Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: July Crisis (1)
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June 29, 1914.
Münchner Neueste Nachrichten (Munich Latest News)
Front page.
📰 Breaking News
Archduke Heir and His Wife Assassinated
Subheadline.
A Thwarted Bomb Attack – Killed by Revolver Shots – Assassins Arrested
Sarajevo, June 28. (Official dispatch) Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, the Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinated today during their visit to Sarajevo.
(Excerpt above)
...Afterward, the Archduke decided to visit Major Merizzi, who had been wounded in the bomb attack, at the army hospital. This decision was made at the city hall. On the way from city hall to the hospital, gunfire struck the vehicle carrying the Archduke and his wife. In this attack, the Archduke was shot in the neck, and the Duchess of Hohenberg in the abdomen. Both died immediately. The perpetrator was arrested on the spot. He was a student named Princip...
(Excerpt below)
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"...It's begun."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
With the deaths of the Archduke and his wife, Austria was consumed by rage.
Serbien muss sterbien! (Serbia must die!)
"Kill the Serbian bastards!!"
"Right! Burn them down!!"
The explosion of the Balkan powder keg shook all of Europe.
European reactions were split. Western Europe saw it as none of their business. Eastern Europe, especially Germany, buzzed with excitement for the coming war.
Still, most people didn't realize this event was the prelude to a massive war that would bring tragedy.
...But a few were different.
"Darling."
Click. I quietly spoke to Elise, who looked tense as I hung up the phone line.
"Keep the curtains drawn for a few days, and if anyone knocks, pretend we're not home."
"...Because of that book?"
"Oh, you read it too? Anyway, yeah. Looks like I'm about to get some fans."
I spoke as gently as possible and lightly hugged Elise.
Her body trembled faintly.
"Don't worry. If anyone's coming for me, they'll probably head straight to my office."
I said with a smile. Of course, I wasn't exactly calm myself.
"That's the problem..."
"No need to worry. Even if the secret police show up, they won't touch a mighty company commander like me, right?"
"Don't joke like that."
"Okay, okay."
I kept petting and soothing the pouting Elise in my arms.
Once she calmed down, I hurried back to getting ready for work, relieved.
"Alright, be careful out there. You have to be careful, okay?"
"Got it. I'll be back."
"Yes."
I gave Elise, who kept fussing, one last hug and opened the door.
I flashed a grin at her as she vanished behind the door, then looked ahead.
"...You've been waiting a while, I take it?"
"Are you Lieutenant Rommel? Please come with us for a moment."
Men in typical black suits and hats were waiting for me.
The bulge at their coat waistbands told me resisting would be a bad idea.
"War Ministry?"
"...!"
They flinched hard. I was just probing, but the reaction was intense.
They weren't secret police. They used honorifics with me, and no secret cop would react so honestly to a jab like that.
Not secret police, armed, and polite—definitely soldiers.
The General Staff could just summon me directly, so the ones wanting this sneaky meeting...
Had to be the War Ministry, rivaling the General Staff but with less clout.
"Why's the War Ministry calling for me?"
"...Just come quietly."
This punk soldier growling at me like that?
"You little shit."
Control was already mine, and I had no patience left.
Crack!!
"Guhk!"
My German-Korean fusion joint strike floored the soldier instantly. The one next to him froze, mumbling incoherently.
Click. While they were dazed, I drew my Luger pistol.
"Hands up. If my wife hadn't been home, I'd have just shot you. Count yourselves lucky."
"..."
They raised their hands in silence.
Irritated, I waggled the pistol.
"Well? The War Ministry wants to explain itself."
"W-We don't know either."
"Then you should've said so sooner, huh?"
"Sorry, sir."
"Bunch of idiots this early in the morning... Tsk."
I glanced back at the house window.
Good, curtains were drawn tight. At least Elise didn't see this mess.
"Where's the car taking me?"
"Black auto down that alley over there."
The soldier pointed to the alley. Nice and secluded.
My rising temper hit its peak.
"Too hot to ride crammed in with meatheads like you. Wouldn't you say?"
"Y-Yes, sir."
Click. Good thing they caught on quick. On a cooler day, I'd have made them sweat even more.
I gave them a chilling smile.
"Forget escorting me. Run back to the War Ministry. Got it?"
"...Understood."
"And."
I got serious, and they raised their hands higher.
"If your boss pulls this crap again, just send a polite letter."
"H-Ha... but..."
"Finding your names and ranks is child's play."
I could see their mouths going dry.
I hammered in just how vindictive and grudge-holding I could be.
"Then out comes your hometowns, wives, and who gave the orders."
"..."
"Show up uninvited with dangerous weapons, and... the same could happen to you. Right?"
"...Yes, sir."
"Next time, at least leave the guns. Or better yet, don't come. Now get lost."
The soldiers backed away cautiously and soon vanished down the street.
I watched till they were gone, holstered my pistol, and headed to the car they'd mentioned.
Sure enough, one waited in the alley.
I sighed and opened the door.
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The War Ministry handled all non-combat aspects of administration and army operations.
The General Staff managed military operations planning and command—a strategic military organ.
Logically, the General Staff should fall under the War Ministry...
But in a militaristic state, the army hotheads wanted otherwise.
They elevated the General Staff to near-absolute power, independent of the War Ministry, which got sidelined.
This distanced Germany from normal statehood and, paradoxically, crippled its war-making ability—a key culprit.
In that sense, I viewed the War Ministry like this:
'Administration matters. So how about merging it into the General Staff?'
Yeah. Germany and Korea shared long army traditions in many ways.
Korea was even more extreme sometimes. The Empire never issued a 'Decisive National Salvation Order,' at least.
And when war actually hit Korea... well, things happened.
Anyway, baptized by both armies and rising through the ranks...
"An honor to meet you."
...I had to praise the War Ministry in front of this man.
"Good to meet you too, Lieutenant Rommel."
War Minister Erich von Falkenhayn.
The highest-ranking person I'd ever met.
Even more so, considering he'd later become Chief of the General Staff.
"Care for a drink?"
"I'll take the thought."
"Right, you've got to head to work soon."
The spot the driver took me to was a fancy bar near War Ministry HQ.
Not some horror flick, but there sat Falkenhayn, sipping a drink, waiting for a mere lieutenant like me.
Fortunately, he treated me graciously with a charming smile the whole time.
"We're both busy, so straight to business."
"Understood."
Word was he had a nasty personality and many enemies, but maybe that was wrong...
"First off."
The Minister smiled slyly.
"I'm a fan of yours."
"...Pardon?"
Wait, what?
As I blinked in confusion, Minister Falkenhayn picked up the book beside him.
The title... Der Weltkrieg. The very book I'd written before cadet school.
"Anyone who's read it even once can't help but be."
The Minister's eyes gleamed as he spoke.
"From the Balkan war onward, the domino chain reaction. Most laughed it off, but it's actually happening."
His gaze was intensely uncomfortable, but unavoidable.
"Only one event hasn't happened yet. Der Weltkrieg..."
The Minister shifted his book-staring eyes to me.
"What an intriguing era, isn't it?"