I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 32
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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 32
“Yes, you’ve worked hard going to war in my place. So now die, little brother.”
Stab!
Tems Oclo’s dagger piercing into my chest while my body was stiff from paralytic poison.
Even though I wanted to struggle, I couldn’t even move a finger.
“Ugh!”
The moment I put all my strength into resisting somehow, my body miraculously shot up.
My vision changed as well.
“A dream… was it a dream.”
Anxiety rose from the dampened blanket, but fortunately it seemed to be sweat since the smell wasn’t too strong.
“Oh? Military Doctor! The patient has woken up.”
A soldier who came running after hearing the sound checked my condition and called for the military doctor.
“I thought there was a problem since you were unconscious for two days, but fortunately you’ve awakened.”
‘I was unconscious for two whole days…?’
There was a reason why my back was so stiff.
“Are you feeling dizzy or having difficulty breathing?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Since you were poisoned with deadly poison, there’s a high probability that your internal organs were damaged. Avoid stimulating food and activities should also be limited for the time being…”
He was telling me the precautions to follow after a simple examination, but honestly it didn’t register well.
“How is the situation… No. Should I just lie down and rest today?”
“Yes. Absolute rest is most important. Then I’ll come again tomorrow.”
Not long after the military doctor left, I fell asleep again as if intoxicated by medicine.
And the next day.
Before it was even lunchtime, a visitor entered the hospital room.
“How is the luxury of enjoying a private room? Lieutenant Paran.”
The visitor’s identity was none other than Captain Eden with a face worn by fatigue.
It seems he’s been busy with handling the incident.
‘Still, he has some conscience, bringing a gift.’
I confirmed the beverage in his hand and naturally reached out.
“It’s been a while. But you didn’t need to bring such a thing. I’ll drink it gratefully.”
“Hm? Are you thirsty? I brought this to drink myself, but if you have a cup, pour me some.”
“Ha…haha, no.”
As expected, he’s someone I shouldn’t associate with.
“More importantly, how’s your body?”
“Yes. The military doctor said I should rest a bit more, but I’ve almost fully recovered.”
“That’s fortunate. Since it was deadly poison, surviving wouldn’t have been easy, but you had the right antidote. It doesn’t seem like something supplied by the military, where did you get it?”
I had anticipated this question yesterday and prepared an answer.
“It’s an antidote my father gave me to use in emergencies. He said it was precious, and it really paid off.”
“Wealthy families are different. Let’s end the small talk here, I’d like you to explain the situation. How did you end up being attacked like that?”
“Understood.”
You might think it’s too cold, but reports are extremely important matters.
“First, didn’t the pursuit start immediately after the enemy fled? The branch chief and I remained in the carriage.”
“Ah, come to think of it, that branch chief died. There was a dagger stuck in the back of his head. What a pity.”
I had expected it, but having it confirmed as fact made me suddenly feel overwhelmed.
“Was he someone close to you?”
“It was the first time I met him that day, but he died because of my mistake…”
“A mistake, so something did happen after all. Continue speaking.”
Unlike me, I couldn’t feel any emotion in Eden’s voice.
‘Thinking about it again is terrible.’
But since I couldn’t not tell him, I recounted the events that occurred in order.
“As soon as I confirmed his face, I felt something was wrong and tried to avoid it, but the dagger was already stuck in my side.”
The feeling of a blade piercing through skin and into the body is indescribable.
“I was on the verge of death from the deadly poison, barely managed to inject the antidote, and lost consciousness shortly after. That’s all.”
“Hmm, after that the guy killed a civilian and fled on horseback. The reason for killing the civilian would be to eliminate witnesses.”
As if Eden was entering that situation, he began adding details one by one.
“Ramon, was it?”
“That’s correct.”
“Thanks to the Lieutenant’s survival, we discovered one more spy. Running over without any caution was a regrettable decision, but if it was your first time in the field, it’s a mistake anyone could make.”
I expected to be reprimanded, but what came from the Captain’s mouth was clumsy consolation.
“No. It’s an unforgivable mistake.”
“Forgiveness? Do you think there’s anyone who would ask for forgiveness from the Lieutenant who protected the 3rd Division?”
“Even so, if I had been a little more careful.”
At my words, Eden crossed his arms as if displeased.
“You evaluate yourself highly. Since when did the Lieutenant who was trying to flee to the Eastern Region because he was scared of the front lines have such prudence and decisiveness?”
My mouth shut tight at his direct words that weren’t softened at all.
“And unless you’re planning to become a volunteer, look at people as numbers, not as people. In this operation, the Lieutenant lost one person but saved tens of thousands.”
Look at people as numbers, not as people.
Could there be any colder words than this?
“I think you understand after saying this much, so moving on to the main point, it’s leave.”
“Leave, you say?”
Honestly, I was somewhat expecting it.
A major incident had ended successfully when looking at just the results, and my physical condition wasn’t normal.
“Starting from the day you’re discharged, about two weeks should be enough, right? Do you need more?”
“By any chance, where will I be returning to?”
“That’s quite complicated, but it’s undecided for now. There are more places that want the Lieutenant than expected.”
“Me, you mean?”
I don’t understand why these guys are so eager to work me to death.
“So we’ll probably notify you of the return date. We’ll send a contact about the meeting place, but it probably won’t be in the capital.”
“Even if it’s the capital, with two weeks I’d probably only be able to stay about 5 days.”
It takes ten days by carriage to get from here to the capital.
“If you don’t like that, then straight to the next duty station…”
“When did I say I didn’t like it! I’ll recharge and see you in two weeks!”
I hastily cut off Eden’s words and grabbed onto the leave that was about to disappear.
“Since it’s wartime, don’t get too loose even during leave.”
Eden, having finished everything he had to say, stood up from his seat.
“But Captain, what happened to the branch chief’s body?”
“It was handed over to his family.”
“The explanation…”
The sight of a sword stuck in the back of his head wouldn’t be easy to accept.
“‘Attacked by bandits while traveling to the capital,’ I think it was. Since he actually did come out for the capital trip.”
“By any chance, how much can I tell them?”
“Hmm, tell me first what you plan to say.”
“Nothing major, just that he died protecting me.”
In this place, dying while protecting a noble is treated as a very honorable death.
“That much… should be fine.”
Eden said that and opened the hospital room door.
And just before leaving.
As if something suddenly came to mind, he turned his head.
“Thanks to the Lieutenant, the Imperial Army reclaimed Rimircastle that had been taken. So hold your head high and enjoy your leave with confidence.”
“Yes? What does that have to do with me.”
“It’s too bothersome to explain all that, so figure it out yourself.”
With those words, Eden left the hospital room without looking back.
‘If you’re going to say something, you should finish it. Why is he always so consistent like that.’
I didn’t know it then, but the next day I was able to understand Eden’s words through the newspaper.
That the Adits Empire had secretly gathered troops with a plan to crush the 3rd Division.
‘They were planning to detonate the magic cannon on the 3rd Division, not the Abyss Defense Line.’
But because of me, their operation fell through, and the tens of thousands of assembled troops were left hanging.
‘In the meantime, our side confirmed the troop shortage and launched a full assault to recapture Rimircastle.’
Looking back, 15 days of leave seems too little for what I did.
“Shouldn’t they discharge me after all this?”
But I couldn’t call back Captain Eden, who had already left for somewhere.
* * *
Knock knock.
“Who is it?”
“I’m from the Oclo Trading Guild. I have something to discuss regarding your husband.”
Creeeeak.
In front of a house in Alberm’s upper-class residential district.
When I carefully stated my purpose, the tightly closed door opened.
“You’re from the trading guild. Are there still procedures left? I thought I gave you all the documents from the study last time.”
A haggard and dark face.
Seeing her appearance, the guilt that had been fading came rushing back like a storm.
“I’m not here for that reason. First, let me introduce myself – I’m Paran Oclo, son of Broad Oclo, the guild master.”
As I politely bowed and greeted her, bewilderment and surprise appeared on the dying woman’s face.
“I’m… I’m Siena! Why would such an esteemed person come all the way here… don’t tell me he committed some great crime.”
“No. A crime? If anyone committed a crime, it was me.”
I called him for smuggling, and he ended up getting killed after falling for the enemy’s deception.
If this isn’t high treason, then what would be?
“What do you mean.”
“Your husband died protecting me. Thanks to him, I survived.”
His death and my survival weren’t really related, but sometimes a little lie is necessary.
“Ah… oh.”
“I’m sorry. Ma’am, if I had been a little more careful, it would have been fine.”
I bowed much deeper than when I first greeted her.
“Mom, who came to visit?”
When Siena was speechless and trembling, a young woman’s voice came from inside.
“Is that your daughter?”
“Yes…”
“Before your husband passed away, he asked me to get your daughter into the academy. I’ll prepare everything so she can enroll right when the new semester starts.”
The entrance exams had already passed, but that doesn’t mean she can’t get in.
‘I’ll have to get her in through the donation track.’
Since he’s the benefactor who saved my life, father will gladly throw money at it.
“Also, the guild will support all necessary expenses until she graduates from the academy.”
“My husband… was worried about us who would be left behind until the very end.”
“That’s right.”
At her tearful voice, I unconsciously bit my lip hard.
“Since my husband went to heaven protecting you, young master, I will gratefully accept your kindness without refusing.”
She wiped away the tears flowing down with her hand.
“I’m more grateful and sorry.”
“He worked for a good trading guild. For such a high-ranking person to come visit personally.”
“Not at all.”
The fact that I was hiding the truth made my heart feel uncomfortable and uneasy.
And did my emotions show?
She smiled faintly even in her sorrow.
“This might be presumptuous to say, but please don’t suffer too much. I’m sure he wouldn’t want that either.”
Comfort offered by the person suffering the most.
I could only nod since I couldn’t even fathom how difficult that decision must have been.
“Would you like to come in and have a meal?”
“No. I came at a late hour and can’t impose any further. I also need to go up to the capital.”
“You’re going on a long journey. Please arrive safely.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
I came prepared to be slapped, but the door that had opened closed again so quietly.
‘Is this right?’
If I had heard harsh words and gotten slapped at least once, my guilt would have lessened.
Instead, I ended up being comforted.
‘I need to properly pay this debt.’
I only mentioned the academy to his wife, but I don’t plan to end it there.
First, according to guild regulations, when someone dies during work, their family receives their existing salary for 3 years.
I’m thinking of extending this period to 10 years.
On top of that, since his dream was to settle in the capital, getting them a house is also natural compensation.
‘Since he protected my life, there should be compensation money from the family level too.’
As long as they don’t fall into gambling, there shouldn’t be any problems with their livelihood.
“This is the only responsibility I can take. I wonder if he’s a little relieved now.”
I looked up to ask Carton, who had now gone to heaven, but there was no answer coming back.
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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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