To Meet Someone from My Hometown in a Place Like This!
To Meet Someone from My Hometown in a Place Like This!
The next day.
After work at General Headquarters, I went straight to a hair salon with Ernst.
Honestly, I didn't want to, but since Ernst insisted that if he was going to attend the imperial household's invitation he should at least groom himself minimally, I had no veto power.
At the salon, I got the Empire's latest trend—a slicked-back hairstyle—before riding in Ernst's vehicle to the imperial household's banquet mansion.
A 'banquet mansion'—can you believe it?
I couldn't even imagine having so much money that you'd build a separate mansion just for banquets.
As I walked, drinking in the mansion's magnificent appearance, the list-checking attendant waiting at the entrance spoke.
"A beautiful evening, gentlemen. If you don't mind, might I have your names?"
Before I could even open my mouth, Ernst answered.
"My name is Ernst Barch. And this handsome young man beside me is...."
"Ah! Aren't you Captain Daniel Steiner? How could I not know such a famous figure!"
"A famous figure, huh."
Ernst turned to look at me with a mischievous smile.
He seemed to be saying that I was more than qualified to have been invited and should have confidence, but honestly, it was burdensome.
"General Headquarters Deputy Chief of Operations Staff, Colonel Ernst Barch. And Operations Staff Officer, Captain Daniel Steiner. Identity confirmed. I hope you have an enjoyable time."
The attendant stepped aside and bowed his head courteously.
"Thank you. Keep up the good work."
After exchanging greetings, Ernst entered the banquet hall and I stuck close beside him.
Inside the mansion, waiters were bustling about in a small hall on the first floor.
"Let's go on up."
Ahead of us, we took the red-carpeted staircase up to the second floor and entered the great hall.
In the massive hall, which had to be at least several thousand square feet, countless people were gathered, each engaged in conversation.
One peculiar thing was that most of the men were wearing military uniforms like Ernst and me.
Probably, in the wartime Empire, being engaged in military service was equivalent to a great honor, so everyone was desperate to show it off.
On the other hand, there were also those dressed in suits or adorned in expensive silks; they were probably wealthy men who financed the Imperial military or those of noble birth.
As I was walking, scanning them, a general-grade officer recognized Ernst and approached.
The man, with his wrinkled face and a striking scar, was someone I knew well.
Commander, 1st Mage Mechanized Army Operational HQ, Brigadier General Heinrich Schmidt.
He was the person I had faced when my past life memories awakened, so there was no way I wouldn't know him, even if I didn't want to.
"Colonel Ernst! I knew you'd be invited too! And beside you is...."
The other man was a brigade commander and a brigadier general. Tense, I hurriedly gave a salute.
"It's an honor to see you again, Commander, sir. Captain Daniel Steiner."
"Oh-ho. In the short time I haven't seen you, your rank has jumped another step? Well, I suppose it's only natural considering the achievements you've piled up. Don't you agree, Adjutant?"
Captain Philip, who had been standing one step behind Heinrich like a shadow, nodded.
"That's right. Captain Daniel Steiner. I consider myself fortunate that you are a soldier of the Empire. Had we met as enemies, you would have been no easy opponent."
"You flatter me."
It wasn't just flattery; it truly was excessive praise.
Because most of the achievements I had earned were created unintentionally.
But Heinrich, perhaps thinking my attitude was humility, was simply wearing a pleased smile.
"As I felt the first time we met, he's a talent so outstanding I'd like to have him as my subordinate. The Imperial Army will soon be advancing north for a war of expansion anyway... No. It would be better to tell you later. Colonel Ernst?"
What is it? Why'd he stop mid-sentence?
Amidst an inexplicable anxiety, Ernst picked up Heinrich's words.
"Yes. Please speak."
"I believe I should discuss the future of the Empire with the Deputy Chief of Staff, but before that, I'd like to ask your opinion first. If you don't mind, I'd like to share thoughts in a quiet place."
"Oh my. If the Commander wishes it, I would be happy to oblige."
The two, as if they had been acquainted before, smiled and moved away.
Philip also, just as he was about to follow Heinrich, looked back at me once.
"Captain Daniel? You seem new to banquets. Just look around, grab a bite, and pass the time. The main event will start a little later, so even if you get bored, do try to endure until then."
I was quite touched by his words of concern for me.
Was Captain Philip an angel? When I nodded, Philip gave me a smile and then followed after Heinrich.
Left alone, I looked around.
'First off, let's....'
It seemed best to sit at one of the banquet tables and pass the time.
Everyone else was chatting in small groups, and if I just stood there blankly alone, I figured I'd stand out for no reason.
Excessive attention was not welcome.
Thinking that, I slowly made my way to a banquet table.
'Oh.'
As luck would have it, directly opposite someone who had already started eating, there was an empty seat.
*
Alistair, an intelligence agent of the Kingdom of Eldreshia, took a look around while pretending to eat.
Perhaps because it was a banquet hosted by the imperial household, countless high-ranking figures were densely gathered, even at a glance.
Alistair's mission was to relay the list of attendees (those actually present) to the other agents.
That way, when the other agents raided the banquet hall, they could more smoothly carry out the assassinations of key figures.
For that reason, Alistair, who had been constantly shifting his gaze, grew tense at the sound of nearby footsteps.
Tok-gak, tok-gak─
The sound of dress shoes slowly approached and then, at some point, came to a stop.
Alistair, who had swallowed hard in secret, looked up to see a man with black hair and black eyes looking down at him.
He was a figure Alistair knew well too.
'Captain Daniel Steiner....'
The monster who had broken Reginald, famous for being tight-lipped, in just one day of interrogation.
Why in the world was he here? Had he been discovered? As Alistair secretly broke out in a cold sweat, Daniel smiled and spoke.
"Did you perhaps come alone? If you have no companion, I'd like to sit across from you...."
Refusing here would only raise suspicion. Tense, Alistair nodded.
"Yes. Please sit, if you wish."
"Thank you. My legs were aching quite a bit anyway."
Making small talk, Daniel pulled out the chair and sat down.
After taking off the uniform cap he had been wearing and placing it on the table, Daniel let out a low sigh, as if he could finally live a little.
"Ah. I'm late in introducing myself. My name is...."
"I know. You are Captain Daniel Steiner, are you not?"
Daniel's eyes flew open in surprise.
"You know me?"
"Of course I do. Who in the Imperial Capital wouldn't know you, except a spy?"
"Oh dear. I didn't mean to become famous...."
Sighing, Daniel looked at the food Alistair was eating and let out an "Oh" of admiration.
"Isn't that spaetzle? And schnitzel on the side! Are you from the south, I take it?"
Wiping the corner of his mouth with a napkin, Alistair nodded.
"That's correct. In my hometown, we mainly ate spaetzle."
"You mainly ate spaetzle in your hometown... Aha! You must be from Betargen Barony. And the region would be...."
Just as Alistair was about to speak, Daniel raised a hand to stop him.
"Let me take a guess. A place where spaetzle is a staple would be the Balzach region within Betargen Barony. Am I right?"
After a moment of deliberation, Alistair nodded.
Because saying no here seemed like it would only make the atmosphere strange.
"Good heavens! Not only from the south, but from the Balzach region! I'm from that area myself. Do you know the village called Pianmari?"
Daniel had spoken purely out of joy at meeting someone from his hometown, but Alistair got the feeling that Daniel was narrowing down the region and tightening a noose around him.
Sweat gathered on his hands.
Alistair, who had calmed his trembling heart as much as possible, smiled naturally.
"I know it. Pianmari Village. Isn't there a famous restaurant near there?"
Forming a common ground was the best way to avoid suspicion.
Daniel, excited to meet someone from his hometown, laughed and nodded.
"Ah. Yes. There was a fairly famous restaurant called Jack's Restaurant. Though it looked so shabby you wouldn't think of it as a restaurant. I went often when I lived in the neighborhood. Truly, it brings back memories."
As if the thought had just struck him, Daniel snapped his fingers.
"If you know Jack's Restaurant, that means you've been there! Honestly, being from the Balzach region and not having been to Jack's Restaurant would be nonsense."
"Ah. Yes. Of course."
"Then what menu item did you like best there?"
Since they were from the same hometown and even frequently went to the same restaurant, a sense of intimacy was bound to arise.
Daniel's question was meant to share nostalgic memories, but Alistair's breathing was growing increasingly ragged under the psychological pressure.
If he were to name a menu item the restaurant didn't have here... just thinking about it was dreadful.
Quickly running the mental abacus, Alistair recalled a food commonly sold in the Empire's southern regions.
"I found the apfelstrudel to be the most delicious at Jack's Restaurant. I went back to eat it last year too, and the flavor still hasn't left me."
"Aha! Apfelstrudel!"
Daniel clapped and let out a laugh.
"It really is delicious. I can't forget that sweet and soft taste either. It's even tastier when eaten with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream."
Thanks to that, Alistair felt relieved.
He was lucky he had named a food widely known as a breakfast and dessert item in the Empire's south.
It was just when he figured he could chat for a bit and then slip away from the table.
"But there's something a little... odd."
Something odd? Wondering what he meant and unable to answer, Alistair watched as Daniel assumed a thoughtful expression, stroking his chin.
Then, slowly turning his head to gaze at Alistair, Daniel spoke.
"As far as I know, the apfelstrudel was removed from the menu at Jack's Restaurant three years ago. After the incident where a customer with an apple allergy mistakenly ordered it and had a seizure, that is."
Purely curious, Daniel leaned forward toward Alistair.
His eyes, as black as graphite, blinked quietly.
"But you say you ate apfelstrudel there last year?"
In an instant, Alistair felt a terror as if all the blood was draining from his body.