Just after the conclusion of the Quernen War,
The 8th Aerial Mage Infantry Combat Unit was reorganized into a battalion-level unit, and many soldiers were transferred to different locations.
I felt a mix of relief and sadness, having heard quite a bit about it.
In reality, many people were reluctant to leave and shed tears.
However, for me, who was convinced that a coup would occur in some form, this was actually more beneficial.
In a way, I ended up obtaining outstanding informants who could infiltrate various parts of the military and bring valuable information.
Captain Nikolai Hilbert, the Magic Staff Officer of the Eastern Corps Command,
And Captain Luna Aire, commander of the First Company of the Central Corps’ Directly Subordinate Magic Battalion, were among those personnel.
“Have you been well?”
“How about we speak casually?”
“Well, then I’ll be relaxed.”
Meeting my former platoon mates after a long time naturally brought joy.
“Your face looks thinner, Luna? Is life in the Central Corps better?”
“It’s not better. The workload has increased so much that I feel like I’m going to d*e. By the way, Captain Nikolai, are you dating someone? What’s with the ring on your finger?”
“Oh, um… That’s right.”
Indeed, there was a shining gold ring on his left ring finger.
“Oh my, who is she?”
“Not a soldier.”
“Are you getting married soon?”
“Probably…?”
We had exchanged letters or telegrams, but this news was new to us.
Neither marriage nor even dating had been mentioned before.
Luna and I laughed at Nikolai, who waved his hand dismissively, but we didn’t expect his counterattack.
“What about Colonel Enok? Isn’t he really close with Captain Lumina?”
“Yes! This time it was Captain Bella… So, shouldn’t we keep this a secret between us? Have we already done everything?”
“d*mn it. What are you talking about now?”
“Could it be that he prefers a type like Captain Roxanna?”
“…Why are we even joking around? Let’s get to the point.”
I quickly changed the subject to avoid being caught off guard by the sudden mention of something taboo. It was good to see them again, but we weren’t meeting for this.
Both of them straightened their posture at my words.
This matter concerns the fate of the nation. Both Nikolai and Luna are crucial personnel for the upcoming coup prevention or suppression operation, whom I trust greatly.
“What about the movements of the Eastern Corps?”
“Unfortunately, your prediction seems correct.”
Captain Nikolai Hilbert said with a heavy voice.
“Even though I am under surveillance and can’t gather much information, I’m certain that the Ninth Infantry Division and the Eastern Corps’ Direct Cavalry Brigade are moving.”
“If they’re mobilizing the cavalry brigade, they must be serious.”
The Eastern Corps, like the Northern Corps, shares borders with the Soviev Empire. However, surprisingly, relations between them were not as bad as expected.
The main regions of the East, the Dantpas and Dutznik principalities, both showed pro-Soviev tendencies.
As a result, they continuously expressed dissatisfaction with the openly anti-Soviev policies of the co-ruler.
Moreover, due to economic support concentrated on the Southern and Northern Corps during the aftermath of the Second Quernen War, the co-ruler and they are completely at odds.
“Is it really a coup? Even if the Eastern Corps mobilizes the cavalry brigade, how will they deal with the Capital Guard Division and the Central Corps defending Kaeyef?”
Luna Aire asked incredulously. Normally, such a scenario would be impossible.
But now, it’s not a normal situation.
“I don’t know how they plan to handle that.”
Like me, who moved swiftly behind the scenes, there’s no guarantee that the rebels won’t do the same.
After all, I’ve only been here for three years.
Plus, as a rookie officer who rose from lieutenant to colonel in just three years, most military personnel aren’t very friendly towards me.
Up until captain, it might be understandable.
But once I became a colonel, they saw their positions threatened.
Moreover, even without me, there was already significant resentment towards Sony Chepelin within the military.
It wouldn’t be strange if factions had formed.
Of course, in the ‘Central’ part too.
“So, Luna, that’s why you were needed.”
When I gestured to her, Luna nodded and spoke.
“Before we start, there’s something you need to know first.”
Luna Aire took out a sealed letter from her pocket. It was sealed with the Central Corps’ emblem.
“This is a letter from Brigadier General Haphenruk Helheim to you.”
“Brigadier General Haphenruk? Did you tell him about this plan?”
“No. He suddenly called me yesterday and asked me to deliver a letter to Colonel Enok as quickly as possible.”
‘Something feels off.’
Brigadier General Haphenruk Helheim,
Hero of the First Quernen War and youngest general to ascend to the rank of brigadier general.
Though I had met him several times, we weren’t close enough to exchange letters regularly.
‘Has she already discussed this with Sony Chepelin?’
She was currently abroad for the annual Great Mage Conference.
Though she was scheduled to return in a few days, it might be a precautionary measure to contact Haphenruk.
I swallowed hard and broke the seal of the letter.
Inside was a neatly folded paper. As I unfolded it, I found meaningless characters listed.
“What is this?”
Seeing my confusion, Nikolai Hilbert took a pen from his uniform pocket.
“It’s a magic code.”
“Do you really need to do it this way when I was planning to deliver it anyway?”
“That’s unknown. You might not have been able to.”
Nikolai Hilbert’s eyes flashed. Luna’s face turned pale as she realized its meaning.
“Who… Who would attack a public mage officer? With what kind of guts?”
“It’s entirely possible. Yesterday, I also received a warning from Colonel Lanister about remnants of Azoff and Strigoi hiding in the capital.”
A normal group wouldn’t dare touch a public mage officer, especially one who served in the war.
But with Azoff…
If it’s an order from a commanding unit…
It could easily be covered up as a crime by a criminal organization.
“It can’t be…”
“We need to stay alert. Although we joked earlier, our opponents are taking this seriously.”
Crack, crack.
Without a word, Nikolai put the paper in his pocket and lit a cigarette.
“I’ll decipher this by tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
“Hold on, didn’t you say it was dangerous just now? Can’t we all meet here?”
“Don’t assume we’re plotting. Remember, there are still eight days until the national event, and we’re still soldiers.”
I pulled out a Logan pistol from my pocket. It was loaded and ready to fire.
I handed the pistol to Luna Aire.
“Keep it with you. Always be vigilant.”
“Uh, uh…”
Luna checked the safety lock and put it in her pocket.
“Anyway, let’s continue where we left off. At least the magic battalion is completely unrelated to this rebellion. The Capital Guard Division might also be uninvolved.”
“Then, how does the Eastern Corps plan to breach the palace’s defenses?”
Everything was uncertain.
No matter how much I knew, I couldn’t predict how the rebels would move, or whether they would move at all, or what their final goal was.
I couldn’t even guess the scale or how many people were involved.
In fact, I couldn’t be sure of anything regarding what will happen next.
“Any plan can’t be 100% foolproof. But the king is surely aware of this…”
In the end, what matters is the outcome.
“Keep sending information. There’s a risk of contamination. Let’s always meet face-to-face.”
“Understood.”
Creak.
I stood up.
Just a colonel and two captains.
Gathering here wouldn’t yield any more useful information, and it might only raise suspicions.
“Be careful.”
“Got it. Don’t worry too much.”
We met at Nikolai’s place instead of mine for security reasons.
So Luna and I left Nikolai’s house.
He promised to decipher the code by tomorrow, so we would meet again anyway.
And the very next day,
News came from the outskirts of Kaeyef, the capital city, that a captain from the Eastern Corps had died in an accident.
…
