I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 252

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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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Chapter 252
Fire
“Welcome back safely, Young Master.”
Havel, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, greeted me at the Main Gate.
“Nothing happened while I was away?”
“No, sir. There were no matters that would cause trouble for the Family.”
“That’s a relief.”
Speed mattered, certainly, but safety was always the top priority—no exceptions.
“How long have you been granted leave, if I may ask?”
“I’m not entirely sure. But I’d expect at least a month of rest.”
Just thinking about it made my teeth ache.
‘Everything else is fine, but this travel time is such a waste.’
Nearly two weeks just to reach Belzium Castle.
Round trip meant a month gone—truly heartbreaking.
‘If only someone would develop an airship.’
If I’d been a science major back in South Korea, I might’ve at least attempted something.
Unfortunately, I was a humanities major, so all I knew was the word “aerodynamics”—nothing practical.
“I’ve had your room prepared. You’ve traveled far; please go rest upstairs.”
“I should. Where’s Father?”
“He went to the Supply Command today. He’ll likely return this evening.”
“The Supply Command? That’s unexpected.”
I’d naturally assumed he’d be at the Guild headquarters.
“I don’t know the exact details, but I heard it concerns military supplies.”
“Hmm, I see.”
I was curious, certainly.
But I could ask him about it later.
“Will you be dining at the Manor this evening?”
“Of course. If you have seafood, prepare that. I’m suddenly craving it.”
“Understood.”
I savored the luxury of choosing a menu impossible in the military, then headed to my room on the second floor.
‘Look at how immaculate this is.’
Despite my long absence, not a speck of dust—everything arranged perfectly.
I distinctly remembered leaving my bedding in complete disarray on my last day.
Yet it was now arranged with hotel-like precision.
‘So that’s why the Instructors at the Training Unit casually asked if noble officers could bring attendants with them.’
Every request was infused with the wisdom of experience.
Those Instructors had failed to learn that lesson.
“Let me see. I should check that first.”
I opened my personal safe and retrieved the sword I’d brought from the Imperial Storehouse—a blade barely distinguishable from scrap metal.
‘My mana has increased considerably, it seems.’
I’ve even succeeded in launching it from a distance—isn’t this tremendous growth?
I’m certain the potential is more than sufficient.
“Sigh.”
I grasped the hilt of the sword—a thing I didn’t even want to touch—and closed my eyes.
‘Draw the mana together.’
The mana was now distinctly perceptible.
A considerable portion of it had settled in my heart.
I channeled it beyond my fingertips and into the blade.
Crack, crack, crack!
Was something trying to break free from an egg?
As if resonating, the blade began to tremble violently.
‘Is this it?’
The opportunity I’d been waiting for seemed to have finally arrived.
I concentrated harder and poured every last drop of mana from my body into it.
And at the very end.
Crack.
“Damn it.”
Despite pouring so much energy that I felt my lifespan shortening,
when I opened my eyes, the sword remained as worthless as before.
‘All I managed was to scatter some iron dust on the floor.’
I’d need to ask someone to clean it up when I went downstairs for dinner later.
“I need to buy more potions. Shop.”
[Current Points: 1,550p]
A comfortable four-digit number.
I’d earned a substantial amount of points from being credited with the recent Iron Bridge destruction and the ambulance carriage work.
‘If the Iron Bridge destruction had been publicly known as my achievement, I would’ve received far more.’
It was regrettable, but unavoidable.
“Strength is 800, and Mana and Stamina are 200 each.”
Combined, I could purchase all three for 1,200 points.
‘The potion prices are absolutely brutal. Brutal.’
Was there no health insurance system in this place?
Survival wasn’t easy.
“Think of it all as investment.”
If I died from being too stingy, nothing could be more foolish than that.
I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed the purchase button.
[You have purchased a Strength Potion.]
[You have purchased a Stamina Potion.]
[You have purchased a Wisdom Potion.]
Three potions fell into my hand.
Each one was a different color, and when I laid them out together, they looked rather beautiful.
‘Looking at me finding even this beautiful, it’s clear the military is definitely the problem.’
They told me to view women like stones.
At this rate, I’m going to end up thinking stones are beautiful too.
Gulp, gulp.
Since there was no need to conserve it, I tossed it straight into my mouth and examined my body.
‘My mana has increased.’
Of course, it wasn’t a dramatic increase, and I’d need to build it up through training from here on.
“I can’t use magic or anything like that?”
That would be a direct ticket to the Research Lab.
Unfortunately, the system doesn’t seem inclined to teach me magic.
“If I go ask Hamus, he’d probably say, ‘Stop wasting time on useless things and focus on your swordsmanship.'”
Wasn’t that just now completely like something Hamus would say?
At this rate, I could probably earn a doctorate.
“Well, is there anything else worth buying?”
Since I’d opened the system window for the first time in a while, I took a thorough look around, including the Shop.
[Physical Fitness Assessment]
“Oh, this existed too.”
The system that first gave me Points at the Training Unit.
I did it a bit at the beginning, then learned Hamus Swordsmanship and such.
As my daily life became too hectic, I completely forgot about it.
“Let me take a look after all this time.”
With the feeling of opening a nostalgic box, I checked the detailed information.
[Physical Fitness Assessment]
Rank: Grade 7
Next Rank: Grade 6
Evaluation Item: Running (30km) in 2 hours
Reward: 100p
“That’s why I kept putting it off and not doing it.”
30 kilometers?
It’s possible, but just thinking about it is annoying.
‘Still, since I’m on leave, let me just power through it.’
Given how much I’ve grown, I should be able to reach at least Grade 3 even if I struggle.
I marked it as tomorrow morning’s plan and closed the system window.
“Young Master, may I enter?”
“Yeah, come in.”
With my permission, Aurora entered the room and set down the tray.
“I thought your mouth might feel bored, so I brought some light snacks and tea.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“And regarding the Domain Reconstruction Records… I visited the bookshop yesterday, and they said no new volumes have been released since the last one you saw.”
“What?”
No, if we’re talking about the last one, that was two months ago.
It’s hard to believe that a new volume hasn’t been published in all that time.
“When I asked the owner, he said the author is suffering from creative agony.”
“Creative agony, my foot. Anyway, thanks for going to check on that.”
“Of course! I’ll come call you once dinner is ready, so please rest until then.”
Aurora closed the door respectfully and left.
“So the new volume still hasn’t come out.”
Novels were one of the few pleasures I could enjoy here, and it was truly disappointing.
“Creative agony? Maybe the author needs to taste the pain of war once to stop spouting such pampered nonsense.”
A day has twenty-four hours.
Multiply that by sixty days.
Over a thousand hours combined, and they can’t write a single book? That’s absurd.
With that kind of efficiency, they should put down the pen and pick up a sword instead.
“Should I apply some pressure?”
Honestly, the author’s personal information?
I could obtain it with a single word.
But I’m a gentleman, after all.
I’ll exercise restraint.
“I’ll just check out some other novels instead. Let’s make it a thirty-kilometer run followed by a trip to the bookshop.”
Tomorrow morning was already shaping up to be busy.
But I didn’t know it then.
The truly hectic schedule hadn’t even begun yet.
* * *
“His Majesty the Emperor seems intent on concluding this war if at all possible.”
Dinner with Father after he returned from the Supply Command.
The atmosphere was pleasant with relief at my safe return, yet simultaneously tinged with unease.
“So he has no intention of ceding the Mana Stone Mine.”
“That’s likely his thinking. It would be more advantageous to secure the entire Mana Stone Mine than to expand territory in a half-hearted manner.”
“That’s certainly true.”
Let’s say we continued the war and obtained Salt Castle.
Would that truly be more profitable than securing the entire Mana Stone Mine?
No matter how I calculated it, the Mana Stone Mine was overwhelmingly superior.
“Since our side is inclined toward peace, what matters most is how the Adits Empire responds.”
“Hmm, I see.”
If the Lychan Empire, which held the advantage, was taking this stance, it was fair to say the war was effectively concluded.
Logically, there was no chance the Adits Empire would refuse peace and recklessly continue fighting.
‘Damn it, is this really how it ends?’
Of course, our Family had achieved significant growth through this war.
But hadn’t I already glimpsed a rosy future once before?
Humans are selfish creatures, so disappointment was inevitable.
“I apologize—I should have accumulated more achievements to secure the position outright.”
“No. How much more could you have accomplished in that situation? It was simply a matter of misfortune.”
Father spoke reassuringly as he spread fish flesh across his plate.
Yet his expression betrayed anything but reassurance.
“Still, I’m grateful that you won’t be exposed to danger any longer. Will you be discharged immediately?”
“Yes, that is my intention.”
With the war concluded, there was no reason to remain in this abhorrent military any longer.
“Good. You must take over the Family. Compared to before, the scale has grown considerably, so there will be much to learn.”
“I will do my best.”
“And regarding the betrothal I mentioned last time….”
“Ah, that.”
I turned my head naturally and racked my brain.
‘What was her name again?’
The Kingdom of Osiris had a Family that built ships.
The one the Crown Princess had introduced.
“Ah, yes. You mean the Baetra Family.”
“Yes. Has there been any progress?”
“The Crown Princess said she would arrange an introduction. I’ll inquire about it when I visit the Imperial Palace.”
“Surely some preliminary understanding has already been established. While asking the Crown Princess is one thing, you yourself must demonstrate sincerity by sending letters as well.”
“Yes….”
The logic was too sound to refute.
‘If it’s a match above my station, I suppose I should make the effort.’
Honestly, marriage itself still felt surreal, and I’d been avoiding the matter.
“Once the war ends, let’s visit the Kingdom of Osiris together. I was planning to go there anyway for the Guild’s expansion.”
“Understood.”
Father was more proactive than anyone else.
Well, it made sense.
It was the Baetra Family, after all.
“And once the war concludes, now is when your name carries the greatest value. During this leave, attend many banquets and broaden your connections.”
“I will do so.”
Father listed various tasks I needed to accomplish.
Business truly was no simple matter.
* * *
“Mm.”
“Hmm.”
A negotiation chamber within the royal palace of the Gelrof Kingdom.
Only the delegation members from the Two Empires occupied this space, where soundproofing magical devices were layered upon one another.
At the center of the table, the gazes of Seto Count and Ion Velburn collided.
“You must have been occupied with pressing matters recently. How did you manage to come here?”
“If my body permits, there is nothing I would not do for His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire.”
Ion Velburn could scratch further if asked to do so here.
But he refrained from unnecessary words.
His purpose in coming was to achieve a peaceful conclusion to the war.
“His Majesty the Emperor is not only magnanimous, but also a lover of peace. Therefore, I shall present a proposal that fully considers the circumstances of your Empire.”
Ion Velburn, who had expressed the Lyckan Empire’s superior position in roundabout terms.
He thrust the peace treaty he had brought toward Seto Count and opened his mouth.
“Adman Castle is ours since we occupied it, so there’s no need to discuss that. If you simply sign a full disclosure agreement regarding the magical device circuits used in the Gork Mountains and a non-production treaty, the war will end immediately.”
Of course, that was the crux of it.
The peace treaty also contained mutual attack prohibitions, trade agreements, and so forth.
Seto Count answered in a single second without even properly examining it.
“This absurd peace treaty is unacceptable.”
Seto Count’s voice was resolute.
The tension in the negotiation chamber tightened, so taut it seemed ready to suffocate.

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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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