Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Generous Crown Prince (4)
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Count Venner replied in a voice that seemed quite satisfied with my answer.
"It's truly heartening to see you preparing so diligently for the war with only about a year and a half left. As expected of an officer who received the Silver Knight's Sword Cross Medal directly from His Imperial Majesty the Emperor at your age—such meticulous preparation is truly admirable. The young ones these days could learn a thing or two from you."
"You're too kind."
"That doesn't sound like something a captain—and a battalion commander, no less—should say at your age. Even my only daughter, who's called a once-in-a-decade genius at the Imperial Academy despite being a woman, would pale in comparison to you."
Hearing that, I tried to lower myself further to show humility, but Count Venner spoke firmly, as if he would permit no more modesty or rebuttals.
"Let this old man give you some advice. Since you rose from a commoner—or rather, an orphan—to this position, you've developed the habit of downplaying yourself to avoid making enemies. But from now on, don't humble yourself so much. That could actually create more enemies. Do you understand why?"
"I'm not sure."
"It's simple. You've already achieved far too many accomplishments for your age. So unlike before, everyone will now be wary of Peter Jaeger, envious of him, jealous of him. Most nobles won't dare antagonize you openly under His Highness the Crown Prince's protection, but a few will eye opportunities to claim they could have done the same in your shoes. Worse, they'll think that if you were out of the picture, they could rack up the same feats and rise just as high. Excessive humility will make those types see you as an easy mark."
Even back in Korea where I lived, posts like that popped up on the internet all the time.
Rich kids or jerks with no manners acting high and mighty as usual, only to find out their target was the hidden son of a company chairman or some big shot.
Once the high-status person's identity came out, they'd deliver a life lesson in the proper way, turning the tables on the bully.
But here in the Reich Empire as a whole, I'm just a rookie noble who's barely stepped into the aristocracy, with far more powerful nobles and officers above me.
Playing the humble card too much here could make me look like easy prey for nobles gripped by jealousy and inferiority complexes.
From now on, I need to carry myself with confidence—without coming off as arrogant.
"I'll keep that in mind, Count."
"Confidence is good, but so is acknowledging your own shortcomings—that's a virtue of the generals who've left their names in history. And now, one more thing: I'm not just asking, I'm proposing something you must accept. Read this."
The count handed me a scroll with an official document, which read as follows.
For an ordinary student, let alone the student council president—who's selected from the top noble families and excels in every field and whom you only see once at the inauguration ceremony—the chancellor is an incredibly lofty figure.
Most academy operations and ceremonies are handled by the major general right before retirement, while the chancellor oversees personnel matters like graduate assignments from the General Staff Headquarters or professor appointments.
To think that this person, once so distant during my student days, is now personally handling my graduation exam—life really is unpredictable.
Once he judged I'd finished reading, Count Venner spoke in a resolute tone.
"Now that you've read it, I'll be direct. I'd like you to participate in the re-verification of your command abilities."
For a moment, I wondered why force the issue when honorary graduation was the easy path—and given my record, there'd be no drawbacks...
But asking if honorary graduation wasn't an option felt like it would earn me a scolding, so I held back.
"Understood. But may I ask why you want me to take part in the command verification?"
"Simple. Your fame has spread across the Reich Empire, but few have seen Peter Jaeger's true capabilities with their own eyes. So the empty-headed fools are still spouting nonsense like it was all luck or coincidence."
In technical terms, back in Korea, they called that mental gymnastics.
But the problem is, if you let mental gymnastics or baseless rumors fester, they'll harden into solid convictions that could block your path.
So, prove your command skills publicly where everyone can see, to nip the rumors in the bud.
"Right now, with His Highness the Crown Prince and His Imperial Majesty the Emperor's backing, no idiot would challenge you openly. But if these falsehoods keep spreading, people will start believing them as fact. To cut off all doubt at the root, demonstrating your exceptional command abilities in this graduation exam is the best way."
"Understood. But from what you've said, proving my competence against a mere student won't be difficult."
Count Venner smirked at that.
"Even if the academy has talented students, how long could they last against a genius who's already a captain at your age? The chancellor often says, 'We need to show the students what real combat is like.' He'll use this chance to prepare a battalion-level mock battle—the kind students will face most in actual warfare. Your opponent will be an active-duty battalion commander from the front lines and his battalion."
"So, as battalion commander myself, I'll bring my own unit and fight the mock battle directly?"
"Exactly. But that would leave your territory short on troops temporarily, so a battalion from the division stationed in the neighboring Schlieffen territory will be detailed to handle security and border defense in the interim. No need to worry."
I had no intention of backing out—not even a little—but seeing him so thoughtfully eliminate any excuse like "it might be tough" sent a slight chill down my spine.
Whether he sensed my thoughts or not, Count Venner gave a meaningful smile.
"Of course, you'd still graduate even if you lose, but for Captain Peter Jaeger, personally backed by His Highness the Crown Prince, to suffer defeat... that would tarnish His Highness's honor. So you must win."
Indeed, if an officer personally endorsed by the Crown Prince himself lost to a peer battalion commander, the embarrassment would be immense.
I wouldn't get cut loose over something like this, but the fallout would be worse than expected.
Tension made me swallow hard, and Count Venner chuckled at me.
"The mock battle will be held two months from now in the basin of Mount Pelain near the academy. You and the opposing battalion will fight inside, while students, high-ranking officers, nobles, and other VIPs gather around to watch. To see if the Reich Empire's rising star will fall... or shine brightly."
"I'll do my utmost to meet expectations."
"That's the spirit. In return, if you achieve an overwhelming victory, I'll push for your promotion to major in the year-end evaluations. It's unprecedented, but your feats on the Rhineland Front were so monumental that proving you can command a battalion flawlessly should sway the General Staff's personnel chief. Well then, I'll take my leave."
With that, Count Venner turned and left the workshop.
A month later, all 512 infantrymen of my battalion arrived in the capital after swapping duties with soldiers from the neighboring unit who volunteered.
There, for the next month, I drilled my infantry mercilessly in square formation tactics.
And so time passed, until the day of the mock battle arrived—the one that would decide my official promotion to battalion commander.