I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 237

—————

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

—————

Episode 237
“Then I’ll ask you for a favor. How are things at the Western Front? Is it bearable?”
Given that it was relatively remote.
Compared to the Capital, countless aspects were inevitably inferior.
“Except for the lack of good dessert shops, I’m managing more comfortably than I expected.”
“Ah, that’s right. You always liked cake, didn’t you?”
I’d seen her eating cake brought from the office quite a few times.
“Yes, so I’m not sure what to do about it. I can’t exactly travel all the way to Rimircastle to buy some.”
“There’s a good shop in Rimircastle?”
“There’s a brand I like there.”
Judging by her expression, her craving for cake was quite severe.
‘She’s not suddenly going to resign, is she?’
It might seem like excessive worry, but someone with this level of ability had many places vying for her services—there was no telling where she might go.
“Then what if you opened a shop and hired a skilled pastry chef?”
“To that extent?”
“Yes, proceed with it and tell them I approved it. We can’t have our Branch Chief underperforming because she’s sugar-deprived.”
A dessert shop for such a perfect employee?
I could open ten of them.
“But is there really demand for—”
“Why wouldn’t there be demand? There are plenty of noblewoman officers.”
Currently, the female ratio among the new lieutenants was at a historic high.
And a considerable number of them were young ladies from noble families, and their love of desserts was beyond question.
‘If Rena is like this, the noble ladies must be experiencing withdrawal symptoms so severe they’re trembling.’
There were hordes of people who couldn’t survive without cream.
“Is that so…? I hadn’t grasped that aspect.”
“There’s more demand than you think, and if it doesn’t sell, the staff can just eat it themselves. One pastry chef isn’t going to produce that much anyway.”
A single shop’s deficit was beyond negligible—I wouldn’t even feel it.
‘If I think of it as employee welfare, it’s not a loss at all.’
The moment when people work hard and run out of sugar inevitably comes.
Free desserts from the company at times like that?
Even those without company loyalty would develop it.
“If you’re saying that much, I’ll proceed with it.”
“Good. But spend generously and make it perfect. You know what I mean, right?”
“Yes, I’ll make it to a level that doesn’t fall short even compared to the Capital.”
“Okay. I should be heading out. If you have any questions about the newspaper, contact me anytime.”
“Understood. Please be careful on your way back.”
I returned to the Information Command, escorted out by Rena and the guild staff.
“You’re finally here.”
It had been fine just moments ago while I was at the guild.
The moment I entered the building, my eyes met Colonel Eden’s.
‘Does this man have no work? Why is he out here?’
If this is how it’s going to be, I don’t understand why the Command Office even exists.
“Were you waiting for me?”
“It seems I ended up doing so unintentionally. Where did you stop by?”
“Pardon? I just had some business to handle, so I stopped by the Guild for a bit.”
He’d asked in jest, but hearing that he was actually waiting threw me off considerably.
‘What is it this time?’
There’s no way this man was waiting for me out of boredom.
He definitely has business with me.
‘Could it be that he’s going to tell me to take command of the Infantry Battalion now that combat is about to start?’
It’s a worry I’ve been having frequently lately, given what I’ve experienced.
The timing felt right, the atmosphere felt right, and the whole thing reeked of it.
“A request came from Headquarters.”
At Eden’s words, I found myself biting my lip.
“Please tell me it’s not that….”
“They’re asking me to give a briefing on the Intelligence Agency to the Tactical Officer Corps. It’s scheduled for two days from now.”
“I’m sorry…?”
A briefing? What kind of briefing?
The unexpected request left my mind momentarily blank.
“Do you have a prior engagement?”
“That’s not it, but what exactly is the Tactical Officer Corps?”
What kind of absurd name is that?
The stench of something fishy was overwhelming.
“It’s referring to officers selected from the Academy. Colonel, you don’t even know that?”
“So that’s what the Tactical Officer Corps is?”
They should have just called it something like the Officer Training Corps instead of making it sound so grandiose.
“That’s what they’re calling it. Anyway, just go, say a few words, and come back. You can take as much time as you want.”
“Still, I shouldn’t talk for too long, should I?”
“There won’t be anyone there with a higher rank than you, so what does it matter?”
“Ah, I understand then.”
In the military, where rank is absolute, I’d be the highest-ranking person there?
Then I could go and spend the whole day reading books and come back.
“You’re agreeing to do it rather quickly. I thought you’d be reluctant.”
If the outcome is the same regardless, why bother refusing and making a fuss?
It’s not like he’s telling me to take command of the Infantry Battalion.
“I’m not the type to avoid everything. But do you normally do this? Revealing agent information like that?”
“Not everything is classified.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Given the nature of the Intelligence Command, there are quite a few cases where we need to communicate with other departments.
And because of that, the level of secrecy regarding each agent’s information varies.
‘In my case, I’ve been sold out so thoroughly that I’m practically public property now.’
Personal information was public property back in South Korea too, but I can’t fathom why it’s exactly the same here in this other world.
“And the fact that they’re calling us in suggests the military has high expectations for the Tactical Officer Corps right now.”
“Well, I hope it works out.”
Still, if I’ve been ground through the Academy, that should mean I have a decent head on my shoulders, right?
At least I’d be better than those incompetent fools.
‘Otherwise, I’ll just have to lose.’
Thinking how truly hopeless this all was, I picked up the report lying on the desk.
“But this… the estimated enemy forces really exceed 100,000?”
“If it’s a lie, then it’s a lie. To occupy this place, they’d need to bring at least that many.”
“Maintaining 100,000 troops can’t be easy.”
Gathering the numbers themselves isn’t actually difficult.
With such a bloated population, you just drag them along.
So what’s the real problem? Obviously, feeding and housing them.
‘And these forces have to march out of the fortress on an expedition.’
Just thinking about provisions gives me a headache.
“When do you think the battle will commence?”
“If I knew that, would I be sitting here?”
‘If you weren’t here, where else would you be, you strange fellow.’
This man is peculiar.
“Still, you must have some intuition about it.”
“As you said, Colonel, maintaining such forces will be a burden, so I’d wager they’ll leave Salt Castle within two weeks. It’s even written in the report—you just skimmed it.”
“Two weeks….”
A span both long and short.
My mouth began to go dry.
* * *
“Newspaper! Get your newspaper! There’s a special edition today!”
“A special edition? What is it?”
“You’ll have to see for yourself. You’ll definitely regret it if you don’t.”
The Young Child selling newspapers paused briefly at the Unnamed Man’s question, then handed over 2 Silver coins.
“You’re quite the salesman, kid. I’ll take one.”
“Thank you!”
The child handed over the newspaper.
It didn’t take long to spot what they called the special edition.
It was plastered across the front page the moment I opened it.
【Belzium Castle’s One-Night Dream】
Belzium Castle, which had garnered attention for its revolutionary urban reconstruction project, was nothing but a one-night dream.
The Oclo Comital Family, exhausted by the citizens of Belzium Castle’s excessive expressions of hatred toward the Raikhan Empire, has halted all projects.
Colonel Paran Oclo, the heir of the family, announced that all existing plans would be cancelled, and that no further support would be….
A provocative headline accompanied the article.
The real problem is that there aren’t just one or two such articles.
【Packing up, heading to the Capital】
Recently, Belzium Castle had been in chaos with Oclo Trading Guild employees coming down from the Capital and Rimircastle. However, this was supposed to end by the end of this week.
With all support projects cancelled, recall orders had been issued, and the business facilities were said to be closing as well.
Because of this, I conducted interviews with employees who waited until late at night before leaving work.
Question: Is it true that you’re withdrawing?
Anonymous: Yes, I’m heading to the Capital next Monday. We had high hopes when they said they’d make this place a second headquarters, but unfortunately it didn’t work out.
Question: Are there many cancelled projects?
Anonymous: More than just one or two. From what I understand, they were originally planning to lay new roads during the reconstruction project and build landmark-class buildings.
Question: Were all of those really cancelled? Not a single one left?
Anonymous: Yes, everything was cancelled. So I probably won’t be coming back here again.
.
.
The shocking interview contents.
The hands of citizens who read the article couldn’t help but tremble.
“They were originally planning to completely transform the entire city…?”
Citizens who read the newspaper felt that something had gone terribly wrong and looked at each other.
“How…how can this be.”
“Is it really just ending like this?”
A lost opportunity.
Despite it already being over, regret was inevitable.
Humans are selfish creatures full of greed, making it impossible to let go so easily.
“We must change the Count’s mind.”
“That’s right! If all support is cut off like this, our lives will become even harder than before.”
“But…how can we even speak of this now?”
Yes, what could possibly be done?
Mere commoners like them couldn’t even summon Paran Oclo.
And they shouldn’t.
“First, let’s make sure his anger doesn’t grow any further, and then with time….”
“Wait, didn’t people go out to protest against the execution today?”
At one citizen’s words, the faces of those gathered twisted in displeasure more than ever before.
“What kind of nonsense is that….”
A protest when they should be on their knees begging for forgiveness?
This absolutely should not happen.
“Let’s go catch them right now. Anyone can see that criminal deserves execution—why would they take his side.”
“Ugh, this is infuriating. If they want to die, they should go alone.”
The atmosphere changed in an instant.
Those who went to protest were branded as traitors and demons in a heartbeat.
“We must show ourselves in the best possible light!”
“Didn’t they say there were soldiers injured because of those bastards who deserve to die? Let’s send flowers as a token of our gratitude.”
“Let’s do this. If we perform well even now, they’ll surely view us differently.”
To protect the Academy and the support projects.
The citizens began to change their minds and take action.
* * *
“Welcome to those coming from Belzium Castle. I’m Ion Velburn, the captain assigned to introduce the base.”
Ion stood before thirty-five officers from the Tactical Officer Corps stationed at Belzium Castle.
The reason he’d been entrusted with this task was simple—it could only be him.
“Senior! I truly admire you! I’ve always wanted to meet you.”
“I’d heard you were serving in the military, but I never expected to meet you so soon.”
“The professors spoke of you as a legend so often….”
Ion, a graduate of Rior Imperial Academy.
Not merely an ordinary student, but a monster among monsters—top of his class at entrance, top at graduation, and even served as Student Council President.
“I appreciate you saying that. But here, I’d be grateful if you could see me as a soldier. We’ll be traveling by carriage, so please board.”
Truth be told, Ion himself knew almost nothing about Belzium Castle.
But he’d studied through the night for the past two days, filling in the gaps in his knowledge.
“Since it was once a fortress of the Adits Empire, the architectural style will likely feel quite unfamiliar.”
“Yes, it does seem quite different from the Capital.”
“That’s what makes exploring it rather enjoyable.”
As Ion said this, he raised his finger and pointed to a building.
“The building on the right is the Dining Hall you’ll be using from now on, so remember it well.”
“Yes, sir!!”
“And that building is the training….”
His explanation continued, both courteous and detailed.
After completing a full circuit of the base, they entered the Auditorium on the second floor of the Command Center and took their seats.
“There will be unit introductions shortly. Even if you’re tired, don’t doze off—focus and listen carefully.”
From here on, the units would introduce themselves in order of arrival.
The first to open the door and enter the Auditorium was the Transportation Battalion.
“I’m Bold, Lieutenant of the 3rd Transport Battalion. I’ll briefly introduce what the Transportation Battalion does.”
Bold tried his best to hide his nervousness as he turned the pages of the materials he’d brought.
“During wartime, our Transport Battalion’s core role is carriage operations. Here, we categorize carriages into large and medium types….”
Click
As he was adapting and explaining the Transport Battalion’s role,
the Auditorium door suddenly burst open without warning.
And what entered was—
“Who could… uh…uh!”
Bold’s face, still youthfully pale, began to furrow in displeasure, but upon checking the rank insignia, he reflexively turned his body.
“Sa…salute!!!”
“Hmm, what’s this. You were in the middle of something. Will it take long? I’m hungry.”
“N…no, sir! We just finished!”
“Pardon?”

—————

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

—————