Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Knights! Officers! Friends!
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Alright. Let's get this straight. Everyone in the world knows that knights and officers don't get along.
Is it just the Empire? No. It's the same everywhere else. Even those Koeni bastards are no different.
Why are they acting so childish? Bullshit. The army-navy rivalry is still going strong—what do you mean childish?
If anything, the Empire's situation is downright cute by comparison. Those Koeni guys actually had a civil war over it.
Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is this: there's no reason to force these two snarling factions together.
Two groups that mix about as well as water and oil.
They're already handling things just fine—clashing a bit, cooperating when they need to.
And the rivalry between them even works positively sometimes.
So there's no reason to suddenly go, "Hey! From now on, you're all friends!"
Think about it. Would everyone cheer "Yes!"? Or would they throw a bigger fit with "No way!"?
Anyone can see it'd be the latter. Even I'd be like, "Why the hell should we get along?"
Of course, there are exceptions. Like if the Imperial Family wants it.
Or if someone on that level wants it, even if it's not the Imperial Family.
'Oh no. Please tell me it isn't. No, right? Right, Father?'
The scenario that popped into my head was just one: my father meeting the Victory Duke.
The reason the Empire's two giants met was ridiculously simple—the kids' issues between our families.
I'm sure of it. I was even summoned before them right away to talk about what happened with Ariete.
That we'd gotten along so well that marriage talks might even come up... Sigh. Just thinking about it gives me a headache.
But no matter how I look at it, it seems like it got twisted when it reached other people.
I get it. Yeah, I can understand. Both of them would be too embarrassed to explain the real reason, so they probably just brushed it off with "We had some business."
Damn it. But given their positions, that vagueness led to misunderstandings.
Like, "From now on, knights and officers! You have to hold hands and shout that we're friends, or it'll be no fun!"
Everyone got scared and started scrambling to show they were doing something! Aaaah!!
"Argh, damn it all!! Why the hell do we have to team up with the Knight Department for training?!"
"Just let us fight the Knight Department instead! We'd crush them for sure!"
"Sob sob! Marshal Excellency! It's an order, so we'll follow!!"
Look at this. They're already howling like beasts.
The guys who were yelling "Down with the Knight Department! Eradicate them!" now have to train together? Yeah, right.
Oh, and for the record, it's not just the Officer Department freaking out. The Knight Department is the same.
They're wailing, "Why do we have to team up with those Officer Department nobodies who don't even know honor?!"
Apparently, they're even more pissed off than we are—never less.
"Can't be helped, right? Your operation hit them hard."
Ariete pats my shoulder with a smile.
"They say they still dream about you stealing their swords in their sleep. Or when they're dozing in class, you whisper 'Gonna take your sword?' and they all scream 'Gah!' and wake up. The professors are thrilled—they finally have a reliable wake-up method."
Stop. I had no idea it'd turn out like this.
If I knew, I wouldn't have done it. I'd have just said "Figure it out yourselves" and bolted.
"Don't worry too much, Richi. They'll rage all they want, but come the day, one word—'order'—and they'll shut up and work hard. You know that."
Yeah... that's true. Personal grudges are one thing, official duties another.
Officers and knights alike aren't clueless, which is why this delicate standoff holds.
Imagine if we were like those island nation weirdos—no unity at all, even spying on each other like maniacs.
The Imperial Family would've gone "Haha, these idiots won't do," and drawn their swords on the spot.
It's not that bad yet, so they're just watching quietly.
Yeah. No worries there. They'll sort themselves out.
"Weird. Why do you still look like 'I've got a ton to worry about'?"
They say a man's greatest enemy is a woman. Not wrong.
I didn't even show it outright, and she noticed right away?
Guess I need to practice my poker face for the future.
"What else? It's because of me."
"You, Richi?"
"Yeah. Me."
I tap my chest, and Ariete tilts her head.
She clearly has no clue what I'm getting at.
"Think about it. Who am I?"
"Richi?"
"Right. Richi. But Richi who?"
"Reinhardt?"
Yeah. Good. Now that you've got that far, the rest should be obvious, right?
You're not just pretty—you're smart too. You'd figure it out in a second, Ariete.
"...Aha."
"Figure it out?"
"If things go like this, your side has to win no matter what."
"Bingo."
Yeah. That's the problem. I'm a Reinhardt from a family of war heroes.
No issue if I stuck to the Administrative Department, but now I'm active in the Officer Department too.
And in that setup, there's a massive joint training between the Knight and Officer Departments?
Then my team losing would just look ridiculous.
With my grandfather, father, and brother— the Empire's powerhouse commanders in the family.
Everyone naturally expects me to shine and lead to victory.
My teammates, sure—but even the opposing students!
"If my side loses even once? I guarantee, the gossip will be endless."
"It's just academy training. How big a deal could it be?"
"No huge problem, like you said. But you know how word of mouth spreads farther than you'd think."
If I had no plans for the military, fine—but my future path definitely involves it.
Even tiny scratches like that can turn unpleasant in noble society.
That's how it works: shine forever, or get buried forever.
Worried. So worried. No clue how the teams will shake out.
It'd be great if I had reliable people around me.
At least Enter by my side would make it manageable...
"...Ariete?"
I glance sideways, and she's staring right at me with a sly smile.
Her gaze is so blatant, it's suspicious.
"You're awfully proactive. Weren't you just trying to avoid me before?"
"That was then. Now that I've decided, no half-measures."
"Good. That's the spirit of a real man. Whoa, suddenly looking pretty cool?"
"...Thanks, if that's a compliment."
Hope my face isn't red. That'd be mortifying.
"Worried about your teammates?"
"Are you reading minds? That's the only rational suspicion here."
"It's the only thing you'd worry about. Hmm, they said mixing everyone regardless of year or department, then splitting into two teams... You might end up against each other."
Against each other. Enemy team. Enemies with Ariete...
"Hope that doesn't happen."
"Huh?"
"You know me too well. Makes you a pain on the other side."
"Y-yeah? Me too. I'd prefer being on your team, Richi."
Worried. So worried. Can't just go to the professor now and cough, "Ahem. Actually, I'm Reinhardt's second son. If you don't give me who I want, it'll be a pro.blem for you."
And what's the Crown Prince coming for? If he wants to cheer the academy kids, watch from afar. Send some nice encouragement.
When big shots show up, the little guys suffer. Damn it!
The roster dropped two hours later in the announcements.
[Richi Reinhardt, Enter Prize, Lester Worldrun, Michel Ulpenbager...]
Please. Let this gacha roll be a huge win. Please. Please! Dream team for my squad!
[...Ariete Clozen.]
Great. Awesome. This is jackpot already. Enter's here, Michel too.
Lester's a slight worry, but sometimes you need guys like him for balance.
My Officer Department buddies I secretly hoped for ended up on the enemy team.
Too bad, but what can you do? Gains come with losses.
More importantly, the Knight Department folks on my team...
Dream team. No exaggeration. Hey! Gacha success!
"Ah, shit. We're screwed."
"Lester. Even if you're not thrilled to be on my team, watch your mouth."
"Sorry. Not because of you, Richi. It's the enemy team."
"Why? What's the problem?"
Lester, standing next to me, points to the enemy roster opposite ours.
My eyes drift down to where his finger lands, spotting one name.
[Galen Carlyle]
...Hmm. The name alone screams "Charge with sword in mouth!"
"You know Haentus Imperial Count, right, Richi?"
"Yeah. The one who shone brightest under the Victory Duke—the knights' hometown."
"That's his son. Next head of the Carlyle family too."
That explains Lester's worry.
First off, this Galen guy's a knight through and through, bones and all.
His family's served as the Emperor's knights for ages.
Worth calling next head? Definitely above average.
And finally, that brutal boss-vibe aura from his name.
"He won't like teaming with officers, but he's got a no-nonsense personality—plays it straight. This won't be easy. I secretly hoped he'd be on our side. Who'd guess from the Carlyle name? Stubborn as hell, but a combat beast."
"Sounds more officer material than knight."
"I thought so too, but what can you do? Family's the knights' cradle—crazy to go officer."
A Galen who commands like a veteran officer while berserking like Galen.
This joint training? Way tougher than I thought.