Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Now It Really Begins, Damn It!
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Now it really begins, damn it!
After Richi jumped up from his seat at the professor's urgent summons and vanished into the professor's office.
"Why are you here?"
Lester plopped down in the spot where Richi had been sitting, crossed his arms, and shot Garen a look.
Sure, things had improved a tiny bit compared to before, and the joint training had made them slightly friendlier, but in the end, the officer and knight factions were destined to be eternal rivals.
Sometimes their jobs overlapped, but other times they had to perform completely opposing roles. That very difference fueled their competitive spirits even more.
Especially in cases like Lester and Garen, who both dreamed of similar paths despite being in different departments!
"What, is this a place I can't be?"
Garen casually glanced around, shrugged, and thought, Not like it is... Oh, unless the Knight Department is restricted. Guess that's out of my hands then.
At that, Lester muttered, Classic Garen, zero sense of humor, while Michel poked him in the side with, Why are you grumbling again? And finally, Ariete let out a sigh.
Truth be told, this group got along remarkably well. Hard to believe? Surprisingly, it's true.
When the Officer Department and Knight Department crossed paths? Actually, they hardly ever did in the first place—that was reality.
They avoided it on purpose. Face-to-face encounters often led to pride-fueled squabbles that escalated into full-blown emotional brawls. Not exchanging a single word, even in the same space, was the kindest thing they could do for each other.
"So, Garen, why are you here? Why not head to the training grounds?"
Michel seemed genuinely curious too. Most Knight Department students spent their breaks at the training grounds, swinging their swords one more time.
In response, Garen shook the notebook in his hand and replied cheerfully.
"I asked Richi to let me know if he had any advice from his battles against Koenihesen."
"...Advice? To Richi?"
"A request? From you, Garen?"
"Yeah. What's the problem?"
No way there wasn't one. Of course there was. The Knight Department asking the Officer Department for advice? Making a request, no less.
Sure, Richi was from the Revenge Department or whatever, but he was still at the heart of the officer faction—Reinhardt blood. Meanwhile, Garen was from the Carlyle family, core of the knight faction.
And in that context, he'd swallowed his pride to seek "advice," even diligently taking notes like a junior. How could anyone not be shocked?
"...Won't the Knight Department guys hate that?"
"Some probably will. But what can you do? We haven't seen real combat, but Richi has. That's a huge gap. To bridge it even a little, I have to set aside my pride and learn whatever I can. That's how we fulfill our duty as knights of the Empire."
Ugh, these knight types and their stiff talk. Lester grumbled inwardly. Not with any malice or sarcasm—just the sheer suddenness of it all.
"Oh yeah, didn't you and Michel go through real combat too, Lester?"
"Us? Yeah, but not like Richi. Plus, I got injured early on and barely fought."
"I was mostly in the rear, just scurrying around till it ended. Combat-wise... well, we raided an enemy supply depot and burned it down, but embarrassingly, that's it. Just once. Even less than Lester."
Then Garen shook his head as if to say what was there to be embarrassed about and spoke up.
That one experience against Koenihesen troops was something he'd never had. It was a precious asset, irreplaceable.
At Garen's words, Lester and Michel coughed awkwardly, their embarrassment mounting for no reason. Ariete, who'd been listening quietly, let out a soft chuckle.
Not bad at all. In fact, it was great. They were all people directly or indirectly influenced by Richi. Their growth was good for him too—how could she not be pleased?
"Hey! You guys seen Richi anywhere?"
Right on cue, another figure appeared—perhaps the one most profoundly affected.
"Hey, Enter. I just sent him to the professor's office."
"Oh, really? Good. The professor was losing it, demanding where that Richi punk had gone."
Enter sighed in relief and plopped down next to Garen as naturally as could be.
Unlike the Officer Department natives Lester and Michel, he'd come from Administration and only recently joined Officers, so he had no beef with the Knight Department.
Ariete watched the scene, then unwittingly spoke up.
"Somehow, we're all gathered here."
"Huh?"
"What?"
Enter, Lester, Michel, and even Garen—all four guys turned to stare at Ariete, as if asking what she meant.
"Everyone influenced by Richi one way or another. Starting with me, all of us."
"...Me?"
"Influenced by Richi?"
"What influence from that guy?"
Even their feigned ignorance was identical. Like minds really did attract.
The guys bantered on—"What influence? Did we catch baldness too?"—but Ariete just smiled.
...Wait, Richi has hair loss?
While Ariete inwardly screamed at this horrifying revelation she'd never imagined.
"Hey, Enter. So why's the professor looking for Richi anyway?"
"Beats me. He just told me and Lester to find him, no details."
"No clue at all? That's insane."
Enter shook his head and scratched his cheek before speaking.
"Someone from the War Ministry came."
"War Ministry?"
"Why there for Richi? Oh, another summons from the Supreme Commander?"
"Doubt it. He's swamped right now."
Lester and Michel exchanged thoughts, while Ariete and Garen quietly waited for Enter's next words. Why had someone come from the War Ministry? Why Richi specifically?
"You know the Logistics Department there?"
"Yeah, I know."
"Why them?"
"He's been assigned to it."
Eh? Huh? What? Reactions erupted. Enter shrugged like he'd expected as much.
"Garen aside, why are you two so shocked? Didn't Richi mention this was possible last time?"
"Sure, but we figured it'd be after graduation. What about school?"
"Isn't this too soon? People might say it's nepotism just 'cause he's the Supreme Commander's son..."
Their concerns were valid. Completely understandable. Except for the reason that followed.
"It's an imperial decree."
"Long live His Majesty!"
"We are eternally grateful!"
An imperial decree was absolute. Academy? Whatever. Good luck, Richi. Lester and Michel cheered him on from afar.
"..."
Enter and Ariete just watched quietly.
To us—no, to them—Richi didn't seem like he'd be dying alone.
Looking at the uniformed men standing before me, that line popped into my head. So it has come at last...
"Richi Reinhardt."
"Yes, sir."
"Effective next Monday, you are to report to Section 1 of the Logistics Department under the War Ministry. Coordination of your academy schedule will be entirely your responsibility. The academy will cooperate fully to ensure no disadvantages, and the Logistics Department will do the same."
His Majesty had graciously given me a choice. Focus on one, or grit my teeth and juggle both.
That line about cooperation from both sides meant they'd help—as long as I proved I could handle the brutal schedule.
Realistically, I should drop the academy. The workload ahead was insane. But staying had its perks too.
For one, I could scout talent likely to shine in the final war. Enter, Lester, Michel, Garen—they'd all make waves, big or small.
Plus, I wasn't heading to the front lines anyway. I'd be stuck in the War Ministry buried in paperwork. Why toss away the academy as a legitimate shield for some rest?
"Here's your pass for entry into the War Ministry."
This thing around my neck wasn't a pass—it was a slave collar. Or a slave certificate.
I chose this myself... but damn, I hate it. Nobody likes work; it's human nature. Shit.
"I'll take my leave, sir."
"Take care."
The professor saw off the uniformed men, sighed deeply, then suddenly turned to me with pitying eyes.
Why, Professor? Why look at me like that...?
"First the 1st Cavalry Division Commander, now this. Seems you and the academy just aren't meant to be."
"..."
No, we are! I am staying! I'll grit my teeth and stick it out!
Even if I've enslaved myself, I won't abandon the academy! Kyaaah!!