[The Perils of Victory]
We had achieved a resounding victory in the battle.
My soldiers were busy enjoying the spoils of war, gorging themselves on meat and wine, but... I felt as though I were currently facing a crisis of my own.
“Second Lieutenant Jurgen.”
“Yes, Colonel.”
“Lina and Monica’s gazes were sharp and terrifying. Do you have any inkling of what I should do?”
Jurgen squeezed his eyes shut at my words.
Then, he shook his head slowly from side to side.
That guy knows far more about romance than I do, yet even Jurgen was abandoning me in my hour of need.
I had assumed that if I didn’t know the answer, Jurgen certainly would.
‘Jurgen, even you?!’
“Second Lieutenant Jurgen, I’ll write you a leave pass later. How about a two-night, three-day—no, a three-night, four-day special leave? You can use it whenever you want. As long as it’s not during a major training exercise, you can head out on a Tuesday and return after work on Friday. So, please...”
“Colonel, I apologize. But I’m sure nothing will happen.”
What is this? I’m begging for my life, and he says he’s sorry, then claims nothing will happen? There’s a limit to how nonsensical a statement can be.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Are those two going to eat you alive, Colonel?”
Well, they wouldn’t eat me physically, I suppose.
But I certainly felt like I was sitting on a bed of thorns.
I don’t need anything else; just please, save me.
Ah, usually in times like this, the higher-ups would call me in, claiming they wanted to share a celebratory drink because we won thanks to me.
Why aren’t they calling me today of all days?
‘I can’t exactly leave my post and run away, saying I’m not here today.’
Just as I was about to urge Jurgen to find me some sort of escape route...
A voice drifted in from behind me.
“Colonel, where have you been?”
I turned around to see Lina and Monica wearing suspicious smiles.
A chill ran down my spine.
I hadn’t done anything wrong, so why was my back turning cold?
“Colonel, everyone is drinking and having fun... where were you?”
“You should also listen to my tale of valor, capturing a Brigadier General of the Dolce Republic.”
I was surrounded on all sides, trapped with nowhere to run.
I couldn’t escape from here, could I?
Alright, let’s just accept my fate.
“I just wanted to step out for a breath of fresh air.”
“I see. It seems you’ve had enough of a walk; wouldn’t it be better to go inside and rest?”
“Shall we?”
Lina and Monica exchanged a silent signal, locking eyes.
Then, they linked their arms through mine.
Both my arms were effectively bound.
Even if I wanted to pull away, it wasn’t easy.
No, the more I moved, the more I felt their chests pressing against me...
“Let’s go, Colonel.”
And so, as if being kidnapped, I was dragged off to my tent by the two of them.
Lina on the left, Monica on the right.
To anyone else, it would be a sight to be deeply envious of.
And indeed, something that anyone would envy was happening to me.
Those two beautiful girls were placing me between them, competing to see who would receive my praise.
“Monica, I captured the mayor and a Colonel of the Republic at Como City. So, it’s only right that I’m the one who gets praised by the Colonel, isn’t it?”
“You already got praised for capturing the mayor back then. I saw it all.”
Lina’s face turned as red as a ripe apple.
She pointed a finger at Monica and challenged her.
“What exactly did you see?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice you asking the Colonel to pat your head?”
“I did. Is that a bad thing?”
“I’m not saying it’s bad. But doesn’t that mean your business with capturing the mayor is already finished?”
Monica crossed her arms, supporting her chest.
Was she aiming for my gaze to drift there, hoping I’d look?
When my eyes naturally wandered in that direction, Monica curled one corner of her mouth into a smirk.
“It seems even the Colonel can’t help himself.”
Upon hearing that, Lina gripped Monica’s shoulder tightly.
“A woman shouldn’t act like that... shouldn’t you be more modest and ladylike...?”
Monica shook her head.
“I only act like this in front of the Colonel.”
The moment I heard that, my head felt like it was spinning.
Isn’t saying she only acts like this in front of me essentially a confession?
If I asked her to go out with me right now, would she say yes?
Was that what Jurgen meant when he said I wouldn’t die from noticing things like this?
Damn it, you really are the best.
“Isn’t romance something that requires caution...?”
Lina was right.
Here, the weight of romance is incredibly heavy.
‘It’s to the point where romance is practically synonymous with an engagement.’
Monica looked at me and said,
“I like the Colonel. In fact, I don’t want anyone else but the Colonel.”
At this sudden, genuine confession, I felt as though my mind had gone blank.
I was truly grateful that she told me she liked me.
But what exactly did she like about me?
“Colonel, you patted Lina’s head when she captured the mayor of Como City last time, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
When Lina had demanded a head pat back then, my mind had gone numb.
It was such an unexpected request, after all.
Not that I disliked it, but...
‘What on earth is Monica planning to demand?’
“I captured a Brigadier General of the Dolce Republic this time. So, I think I have the right to demand more than Lina.”
At those words, Lina shot a stinging glare at me and Monica.
Then, she clamped her mouth shut tightly.
She had plenty to say, but since everything Monica said was an undeniable fact, she couldn’t refute it.
I suppose that’s why she was showing her frustration like that.
Honestly, I was a little nervous myself.
Monica had just launched two powerful attacks: “I never act like this in front of other men,” and “I like the Colonel.”
If she were to land one more powerful blow, couldn’t she even demand a kiss?
I certainly didn’t dislike Monica.
No, on the contrary, if it were a sincere and beautiful woman like Monica, I wouldn’t just stop at a kiss; I’d want even more...
‘Wouldn’t that be alright?’
As I waited to see what she would ask for, Monica took a deep breath.
Then, she opened her mouth cautiously.
“...... Please hug me.”
“What did you say?”
“Hug me. I think I have the right to demand at least that much.”
When I hesitated for a moment, Monica urged me on.
“Please, hold me tight.”
I opened my arms and hugged Monica.
Perhaps because it was such an embarrassing situation...
I managed to wrap my arms around her shoulders, but...
I couldn’t bring myself to do anything more than that.
Usually, when you hug like this, your whole body touches...
“Colonel, that’s not enough.”
Monica wrapped her arms tightly around my body.
Thanks to that, her cheek pressed against my chest.
Naturally, her chest pressed against my body as well.
I could feel both the elasticity and the soft sensation spreading throughout my entire body.
They say bigger is better, and now I understand why.
I could feel my “little soldier” suddenly becoming very healthy.
‘Hold it together, son. Please, have some restraint.’
Monica rubbed her face slightly against my chest in that position before letting me go.
“As expected, the Colonel is big and dependable. I felt so safe and cozy while being held. It was to the point where I wished time would stop...”
“Is that so?”
“You’ll hug me like this again next time, right?”
“If there’s an opportunity next time, I’ll be sure to do so.”
In truth, I was the one who wanted to ask for it.
No, should I make up an excuse to ask for it?
Just as I was thinking thoughts that made my heart feel warm, Lina stepped slightly closer to me.
Then, she opened her arms and squeezed her eyes shut.
Was she asking for a hug, too?
As I was debating whether or not I should hug her in this situation,
Monica looked at Lina and smirked.
“Lina, this is a reward I personally received from the Colonel after I captured the Brigadier General of the Dolce Republic. Isn’t it a bit shameless for you to ask for the same hug?”
“I want to be praised by the Colonel, too!”
“I know how you feel. But not right now.”
“...... Monica.”
“Lina, you don’t have greed for other things, but you’re quite greedy when it comes to the Colonel.”
Perhaps it was because Monica had taken a step forward through that hug?
Lina seemed to be trying to approach me more actively as well.
Whether it’s love or work, things get intense when competition is involved...
I couldn’t even fathom how much hotter things would get in the future.
“The Colonel is a commander I respect, but he’s also someone I personally want to emulate... and I want to keep following you... and I have to get married eventually, too...”
Lina lowered her head, her face turning as red as the evening sunset, and spoke in a small voice.
“If it’s someone like the Colonel, I could... give you... everything...”
I couldn’t hear exactly what she said at the end.
However, just by looking at the atmosphere, I could tell she was telling me she liked me.
“I won’t lose to Monica, either.”
“Neither will I.”
The two of them looked at each other and said nothing more.
It felt like they were about to start fighting, like cats baring their claws at one another.
If I didn’t stop them, it seemed like their relationship would turn sour.
But I couldn’t just give them a vague answer...
I raised both hands and patted both of their heads at the same time.
“I like you both. And I don’t want to see you fighting over me. Lina and Monica, you’re both precious to me.”
Both of them were incredibly precious to me.
Not just as women, but as my subordinates as well.
So, I couldn’t possibly feel good if the two of them were growling at each other.
As I calmed them down like this, the two of them left my tent quietly without another word.
I wonder if they’ll be alright.
Immediately after leaving Colonel Schumacher’s tent, Monica Dorothea’s face turned bright red.
It was as if she were on fire.
“...... Colonel, you idiot.”