I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 174
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 174
“Loyalty! Welcome to Rimircastle! Lieutenant Paran Oclo!”
When I showed my identification, the soldier saluted me with a booming voice.
“Right. Keep up the good work.”
The scenery of Rimircastle unfolded as soon as I passed the soldier and entered the fortress.
‘So I ended up coming back here after all.’
I had thought I might come back someday.
But not this soon.
‘I guess I lasted longer than expected. Or maybe not. Right, no I didn’t.’
The Empire is so vast, normally there should be at least a 5-year gap, right?
But this is just…
“I could go for a drink.”
I want to shake off this gloomy situation, even if it means borrowing the power of alcohol.
“Let’s go for now.”
The Western Expedition Army.
This grandly named unit organized by the Emperor’s command is supposedly led directly by the Crown Prince and the Supreme Commander.
The scale is…
‘Well, it’ll be large.’
There’s nothing good about knowing the details.
“Loyalty!”
“Loyalty!”
Maybe because it’s the front line.
Military discipline was tight, and every soldier I encountered saluted me.
“Hey, if he’s a lieutenant at that age, isn’t that Lieutenant Paran Oclo?”
“I think you’re right.”
“He looks even younger than me but he’s already a lieutenant.”
“Look at all the achievements he’s made. He completely reformed the dining hall here too.”
Murmuring voices.
Well, I’m used to it.
Because of my rank that doesn’t match my age, I’m far too easy to identify.
“More importantly, there’s chaos everywhere.”
Currently, a large army called the Western Expedition Army is moving into Rimircastle.
Naturally, their food and lodging needs to be resolved.
Food is just a matter of increasing the budget and expanding the supply company, but the problem is lodging.
‘Are they renovating the entire area?’
Originally these were houses where citizens lived, but now a considerable number of soldiers are staying there.
Of course, they didn’t just kick them out – I understand they paid appropriate compensation.
‘If they stayed here, they’d just end up dead anyway, so it’s better to take the compensation and go somewhere else.’
Life will be a bit harder, but that’s what happens when war breaks out.
“Should I go report my transfer first?”
I wonder if I should go to the infantry battalion first, but what would I do there without knowing anyone?
It’s better to meet the regimental commander first.
‘The commander of the 1st Ground Operations Regiment of the Western Expedition Army must be no ordinary person.’
I have a really bad feeling about this.
Unfortunately, these kinds of feelings are always accurate.
Knock knock
“Lieutenant Paran Oclo here. May I come in?”
“Come in.”
When I knocked on the door of the Regimental Commander’s Office on the third floor of regimental headquarters, I heard a quite familiar voice.
‘Where have I heard this before?’
It was a common deep voice, yet somehow different – I definitely remembered it but it was vague.
And it didn’t take long to face the truth.
“Loyalty! I’m newly assigned as the 1st Infantry Battalion commander… Colonel Schultz?”
The man sitting in the regimental commander’s chair, making eye contact with me.
He was none other than Colonel Schultz, the Special Forces battalion commander who fought alongside me in the Battle of Yalc Island.
“Surprised? It’s been a while.”
“Ah… no, why are you here, Colonel?”
‘This person definitely went to the Imperial Knights.’
And the Imperial Knights, as far as I know, isn’t a position you can easily leave or abandon.
“I wouldn’t have come if there weren’t orders. More importantly, sit down. We have a lot to discuss.”
I went to the sofa Colonel Schultz offered and sat down.
‘This person is really going through hardships too.’
He was definitely on his way to the Imperial Knights, but suddenly got sent to this front line.
There must be a sad story that would bring tears to your eyes…
“Bringing one lieutenant here was quite arduous. Everyone was so eager to have you.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean?”
I thought we were comrades both exiled to the front line, but the Colonel’s words were strange.
“Still, I persuaded His Majesty the Emperor well. Rather than the Intelligence Agency where you’d have nothing to do with your identity exposed, or the headache-inducing command post, isn’t this place better for you, Lieutenant?”
‘Schultz, what nonsense are you talking about?’
In what way is this place better?
The command post goes without saying, and life in the Intelligence Agency would be safer than here.
And actually, the most surprising and shocking thing is something else.
“You spoke directly to His Majesty the Emperor to bring me here…?”
“That’s right. If not for that, His Highness the Crown Prince would probably have taken you to the command post. I heard it was close.”
‘Damn it!’
My chance to live the sweet life at the command post disappeared because of this one crazy Special Forces guy.
“Ha… haha, what value could I possibly have?”
“How should I put it, Lieutenant – you have an open mind. You know how to see things from various angles.”
I can tell he was deeply impressed by the enemy ship capture operation from last time.
‘Sir, that was just luck.’
Open-minded my ass.
I’m not someone with that broad a perspective.
“I’m not sure about that.”
“People usually don’t know their own strengths. Don’t worry too much. I’ll guide you well.”
Ah, what kind of person is this?
It feels like talking to a wall.
‘It’s not that I’m open-minded, but that you seem narrow-minded.’
Harsh words rose to my throat, but I couldn’t bring myself to say them.
“Yes…”
“Anyway, moving on to work matters, our regiment will be moving as the central axis of operations in this expedition army.”
“Yes.”
This was expected content.
The number in front is none other than ‘1’.
“Therefore, we’ve assembled the regiment with skilled individuals, but individual ability alone can’t get you through real combat, can it?”
“That’s correct.”
Of course, if individual martial prowess is asymmetrically strong that might be different, but usually you can’t survive in battle just by being outstanding alone.
Cooperation with comrades, and positioning.
Actual combat is like a kind of chess.
“Therefore, strengthening organizational power – this is our top priority right now. Do you understand what I mean?”
“How much time… do we have?”
“There’s nothing set in stone, but it won’t be very long. We can’t stay here for an extended period.”
From what he’s saying, it seems like a month at most.
‘Strengthening organizational cohesion, that’s difficult.’
When I can’t even trust the regimental commander myself, how am I supposed to strengthen organizational cohesion?
Besides, this kind of organizational cohesion, what they call teamwork, isn’t something that can be built overnight.
It develops as you spend time together, building camaraderie, and reaching a stage where you think of each other.
Creating it artificially is nearly impossible.
“What’s the size of the infantry battalion?”
“Three companies, about 1,500 men total.”
“That’s… that’s a lot.”
What kind of battalion has over a thousand men?
I’ve never heard of such a thing in my life.
“You need a certain scale to carry out operations. What’s the point of dividing things up into small pieces when battle is approaching?”
“That’s true, but…”
“And I believe a Lieutenant like you should be able to lead them just fine. Don’t you think so?”
With that terrifying face asking me, it’s not easy to answer no.
“I’ll… do my best to try.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
After that, I heard about matters related to the Western Expedition Army and the behind-the-scenes story of my recruitment.
“When I received direct orders from His Majesty the Emperor to go out and distinguish myself, the first thing I thought of was who to take with me.”
“There must be many excellent people besides me, like Colonel Garen.”
“Those guys already have their positions, don’t they? This is going to a regular army unit, so I can’t just steal them away.”
‘What about me…! Damn it! What about me!’
Why am I not respected when I hold the important position of Plan Director for the Western Support Unit?
“I… I see?”
“Just then, I thought of you, Lieutenant. So I made the request, and His Majesty gladly accepted. Though he did attach one condition since you had to be transferred from the Intelligence Agency.”
“A condition, you say…”
“It’s nothing much. It’s essentially a sacrifice on my part, and it’s very good news for you, Lieutenant.”
Something bad for Colonel Schultz but good for me.
‘Does such a thing even exist in this world?’
I couldn’t really imagine it.
“What kind of condition…”
“During the Western Expedition Army period, I agreed to train you into a somewhat stronger soldier. When I saw you last time, your body was completely useless regardless of your brains.”
“Is that… good news for me?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m offering to teach you personally.”
He’s looking at me like I’m asking something strange.
Well, there’s no answer to that.
“If you’re teaching me during the operation period, won’t you miss important matters? I’m very worried about that.”
“I was concerned about that part too, but what can I do? If we just fight normally, there’s no way I can beat His Highness the Crown Prince.”
‘You crazy bastard! Why are you trying to beat the Crown Prince!’
It’s hard to believe such words came from someone who’s supposed to be in the Imperial Knights.
“Come to think of it… weren’t you supposed to join the Imperial Knights, Colonel Schultz? How did this happen?”
Since this might be a problematic area, I lowered my voice and asked carefully.
“The Imperial Knights isn’t something you become just by being selected.”
“Excuse me…?”
“At minimum six months of training, and then tests. You only become a member after passing all of that.”
“Then surely you didn’t fail the test…”
“What do you take me for? Of course I can easily pass that level of test. I was just called out because problems arose during the training period.”
“Ah…”
It seems like he didn’t fail the test.
‘Well, if this guy fails, who would pass?’
He’s a monster among monsters who can hit flying arrows with a dagger.
‘If it’s an opportunity to learn from someone like this… it might not be so bad.’
Learning is always beneficial, and quality instruction is something money can’t buy.
If I think positively…
‘But if this guy wasn’t here, I could have gone to the command post. Damn it.’
No matter how positively I try to think, I can’t be positive about it.
“Less than half the battalion personnel have arrived yet, but go get familiar with some faces and then go in and rest.”
I thought he’d suggest Spartan-style training starting today, but fortunately he was a bit different from the demons I’d met so far.
“Thank you. Then I’ll see you tomorrow. Loyalty.”
Before his mind could change, I quickly saluted and left the Regimental Commander’s Office.
“Tsk, let’s think positively. At least he’s competent.”
An ace among aces, without a doubt.
At least it’s better than being incompetent, so I consoled myself with this thought as I headed toward the infantry battalion.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Fishwantstolife
Poor him, hope there is an epic scene ahead