptance notices, I stood before them.

“……”

In front of the fountain at the main gate of the staff headquarters, the squad members I had chosen stood in formation, and I felt an inexplicable sense of intimidation.

Their gazes were particularly frightening.

To exaggerate slightly, it felt as if they would follow orders for a suicidal charge without a word of complaint, reflecting a spirit of iron.

‘Even though they are the ones I selected… are they lacking in humanity?’

I found myself sweating coldly without realizing it.

Of course, not all the squad members were behaving like soulless war machines.

Among the robust men, there was one woman blinking her clear eyes.

‘Frien Remiliart.’

She was the woman I had met in the detention center, a named NPC destined to become the saint of the empire.

It seemed she had completed the training course without any issues, as she was now wearing the insignia of a private.

I had chosen her without much thought since she was on the applicant list, but seeing Frien sending sparkling glances among the fervent soldiers made me think of a clear-eyed lunatic.

Perhaps I had chosen her in vain. As I looked at Frien with caution, I cleared my throat.

“Nice to meet you, soldiers.”

Before we set off, it was the commander’s duty to briefly explain the mission’s outline.

I intended to fulfill that duty now.

In the process, I hoped my squad members would be scared enough to run away.

“As you may have seen in the announcement, I am Lieutenant Daniel Steiner, the operations staff officer, and your squad leader. Just in case you didn’t see it in the announcement, I will say it again: I have no combat experience.”

I informed them of my potential incompetence, yet there was no sign of unrest.

Good. They’re holding firm, are they? Then I’ll push harder.

“Therefore, I hope you do not expect a competent commander. What I desire is solely the destruction of the Allied Forces and the screams of the barbarians belonging to them.”

Right now, I was appealing to the fact that I lacked tactical expertise.

For a normal soldier, it would be natural to feel fear at this point.

Yet for some reason, fierce smiles blossomed on the faces of the squad members.

After a brief silence while looking at them, I shot a warning.

“I have no use for cowards. Therefore, the only chance to flee from the bloody battlefield is now. Anyone wishing to abandon the mission, raise your hand.”

As expected, not a single hand was raised.

These guys are truly out of their minds.

Sighing inwardly, I finally spoke again.

“Alright! You fools who wish to challenge death! I will personally assist you. Your sweat and blood will bring glory to the empire!”

No sooner had I finished speaking than the soldiers saluted.

“Glory to the Empire!”

Their voices combined to echo throughout the staff headquarters.

Seeing that, I secretly closed my eyes and sighed.

‘This is madness…’

Truly, they were nothing short of war maniacs.

–

Four days later.

Temporary forward base of the 307th Special Operations Unit on the northern front.

‘Was today the day the reinforcements from the staff headquarters were supposed to arrive?’

Captain Heinz Schmidt, the company commander of the 307th Special Operations Unit, pulled out the announcement he had seen earlier from his pocket while resting in the barracks.

“Recruitment Announcement for Reinforcements on the Northern Front”

Listen up!

A fierce battle to protect the noble land of our homeland is currently underway in the north!

Therefore, I seek those who are willing to sacrifice their lives for the empire!

Oh, you! Do not covet the empire’s grain while alive; instead, become the foundation that decorates the empire’s glory in death!

Come with me to destroy, ravage, and eliminate the enemies until we die!

We shall wish only for the death of our enemies!

‘…It feels like witnessing madness.’

Even Heinz, who prided himself on having witnessed all kinds of madness through assassinations, high-profile eliminations, and anti-terror operations since joining the special operations unit, found this announcement unfamiliar.

‘It seems like this is not a recruitment for comrades to fight alongside…’

It looked as if they were seeking disposable parts to be used and discarded for the empire.

‘Was it Lieutenant Daniel Steiner?’

According to his aide, he was a talented individual who had recently been promoted to lieutenant after achieving remarkable feats.

Yet, the fact that he was not satisfied and had volunteered for the northern front meant one thing.

‘A war maniac obsessed with promotion…!’

It appeared that Lieutenant Daniel Steiner was someone who would use his own allies without a shred of mercy for his own advancement.

The thought of that made Heinz uneasy, and he unconsciously clenched his hands before shaking his head.

‘One should not judge a person based on rumors.’

You cannot know a person’s true nature without experiencing it firsthand.

As he steadied his mind, a soldier entered the barracks and saluted.

“Captain! The reinforcements sent from the staff headquarters have arrived!”

Heinz nodded at the report.

“Understood. Let’s go out.”

Putting the announcement back in his pocket, Heinz stood up.

He glanced back at a girl leisurely reading a book nearby, but since she seemed focused on her reading, he refrained from speaking to her.

With a slight bow of his head to show respect, Heinz opened the barracks door and stepped outside.

As his vision brightened, he saw a single squad moving across the snow-covered ground.

Twenty soldiers exuding an intense atmosphere created an inexplicable sense of intimidation.

Even the nearby officers and soldiers of the special operations unit hesitated and stepped back.

Leading those war machine-like soldiers was none other than Lieutenant Daniel Steiner.

His eyes were so haggard that they seemed devoid of emotion as he stared straight ahead.

“……”

“……”

As their eyes met, Heinz felt an inexplicable stiffness in his body.

Daniel, who had been frowning, realized that the other person was the commander of this unit and promptly saluted.

As Heinz returned the salute amidst his tension, Daniel approached with a slender smile.

“It is an honor to meet you, Captain Heinz Schmidt.”

“……You know my name?”

“Yes. I did a bit of research on the unit I will be joining. It seems you have accomplished some remarkable missions. I think I understand why I came here.”

“Thank you for saying that. It must have been difficult to come here; are you not tired? Your soldiers must also be worn out from the journey.”

Daniel, who chuckled softly, shook his head.

“Those suicidal hopefuls? I’ve been watching them for a few days, and they show no signs of fatigue, so don’t worry.”

The term “suicidal hopefuls” made Heinz break out in a cold sweat.

‘As expected… does he treat his soldiers as mere consumables?’

In reality, it was just a joke to lighten the heavy atmosphere, but Heinz, already trapped in his preconceived notions, began to see Daniel as some kind of demon.

“……Captain Heinz?”

Just then, Daniel, unaware of Heinz’s thoughts, tilted his head at Heinz’s stiff expression.

“What is the commotion?”

The entrance to the barracks behind Heinz opened, revealing a blonde girl.

Dressed in a pure white blouse with a red brooch at her neck, she looked unmistakably like a noble lady.

Daniel naturally turned his gaze, but upon meeting the girl’s eyes, he paused and fell silent.

Seeing this, Heinz opened his mouth to introduce the girl.

“Oh. This is the war correspondent who has joined our unit. She arrived a few days ago and said she wanted to capture the imperial army’s exploits on camera.”

Despite Heinz’s explanation, Daniel could not take his eyes off the girl.

The girl, aware of his gaze, smiled sweetly at Daniel.

At that moment, Daniel felt as if every cell in his body had frozen.

‘This girl is a war correspondent?’

No, that’s impossible.

Daniel knew that the identity of the girl before him was that of royalty.

‘What are you doing here?’

The heir to the throne who would one day ascend to the position of emperor of the empire.

Selvia von Amberg.

That was the girl’s true identity.

A word from the author (Author’s note)

Thank you for reading today as well.

Have a great day!