The Genius's Test
"Haven't we met somewhere before?"
Serian Elhardt stared straight at Kaizen. At that innocent question, Kaizen's heart dropped straight to the floor.
…This is a test. It has to be.
She remembered everything. Last night's rudeness, his arrogant lecture—every single detail. This was her elegant yet merciless final chance to make him confess his sins with his own mouth.
What should he do? Tell the truth? …Not here. Not in front of the Empire's highest-ranking officials. Admit that he had failed to recognize the Chief Development Officer and tried to drill military discipline into her instead? Impossible. The moment he did that, his military career would be over.
Sweat beaded on Kaizen's forehead and trickled down his jaw. Every eye in the conference room was fixed on him.
The silence was broken by General Clausewitz's cold voice. "Lieutenant Colonel Walter, what are you doing? Stand still."
At the general's low rebuke, Kaizen's shoulders flinched. He barely managed to pull himself together and moved like a poorly oiled mechanical doll.
"Th-this is our first meeting! Kaizen von Walter, at your service! Chief Development Officer! Please… please be lenient…!"
He bowed ninety degrees, unable to lift his head.
"……?"
Serian merely tilted her head, her expression unchanged, genuinely puzzled. Murmurs rippled through the room.
Why is he acting like that?
He must be overly nervous.
Valentine, in particular, alternated his gaze between Serian's blank face and the sweat pouring down Kaizen's. His brow furrowed slightly.
…She didn't even do anything. Why is he like that?
Could Serian have done something? Surely not—
A hypothesis flashed through Valentine's mind.
This is… an invisible battle of presence!
Master warriors could read everything about their opponent just by facing them. Without crossing blades, they finished hundreds of clashes inside their heads. That was exactly what was happening now. Two powerhouses measuring each other's worth in a silent probing match—whether this young battalion commander was fit to become the Empire's sword. She was testing him in her own way.
Valentine finally understood the meaning of Kaizen's cold sweat. That sweat was proof he was being crushed by the overwhelming aura of the giant before him! The young lieutenant colonel was desperately enduring an invisible, crushing pressure.
Hahaha…
She might be the youngest development officer here, but her skill and depth already surpassed even this elite officer. Valentine's shoulders unconsciously squared with pride.
He cleared his throat to move things along. "Ahem… That will do for introductions."
***
The meeting finally moved to the main agenda.
"Now, to the main topic. Lieutenant Colonel Walter, brief us on your initial training plan for the 1st Special Mobile Battalion."
"Yes, sir! Understood!"
Kaizen hurriedly spread out his prepared materials. But—
…The letters wouldn't come into focus. His mind had gone completely blank. Every nerve was locked onto the single person seated at the head of the table. The Chief Development Officer. Serian Elhardt. Her icy gaze was fixed on him.
"F-for the initial training of the 1st Special Mobile Battalion, we will focus on… basic physical conditioning and… equipment familiarization…"
While he stammered, something began moving rhythmically in the corner of his vision. Unable to endure the boredom of the meeting, Serian had picked up a pen from the table and was spinning it between her fingers. To Kaizen, that cold expression and mechanical motion made his heart plummet.
Every action of a genius carried intent. That was… wordless pressure.
Your introduction is too long. Stop spinning the pen and get to the point.
Kaizen swallowed his shock and frantically flipped to the next page.
"S-so! Starting from the second week, we will conduct high-intensity obstacle course training—"
Despite his urgent tone, her expression never changed. The pen stopped spinning. Her gaze drifted to the empty teacup on the table.
Ah, I want some iced chocolate…
Serian was simply craving sugar, but Kaizen, who had been desperately tracking her every movement, felt a chill run down his spine. That indifferent gaze… the meaning of that empty cup was unmistakable.
Your report is as empty as this teacup. A hollow plan with neither core nor substance!
He interpreted it as criticism that his plan was far too ordinary and resolved to raise the training intensity to compensate. He had to fill it with substance somehow.
"Th-therefore, we plan to increase daily training time from six hours to eight hours to improve focus…!"
At that exact moment—
"Haaam…"
Serian covered her mouth and let out a small yawn, unable to hold it back. The aftereffects of her long vacation had brought on drowsiness she could no longer fight; now she was even resting her chin on her hand.
Ah, my neck hurts… Sleeping too much really does make you tired…
Kaizen's thought process burned white.
She rested her chin on her hand! And yawned…!
…It was over! That meant his plan was a pathetic waste of time, nothing but empty padding. How much must she despise him for bringing such a clichéd plan!
If things continued like this, not only his military career but his family's honor would be destroyed.
"N-no, ma'am! I will discard the entire plan I just presented!"
He clutched the documents in his hands and shouted on impulse.
"Upon reconsideration, it was far too complacent and ordinary! Training is about quality, not quantity! Only one hour a day! However, I will change it to an ultra-high-density practical compression training where every member experiences the limits of body and mind!"
The conference room stirred once more. The generals stared at him in disbelief. General Clausewitz's eyes narrowed.
"One hour a day? Is that even possible? Do you have some special method?"
"W-well…"
As Kaizen sweated under the pressure, he caught a subtle change in Serian's expression. The corner of her mouth, which had remained coldly expressionless, curved ever so slightly—into something that could almost be called a smile.
She's… smiling?
It worked!
Kaizen seized the opportunity and desperately squeezed out more words.
"Yes! That is correct, General! The existing training methods are outdated ideas that only waste time."
"…Outdated ideas?"
"This revolutionary equipment requires a new paradigm of training to match! Not pushing physical limits, but drawing out mental limits… a training method that utilizes ultra-high mental concentration—"
"Stop with the pretty words and give us a concrete method, Lieutenant Colonel," Clausewitz demanded.
Th-that's…
Just as Kaizen was cornered again, a voice of salvation rang out.
"I will explain."
All eyes turned to Serian.
"As it happens… I was also thinking that method was correct."
Clausewitz's gaze sharpened. "Why?"
Serian opened her mouth with the most profound, genius-like expression she could muster.
"The aerial mobility gear is not merely a tool handled by the body. It is an extension of the user's will and senses—a kind of second body. Trying to bridge that gap through physical training alone only increases injury risk and is inefficient."
Of course—every word of it was plausible nonsense. Serian's mind spun rapidly.
One hour of training per day?
She had no idea why the officer had blurted that out, but—this was an opportunity. A more perfect move did not exist.
By packaging it as an "innovative training method," she could minimize training time, which would naturally drive the soldiers' proficiency into the ground. The result was obvious. It would naturally give birth to the worst unit in history—and as the Chief Development Officer at its center, she would inevitably be branded a failure of a commander as well.
…This is it.
Beyond simple slacking—this was art.
"Then what should be done?"
Hiding her triumphant smile, Serian delivered the finishing blow.
"Instead of the body, the mind must become one with the equipment first. We must teach the members the Mental Universe Realization Training."
At that moment, Kaizen's eyes widened in shock.
The Mental Universe Realization Training—!
The mysterious training method the general had asked him about. To think the rumor that spread during her vacation would be used like this.
Serian cheered inwardly. If she made them waste time with this instead of actual training, the soldiers would naturally complain it was pointless, and unit morale would hit rock bottom. Of course, it would have no effect either! Then the project would naturally fail! And as Chief Development Officer, she would have no choice but to be held accountable! It was perfect.
Clausewitz, unaware of her flawless plan, spoke again.
"One hour of adaptation training per day, followed by the Mental Universe Realization Training…"
He stroked his chin as if deep in thought, then smiled with satisfaction.
"You've come up with an excellent training method. Lieutenant Colonel Walter, proceed with that plan."
At the general's declaration, a faint smile that no one noticed appeared on Serian's lips.
Success.
Her perfect "worst unit creation" plan had finally taken its first step.