I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 206

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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 206

“His Majesty is someone who likes balance. He wouldn’t have wanted to give a marquis title to a family that already has significant influence in the market.”

“Ah…”

So it was a kind of check.

‘They’re keeping me in check because I’ve been achieving merit.’

As expected, the blood that stabbed founding contributors in the back doesn’t go anywhere.

“Having both power and wealth isn’t an easy thing.”

“It seems that way.”

“However, it’s not impossible. This time it ended with territory, but what about next time?”

Father’s lips curl upward, and as I thought, this man doesn’t have much loyalty either.

‘Right, does loyalty put food on the table? This is what’s so great about our family.’

We can communicate. We really can.

“I’ll have to achieve more merit then.”

“Of course, you don’t need to feel pressured. The merit you’ve achieved this time alone already gives you prestige that doesn’t fall short of a marquis title.”

“Yes, it really seems that way now.”

The Oclo Family for military supplies and Paran Oclo achieving merit in war.

I guarantee that there are hardly any citizens of the Empire who don’t know the Oclo Family.

‘When this kind of reputation accumulates and the guild’s scale grows, they’ll eventually have no choice but to give us a marquis title.’

Keeping someone in check is only possible when you can contain the target within an appropriate size.

If the Oclo Family becomes large enough to break out of a count family’s vessel, what could even the Emperor do about it?

“We need to think long-term. If we don’t maintain the line, disaster will come. Of course, that’s something I need to worry about. You just continue doing what you’ve been doing.”

“Understood.”

Father looks deep in thought.

I wonder how many scenarios are running through his head right now.

‘Please live a long and healthy life until these complicated matters are settled.’

Personally, I want to inherit the family when everything has stabilized.

“So essentially, you’re saying the more merit I achieve, the better?”

“That’s right. Who could complain about merit achieved on the battlefield?”

“Then I have something right now that could earn merit. Something profitable too.”

“Hmm…? What would that be?”

Father looks at me with curious and slightly bewildered eyes.

He must be flustered.

The guy who just achieved merit and received a reward is saying he has more merit to achieve.

“Father, didn’t I create something called a field kitchen carriage this time?”

“Yes, I heard about it. It was truly ingenious. It seems like it would have many uses in civilian life too.”

“In civilian life?”

“If properly equipped, you could sell things while moving around without needing to set up a store, couldn’t you?”

“Oh… that’s right.”

I was genuinely surprised just now.

‘He thought of the food truck concept?’

This might look easy, but it absolutely isn’t.

‘He’s definitely sharp.’

He didn’t graduate from Rior Imperial Academy, the Seoul National University of this world, for nothing.

‘His graduation grades must have been good too.’

Or he was doing business from academy days, making students’ wallets poor.

“Were you already thinking about it?”

“I was just conceptualizing it to some extent. But there’s no real profitable angle to this, is there?”

It’s ambiguous to patent, and if we sell it expensively, it won’t be competitive, so profitability is disappointing.

“If you look at it as just a carriage, yes, but if you think about the cooking equipment that goes inside, it’s definitely doable.”

“The cooking equipment?”

“Design it specialized for certain menus and mass-produce them. Patent the cooking equipment that goes in so only we can make them.”

“Yes.”

“Then instead of selling, we rent them out. Under the condition that they cook according to recipes we provide and purchase ingredients only from the Oclo Trading Guild.”

“Oh…”

“Since there’s no need for land to set up a store, wouldn’t the profit be as much as we can produce carriages?”

He’s explaining the business concept.

As a mere commoner, I could only admire it.

‘Shit, this seems really crazy.’

So he’s saying we’ll rent out carriages and make money selling ingredients.

‘He’s really different. What the hell is in his head?’

Even roughly calculating, this has no choice but to succeed.

“Father, it sounds really good.”

“I’m glad you think so. So what’s this about being able to achieve merit?”

After hearing Father’s grand project, the ambulance carriage story I was about to tell seemed too insignificant.

However, since we’re pursuing different directions, I organized my thoughts and spoke.

“When I went to war, I saw that there were really many cases where people died from not receiving proper treatment even though they could have lived.”

“That would be the case. It must be complete chaos.”

“Yes, the important thing here is timely treatment, but the stretchers currently in use are greatly insufficient and have clear limitations.”

“So you want to transport the wounded in carriages?”

“Yes, and modify the carriages so that some degree of treatment can be performed inside.”

“Hmm.”

Father strokes his chin with his hand.

He’s probably frantically working a calculator in his head right now.

“While profitability might be disappointing, considering the external image, it’s very much worth trying. It would need to be deployed in actual combat though.”

“I asked a related expert for their opinion, and they hoped it would be made as soon as possible, so you don’t need to worry about actual deployment.”

It’s somewhat weak evidence, but I’m confident about this.

That this will definitely play a major role in war.

“How long is your leave this time?”

“I’m not sure about that either. But it shouldn’t be too short.”

If these people are human, I believe they’ll let me rest for at least two weeks.

‘Or just use your vacation days.’

What’s the point of saving them?

This is when you should use them all at once.

“Then take this opportunity to try making one yourself. It’ll also be a chance to show your face at the guild.”

“Yes, I’ll give it a try.”

I wanted to do it anyway, and since the idea was mine, I accepted immediately without refusing.

“Phew, the alcohol tastes particularly sweet today.”

Father is already emptying his second bottle of wine.

Hmm, he seems to be in a very good mood.

“Honey, drink in moderation.”

Mother frowned and glared at Father.

‘The dynamic is the same everywhere you go.’

Anyway, alcohol is the problem.

“If I don’t drink on a day like this, when would I drink? Son, do you know what our family’s long-cherished business project is?”

“Long-cherished business project?”

What could this story be about?

I thought of various things in my head.

‘A long-cherished business project.’

So many things came to mind that it was hard to decide exactly what to say.

“I’m not sure.”

“Of course you wouldn’t know, since it’s content too sensitive to even speak aloud. I’m telling you this today, but our family has dreamed of entering the magical device business since the previous family head.”

“The magical device business, you say…?”

An unexpected story.

It certainly was a business worthy of being called a long-cherished wish.

‘But is that easy?’

Magical devices are like semiconductors in modern terms.

No matter how much money you have, they’re exclusive products of advanced knowledge that can’t be manufactured without technical expertise.

Moreover, it’s a field dominated by a small cartel, making entry difficult.

“I know it’s not easy. But you have to dream to reach it, don’t you think?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Originally, I thought it would be difficult even in my time, but with the guild’s recent growth, I want to start preparing step by step.”

There was a reason he brought up this topic.

“Won’t there be some interference?”

“That’s why I’m thinking of starting with manufacturing subcontracts. Since supply can’t keep up with demand due to the war, they’ll have no choice but to work with us.”

“I see. It won’t be an easy path, but good luck.”

“Even if it succeeds, it’ll be hard to see results in my time. So study magical devices whenever you can so you can carry it on.”

“Understood.”

I could see his considerable desire for magical devices.

‘Well, the moment you properly handle magical devices, the family’s status changes completely, so of course he’d covet it.’

Not only a marquis title, but if you take the industry lead, even a duke title is possible.

“And now, isn’t it about time you got engaged?”

The marriage talk I’d been wondering when it would come up.

I thought it might pass this time, but as expected, it was inevitable.

“Well…”

“As much as our family is doing well lately, there’s increasing interference and jealousy from those around us. Wouldn’t it be good to make one reliable ally in this situation?”

Words that were truly impossible to refute anywhere.

The logic was perfect.

“I noticed today that most families with daughters of marriageable age showed interest.”

“Is… is that so?”

Uselessly popular indeed.

“I’ll compile a list of daughters from families we currently need, so go out and meet them.”

Just thinking about it was bothersome, and I very much wanted to refuse.

Unfortunately, I had no justification.

‘By the standards here, refusing to even go on matchmaking meetings at my current age would make me a real unfilial son.’

I should actually be grateful.

At least he’s letting me go out and see their faces, rather than just announcing an engagement.

“I… I understand.”

“Mother, I’ll give you a list too, so please check their character. Family is important, but people are most important.”

“Understood. And I have a few daughters in mind myself, so I’ll give you a list.”

Mother speaking more actively than ever.

It was clear she’d been waiting for this topic alone.

‘I don’t know. If I just stay buried in making ambulance carriages, it’ll probably end with going out once or twice.’

Though my head did get dizzy toward the end of the meal.

Overall, it was an extremely fruitful time anyway.

Of course, the most fruitful thing was.

“Young master, I’ve prepared the newly released volume 13 of the Domain Reconstruction Chronicles.”

“As expected, Aurora, nice work.”

I was actually planning to go to the bookstore tomorrow, but it seems the thoughtful Aurora went there first.

“Volume 13 means the author did some work. Well, since he’s not going to war, he should at least write diligently.”

Honestly, it’s disappointing.

I risked my life to capture Belzium Castle, and this so-called author managed only three volumes?

‘If I let him taste the Infantry Battalion once, his speed would pick up.’

Having such trivial thoughts, I changed back into pajamas, grabbed the book, and threw myself onto the bed.

* * *

“So you’re saying the opposition is fierce?”

“Yes, they’re saying they didn’t learn academics to become tools of war, and they’re even preparing protests.”

Rosen had moved to bring brilliant scholars into the tactical field.

But things weren’t going as desired.

“They don’t think at all about what allows them to leisurely pursue their studies. Are they stupid, or just selfish?”

Tap! Tap!

The Emperor clicked his tongue as if displeased and drummed his fingers on the desk.

‘I can’t change the law at this point.’

Under current law, it’s impossible to conscript someone specifically.

Of course, if they were nobles, things might be a bit different, but there are hardly any nobles among scholars.

Especially what the Emperor currently wants isn’t old scholars but young blood.

The place where they gather is the Academy, and it’s clearly written in law.

Students enrolled in Empire-recognized academies are exempt from conscription.

“Have you tried various compensation measures?”

“Yes, we offered full tuition support for those serving over a year, guaranteed employment or research funding consideration, and even bonus points, but since they’re moving centered around the student council, it was meaningless.”

No matter how sweet the support measures, if you’re going to live as a scholar, reputation in academic circles is important.

So even if your financial situation is tight, ignoring the student council’s greater cause isn’t easy.

“Listening to this makes me a bit angry.”

The Emperor could understand disliking going to war, but he hadn’t anticipated this kind of collective action at 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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