Chapter 80
Chapter 80
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: The Iron Peg-Leg Lieutenant
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Sigh..."
After barely escaping from the soldiers, I let out a sigh.
I was quite tired, but at the same time, my heart was pounding.
No way did I expect such a huge haul. Even recruiting Walter Model.
I had met many promising newcomers who fought in the Battle of Verdun and connected with legendary commanders from original history.
I had left OHL with a light heart, but once I started spotting all these outstanding talents, I couldn't hold back.
I almost regretted not coming out.
Having casually added Walter Model to my basket, I finished my talent hunt and refocused on my duties.
My next destination... was here, the prisoner-of-war camp.
"Halt, halt, halt! Hands up! Move and we shoot! Berlin!"
"Beethoven."
"Who are you?"
"I'm Liaison Officer Erwin Rommel, Major dispatched from OHL."
"Erwin Rommel... Rommel. What's your business?"
"I'm here to inspect the temporary POW camp."
As I carefully pulled out the documents from my pocket, the soldier approached to check them.
Soon, having finished verifying, the soldier saluted and handed back the papers.
"Welcome! Major!"
"Good. Your security seems tighter than elsewhere. Has something happened?"
At my question, the soldier's pupils shook for a moment, and an awkward smile formed.
"H-Haha. Guard duty is for preserving combat strength and safety..."
"No, really—what happened?"
"...Some crazy peg-legged prisoner keeps trying to escape, so we're on extra alert."
When I furrowed my brow and asked again, the soldier finally spilled the truth, flustered.
A peg-legged French prisoner... Only one person came to mind, but it couldn't be, right?
Harboring doubts, I followed the soldier into the POW camp.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Leader of Free France.
Revolutionary army resisting Nazi Germany.
The politician who left the greatest mark on 20th-century France.
The iron peg leg that never bends or breaks.
Charles de Gaulle.
"Lieutenant Charles de Gaulle, correct?"
"Yes."
Such a Charles de Gaulle answered my question listlessly, his eyes puffy.
Clang— As de Gaulle shifted in his seat, the handcuffs bound behind the chair made a metallic sound.
Seeing him locked in solitary like this, so pitiful, I couldn't help but have him brought out.
I'd come to inspect the camp; leaving a prisoner like this would be slacking.
"Have camp staff, soldiers, or other prisoners used unjust violence against you?"
"..."
"Answer."
"No such incident."
Despite his puffy eyes, de Gaulle held his head high in response.
He had a talent for tiring people out, different from Manfred or Manstein.
"Then... those injuries—are they from combat?"
"...Yes."
Fistfights during battle weren't exactly common.
I glanced at the soldier behind me, who shook his head.
"Not us?"
"..."
"Ahem, Lieutenant Charles de Gaulle's injuries occurred when fellow Allied soldiers subdued him during an escape attempt."
As de Gaulle awkwardly lifted his head to stare at the ceiling, the soldier cleared his throat and answered for him.
Seeming to know it was embarrassing, de Gaulle's face flushed red.
This ridiculous man—did he really think he could escape with that giant frame?
"W-What are you looking at?!"
"...Ahem."
At de Gaulle's words, I quickly composed my expression and resumed asking various questions.
Military secrets fell under this unit or Department 3b's purview, so I focused on the camp's actual conditions.
Is the food good? Any abuses? How's the environment?
De Gaulle was curt but answered sincerely enough, letting me grasp that the camp had no major issues.
Occasional complaints suggested it wasn't exactly hospitable, but...
An escapee caught red-handed had no room to complain, so I let it slide.
"I see. Good work."
"..."
With enough data gathered, I collected my documents and stood.
Lieutenant de Gaulle stared at me blankly, then asked his first question.
"...Major Erwin Rommel—the one who shone on the Eastern Front?"
"That's me."
I handed the documents to the soldier with orders to load them into my car, then replied.
Hearing my answer, de Gaulle smirked coldly, mocking me.
"Making the Devil of Tannenberg face a mere lieutenant and run errands... Your homeland truly knows how to pick them."
"..."
"Isn't it humiliating? Princes and crown princes who know nothing of the military lord over it, while the finest officers waste away on nonsense."
I lightly furrowed my brow.
Why pick a fight with me out of nowhere? What did he mean?
Clang—! As I pondered, de Gaulle glared wide-eyed and spoke.
"I just can't understand it. Your pride and self-respect must be shattered—why pledge such loyalty to that disappointing nation?"
Silence fell over the room. Mulling his words...
I burst into incredulous laughter.
"Good grief."
"..."
De Gaulle's face hardened, but I couldn't stop laughing and had to cover my mouth briefly.
What? Humiliating? Why do this nonsense?
Why such loyalty to the homeland?
"Lieutenant, how old are you?"
"...Born in 1890."
"Same here."
Sudden as it was, de Gaulle answered honestly.
I stopped sneering, smiling faintly as I asked.
"Graduated from the War College?"
"From the military academy."
"I finished cadet school. Prestigious, but no match for the academy or War College."
"..."
"Yet you're a lieutenant, and I'm a major. I've got the Pour le Mérite around my neck; you lack the Légion d'honneur. Get it?"
De Gaulle clamped his mouth shut.
You lack this, I have that—I could list endless examples.
Groß Lichterfelde Cadet School was undoubtedly elite, but not university level. More like a top high school.
In short, I was high-school grad; de Gaulle, college.
Despite that gap, my rank outstripped his. Why?
Obviously, because I'd racked up more achievements.
"The Empire isn't as rigid as you think. Asking if commoners like me are stuck on errands... You'd have to go back 100 years."
Because those achievements were recognized.
"I'll tell the camp staff—study up on Scharnhorst. No matter what, that narrow a view?"
"..."
Grind— At my successive barbs, de Gaulle's face reddened again.
So, spout off without knowing the facts?
I glanced around lightly and continued.
"Of course, not being War College or Junker means some disadvantages—true enough. But I don't care. Know why?"
Leaning casually on the desk, I chuckled softly; de Gaulle glared.
Ridiculous.
"Such disadvantages aren't grand enough to whine about pride or self-respect. I've overcome them with ability—and will overcome the rest."
"..."
"I volunteered to roam fronts gathering data, you dense fool. I'm normally at OHL."
"Kh...!"
Clang— Provoked, de Gaulle trembled, ready to lunge.
But I wasn't done.
"The most absurd part? Why such loyalty to a disappointing nation?"
How could an officer—not even a soldier—say such a thing? Even de Gaulle.
I hammered each word into this arrogant lieutenant's ears.
"The homeland has never disappointed me—and above all, it doesn't exist to meet my expectations."
"...What?"
"I."
My reflection gleamed in de Gaulle's pupils.
"Am the one who must meet the homeland's expectations."
That was an officer.
I'd sworn to the Taegukgi in my past life, to Germany now—pledging my life in loyalty.
Most officers, past or present, didn't think that way—but I did.
Because it was right.
"...Satisfied now?"
After glaring at each other briefly...
I composed myself, sighed, and slowly approached the door.
Grinding teeth and growling came from behind.
"Next time, on the battlefield."
"Ha, then."
Click— I scoffed, opening the door.
"I hope you'll use proper respect."
"You—!!!"
Bang! Leaving de Gaulle finally exploding, I shut the door.
Enemy or not, my rank was higher—yet he stayed arrogant to the end.
This is why baguette-munchers...
"...Conversation over? Documents are all loaded in your car, Major."
"Ah, you. Good work."
"No big deal."
Glancing at the bashfully smiling soldier and around...
I whispered to him.
"You're in charge of Lieutenant de Gaulle?"
"Yes, sir."
I silently watched the innocently nodding soldier, then said.
"About Lieutenant de Gaulle—if the chance arises, anytime, or if he tries escaping again..."
"Haha, don't worry. I'll show him..."
"No—kill him for sure."
"...Pardon?"
"I'll handle the fallout. If the chance comes, kill him."
The soldier's pupils shook violently, but I just felt uneasy.
Facing him directly made it all the more intuitive.
Charles de Gaulle—this man would be endless trouble...
"Remember my words."
Too many eyes, no pretext—I couldn't kill him myself.
A lingering regret.