I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 87
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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 87
‘Pulling out fingernails and torture, ugh.’
Just imagining it gives me chills all over.
“If you’re in a situation where you’re being tortured, you can tell them. It’s not something only the Captain knows in this world.”
“Ah, is that so?”
I thought I was the first to witness the Lieutenant’s secret, but fortunately that doesn’t seem to be the case.
“And I think you’re misunderstanding something – it’s not magic.”
“What? If that’s not magic, then what else could it… No. I’ll believe you.”
She clearly just wants to hide it.
‘There’s no way that’s not magic. I’ll play along.’
Really, I’m way too perceptive for my own good.
“Haha, it really isn’t magic. You won’t believe me even when I tell you.”
She denied it once more, but her voice and everything else seemed sincere.
“What? If it’s not magic, then there’s no other explanation…”
“Well, since you’ve already seen it, I’ll tell you – it’s similar to the principle of magical devices.”
Click.
When Lieutenant Orpia unfastened the button on her eyepatch, the blue eye I’d seen before was revealed.
“As you probably noticed, this is an eye made from mana stone. It’s connected to my body.”
“So you can see through that eye too?”
“Very well. My vision doesn’t deteriorate even as I age.”
“That’s incredible.”
Permanent vision that doesn’t require worrying about presbyopia.
If this became public, quite a few people would be envious.
“Of course, I don’t know if the day will come when I can take this off and walk around normally.”
“Couldn’t you just walk around like that? It might draw some attention, but it’s not unsightly.”
Objectively speaking, it would actually look more attractive than wearing an eyepatch.
“There’s a lot of history behind it, but the biggest issue is that I can’t control it. I told you earlier, right? That it’s not magic.”
“Yes.”
“That flame from before was activated through a circuit using this eye.”
“What…?”
What on earth is she talking about?
Maybe it’s because I lack knowledge about magical devices, but I couldn’t understand it at all.
“It’s complicated to explain, but I said it’s connected to my body, right? I draw the circuit in my head and then through the eye…”
She definitely seemed to be giving me more detailed information.
But I still couldn’t understand it.
“You mean you activate it just by thinking, not by carving it into the mana stone…? Is that even possible?”
Do you know how complex mana circuits are?
No matter how genius someone is, it’s not something a human can do.
“Yeah, turns out it’s possible.”
“That’s incredible.”
I’ve seen various monsters like Derick, Eden, Ion and others, but this was just on a different level.
‘Isn’t this the level of a national treasure?’
There was a reason she was in the Intelligence Agency.
And at the same time, another curiosity arose.
“But you were definitely in pain, weren’t you? Why was that?”
“Because this isn’t something a human should be doing.”
“You mean drawing the circuits?”
“Yeah, think about drawing a circuit in your head all at once that normally takes months to complete. Think you could do it?”
“I definitely couldn’t.”
Just looking at even the common magic bullet spell circuit makes me dizzy, and she’s not just looking at it but drawing it out?
It’s a realm I couldn’t reach even if I were reborn several times.
“Neither could I. So before I start, I first activate a circuit that forcibly opens my mind. That’s why it’s painful too.”
“Ah…”
It was a much more brutal and cruel method than I had imagined.
‘Should I ask more, or not?’
Actually, the story I was most curious about was too scary to bring up yet.
‘Right, I’ve come this far, why hold back now.’
If I left it like this, I’d definitely feel unsettled, so I steeled myself and opened my mouth.
“May I ask how you came to have such an eye?”
A heavy silence fell as soon as the question ended.
It took only 1 second for regret to set in.
‘Damn it, why did I ask that, you crazy bastard.’
I wanted to take it back immediately, but it’s impossible to catch spilled water with your hands.
“If it’s difficult to answer…”
“When I was young, I was subjected to human experimentation conducted by House Abiel.”
“You mean the Abiel Ducal House of the Adits Empire…?”
“Yeah. I don’t mind talking about it, but anything beyond this is classified. If you’re curious, climb high enough and check for yourself.”
She stood up from her seat with a somewhat dark smile.
“Just hearing this much is more than enough. You must have suffered greatly.”
Just roughly imagining it – they extracted her original eye and embedded a mana stone in its place.
‘Ugh, insane.’
I don’t know who did it, but they’re definitely a monster wearing human skin.
“It wasn’t an easy time. But you have excellent empathy skills, Captain? Unlike Eden.”
“Please don’t compare me to him. I’m completely different.”
“Haha, got it.”
Lieutenant Orpia burst into laughter as if truly amused.
“You’ll be focused on Company Commander duties for a while, but still come by sometimes. Next time let’s have a long chat over coffee.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Alright, good work. You can go now.”
“Yes sir, loyalty!”
After saluting with emphasis, I set off on the path back to the company for the first time in ages.
* * *
“Your Majesty, we must absolutely make this public and use this opportunity to cut off the Adits Empire’s limbs.”
“That’s right. We absolutely cannot let those who created such taboo magical devices go unpunished.”
Aladictol, opened for the first time in ages.
Since this place only opens when the Empire needs to decide or discuss important matters, it carries great symbolic weight.
“Hmm.”
Unlike the usual office setting, with over a hundred people gathered, conversations continued from all directions.
“I will speak.”
The Emperor, who had been quietly listening to their discussions, broke the silence and rose from his seat.
Simultaneously, the interior became as quiet as a tomb.
Everyone’s eyes and ears turned entirely toward the Emperor.
“The reason I gathered you all in Aladictol today is to determine the direction our Empire should take regarding the Adits Empire’s behavior that has crossed the line.”
The Emperor had spread information about the mental magical devices to the nobles the previous day.
“Whether to make this public or not is not a topic for discussion. Once it’s known to this many people, the entire continent will know within less than a week anyway. Isn’t that right?”
No noble was tactless enough to respond to his somewhat pointed words.
“Seeing your reactions just now, I am even more certain of my decision.”
Swoosh!
The Emperor drew his sword from his waist.
“In the name of Demian Raikan, Emperor of the Raikhan Empire, I declare.”
Thud!!!
Everyone gathered in Aladictol fell to their knees on the ground.
“I shall hold the Adits Empire accountable for bringing chaos to the continent. In this process, if there are any forces that stand in the Empire’s way, I will consider them allies of the enemy and destroy them.”
“We receive Your Majesty’s command!! Victory and glory to the Empire!!”
As if they had rehearsed it, everyone shouted the same words at the exact same timing.
One might ask why he’s declaring war now when it started so long ago.
But this matter carries a completely different weight and justification.
“All kingdoms must clearly remember and keep in mind what I have said here today.”
Although no representatives from the kingdoms were present here now, the news would reach them before evening.
“The Supreme Commander shall hurry to prepare the advance and decisively push back the Western Front.”
“I shall prepare for deployment in accordance with Your Majesty’s command!!!”
General Bast, who was near the Emperor, answered with a booming voice.
“And you all, listen well.”
The Emperor opened his mouth again while looking at the gathered nobles.
“I am aware that some nobles have used this war to increase their wealth.”
The Emperor’s declaration and warning were not directed solely at the enemy Adits Empire.
“I will give you one week, and it would be in your best interest to return everything.”
A deadly warning.
It was only natural that several guilty nobles trembled with fear.
“Additionally, since war requires enormous supplies and resources, I will be collecting support funds. I shall observe with great interest just how much loyalty you have toward me.”
The Emperor’s deadly gaze swept over each of the nobles.
Probably right now, calculations about the appropriate degree of loyalty were running through their heads.
“Oh, and if your family has no soldiers, you will need to show more sincerity than others. That concludes this meeting.”
The nobles were left dazed as if a storm had swept through.
But they couldn’t afford to lose their wits.
The nobles who returned to their families called their financial managers to desperately contemplate the scale of tribute disguised as support funds.
“My lord, our family currently has no soldiers. Because of that, we must absolutely pay more than the Fairing Baronial Family, who enlisted their eldest son, to avoid disaster.”
“But we don’t know how much those guys will pay.”
“Exactly. That’s the problem.”
“This is driving me crazy.”
Oren Detrophil, head of the Detrophil Baronial Family that made their living through agriculture and food, was literally on the verge of going insane.
“I should have somehow enlisted someone back then.”
Oren had two daughters of enlistment age under his care.
But at the time, both of them hated the idea more than death itself, and the Emperor seemed to be lenient toward families with only daughters, so he let it slide.
The baron never dreamed that snowball would roll this far.
“We can’t even ask around. How about waiting until we get a sense of what other families are doing?”
The Detrophil and Fairing Baronial Families had been bitter rivals for several generations.
“If we pay late, we might be criticized for testing the waters.”
“Sigh.”
Faced with such a difficult problem, Oren let out a deep sigh.
“What’s the maximum we can manage right now?”
“If we minimize domain operations and the maintenance of dignity for you and your family members, we could immediately produce about 400,000 gold.”
It was truly a large sum, but when thinking about competing with other families, it wasn’t that much.
‘I should have been more frugal in the past.’
He couldn’t help but regret all the money spent here and there to marry off his two daughters of marriageable age.
“First, prepare 300,000 gold and try to scrape together more.”
“My lord… This is awkward to mention, but there is one solution.”
“What, a solution?”
It was natural for Oren, the family head, to show interest in what financial manager Hanrik hesitantly brought up.
“If there’s such a thing, you should have mentioned it quickly. What is it?”
“I discovered this while looking into options for my son… There’s an officer induction ceremony next week.”
“Wait, that means.”
“Yes… If we send even one of the two princesses, this problem would be solved instantly.”
Hanrik’s suggestion to send someone to the military, even if belatedly.
It was only natural for Oren to fall into deep contemplation.
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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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