Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Bait Operation (7)
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Monica spoke up, but Lina responded as if it were nothing major.
"It wasn't anything important, Lieutenant Dorothea."
"It didn't seem that way to me. Are you sure?"
"I can tell you tomorrow. It wouldn't be right for me to butt in while the Battalion Commander is talking with you, Lieutenant Dorothea."
Judging by the words alone, it really sounded like no big deal...
But right now, a blizzard capable of freezing even a polar bear was raging between these two.
Watching this, Monica was certain.
'Lieutenant Chaplin has feelings for the Battalion Commander that go beyond just looking up to her superior.'
In simpler terms, if the Battalion Commander asked her out, she'd hesitate just a little before saying yes.
Monica herself had never been in a relationship...
But living in Lichten, she'd seen her close female friends dating and getting married, so she could tell.
She knew how women in love reacted like that.
A woman who was usually like a block of ice would react immediately to the slightest touch...
'Maybe I can tease her a bit?'
"Lieutenant Chaplin, since it's just us girls, how about being a little more honest?"
"What do you mean by being honest?"
"The Battalion Commander isn't here. I won't tell anyone..."
Monica pointed to her own tent as she spoke.
"Let's talk girl-to-girl, honestly. You're the only woman in this battalion I feel like I can really talk to."
"What if I say no?"
"Nothing I can do about it."
You couldn't force a friendship on someone who didn't want it.
Monica was prepared to back off if Lina disliked the idea.
There was no point in making their relationship hostile.
"You and I are a lot alike, Lieutenant Chaplin. We're women who joined the army and became officers anyway, unlike the other officers in our battalion who marry and retire... We came here to see how far we can climb on our own merits, right?"
"That's right."
"And we hate those sneaky glances the lieutenants give our chests."
"......"
Lina nodded without thinking.
Not just once, but three whole times.
She knew there was nothing to be done about it since she'd been getting those looks since her mid-teens...
But the disgust she felt was the same then as now.
'I know there's nothing to be done.'
"We have so much in common, so we could get along, don't you think?"
"We do click on that front."
Monica quickly bought some meat and booze from the sutler.
It had been a while since she'd found a same-sex friend she could really talk to...
It wouldn't feel right without some drinks.
"Let me ask again: What do you think of the Battalion Commander?"
Lina fell deep into thought.
She harbored all sorts of complicated feelings toward her superior, the Battalion Commander, Michael.
As a commander, he was more reliable and capable than anyone.
At the same time, he took care of his subordinates like they were his own children and always treated her well.
No matter how busy he was, he made time to give her generous advice.
He was humble yet always confident.
Lina deeply respected him as an officer.
"He's someone worthy of respect. He's a role model for all Imperial officers."
"I agree. Serving under someone like that is a stroke of luck."
"Someone like Major Schumacher will end up as a famous general in the history books someday. He'll go down in battalion lore as a point of pride for the Imperial Army. I'd love to claim even a small spot in his heroic tales."
Even if Schumacher earned everyone's respect, he would ultimately remain someone else to her.
Yet Lina felt joy as if it were her own achievement.
The fact that the man she admired would one day shine eternally in history like a star in the sky.
"Being able to witness even a moment of history by his side... I think that's the greatest fortune Fortuna has granted me."
Monica nodded in agreement at those words.
An officer's worth was determined by the caliber of the superior they served.
If your boss was a piece of trash, you'd end up smelling like one too.
But serving under a renowned general could make even the most mediocre officer useful.
The greatest luck in Lieutenant Monica Dorothea's officer career was being able to observe and learn from such an outstanding man.
But that wasn't the answer Monica wanted to hear.
"Be a little more honest."
"......"
Lina bit her lip slightly.
"I want to stay by the Battalion Commander's side forever. I want to get much closer than I am now."
"I see."
Monica grinned at that.
She also thought Lina was cute.
Lina seemed oblivious, but her face had been apple-red for a while now.
It was adorable how she didn't even realize her own feelings.
"Me too."
Monica's feelings weren't exactly love.
It was purely platonic affection.
But if—if she really had to pick a man to spend her life with right now...
She'd choose Schumacher without hesitation. That was how much goodwill she held.
Plus, teasing Lina was fun.
"......Really?"
"The Battalion Commander is stronger than anyone and always sets an example."
"The spot next to the Battalion Commander is mine."
"Then we'll have to compete, won't we?"
Lina felt a sudden tightness in her chest without realizing it.
A twinge of anxiety too.
Major Schumacher, her Battalion Commander, wasn't interested in women and was oblivious to how popular he was with them.
Until now, there'd been no rivals, but now a new one had appeared.
"The Battalion Commander only needs me by his side."
"The Battalion Commander doesn't belong to anyone."
Monica teased Lina lightly.
It was amusing how her expressions changed so quickly.
'She's usually almost expressionless.'
"And now we've shared secrets. How about we get along from now on?"
"Sure, Monica."
"I'm glad you accepted, Lina."
"......Everyone else passed out drunk, so no need to push them too hard today."
This was a battlefield, but rest was rest when it was time.
Especially because it was a battlefield.
The Americans didn't rotate their troops through combat, rest, and refit in three shifts over months during World War II for nothing.
Running people endlessly in war would drive them insane.
"Duty officer."
"Yes, Battalion Commander."
"Keep today's battalion roll call simple by company. Officers and enlisted alike will be hungover and hurting, so everyone except those on guard duty gets rest."
"Yes, sir."
"And don't make the troops do some big cleaning just because you don't like seeing them relax. They can shake off the hangover today and do it tomorrow without dying."
The military was the same no matter the era.
'Logistics officers' with sergeant stripes hated seeing troops lounge on weekends during their duty shifts.
So they'd find excuses to make them wash clothes or do blanket laundry under the guise of sun-drying.
Here on the front lines, they had even more justification to work the men.
"Yes, sir."
"Lieutenant Heinz, you head in and rest too."
"Thank you, sir."
Those in command bore that much more responsibility.
A subordinate's merit was your merit, and anyone who tried to hog all the credit wasn't human.
Those types became shadowy insurgents or shadowy Japanese soldiers.
If you were born human, live like one.
He was about to handle paperwork when...
"Sir! Lieutenant Monica Dorothea reporting for duty."
"Ah, good to have you on duty, Lieutenant."
"Aren't you going to rest, Battalion Commander?"
"If I suffer a bit, my subordinates get it easier, don't they? Plus, I have commendation recommendations to write."
"I'll help."
"Thanks."
Monica sat down right next to me.
The distance felt a bit too close...
But whatever, was that important?
Soon after, Lina came in.
"Sir! Did you sleep well, Battalion Commander?"
"I slept fine. You can rest, Lieutenant Lina."
"I'm your aide-de-camp and HQ company commander. I'll assist you here."
Even one helper was better than none, but three helping me?
Today's work would wrap up quick...
"Couldn't Lina just go rest?"
"Thanks for the consideration, but I came because I want to help you, sir."
"One person to help is enough, isn't it...?"
Sparks were visibly flying between those two.
And their relationship seemed to have changed suddenly...
"You often give good advice when I help with work. And I owe you a lot anyway."
"Shouldn't you rest when you can?"
"We'll finish quick and rest."
......Mom, I'm scared.
I didn't know why they were fighting.
Now I understood why frost fell even in early summer when a woman held a grudge.
She could probably make it happen.
"Battalion Commander, my father sent some good coffee beans today... Shall I make you a cup?"
"......Make me one too."
Those two scared me.
And that day, I felt like I was sitting on a bed of nails until the work was done.
Soon after, the tide of war shifted once more.