[War Is a Deception (8)]
Monica Dorothea had never intended to be this proactive.
If she got caught up in a petty romantic rivalry over Lieutenant Colonel Schumacher, it could sour her relationship with Lina, and besides...
Even though she liked Schumacher, she lacked the courage to openly express her feelings.
She had planned to wait until Schumacher himself realized his feelings and asked her to be with him, but...
"This is all Lina's fault. I had no choice..."
Ever since they captured Como City, Lina had suddenly grown much closer to Schumacher.
If their relationship had previously felt like that of a trusted subordinate and her superior, things had changed significantly ever since Lina asked him to pat her head.
Lina was making small, incremental appeals—"I like you"—and Lieutenant Colonel Schumacher was slowly accepting them.
He hadn't pushed her away yet, but...
She didn't know when it would happen, or rather, she hoped it wouldn't, but the thought gnawed at her.
"If Lina and the Lieutenant Colonel get any closer than they are now... will there be any room left for me in his heart?"
Anxiety took hold of her.
Right now, the occasional head-pat was the extent of it.
However, looking at the romances of the nobles she used to mingle with in Lichten...
They would start as friends, and in the blink of an eye, they would become a married couple who had spent their first night together.
Lieutenant Colonel Schumacher, who was as dense as a rock, might stay still until Lina explicitly asked to take their relationship to the next level, but...
Starting from head-pats, then hugs, and eventually progressing to kisses.
Wouldn't they eventually end up as lovers?
They might be bickering over Schumacher right now, but...
If one of them started dating him first...
'Will there be a place for me in the Lieutenant Colonel's heart...'
Even if they could remain good subordinates and superiors, it would be hard to expect anything more, like becoming his lover.
No, even if it were natural for four or five women to flock to a capable man...
"I can't let Lina take first place."
That was why she had done what she did.
With the full intention of making him see her as a woman, not just Lina...
She had confessed her feelings, and she had pressed her chest—the most direct way to show her feminine charm—against his entire body.
"......With this, I've finally made it to the starting line."
And once she was on the starting line, she had no intention of hesitating.
Just as Lina had her own reasons and desire to become the Lieutenant Colonel's woman, Monica had her own motivation and drive to become his partner.
Schumacher's swordsmanship was no match for her or Lina.
However, he possessed the qualities of a man respected by everyone.
The kindness and sense of responsibility to prioritize his subordinates. The coolness to remain calm even in a crisis, and the insight and courage to plan and execute strategies the enemy couldn't even imagine.
'A strong man is exactly this kind of man.'
"People who are good at archery or shooting are common, but the power to embrace everyone like the Lieutenant Colonel does is not something just anyone can possess."
That was why she had started to admire his strength and character, and at some point, she had come to want the man named Michael Schumacher for herself.
The reason she was anxious now was that the person she wanted was in danger of being taken away.
And Monica hardened her resolve once more.
"The Lieutenant Colonel is mine."
Monica's eyes shone like a lioness stalking her prey.
"I can't just stand by and let Lina take him."
Having steeled her resolve, she decided to change her mindset starting today and approach him more aggressively.
When she was alone with Lieutenant Colonel Schumacher, she would start by intentionally unbuttoning her military uniform down to the third button to show a glimpse of her chest...
***
Last night was truly terrifying.
Thinking about how Lina and Monica had surrounded me and engaged in a tug-of-war for my attention.
I got goosebumps all over my body.
I had been muddling through it until now, but shouldn't I choose one of them...
Or perhaps choose both and reach a conclusion?
Even if I didn't start with marriage right away, it seemed right to start as lovers.
'Should I ask that guy Jurgen?'
Whenever I ask that guy for advice, I always have to pay a price, but what on earth do I have to give him this time...
"You, why are you so deep in thought?"
Hearing that, I snapped back to reality.
Right, I had been summoned by the Commander.
"I apologize, Excellency."
"It seems you haven't fully recovered from the drinking last night. In times like these, a 'hair of the dog' is perfect."
"Is that so?"
"Curing alcohol with alcohol is the law and etiquette of an Imperial soldier."
No, that's just called overdrinking.
When a high-ranking officer with four stars offers a drink, a lowly Lieutenant Colonel like me has no choice but to take it and drink it no matter what.
If I keep drinking like that, I'll really die, I'll die.
"Drink it all down in one go."
"Thank you, Excellency."
The Commander poured a glass full of top-shelf whiskey that seemed to be saying, "Hello, I'm a super-premium whiskey!"
Usually, when drinking, they pour just a sparrow's tear worth to enjoy the aroma and taste, but...
This crazy man poured it until the glass was overflowing.
"I've poured it as much as I expect from you—very, very generously. Drink it at once."
"Thank you."
Perhaps it was because the alcohol content was so high, even if it was a precious liquor.
My throat felt like it was on fire.
It felt like my stomach was being pickled in alcohol.
But the strange thing was, unlike cheap vodka that was just harsh...
I didn't feel any burning pain at all.
"Do you feel a bit more clear-headed now?"
"Yes, I finally feel clear-headed."
"That's fortunate."
After downing a glass of strong liquor, my useless worries vanished entirely.
Right, is that even important right now?
"Congratulations on the victory, Excellency."
The Commander-in-Chief shrugged his shoulders at my words.
Then he chuckled.
"The war isn't over yet."
"At the point where we've crushed the enemy's main force, isn't this war effectively over?"
When we think of war, we tend to think of pushing until one country is destroyed.
But that's a misunderstanding of war.
When tens of thousands of troops are mobilized to compete for victory, and the side with heavy losses crunches the numbers...
'Ah, if we keep fighting this war, the country will go bankrupt.'
When a result like this emerges, the defeated side bows their head, and the war ends.
Our Imperial Army had crushed 10 divisions of the Dolce Republic, and they would surely think that it would be difficult to fight any further in their current state...
"That's true as well. Your strategy worked very well."
"Thank you."
"While our side suffered only about 3,000 casualties, the enemy must have suffered at least 16,000. Just the number of officers we took prisoner is over 1,000."
"......I sincerely congratulate you on your great victory."
Remaking the weapons of the two annihilated divisions and casting cannons and such is a problem, but...
It will take at least five years to replenish that many people.
It's a fatal wound that won't heal even if it doesn't take five years.
"The other generals are arguing that we should take advantage of the current momentum and expand the offensive. What do you think?"
I also agreed with the opinion argued by the other generals.
War is also a type of investment.
If you succeed, you hit the jackpot; if you fail, you go bust.
A certain ignorant country that used the name 'Empire of Japan' didn't know when it would go bankrupt until just before the First Sino-Japanese War, but they barely survived by extorting massive reparations from the Qing Dynasty during the war.
If you only win, and end it at an appropriate point, it can be a breathtaking masterstroke that revives the economy.
And for our Empire to successfully conclude this investment called war...
'We must occupy as much territory as possible in advance.'
"I think it would be good to expand the offensive, but not to do so indiscriminately."
"You mean we shouldn't allow looting or rape."
"It not only tarnishes the honor of the Commander-in-Chief, but it is of no help whatsoever to the national interest of the Empire."
In the pre-modern era, looting and rape were essential accompaniments to war.
The reason was absurd.
Because they didn't want to pay the soldiers a salary or provide proper bonuses.
It was done in a way that said, "Go ahead and loot to make up for the losses you suffered in the war."
You can save a little money this way, but the problem is that the soldiers become obsessed only with looting and rape to make up for their losses.
Not only do you lose the hearts of the people living in the occupied territories...
The soldiers, blinded by looting, even commit acts of disobedience and engage in war crimes like looting.
Even during the Thirty Years' War, there were cases where they lost battles they had already won because they were too busy looting.
"I agree with you. The Dolce Republic has already suffered huge troop losses and must be grinding their teeth, so there's no need to pour oil on a burning house by looting."
"Thank you for understanding."
"I must strictly control them so that there is absolutely no looting. If things go wrong, it'll be impossible to handle."
War is like a time bomb that can go off with something strange happening anytime, anywhere.
If a time bomb goes off, everyone dies.
So, one must be careful.
"And congratulations."
"For what?"
"Aren't you going to be officially promoted to Colonel? Let's have a drink after the war is over. I, the Commander, will buy you a drink."