I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 37

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

Episode 37

 

“Now that we’ve filled our stomachs, shall we return to the Control Room?”

 

“Yes…? Aren’t you getting off work?”

 

Current time: 6:30 PM.

 

It was already 30 minutes past 6 o’clock when work hours ended.

 

“Getting off work? I have too much work to do that right away, so go ahead if you want to leave first.”

 

This time too, the answer was predetermined.

 

‘Damn it, working overtime on the first day is really not right.’

 

But what could I do? In the Military, leaving before a Superior Officer was impossible.

 

“No sir. I also need to review the handover materials you gave me earlier, so I’ll go to the Control Room.”

 

“Good enthusiasm. It reminds me of when I was a Lieutenant.”

 

She walked ahead toward the Control Room with satisfaction.

 

Not knowing my feelings as I followed behind.

 

*    *    *

 

The next day.

 

[Establishing Dining Hall Meal Quality Improvement Plan]

 

[Establishing Combat Ration Distribution Plan]

 

.

 

.

 

Dozens of documents placed on the desk.

 

These were the mess Company commander duties I received yesterday.

 

‘This is driving me crazy, why are there so many.’

 

The deadlines were all equally tight.

 

“For now, the most urgent thing is.”

 

Without question, establishing the meal quality improvement plan.

 

‘Report to the regiment commander next week. No, I just arrived yesterday, what is this.’

 

This damn Military really has no common sense.

 

“You don’t need to worry too much. They don’t expect much from a Lieutenant who just took the position.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Of course, even so, you’ll need to show something regarding the meal quality issue.”

 

Telling me to produce results on the most difficult problem.

 

Could there be anything more harsh for a new Lieutenant than this.

 

“But Director, why did this suddenly become a problem?”

 

Even if the food was somewhat terrible, when had commanders ever cared about it?

 

Just looking at my own military service, soldiers sent dozens of letters complaining about the food being difficult, but never received replies.

 

‘Since phone cameras are blocked within the base, even when food came out poorly, we couldn’t take photos, and ultimately without evidence, we couldn’t properly file complaints.’

 

Really thinking about it now, there’s no vicious cycle like this.

 

“I also heard this secondhand, but His Majesty the Emperor apparently designated meal budgets as a key corruption item.”

 

“Ah…”

 

When the Emperor appears, things become different.

 

‘This is actually quite a bit more important than I thought.’

 

If I try to brush this off lightly, who knows what I’ll hear.

 

“Do you happen to know what time they start preparing lunch?”

 

“Probably from three hours beforehand?”

 

“Three hours…”

 

Looking at the clock, exactly that much time remained until lunch.

 

“I’ll go check out the Dining Hall for a moment.”

 

“Sure, if you have questions, ask the Mess Sergeant.”

 

“Understood.”

 

After reporting my destination to the Director, I grabbed my notebook and headed to the Dining Hall.

 

“Loyalty!”

 

“Loyalty!”

 

As I entered the Kitchen, the soldiers who were preparing food saw me and raised their hands.

 

“Everyone’s working hard. May I watch the work for a moment?”

 

“Yes…! That’s fine.”

 

They seemed stiff, looking like there was a problem, but I deliberately ignored it and observed the soldiers working.

 

‘Wow, they put it in that big pot and just stir-fry it? What strength.’

 

They stirred with something like a shovel – there was a reason the Mess Sergeant’s forearms were thick.

 

“What’s today’s lunch menu?”

 

“Spicy pork stir-fry and clear soup.”

 

Now with a piece of bread that’s provided unconditionally like rice, that would make three items.

 

“At least there’s meat.”

 

“Yes, during the previous mess Company commander’s time, it came out maybe once a week, but since the Director started acting as commander, it comes out once every two days.”

 

“Really?”

 

You might wonder how that relates to the mess Company commander, but one of the commander’s duties is placing food ingredient orders.

 

“Thanks to that, there are fewer complaints than before.”

 

“But yesterday I saw the meat was mixed with something else, why do you do that?”

 

“The amount of meat that comes in is small compared to the number of people eating, and there’s quite a bit that’s rotten, so after removing all that, we have no choice but to mix it with other things to increase the quantity.”

 

“It comes in rotten…?”

 

“Yes, we always throw away about 20 percent.”

 

Since this wasn’t in the handover materials, I opened my notebook and wrote it down.

 

“You don’t need to take my words so seriously…”

 

“No. I need to check this out. Thanks for telling me.”

 

“If you need anything, just let me know anytime!”

 

Whether my action just now was a positive point, the soldier’s gaze toward me had changed to be more positive than before.

 

‘Just how terrible was the previous commander.’

 

I clicked my tongue and carefully examined the other cooking areas as well.

 

“Loyalty! Company Commander, you came.”

 

“Ah, Sergeant. I was just about to look for you.”

 

Having heard news that I came, the Mess Sergeant who was in the Office came out to the Kitchen.

 

“What brings you here at this time?”

 

“I need to report meal improvement plans to the regiment commander, so I was looking around. Do you happen to have any good opinions?”

 

“Hmm.”

 

At the sudden question, the sergeant stroked his chin and pondered deeply.

 

“If nothing comes to mind right now, you can tell me later. More than that, I heard some of the meat comes in rotten – is that true?”

 

“The soldiers always carefully double-check that part and throw it away.”

 

Words with the tone that they’re doing well so I don’t need to worry.

 

Well, from the receiving end’s perspective, they are doing well.

 

But that’s not the part I want to address.

 

“That’s excellent, but fundamentally, why does rotten meat come in? And consistently at that.”

 

This isn’t the Joseon Dynasty or anything.

 

There’s clearly a refrigeration system using magic tools, yet they deliver rotten meat?

 

This shouldn’t and cannot happen.

 

“Uh… that’s how it’s always been, probably because of the weather.”

 

“No. Where are we currently receiving meat from?”

 

“Except for potatoes and bread, we receive food ingredients from Alonso Trading Company.”

 

“Alonso Trading Company.”

 

For now, it’s not a place in Paran’s memories.

 

“Is there some kind of problem?”

 

The Mess Sergeant who wasn’t aware of any problem at all.

 

The road ahead looks really long.

 

“I’ll check a bit and let you know. And even if it’s not an improvement plan, is there anything you need while working?”

 

“Well, there is one thing.”

 

“What is it? I’ll prepare it as much as possible.”

 

If results can be achieved, I’m willing to get it even using my own money.

 

“I’m someone who has never cooked in my life, so it would be good if there were recipe books or something.”

 

“Yes…?”

 

The person managing meals for over ten thousand soldiers has no cooking experience.

 

What kind of nonsense is this.

 

“Ah, Company Commander wouldn’t know. I was with Special Operations Command until just a year ago.”

 

“But why as Mess Sergeant…”

 

If he was with Special Operations Command, he’s Special Forces like Derick.

 

Isn’t that too far from being a Mess Sergeant.

 

“I injured my leg during an operation as you can see. At first I thought about discharge, but my superiors showed consideration and I came here.”

 

He pointed to his right leg.

 

“You had an injury? I had no idea.”

 

“Thanks to diligent rehabilitation, I can do everything except running.”

 

A true military that gives new work instead of forced discharge…

 

‘No, but then they should have sent him somewhere that could utilize his specialty even a little, why Mess Sergeant!’

 

Speaking as someone with one year of living alone experience, cooking isn’t easy.

 

‘While others were doing menial work in kitchens, he’s being a head chef, so of course it can’t taste good.’

 

The reason for yesterday’s horrible food wasn’t just the ingredients.

 

“By any chance, are the other mess soldiers here also…”

 

“Half are guys who were selected and came, half are guys like me who got injured somewhere.”

 

“I see. Regarding the books, I’ll think of a better method.”

 

“Thank you. This Company Commander is good because we can communicate. The previous Company Commander was really difficult.”

 

As if recalling someone he didn’t want to think about, he frowned.

 

“It’s one of the three basic needs we’re responsible for, so we have to work hard. I’ll come for lunch later.”

 

“Yes, loyalty!”

 

After greeting the Mess Sergeant, I returned to the Control Room.

 

“How was it? Did you gain anything?”

 

Captain Siel, who had been trapped in a pile of documents, looked up at me.

 

“My head hurts more, but I think I’ve found direction.”

 

“That’s good. It’s an important issue, so please work hard even if it’s difficult.”

 

The Director’s encouragement felt appreciated but also somewhat uncomfortable.

 

‘Is this person really okay right now?’

 

Dark circles that had come down heavily and a voice being forcibly squeezed out.

 

She’s in a very serious state of overwork.

 

“When is the new Battalion Commander coming? The Director is suffering too much.”

 

“I don’t know. Right now field-grade officers in supply are being relieved of duty every other day, so it probably won’t be filled immediately. Sigh.”

 

A deep sigh rising from her core.

 

I had no words of comfort to offer.

 

“Cheer up.”

 

“Help me out a lot. The most important issue right now is the mess company.”

 

“I’ll do my best.”

 

After finishing the conversation, I sat down and organized the dining hall’s problems.

 

-Insufficient cooking experience and skills

 

-Defective delivered ingredients (investigation needed)

 

-Lack of cooking equipment due to aging

 

-Insufficient manpower compared to increasing number of diners

 

“These are the biggest problems for now.”

 

Insufficient cooking skills? Honestly, a solution came to mind from when I heard the story earlier.

 

‘Just bring someone who cooks well.’

 

Looking at places like schools, aren’t there people we commonly call ‘nutritionists’.

 

‘If a proper control tower is created, the soldiers’ skills will improve quickly.’

 

It’s not like there are no cases of civilian employment, so it should work if I speak well to the Regiment Commander.

 

“The real problem is this.”

 

-Defective delivered ingredients (investigation needed)

 

A crazy trading company that delivers spoiled meat as if it’s natural.

 

I’d like to replace them immediately, but in the military you always have to be careful even when something’s wrong.

 

It could be a trading company led by some high-ranking person’s cousin or a retired two-star general.

 

“Director, I have something I’m curious about, is it okay for a moment?”

 

“Hm…? Oh, go ahead.”

 

She looked quite busy which was pitiful, but work must be done.

 

“Do you happen to know about Alonso Trading Company?”

 

“Isn’t that the place that delivers our ingredients?”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

“Why them?”

 

“I’m looking into it because they say part of the delivered meat is always rotten.”

 

“Really?”

 

As if hearing this for the first time, she had no idea.

 

“Isn’t that a bit strange?”

 

“But don’t foods like meat normally spoil a bit during transport? The weather’s also on the hot side.”

 

“That could be, but I think the problem is there are no follow-up measures. Looking at the current situation, aren’t we paying for rotten meat too?”

 

“That’s true too.”

 

She nodded and rummaged through the file storage.

 

“The trading company contract documents should be… found it.”

 

A file labeled ‘Ingredient Delivery Contract’ and thick contract documents stuck inside.

 

She handed me that file.

 

“Check it yourself.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

I respectfully received the file with both hands and sat back down.

 

‘Let’s take a look.’

 

First, the front page had an introduction about Alonso Trading Company written on it.

 

-A trading company operated by Reserve Colonel Alonso, who served as 1st Division Supply Regiment Commander and Supply Command Combat Rations Officer, with deep understanding of military supply.

 

-Based on this, judged capable of stably delivering ingredients that can promote balanced development of soldier health.

 

-Budget is 15 silver per soldier per day, 18 silver for officers, with orders placed 2 weeks before meal date.

 

-Contract period is 5 years, extendable once for up to 2 years with mutual agreement.

 

.

 

.

 

“As expected, if it’s the military, then of course.”

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