chapter_0016

15 – Promotion After Promotion

15 – Promotion After Promotion

After parting with the princess, my squad and I quickly washed up and waited.

If it were up to me, I would have wanted to escape this dreadful northern front as soon as possible, but due to the fact that I had smashed a jeep, various administrative procedures were necessary to receive support.

Afterward, I received a vehicle from the special operations battalion and headed straight to the headquarters.

Just like before, I was able to arrive at the entrance of the headquarters, adorned with a grand fountain, after four days of continuous travel.

Feeling the journey, I opened the passenger door and got out, noticing my squad members disembarking from nearby transport vehicles.

The squad members who got off quickly gathered in front of me in units, as if no one had instructed them to do so.

I spotted a few soldiers with bandages wrapped around their bodies, possibly injured during the ambush, but their faces were blooming with smiles as if they had forgotten their injuries.

“It seems they are happy not to have to worry about ambushes here. I understand.”

If I were a soldier, I would have had the same expression.

I took a moment to take in each of them and then spoke up.

“You all did a great job. You executed your duties excellently on the northern front. Moreover, despite the unexpected ambush, you all responded calmly, which is commendable.”

“You too, Squad Leader, have worked hard!”

“I’m disappointed we couldn’t fight more! We should have burst those bastards’ balls even more!”

As one or two spirited soldiers shouted loudly, laughter erupted among the squad members.

Normally, I would have given a warning, but this was right after returning from victory.

I didn’t want to spoil the warm atmosphere for no reason.

“There will be many more days to burst the Allied bastards’ balls, so don’t worry. Also, you all… that’s enough. What’s the point of lecturing? Dismissed, enjoy your victory.”

As I finished speaking, the soldiers saluted sharply.

After returning the salute, I was about to head up to the headquarters for a report when I hesitated.

Frien approached as if she had something to say.

“…What is it?”

Perhaps due to fatigue, my voice came out low.

Frien’s face turned somewhat fearful, but she mustered the courage to speak.

“Lieutenant Daniel Steiner! Ah, I would like to discuss future matters!”

“Huh? Oh. You will now be assigned to the headquarters direct battalion. Unless there are special calls from the headquarters, you can train there.”

“That’s not what I wanted to say…”

Then what is it? I stared at her in frustration, and Frien took a deep breath and looked up at me.

“If I may be so bold, I want to become an officer like you, Lieutenant Daniel!”

“An officer?”

“Yes! Through the battles on the northern front, I felt a strong desire to contribute to the Empire like you, Lieutenant Daniel!”

It was a bit sudden, but Frien becoming an officer was a predetermined course.

However, the timing was a bit early. Normally, one would think about becoming an officer after serving as a private for some time.

I didn’t know what had changed her mind, but there was no need to refuse.

“I will inform the higher-ups that you wish to serve as an officer. Since you have the record of saving Her Highness during the ambush, the transition to an officer should be relatively smooth.”

Frien looked genuinely surprised, as if she hadn’t expected to receive permission, and then she saluted me vigorously.

“Thank you! Thank you so much, Lieutenant Daniel!”

I wondered if it was really worth this much gratitude, but I didn’t feel bad about it.

Nodding casually, I moved on and entered the headquarters.

As soon as I stepped into the operations office, I felt a strong desire to escape.

“Lieutenant Daniel! Or should I call you Captain now? Hahaha! Anyway, we’ve been waiting for you! All of us!”

Ernst, the head of the operations department, welcomed me, and the staff at the headquarters cheered.

Looking around, I saw everyone standing and applauding.

What was even more ridiculous was the flowers and balloons decorating my spot in the office.

Whether the soldiers had arranged it or not, among the shabby decorations was a new nameplate.

【Operations Officer / Captain Daniel Steiner】

It was a nameplate that somehow looked a bit more upscale.

Before I could even ask what it was, Ernst gestured to a nearby soldier.

Then the soldier approached with a small box, presenting it to me with both hands.

It was a familiar box, resembling the one Lieutenant Philip had given me before.

“Congratulations on your promotion! Captain Daniel Steiner!”

I figured it was that, so I accepted the box and looked inside to find the captain’s badge and epaulettes neatly arranged.

As I stared down at them with a frown, Ernst spoke with a satisfied smile.

“I told you to accumulate achievements, but I didn’t expect you to finish things so splendidly. And to sacrifice your life for Her Highness! The higher-ups will no longer look at you through tinted glasses!”

…It was the first time I had seen Ernst smile so brightly.

After all, the achievements of his subordinates were also his own, so it was only natural for him to feel good.

As for me, I couldn’t help but sigh at the thought that my dream of discharge had taken a step back, but I couldn’t show my true feelings in a place with so many eyes on me.

“You flatter me. I merely did what I was supposed to do as a soldier of the Empire.”

So, receiving Ernst’s handshake with a smiling face was the best I could do.

–

The week following my promotion was filled with busy days.

The reason for my busy days was mostly related to human relationships.

Thanks to being promoted twice in quick succession, I had become a well-known figure within the headquarters, and the calls from those wanting to be close to a celebrity never ceased.

Most approached me with suggestions to have a meal together, but their intentions were transparent.

It was clear they wanted to recruit me to strengthen their faction’s prestige.

Considering the politicians entangled behind them, I couldn’t even dip my toes into the faction’s pond.

So, I turned down every love call under the pretext of being busy, and it seemed that Ernst, our operations chief, was quite pleased with my attitude.

He would often catch me on the way out of the officers’ dining room and start chatting.

“So, do you know what my daughter said that time? She said she would take care of the Allied bastards instead of her dad, so I shouldn’t go to work tomorrow and should play with her instead. She was so cute…”

Ernst, who was rumored not to engage in small talk, never hesitated to bring up family stories whenever he saw me.

In other words, he was showing me kindness… which, to be honest, felt a bit burdensome.

The goodwill of a direct superior can sometimes be more uncomfortable than one might think.

Especially when it becomes personal rather than professional.

Just as I was starting to feel the urge to cut the conversation short, I heard a loud shout from behind me.

“Daniel Steiner! You devilish son of a bitch!”

My shoulders jolted at the shout.

Turning around to see who it was, I found an officer in Allied uniform glaring at me, bound by a rope.

“You bastard! You despicable piece of trash─!”

As the Allied officer shouted and tried to charge at me, a soldier kicked his legs out from under him.

“Ugh!”

Thanks to that, the Allied officer fell forward in a heap.

The soldier who had kicked the Allied officer’s legs looked at me with a bewildered expression and bowed his head.

When I raised my hand to signal that I was okay, the soldier yelled as he helped the Allied officer up.

Watching this unfold, I opened my mouth in confusion.

“That person is…?”

“Oh. They said they were transferring a senior officer from the Northern Army Group to the headquarters, and it seems he arrived today. You know him well, right? You captured him yourself.”

I nodded.

He was the officer who had shouted for his soldiers to surrender after being hit by the first shot during the operation to assassinate Colonel Jeremy.

‘I remember his rank was major…’

As I pondered, Ernst clicked his tongue.

“I heard he’s a field-grade officer, so they’re trying to accommodate him as much as possible, but it’s not easy. He was a talent who worked in the Allied intelligence department, so it would be good to recruit him.”

I see. As I quietly watched the back of the Allied officer being dragged away by two soldiers, a good idea suddenly crossed my mind.

“…Chief.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“If it’s alright, may I take charge of his interrogation?”

Ernst, who had been momentarily stunned, tilted his head.

“That’s not a problem, but it will add more work than you already have.”

“That’s fine. It seems worth it.”

Thanks to that, Ernst expressed his admiration.

“What shining patriotism this is! Truly, I feel so small in comparison.”

With a heartwarming expression, Ernst nodded in agreement.

However, I was merely plotting a plan that was the exact opposite of patriotism, wearing a sinister smile.

‘This might just be…’

I might be able to escape the Empire without going through a dishonorable discharge.

A word from the author (Author’s note)

Hello! This is the pet author!

I wanted to write this note because it seems this work will be transitioning to a plus.

I will continue to do my best to serve my readers.

Thank you. Have a great day!