42 I Loved You, You Bitch
Once Rui's identity(?) came to light, she was immediately excused from the work detail. Her new assignment? Sitting by my side as my conversation partner. The engineer battalion commander—who'd shot me a look like Why didn't you say something?—quickly set aside her resentment and departed with eyes pleading, I trust only you, please.
It felt strangely off seeing the battalion commander personally directing the soldiers while a sergeant major sat there idly shooting the breeze. Well, if they were willing to accommodate me, there was no reason to turn it down.
"How's military life treating you? Everything okay?"
"If I said it wasn't here, wouldn't that mean five guys lightly get the boot? Gotta think about your rank, miss."
"As long as you don't leak our chat elsewhere, it's fine."
Probably? I added, tapping my armband with a finger. A black diamond etched over the yellow fabric. The provisional warrant officer armband.
"I've never flashed my true rank in front of anyone but His Imperial Majesty since becoming a warrant officer."
You had no choice during a direct audience with the emperor. Formally, true ranks were bestowed by His Imperial Majesty himself, whereas provisional ranks were only for specific units. Interpreted one way, it could seem like prioritizing the unit commander over the emperor. Flaunting a provisional rank without good reason was already a tightrope walk; doing it during an audience was basically begging to be hauled to the guillotine.
Especially in front of an emperor who'd personally lived through a military coup by an illicit faction. Ah, wait—no guillotines here yet.
"Now that things have gone this far, we can't avoid improving Rui's treatment."
"Eh, is 'can't avoid' the right way to put it? Since you've got good connections, shouldn't you suck the honey while you can?"
"Fair point. Should I put in a good word with the higher-ups, then?"
"No, I didn't mean go that far…"
Whether out of pride or guilt, Rui waved her hand dismissively at the idea of me fully backing her like that. She'd clearly planned to join the work herself—her work gloves were still on.
"More importantly, how the hell did you end up with that rank? Rumors are flying about you being the youngest general or whatever."
What was it again? Youngest and oldest generals in the same unit? Rui muttered to herself, gazing up at the sky. Her chestnut bob fluttered lightly in the cool breeze.
"The last three years have been pretty chaotic inside and out, haven't they?"
A terrorist branded as an archmage had popped up. Factions opposed to military reforms staged a coup, and we'd gone to war with a neighboring power we couldn't ignore militarily. Then a pillar-grade sea beast—what the Eastern Continent called a dragon—showed up, forcing us to shout "temporary alliance just this once."... Yeah, plenty of minor merits to snag, and plenty of higher-ups who got axed for various reasons. Even without me, lots of officers had fast-tracked promotions.
"Our unit's what it is, so I got called around a lot. Plenty of achievements to pick up."
"You must've had it rough. Even during the rebellion, it was chaos—and you rolled all the way across the sea?"
"Your unit was on the Western Continent during the royal succession war?"
"Yep."
The Angras Empire's territory divides into three major chunks. The Western Continent, cradle of the empire. The Northern Ocean Territories—which count as islands academically but take up about 20% of imperial land. And the Eastern Continent, which you reach by crossing the sea again from there.
...Even thinking about it now, what a nightmare layout. A country where you cross monster-infested seas twice to go coast to coast. Before the undersea cable network, the kings of the Northern Ocean and Eastern Continent—back when most fiefdoms like the royal domains still stood—held overwhelming power, they say. Makes sense; no matter what the emperor decreed, distance was a wall letting them run wild.
Flip it around, though, and the empire wielding any influence in that setup was insanely impressive. A mad nation launching expeditionary wars across two seas just one year into a civil war. How the hell is this place not industrialized yet with factories everywhere? Magic forever, seriously.
"So... who's this young lady?"
As we chatted, Rui turned her gaze to Riley standing beside me.
"Daughter of the Count of Groomha."
"...That Groomha I know?"
"You can tell from her looks, right?"
"That Groomha!"
Riley puffed out her chest proudly, while Rui shrank back a bit in contrast. Unlike the innocent country bumpkin Beni, Rui had rolled as both private and NCO, building real experience. She knew full well "Groomha County" was just propaganda window dressing—that it was effectively an independent state beyond imperial control.
So... she clocked the foreign princess right in front of her. No wonder the reaction.
"Didn't you hear she enrolled at the academy?"
"Oh, so that's the one..."
Rui nodded as if it clicked with my explanation. ...Though soon her eyes turned to But why are you dragging her around?
"Ended up as an academy military band soldier somehow. I'm supervising her field trip."
"Hmm."
She still looked baffled at how that happened, but seemed unwilling to press further and fell quiet. She got that denying the facts right in front of her was pointless.
"One more. That one's a commoner, at least."
"Uh... miss, you know getting into the academy as a commoner is more terrifying, right?"
"...True enough."
Rui herself was an ace, handpicked as a military bandsman from the ranks. But even she saw commoners making the academy as unnatural freaks.
"That friend's in the train?"
"Over there mining salt."
"...Why's an academy kid doing that?"
"...Beats me."
She didn't seem perpetually broke... but she got weirdly fixated on earning cash sometimes. Like me stockpiling food when I could—maybe not that odd.
As I pondered, footsteps approached from afar. I turned to see the battalion commander striding over, posture a bit stiff. I shot up and placed a hand over my heart.
"Long live His Imperial Majesty."
"Long live His Imperial Majesty...? Ah, right—the rail repair's done."
She froze, not expecting me to salute first. Come on... If you'd heard the rumors, you'd have prepped to treat me like a subordinate, even formally. You're disqualified as my boss, Rapti... what was it? Anyway, whatever-something brigade commander.
She was already losing on the bust points to Rui; at least her attitude could use work.
"Thank you. Didn't expect it this quick."
But I'm a good soldier who knows work from personal stuff. Burying those thoughts skin-deep, I continued evenly.
"I'll make sure to highlight this swift response in the report."
"...! Thank you!"
"Just writing what happened, no exaggeration. If it gets good reviews, it's just 147th Unit earning its due."
She didn't hide her delight. Well, I doubted it'd end well. No way she knew that report went straight to the crown princess.
Of all people, that crown princess. She wouldn't normally move this fast. She'd rushed because superiors were involved. The princess would see right through it.
But even if the outcome changed nothing, the commander felt good through the process—win-win?
"Battalion commander. Head out for Su-eul?"
"Ooze cleanup's wrapping up too, so confirm the train departs properly, then return."
"Ah, yeah—the litter carriers need a break too."
Rui nodded and stood slowly at the commander's words.
"Then we'll be off. Catch you next time, Rui."
I gave her a faint smile.
"If you get leave, come to Karimille. I'll show you around."
"No, miss—wasting precious leave on a girl?"
"Uh..."
"Jeez, can't even joke anymore? With you, Miss Konstantia? Gotta go."
She was still using what I'd taught her back then. As I looked a bit flustered, Rui grinned and added,
"I've got a girlfriend already—meeting a guy would be trouble."
"...Girlfriend?"
I peered blankly at Rui's face.
"Huh? Oh, yeah—about half a year now."
"Ah, congrats."
"Not quite worth celebrating..."
I clapped dryly, impassively. Non-virgin? Disqualified. Try again after earning the married title.
...Kidding. Rui and I weren't anything special, and I had no intentions there. Three years since I'd forgotten her, and now this reunion—what?
Sure, once home I'd fantasize her writhing in bed. But that's it.
"You... probably not into this stuff, honestly."
"Yep. Not at all."
"Hey, that wasn't an insult? Just... you seem totally uninterested?"
"I get it. I really am."
I nodded at Rui's words.
"If I had time for that, it'd fall short of worshiping His Imperial Majesty."
"...Uh, yeah."
She'd brought it up, but hadn't expected this—her face went a bit blank. Comrade love, country love—look at her knowing and caring for her precious peer's tastes.
Okay, I exaggerated a tad on purpose, but wasn't lying to get hate. A relationship with a guy? Better to blow up from an orc curse.
Staying this firm meant no matchmaking talk ever. Guys approached sometimes, maybe to tempt—but I never hid my disgust, and word spread I was a conservative fossil crushed by libido.
If a woman tempted me, I'd play hard to get... But the empire's conservative on homosexuality. Not nonexistent—high society did it. But for a stickler soldier who barely tolerated men? No.
Even so, better no rolling than with a guy. Eye candy now and then was best. I eyed Riley's exposed abs, concluding thus.
...Gonna lick those if I get the chance.
"Um, Warrant Officer. Dismantling's done..."
Another voice cut in—Beni's, sounding oddly subdued. Scared of strangers, especially soldiers around. Especially... Rui aside, the commander was a brigadier—four ranks above warrant officer.
"Good work, Miss Beni. She's one of my charges with Miss Riley."
"Ah, uh, Beni, ma'am...!"
Beni bowed at my intro. Rapti commander flashed a sales smile, praising her first impression awhile.
"Th-thank you..."
Backfired on low-confidence Beni, though.
Low self-esteem types either leap for joy at praise or, like Beni, feel burdened. If just seeing it as lip service, fine; worse, suspect hidden motives. Beni leaned former—no bad impression.
"Well, train's departing soon—excuse us."
No need to leave her stewing, though. Praise to score points? Fair.
Stepping slightly in front of awkward Beni, I told the commander.
"Ah, yes. Safe travels."
"You too, Battalion Commander. Long live His Imperial Majesty."
"Long live His Imperial Majesty."
With that, I led Beni and Riley back aboard.
"Th-thanks. You covered for me, right?"
"Not sure it's 'covering' level."
Thinking no one could overhear now, Beni whispered from behind. I turned and replied.
Bluntly declaring Yes! I helped you! felt embarrassing.
"You don't like excessive praise, do you?"
"No, it's not that I hate it... but a stranger gushing like that? Anyone'd see it's empty words."
True. I nodded.
Poor commander—tried scoring points, backfired. Wouldn't note it in the report, though. Probably?
Feeling the train's pre-departure rumble, I settled on that.