[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
Chapter 197
Exactly one month has passed since I heard that unpleasant news.
I’ve been carrying my greatsword close to my chest, ready for anything.
As if sensing my thoughts, the greatsword subtly dims its glow.
‘Right. If you shine too brightly, you’ll stand out and compromise stealth.’
The reason why even chain smokers who crave cigarettes so much would grit their teeth and endure on the battlefield.
Light is a beacon that attracts enemy attacks. Or it’s a sign that says, ‘Avoid this place.’
In my case, it’s the latter. It would be quite disappointing if the Kanfras, who are trying to cause trouble, saw me and ran away.
I’m always ready. As soon as they come on my Kanfra detection radar, I can cut them down.
I waited quietly, but no significant news came.
“We’re keeping a close watch, but there’s been no news so far.”
“The surveillance network within the empire is flawless. No fish have been caught in the net yet.”
I contacted my acquaintances in the Special Task Force several times, but that was the answer I got.
I wondered if they were hiding something from me, but after cross-checking, it seemed that wasn’t the case.
It simply meant that the Special Task Force was operating a very tight information and surveillance network.
‘Well, that’s right. If they get breached again, a verbal warning won’t be enough.’
The train terrorist attack a few years ago, and the academy attack.
Those two incidents must have caused a major upheaval within the Special Task Force.
Or not? Maybe it wasn’t just an upheaval, but a full-blown storm?
Anyway, if their internal security is breached again after all that, the Special Task Force will really have no place to stand.
I guarantee that, like before, they’ll be torn apart and absorbed into the Ministry of War or other departments.
So they must be gritting their teeth and eliminating all possibilities, blocking all variables.
They might want to get off work, but they don’t want their jobs to disappear completely.
That’s why Team Leader D and others confidently replied to my inquiries with, ‘No problems so far.’
“Brother-in-law, is something going on these days? You don’t look so well.”
Of course, the Emperor already knows what I know.
He must be racking his brains over the news that the Kanfras are trying to stir up trouble again.
But the fact that he’s asking me this question means that the situation is still manageable.
There’s no reason for me to disrupt my daily life and worry about it.
The everyday life that I once yearned for.
There doesn’t seem to be a reason to return to the battlefield and give that up just yet.
* * *
“…Even so. The everyday life of taking final exams is a bit much.”
“Same here…”
This final exam was a disaster. A complete and utter disaster!
It wasn’t just one or two exams that I failed. Half of them were a complete washout!!
“This is a big problem. I was barely maintaining my top ranking.”
“Isn’t being in the top good enough?”
“It’s a bit awkward if the Medal of Honor recipient is barely keeping up in the middle of the class.”
“Ah.”
“Plus, there’s the foundation with my name on it. It would be embarrassing if my academic performance was poor.”
“Ahhh!”
Lav seems to empathize with my explanation.
She understands that a drop in grades isn’t just a personal matter.
Besides, the pressure to maintain good grades, which I never thought I’d have to deal with… It’s driving me crazy.
Just to be clear, this is absolutely not because I’m bad at studying or don’t study.
This is! Yes, this is because of those damn Kanfras!
I couldn’t concentrate because of that news, so I couldn’t study for the exams! That’s it!
Meanwhile, Lav, who similarly messed up her exam preparation, is also lamenting.
In her case, it’s because she was practicing calling me ‘Oppa’ due to Lefia’s influence and accidentally pressed the self-destruct button.
“There you are, you two. How did the exams go…”
Lefia, that was a bit insensitive. Look at the mood we’re in.
Lav and I glared at her, and Lefia gasped, visibly tensing up.
We’re clearly giving off the vibe of, ‘We bombed our exams.’
“S-sorry. Was I being thoughtless?”
“It’s not that.”
“Right, Lefia. But it seems like you did well on the exams?”
“Ah, um. Well, I’m cautiously expecting a perfect score this time… Sorry! Lavrenti!”
In situations like this, she could just say, ‘So-so,’ or even, ‘I messed up too.’ But Lefia’s personality doesn’t allow for such lies, so that was to be expected.
“Lefia, where’s Eloise? Weren’t you coming together?”
“Ah, Eloise… She said she was going back to her room and we parted ways a while ago.”
“Hmm?”
Eloise went back to her room first? This woman must still be worried sick.
The thought of her fellow elves, who seemed to have finally moved on from the conflict, stirring up trouble again must be weighing heavily on her mind.
A few days ago, Selena even came to me and asked, ‘Is Eloise okay?’
She said she managed to stop Eloise from secretly returning to Hyzens behind my back.
It would be great if time passed without any incidents.
“Were you looking for me?”
Fortunately, Eloise appeared soon. “There you are? I thought you might have secretly returned home.”
“Return home? Are you kidding? I finally escaped from all that work! I’m not going back unless they send my juniors to catch me. Never. Ever.”
“That’s right, don’t go. You’ve done everything you could, and if they can’t handle it themselves, it’s their incompetence, not your fault, Eloise.”
“…What’s this? Why are you taking my side, Lavrenti? This is quite unusual.”
“You’re complaining even when I’m on your side? Should I just tell you to go then?”
“Yes, go ahead! I wouldn’t go even if you told me to now!”
Hmm. It seems like I should give up on the idea of these two getting along.
When they have kids in the future, will they bicker like this too?
That would be a nightmare. It would be a bit uncomfortable if my children were fighting amongst themselves.
“Is Selena not coming today, either?”
“She can’t. She said she wants to attend the New Year’s ceremony in a few months without any worries, so she’s being worked to the bone right now.”
“Ahaha. Eloise is quite good at using metaphors.”
“It’s not a metaphor. Selena actually said that. She’s being squeezed and pulled in every direction.”
Lefia, making a strange sound, looks at me.
She seems unsure whether Eloise is joking or not.
“She’s right. Selena is incredibly busy right now. She said she wants to attend the New Year’s ceremony in a few months without any worries.”
“When I was a sharpshooter, I once stayed up for four days and nights, but Selena is on her fifth day now. I couldn’t help but be impressed.”
“Wow. The longest I’ve stayed up is three days. Being a graduate student is harder than being in a special forces unit, isn’t it?”
The only time Lav and Eloise seem to get along is when they talk about the military.
Look at them now.
They’re talking about staying up all night and pulling all-nighters, saying, ‘Back in my day…’
“Lefia, just in case, don’t go to grad school or anything.”
“Huh? M-me?”
“Yes. If you do, I’ll be dragged away as a traitor, and I won’t have anything to say for myself.”
The guy who sent not one, but two of his wives-to-be to grad school.
I think most men in the world would curse me out for that.
* * *
Even after finishing the final exams. And even after parting ways with the ladies.
My tasks for the day weren’t over. Rather, they were just beginning.
Knock Knock—
“Ah! You’re here, Sergeant!”
“Call me senior. I’ve told you that’s enough.”
“Ahaha! Sorry. Everyone’s still got that military mindset, so…”
As I opened the door and entered, a large number of male students and a few female students stood up. Some of them even tried to salute but were stopped midway by others.
“How’s everyone doing?”
“All good! Senior!”
“Stop with the formality. This is the academy, not the military.”
It goes without saying, but the academy isn’t just for nobles. There are many commoners as well.
And among them are those who have diligently fulfilled their military service.
Originally, such students quietly went about their student life, but that changed after I was injured.
How should I put it… Hmm… A gathering of academy students who served in the military? Something like that was formed. Naturally, I was appointed as the chairman.
If you hear this, you might think we’re doing something grand, but that’s not the case.
We gather like this to talk about our military life. We sit facing each other, laughing and chatting.
In that way, we unknowingly shake off the nightmares of the past.
“Lately, I’ve been thinking. Even after being discharged, if something happens, what would I do?”
“Oh, I’ve thought about that too.”
“Have you ever thought about that, Senior Karl?”
Is this it? Are they asking if I’d re-enlist and fight if something happened?
Well, I think this is a bit of a sensitive question. Even though I’m discharged, going back there again…
“I have. And after some hesitation, I’d probably end up going back.”
The answer that comes around is always this. And it’s the same for the other students.
We’d never go back if they just called us. Are they crazy? Going back after all that hardship?
We could even give the Minister of War a bullet as a gift if they said that.
But if the situation calls for it. If they’re so desperate that they call us…
Then I think everyone gathered here would gladly answer that call.
‘…Should I establish a reserve force while I’m at it?’
It’s not like this is a place that would penalize you for going to reserve training or treat you poorly.
This is the empire, so wouldn’t a reserve force be a brilliant move?
[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
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