The diamonds on the epaulettes had increased from one to two. The king himself even helped fix them onto the epaulettes.
Of course, the promotion was not the only reward.
All members of the platoon, including Lumina Blue and Bella Meyer, were awarded the third-grade white medal, and they received a bonus for their exceptional service.
Without requiring a large number of personnel, it was a fitting reward for capturing the spy in Chernov City in just one day.
Roxanna… there was nothing she could do. She hadn’t been assigned as part of the operation team anyway.
While it was noticeable that I alone received the special promotion, Lumina and Bella seemed to accept it as expected. Instead, they questioned why I was thinking otherwise.
“Of course, the platoon leader should receive more rewards. Without the platoon leader, we wouldn’t have been able to catch Ramur.”
In reality, even in the real military, some people receive more despite performing the same feats.
Especially now, under quasi-war conditions—though such a concept doesn’t exist yet—it’s natural for command layers to be treated more highly.
After the general commendation.
What followed was a light Q&A session with King Orlando Rus of Okhraine.
It wasn’t much of a Q&A session.
Just questions about how I made such judgments and why I could perform feats so soon after being commissioned.
I didn’t ask about the most important part—the future political changes and what strategy Okhraine should adopt—which I could answer.
It’s understandable.
Although I achieved significant feats in just a month after commissioning, it was only a promotion from lieutenant to captain at best.
Clearly, they judged it too early to discuss strategic tactics.
None of the generals present would consider me and my platoon members as “talents that must be brought along.”
It seems this is how the Mage Corps of Okhraine Duchy has always been treated.
Even the generals seemed to think that, aside from a few outstanding individuals, most would leave the army after completing their five-year mandatory service.
This was especially true for non-commissioned officers.
Mana is more useful in civilian life rather than in the military.
Unlike military magic that merely destroys, burns, or explodes, the five elements—fire, water, earth, lightning, wind—are far more applicable in civilian use, making their development limitless.
With a civilian institution like the Magic Tower researching and commercializing these elements, the outflow of mage officers and NCOs from Okhraine’s military was severe.
‘It feels like the Air Force.’
Like Air Force officers leaving to join better-paying civilian airlines after becoming captains or majors, there was no reason for mage officers or NCOs to stay in the rotting Okhraine military.
In our unit, many veteran mage officers and NCOs seemed indifferent to achievements or promotions.
They spent most of their time on personal magic research rather than unit operations, presumably planning their post-military lives.
It was frustrating, especially knowing the tragedy that would unfold in a few years.
Not only individually but also due to the overly optimistic government values.
‘I’m not ready to accept it yet.’
And I didn’t want to provoke anyone by speaking up first.
If I spoke up, I might become a scapegoat or stir up unrest.
Now, preparations for war were necessary, but it was better to think about it after leaving this miserable battalion.
At least a division-level commander or higher would need to be involved for my words to carry weight.
As a mage platoon leader in a remote outpost, there were too many restrictions.
For now, being promoted to captain after only a month of commission was enough satisfaction.
After the king’s audience.
While Bella Meyer and Lumina Blue returned to their quarters, I couldn’t leave the palace yet.
I had to attend an unofficial ‘after-party’ hosted by the generals who were present.
“d*mn, it’s suffocating.”
There were stars everywhere you looked.
A newly minted lieutenant surrounded by generals with countless medals had no chance of breathing properly.
Lannister Colonel might have been someone to talk to… but he had disappeared somewhere.
All I could do was sip wine in a corner of the party.
No matter how you look at it, it felt like running away for the first three generations.
“Enok Revendale, Lieutenant!”
A loud voice came from behind.
“No, no. Now you’re a captain. Enok Revendale, Captain?”
Reflexively turning my head, I noticed the striking lavender hair. An unforgettable woman.
High Mage of the Celestial Order, Major Sony Chepelin.
“You met sooner than I thought, huh?”
She laughed and looked at me. Was she here because she was close to the king?
When I saluted, Sony Chepelin waved her hand casually.
“That’s enough. What’s with the salute? All that is just formalities.”
“What brings you here?”
“I usually work in the capital. My position is with the Central Corps’ Special Response Brigade.”
Indeed, that was true.
“I usually don’t attend these after-parties, but I came today because a captain was attending.”
Sony Chepelin passed by me and filled her wine glass.
“Let’s start with a toast.”
Clang. She tapped the glass lightly, and the major took a sip.
Despite publicly rejecting her recruitment offer last time, she showed no signs of resentment towards me.
‘I thought she would react that way, but… she didn’t even show it.’
She was indeed an unusual person.
“Congratulations again on your captain promotion. You’re the second captain to be promoted within a month.”
“Second?”
“There, the Central Mage Brigade Commander. He was promoted right after joining, and he had a tough time during the Quernen War.”
Following her gaze, I saw a young man with red hair talking with other generals.
Despite his mid-thirties, the single star on his epaulet stood out.
“Still, being promoted during peacetime versus wartime is different. Thanks to my captain rank, I could get some leads.”
“The artifact that was stolen?”
“Yes, it’s clear that the Soviev Empire took it. They keep denying it, but you can see for yourself. We’re working on recovery plans.”
“What? Recovery plan means sending troops to retrieve it?”
“The stolen artifact is crucial for Okhraine’s future. We’ll have to bear some losses and international criticism.”
Sony Chepelin’s eyes flashed.
“They were the ones who crossed the line first.”
I wonder what future she sees. It might match what I imagine, but it’s still uncertain.
As I remained silent, she grabbed my hand.
“So, you still haven’t considered transferring to our brigade? You know June is the changeover date, right? You got promoted suddenly, so your rank feels out of place.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Unlike last time, when I firmly refused, the situation had changed slightly.
Since I was suddenly promoted to captain, I couldn’t stay in the current battalion.
To preserve the existing seniority culture, moving someone like me to another unit was better for everyone.
“Huh!? Really!?”
“Hey, Major Sony Chepelin. You shouldn’t rush things.”
Behind Sony Chepelin, who smiled at the more positive response, a muscular man approached.
She recognized him by his voice and reacted negatively.
“Ugh… Commander Sigismund Blakovich.”
“Hello, Captain Enok Revendale.”
Amidst the white uniforms, a black uniform stood out.
The overwhelming presence from the three-star insignia and the emblem symbolizing the military police was imposing.
Commander of the National Military Police, Major General Sigismund Blakovich.
Next to him, Lannister Colonel didn’t seem small, but compared to Commander Blakovich, he felt like a little bear.
“To the Motherland’s glory!”
“To the Motherland. Congratulations on your promotion, Captain. I heard from Lannister Colonel. You did a great job.”
“Thank you, Commander!”
I couldn’t help but feel tense. Why was I more nervous than when meeting King Orlando Rus?
“But, you seem more suited for military police than just a mage corps. How about switching to military police? There’s a Mage Corps TO in the military police too.”
“What?! Commander Blakovich, isn’t that too much?”
“Sony Chepelin, I don’t think you should take such a talented person to a newly implemented brigade.”
Major Sony Chepelin, shouting back at a three-star officer. She was truly crazy.
Meanwhile, Commander Blakovich calmly responded to her.
“Hey, even if you’re the Commander of the Military Police, you can’t push this through like this!”
“Then ask the person directly. Choose between the Commander of the Military Police and the Special Response Brigade commander.”
“Oh~? So confident? Alright, Captain Enok! Decide quickly! Who do you want to work under?”
My head went blank. The eyes of a brigadier general and a serving major general bore into me. I felt an unbearable pressure.
“I… didn’t hear that clearly…”
“Simple! Where do you want to be assigned in June?”
Sony Chepelin started passionately expressing her opinion, pounding her chest.
“I’ll take all your platoon members too! We’re always short on manpower, so moving a platoon isn’t difficult! And as brigade commander, I can give you a temporary captain rank!”
Temporary captain rank…
Was that possible?
If it ended here, it would be fine, but Major General Blakovich was also throwing a lifeline.
“In short, Military Police, Major General Line, Central Power.”
Three shocking words. General Blakovich leisurely flicked his fingers.
“A talented person like you won’t find it hard to earn another star on your epaulettes in a few years.”
“Y-Yes…”
“Captain Enok! Don’t fall for those sweet words and think about switching twice!”
I couldn’t speak. It was a different kind of mess.
“Excuse me, Generals…
Why are you doing this to me…
