I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 188

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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 188

‘Right, I have to do what needs to be done.’

Even if the expedition speech seems tedious and stuffy again, there’s a reason it’s never omitted.

‘First, the face.’

The fact that this guy is more precious than anyone else in the world is something only I know, but to ordinary people, he’s a member of the royal family who serves as their spiritual pillar.

Just having the Crown Prince with them gives them strength, they say.

I don’t really understand it myself.

“Today we! Risk our lives and venture beyond our territory to protect our precious peace!”

Still, he must have practiced quite a bit – his voice carries power.

By the way, I could bet my wrist on it – this is definitely scripted.

‘Am I being too cynical?’

But what can I do about it.

Just looking at the Crown Prince makes my stomach churn.

“Even if Belzium Castle’s walls are high and solid, our forces are three times greater than the enemy’s!”

Quite an exaggeration.

But again, letting this kind of thing slide is the unwritten rule.

“There are no walls that cannot be overcome, and the enemy forces will lose their morale just by making eye contact with us! My fellow soldiers!!!”

He raises his arm with a clenched fist while raising his voice.

It seemed similar to the Emperor yet somehow felt a bit lacking.

‘Experience makes the difference.’

Still, it’s pretty decent for his age.

‘He was three years older than me, right?’

Come to think of it, I wonder why that guy hasn’t gotten married yet.

‘Well, he’ll figure it out himself.’

It’s basically like worrying about a celebrity’s finances.

“When we go, it will be enemy territory, but on our return journey, it will have become our territory! Do not fear! I will be with you until the very end!!! Victory to the Lycans!!!”

“Victory!!! Uaaahhhhh!!!”

“Long live His Highness the Crown Prince!!!!!!!”

Soldiers screaming and shouting from all directions.

It was indeed effective, and my heart also began racing along with the atmosphere.

‘I’m getting nervous.’

Honestly, I was fine until yesterday.

But now that I’m actually standing here, I feel very strange, and how should I put it.

It feels like entering a tomb while still alive.

“Let’s calm down.”

If I tremble, it affects all 1,500 battalion members.

And when the numbers reach that level, there’s a high probability it will affect other battalions too.

“All forces! March out!!!”

“March out!”

At the Crown Prince’s command, Colonel Schultz turned his horse and shouted.

His face showed no emotion, no different from usual.

Really, no matter when I see him, that man is not human.

“Whew.”

As I also turned my horse, the 1,500 battalion members came into view.

‘They’re all tense and scared.’

They’re the same kind of people as me, so it can’t be helped.

‘You can’t be scared. Straighten your shoulders.’

Like casting a spell, I repeatedly told myself this while drawing my sword.

“We march out! Everyone walk with dignity!”

“Uaaaahhhhh!!!”

The battalion members began walking while shouting as if shaking off their fear.

Actually, even though we made such a fuss now, things would quiet down soon enough.

Just because we’re marching out now doesn’t mean we’ll fight the enemy immediately – we have to walk for five whole days to get there.

After leaving Rimircastle and a little over three hours had passed.

I gathered the company commanders.

“How is everyone doing.”

“1st Company has no problems whatsoever.”

“2nd Company is fine too.”

“3rd Company is also walking well while chatting among themselves.”

It would be ridiculous if problems arose already, but since early response is important for any situation.

There’s a need to check frequently.

“It’s tough with so many people, but please keep paying attention. Tell the guys to speak up if anything seems even slightly off.”

This damn military thinks everything gets solved if you just endure it.

Absolutely not.

‘If you endure, you get sick and explode – how is that solving anything.’

Even if it’s bothersome, you have to keep paying attention, and that’s why the positions of company commander and battalion commander exist.

“Understood.”

“Since we get to travel comfortably on horseback, let’s work hard even if it’s bothersome.”

“Yes! I’ll continue to pay careful attention.”

“Right, I’m counting on you.”

After receiving all reports from the company commanders, we moved again.

Time passed – thirty minutes, an hour…

‘This is boring.’

Maybe it’s because I usually work all day long.

This task of riding a horse and moving at a slow pace was mind-numbingly boring.

‘There’s no one to chat with either.’

I’d like to call over Captain Aisa and have a conversation, but I know that would look bad to anyone watching.

“Being a battalion commander is truly a lonely position.”

I shouldn’t feel this way, but I found myself envying the soldiers walking and chatting behind us.

However, I should have realized then.

What a great blessing it was to be able to travel quietly.

“Please enjoy your meal!”

At 1 PM, six hours after starting the march.

Food began pouring out from the supply wagons deployed in actual combat for the first time.

‘Hamburgers? Not a bad menu choice.’

A menu that can be easily eaten while holding it in one hand.

The benefit of this is that there’s no need to sit down and waste time.

“Quite innovative.”

You might ask how hard it would be for the soldiers to walk without rest.

But the pace isn’t that fast, and the soldiers’ stamina isn’t so low that they’d get tired already.

‘Actually, resting would make them tired faster.’

Once you start walking, it’s best for everyone to advance as much as possible.

Munch munch.

The hamburger wasn’t warm since it was cooked during movement, stored, and then distributed.

Still, the taste wasn’t bad, better than expected.

‘Compared to combat rations, this is almost miraculous.’

And those who reacted most strongly to this change were the soldiers who had experienced expedition journeys before.

“This is unbelievable! We can eat food like this while moving?!”

“I thought they’d obviously just give us combat rations…”

The soldiers seemed moved to the point of being touched.

A feeling of inexplicable pride welled up inside me.

‘All that hard work was worth it.’

Seeing things like this, it seems right for me to work for everyone’s sake even if it’s a bit difficult for me.

That is, assuming no strange guy comes clinging to me.

“Lieutenant! Did you eat lunch?”

“Your… Your Highness, how did you come all the way here.”

The Crown Prince, who should definitely be with the 2nd Corps, somehow suddenly appeared next to me, who belongs to the 1st Corps.

‘No, seriously, how did you get here. The distance must be quite considerable.’

With 70,000 personnel, even a one corps difference means the gap between them is beyond imagination.

“I was eating this food and thought of you, Lieutenant. This is our masterpiece, isn’t it.”

‘No. It’s not our masterpiece, it’s my masterpiece.’

I wanted to correct him, but only royalty has the privilege to do that.

“Ha… haha, that’s right. I’m really glad it seems to be used well in actual combat too.”

“Gasp…! We greet His Highness the Crown Prince!”

“We greet His Highness the Crown Prince!”

While we were talking, the soldiers belatedly discovered the Crown Prince and knelt down.

“Don’t mind me and continue eating while walking.”

“Yes…!!”

They answered that they understood, but would the hamburgers even go down their throats?

They probably can’t even tell if it’s going into their nose or mouth.

“Isn’t it nice for everyone to have proper food like this rather than combat rations?”

The Crown Prince, who had definitely told them not to mind him, spoke to a nearby soldier less than 10 seconds later.

“Th… that’s right. It’s incomparably good. Thank you so much, Your Highness.”

His voice was trembling, but the words themselves were probably 100 percent sincere.

And here, unexpected words came from the Crown Prince’s mouth.

“All of this was directly devised by your Battalion Commander, who sacrificed sleep to make it, so everyone should say a word of thanks to him later.”

The Crown Prince said that while looking at me.

This is a bit embarrassing.

‘What’s this, why are you suddenly praising me.’

Anyway, the soldiers who didn’t know the inside story belatedly looked up at me with respectful gazes.

It’s quite burdensome.

“Thank you, Battalion Commander.”

“Thank you!!”

“Uh… yeah, eat well.”

As the news spread, the gazes rapidly increased.

It wasn’t easy to keep my head up.

“The Lieutenant’s popularity will pierce the sky.”

The Crown Prince spoke as if he was proud.

Certainly, the person’s character itself isn’t wicked or anything.

‘It’s just that there are many problems in other areas.’

“I’m just grateful.”

“Repay me with merit. More than that, step aside a bit. I have something to discuss.”

“Yes.”

Since I didn’t think he really came just because he was bored, I left the formation to a distance where our conversation couldn’t be heard.

“Lieutenant, do you think we can win this battle?”

“Pardon?”

Well, I didn’t think it would be an ordinary topic.

But the first question was too heavy.

‘Why are you asking me that.’

Where did you sell off the Command Post with all the smart people gathered?

Why me again?

“You can really speak honestly.”

Honestly.

Honestly.

‘I don’t know.’

Although I attended the command meeting, I’ve never been to Belzium Castle.

I’ve never looked closely at enemy intelligence either.

So what basis would I use to make a judgment?

‘In times like this, just give them confidence.’

There’s no point in saying things like ‘We might lose’ or ‘It looks unfavorable’ – it would just bring down morale.

Then military morale would inevitably drop.

“I think the key is crossing the city wall, just like what came up in the meeting. And naturally, our army will cross the city wall.”

The city wall.

Honestly speaking, I don’t think we can’t cross it either.

‘I mean, we have 70,000 men – if we can’t cross it, what kind of army are we?’

Of course, there might be great sacrifices, but if we attack from all sides as planned, I believe we can definitely capture the fortress.

“Is that so. I’m relieved to hear you say that, Lieutenant.”

The Crown Prince’s expression seemed somewhat more comfortable.

Seeing him feel relieved after hearing words from a mere lieutenant like me, this guy is also hopeless.

‘You should also be grateful you weren’t born in South Korea.’

Just looking at him, he’s exactly the type who would fall for some weird cult.

“An army of 70,000 is looking only to Your Highness. Please put aside your worries and go forward confidently. What’s most important in war is morale.”

With a somewhat frustrated heart.

I tried throwing out some advice, even though it didn’t suit me.

‘There really isn’t anyone like this. You should be grateful.’

Of course, it only has meaning if he understands it, but fortunately the Crown Prince had at least that much sense.

“You’re right. My mind is clearing up a bit. Thank you for the good words.”

“Not at all.”

“This is something I haven’t told anyone else, but honestly, I’m more nervous about this battle than ever before.”

“I feel the same way.”

Actually, that’s not true.

‘The most nerve-wracking was the Yalc Island battle.’

The Crown Prince was fine since he was enjoying the good life at the Command Post.

But I ran out risking my life at the very front with the Special Forces unit.

That kind of heart-bursting tension and nervousness will probably be hard to feel twice.

However, the reason the Crown Prince said he was nervous now wasn’t the kind I was thinking of.

“Is that so.”

“But didn’t Your Highness overcome the Yalc Island battle well too?”

“That time was fine. I had someone I could rely on mentally by my side.”

“Now… don’t you have anyone?”

“It seems like they’ve gone far away.”

At the Crown Prince’s words, I almost unconsciously frowned.

‘This bastard… is a commander?’

It seems like this army is indeed hopeless after all.

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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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