Discharge Isn't Easy (Edited)
Discharge Isn't Easy (Edited)
It hadn't been by choice, but I had joined the military at a young age.
At that time, after awakening the memories of my past life, I realized this world was a game world, and I strove ceaselessly to survive.
〖Demon of the Battlefield〗
〖Marksman of the Magic Bullet〗
〖The Emperor's Fierce Dog〗
As a result, ominous-sounding epithets became attached to my name.
They weren't epithets I'd sought, but I was fairly content with them.
What was there to regret when enemies feared me and allies praised me?
However, I could not continue playing the Emperor's stooge.
『The Empire will fall to the Allied Nations.』
Because a future that could be summed up in a single line was gradually turning into reality.
Perhaps because of that, I had been secretly pleased to face the Emperor after a battle defeat.
Because if the Emperor reprimanded me, I could simply prostrate myself, apologize, and resign.
After that, I'd launder my identity and flee to some remote island—everything would be fine.
'I've saved up a fair amount of money. If worse comes to worst, I could sell military secrets to a foreign country.'
The hardships of the battlefield were now over. A rosy future was supposed to unfold from here on.
It was enough to make me laugh, but since I'd been summoned before the Emperor, I had no choice but to wear a guilty expression.
"Raise your head, Daniel Steiner."
At the Emperor's voice, as she sat on the throne and spoke my name, I raised my head.
Selvia von Amberg.
She was the empress who held absolute power over the Empire, and the one who had forced her five siblings to their knees to secure the imperial succession.
My gaze was naturally drawn to her blue eyes, like lapis lazuli, and her blonde hair, like rays of spring sunlight.
"You were defeated by the Magitek Armored Division at the Battle of Skeolan and have returned to the homeland. This is a great loss to the Empire and a historic blunder."
Good. If the Emperor just reprimanded me like this, it would be perfect!
If I could use a reprimand from the Emperor as an excuse to slip out of the military, a happy everyday life would begin!
"However, taking into account that the Battle of Skeolan was initiated by an enemy surprise attack, that there was confusion in the transmission of orders, and that despite the defeat, the damage was contained thanks to your efforts, I hereby acknowledge your military merit."
But.
"In summary, I shall bestow upon you the White Dragon Medal of Military Merit, the Empire's first-class military merit medal."
For some reason, the Emperor did not seem to have the slightest intention of letting me go.