I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 170

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

Episode 170

Of course, by my standards it’s problematic behavior, but they didn’t commit anything illegal.

It was just a lack of consideration, so disciplinary action seems a bit excessive.

“That far is…”

【No way. People need to know how to show consideration for other units. When I think about how much my Lieutenant Colonel must have suffered. It breaks my heart. We’re comrades who overcame that massive battle together, aren’t we.】

Colonel Paolo pours out his words as if he had prepared them.

For a moment, my head felt dizzy.

‘Was this gentleman always this style?’

It seemed the same yet somehow a bit different.

“Thank you for thinking that way.”

【The supply department chief gave them quite a talking-to yesterday. The staff members will come apologize in person, so Lieutenant Colonel, please give them a stern word.】

“Yes…”

Since he solved the problem, I had nothing more to say.

‘So it gets resolved like this.’

I thought I’d need to discuss the problem and make requests for a long time, but it didn’t even take a minute.

‘Is this what connections are?’

Just for the simple reason of knowing someone, what I thought was a difficult problem got solved.

‘The world is truly unfair.’

If Warrant Officer Tebett saw this scene, he’d probably feel a major reality check.

【This kind of thing won’t happen again. Right, Lieutenant Colonel?】

【Yes! Don’t worry, Lieutenant Colonel. If they give you trouble again, contact me anytime.】

“Thank you so much. I’ve been living frantically lately, handling both the Planning Division and the supply department. Thanks to you, I can breathe.”

【Oh my, that must be really tough. Don’t you miss being the Supply Company Commander?】

“Haha, I miss it so much. When I was under the Regimental Commander, there wasn’t much to worry about and it was comfortable, but these days are too hard.”

For reference, I don’t miss it at all.

‘I’d be crazy to long for the days when I was threatened with assassination by the Assassin Squad and had headaches over potato processing.’

I’m not that kind of perverted psycho.

【Come anytime. The soldiers here miss the Lieutenant Colonel a lot too. But now you can’t be a company commander anymore. Your rank is Lieutenant Colonel.】

“Ha…haha, I was promoted too quickly beyond my worth. Speaking of which, how is Lieutenant Colonel Siel doing?”

Since I was curious about this, I threw out the question to use as conversation material.

【The Support Battalion Commander? She’s still keeping busy as always. Especially these days, it’s quite hectic.】

As expected, Rimircastle.

She seems to be living buried in work.

“Speaking of which, I heard the Adits Imperial Army has started activities again. Is the atmosphere serious?”

Since stories from people on the scene are valuable, I should ask at times like this.

【That’s quite ambiguous. It seems serious but somehow feels different.】

“Different how?”

【The enemy is definitely gathering, but this feeling is very different from before. Should I say it’s not intense.】

Quite an ambiguous statement.

It wasn’t easy to interpret.

“Is that so?”

【Still, it seems like something will happen soon. That’s why we’re also making sure our defenses are solid.】

“I hope you stay safe.”

【Haha, we won even in that dangerous situation before, so what variables could there be. There’s no worry now.】

Colonel Paolo’s words filled with confidence.

It’s safety insensitivity.

“As expected of the Regimental Commander. Very reassuring.”

After exchanging a bit more small talk, I hung up and returned to the office.

“Not intense, he said.”

I don’t think someone of Colonel Paolo’s caliber would feel that without any reason.

‘Is something different?’

Part of me wanted to go see the situation directly, but I quickly pushed that thought away.

“At this rate, I’ll end up going to the front lines. Get it together.”

I slapped my cheek once and picked up my pen.

Time melted away in the brutally intense work.

* * *

【Father, I’ve finished all preparations.】

Baren Seto’s voice from Golten Castle reached Seto Count through the communication device.

“Good, there won’t be any mistakes.”

【Yes, I personally checked every part two and three times.】

Seto Count, having heard the confident answer, rose from his seat and looked out the window.

“Baren.”

【Please speak.】

“Even if we win this battle and take Adman Castle, Abiel will receive considerable credit.”

The core of this operation is deceiving the enemy.

And that involves the illusion magical devices newly developed by the Abiel Ducal House and the information control of the Reconnaissance Command.

Only the idea belongs to Seto Count, but it’s fair to say that all the means and methods came from the Abiel Ducal House.

【But won’t Father and our family’s name shine as the victorious commander of the war?】

“Yes, that is the credit we will gain. And that’s precisely why you must shine in this operation.”

Victory in battle.

Beyond that, Seto Count must achieve victory for the family as well.

“In the minds of those who don’t know the inside story, our family must remain most memorable. Do you understand what I mean?”

【Yes! I will certainly make it so.】

Knowing this was a more important moment than any other, Baren nodded heavily.

“Well done. I will depart for battle, so you should leave now as well.”

【Yes!】

After cutting the connection, Seto Count donned his cloak bearing the commander-in-chief insignia and climbed the north gate watchtower of Belzium Castle.

Below him, approximately 10,000 troops stood in formation.

Though the numbers were woefully insufficient to attack Rimircastle, there was no worry on Seto Count’s face.

“All troops, listen!”

The Count’s voice, amplified by magical devices, caused every soldier’s head to turn upward.

“Today, we will break the chain of bitter defeats! And you will become soldiers of victory for the first time in a very long while.”

Though not particularly loud, his voice carried a power that seemed to compel attention.

For Seto Count, who was skilled at controlling nobles, gathering the soldiers’ attention was all too easy.

“Before we depart, I will earnestly ask just one thing of all the soldiers gathered here.”

After giving them a moment to breathe, Seto Count slowly opened his mouth again.

“I value efficient combat. Recklessly charging in and dying—such ignorant fighting is not beautiful at all. Wouldn’t your lives be precious if you died that way?”

Since this was content that the soldiers participating directly in battle could deeply relate to, they all nodded in unison.

“So open your ears. When orders come down, move quickly. If you do just that, I will give you victory as a gift. How about it? Can you do it?”

“Yes!!!!!”

A voice so loud it seemed to shake the ground of Belzium Castle.

What made them so spirited was naturally the trust that the Seto Ducal House had earned.

“This time, finally…! We’ll overcome Rimircastle.”

“If we just follow that person’s orders, we absolutely won’t be defeated. He’s certainly different from the others.”

A being whose mere presence raised morale.

Seto Count felt the rising atmosphere and stepped forward.

“All troops, depart for battle.”

* * *

“Instructor! The enemy army has left Belzium Castle and will cross the border tomorrow.”

“What’s the enemy force size?”

“Well, the enemy’s perimeter is currently so tight that it’s difficult to assess their numbers.”

“What the hell does that mean!”

Assessing the enemy’s size is the most basic step in combat.

But to say they don’t know that.

Major General Gadus couldn’t help but let harsh words escape his mouth.

“All the scouts who approached closely have lost contact. Our estimate is that there are at least 20,000.”

“Do you think such weak words have any value? The Intelligence Agency should be able to get information from agents inside.”

“We tried that, but they say contact with the agent in Belzium Castle has also been lost.”

“What the!”

In a situation that felt like losing his sight, Major General Gadus slammed his fist on the desk.

“Immediately convene a meeting and issue Combat Readiness Level 1 for all troops!”

“Yes!!”

-Real situation! Real situation! Enemy advance confirmed, Combat Readiness Level 1 issued as of now! Combat Readiness Level 1 issued! Orders from the Instructor!

The broadcast rang out loudly enough to be noisy.

The peace maintained under precarious tension was broken and all personnel began moving busily.

And this was the case not only for Rimircastle but also for the surrounding military camps and the Imperial Palace.

* * *

“Your Majesty, enemy movement has also been confirmed at Golten Castle. The estimated force is 30,000, and they say defense will be difficult without support.”

At Commander-in-Chief Bast’s report, the Emperor’s face contorted more severely than ever before.

“So you’re saying the enemy is trying to take both Adman Castle and Rimircastle simultaneously?”

“Yes, that’s how it appears so far.”

A scenario that had been left as the smallest possibility.

Now that it was unfolding before their eyes, everyone starting with Bast found it hard to hide their confusion.

“The number of troops heading to Rimircastle is difficult to confirm, and does the Intelligence Command currently have no countermeasures for this?”

The Emperor’s gaze turned to General Calren, who bowed his head with a tired expression.

“I’m truly sorry, but we lost contact with our agents at Belzium Castle the moment the enemy departed.”

“We’ve been played in the palm of their hand.”

Though the words drove a nail into their pride, they could only bow their heads before the clearly unfolded situation.

“Maintaining strict vigilance to block any approach from the surroundings… doesn’t something smell fishy about this?”

At the Emperor’s words, Bast nodded as if in agreement.

“That’s right. It’s definitely strange. Personally, I wonder if their goal isn’t to tie us down at Rimircastle and take Adman Castle.”

A very logical assessment.

Which is exactly why it’s giving me a headache.

“Isn’t the enemy’s supreme commander Seto Count? It’s hard to believe he would make a move that could be discovered so easily.”

Leading this war isn’t his son Baren Seto or the foolish General Krem, but Seto Count himself.

The brain of the Adits Empire.

If he were someone who made such foolish moves, the Adits Empire couldn’t be in its current position.

“That’s right. But then again, this might be exactly what he’s aiming for.”

Is it a smokescreen?

Or a smokescreen within a smokescreen?

Right now, Seto Count has presented us with a binary choice.

With the enormous stakes of war on the table.

“How much time is left until the enemy reaches Rimircastle?”

“At their current speed, three days remain.”

“That doesn’t leave us much room either.”

Normally we should have known a bit earlier, but this too is a problem caused by the intelligence gap.

“The army heading toward Adman Castle numbers 30,000. If they truly intend to take Rimircastle, that force would be around 40,000.”

Since capturing Rimircastle is more difficult than Adman Castle, the Emperor’s words are perfectly logical.

“Major General Gadus.”

“Yes! Your Majesty!”

At the Emperor’s call, Major General Gadus’s voice rang through the communication device into the office.

“If 40,000 troops come charging in, is it possible to defend with your current forces?”

A brief but critically important question.

As it required thought, silence fell for a moment.

Just before the second hand crossed to the minute mark, Major General Gadus’s voice was heard again.

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