I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 235

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

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Episode 235
“Will the enemies fall for it?”
“If we control the information carefully enough, there’s no reason they wouldn’t. I hear the Manastone deposits are quite substantial.”
Mithril is primarily found near Manastone mines.
Because deposits are extremely scarce, unlike ordinary mines that take decades to exhaust, a Mithril mine is depleted in at most a month.
“True enough….”
“Once word spreads that Mithril has been discovered, the enemy will have no choice but to move.”
A Mithril mine—found perhaps once every half-century, if at all.
Especially recently, the scarcity has worsened; by Raikhan Empire standards, the last Mithril mine discovery was seventy years ago.
“And we have nothing to lose by trying.”
“That’s true.”
If the enemy takes the bait and rushes out, we’re fortunate.
If they hold the fortress and don’t emerge, we simply devise another plan.
“The Reconnaissance Command’s role is crucial this time. I know it’s insensitive to ask someone injured, but I must request this.”
Seto Count’s hand rose to Robin’s shoulder.
“I will ensure information control is maintained without the slightest gap.”
“I trust only you.”
In Seto Count’s eyes lay trust.
And regret.
Because he now understood that he could never make this man called Robin his own.
* * *
【Belzium Castle Academy Establishment Confirmed】
Today, by imperial decree, the establishment of an academy in Belzium Castle has been decided. This academy authorization, the first in nineteen years, will foster the educational environment of the Western Front and…
【Imperial Court Advances War Damage Recovery Support】
The buildings of the fortress devastated by war—ordinarily, such restoration work would commence after the war’s end, but….
Articles filling the newspapers.
All concerning matters discussed with the Emperor yesterday.
“The journalists are working hard.”
For reference, all newspapers here are favorable to the Imperial Court.
‘A hallmark of autocracy.’
It’s called an Empire in name.
But truthfully, it’s rather that way.
‘What can I do? I must adapt and live.’
There are no other options.
“So the speech is tomorrow?”
The schedule is remarkably tight.
Seto Count arrives at Salt Castle this afternoon, so it’s unavoidable.
‘He’s taking the stage again, after all.’
And our Instructor opposing this Seto Count is… unfortunately Major General Gadus.
“That man has his work cut out for him too.”
Haven’t I had quite a few conversations with Major General Gadus by now?
‘He’s definitely not incompetent.’
It’s just that there are moments when I find myself wishing for something more.
Why does he continue to hold such important positions? There’s only one reason.
“There simply isn’t a man more capable than him.”
From defending Rimircastle to seizing Belzium Castle, there were problems in the process, but we achieved victory nonetheless.
‘Among the rare few who shine even within a sea of incompetence, how could I not employ him?’
And as experience accumulated, isn’t he now the undisputed foremost expert on all matters concerning the Western Front?
Even if I were the Emperor, I would have entrusted the commander’s position to the seasoned Major General Gadus.
“Why are you muttering to yourself like that?”
I was enjoying my lunch break with roughly twenty minutes remaining, sipping coffee.
Colonel Eden spoke to me.
‘Tsk, why interrupt during lunch?’
He has no manners whatsoever.
“I was contemplating the direction the Empire should take moving forward.”
“That sounds like quite the profound meditation. Did you reach a conclusion?”
“It seems I should discharge from the military and contribute to the Empire’s development.”
“You’re already contributing sufficiently from within the military, aren’t you?”
“Not at all.”
This man—his eyes may be crooked, but they’re crooked in the right way.
‘I hope he meets some strange woman and suffers for it.’
Yet when I think about it, these types of men tend to marry well.
“By the way, Colonel, why haven’t you married?”
“What makes you curious enough to ask such a question?”
“Well, you’re at an age where I wonder why you haven’t married.”
At Eden’s age, it’s not just marriage—he should have children who can already speak.
“Do you think marriage would even be possible for someone doing this kind of work?”
It’s a reasonably convincing answer, but ultimately just an excuse.
“Still, those who want to do it manage it.”
Even Lieutenant Gato over there is married.
Lieutenant Colonel Larsen is married too.
“Enough of this. I despise responsibilities I cannot fulfill.”
“Ah… yes.”
Looking at him, he really doesn’t seem to have any intention of it.
Well, I more or less expected as much.
‘Right, you’re better off living alone.’
The women are to be pitied, aren’t they?
One person has just been saved.
“Asking such peculiar questions tells me you’re well-prepared for tomorrow.”
“Yes, I’ve completed the script. Would you like to see it?”
“That’s enough. He’ll have handled it on his own.”
Eden took his coffee without much interest and headed into his room.
“What? If you don’t care, why ask?”
He’s certainly an odd fellow.
* * *
“Based on enemy movements, the Intelligence Command estimates a minimum force of 100,000 soldiers.”
Major General Gadus furrowed his brow at Adjutant Lieutenant Fern’s report.
“So they’ve truly committed to this properly.”
“It appears so.”
If 100,000 is merely the minimum, I should prepare for up to 120,000.
“With our current 60,000, we have no choice but to rely on the city walls.”
Regardless of how advantageous defense is in a siege.
An enemy force of 120,000 is a variable in itself.
“The enemy’s carelessness aside, how will they overcome these city walls?”
“Indeed.”
Major General Gadus, who had attempted to breach them directly.
Knew better than anyone how hellish this fortress truly was.
“They must be gnashing their teeth. They should have held the advantage, yet here they are.”
“They’re likely grinding their teeth in frustration.”
“Which is why we must be even more cautious. If we grow complacent within these walls, we’ll fall prey to Seto Count’s schemes.”
Major General Gadus had experienced that firsthand as well.
“When are the Academy officers arriving?”
“They’re expected to arrive in two days.”
A tactical officer corps composed of Academy graduates.
They skipped the Training Unit’s curriculum entirely, boarding the carriage to the Western Front the moment they received their uniforms.
What they needed wasn’t physical training, but to bridge the gap between theory and battlefield reality.
“I heard they opposed it vehemently, yet somehow it happened.”
“Colonel Paran’s speech at the Training Unit became famous and motivated them, or so I understand.”
“It’s quite remarkable, isn’t it? Becoming the primary contributor here, then immediately earning more accolades upon arriving in the Capital.”
“It’s… certainly extraordinary.”
One might feel jealous, but no one would deny it.
That Paran is an exceptional individual.
“And with such humility to boot, he’ll surely rise to even greater heights.”
“But he’s nobility, so he won’t continue serving after the war ends, will he?”
The nobility are currently bound by the obligation of Noblesse Oblige.
Upon war’s end, they’ll naturally be released from service.
Yet Major General Gadus held a different view.
“I’ve spoken with him myself. That man has ambition.”
“Is that so…?”
Seeing Lieutenant Fern tilt his head in question, Major General Gadus spoke with absolute conviction.
“I’ll stake my reputation on it—Colonel Paran will bury his bones in the Military.”
* * *
“Achoo!”
I was pressing my uniform before heading off to give a speech or report.
When a sudden cough erupted from my throat.
“Have you caught a cold, sir?”
Lieutenant Colonel Larsen asked from beside me, his expression etched with concern.
I sniffled briefly and checked the condition of my throat and nose.
“Doesn’t seem like it. Someone must be cursing me.”
I’ve mentioned this before.
If someone curses me, the problem lies with them.
“Isn’t it the Adits cursing you?”
“Well, I’ll grant you that.”
I have nothing to say to those people.
Since I’ve been hit too, it’s mutual, isn’t it?
“I should head out soon. I need to meet with the Security Guards as well.”
“Yes, sir. Please be careful. I wish I could accompany you.”
“Don’t say that.”
When the schedule was first set, I barely managed to stop the men below from insisting on coming along.
‘Why would they want to listen to a speech? It’s not like I’m trying to embarrass them and send them off.’
And if I’m not careful, they might follow anyway.
I quickly dressed in my uniform and headed toward the Grand Plaza.
“There are more people than I expected.”
Citizens filling roughly half of the Grand Plaza.
They’d all gathered to hear what I had to say.
‘They must be curious. What will I say?’
From what I know, there are two things currently being discussed.
The true culprit behind the serial murders and the punishment of roughly fifty Aditus who interfered at the scene.
‘I heard it would be execution, but they said it hasn’t been made public yet, right?’
I understand the official announcement will be made tomorrow morning after the speech.
“You’ve arrived.”
The captain of the Security Guards at Belzium Castle, who had come early, greeted me.
“Why did you come so early?”
“The Security Guard headquarters is right in front here. I simply took a leisurely walk and came out.”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”
The location really is convenient.
“I heard that Security Guard work hasn’t been easy these days.”
Since I had some time to spare, I threw out a topic for small talk.
“Don’t even mention it. We filled an entire month’s dispatch quota in just one week. And every single call is a violence report, so we have to send out four or five officers each time.”
“My goodness.”
I’ve heard it’s been difficult, but looking at your expression, it seems to be quite severe.
“I can only hope that the number of dispatches decreases from today onward. I don’t understand why you keep throwing punches like that.”
“I’ll make an effort to improve.”
Unlike the formal words I’d once spoken to General Chelsa, this time I meant it sincerely.
‘The population of my domain is already crucial, and yet I keep getting into fights.’
Once branded as a city with poor security, the influx of people would cease, and eventually the city would die.
“Could I have some water? If I talk too long, my throat will dry out.”
“Yes, I’ve prepared some.”
So this is what it means to have risen to the rank of Security Commander.
His sense was impeccable.
“Thank you.”
I took the water and popped two vocal lozenges I’d purchased beforehand into my mouth.
‘Now that I’ve taken the medicine, let me stir the hearts of the people.’
That’s why I didn’t write out the script too perfectly, word by word, but only established the broad framework.
“It’s somewhat of a gamble, but I did well at the Training Camp.”
I had no doubt that things would work out one way or another this time as well.
And as I composed myself in this way.
A person descended from the stage.
“It’s time. Colonel, you can come up right away.”
“Yes.”
I followed the guide and climbed the stairs to the stage.
The moment my head cleared the bottom edge of the stage, a far larger crowd came into view than what I’d seen before.
‘How did it grow so much in such a short time.’
Now it appeared that roughly eighty percent of the square was filled.
“Who is that person?”
“He’s wearing a military uniform, so he must be a soldier. But he looks so young.”
“Isn’t he the son of someone important?”
The gazes pouring down because of my youthful appearance weren’t particularly pleasant.
‘So I just speak here, right?’
As befitted a square, amplification magical devices had been prepared.
After surveying the gathered citizens once, I opened my mouth.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Colonel Paran Oclo of the Intelligence Command, in charge of investigating this serial murder case.”
A clean greeting containing my name and what I do.
The citizens’ reactions were far more varied and rich than I’d anticipated.
“A colonel…? But he looks so young.”
“That’s the person who destroyed the city wall, isn’t it.”
“What?!”
After all, I had the achievement of bringing the nightmare of Belzium Castle upon them.
If people here didn’t know my name, they wouldn’t really be from this place.
“I’ll begin by explaining the results of the investigation. The crime has been clearly determined to be orchestrated by the Reconnaissance Command of the Adits Empire. As evidence of this….”
I presented the evidence I’d gathered from investigating the burned military base and explained various details.
But the response was far from favorable.
“The Adits Empire killed our people? What does that even….”
“And what kind of evidence is that? I can barely see it.”
“More importantly, what happens to the people who were taken? My friend is among them.”
The Grand Plaza churned with murmurs and discontent.
No matter how earnestly I spoke, it was meaningless.
Their stance had been twisted from the very beginning.
‘Even with the vocal enhancing pill active, it’s this bad. If I hadn’t used it, this would’ve been a complete disaster.’
They’d practically come here looking for a fight.
‘Still, I’ll keep this civil.’
The explanation had to be delivered officially, after all.
I maintained my expression with effort and continued speaking.
“Based on the traces left on the map, our investigation revealed evidence of movement at the scene, and….”
Whoosh!
Mid-sentence.
A familiar object came flying at me from a distance.
Since the speed wasn’t particularly fast, I dodged it by tilting my neck.
The object that flew past me struck the wall, and its yolk burst open in one impact.
“The Adits Empire tried to kill us?! Where do you think you are right now, spouting such lies?! Huh!”
I turned my head to see a white-haired old man pointing an accusing finger at me.
“Though my body has grown heavy and I cannot leave the fortress, the Empire has always embraced us warmly!”
His voice dripped with sincerity.
Every eye in the Grand Plaza turned toward the old man.
‘Sigh.’
Why did I spend all that time preparing to speak kindly, only for this mess to unfold?
I looked up at the sky seeking an answer, but none came.
“For decades, like a father who provided grain, land, and a place to call home….”
“A father? Didn’t your father fail to even feed you properly?”
“Wh…what did you just say?”
I had no desire to exchange words while looking at that displeased face.
I turned my head to face the citizens.
“I was trying to speak slowly and kindly. But you all lack the proper attitude to listen.”
People who don’t listen deserve no courtesy.
They weren’t worth my respect.

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

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