Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Franco Eastern Expedition (3)
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Shortly after, the Military Police major brought a baron-titled officer before me, saluted, and departed.
I scrutinized his face and posture while carefully reviewing the personnel evaluation report in my hands.
Head of a baronial family passed down for four generations, graduated tenth from the Imperial Academy, treats fellow officers well but harshly mistreats enlisted men due to their lower status...
He'd risen to lieutenant at twenty-three, so he had some talent, but he seemed like a personality-deficient piece of trash.
A bastard like this couldn't forget the fun he'd had raping women from villages plundered on other fronts, so his balls swelled up, and even after I—a major general—issued strict orders twice...
"Criminal, what is your name?"
At my words, the offending officer before me trembled as he replied.
"Leon... Lieutenant Leon von Granz."
"Right, Lieutenant Granz. Do you know what crime you've committed? Or shall I tell you?"
"I was caught trying to rape a virgin from the village we just plundered."
One thing to clarify: even in modern warfare where human rights awareness has spread, pillage and sexual crimes happen as routinely as meals behind the front lines.
And the Reich Empire I live in is roughly at the level of Renaissance-era Europe—rather barbaric.
Throughout my campaigns, I'd encountered soldiers and officers who got their heads chopped off for crimes like raping women in enemy territory without permission.
Even so, anyone with a shred of status avoids it because getting caught brings massive disgrace to their family.
"You know how punishment proceeds, then?"
"......Under military law, it could be decapitation. But I truly love that woman. I'll take her as my concubine and take full responsibility to the end. Please show mercy."
His face showed less fear of death or remorse for the victim, and more annoyance at getting caught—ruining his future prospects.
I'd once seen a comic called Prison Diary where inmates griped about victims making their lives hell rather than reflecting on their crimes or repenting.
This bastard was living proof.
I'd planned to kill him anyway to enforce discipline and solidify our cause, but now...
I'd squeeze every last bit from this dog-worse-than lieutenant to bolster my position.
Military law favored nobles even in wartime, yet applied equally to all.
But this fool expected to escape punishment without a hint of reflection just because he was a count's son-in-law and held a baron's title?
"Mercy, eh? True, military custom allows nobles or officers who plunder and promise to take the raped woman as a concubine to receive leniency if fulfilled."
In this Deus-worshipping world, a woman's value plummeted without her purity, making marriage nearly impossible.
An unmarried woman could only work in inns serving drinks and food or sewing clothes.
So if a noble or officer took her as a concubine, it counted as taking responsibility, often sparing execution.
Plus, with a baron's title, he'd serve five years in some rear post, get promoted to captain, then dishonorably discharged.
That would effectively ruin the baronial house, of course...
"But you damned fool—if you're sane, do you really expect to survive after muddying the cause of this pivotal battle under His Holiness the Deus Pope's watchful eye? Concubine and leniency? It's not even codified in military law. Instead of reflecting and begging properly, you spew this bullshit defense? Don't even know what class your superiors hail from?"
At my words, Lieutenant Leon's face drained of color, his composure shattered.
Had it finally sunk in that he might die?
The idiot started threatening me with his background, as if it could save him.
"As you know, sir, I'm head of the four-generation Granz baronial house and son-in-law to Count Guderian. Killing me won't look good among the nobility. From now on, I'll truly reform, take responsibility for Emilia—the woman I wronged—and live well with her as my concubine. Please..."
Right then, I was grateful once more for my major general's rank.
Back as 24th Regiment commander, I couldn't have legally killed this scum.
But with the sword bestowed by His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and its attendant summary judgment authority, I could execute this rapist pig.
He hadn't raped a Reich citizen, but threatening me with his status? Time to send him straight.
"In another war, or if I weren't your superior, your defense might've worked, Lieutenant Granz. But I'm a Reich general loyal to His Highness the Crown Prince."
With that, I drew the Emperor-granted treasured sword from its scabbard at my waist—the symbol of summary judgment.
"Moreover, you've defied His Holiness the Pope's will by raping that woman, trampling this war's very cause. I'd love to kill you cruelly, but I need your head too badly right now."
"P-Please... spare me."
As I advanced sword in hand, step by step, the lieutenant pissed himself.
"Yet for defying Deus's proxy, His Holiness's command—you won't be excommunicated, but I believe it: your blasphemous soul will plummet to hell."
As a modern soul isekai'd here, I half-ass my belief in Deus—just live decently since he exists.
But Laura, my officers, even His Highness the Crown Prince genuinely revere him.
For this guy, eternal hell was scarier than death.
I raised the treasured sword high with both hands, aimed at him, and declared,
"Plus, if your father-in-law's a count, my father-in-law is the next field marshal, Marquis Venner. My backers are His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince. This sword symbolizing imperial authority in my hands at my age proves it. You dog-shit scum—revenge? Far from it; your count father-in-law will thank me for killing you well and send a gift."
(Of course, I'd decline it...) Killing him now tied into the Minister of Military Affairs' advice to create weaknesses.
Forgiving him moderately wouldn't draw criticism or tarnish my reputation.
But executing a noble criminal who defied military law—instead of currying favor—would publicly distance me from the noble faction.
"Die, you filthy spawn of Satan."
In a Deus-believing world, that was the worst curse. I swung the blade wide at him.
Blood splattered my armor and sword, but that hardly mattered now.
"Call the Military Police chief. Have him bring the parents of the girl this bastard raped. Before sending the villagers on their way, show them the executions—including this one—of anyone guilty of rape, robbery, murder, and such."
"Yes, sir."
"Use that fucker's head, until it rots, to publicize that in this just war under Deus's gaze, violence, rape, and crimes beyond necessity end like this. I'll take responsibility."
Given the situation, it'd likely be glossed over with a few words in post-war merit discussions.
No real trouble for me.
With orders given, to build a positive image for when the Reich Empire later governed this region,
I visited the virgin Granz had assaulted—personally expressing regret over the war crime victim.
"I'm sorry. We should punish only the barbaric Franco Republic government and their army. For an innocent girl to suffer at a Reich Empire officer's hands... It's tragic."
I informed them the perpetrator had been summarily judged, along with fitting compensation.
Afterward, we spared Franco serfs, continuing to plunder eastern front villages and fields,
while minimizing harm to civilians and striving to appear a force upholding justice.
A month later, the entire Eastern Expeditionary Force—including me—regathered at the scheduled place and time.
We held a meeting to align march routes and plan further plundering into Franco's east,
when a messenger burst into the command tent mid-briefing and shouted,
"Franco forces numbering 10,000 have entered Chavennes Fortress!"
This could seriously disrupt our territorial plundering and advance.
Until now, we'd operated in brigade units sabotaging villages separately.
But with 10,000 Franco troops right behind us, unable to call reinforcements, we'd need at least a division (8,000 men) to engage them alone.
That halved the villages we could hit at once.
Whoever commanded them had a clever idea...
Time to fuck them up properly in return.
"12th Brigade Commander Peter Jaeger has a request for the supreme commander."