I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 47

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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 47

 

“This is essentially the last chance. If we fail again this time, it’ll be hard to let it slide quietly.”

 

The Grand Conference Hall of Belzium Castle.

 

A heavy atmosphere settled with a single word from General Krem, commander of the Third Army Corps.

 

“There can be no more defeats. And now is the perfect opportunity. The atmosphere of internal strife where they suspect each other, starving soldiers. We just need to not make mistakes ourselves.”

 

Truly a perfect opportunity by anyone’s standards.

 

General Krem is not an incompetent commander who would miss such timing.

 

“Chief of Tactical Staff, do you have any tactics in mind?”

 

General Krem asked Colonel Baren Seto, who was sitting in the middle of the right row in the conference room.

 

“Well, first, as the Instructor says, it’s true that the enemy’s current state is unstable. But there’s something we need to address before that.”

 

He swept his eyes over the general-level commanders attending the meeting.

 

“Why did the last four attacks fail? Shouldn’t we start by analyzing those causes?”

 

“Ahem.”

 

“What’s the point of doing that now, Colonel?”

 

The commanders showed uncomfortable expressions as soon as the topic came up.

 

Since they bore responsibility, they didn’t want it mentioned.

 

“From what I’ve observed, all four attacks should have been victories by my standards. But the result was defeat. If we don’t correct the internal causes, the result will be the same.”

 

A voice that didn’t waver in the slightest even at the general-level commander’s words.

 

It seems unbelievable, but there’s some special circumstances here.

 

“That’s not wrong. Speak up. Tell us what the member of the Seto Ducal House, the Empire’s greatest intellect, sees as the cause of defeat.”

 

Though it might expose his own shortcomings, General Krem suppressed his discomfort as much as possible.

 

No, more precisely, he had to suppress it.

 

Because it was none other than the Emperor who ordered Lieutenant Colonel Baren’s assignment.

 

“After taking my post two weeks ago and examining things, the condition of weapons wasn’t quite as good as reported.”

 

Lieutenant Colonel Baren began speaking about what he had confirmed by running around in the mornings and examining documents in the evenings.

 

“And with training continuing with almost no rest days, the accumulated fatigue is considerable.”

 

Everything Baren was saying now was content not in the reports.

 

“I don’t know who ordered it, but conducting training that drains stamina from soldiers whose combat senses are already at peak levels makes me wonder if they’re on our side.”

 

Though he didn’t actually curse, his words were practically equivalent to profanity, and the conference room’s atmosphere turned ice cold.

 

“Colonel, watch your words.”

 

“What’s wrong with soldiers training? You only hold a pen so you don’t understand, but without training, military discipline collapses.”

 

The colonels who had been reading the generals’ faces threw in their comments.

 

But if he were the type to back down from that, Baren wouldn’t have come here in the first place.

 

“Right now, what’s most undermining military discipline seems to be the current situation where we can’t even capture a single castle in front of us, doesn’t it? This is why we keep losing.”

 

A rebuttal that came out almost as an immediate response.

 

No one else opened their mouth in a situation where speaking up wouldn’t even break even.

 

They could only curse inwardly.

 

‘Damn, to suffer such humiliation from that young brat.’

 

‘He was quiet after taking his post so I thought he’d leave quietly, but was he waiting for today? Cunning bastard.’

 

“Military discipline? Loyalty? I’m not a soldier by birth, so I’m not interested. And you seem to be mistaken – what His Majesty the Emperor wants is victory reports, not a strong army.”

 

“I understand what you mean. I’ll order training to be conducted minimally. We’ll also realistically inspect weapon conditions.”

 

“Thank you for listening to my opinion.”

 

Baren bowed his head while looking at General Krem.

 

“You must have other problems you want to mention as well?”

 

“That’s correct.”

 

“For now, this is a meeting to establish a plan to capture Rimircastle, so organize them separately and submit them. I’ll reflect on everything.”

 

The General’s words meant he’d do as requested, so stop the public humiliation.

 

Since it wasn’t a bad proposal, Baren nodded.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Then returning to the main topic, I’d like you to tell us how to capture Rimircastle.”

 

“Understood. From now on, I’ll speak while looking at the map.”

 

Lieutenant Colonel Baren went to the center of the conference room and picked up the command baton.

 

“The most core reason why capturing Rimircastle is difficult is because of the high and solid walls.”

 

Not just somewhat solid, but with mana circuits drawn inside the walls, they possess incomparable solidity to ordinary walls.

 

“A frontal assault is an extremely foolish strategy. Even if we get over the walls, the damage would be enormous, so it couldn’t be called a success.”

 

“Ahem.”

 

“Cough.”

 

Since two of the four attacks had been attempted with frontal assaults, the commanders avoided eye contact.

 

Regardless, Baren continued speaking without paying attention.

 

“But cutting off supply routes for a prolonged war is also a very poor choice, since the Raikhan Empire isn’t sitting idle.”

 

Incidentally, the most recent tactic attempted was cutting supply routes and causing damage with bombardment.

 

“Then what should we do?”

 

“Get to the point.”

 

At the commanders’ irritated voices, Baren looked displeased before opening his mouth.

 

“Since you want the core point, to put it briefly, we’ll use siege towers to leap over the walls.”

 

“Ha, siege towers are all you came up with? They lost value and disappeared from battlefields long ago after mana shell supplies began.”

 

“Do you think that huge thing could reach the walls?”

 

“Tsk tsk, this is why. What tactics can someone who only studied from books devise?”

 

Complaints burst out as soon as words below expectations emerged.

 

Among them, only those who knew even a little about the Seto Ducal House remained quiet.

 

“Quiet. Colonel, your thinking probably doesn’t end with siege towers – what’s the plan?”

 

General Krem calmed the noisy conference room atmosphere and asked.

 

“First, I’d appreciate it if you could look at this.”

 

When Baren unfolded the large paper he brought, siege tower blueprints revealed themselves.

 

A structure clearly much more advanced than previously known siege towers by anyone’s standards.

 

But that’s not what’s important.

 

“Materials are 100 kilograms of mana stones per tower… Are you serious?”

 

The idea of using 100 kilograms of mana stones, more expensive than gold, per tower was shocking content.

 

“I modified the blueprints dozens of times to use the minimum amount.”

 

“Engraving defensive magic circuits on mana stones and constructing the siege tower’s framework doesn’t make it invincible.”

 

“I know that. That’s why we’ll make multiple siege towers so attacks can be dispersed.”

 

Sighs echoed in the conference room at Lieutenant Colonel Baren’s words.

 

“Where on earth does the military have that kind of money?”

 

“Haha, this is complete fiction writing.”

 

Reactions as if it wasn’t worth listening to.

 

But it was rather Lieutenant Colonel Baren who was dumbfounded.

 

“When did I say I’d make all siege towers from mana stones?”

 

“Hm? Looking at the blueprints…”

 

“If just this one reaches the walls, the enemy won’t be able to move, so there’s no need to make the others from mana stones too, is there? Five real siege towers would be enough.”

 

“Then the rest…”

 

“Can all be made from wood. Since the structure is simple, they can be manufactured quickly.”

 

The commanders with some brains fully grasped Lieutenant Colonel Baren’s plan and fell into shock.

 

‘With countless decoys dispersing the enemies’ attacks, and a siege tower made from mana stones reaching the walls in the meantime… it’s over.’

 

‘Huh, amazing. Is that rumor really true?’

 

“Won’t the enemies notice during their attacks and concentrate their fire?”

 

“The enemy forces won’t be quick enough at situational assessment. They’ll just think they missed.”

 

General Krem closed his eyes and thought of himself as Rimircastle’s commander.

 

‘Hundreds of siege towers revealing themselves before my eyes, the probability of thinking there are separate fakes and real ones among them… is none.’

 

Even thinking from the receiving end, no way to stop it came to mind.

 

“How long do you think preparation will take?”

 

“If everything proceeds smoothly without any issues, it should be possible within two months.”

 

“I’ll give you full authority, so prepare thoroughly.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Though it was far too massive and crucial a task for a lieutenant colonel to handle, no one in the conference room raised any objections.

 

Because it was cleaner and more perfect than any tactics they had been racking their brains over for months.

 

“Finally, Rimircastle will return to our embrace.”

 

“I’m already looking forward to two months from now.”

 

“It feels like we can finally wash away the bitterness of defeat.”

 

Commanders flattering him in tune with the improved atmosphere.

 

General Krem, watching them, pointed out an important matter.

 

“When the lieutenant colonel requests something, think of it as my words and actively help him. Understood?”

 

“Yes…!!”

 

Though everyone was inwardly displeased, they had to nod since they had been outmatched in ability.

 

And starting the very next day, construction of siege towers began in one corner of Belzium Castle.

 

*    *    *

 

“If you take too much, the people coming after won’t be able to eat!”

 

“It’s self-service, but please only take what you can eat!”

 

Company members raised their voices while watching soldiers taking french fries.

 

And Siel, observing this scene from afar, showed an incredulous reaction.

 

“I never imagined even in my dreams that potatoes would become so popular that we’d need to control serving portions.”

 

“Neither did I. I think starting next week, we’ll have to set portion limits instead of self-service.”

 

After developing french fries, they spent two weeks establishing mass production guidelines, and four days ago began providing them as standard with all three meals.

 

The reaction was literally explosive.

 

The massive inventory of bad potatoes was rapidly disappearing.

 

‘And starting next week, potato chips will be added too, so now I’ll be free from potatoes.’

 

I really didn’t expect the potato problem to be solved this way.

 

“Company commander, I heard you developed this for us soldiers – is that really true?”

 

Just as I was about to return to the office, an unfamiliar soldier approached and spoke to me.

 

‘Developed it for the soldiers?’

 

It wasn’t that I didn’t have such feelings, but strictly speaking, I developed it just to solve the problem at hand.

 

But sometimes people need to know how to tell white lies.

 

“You all need to eat well to win the war, right? I just did what needed to be done.”

 

I was humble while not entirely hiding my pride.

 

“Really… thank you so much. I thought I was going to die eating only potatoes.”

 

Had life been that difficult for him?

 

The soldier’s eyes were moistly wet.

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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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