Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Actually, I Wanted to Get Ahead
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Actually, I wanted to get ahead.
Ariete's words were the trigger. A trigger for me to reflect on what kind of guy I was and what I wanted.
If my family had kindled the desire in me with their love and trust, making me think, "Ah, I want to contribute something to this house too," and if people's expectations had turned into burdens and obligations, influencing me both positively and negatively...
Then her mention of my ambition for success tied it all together in one fell swoop.
...I really should buy her a meal sometime later. She's a benefactor apart from my family.
No, maybe I should call her a noble patron? With the possession and all, looks like I've racked up some good karma! Hell yeah!
Anyway, the things I need to do going forward feel a bit clearer now. No, a whole lot clearer.
I need to combine what I'm good at with the foundation I have.
First, let's check my strengths. As expected from the bloodline of a war hero family, I've got good brains, the sharp instincts and silver tongue I prided myself on even before the possession, and most importantly—
'Knowing who the protagonist is. Being able to glimpse the outline of what's to come.'
Once my thoughts reached that point, what I had to do next was set.
Why is Reinhardt considered a war hero family? Because we've always been exceptional? Sure, that's part of it.
But there's a decisive reason. It's because the protagonist forms a connection with our house.
A rock-solid backing force supporting the protagonist from the shadows. If that's weak, the story loses its punch!
Our protagonist, Erwin, should be a platoon leader in the 1st Cavalry Division by now.
He didn't go through formal officer training, but his exploits as an enlisted man were outstanding from the start. So, his merits get recognized, and he pulls off the remarkable feat of jumping straight from private to officer.
And where's that 1st Cavalry Division? It's the very one where my brother is division commander.
That's how our family ties with the protagonist.
Hand in hand, becoming the empire's power center—a perfect, ideal picture!
"Uh, bro. It's me."
[Richi?]
No need to wait any longer—I contacted my brother right away.
Thankfully, he wasn't swamped with work and picked up immediately.
"By any chance, is there a newly commissioned platoon leader named 'Erwin' this time around? Sometimes called Elvin. I know it's weird for a division commander to look into some random platoon leader... but could you check for me anyway? Pretty please."
Even if he's my brother, he's still the division's top commander.
Asking him to dig into one lowly platoon leader looks pretty off.
Especially since the guy and I have zero connection.
"If you do me this solid, I'll run interference on some of Mom's nagging for you. Deal?"
So I dangled the bait he couldn't ignore.
[Call.]
As expected, bro chomped down hard.
[Sigh...]
I could see his adjutant sighing beside him, but oh well.
What bro fears more than Koenihesen right now is Mom's "Get married already, please!"
You saw it just now—the sheer bliss lighting up his face when he yelled "Call!"!
That wasn't messing around. One hundred percent serious, I tell you!
As the communication orb's glow faded, I slowly sank back into my chair.
With that, I'd made my first move. Fired the signal shot for the true start of my possessed life.
I didn't read the novel cover to cover, so I'm fuzzy on the details, but I know the outcome.
Erwin starts as a grunt, climbs to officer in the 1st Cavalry Division, and becomes another war hero.
He earns rave reviews for frontline feats that rival my brother's.
Someday, he'll be a key military figure. Frontline commanders are prime talent.
I plan to ride along with him. Or more accurately, pave his road, prep his meals, snag him top sneakers so he can sprint ahead.
To some, it might look like jacking the protagonist for my gain, but I'm aiming for symbiosis, not parasitism. The ones getting drained? Koenihesen scum.
Cold hard assessment: my field command skills? Total unknown. Erwin's? Proven.
Maybe I've got hidden talent there—who knows. But that's for later.
For now, focus on what I can do, what I'm sure of, what shows promise.
"Military. Military... sigh, damn it."
In the end, I've got to go back to being a soldier.
I really wanted to dodge it—figured there were plenty of ways to eat well and live easy.
But once I pinned down what I truly wanted, only one path remained.
War hero. No, war hero among war heroes. Yeah, that's the ticket! You're it!!
...Okay, so I decided. Bragged about my epic resolve.
But thinking it over, right now? Nothing concrete I can do.
I'm not enlisted or anything—just hit adulthood, still an academy student.
Reinhardt's second son? That's birthright, not skill.
Can't whip up a prophecy book from nitty-gritty future knowledge.
Can't smite Koenihesen with heaven-sent strategy.
I joked about being a baby in front of Enter, but damn if I'm not literally one right now. Wah, fuck.
The scraps of future info I know, plus the protagonist lottery ticket.
Everything else? Gotta grind for it myself.
So, what can I do now? Hit the academy hard, obviously.
"...What did you just say, Student Richi?"
You heard right, TA.
Even I think it's nuts, but what're ya gonna do.
As Ariete put it, I wanna get ahead.
"Double major in Officer Department...? This... you're serious?"
I nodded to confirm she hadn't misheard.
The TA—no, the poor grad student—freaked out.
One department's workload is brutal enough.
Two? Only a lunatic would sign up!
That's the vibe leaking out. For the record, I'm right in the head.
"Aiming for grad school, maybe?"
Crazy? Hell no. Worse than the army.
"No. Just... got a rock-solid resolve for my future."
"Officer Department... Not impossible, but you know departments have different curricula. Catching up means double—no, quadruple the effort of other students."
A grad student senior saying that? Kinda terrifying.
Quadruple the grind. Might as well carve "die" into my flesh.
Wanna blurt, "Must've lost my mind for a sec. Pretend you didn't hear!"
"I want to do it."
But my trap naturally spat out "Yes!"
No, damn mouth. Clear it with the brain first next time.
"Got it. I'll have to run it by the professors then. You're in Administrative Department now, right, Student Richi?"
"Yes, that's right."
"So, Administrative plus... which one?"
The nightmare military academy days, and that five-year officer hell that turned out worse.
Military stuff still turns my stomach, but fate's a bitch.
New life, new family. Empire's war hero house. Reinhardt.
My success. The future I crave. War hero of war heroes.
What can you do. Only choice is to charge in headfirst.
"Officer Department."
*
Academy Officer Department, first-year classroom. Short break after wrapping a mock operation planning session.
Lester was playing chess with Michel.
"...Check."
"Hey. Can't you go easy just once?"
"That's the seventh time you've said that. Give it up already?"
"Sigh... Mock ops nearly gave me a rage stroke, and now even chess?"
Michel shot Lester an exasperated look at his griping.
You'd think he was the one who'd suggested chess. Dude jumped in himself.
"...Aw, screw it! I'm out!"
Unable to make his next move, Lester threw in the towel.
"Hey, have some fun with it. Why rage over chess?"
"No, this garbage game keeps screwing with me!"
"And please ditch that foul mouth. No shame?"
Couldn't fathom why a count's heir talked like that.
"Hey. One more round?"
"Weren't you just calling it garbage?"
Absurd, but whatever. He wants rematch.
Michel couldn't lose anyway, so no sweat.
Resetting the pieces—
"Yaaah! Breaking news! Breaking!"
"What? Your grades finally tanked to F?"
"Don't jinx me like that! Ah! Not that—the big scoop! Richi's double-majoring into Officer Department!!"
Eh?
Both Lester and Michel cocked their heads at their classmate's words.
Had they misheard? Who was doing what now?
"Hey, Michel. I heard that wrong, right?"
"Was just thinking the same."
"Richi's nuts—why would he join our department?"
Guy who'd screamed bloody murder about steering clear of anything military.
Scared it'd blemish the family rep or whatever.
Made sense. They'd only joked about him coming—no real push.
If he hated it, no point convincing. Just eat shit for it.
"No, for real! Overheard the TA blabbing about it!"
"Horse crap. Hey, Michel. Chess?"
"Yeah."
"Nooo! You two lived your lives that gullible?!"
Their classmate's yells fell on deaf ears as the pair fixated on the board.
Any reaction would egg him on. Attention hog. Better starve him out.
Even toyed with cornering Richi later and grilling his lies.
"Uh..."
Until they spotted Richi planted in the Officer Department lecture hall.