I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 192
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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 192
A voice with much diminished confidence.
Sorry, but that doesn’t change anything.
“Your Highness, if there’s no viable solution, I believe retreating this time is the right choice.”
“I suppose so.”
“From tactics to all aspects of preparation, everything was relatively inadequate.”
Seriously, what has gone well in this war so far?
Only the supply carriage I designed.
‘I had a bad feeling from the moment the tactics lacked inspiration.’
General Koppen, was it? Anyway, these high-ranking bastards just occupy positions without any answers or usefulness.
“Everything is due to my inadequacy.”
He bowed his head, and since it was true, I had nothing particular to say.
‘You should have done well. What’s the point of regretting it now.’
Adopting the tactics proposed by General Koppen, who had only been promoted without development.
Giving the final attack order.
All of it was the Crown Prince.
And originally, the leader bears responsibility for defeat.
“Don’t think that deeply about it. It will only make things harder.”
I wanted to tell him to abandon everything and go bash his head in the medical tent with General Koppen and Major General Gadus.
But how could I say such words.
When this life is being maintained with such difficulty.
“Understood. There will be a meeting soon, and unless there’s a nearly perfect solution, I’ll retreat as the Lieutenant suggests.”
At the Crown Prince’s words, I unconsciously clenched my fist.
‘Yes, you’ve come to your senses.’
If we return like this, the Crown Prince will probably have to walk a very difficult path.
But well, that’s not my concern.
‘If you make mistakes, you take responsibility.’
It’s not like he’s suffering injustice, it’s just the karma of incompetence, so there’s no need to feel sorry.
The truly pitiful ones are the soldiers who went to heaven because of stupid superiors.
“We have time left, so let’s walk together a bit, we should get some fresh air.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Having obtained the desired conclusion, I rode my horse feeling truly lighter by a fingernail’s worth.
‘Right, how could we possibly overcome this.’
The monster-like city wall wrapped in blue mana.
The attempt itself was problematic from the start.
‘If we really wanted to capture it, this kind of thing should be blown up from the inside.’
Or we should have left Belzium Castle alone and occupied all the surroundings to isolate it.
‘Well, what’s the point of thinking about it now.’
This too has no meaning whatsoever.
“This high and solid city wall is quite enviable. Of course, it must have been extremely painful and difficult when building it.”
“There’s no spring that comes without winter, is there.”
Astronomical amounts of money and time beyond imagination must have gone into it.
“Lieutenant, I will never forget today.”
The Crown Prince spoke with a firm voice full of determination.
Normally I should respond immediately, but my mouth wouldn’t open.
Because my attention was completely stolen by an unexpected part.
‘Wait, what’s that.’
The city wall densely surrounded by blue mana.
But there was exactly one part where mana wasn’t flowing and was left in an ordinary state.
‘Is it a gap…?’
A city wall where mana isn’t flowing.
Naturally, it means it would break if hit with magic artillery.
‘The size is bigger than I thought too.’
Of course it’s not as big as the city gate, but since it’s the lower part of the central axis, if we break through there, it will affect the surroundings too.
If I roughly calculate the space that would be created…
‘It’s big enough for troops to enter?’
And quite generously at that.
“Lieutenant? Is something wrong?”
As I stared intently at Belzium Castle without answering, the Crown Prince lightly tapped my shoulder.
“Nothing…”
Since retreat was almost confirmed anyway, I was about to pretend I didn’t see it and move on.
But suddenly Private Chandler’s words came to mind.
‘If things continue like this… is that really right.’
Thousands of people who left emptily without a single shining achievement.
Moreover, with the defeat of this battle, we probably won’t even approach Belzium Castle in the future.
Then the war will become more difficult and complicated.
‘Thinking about the future, we absolutely must do it.’
The judgment was quick, but the deliberation had to be long.
Saying I can see mana and there’s a gap there means volunteering to become a test subject.
“Your Highness.”
“Speak.”
“If we retreat anyway, don’t we have to carry back all the stuff we brought with difficulty?”
“That’s right.”
“Among those, the magic artillery is a burden anyway, so how about we just fire it off refreshingly once like I mentioned before?”
“Magic artillery, you mean? Why do such a thing without any meaning.”
The Crown Prince asked as if he didn’t understand.
Of course he would.
Magic artillery isn’t insanely expensive, but it’s still quite pricey and a strategic resource.
“Your Highness, since no one’s around, let me speak honestly – I think from General Koppen onwards, all commanders are scared of an illusion.”
“An illusion…?”
“Yes, the illusion created by the Abiel Family. Aren’t we trapped by it and not even daring to attempt anything?”
“Hmm.”
“Your Highness, have you ever seen with your own two eyes that city wall withstanding magic artillery?”
When I asked while looking straight at him with what felt slightly irreverent, the Crown Prince shook his head.
“I haven’t seen it directly myself.”
“Of course it might not work. However, I think it’s worth trying at least once. Thousands have already died, so what’s a little magic artillery compared to that?”
With the thought that I must persuade him, my speech quickened.
“Then regarding that matter, during this meeting…”
‘Shit, what meeting with those bastards.’
It’s obvious they’ll oppose it saying it’s meaningless.
Unless we go in with our minds made up, it will definitely be scrapped.
“Your Highness, if no results come out, I will compensate for the full cost of the magic artillery used.”
Of course it would be my father, not me.
But isn’t that the same thing.
“Lieutenant… why go to such lengths.”
The Crown Prince looked at me with eyes filled with complex emotions.
“I think attempting is important. If we don’t act, nothing will change.”
“Nothing changes… If the Lieutenant says so, I understand. I’ll try to break the city wall.”
Finally, the Crown Prince’s decision was made.
Really hard to spoon-feed.
And now I need to gain one more thing here….
“Since the Lieutenant came up with it and even said he’d take responsibility. I’ll entrust you with full authority over this operation.”
The Crown Prince offering to give it to me first without me even asking.
It’s been a really long time since we were on the same page.
“I will do my best to bring results.”
“Don’t feel too burdened. Even if you fail, the Lieutenant won’t bear responsibility for defeat.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed my head in gratitude at the Crown Prince’s words.
While thinking something slightly different inside.
‘Well, of course. Would I take responsibility for firing a few magic shells in a battle that was already lost?’
Anyone watching would think he was doing me some great favor.
“Now go back and prepare for the operation.”
“Yes.”
After returning to the barracks, the Crown Prince called a meeting somewhat early.
As soon as I presented my opinion, fierce opposition came flooding in as expected.
“Your Highness, just because we suffered one defeat doesn’t mean you should waste precious resources like magic shells that way.”
“Even if we pour out all the prepared magic shells, it would be meaningless as I mentioned last time. Lieutenant, didn’t I clearly tell you this?”
General Koppen looked at me, unable to speak harshly to the Crown Prince.
While I was pondering what to say in response.
The Crown Prince spoke first.
“Then, General, have you come up with any method?”
“That is….”
“What exactly are you doing? Just stay quiet at least. Thousands of soldiers died because of that garbage operation. Right now the General and the entire staff should feel guilty for still being alive.”
‘Damn, he’s going that far.’
The intensity of his words was much stronger than I had expected.
“I thought that if experienced majority spoke, that would be the right path, but I was wrong. Your opinions aren’t worth listening to.”
The Crown Prince stood up from his seat.
“After the meeting ended, I went to the Medical Tent and waited for quite a while. But somehow, not a single general-level commander came to see me.”
“That was to prepare countermeasures….”
“Silence!”
When the Crown Prince raised his voice and shouted, silence fell over the Conference Room.
“We’ll try pounding the City Wall with magic shells as Lieutenant Paran suggested as a last attempt, and if there are no results, we’ll retreat immediately. This is an order.”
“Yes….”
They looked quite dissatisfied, but since the Crown Prince had given an order, they had no choice but to bow their heads.
“Colonel Siris.”
“Yes! Your Highness.”
Colonel Siris, commander of the Magic Weapon Regiment who was sitting near the end, responded to the Crown Prince’s call.
“From now on, deploy the cannons according to Lieutenant Paran’s plan and concentrate firepower. You may use all the magic shells we brought.”
“I receive your command!”
“The Ground Operation Regiment will prepare to charge immediately when the City Wall collapses.”
“Yes!!”
Colonel Schultz and the other Ground Operation Regiment commanders answered in unison, and the general framework of the operation was decided.
‘Finally acting like a human being.’
It feels like my frustrated feelings are somewhat being digested.
“While this operation is in progress, follow Lieutenant Paran’s words as if they were my own.”
The Crown Prince giving me support to a somewhat burdensome degree.
Anyway, the operation was decided that way, and after finishing the meeting, I left the barracks.
“Lieutenant Paran.”
Just as I was about to head to where the artillery Battalion under the Magic Weapon Regiment was located.
A not particularly welcome voice called out to me.
“General Koppen, what is it?”
“What on earth were you thinking when you recommended such a foolish operation to His Highness the Crown Prince!”
“A foolish operation? From what I can see, it’s perfectly capable of bringing down the enemy’s City Wall.”
Unless there was a problem with my eyes and I saw an illusion, I can even be confident about it.
“You think we haven’t tried that? There’s already a record of failure, and now you want to pour out magic shells. Even now, go to His Highness the Crown Prince and request to stop the operation.”
“I’m sorry, but that’s impossible.”
“It seems like the Lieutenant is mistaken, thinking he’s become something after earning some merit….”
“General Koppen.”
Since he was starting to say things not worth listening to, I cut him off first.
‘This guy is finished anyway.’
Whether we win or lose, his dismissal is confirmed, so there’s no need to be considerate.
“I didn’t want to say this much, but if you want to save your life, you’d better hope I succeed.”
“What… what?”
“Do you think His Majesty the Emperor will just leave alone an incompetent tactical staff officer who brought defeat with a garbage operation? From what I’ve seen of him so far, he would never do that.”
I stepped closer and met his gaze directly.
Eyes shaking due to emotional turmoil.
Facing a reality you’ve been avoiding is harder than you think.
“So instead of interfering like this, pray or something. Don’t try to do anything. I’m a bit busy, so I’ll be going now. Loyalty.”
After giving a clean salute, I turned around and mounted my horse.
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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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