Here’s the translated text:
—
This… What on earth is going on?
Though confused, there was no one to explain the situation clearly. Captain Mikel Robron, the personnel director, could only respond with a unilateral ‘official document’ from above.
Colonel Rockhart Cromwell, the battalion commander, seemed to know some of the details, but he didn’t seem willing to elaborate further.
He simply informed me with a stern face that I needed to prepare for a transfer starting tomorrow. Despite the cold treatment, his expression didn’t seem particularly bad.
In any case, there would be no farewell gathering or after-party. It felt like being led to the slaughterhouse overnight.
“Everyone won’t be leaving at once. You will be transported in three batches. You’ll leave first today, then Lieutenant Lumina Blue and Sergeant Claude tomorrow, and finally Corporal Roxanna and Sergeant Bella the day after.”
“Why is the transfer happening this way? Surely we’re not being transferred to different units…”
“No, you’ll remain in the same unit. For more details, ask when you get there.”
The battalion commander implied something, stood up, and extended his hand to me.
“We really appreciated your hard work in our battalion. You kept your promise when you first joined.”
“Th-thank you.”
I was still in a daze.
I couldn’t understand why Rockhart reacted this way. Originally, the transfer was supposed to be for those whose ranks were floating.
It was as if an entire platoon was being vacated from the battalion, yet Rockhart’s reaction was too indifferent.
This seemed like a clear infringement on his authority.
And in such cases…
“Who exactly gave the order?”
At the very least, it must have been someone above Major Sony Chepelin or Viktor Zelenski. Even if it were the two of them, they wouldn’t dare infringe on the authority of a proper battalion commander without reason.
Actually, Major Sony tried something like this before and ended up receiving a good reprimand from me.
Moreover, if only I were moving, it might have been different. But since the entire platoon is relocating, it means the personnel in charge of the platoon, including myself, need to be reassigned. This indicates that the battalion has enough resources to reorganize an entire platoon…
Right now, I could think of only two possibilities.
Major Viktor Zelenski, who recently took over the Central Education Technology Research Bureau, and Major Sony Chepelin, who became the brigade commander of the Special Response Brigade.
Both are majors, and both are newly formed units/units undergoing restructuring, suffering from chronic manpower shortages.
“In reality, even if these two units are being formed, the actual person issuing the orders is likely higher up…”
I used all my brainpower.
Could it be a direct order from the Okhraine Army Command? Or perhaps the corps below that?
Frankly, it’s absurd to think King Orlando Rus III would directly assign an entire platoon.
In the end, I had no say in the matter.
With the official personnel order already issued, it’s impossible to refuse it in front of everyone like last time.
And just when I thought I had normalized the platoon, I’m being moved out entirely. What an ironic fate.
A soldier must follow orders. The cigarette tasted especially bitter today.
Of course, whether it’s Major Sony Chepelin or Major Viktor Zelenski, they’re both on the fast track to promotion…
But this personnel order doesn’t feel like it’s filled with dreams and hopes.
—
“Ah… What should I do? Should I leave everything behind?”
“You’ll just have to buy new ones.”
Lumina, who was packing her things, turned around and said this to Bella Meyer.
Bella already seemed relieved as she had finished packing. Clearly, she didn’t have much to take except clothes and parrot supplies, so she could finish quickly.
On the other hand, Lumina Blüe intended to take all her accessories and decorations that adorned her room.
“I wish I had more time… At least I could sell them. If I leave them here, who knows if anyone will notice.”
“Battalion Commander will surely like them.”
“Bella, you too…”
Bella laughed and teased her. Lumina, unable to help it, picked up only the essentials with trembling hands.
Just one day since receiving the shocking news from the platoon leader.
Even just knowing about the transfer tomorrow was too sudden.
—
“Still, Lumina will be happy, right? You won’t be separated from the platoon leader.”
“Mmm, that’s definitely good.”
“How fortunate you didn’t confess! I think you were too shy to look people in the eye.”
“Eh…”
She hit the nail on the head.
If things had gone this way, the confession that ended up being ignored would have been a stroke of genius.
“Platoon Leader probably didn’t have the time either. He surely refused.”
Absolutely. Over the time Lumina spent with Enok Revendale, she realized that the platoon leader was a man of clear boundaries between work and personal life.
Even during training for evaluations, he would be friendly but become extremely strict when it came to actual combat.
Thanks to this, even Lumina, who had trauma with magic use, could train more smoothly.
Regardless, Enok Revendale’s ability to control the troops was impressive, making it easy to forget that he was only a month into his commission.
—
“By the way, are Sergeant Claude and Roxanna organizing well?”
“Yeah, Roxanna is currently coordinating schedules with the external military doctor. As for Claude… seems he doesn’t have anything to pack.”
Claude, who lived a carefree life. Lumina easily imagined him carelessly throwing his bag in a corner and snoring loudly.
—
“But will the military doctor go with you too?”
“Yeah, I guess so. Roxanna is a special case.”
Mana Heart Syndrome.
For mages, it’s both a blessing and a curse. While mana efficiency and total capacity increase dramatically, the body’s organs weaken, and if mana control isn’t mastered, d*ath follows.
Roxanna is managing well, but that’s only because a dedicated military doctor is taking care of her.
Even in the capital city of Kaeyef, it’s uncertain if there’s a doctor specialized in Mana Heart Syndrome. So the military doctor needs to go with her.
“It’s ironic. I thought going to the capital was my last chance. Now I’ll be living there permanently.”
“Yeah, we’re becoming citizens of the capital now.”
“Haha, Lumina really loves the capital, huh? I can understand that feeling.”
Despite their different pasts, they both ended up in the same place: the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Company, 5th Platoon. A place once looked down upon, where they thought they’d spend their lives, now basked in warm sunlight.
“Th-this is all thanks to the platoon leader.”
“Yeah, thanks to Platoon Leader Enok.”
They smiled at each other.
—
“So, this is the end here.”
I muttered as I looked at the headquarters standing tall at the entrance of the battalion. My first unit in this world, where I’ve been living since the beginning.
Though it started weak and was often overlooked, it wasn’t a bad first unit overall.
Captain Arrendt Schultz and Captain Mikel Robron weren’t great officers, but they weren’t bad role models either.
Considering how I rose through the ranks so quickly despite being a new lieutenant, it makes sense they might have resented me. Yet, other platoon leaders sincerely bid me farewell.
Even if my departure reduced competition slightly…
“I guess I gained their approval.”
That’s how it always was. Ignored at first, but as I worked hard, eventually, opinions changed.
Whether in reality or here, the workings of the military were eerily similar.
“Go in well, Enok!”
“See you again soon!!”
They even came to see me off. I looked them straight in the eye, saluted one last time, and climbed onto the waiting carriage.
I was still puzzled why the squad members were moving separately and why the pre-formation unit that hadn’t even been organized yet was appearing, but…
All will be revealed when I get there.
As I climbed into the carriage, I was surprised to see someone dressed as Rob sitting inside.
“Who are you?”
The person dressed as Rob didn’t answer. As the carriage door slammed shut and began moving, he carefully removed the disguise.
His eyes glowed red like flames, and his golden hair, brighter than my own, belonged to a man deeply imprinted in my memory.
“It’s been a while since we met like this.”
He chuckled lightly, and I suddenly stood up.
“Glory to the homeland!!!”
“If you make such a fuss, the whole point of the disguise is lost. Sit down.”
King Orlando Rus III of the Okhraine Duchy spoke.
