Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: The Sky, an Ancient Object of Aspiration
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The Schlieffen Plan was a strategy designed to maximize mobilization capacity by utilizing every railroad in the German Empire, aiming for a swift transition to an immediate offensive following rapid mobilization and deployment of forces.
It could theoretically be executed at a speed suited to mobile warfare... theoretically.
An extremely precise clock can stop if even a single grain of sand gets caught in it—what about a war plan, then?
From that perspective, this colossal mechanical monster known as the Schlieffen Plan was practically impossible to realize in reality.
It lacked any flexibility to respond to the countless variables that could arise.
'But I can't just say that outright. Even if I declare it flawed, all that changes is my head rolling.'
Even so, I had politely warned them of the possibility of failure...
But that seems to have been overstepping my bounds as well.
For a mere cadet to critique the Schlieffen Plan, crafted by the military high command...
Clunk—I returned to my room, filled with all sorts of regrets.
"Did I say too much?"
"Hey! You finally back?"
"Ack, you startled me."
Manfred was awake and waiting for me.
He quickly pressed a finger to his lips, gesturing for silence, then hurriedly pulled me deeper into the room.
"You met Excellency Schlieffen, right? Am I correct?"
As the excited Manfred spoke with spittle flying, I panicked and wiped my clothes with some tissue.
Then I urgently asked him,
"You know I went, but you're the only one who knows, right?"
"Nah? Seems like everyone has a rough idea."
Seeing Manfred reply so innocently gave me a headache.
"How did everyone find out? The instructor came so secretly..."
"Where's the secret in this cramped dorm? Anyway, spill the heroic tale. What did you talk about with Excellency Schlieffen?"
"Agh..."
I ignored Manfred's prodding and tried to lie down on the bed quickly.
I was already living on catnaps, and today I'd woken a full hour and a half early to meet that count.
'Gotta sleep as much as possible...'
Bam-bam-bam—! At that moment, the hellish reveille trumpet blared through the dorm.
"...Fuck."
The military wouldn't be the military otherwise...
Bang!! Occasionally, under the instructor's guidance, cadets went on hunts.
The instructor called it a noble pastime for improving marksmanship.
It was effective. Hitting something alive and moving brought back old memories vividly.
"Heh, Rommel's taken the most again. How many foxes this time?"
Well, I'd been firing relentlessly...
Among field commanders, I'd surely killed the most enemies.
"Jealous. I couldn't even see them."
Manfred scratched his head as he spoke.
His movements were too careless, letting the game escape.
"Not bad."
"Haha! Teaming with Rommel guarantees a win!"
"Get outta here..."
The cadets who'd avoided cleanup duty thanks to teaming with me cheered.
Lately, the way the other cadets looked at me had changed noticeably.
From a parachuted commoner with a shady background to a commoner genius drawing attention from high-ranking officers like Schlieffen.
With emotions shifted, even their thoughts had changed.
Before long, my commoner birth—a former weakness—had romantically transformed into the merit of a talent that overcame humble origins.
Like a genius straight out of a fairy tale.
'...Well, my origin story really is like a novel.'
"Heh."
"Why do you look so smug about it?"
"You wouldn't get it since you haven't tried, but post-hunt cleanup is a huge pain. Lucky to have good teammates."
Manfred shrugged, showing his good mood, and I chuckled too.
He stared blankly at the piled-up game, then muttered,
"I need to shoot better if I want into the cavalry..."
Right—at this time, Manfred was preparing to become a cavalry officer, not an air officer.
I hadn't realized it myself, but that's how it was. There wasn't even training for aviation yet.
Later, Manfred would die after being shot down in a fighter—whether by anti-air or enemy planes, I'm not sure.
Could I create even a small variable now to prevent his death?
"By the way, did your father mention anything about me?"
Nothing to lose. I casually built up to it.
Manfred answered innocently.
"Of course. I brought you up first, and Father said he knew about you."
"...Don't tell me it's that report again."
"Haha, word's spread everywhere. Cadets are going nuts trying to snag a copy."
The report's unexpected popularity left me unsure whether to be annoyed or pleased.
Manfred sidled up and whispered,
"So... what's in that report anyway? We're friends—it's fine to tell me that much, right?"
'Oh ho.'
Perfect. You took the bait.
I smiled slyly and said in a concerned tone,
"Hearing it might upset you especially... You sure?"
"Damn it... Saying that just makes me more curious. Spill it."
"Cavalry's fucked."
"...Didn't expect it to start like that."
With that brutal opener, Manfred's face crumbled spectacularly.
Who'd be happy hearing their branch is doomed?
After hearing me out fully, Manfred looked dubious.
"Still... it's cavalry. Flanking the enemy's side. Without cavalry, how does war even work?"
"Ugh, I'm saying the front lines for that final flank will vanish entirely. How many times do I have to explain?"
"Does that mean infantry's the best? Is that why you chose infantry?"
"Whenever war breaks out, infantry always gets the best treatment. They're the ones planting the flag in the end."
Manfred pondered my words, then blurted,
"Should I transfer to infantry now?"
"Hm."
His words left me feeling oddly bittersweet.
The famous Red Baron taking my word so readily was one thing...
I'd just imagined Manfred as an infantry commander for a moment.
...No matter how I pictured it, it didn't fit. His personality was worlds away from a Prussian officer's to begin with.
Stick to air force, not ground pounder.
"Be honest—you picked cavalry 'cause riding horses looks cool. Like a knight."
Manfred pouted and grumbled,
"...Not true. As the son of a proud Prussian cavalry officer, I chose it to carry on the honor and glory."
"Yeah, right. You'd ignore even His Majesty the Kaiser's orders if you hated it."
As I stared in disbelief, Manfred flushed and turned away.
I shook my head and continued,
"Anyway, there is one branch perfect for an aspiring knight like you."
"Oh, what's that?"
Manfred's eyes sparkled with interest immediately.
How does someone so simple survive? I chuckled.
"Knights of the sky. Sounds cool, right?"
"...Airplanes? You mean the aviation branch?"
"Yeah, the last knights in history."
At those words, Manfred looked up at the blue, lofty sky.
The sky, an ancient object of aspiration.
In the Bible, humans built the Tower of Babel to reach the heavens and touch the divine, only for it to collapse.
In Greek myth, Icarus flew with wings but plummeted after flying too close to the sun.
Yet, defying claims of impossibility, the Wright brothers conquered the skies.
Just six years ago.
"Ha, but the aviation branch doesn't even exist yet."
Manfred snapped out of his daze and said.
"Well, not now. But airplanes will be more valuable than you think. Aviation branch is just a matter of time."
"...You guarantee it?"
As Manfred's smile faded and he asked seriously, I replied calmly,
"I do."
Whoosh—the wind blew between us as we gazed at the sky.
High clouds drifted peacefully, casting vast shadows on the earth.
It felt like a day blessing our futures.
"Knights of the sky..."
Watching the grass sway and leaves drift in the breeze, Manfred smiled faintly.
"Not a bad idea."
Several months passed in a flash.
Amid frantic studying and networking, a massive tsunami hit the cadet school.
It was called 'January 18th.'
January 18th marked the proclamation of the German Empire in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
Exactly 39 years since the Empire's founding.
Why a tsunami? Because such anniversaries came with military parades.
Not us rookies, of course—the veterans handled the parades...
"Cadet Erwin Rommel, you'll participate in the parade too, so attend the training."
"Pardon? Me?"
"When I say go, you go."
...What crime did I commit to deserve this punishment?!