Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Actually, I Wanted to Get Ahead
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Truth be told, I wanted to get ahead.
In fact, I'd been thinking about the military a little at a time for a while now.
Reinhardt. The empire's war hero family. The blood flowing through this body, no matter what.
Who knows? Maybe I had some talent for it without realizing.
Even if not, it wouldn't be so bad to live up to everyone's expectations.
But what if, just in case, I had zero talent for it?
What if I didn't just strike out, but bombed even worse—total failure?
The expectations placed on me would turn to doubt and anger in an instant.
The Reinhardt name would be tarnished because of me.
Our family wouldn't abandon me over it. They're all good people.
But I'd find myself so pathetic I couldn't stand it.
Better to do something where no one expects anything from me in the first place.
Plus, I'd possessed this body before I could even enjoy that once-in-a-lifetime sweetness called 'discharge'.
"Why do you look like you're about to die?"
At first, I thought it was Enter. But the voice wasn't his at all.
"...Ariete?"
The Knight Department at the library this time of day? Shouldn't they be at the training grounds?
As if reading my confusion, Ariete muttered, "Break time."
"More importantly, why the death look? Something wrong?"
"It's nothing."
"Like hell it's nothing. Your face says otherwise. Is it hard to talk about?"
"Nah, it's not that."
Then tell me. Ariete sat beside me and slowly propped her chin on her hand.
No, it's personal, so prying like this is rude... Ahem. Guess I have to.
When else would a golden-haired, blue-eyed beauty be curious about 'Richi' instead of 'Reinhardt'?
"Then spill. What's going on?"
What's going on? Yeah, something was. Starting from that Knight Department business.
It had even spread to worries about my future, which I'd have to decide someday.
Come to think of it, she probably knew the gist.
They'd allowed the Knight Department's first-year song for military use.
It'd be weirder if Ariete, the one who started it all, didn't know.
"I'm an adult now, so it's time to start some social activity, and the military keeps beckoning. I even went to the War Ministry just yesterday."
"Because of that song we gave your department?"
"Pretty much."
"...Sorry."
What're you apologizing for? And the one who should apologize is Senior Wagner, not you.
He straight-up shoved me off a cliff like 'go die alone'. I'll get revenge later!
"I'm really sorry. If I'd known it'd turn out like this, I wouldn't have asked at all."
"I told you, no need to apologize. Your request was just payback for screwing over the Knight Department, and I went overboard showing off, so this is on me entirely."
Thinking back, I overdid it. Should've just moderately asked Senior Wagner.
The problem was suddenly deciding on a Knight Department year song out of the blue.
Honestly, that music was for the military anyway, if you think about it.
Innocent if the military's eyes lit up and they whined, 'We want it too!'
Of course, that military's actually the Galactic Empire's army, but whatever.
"So you're worrying about how to escape the military's interest?"
"Maybe, maybe not."
"Maybe not?"
I glanced at Ariete, then spilled my guts like I'd been possessed.
Strictly speaking, she was in a similar spot but had chosen differently.
I hoped she might say something helpful.
"Honestly, working in the military isn't something I've never considered."
"Really? You said you absolutely, positively hated it back then."
"I do hate it. No confidence. But on the other hand, as a Reinhardt, there's this sense of duty? Obligation? I can't say it doesn't exist."
Ariete stared at me quietly.
Even with those thoughts, I was rejecting a military future myself.
She probably wanted to know why.
"Unlike Grandpa, Dad, and my brother who've already proven themselves, I haven't. No confidence in myself. And I don't think I'd be great as a soldier."
"You don't know yet. Maybe now, but later..."
"What if I fail later too? What if I'm revealed as a crappy officer to the world? Then the Reinhardt name becomes a noose choking me. Any guarantee that won't happen?"
Ariete bit her lip and shook her head at my question.
She knew. She'd experienced it enough already.
Ariete's father was an imperial duke, the Victory Duke—knight of knights.
If his daughter wanted to be a knight but was just mediocre?
They'd say nothing to her face, but gossip behind her back.
Even the emperor gets trashed privately—let alone some noble lady.
"So that's why you're dead set against the military."
"Failure elsewhere isn't a big deal. Unlike the military."
"Hmm..."
After that, Ariete went quiet for a long while.
Just propping her chin and staring at me.
Say something already. This staring is super awkward!
'Come to think of it, the time...'
Break time was ending soon. She should head back—
"Richi, don't you want to get ahead?"
"...Huh?"
What absurd nonsense was this? Get ahead? Now?
"Don't play dumb."
"No, no! I'm not! It's just, 'get ahead' out of nowhere doesn't make sense."
"Why not? Your words sound kinda weird."
Screeech—
Ariete scooted her chair closer to me.
"Listening to you, it's odd. You don't want to do nothing, you're scared of the fallout from failure, but you're still picturing a future."
"So how does that relate to getting ahead..."
"It does. People who don't care about that stuff wouldn't sweat success or failure. Do it if told, skip if it flops, end of story. But not you."
Me, wanting to get ahead? Ridiculous. Yeah, total nonsense.
I just wanted to hold this luck and enjoy it forever.
With my brother there, no need to inherit the marshal position or prove myself as heir.
Just do enough to earn my keep, without staining the Reinhardt name...
"...Ah."
Oh. Yeah, that's why she said it.
If I really just wanted to slack off forever, no need for all this.
Do what's asked, flop and bail. No care for reputation, success, or failure.
I wasn't uninterested in the military, but dreaded the massive fall if I failed—while still wanting to achieve something.
Looking back now, I was someone who wanted to do something.
Not just crushed by the huge Reinhardt burden, but add my own presence to that glorious name—with ambition.
Afraid to fail, mistaking it for the pressure from being a Reinhardt.
Just seeking somewhere recoverable if problems arose—not the military where I'd shatter.
"So, am I wrong?"
"Hate to admit it, but... can't say you're totally off."
"Right? Knew it."
She flashed a triumphant grin and looked ahead.
"It's a great opportunity. Think it over. If you're worried about the pressure, forget it. How long you gonna let it crush you? Real men shake it off!"
"Yeah. Ah, damn, suddenly embarrassed."
"Hey, don't just decide on the spot. Makes you look like an idiot swayed by a weird girl, charging in brainlessly!"
With that, Ariete suddenly jumped up.
"Oh no. One minute left. Seniors'll kill me."
"No way. Still..."
I almost said 'duke's daughter'. But she felt her family burden like me.
Mentioning 'Victory Duke' or 'Clozen' wouldn't help.
Better say something realistic.
"Run instead of talking."
"Yeah. See ya!"
With that, she shot off like a golden meteor!
Every time, she seemed less like a duke's daughter.
...Ah. Forgot to say thanks for the advice. My head feels clearer now.
And I wasn't swayed by a girl. Last, you're not a weird girl.
'Get ahead, huh. Get ahead.'
Timing to seriously consider it.
*
"Groooan..."
"You look tired, sir. Everything alright?"
"How could it be? Better to get chewed out by Marshal Excellency."
Kreighton barely held back a laugh at his superior's reply.
Douglas Reinhardt. 1st Cavalry Division Commander of the Imperial Army.
Youngest division commander ever, master of mobile warfare.
Also, the son enduring his mother's communication orb nagging about marriage.
The man who made Koenihesen scum tremble looked so pathetic—it was always amusing.
Bonus if weird answers prolonged Mom's lecture.
Men never mature till death, apparently—including his boss.
"Is marriage such a big deal, adjutant?"
Yeah. No wonder Mom was bursting.
Imperial soldier, but also Reinhardt's eldest son.
Inheriting Kenes Marquis territory meant thinking heirs—but heirs don't fall from the sky. Gotta marry for kids.
"It's... parental worry."
"Marshal Excellency never says anything."
Then the communication orb lit up.
Kreighton eyed his boss worriedly.
Mom launching round two?—
[Hey, bro. It's me.]
"Richi?"
Strange. The boss's brother never initiated contact.
The one he'd been avoiding to prevent bad influence on his brother—why now?
[Any chance there's a platoon leader named 'Erwin' in the new batch? Goes by Elvin too. Weird for a division commander to know some platoon leader, but... check anyway? Favor.]
Not hard, but Douglas was division commander.
Asking about a mere platoon leader was...
[Block some Mom nagging if you do. Deal?]
"Deal."
Platoon commander... sir...