Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 39

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

Reincarnated as a Legendary Talent Genius of a Noble Family Episode 39

 

 

 

17. Garden of Mist (1)

 

 

“The first is strict military supply management.”

“What’s the reason?”

“The supply line extending from the center to the front lines is stretched out not only in terms of physical distance but also in its system structure. If even a single person in that process has different intentions, corruption can easily occur, which has a high possibility of leading to supply shortages or errors.”

In my experience, most supply problems occur because of bastards who embezzle in the middle, even when supplies are properly loaded and sent.

Especially when supply lines are long, such cases are extremely common. They roughly record it as losses and siphon it off to fill their own bellies.

Thanks to that, the ones who die are the people fighting on the front lines.

“What’s next?”

At Professor Gabius’s question, I immediately answered the second question.

“Standardization of supplies.”

“Continue.”

“When supply items’ specifications—namely quantity, weight, length, width, weight, etc.—are unified, it provides great advantages for mass production. This greatly helps with rapid supply and simultaneously doesn’t cause confusion for front-line units.”

This was also an answer I gave based on what I had experienced.

Non-standardized supplies cause irritation and morale decline among front-line soldiers.

Like finally waiting and receiving clothing and armor only to find the sizes are wrong, or weapon specifications changing arbitrarily and suffering to adapt to unfamiliar equipment.

“And lastly?”

“Local procurement.”

“Local procurement? Are you talking about plundering?”

Professor Gabius narrowed his eyes for the first time and looked at me. I shook my head.

“No. Local production.”

Producing food supplies directly on-site.

Plundering, which is hard to expect when going with scorched earth tactics or wars of attrition, is merely a tactical area with limited use.

But local production is different.

“Local production, you say.”

The longer a war drags on, and the more the two things I just mentioned aren’t maintained, the worse the quality of supplies becomes.

But even if these two cases don’t apply, local production has many advantages.

With just a few crops that grow well on their own after planting seeds, burying them properly, and watering them, food supply situations become much better.

By the way, I can feel gazes from all directions.

But in this space right now, it seemed like only Professor Gabius and I existed.

“Would you elaborate?”

“Local production has the advantage of enabling soldiers themselves to achieve minimal self-sufficiency. For example, in the case of the land on the front lines that was maintained for the longest time in the war with the Drenik Empire, despite the soil not being fertile, it’s possible to harvest grain once every three months, and two types of vegetables can also be cultivated there. Of course, the taste is considerably poor, but its value as emergency food supplies is sufficient.”

All of this was what I had directly seen, felt, and done on the battlefield. Naturally, I had also tried farming. What I harvested and stored that way

Whether it was because of my fluent explanation, or because he thought I was arrogant for a newcomer, or for some other reason, Professor Gabius was silent for a while.

“….”

Then he asked me.

“What year are you?”

“I’m a first-year.”

“A newcomer?”

He looked at me with surprised eyes for a moment.

“Strict military supply management, standardization of supplies. And lastly, local procurement of supplies. Those were excellent answers.”

At the words “excellent answers,” light sighs erupted from around us.

They were probably Military Studies majors.

“They’re not the correct answers. From a standard theoretical perspective, they’re not perfect answers. But listening to the additional explanations, they’re convincing.”

Professor Gabius was quite sharp.

“However, those additional remarks remind me of soldiers or officers who’ve been through battlefields.”

Then he asked.

“You couldn’t possibly have battlefield experience.”

Of course I do.

But I can’t say I experienced it directly.

“I’ve often heard about it from my father.”

“Your father. Then what’s his name?”

“Dane Sogress.”

Professor Gabius nodded as if he finally understood.

“The son born of the Storm of the Battlefield. That makes sense. Hehe.”

Professor Gabius, who had been nodding as if he understood, suddenly tilted his head.

“Wait, then… this is embarrassing, I failed to recognize this year’s Academy’s most famous newcomer right in front of me.”

Professor Gabius finally smiled and said to the other students.

“Everyone listen well. The completion of military studies theory that we’ll learn from this class onward consists of answers like what student Dane Sogress just gave. Applying theory appropriately to real combat situations based on textbook theory. This is the goal that military studies should ultimately aim for.”

Then he clicked his tongue.

“And you majors should be ashamed. No matter how much it’s an elective major, I don’t see any of you who could give better answers than a newcomer. Tsk tsk.”

Somehow my answer seemed to have unintentionally caused the majors to be scolded. I could feel expressions full of injustice from various places.

“You may sit down, Dane Sogress.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“I hope I can see you in the next class. I don’t know if you’re aware, but students from other majors usually only attend the first week’s classes and then don’t show up from the next class onward.”

That’s quite an interesting fact.

“It’s really strange. Military studies is such an interesting and attractive field.”

I think it might be a common characteristic for professors to say that the field they’re in charge of is definitely interesting, fascinating, and attractive.

“Oh, and if you have time after class ends later, come visit my research lab.”

Since there was some time left until the next class, I readily nodded. Was it because he personally knew Father?

But I could see it.

The moment I sat down and turned my head, the gazes of Military Studies majors looking at me with very pitying eyes.

What, what is it?

“Then, let’s begin class.”

 

And I was able to realize the reason only after class ended.

Little Sister had said so.

If anyone recommends Imperial Graduate School admission, get out of there immediately. Don’t even engage in conversation, whether it’s refusal or whatever.

At the time, I didn’t really understand why.

Especially since Little Sister herself had chosen graduate school and was now working as an assistant professor at the Academy.

But now I think I understand.

“I almost went to graduate school.”

Now that I had barely escaped from Professor Gabius’s research lab, I let out a sigh of relief.

The professors’ rhetoric was no joke.

He asked how Father was doing and personally brewed tea to win favor, then started showering me with all kinds of praise, asking if I had any thoughts about learning military studies more deeply.

When I started feeling something was strange, I almost nodded blankly and agreed.

It was fortunate that Little Sister’s advice came to mind at that moment.

“I don’t have such thoughts yet.”

Unless something I genuinely wanted to learn more about came up, I still wanted to learn various things and have many experiences.

But I’ll pass on becoming a teaching assistant, which would limit my career path and essentially make me the professor’s alter ego.

He doesn’t seem like someone who would give up easily though…

“Dropping the course would be a bit awkward.”

Well, I can just avoid him appropriately.

Let’s go attend the next class.

The place I arranged to meet Leila was Central Fountain Plaza, right?

So I checked the map and started walking toward the Central Fountain Plaza.

Since the Academy is incredibly vast, a map is essential. Even with a map, getting lost is a common occurrence.

The path I chose was a maze-like garden.

Known as the ‘Garden of Mist’.

Even on slightly cloudy days, visibility becomes hazy as if fog has settled, making it very easy to lose one’s sense of direction.

The already complex maze-like garden becomes even more challenging with the added fog, turning it into a place everyone avoids.

There are rumors that ghosts appear at night, and strange legends circulate that the maze’s structure changes when fog rolls in.

I heard that’s why several people get lost here every year.

“For such a place, it feels surprisingly pleasant.”

It feels like my family’s garden.

However, while my family’s garden gives a warm and cozy feeling, this garden feels familiar, as if I’ve been here before.

“Is it because Big Sister told me about it?”

I don’t feel any aversion to it.

I even have a feeling I’ll be using this path frequently.

Anyway, thanks to that, the garden is peaceful and quiet despite being daytime…

“Help me! Is anyone there?”

Apparently not completely empty.

I listened carefully to the voice I heard.

“Please help me! I’m lost!”

That must be one of those lost people.

I pondered for a moment and checked the time.

I still had plenty of time.

As long as I don’t get lost too, I should be able to guide them out.

Mother always said this.

When you see someone in trouble, help them without hesitation.

That’s what one should do as a noble, as part of a war hero’s family, as someone bearing the Sogress name.

“Please help me!”

I headed toward where the voice was coming from and finally found the lost person.

“I-I’m saved!”

I saw some fellow wearing thick glasses.

He was a scrawny boy who looked like he’d collapse if you poked him, and he was in quite a state.

As soon as he saw me, he was moved to a pitiful degree.

“I thought I’d be stranded here forever… Who would have thought there’d be another person in this garden! Thank you! Thank you so much!”

The fellow kept expressing his gratitude while sniffling, then quickly introduced himself.

“I’m Ernest! Ernest Dylan. First year in the Exploration Department.”

Exploration Department.

I heard it’s a department where you learn about various civilizations, mysteries, ruins, treasures, and everything related to adventures and exploration that exist in the world.

It shows just how diverse the majors at the Imperial Academy are.

However, when he mentioned his family name, he seemed to lack confidence about whether I’d recognize it.

But wait a minute.

“Why is someone from the Exploration Department getting lost?”

“W-well… I got so excited and wandered around…”

Just how excited did you get?

“Speaking of which, if it’s the Dylan Barony…”

“Ha, haha, it’s located…”

“In the Western Region, right? The crest is… a ferry boat and sailor, I believe?”

“My goodness. You know that? Do you perhaps know what kind of family we are too?”

Of course I do.

The battlefield is where flags of all noble houses in the Empire gather together.

You naturally learn them whether you want to or not.

After rolling around the battlefield for about 10 years, you can rattle off noble families just by looking at their crests.

The same goes for the noble families of the Ateon Empire, which was an enemy nation back then.

“A place famous for exploration. Right?”

The fellow nodded with an expression like he might float away.

“That’s right! Our family is very famous for exploration! Our ancestors have been pioneering sea routes and unknown lands for generations!”

For such a family, he looks quite frail, but it seems he chose his department well.

“By the way, you’re really smart. Wait, I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere…”

“I’m Dane Sogress.”

“Dane Sogress!”

Ernest was startled and covered his mouth.

Nice reaction.

“Then you’re that rumored valedictorian? The freshman who got into the autonomous major for the first time in 50 years?”

“Yeah. That’s me.”

“My goodness! What luck! I really wanted to meet you!”

At those words, I tilted my head.

“Me? Why?”

“Because you’re so cool! Valedictorian, autonomous major, and you’re even the son of Count Sogress whom I admire!”

Ernest got all excited and suddenly grabbed my hand and shook it. Then he looked startled and scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression.

“S-sorry. Was I too much?”

“It’s possible.”

He says he admires my Father, so this much is nothing.

By the way, looking at him closely, I can see quite a few bruise-like marks showing between his clothes.

There seem to be some scars too.

Is it from doing a lot of exploration?

For that, the pattern looks a bit different.

I changed the subject for now.

“If you’re from the Exploration Department and from a family famous for exploration, were you doing some exploring in the garden?”

“How did you know?”

I just said it casually, but seeing his eyes widen, it must be true.

“Exploration excites me. Actually, everything new I encounter is exploration! People, objects, places! Naturally, a maze-like garden like this is too!”

The fellow then pulled his backpack around and opened it to show me.

“These are all exploration equipment.”

There’s quite a lot.

From maps and compasses to various surveying equipment, it was packed full of stuff.

It must weigh quite a bit, but even though he looks frail, he seems to have some substance to him.

Well, it would be ridiculous to be completely frail when doing ‘exploration’.

By the way, I can see several bruises behind his collar. There are scars on his face and arms too. Are they from exploration?

“Interesting.”

“Right? Interesting, isn’t it? My goal is to explore every place that exists in the Academy!”

Ernest got excited when I showed interest and continued talking.

“Actually, this place is like that too. The ‘Garden of Mist’, I mean. Others don’t really know, but there seems to be something here. If you think about it, it doesn’t make sense for fog to appear every time just because the day is cloudy, right?”

He’s not wrong.

“So?”

“There’s something here. Some kind of force acting on this maze-like garden.”

“But no one has figured it out.”

“That’s right. But what if no one thought to figure it out, or there was a reason why it couldn’t be figured out despite attempts?”

I tilted my head.

“A reason why it couldn’t be done?”

“Yeah. A reason that can’t be known at this point in time. If we reason backwards… maybe it’s due to factors or beings we can’t understand currently, like relics of a vanished ancient kingdom or summoned beasts from beyond the horizon?”

Relics of an ancient kingdom.

This is getting interesting.

But before I can explore that interest further, I need to get out of this garden first.

I can’t be late.

That’s when it happened.

“Huh? Something like raindrops are…”

Ernest covered the sky with his hand.

Suddenly the sky grew dark and raindrops began falling one by one.

And as if it had been waiting, mist began slowly rising.

“Th-this is bad!”

Ernest frantically pulled something from his bag.

It was a compass.

Spin spin spin.

But the compass needle was spinning wildly.

It meant our sense of direction was lost.

“I’d only heard about it, but how could something like this…”

So the rumors were true.

Now I understand why people get lost here every time.

“This is terrible, Dane. What do we do? We can’t move until the mist clears.”

“Can’t you solve it with your adventure skills?”

“No. Not right now. I’d be confident anywhere else, but seeing how even the compass is completely useless… I think my theory is really true.”

A theory.

“Some unknown force must be acting on this Garden of Mist.”

An unknown force.

It’s not a wrong theory.

Otherwise, there’s no way a perfectly fine compass would spin around like crazy when we haven’t even moved from our spot.

“My body feels like it’s getting heavier too. What should we do?”

I was fine.

In fact, I strangely felt energized.

Is it just my imagination?

Or maybe…

“Wait a moment.”

Could this be related to why this mist feels both familiar and comfortable?

I tried channeling my mana just in case.

At the same time, the mist around my body began to gently disperse.

“Aha.”

So that’s it.

I smiled at a certain hypothesis that came to mind.

“Let’s go.”

I think I can find the way out.

And this garden.

Perhaps there might be secrets hidden here that I can uncover.

Secrets that only I can uncover, at that.

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