Chapter 16
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Seeds for the Future
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“You'll become a knight comparable to the Duke himself! Haha!”
“The Victory Duke will be thrilled. His youngest daughter wants to follow in your footsteps, after all.”
No. I'm just walking this path because I want to.
I have no intention of carrying on their legacy. I don't even aspire to be a knight on par with my father.
But that sentiment meant nothing to those around me.
All they saw was that I was the Victory Duke's daughter. And that I had chosen to become a knight. Just those two things.
What could I do? I'd have to endure it. When I thought about everything I held in my hands, I had no choice.
I'd been born as the Victory Duke's daughter and enjoyed every luxury that came with it, so it was only right that I bore the burdens too.
With that mindset, I pushed forward. Even when it was hard. Even when things didn't go my way.
That's when I got to know him. Or more precisely, the man who had thoroughly trounced our Knight Department.
“I know myself well. I could never become like Grandfather, Father, or Brother. For someone like me, the name Reinhardt feels more like a burden than a source of pride, don't you think?”
Richi Reinhardt. Grandson, son, and brother of those famous war heroes.
That's how everyone else would see him. That's why they'd all have such high expectations.
Blind to the fact that inside, he was a mess of anxiety and pressure.
He was a man much like me. That's why he piqued my interest. What kind of person was Richi, really?
Was he truly scared because he lacked the talent? Or did he just hate the pressure itself?
It wasn't long before I found the answer. Interestingly, it was neither.
'Look at this guy?'
He denied it himself, but I could tell. I'd been around plenty of people like him before.
My father was like that. My eldest brother too. People who sought to carve out their own 'future'.
And he had the talent for it too. I'd even caught glimpses of it—brief, but incredibly striking moments.
I was intrigued. He wasn't like those other noble sons full of empty bravado.
He wasn't some coward cowering under his family's fame, just sniveling in fear.
He pretended to be, but in reality, he was quietly preparing to grow into something much bigger behind the scenes.
“Don't talk like it's that easy. It's not like you'll be there helping me out when I'm working in the military later.”
Before I knew it, I found myself responding like this.
“Huh? Why not? I'm fine with that. Yeah, just a whim! If you really end up working in the military, I'll join as your knight then. How's that?”
I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth, but I quickly shook my head. Being by that man's side seemed like it would be a lot of fun.
And not long after, Richi had firmly decided his own future.
He declared he'd transfer into both the Administrative Department and the Officer Department simultaneously. An utterly insane move.
Is the path to becoming an imperial bureaucrat an easy one? You could tell just by looking at the Administrative Department seniors.
They all wandered around with hollow eyes like zombies.
Yet here was Richi, saying he'd tackle both the Administrative Department and the Officer Department.
'What a truly interesting guy.'
I'd thought he was just someone like me.
But he wasn't. Similar, but different. I could feel it. This man was going to become a big deal someday.
In the end, Reinhardt. Inevitable war hero stock. Richi wouldn't be any different.
Wouldn't the people by his side then be truly happy?
Once my thoughts reached that point, I didn't want to sit idly by regretting 'I should have done that back then' someday.
“Wait, just a moment. Ariete? Are you serious about this right now?”
“Yes. I'd like to apply formally.”
“No... You're in the Knight Department, and you want to do the Officer Department too? That seems like a bit much, doesn't it? Why not just...”
I understood what he was getting at. The bad blood between the Knight Department and the Officer Department ran deep.
If I tried to straddle both, everyone would feel awkward around me.
The teaching assistant was worried about exactly that and suggested picking just one.
“It's fine. I want to apply for dual departments. I won't give up on either—I'll do both.”
If I dropped one just because it was hard, I could never stand shoulder-to-shoulder with that man.
I might not be pulling him along or walking side by side, but at the very least, I had to keep up from behind without stumbling. That way, I could ask him to take me along into that future!
Regret it later? Sure, I might. Who doesn't regret something after doing it?
But that's what makes us human—we can always drown those regrets in sweeter fruits anytime.
“Ariete!”
He must have just heard the news about my dual department application.
Watching Richi run up to me, I couldn't help but smile—
“Are you insane?! Why the hell are you crawling into that hellhole too?!”
“...”
What a jerk. No need to call it insanity.
*
“Ariete! Are you insane? Why the hell are you crawling into that hellhole too?!”
I realized my mistake the moment the words were out. Calling the Victory Duke's daughter insane?
If the Clozen people overheard... No, even without that, if the Victory Duke himself—who doted on his youngest daughter—heard it, he might chuckle 'Hoho!' before stomping me flat on the spot.
But since I'd already said it, I figured I'd just keep going.
Honestly, dual departments were hell, and what I'd done was crazy!
“That's mean. I didn't think you'd see me that way. Is that any way to greet a lady?”
“If you were a proper lady, you wouldn't do something as crazy as dual departments!”
“You did that crazy thing first!”
“My case was special! You have no reason to go to the Officer Department!”
My goal was a military position. But not as a field commander—rear-line operations.
The Officer Department was essential for the basics any officer needed.
And since I'd handle administration, the Administrative Department was a given.
But what Ariete wanted was to be a knight. Not an officer or commander.
The Knight Department alone should suffice, so what was this? Dual departments? She's lost it!
“That was the original plan. But not anymore, right?”
“Not anymore? What do you mean?”
“What? Did you forget, or are you pretending to?”
What the hell was she talking about forgetting? It's not like I had early-onset dementia like my friend group...
Ah. Wait. No way? You're doing all this over that one comment?!
“You're freaking out because I said I'd consider the military and you promised to be my knight?”
“Yeah. Got any other reason?”
“You were serious about actually doing it? Not just saying it?”
“Idiot? Would I, as a Clozen, lie about something like that?”
No, this girl... Even the Clozen folks knew how to joke without going this far.
The departments you're applying for are the Knight Department and Officer Department.
Know what that's like? It's like a knight aspirant suddenly yelling 'I wanna be a magic swordsman!' and applying for the Magic Department too—dual enrollment!
Those places are crawling with people who hate each other's guts, and you want to do both?
“You haven't signed the dual department confirmation yet. Cancel it now.”
“No way.”
“No way my ass! Think about it! Even the Victory Duke would say, 'Ah, this is a bit much.' The pissing contests between Knight Department and Officer Department are a total shitshow—why do this?!”
I'd let slip some un-noble-like language without thinking.
Whew. Calm down. Regain some dignity as the second son of the war hero Reinhardt family.
“I've never taken what you said seriously. And I already said no. So why are you doing this? Fine, say I accepted. You said knight, right? No reason for dual departments...”
“There is. You're planning to work in the military, I said I'd be your knight, and looking at you now, you seem like the type who only wants useful people around. Just having a basic knight like me probably wouldn't satisfy you. Right?”
...What? When did this girl read me that deeply?
She knew my circle was full of oddballs, but they all had real talent?
Enter. Put his name and family together, and the answer's obvious.
Hell, Erwin's inner monologues mentioned it several times.
Lester and Michel from the Officer Department. Polar opposites in personality, but that's what made them a great combo.
Beyond them, everyone in my network shared one thing: 'ability'.
But that's something only I knew about.
I'd never even explained it to Ariete—how the hell did she figure it out?
“Why so surprised, dummy? Just look at your classmates' test scores and lecture grades. It's obvious.”
Ah, right. Damn. For a second there, I thought she was another transmigrator.
Almost asked if she spoke Korean.
“Anyway. To be your knight, I figured I'd need to handle officer duties too. I have plans, so that's why. Dummy.”
Dummy's you. Sigh, you're the first one jumping into this hell without anyone pushing you.
Actually, I'm the first to pull off this madness. Enter doesn't count—I shoved him in.
Enter, buddy. Good news. You're not the only one suffering this hell with me anymore...!
“So you hate it? I'm just trying to keep my promise. Or do you not want me as your knight at all?”
“Not that.”
When Ariete first said it, I'd waved her off because of the downsides of having the Victory Duke's daughter around.
But thinking it over, having her by my side came with plenty of upsides too.
“Don't whine about it being hard later.”
“That's harsh. Cut me some slack, Richi. Like you said, it's hell! Yeah?! When a girl says it's tough, the guy cheers her on, tells her to hang in there, hugs her. That's a beautiful scene, right!”
“Sorry, but I'm stuck in that same hell. Cheering each other on when we're both suffering just makes us feel more pathetic.”
“Hm. Yeah, fair point.”
And with that, the freshman dual-department trio was complete.
Weren't we the true idiots of this era?
*
[Richi seems to have his mind set on the military.]
At first, I thought it was nonsense.
Why would my youngest, who swore he'd never even glance this way?
But soon enough, I realized my son was right.
“Supreme Commander. This is the Army March from the War Ministry's press release.”
“...Adjutant, this name here. Is it wrong?”
“Checked it multiple times. It's correct.”
Richi Reinhardt. Yes, definitely my other son.
The kid who claimed zero interest in military affairs, suddenly acting like this?
“Hoho.”
Imperial Army Marshal. Supreme Commander of the Empire and Allied Races Forces. Kenes Marquis.
A smile bloomed on William Reinhardt of Kenes's lips.