I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 33

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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 33

“Haah!”

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The training ground in a mansion with good facilities, though showing no signs of use.

There, I’ve been swinging my sword since morning.

[21 points]

Comment: Your gaze handling is lacking. The best method would be real combat experience, but if the environment doesn’t allow it, keep honing your skills like you’re doing now.

‘Real combat experience.’

With direct conflicts breaking out everywhere as we recapture Rimircastle, I’ll gain plenty of real combat experience once my leave ends—enough to get sick of it.

‘Now I’d say The Two Empires have crossed a river of no return.’

It’ll probably only end when one of them surrenders and submits to the other.

‘I wonder how many years it’ll take.’

Unlike the modern era where weapons of mass destruction like nuclear bombs and missiles are developed, this place relies mainly on swords and bows.

Accordingly, each battle requires a long time, and with high resource consumption, it’s not easy to fight endlessly.

“Son, take breaks while you practice.”

Mother, who had been watching me with worried eyes, offered me a wet towel.

“Thank you.”

I set down my sword for a moment and wiped away the sweat that was soaking my body.

“I never imagined my son would become so dependable after enlisting, but always take care of yourself.”

“Of course. I need to survive to inherit the family and I have many things to do.”

“That’s right, if you’ve made sacrifices, you should receive proper compensation.”

Following Father, now Mother too.

In this mansion, only my Two Older Brothers probably don’t acknowledge me as the heir.

“How long will you practice today?”

“Just about 30 more minutes. I need to go to the blacksmith.”

“You mean what you told your Father at breakfast?”

“Yes, if I want to receive it before returning, I need to go as soon as possible.”

“Right, time is gold for you right now, son.”

After our brief conversation, I picked up my sword again.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The sword passing through the yellow traces quickly yet accurately.

Now quite a few numbers have changed to green.

‘Focus, focus.’

What’s important in swordsmanship is accuracy.

Mistakes must not exist.

Whoosh!

The determination to never miss a spot that had once lit up green.

Only when that determination bears fruit can I move on to the next level.

[22 points]

*    *    *

“Your Majesty, this is the additional budget request from the Western Front.”

The Emperor’s Office, decorated with all kinds of jewels and gold.

Though it seems like a space filled with leisure and luxury, right now this place is a bloodless battlefield.

“Since we broke through the defense line and reclaimed the castle, money will be needed for maintenance.”

The Emperor examined the documents summarized by his staff.

His brow furrowed as he read through the contents.

The office atmosphere freezing cold was a natural progression.

“460,000 gold for improving tired soldiers’ meals, 200,000 gold for weapon repairs and purchases.”

“They say a large budget is needed due to transportation costs. Since it’s a combat zone, after all.”

“Hmm.”

Tap! Tap!

Having reviewed all the documents, the Emperor tapped the armrest with his fingertips, showing his displeasure.

“I’ve been having a thought lately.”

“Yes.”

“While The Empire is united and pushing through the difficulties of war, don’t you think there are far too many thieves’ bastards?”

Thieves.

Since that might refer to themselves, the ministers’ eyes trembled violently.

“Just because I only review documents in this office doesn’t mean I don’t know what’s happening in the field.”

The Emperor underlined the 460,000 gold and put the document down on his desk.

“I have eyes and ears from the front lines to the rear, and I hear there’s little change despite the money going in. What do you think, Quartermaster Commander?”

Lieutenant General Orc, the Quartermaster Commander who had been trembling the most, stepped forward.

“Right now… I’ll go to the field immediately and supervise the budget execution results!”

“So you haven’t been supervising the results until now?”

“That’s not the case.”

“We invested an additional 800,000 gold last month under the pretext of improving soldiers’ meal quality, but I hear only the food trays changed.”

“That is…”

“With military supplies, the core of war, so rotten that soldiers are starving, will they risk their lives fighting for The Empire?”

“Your Majesty! I would never use The Empire’s money for personal…”

“Incompetence is also a crime, Lieutenant General.”

The Emperor’s cold gaze.

Feeling his life threatened, Orc Major General fell to his knees.

“Your Majesty! I’ll set things right even now.”

“Too late. As of this moment, the Lieutenant General is relieved of duty and will wait at home. Commander-in-Chief.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

General Bast, the Commander-in-Chief, turned toward the Emperor.

“The vacant Quartermaster Commander position will be filled by the Finance Minister from now on. Also, conduct an audit of the budget spent in the recent month.”

The Emperor ordering personnel changes and a major audit.

Everyone in the office wrote down the imperial command in their notebooks.

“Your Majesty, may I speak?”

Normally, the principle would be to unconditionally follow imperial commands, but Bast courageously requested permission to speak.

“Speak.”

“As Commander-in-Chief, I agree with the necessity of the audit Your Majesty wishes to conduct, but I’m worried about disruptions to duties during wartime.”

“In what aspect do you think so?”

“I humbly report, even rotten parts serve their role, so if there’s mass departure all at once, there will be gaps in our military strength.”

“If it’s a war we’d lose due to such departures, wouldn’t it be better to just lose? What do you think war is fought with, Commander-in-Chief?”

The Emperor looked intently at Bast as he asked.

“Supplies and troops, and loyalty to The Empire.”

“Loyalty is important, but the realistic core is supplies and troops.”

Having directly experienced war on the front lines during his crown prince days, the Emperor knows better than anyone what drives war.

“And these two things cannot be maintained without money. If we don’t repair the holes just because the treasury looks abundant right now, we’ll hit bottom in a prolonged war.”

A major audit.

The Emperor didn’t suddenly issue this command without any thought.

“I’m impressed by Your Majesty’s insight.”

Though not without risk factors, since the Emperor’s thoughts were firm, Bast bowed his head.

“Boldly remove the incompetent ones and put capable talent in their places. I’m not merciful enough to give opportunities to useless bastards who only occupy positions.”

“I receive your command!”

“We receive your command!!”

The existing Quartermaster Commander was relieved of duty and the Finance Minister newly took that position.

With the Finance Ministry, famous for being thorough, seizing power, a bloody storm was a natural progression.

*    *    *

“So this is the famous Banquero Forge.”

A rough-looking building erected slightly away from the center of the capital.

Probably anyone who’s handled a sword would know about Banquero Forge.

It’s one of the few places operated by a dwarf active in human society.

‘I’m about to meet a dwarf. Why am I getting excited?’

Elves, dwarves.

If you’ve come to a fantasy world, how could you not be interested in these mythical beings?

Especially among them, elves are…

‘They say they’re so beautiful. I’d like to see one.’

But unfortunately, elves are even more reclusive than dwarves, rarely leaving the great forest.

‘The only known elf would be Minister Rosen who heads the treasury department.’

I heard he received great favor from the previous emperor.

By the way, very unfortunately, Minister Rosen is a man.

“Well, going around here and there, I’ll probably meet one at least once.”

I brushed away the useless thoughts and stepped into the forge.

“Welcome! This is Banquero Forge.”

Contrary to my expectation that the interior would be a hot workspace, it was a luxurious shop atmosphere.

‘It rivals a luxury boutique.’

Weapons displayed in glass showcases.

Each one was extraordinary.

“Is there something you’re looking for?”

“Rather than that, I came to meet the master.”

“Did you happen to make an appointment?”

“I didn’t make a separate appointment, but showing this should work.”

The commission letter I received from Father this morning.

By the way, our family holds a 21 percent stake in this Banquero Forge.

‘Grandfather discovered Bangkero who had left the dwarf village and built him a forge.’

I can’t even fathom how much profit he made after building just one building.

“Oh! You’re from the Oclo Family?! I greet the young master.”

“That’s fine. More importantly, the master is inside, right?”

“Yes, he is. I’ll go inform him, so in the meantime please go to the reception room…”

“That’s fine. I’ll look at the weapons here, so go quickly and come back.”

“Understood!”

I sent away the employee wearing a name tag that read Thomas and examined the displayed weapons.

[Green Coral Sword]

A combination of quality iron ore mined from Oclo County and green coral that grows in the Southern Seas.

Shows resistance to corrosion twice that of ordinary swords, incorporating Banquero Forge’s special smelting technique.

Creator: Blacksmith Bode

Price: 25G

Each weapon had descriptions and creators written on them.

‘But 25 gold, the price is higher than I thought.’

What’s surprising is that this is the cheapest one.

[Badist]

Masterpieces require a blacksmith’s involvement from start to finish. Personally visited Velburn Mines to carefully select iron ore.

Returning to the forge, repeated heating and cooling with ten thousand strikes of the hammer.

Production period of 6 months, there are few things that could break this sword infused with the craftsman’s breath.

Creator: Master Blacksmith Peon

Price: 300G

“The description is impressive.”

The price was correspondingly shockingly expensive.

‘Well, but if it was struck ten thousand times, maybe it’s not that ridiculously expensive?’

And do you know what’s cunning about human eyes?

After seeing the 300 gold sword, the 25 gold one looked terribly crude.

‘With my current skill level, even that 25 gold sword would be excessive.’

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll use the 25 gold sword.

I have sufficient wealth to purchase the finest sword.

“Maybe I should get a sword made here for Lieutenant Alpen too.”

Though he was somewhat harsh, he was still my first teacher and savior.

“Um… young master.”

While I was looking at weapons, losing track of time, Thomas returned.

“Speak.”

“The master said his conversation with the previous customer might take long, so please come back tomorrow.”

“Hmm.”

I was flustered since I didn’t expect to be refused, but more than that, the word “previous customer” bothered me.

‘If that person’s order goes in, my schedule gets pushed back.’

To receive it before returning, I absolutely need to cut in line.

“Tell the master this. I’ll pay twice the fee of the previous customer, so meet with me first.”

“Uh… understood.”

Thomas hesitated for a moment but finally nodded and headed back to where Bangkero was.

“I don’t know who it is, but I’m risking my life going to the battlefield right now, so let me go first.”

You know, don’t soldiers usually get priority when war breaks out?

It might seem selfish, but this is all for the Empire.

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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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