Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: 3rd Guard Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion (1)
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“Lieutenant Erwin Rommel, you are hereby appointed platoon leader of the 2nd Platoon, 1st Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Guard Infantry Regiment.”
“Yes, sir. Understood.”
It was an excellent posting.
For starters, it was located in Berlin, so there was no need to get shipped off to some backwater.
On top of that, with “Guard” in the name, it was a key position that could pave the way for a smooth elite career track.
And...
Heh heh, field commander! Field commander!
The thought of finally getting to lead combat troops in person lifted my spirits.
In my past life, I'd mostly commanded from the rear...
[I can't stand it anymore. I need to see the front lines myself.]
[Sir, General! We have plenty of drones and recon assets...!]
[Nothing beats the naked eye. Get ready to move out, Major.]
[I don't wanna die, sir!]
...Come to think of it, I hadn't held back at all.
“So, Elise, we won't see each other for a while. Think you can handle it?”
“Heh heh, we can just write letters. Hurry up and get promoted so you can commute.”
“I'll do my best.”
With that, I shared a kiss with Elise and headed off to my new assignment.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The deputy platoon leader gave an awkward smile.
“Uh, anything you're short on these days?”
“No, sir.”
“Good. If you have any suggestions, feel free to speak up anytime.”
Damn, why is he so good at this?
Usually, newly appointed platoon leaders were what? Total screw-ups, right?
It was an annual ritual for rookies—elite or not—to catch flak from above and below.
But this platoon leader was different.
“This is just between us, so keep it secret from the others.”
“Pl-platoon leader, sir. Thank you.”
Sometimes playing it by the book, other times with a sly charm, the platoon leader quickly built rapport with the enlisted men, NCOs, and fellow officers.
This furrowed the brow of the deputy platoon leader, who'd been gearing up to break in the new boss.
This is bad...
“Deputy platoon leader.”
“Yes, sir?!”
“Haha, why so jumpy? I was just curious what you were thinking. Let's finish up the rest of the work.”
“Understood...”
And just like that, the deputy platoon leader faded into the background.
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My daily routine was nothing special.
Rise early, oversee roll call for the platoon, feed them breakfast, run training, lunch, handle paperwork, dinner, officers' meeting with the company commander...
Nothing like innovative drills or new weapons procurement was within my purview, so I didn't draw any unwanted attention.
Personally, I barely had time for myself, squeezing in some writing here and there.
Then one day, I overheard something I couldn't just let slide.
“Word is, the Japanese cooked up a fake plot to assassinate their Governor-General in the colony and used it as an excuse to round up a ton of anti-government figures.”
“Heh, how incompetent do you have to be for even that to get exposed?”
“Tsk tsk. How can those Eastern monkeys be so barbaric, and yet everyone gets swept up in this Yellow Peril hysteria? Don't you think, Lieutenant Rommel?”
“...You're right, sir.”
I wonder what that yellow monkey soul possessing this body would make of it.
Let's see... Governor-General assassination plot, mass arrests of anti-government types...
105 Persons Incident, New People's Society...
I clenched my fist.
It was the case where a bunch of promising independence activists got nabbed. I hadn't realized it happened in 1911— this year.
In the original history, they endured brutal torture, but for some reason, most were released without charges.
I could only hope it played out the same way this time...
My rank's too low. I have no power at all.
I steeled my resolve anew. I had to promote fast and do something—anything—for Korea.
But the heavens had no intention of granting my wish easily. Instead of a halo, a meteor crashed down on my head.
“Kuhaha! You all working hard?”
“B-battalion commander?”
“Well, well? Look at that slack discipline! Everyone but the baby is slacking off!”
“Whoa, misunderstanding! Total misunderstanding!”
The company commander grinned sheepishly as he dumped the cards he'd been playing with the executive officer behind the sofa.
I quickly grabbed a chair and set it by the table.
Battalion Commander Hans von Kluge sat naturally at the head, and the company commander took the seat I'd brought.
“Ahem, I came to check if the new platoon leader was settling in, and overall, everything looks solid!”
The 3rd Battalion's commander was an incredibly energetic man.
With all the platoon leaders under him, he made the rounds personally—it felt like watching a young king.
“Haha, you know our company well, sir. We put our hearts into helping Lieutenant Rommel adjust.”
“It's been a year since I last checked on you lot—what's that got to do with it? This is all reputation he's built on his own, right?”
“You're too kind, sir.”
As I replied politely, the battalion commander's smile deepened.
“Ah, right. I had someone to introduce you to. Yeah.”
As if suddenly remembering, he muttered and shouted toward the door.
“Adjutant! Come in here!”
“Yes, sir!”
A booming voice came from outside, followed by a sturdy-built man with a prominent nose... and a familiar face.
He spotted me as he entered and flashed a grin.
“Hm? Looks like you two lieutenants already know each other.”
“I've seen him somewhe— Ah! The jewelry store!”
“Yeah, that's right.”
Now I remembered.
The jewelry store! The guy who'd grinned slyly at Elise and me, egging on the applause!
The adjutant explained to the battalion commander with a smirk.
“Didn't I say I was going to check on the new junior arriving? That's when I saw this guy proposing to his sweetheart.”
“What? Kuhaha! Too bad, what a shame! Must've been a sight!”
“It was spectacular. Ever since, kneeling proposals with diamond rings have become all the rage.”
“Hahaha! So this guy's the one who started that embarrassing trend?”
Ignoring my reddening cheeks, the battalion commander, adjutant, and company commander all burst out laughing.
Only when my face started to curdle did the battalion commander stop and introduce the adjutant.
“Alright, alright... This is my esteemed adjutant... and your senior, of course.”
The name that followed made my eyes widen.
“Erich von Manstein.”
Erich von Manstein.
The supreme military genius. The living Ares forged by Germany's war machine.
Not the aged figure history knew, but the young man in his twenties, standing before me.
I steadied my trembling hand and grasped his.
“I'm Erwin Rommel. Pleased to meet you, sir.”
“No need to be so formal. We're alumni, aren't we?”
“It's a shame I couldn't serve under you directly at Gross-Richthofelde.”
“Haha, smoother tongue than I expected from a junior.”
No, I mean it sincerely.
The general who forced France to total surrender in six weeks, pushed the Soviets to the brink, and shocked the world.
This wasn't bias—it was objective fact.
The last one to overcome military inferiority through strategy and tactics... well, strictly speaking, that was me.
Manstein had been the one before.
“Anyway, I've heard a lot about you. Especially that innovative report of yours.”
“Ah, yes. That report.”
The battalion commander chimed in at Manstein's words.
“The company commander might not know, but this guy's famous up top.”
“Is that so?”
“Before enrolling at the cadet school, he published a novel and a report that stirred up a storm.”
“Oho... intriguing.”
“Word is, it claims maneuver warfare and rotations are impossible.”
“Saying half of what they teach at cadet school is useless—haha! Masterpiece!”
“And yet his grades were top-notch. First in the class, right?”
As the battalion commander asked with a grin, I nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
“Aigoo, my adjutant's been beaten. This guy's second overall.”
I nodded in understanding.
Manstein was famous for his academic excellence as a cadet.
“Hey, beaten? Officers aren't decided by grades—it's who gets there first!”
“True enough, heh heh.”
The battalion commander agreed with Manstein's jovial retort.
Manstein's eyes suddenly gleamed.
“So even though we're the same rank... mind if I call on you now and then for some fruitful tactical discussions?”
“If you keep up with your duties, what's the harm? Actually, you handle work so well, maybe we should reassign you...”
...Huh?
Wait, what's going on here?
“We appoint lieutenants as platoon leaders to get them used to admin and leadership anyway. Rommel excels at everything, so swapping his posting early isn't a bad idea.”
“Heh, a nice cup of honey tea might make the decision easier...”
“I'll fetch it right away. Of course!”
Manstein kept sweet-talking the battalion commander, and while I stood there dumbfounded, he dashed out for the honey tea.
Eh? Wait—I've only been platoon leader for a few months, and they're already changing it?
In desperation, I turned to the company commander.
“...Slurp.”
...He avoided my gaze, clearly having no intention of intervening.