The Weight of the Epaulets
The Imperial Army had crushed the main forces of the Dolce Republic, and they had finally declared their surrender.
Although the peace negotiations were still pending...
This war was effectively over.
If the war were to end in the current state, it wouldn't mean the total collapse of the Republic, but if they were to go back on their surrender declaration, they would only end up getting beaten again where they had already been hit.
'Getting hit in the same spot twice is a recipe for disaster.'
Since the end of the war was a certainty, the higher-ups left my regiment in the field and summoned only me to the capital.
There was only one reason: my promotion.
"What on earth is this?"
Unless I committed some catastrophic blunder in this war, my promotion was essentially guaranteed. But I wasn't being promoted to general; why on earth would they call me alone at a time like this just to promote me to a mere colonel...?
Wouldn't it have made more sense to promote everyone together once the merit evaluations were finished after the war?
"I know they're doing this to show their appreciation for my achievements, but..."
My stomach felt incredibly uneasy.
Since it was a ceremony for my promotion to colonel, the higher-ups were likely coming to... observe what kind of person I was.
And this kind of ominous premonition is 100%—no, this isn't a premonition, it's a guaranteed future.
"Are you Lieutenant Colonel Schumacher, or should I say, Colonel?"
It was a face I had never seen before.
But the fact that he recognized me and spoke to me in such a casual, informal tone meant one thing...
He was definitely someone higher-ranking than me.
Otherwise, there was no way he would speak so casually to someone being promoted to colonel.
'Unless he's a madman with a death wish.'
"Yes, that is correct."
"Nice to meet you. I am Ainz Pfalz, the Accounting Chief under the Second Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Military Affairs. My schedule happened to be a bit light today, so I came to see your face and watch the promotion ceremony."
"For you to take the time to come and see someone as inexperienced as me... it is an undeserved honor."
The Accounting Chief of the Ministry of Military Affairs—in terms of civil service rank, that’s a Grade 1 official.
Looking strictly at the hierarchy, he was just below a Major General.
However, since the Ministry of Military Affairs held a tight grip on the Imperial military's budget, personnel management, and command authority...
'That man is higher-ranking than a division commander.'
It wasn't particularly strange for him to attend my promotion ceremony, but...
"What are you talking about? The Minister of Military Affairs and both Deputy Ministers will be attending to see your promotion. The ministers of other departments also expressed a desire to see your face."
My head started spinning.
It wasn't as if the Emperor himself was presiding over my promotion in the Imperial Palace, nor was it a grand event where the Chief of Staff was personally pinning three stars on my shoulders.
Why on earth were all the ministers flocking here?
At this point, how is this any different from everyone thinking that I’m a man who will eventually be promoted all the way to Grand Marshal?
"Don't feel too burdened, though. Both I and the others all hold you in high regard."
"Thank you."
One of the most annoying phrases in this world is "Don't feel burdened."
If you actually relax just because someone told you not to feel burdened, they’ll start talking behind your back immediately.
But if you stay tense, they’ll criticize you for being too nervous...
'It's nice that they like me, but...'
Being encouraged like that made me feel like I was going to get indigestion.
To make matters worse, Lieutenant General Zeppelin—the man who might become my future father-in-law—arrived.
My stomach truly felt like it was turning inside out.
'Save me, I'm going to die at this rate.'
"Administrator Pfalz, you came as well?"
"Since the Minister of Military Affairs is attending, I had to come."
Lieutenant General Zeppelin looked at me as if I were trash.
It was understandable that he wouldn't look kindly upon the scoundrel who might steal his daughter away, but...
I hadn't even crossed the line yet, so I wished he wouldn't look at me with those eyes.
Regardless of my inner wishes, the Lieutenant General draped his arm over my shoulder and grinned.
"I have something I'd like to discuss with this fellow for a moment. Would that be alright?"
"Of course."
Administrator Ainz bowed to Lieutenant General Zeppelin and headed elsewhere.
Once the administrator was far away, a smile spread across the Lieutenant General's face.
It looked as if he were about to pull out a shotgun right then and there.
"Lina has been sending me letters quite often lately."
"I am very glad to hear that your relationship with your daughter seems to be going well..."
The hand of Lieutenant General Zeppelin, which was gripping my shoulder, tightened with immense force.
Why was the grip strength of an old man in his mid-fifties so strong?
Is this the difference of a head of a family that has served as soldiers for generations...
At this rate, he could probably win a grip-strength contest against the soldiers in my unit.
'Does it make sense for someone in their fifties to be stronger than teenagers in their late teens?'
"Don't play dumb, and answer me properly. Otherwise, I don't know what I might do..."
I really didn't know what he might do.
But one thing was certain: it wouldn't be anything good for me.
A father-in-law who has had his daughter stolen by his son-in-law is capable of giving up on a person entirely.
"Yes, I understand."
"You haven't crossed the line with Lina yet, have you? If you answer honestly, you won't suffer any sad consequences... I can't have my daughter shedding tears..."
"During the last infiltration mission, we shared a room for the sake of the mission, but Lieutenant Monica was there, so I could not have crossed the line."
"That's a relief."
Lieutenant General Zeppelin looked at me with a smile that said, 'I am extremely angry,' and spoke.
"If you had taken our cute Lina's first time without even holding a wedding, I almost would have... thrown a white glove at your face."
Throwing a glove meant a duel.
A duel is a one-time death match.
If my status were that of a noble, it would be a means to plunge a death blow into anyone, excluding the Imperial family, provided there was a 'just cause.'
That is why even a Grand Marshal does not bully a Second Lieutenant without reason.
If a Second Lieutenant were such a piece of trash that they actually requested a duel, the Grand Marshal would be socially destroyed, becoming the target of mockery for how terrible his character must have been to receive a duel request.
However, a 'duel that anyone can see is a duel that must be requested' is a bit different in meaning.
Since taking the purity of one's daughter, younger sister, or older sister from a scoundrel means completely stripping away the 'social life of a noble lady'...
Requesting a duel to repay that is a subject of respect.
Of course, I didn't tie Lina up and force myself on her, so that wouldn't happen, but...
'Just hearing about it makes my spine chill, damn it.'
"Lina mentioned in her letters that she likes you. What do you intend to do? You're going to take responsibility, right?"
I never thought I would end up in a relationship like this with Lina at first.
But at some point, very naturally...
Romantic feelings for each other began to grow in our hearts.
It was Lina who approached me more actively first.
And I accepted that.
"I will take responsibility."
Lieutenant General Zeppelin heard my words and smiled as if he were satisfied.
But soon, he twisted his expression again.
"I'm glad that the man my daughter likes isn't a man without a sense of responsibility, but I don't feel very pleasant about it."
"Lieutenant General, no—Father-in-law, I will become an excellent commander who is worthy of your expectations."
"Cut the bullshit."
Seeing him grumble like that even when I said I would do well, perhaps he was still angry at the thought of his daughter being stolen.
Since I am the one at fault in this situation, that could be the case...
Still, if Lina and I were to visit together and ask for his blessing for our marriage, he would eventually soften his heart.
'I just have to take it one step at a time.'
"The path and achievements you have shown so far are already beyond what I could have imagined. But how on earth could you possibly show an even more excellent appearance than you do now?"
So he was just purely acknowledging my ability and character.
"If other scoundrels had said they were taking Lina, I would have had complaints about their ability or character... but no matter how wide I open my eyes and look, I see no flaws in you."
"Thank you for thinking so highly of me."
"Even if I hate the thief stealing my daughter, can I go back on my word? Go on ahead. After the promotion ceremony, come to the Zeppelin mansion."
Even after that, I continued to have miscellaneous conversations with countless higher-ups.
I don't even remember what we talked about.
I was a bit happy that Lieutenant General Zeppelin had acknowledged me as his son-in-law, and I couldn't sleep because I was worried about how much I would have to drink tonight.
As I let my mind drift, the Chief of Staff finally entered and performed my promotion ceremony.
"Lieutenant Colonel Michael Schumacher, step forward."
As I stood on the platform, the very high-ranking people behind me applauded.
Is this really right?
"You have fought on the battlefield without sparing yourself to save the Empire from crisis, and each time, you have achieved distinguished military service. Therefore, the General Staff ignores all previous customs and precedents and specially orders your promotion by one rank."
They say that during the Korean War, there were colonels in their twenties and generals in their early thirties.
But that was a time when the country's system was not yet established.
Since the Empire is a nation with a properly established system...
'My promotion doesn't make sense logically.'
"Colonel Michael Schumacher."
"Yes, Excellency."
"Continue to dedicate yourself to the Empire."
"Thank you."
After exchanging simple greetings, my assigned unit was announced.
"Colonel Michael Schumacher is hereby appointed as the Regimental Commander of the 14th Regiment of the Lichten Front, effective immediately."
Lichten, huh... that's practically the middle of nowhere...