Drowning in Potatoes at Rimir Castle
Even the 1st Division was tough enough, and now they wanted us to handle meals for the garrison at Rimir Castle?
I'd have to check the exact numbers, but one thing was certain: it was at least twice the size of the 1st Division.
"I've heard the higher-ups are showing tremendous interest and high expectations."
"Is that so?"
"Especially since Rimir Castle recently saw a full-blown rebellion over subpar meals. Need I say more?"
Major General Bearman's words nearly drew a sigh from me before I could catch it.
Come to think of it, that was Rimir Castle.
The rebellion news had washed over me because it didn't seem connected to me at the time.
But now it was my destination.
"Ha... haha."
"Not exactly great news, is it? But flip it around—if you pull this off, you'll be promoted to captain, and your path ahead will be smooth sailing."
The so-called rewards they dangled were things I had zero need for.
"I see."
"It's a golden opportunity to catch the eye of the top brass—something others would kill for. Make it count."
His expression was genuinely envious; I couldn't even muster a response.
Major general's good enough—why aim for lieutenant general?
Human greed truly knows no bounds.
"I'll keep the division commander's words in mind and give it my all."
"Good. We'll meet again with good news. Captain Ciel... Major Ciel now. Lead your junior well and deliver results."
"Yes, sir! I won't let you down—I'll do my utmost!"
Major Ciel snapped to attention with impeccable military bearing.
And just like that, she and I boarded a wagon bound for Rimir Castle without even a proper goodbye.
"This is... Rimir Castle?"
We arrived at noon the next day, and the state of Rimir Castle was worse than I'd imagined.
Isn't all that blood?
Dark red bloodstains clung thickly to the fortress walls.
For a moment, I seriously considered bolting and hiding out somewhere.
"It's worse than last time I was here. Must be the rebellion."
If this wasn't the norm, even Ciel's face mirrored my own dismay.
"If I tried to run right now, would you grab me?"
"Yep. Shoot you down."
Her reply held zero hesitation—pure sincerity.
Even working my ass off is pointless.
Memories of my starving soldier days flooded back, the punishment for overworking myself.
"Let's head in."
"Sigh... yeah."
I let out a heavy sigh as we entered the fortress, where an officer awaited to guide us.
"Sir! Supply Battalion Control Officer Captain Mount reporting!"
"Thanks for the welcome. I'm Major Ciel, your new battalion commander. Stick close and help me out."
"Sir! Lieutenant Palan Oclo here. Looking forward to working with you."
"I've only been here a short while myself, but I'll do my best with what I know!"
Major Ciel tilted her head at Mount's words.
"Short while? You're not original staff?"
"The previous control officer's in the underground brig, headed to the capital tomorrow."
Oh, that was straight-up insane.
"I... see."
"The other supply company commanders and platoon leaders died at the rebels' hands, but since you two are coming from supply roles, you'll adapt quickly."
I seriously doubted quick adaptation, but as superiors, we nodded.
They killed everyone tied to the food just because it sucked.
Know what's scariest? I'm now their prime target as the new supply company commander.
If I screw up too...
I couldn't help picturing a future I didn't want to imagine.
"Got it for now."
Ciel looked uneasy too, but what could we do?
We'd been ordered here.
"This used to be the mess hall, but it got wrecked in last month's battle. Repairs are ongoing—minimum two more weeks."
Mount led us first not to battalion HQ, but to the half-constructed mess hall.
Two weeks? Why so long?
In wartime, you slap these together fast. This timeline was ridiculous.
And I wasn't the only one who thought so.
"This should really take that long?"
Ciel's face screamed disbelief.
"Well, it was nearly done when the rebellion hit and trashed everything. We reordered kitchen gear, and delivery's taking time."
Mount's explanation left Ciel and me sighing in unison.
Damn it, another rebellion.
This damn rebellion.
I didn't even see it as a real one, but those guys were screwing everything up.
"The company commander can handle mess hall repairs from here."
"Understood. I'll push it as fast as possible."
After a quick stop at battalion HQ and brief hellos given the circumstances, Ciel and I parted ways, and I headed back to the mess.
"Sir!"
"Sir!!"
Soldiers prepping dinner saluted as they spotted me.
"At ease. You saw earlier—I'm Lieutenant Palan Oclo, your acting company commander. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, sir."
"Heard all about your reputation. Looking forward to it."
"Reputation?"
The unfamiliar word made me glance at the soldier who'd said it.
"You turned the 1st Division's mess from hellhole to heaven. Not a day goes by without their troops singing your praises."
"Really?"
I hadn't expected my good rep to spread this far.
"Actually, that's partly why the troops—"
"Arin, shut it."
Corporal Arin was about to say more when a nearby soldier cut him off.
"No, I'm curious. Finish it."
Koreans can't stand a story cut short midway.
"Ha... haha, just dumb rumors. Nothing worth knowing."
"Better than ignorance. Seriously, spill."
The soldiers shot Corporal Arin dirty looks at my prodding.
What the hell could it be?
A story about me, fresh off the wagon? The mood felt off.
"W-well, it's hearsay."
"Go on."
"1st Division guys kept bragging about your meals, missing them. The garrison troops got pissed and... that's supposedly what sparked the rebellion."
"Huh...?"
Why the sudden U-turn?
Something felt wrong.
"Ah! But it's nonsense—ignore it, sir."
They tried damage control seeing my frozen face.
But I knew better.
Most soldier rumors hold truth.
"It's fine. No big deal. Anyway, what's tonight's dinner?"
I played it cool, asking casually.
"Dinner menu? Potato soup, two boiled potatoes, and a quarter baguette."
"What?!"
Worse than the 1st Division's dark ages. My words caught in my throat.
No wonder they rebelled.
Hell, I'd have snapped first.
"Ha... haha."
The soldiers' awkward laughs.
This was gonna be rough from the jump.
"That's brutal. Who made this menu?"
"Sergeant Major Colton, acting platoon leader."
"Where is he?"
"Shift change soon, so he'll—oh! There he is."
The soldier pointed to a weary-faced man clocking in.
That guy's the culprit.
I couldn't let this slide. I bolted over.
"Sergeant Major Colton?"
"Y-yes, sir. Sir!"
He checked my insignia and nametag late, saluting.
"That's me. Before intros, one question. Why this menu...?"
Interrogation for incompetence or corruption.
But the truth shocked me beyond imagination.
"I hate these damn potatoes too. But no matter how much we use, more keep coming. Driving me nuts."
"W-wait, that's real?"
"Contracts are at battalion HQ. I wanna burn 'em."
These lunatic commanders.
Cheap and calorie-dense potatoes? They blew the extra budget on potato farm contracts.
Hard to believe even hearing it.
"So we're flat broke?"
"Rock bottom. Still, I scrape by for non-potato menus every other day."
Oh man, insane! Totally insane!
Incompetent brass treating soldiers like calorie-fueled robots.
And the fallout lands on us officers below.
"Heard the new commander's bringing extra budget. True?"
"Yeah, but that doesn't vanish the potato contracts, right? Sigh."
"True."
"Got the situation. I'll brainstorm solutions—keep at it for now."
"Yes, sir!"
As I turned to head to HQ after his reply, a chilling thought hit.
"One more thing... no rebellion over today's potatoes, right?"
"Probably not. Commander-in-Chief sent word he'd fix it, and you're here now."
"Me?"
"Yes, sir. You revolutionized 1st Division meals and, in a way, sparked this rebel—never mind."
"I heard. No worries."
"Haha, really?"
Sergeant major vibes? He seemed like a fresh-outta-society kid.
"When's the new platoon leader coming?"
"TBD. Situation's dicey—no sending just anyone."
"Fair. Got it. See you later—keep it up."
"Sir!"
"Sir!!"
Salute returned, I left for HQ.
The previous occupant's desk.
No hesitation—I flipped open the contract files.
<Cukuta Farm Contract>
Company: Cukuta Farm
Contract Amount: 2,100G
Item: Potatoes
<Tarisman Farm Contract>
Company: Tarisman Farm
Contract Amount: 1,900G
Item: Potatoes
Dozens of contracts.
Incredibly, every single item was potatoes.
My head's spinning.
Extra budget incoming for other foods, sure—but I still had to deal with these potatoes.
"Ugh, just kill me. You mad bastards."
"By imperial decree, our Oclo Trading Company has been tasked with supplying ingredients to Rimir Castle."
Broad Oclo returned home from the palace council, his face brighter than it had been in ages.
I never dreamed my youngest would pull this off. What a proud kid.
Today's council with the emperor had been terrifying—heads could roll without surprise.
Yet amid the tension, he'd softened a few times, once toward Broad Oclo.