Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Bait Operation (6)
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Major Schumacher's bait operation was a resounding success.
So much so that a smile never left the commander's lips.
"Lieutenant General Chaplin, your son-in-law has racked up another huge achievement. What an impressive young man, isn't he?"
Lieutenant General Chaplin frowned at those words.
That unheard-of bonehead—no, not quite...
For a young guy these days, he was pretty promising and decent enough.
But calling the son of a thief who dared to eye his daughter his son-in-law?
Absolute nonsense, not worth a dime.
If this weren't a battlefield and that man weren't his superior, he might have seriously considered hurling his gauntlet right in his face...
'But of all people, he's my superior...'
"I have no intention of ever recognizing Major Schumacher as my son-in-law. As long as there's no dirt in my eyes, I'll never give my daughter to that moldy bastard."
"What's so lacking about that guy? If you insist on a flaw..."
"His only flaw is that he's too close to the soldiers. Unbefitting a noble."
"Other than that, he's flawless, isn't he? The kind of guy who could get a star just for breathing."
"......"
Lieutenant General Chaplin knew it all too well himself.
That there was no better son-in-law material out there.
But he still didn't want to give up his daughter.
"Without that guy, we might have lost this war. Take a look at this report."
Lieutenant General Chaplin took the report handed to him by the commander.
The more he read, the wider his eyes grew.
It was because the achievements of that Schumacher scum his daughter was so fond of were enormous.
"Mobilizing 2,000 knights and 4,000 light cavalry to hit the supply unit? Isn't that every last cavalryman the Ortz Kingdom Army could muster?"
"It is. Just looking at those numbers sends chills down your spine, doesn't it?"
The Staff College drilled the importance of logistics into you every breath you took, with a bit of exaggeration.
In the first year, they even made you chant "supply" with your left foot and "logistics" with your right while walking.
They imposed such absurd bullshit discipline on officers major and above because logistics were that crucial.
'The importance of supply lines must be emphasized that much.'
No matter how well you fought, if logistics didn't keep up, it was defeat.
Starving troops died—that was an eternal truth.
"Even I, the commander, know the importance of logistics. That's why I ordered thorough escorts as the supply lines stretched."
"Even so, facing 6,000 enemy cavalry would have been tough."
"Assembling that many escorts would've meant half the food vanishing en route. If we hadn't prepared, we were truly done for."
It was a statement that sent chills down his spine no matter how many times he thought about it.
"And his battle results are incredible, aren't they?"
Lieutenant General Chaplin nodded in agreement.
"400 Ortz Kingdom knights killed, 150 captured, 700 light cavalry killed, 500 captured... Impressive indeed."
"The Ortz Kingdom's down to scraps without cavalry now. Meanwhile, our losses? Barely 400 casualties. Against cavalry, no less."
The age of line infantry had diminished cavalry's value.
But cavalry were still elite manpower.
Logistics officers and NCOs would say replacing one dead horse cost more than three soldiers.
As a general who sometimes had to view soldiers as numbers to win wars, looking at this situation...
'We came out way ahead, no question.'
"We've achieved a strategic and tactical victory. Thanks to Major Schumacher."
"That, I acknowledge."
The commander pulled a cigar from his drawer.
Lighting up without asking in front of a non-smoker was rude as hell...
But in front of someone who smoked, no need to ask.
"Here, have one."
"Thank you, sir."
The two lit their cigars in silence.
A rich, pungent aroma filled the air.
"I've married off five daughters myself. I get how you feel. If you're losing one anyway, wouldn't it ease your mind to give her to the best?"
"Yes, sir." "That's all, you're dismissed."
Lieutenant General Chaplin left with a strange feeling.
Then he met Lina, patted her shoulder, and said,
"Whoever my daughter likes, Dad's fine with anyone."
I was in a bit of a tricky spot.
Not that I was cornered or anything.
Well, in a way, maybe I was?
No one was trying to kill me or smear me politically or anything like that...
"Wouldn't you be more comfortable drinking with the other officers?"
"Not necessarily."
"Wouldn't Lieutenant Dorothea be more at ease with her fellow officers?"
I'd heard of "Mudu-jeol" back in Korea.
A joke calling the day the boss takes leave—when work's less stressful—like a holiday...
No one in this world liked hanging with the higher-ups.
'You never know when they'll nitpick.'
So Monica would probably feel more relaxed with her peers...
"Everyone's in party mode, wouldn't the battalion commander feel lonely all alone?"
True, I did feel a bit lonely by myself.
But what could I do?
The higher you climbed, the lonelier it got—you had to accept it.
"Thanks for looking out for me. But doesn't being with your superior feel stifling?"
"It's more burdensome with the other officers. I'm actually more comfortable by your side, Battalion Commander."
Lina had said something similar.
Last time at the cafe, chatting alone.
Being a woman, the other officers' leering eyes made her uncomfortable.
Monica was undeniably pretty too...
The stares from those hormone-fueled officers must've been off-putting.
"Married ones don't, but the fresh unmarried lieutenants subtly show interest in me... It's awkward."
"Lieutenant Lina said the same. She could plainly see their romantic interest, and it burdened her."
Monica frowned slightly at that.
Then she looked at me with a pouty glare.
"You must be close with Lieutenant Chaplin."
"As superior and subordinate, not especially. But I have gone alone to a cafe with Lieutenant Lina once."
"...... A date?"
"A woman like Lieutenant Lina falling for a lifelong wallflower like me? The funniest joke I've heard all year."
Lina falling for me?
Considering how she'd treated me so far...
She didn't dislike me.
Quite the opposite—she held plenty of goodwill.
But not romantic goodwill, not the marry-me-hold-hands-date kind.
I could confidently say in front of Lieutenant General Chaplin that if Lina liked me that way, I'd slap my face silly.
Monica sighed looking at me.
Then she grinned.
"Have you ever even been in a relationship?"
"From the academy to now, barely any private chats with women. Being an orphan, they never approached."
"I see."
"Thanks to that, unlike other officers, no family drama eating at me—I can focus on the unit. Weekends, I read military texts, write papers."
Not having a woman steal my time was a plus.
But saying it out loud, my eyes felt a bit misty.
A slight ache in my heart, I guess.
Meanwhile, Monica gave me a meaningful smile.
"You might end up single for life at this rate."
Monica cut me off mid-sentence and shook her head.
"Central Empire nobles say men must dance well, read women's hearts, be elegant at soirees. But in Lichten, men like you are tops."
"Is that so?"
"You look after everyone, the strongest warrior of all, aren't you?"
"Strong, huh..."
"Just swinging a sword well doesn't make a true warrior. Relying only on force is mere brute strength."
Monica poured me a beer as she spoke.
"A truly strong man is respected by all, warmly embraces everyone, the one all rely on first. Our battalion's soldiers—and I too—would gladly follow you into hell."
"Thanks, that gives me strength."
"Someday, when you take long leave, visit our hometown."
"....... I'll do that."
I downed the beer saying so.
The beer tasted sweet.
And there, beyond the tent flap of my quarters, I spotted Lina?
"Looks like Lieutenant Lina stopped by? I should get up and call her..."
Monica stopped me as I said that.
"If it was urgent, she'd have come in and spoken directly, Battalion Commander."
"True enough."
"Ask her tomorrow."
That made sense too.
Asking tomorrow wouldn't be a big deal.
I chatted with Monica over a few beers until pretty late.
After her private talk with Schumacher, Monica went to find Lina separately.
"Didn't you have something to say to the Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Chaplin?"