Don't Send Reinforcements!
Don't Send Reinforcements!
Having traveled a long way from the Bardenplatz Plain back to General Staff Headquarters, I got out of the car with exhaustion written all over my body.
'I'm dying.......'
With barely a break for meals or sleep, I had driven almost three days straight.
For someone who had always struggled with the physical fitness tests even at the military academy, this was an absurd forced march.
That was why I had wanted to avoid an inspection trip to the east if possible, but when they reported oil had erupted, I had no choice but to go confirm it with my own eyes.
In the end, the black water discovered on the Bardenplatz Plain was indeed oil.
'Well...... it only makes sense.'
Unless the logistics department personnel were fools, there was no way they couldn't tell shit-water from oil.
Nevertheless, the reason I went out on the inspection was to divert even a little of Headquarters' attention away from me.
Because running around in a frenzy to check whether it was real or not would make me look like a new recruit, whereas sitting in the Operations Staff Office and treating the oil discovery as a matter of course would be extraordinary.
Though that probably wouldn't diminish my military merits.
With a sigh, I loosened my necktie and headed toward the headquarters building.
I was so tired I wanted to throw myself onto my dormitory bed right that moment, but as a soldier, I couldn't skip the return report.
*
"Ah! First Lieutenant Daniel Steiner! Welcome back."
When I entered the Deputy Chief of Operations Staff Office and saluted, Ernst greeted me with a benevolent smile.
I couldn't let myself be fooled by that benevolent smile. I kept my salute and opened my mouth.
"I will report! As a result of conducting an inspection on the Bardenplatz Plain, the rear line of the eastern front......."
"Oil has been discovered. That's a fact known not only to Headquarters but to the citizens of the Empire as well, so there's no need for a separate report. That'll be all—make yourself comfortable."
Since I had been given permission, there was no need to salute.
I lowered my hand in a measured motion and took an at-ease stance.
"Everyone has been full of praise for you lately, Lieutenant. The high command is no exception. Discovering an oil deposit—it's a brilliant achievement that neither I nor the higher-ups have ever managed to accomplish, they say."
"You are too kind."
It wasn't that I was being modest; he really was too kind. I hadn't found it because I wanted to.
But Ernst must have thought I was being humble, because he let out a low chuckle.
"There have been quite a few opinions in favor of giving you a special promotion for this. I'm also in agreement. However, things haven't proceeded smoothly because a few individuals are opposing it."
"......Opposition, you mean?"
"Yes. On the surface, they say you can't give two special promotions in such a short period to someone with no combat experience, but to my eyes, they seem to harbor antipathy toward your background."
Ernst was speaking in a roundabout way, but it appeared that a few figures among the military leadership had argued that they shouldn't grant any more power than this to someone of an orphan background like me.
I understood.
They said discrimination based on status had been abolished when the Kingdom of Bayern changed its national name to the 'Holy Bavarian Empire,' but the vestiges of it still remained deep in the bones.
Currently, the majority of figures in the Empire's political and financial circles were from noble families, and some regions were still called baronies and counties.
In such an era, where the 'Anti-Discrimination Law' was only nominally enforced, it was only natural that they wouldn't look favorably upon an orphan-born soldier piling up military merits.
If I hadn't awakened the memories of my past life, I would have snapped, but now they just looked like people I was grateful to.
They were going to block my promotion? In my heart, I even wanted to give them a deep bow.
"If that is the opinion of high command, I shall follow it."
When I, who hadn't been fazed at all, spoke calmly, Ernst looked me over, clearly impressed.
"I thought you might get angry, but you're remarkable. Is this indeed what they call a model soldier? I can understand why Brigadier General Heinrich rated you highly."
After letting out a booming laugh 'Hehehe,' Ernst suddenly looked at me with a serious face.
"A society where a highly-rated individual holds a rank befitting him is the right society, wouldn't you say? Isn't that right, Lieutenant?"
Sensing that I shouldn't refuse, I nodded my head.
"That is correct."
"I'm pleased our opinions are in agreement. In that sense, I want you to go to the Northern Front."
......The Northern Front, he said? What was he talking about all of a sudden? It was so out of the blue that I paused for a moment, then hurriedly opened my mouth.
"You mean the Northern Front?"
"Yes. As you know, the tide of victory on the Northern Front has shifted in our favor. This is the perfect time to be active. Go there, earn one achievement, and come back. If what high command wants is combat experience, can't we simply create that for you?"
Ernst was subtly telling me he had put in some effort for my sake, but it didn't resonate with me at all.
From the standpoint of someone who wanted to be discharged, anyone would want to scream at suddenly being told, 'Go to the front lines, do some fighting, and come back.'
But since I was in a position where I couldn't show it, I asked carefully.
"Is this a reassignment? I mean, am I being attached to a Northern Front unit......."
"That can't be. You'll be going out as support with a unit under direct General Headquarters command. Experience combat there and return immediately. Then Brigadier General Heinrich and I will push for your special promotion."
As if telling me to look forward to it, Ernst leaned forward and whispered.
"If that happens, you will no longer be the 'acting' Operations Staff Officer. You will become the Operations Staff Officer. You'll also get an adjutant, so your work will become much easier than it is now."
In short, he had set the stage for me, so just endure a little hardship and come back.
I wanted to shout, 'Why are you doing this on your own authority?!' but the wall of rank was far too high for that.
Still, it wasn't as if there was absolutely no way out.
"Deputy Chief of Operations Staff, sir. I am curious as to how the organization of the direct command unit will proceed."
"Considering your current rank, it will be at the platoon level."
"If that is the case, may I personally select the personnel for the unit?"
Personally? Ernst, who had widened his eyes and blinked several times, clasped his hands together.
"There's no reason you can't. Where are you thinking of pulling personnel from?"
"The front lines are already suffering from manpower problems, so I intend to select mainly from the rear."
"Is there anyone you've specifically had your eye on?"
"No. I will write a notice, receive applications, and then select personnel from among them. Because the opportunity to distinguish oneself on the battlefield must be distributed equally to everyone."
Seeming to like what I said, Ernst nodded his head with inward admiration.
"That's a good idea. Proceed that way."
"Understood."
After saluting Ernst, I left the Deputy Chief of Operations Staff Office, went to my desk, and sat down.
Immediately afterward, I took out a fountain pen and drafted the notice.
『Northern Front Volunteer Recruitment Notice』
Listen up, you men!
The battle to protect the noble soil of the homeland is currently raging fiercely in the north!
Therefore, I want men who will willingly sacrifice their lives for the Empire!
O thou men! Do not covet the Empire's grain while alive; become the fertilizer that will adorn the Empire's glory in death!
Join me, and destroy, violate, and eliminate the enemies until death!
We shall wish for nothing but the death of our enemies!
Recruitment Numbers
• 20 Northern Front Volunteers
Eligibility Requirements
• Those who will willingly offer their hearts for the Empire
• Those who do not hope to return alive from battle
• Those who, even if they die tomorrow, wish their death to be of service to the Empire
Commanding Officer
• Operations Staff Officer First Lieutenant Daniel Steiner
• Has no combat experience but is more devoted to the Empire than anyone else
Glory to the Empire!
Holy Bavarian Empire
General Staff Headquarters Frontline Volunteer Recruitment Office
'Done!'
It was a masterpiece.
Wasn't it emphasizing only death, without a single word about returning alive!
As long as the fundamental nature of humans is to long for life, there wouldn't be a person who wanted to die for the Empire.
Moreover, I had explicitly stated that the commanding officer had no combat experience, so what idiot would apply?
It was obvious that the soldiers who were eating well and living comfortably in the cozy rear would snicker at this.
Then the application rate would plummet, and if I just didn't select the tiny number of applicants, using this or that excuse, that would be the end of it.
Then Ernst would have no choice but to withdraw his plan to send me to the Northern Front.
The special promotion would also fall through, so it was truly killing two birds with one stone! After that, I just had to hole up in General Staff Headquarters and find a way to get dishonorably discharged.
'Genius!'
Smiling with satisfaction, I took the notice and headed to the Personnel Department.
*
The next day.
As I was coming to work as usual and doing my daily duties, the door opened after a polite knock.
When I raised my head, the organization officer from the Personnel Department approached me carrying a folder.
"First Lieutenant Daniel Steiner? About that notice you asked to be delivered to the rear units yesterday......."
Seeing that the organization officer's hand held only one folder and nothing else, it looked like there were either no applicants at all or very few.
Thinking the effect was better than expected, I smiled inwardly, but since I couldn't show that in front of the organization officer, I put on a disappointed look.
"As I thought, it seems there are no soldiers with a mind to devote themselves to the Empire. I'm disappointed."
"Hm? No. It's the opposite."
The opposite? Just as I was wondering what he meant, the organization officer clapped twice.
"Come in."
Then five soldiers came in groaning, carrying mountains of application documents in their arms.
"Congratulations. The number of applicants has already passed 2,176 in just one day. It didn't seem like there was a need to recruit any more, so I came to find you. I thought it was a good notice, but I didn't think it would be to this extent."
The organization officer smiled and praised me─
'No, just why are they applying......?'
I was simply dumbfounded.