I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 132

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 132

“What’s sprinkled on top of the french fries is cheese powder, which has an excellent savory and salty taste.”

“So this is that cheese french fries that’s been trending in the capital recently.”

Since Eden knows about it, it seems they’re not only selling it here.

“That’s correct. Lieutenant Paran, who developed the french fries, would be very pleased if you enjoy them.”

“I… I see. It looks delicious.”

Actually, it’s a combination that can’t possibly taste bad.

“Then please enjoy your meal.”

The employee bowed politely and returned to the kitchen.

“Why do you look like that?”

“Uh… to be honest, I didn’t know french fries were being sold.”

“Ah, there’s been a trend recently. I heard Her Highness the Princess made french fries the main dish at the last banquet, which made them known.”

‘Damn, that woman.’

Using food someone else developed without permission, what trash…

“Why do you look like that when you’ve benefited from it?”

“Pardon…?”

“Lieutenant, you really don’t know anything. Didn’t the Oclo Guild’s reputation and sales skyrocket as french fries became trendy?”

This is seriously the first time I’m hearing this.

“What does that have to do with sales…”

“I’m not a newspaper, do I have to explain everything one by one? How annoying.”

“I’ll go back and look into it myself.”

‘If you’re not going to tell me, then don’t bring it up.’

He’s just being difficult.

“Fine. Since I brought it up, I’ll finish – Her Highness the Princess introduced it in her opening speech as food you developed thinking of hungry soldiers. Quite a touching story, isn’t it?”

At Lieutenant Eden’s words, my fists clenched without me realizing it.

‘Damn it, she’s just a straight-up thief.’

At first glance it might seem like something to be grateful for, but absolutely, definitely, not at all.

‘I was thinking of monopolizing the sales, and she pulls this trick?’

Once the Princess said that, I can’t claim rights to the food called french fries.

The moment I try to make money from it, the story about making it for hungry soldiers becomes a lie.

“That’s… really… so grateful.”

“Your expression and words don’t match.”

“I honestly feel like I’ve been robbed. I had plans, you know.”

“Think positively. Thanks to that, poor people can also eat delicious food, and you got your second-class medal upgraded to first-class, didn’t you?”

“Yes, well, I suppose I should think of it that way.”

At this point, Eden’s words are probably for the best.

‘Right, what’s good is good.’

Why do you think people who made it into history released their great discoveries as free patents?

I’m the same way.

Crunch!

I finished the conversation and tried a piece of french fries.

The moment I bit down, the crispiness of the fries and the aroma of cheese exploded in my mouth.

‘This place does it well.’

Their frying skills are almost at master level.

‘Did they develop that squid tempura after seeing the french fries?’

Frying is really a versatile cooking method that can be used with all kinds of ingredients.

‘Starting with chicken, things will come out quickly.’

If I had time, I’d jump into the cooking business properly, but unfortunately I don’t have that luxury.

“Have a drink.”

“Thank you.”

I received the wine Eden poured and drank it with the french fries as a side dish.

‘The alcohol content is quite high.’

Gulp! Gulp!

Contrary to my thought that I should be careful, Eden sitting across from me was downing it like water.

“Um… you’ll be in trouble if you drink like that.”

“The alcohol tastes particularly sweet today. Don’t you think so?”

‘No. Alcohol is bitter.’

When alcohol tastes sweet, that’s proof you’re drunk.

Of course, knowing that Eden’s drinking capacity is extraordinary, he probably wasn’t drunk from just this much.

“Did something bad happen?”

“You really have ghost-like intuition.”

Eden shook his head and lifted the corners of his mouth self-deprecatingly.

‘Why is this guy acting like this?’

He doesn’t even have a girlfriend, but anyone would think he got his heart broken.

“What do you think life is, Lieutenant?”

“Life, sir?”

A question that came out of nowhere.

It might be a difficult question for some, but I had already decided on an answer to this.

“Isn’t life a curse?”

“A curse?”

“A very terrible curse that you can’t stop even though the end is predetermined – that’s how I think of it.”

Maybe he didn’t expect me to give such a negative answer.

Eden looked at me with surprise.

“I didn’t expect a lieutenant who became nobility and achieved success to say that.”

“I don’t particularly want to succeed though? Especially not as a soldier.”

“Well, that’s unfortunate. A curse.”

Lieutenant Eden poured and drank another glass of wine while looking up at the ceiling.

“Now I see it. Who would have thought life was a curse.”

‘No, that’s just my opinion though.’

Something felt strange about how he was accepting it.

“It’s just one opinion.”

“I know. More than that, I’m particularly tired today. Do you have someone precious to you, Lieutenant?”

“Someone precious?”

Another damn difficult question in succession.

The first person who came to mind was my parents, but honestly, not to the point I’d risk my life.

After all, they’re Paran Oclo’s blood relatives, not mine.

“I think my mother would be one.”

Since I couldn’t answer that there was no one, I mentioned the person who was at least first priority.

“Your father would be sad.”

“I grew up not receiving much affection from my father.”

“I see.”

“Do you have someone, Lieutenant Eden?”

“Just one person. But today I said harsh words to that person. Now I probably won’t see them ever again.”

He spoke while letting out a deep sigh, and I got the feeling immediately.

‘This guy had a girlfriend.’

I thought it was strange when he said he wouldn’t attend the banquet today.

‘Looking at it now, he went on a date and got dumped.’

I don’t know who the woman is, but she really made a wise choice.

“Well, cheer up.”

Still, he came here after getting dumped, so no matter how much of a villainous boss he is, giving some comfort is the right thing to do.

“What, is there only one woman in the world? Half the population is women. Let’s forget about her cleanly and find someone good again.”

It was sincere comfort, but somehow his expression looked strange.

“That’s not it. Lieutenant, stop talking nonsense.”

“Yes…? Ah, yes.”

‘Even when I comfort him, he complains.’

It’s really hard to please him.

“But what about my next assignment?”

Since talking more would only give me a headache, I changed the subject while cutting the steak that had just arrived.

“There’s been quite a bit of talk about that. Apparently many places have requested to have you transferred there.”

‘Damn bastards.’

Since my abilities have been proven, they’re probably thinking of taking me and working me to death.

“Fortunately though, His Majesty the Emperor seems to value your abilities more from your time as mess hall captain rather than in combat.”

“His Majesty the Emperor?”

I couldn’t understand why the Emperor would be involved in a mere lieutenant’s personnel transfer.

“You know, the french fries. It seems he tasted them at the banquet hosted by Her Highness the Princess.”

At Lieutenant Eden’s words, I unconsciously covered my mouth to stop it from opening.

‘Long live the Princess, is she really a goddess?’

Looking at this again, she wasn’t a thieving cat but a sparrow that brings good fortune.

“Then surely not the mess hall…”

“You think that ability is just cooking? Tsk tsk, look at what you’re thinking.”

“Then what is it?”

“Overall supply management including food ingredient procurement. His Majesty apparently isn’t satisfied with the currently supplied goods.”

“Is that so?”

Well, anyone with eyes could never be satisfied looking at the supply goods.

‘So the Emperor was interested after all.’

I thought he couldn’t see from such a high position, but apparently that’s not the case.

“So there’s an opinion to send you to a position related to that, and the second option is 3rd Division Infantry Battalion Commander. The battalion commander position for the battalion where you previously conducted operations happens to be vacant.”

“I think the first option sounds very good.”

Is there any need to think about it?

‘Infantry Battalion Commander? Do I really want to die young?’

With Yalc Island lost, they’ll likely focus their strength on the Western Front with high probability.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I think supply is the position where I can fully utilize my abilities.”

“I think Infantry Battalion Commander would suit you a bit better.”

“You seem quite tired today.”

He couldn’t spout such nonsense unless he was tired.

“Not only that, but Special Forces also requested you quite strongly. It seems you really caught their eye in this operation.”

“Ha…haha, those damn…”

Western Front and Special Forces.

They’re the evil forces trying to ruin my life.

“Don’t worry too much. You won’t be going to Special Forces this time.”

“Yes…”

It was fortunate yet simultaneously unsettling.

As Eden said, just this time, but who knows about next time.

“Anyway, you’ll be going to one of the two places I mentioned earlier.”

“When will this be?”

“The personnel order will come out by the end of this week at the latest. You can’t stay idle for long in a wartime situation.”

“I’ll be prepared.”

The time to return to cold reality was gradually approaching.

“More than that, you’ve already reached the same rank as me. At this rate, I might even be overtaken.”

“I’d like to stop right here.”

Retiring as a lieutenant.

Doesn’t that sound quite decent?

‘It feels like I’ve done enough.’

Going higher from here?

That would be getting in too deep.

“Then don’t stand out.”

“No, haah…”

I really had a lot to say, but I couldn’t find the words.

And watching me like this, Lieutenant Eden pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Lieutenant, I’m going to climb high.”

“Did you have promotion ambitions?”

“If I didn’t have promotion ambitions, why would I work so hard?”

“That’s… true.”

It wasn’t wrong, but I still didn’t know he had promotion ambitions.

“I don’t know how far I can go, but I’ll try my best.”

“Why go to such lengths?”

“Isn’t it to make a living? You wouldn’t understand, Lieutenant.”

Lieutenant Eden spoke as if it was nothing special.

But I could instinctively tell.

That what he was saying now was a lie.

‘Does he want to earn stars and become nobility?’

The star rewards that fuel soldiers’ promotion ambitions.

It was natural for that to come to mind first.

“Well, whatever the reason, I support you.”

“You’re even supporting me, what a rare occurrence.”

“When someone works themselves to death like that, wouldn’t it be sad if they didn’t get promoted?”

“Yes, it would be sad.”

“Even this time you couldn’t be on the list because you’re with Intelligence Agency, but you still received recognition for your contributions, didn’t you?”

Eden’s contributions in the landing operation would be among the highest, if not as much as mine.

“Of course I did. Thanks to that, my promotion to Lieutenant Colonel will be expedited.”

“Congratulations. It would have been nice if you could have attended the banquet too, but Intelligence Agency is disappointing at times like this.”

Words I said without much thought.

For some reason, another brief silence fell.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————