Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Württemberg's Genius (2)
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My father returned home with a rare beaming smile and said to me,
"Rommel! Pack your bags today and head to Berlin tomorrow!"
I couldn't help but smile faintly myself.
"...Looks like it all worked out."
"Exactly! The report you gave me somehow made its way up to the higher-ups in the military."
My father loosened his tie and continued in an excited tone.
"Honestly, I thought those folks with 'von' in their names would just brush it off... but your report must've been worth more than I imagined."
"No, sir. Without publishing that book, it would've been hard to draw this much attention."
"Haha! Aren't you subtly patting yourself on the back? You wrote that book, after all!"
But finding a publisher willing to print it and appealing to the other nobles like that would've taken a lot of time otherwise.
And not only that—Father had gone to Junkers grasping at straws, and as a result, this new opportunity had opened up for me.
He knew it too, a proud smile lingering on his lips.
"Head to Lichterfelde in Berlin tomorrow and find the Main Cadet School. Wait... the map's got to be around here..."
A tingle ran through my fingertips.
The Main Cadet School—also known as the Prussian Main Cadet Academy (Preußische Hauptkadettenanstalt).
The ultimate elite path to becoming a general in the Imperial German Army, the cradle of countless legendary war heroes.
Rommel would begin his military career not at the Danzig Military School, but here at the Main Cadet School. The first turning point.
"Just catch the first train at dawn."
Father handed me the map as he spoke.
I hesitated before opening my mouth.
"Thank you. I won't forget this kindness..."
"It's only natural for a father."
Father stood up straight and patted my shoulder.
"Don't talk about kindness or repaying it. If anything, it's I who owes you much more."
Father carefully embraced me, and I awkwardly raised my arms.
"Son, stay healthy in Berlin too. Remember, in the end, the only one you can truly rely on is yourself."
"...I'll keep that in mind."
I rose early at dawn, bid my parents a final farewell, and boarded the train.
Preeeek! With the powerful whistle of the steam locomotive, the scenery began to shift.
Time passed, and beyond the pastoral vistas of vineyards and forests, plumes of smoke rising toward the sky came into view.
Smoke billowing from the heart of the German Empire—Berlin.
...I've made it this far.
I rested my chin on my hand, staring blankly at the smoke.
My homeland... Germany.
My homeland is the Republic of Korea, and Germany.
A soldier's duty is simple.
To bring glory to Germany and strive for Korea's independence under Japanese rule.
...But.
There were lingering concerns.
"Nazis."
The runaway locomotive that led Germany to ruin, the absolute evil that drove tens of millions to death.
Thinking of the harm they inflicted on human history made it impossible to simply look away.
It stuck in my throat like a fishbone—deeply uncomfortable.
"..."
But a soldier's job is the soldier's, and a politician's is the politician's.
If Germany demands the Prussian spirit from me, I must comply.
Mechanical neutrality without political judgment is one of its key tenets.
I closed my eyes softly, shaking off the thoughts.
Kreeeek! As the train came to a stop, I grabbed my bag and stepped outside.
By now, it was afternoon, and the streets bustled with people.
There wasn't enough time to see the famous Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Berlin Cathedral, or Unter den Linden.
Regretfully, I boarded a tram and headed to Lichterfelde.
"Here it is."
The Main Cadet School wasn't just an educational institution—it was a stern, authoritarian fortress forging the essence of the future German officer corps.
Its grand stone main gate exuded overwhelming majesty.
The high walls and the imposing black Prussian eagle emblems flanking the entrance proclaimed this as the cradle of the German Army.
"What brings you here?"
"I'm Erwin Rommel, newly enrolled."
I showed my admission papers to the sentry.
"At this time? That's unusual..."
The sentry furrowed his brow, scanning me up and down.
I was dressed properly enough, but without noble attire, it probably looked suspicious.
This military academy was the domain of nobles and military families, after all.
But the admission papers were in order.
"...You may enter."
Clank. With the sentry's words, the iron gates of the Main Cadet School swung open.
I took back my papers and stepped inside.
It's massive.
From within, the academy looked even grander than from outside.
I'll be spending years here.
That was the thought as I entered the main building.
"Erwin Rommel... I've heard about you. Uniforms and supplies are in the dormitory. Start cadet life proper from tomorrow."
"Understood."
The instructor coldly reviewed the documents I'd brought and handed them back.
Then, with a smirk, he said,
"When I first heard, I figured you were just some parachute drop... but your Gymnasium grades say otherwise."
"..."
The conclusion was that I was still a parachute drop.
One of Korea's greatest field commanders, reduced to hearing this from some instructor...
What a sorry state.
"Keep to the schedule. From what I heard from above, if your grades slip, they can expel you on the spot. Bear that in mind."
"Yes, sir."
"Good. For an ordinary boy, your discipline is solid—no need to drill that into you. Go on."
The instructor waved me off dismissively.
Following his order, I headed to the dormitory.
"Hm? Who's that guy?"
"A commoner. Looks like a bumpkin commoner at that."
"Oh yeah, there was a rumor. Some new cadet transferring in."
"Since when was our academy an easy school that lets in transfers?"
The Royal Cadet Academy was infamous for its rigid authority and grueling schedule, yet here were cadets chattering away.
I found my dormitory room amid their hostile stares.
"This must be it..."
"Ah, you finally made it!"
Clack. As I opened the door, a handsome boy greeted me cheerfully right in front.
I barely held back from stepping backward and just looked at him.
Reading the unspoken tension in my gaze, he grinned sheepishly and slowly backed away from the door.
"Haha, sorry. I heard the transfer was coming to this room, so I was waiting."
Then he extended his hand to me.
"Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen. Call me Manfred."
"...Red Baron."
"Huh? What was that?"
"Nothing... Nice to meet you too."
I shook his hand and entered the room.
Manfred von Richthofen.
The ace pilot of World War I, the war hero known as the Red Baron.
Over 80 confirmed kills, and rumors of more than 100 including unconfirmed ones.
Fewer than World War II aces, but military analysis suggests he'd have topped the charts if serving in the second war.
In other words, this handsome man before me was history's unparalleled ace pilot.
As a soldier who revered him, I spoke amiably.
"Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel. Call me whatever's easy."
"Oh... now that I look."
He eyed my clothes curiously and said,
"You're not from Junkers, huh?"
That caught his eye, eh. I smiled wryly to myself.
Everyone's so curious about my background right from enrollment.
"My full name doesn't have a 'von' in it, after all."
"No, no! Not discrimination—just surprised, that's all."
Did my words sound that bitter? Manfred shook his head vigorously, dispelling my concern.
He friendly slung an arm around my shoulder.
"This is the Empire's Royal Cadet Academy! Sure, nobles are all cut from the same cloth, but the commoners who make it here are the real deal."
I set down my luggage as I listened.
"A few stand out because they've survived cutthroat competition, unlike the nobles."
"Is that so?"
But... no matter how I thought about it, I'd never heard of a commoner war hero who graduated from the Main Cadet School.
"Yeah, and you skipped junior and mid-level to transfer straight into advanced."
Manfred nodded as he spoke.
"Sure, there's prejudice against you now... but plenty like me are looking forward to it!"
His confident, upbeat tone drew a smile from me unwittingly.
"Thanks for saying that. Let's get along well from here on."
"Sounds good!"
It was the first meeting between the Desert Fox and the Red Baron.