Chapter 49

Summary of the previous chapter.

Kazasakiiii!

"Thus, the damage this time is eight mass-produced units completely destroyed, or rather, annihilated. Twenty-three Kusanagi-type units are heavily damaged, twenty-one are moderately damaged, and six are lightly damaged. Thirty-one Yafu-type units are heavily damaged, three are moderately damaged, and six are lightly damaged. 182 artillerymen have died. Additionally, 92 tanks are heavily damaged, over 50 are moderately damaged. Over 400 accompanying troops have died, and over 1,200 are seriously or lightly injured. While it doesn't match the complete annihilation of the Third Division at Imphal, it is undoubtedly a significant loss."

"Hai."

"Those heavily damaged Kusanagi-type units have all lost their pilots. The reason there are fewer moderately or lightly damaged Yafu-type units is that their original defense is low, so most of them are heavily damaged when they receive an attack. Of course, the pilots of the heavily damaged units, like those of the Kusanagi-type, have all died. There's no need to say that the same applies to the artillerymen."

"Hai."

Shallowako, the head of the Integrated Headquarters, muttered, "My head hurts..." in front of the report. In front of her, Togashi Katsunori, the commander of the Second Division, was desperately trying to suppress his anger.

What troubled Shallowako was mainly the cost and time required for reconstruction, but what angered Togashi was the Third Division's faction, who not only distanced Kaita from the battlefield before the battle but also sent people who did not work properly on the scene.

"Still, the Third Division's faction also lost four mass-produced units and fifty artillerymen they sent, as well as a considerable number of Kusanagi-type and Yafu-type units and their pilots. They can't be said to have 'not worked' in this situation."

"That is true, but..."

"Furthermore, the Third Artillery Squad did not work only when they experienced a 'jam' at the end. Until then, they participated in the artillery fire, albeit clumsily. Do you intend to 'deny' even that?"

"...No."

"Moreover, the decision to call it a 'jam' was made by the on-site commander, Shizuno. Of course, if he had said 'order violation' on the spot, the morale would have collapsed, so he had no choice but to say it was a 'jam.' As such, it can be a subject of caution, but not a reason for punishment."

"...Hai."

Shallowako did not say it, but in the rear, including the Integrated Headquarters, there were not a few voices that rejoiced at the survival of the Third Artillery Squad after gaining experience, contrary to the anger on the front lines.

(I feel the same way, even if it's bad for Togashi.)

Experienced soldiers are precious, but experienced units are even more so, especially those with the potential to defeat large monsters in one strike.

(They are necessary for the future.)

The military high command made this judgment. Therefore, no matter how much the people who participated in this battle petitioned, they could not punish the members of the Third Artillery Squad.

It's not just that. Togashi still has more bad news to come.

"And regarding the removal of Kawakami from the battlefield, this also cannot be punished."

"Such a thing!"

The people of the Second Division all believed that if Kawakami were there, the damage would have been much less. In fact, even if Kaita had only achieved the same results as last time—or slightly less—the majority of the large monsters that landed would have been dealt with.

Not all 11, but if there were 8 fewer large monsters, it would have clearly reduced the casualties from artillery fire and counterattacks.

This is not just their assumption but is based on solid achievements. As a result, not only the Second Division but also the Sixth and Eighth Divisions are now angry at the Third Division for their tricks to keep Kaita away from the battlefield.

Therefore, Togashi came to petition for some kind of punishment for the Third Division's faction, but Shallowako's answer was no.

"I understand your point. However, this time, Kawakami has achieved the feat of rescuing the princess of an allied country and many civilians. The trigger for this was the special mission given to him by the Myoujou Heavy Industries and the special mission system. No matter what intentions were behind it, I cannot punish those who issued the order."

"Ku..."

To be precise, Kaita rescued the daughter of a count, who is a cousin of the Grand Duke, the head of state of the allied country, but she is generally treated as a member of the Grand Duke's family, so both sides do not make fine corrections.

From an external perspective, she would be in a position similar to that of Shallowako, who is a member of the royal family.

Therefore, Shallowako cannot praise the people of the Policy Promotion Division for creating the opportunity to save a girl of equal status but cannot suggest punishing them.

"Moreover, what do you intend to punish them for? Surely not for 'wrongly giving a special mission to a special lieutenant'?"

"That is..."

"Regardless of the outcome, I cannot say that I have no complaints about the process of issuing the order. However, at least they followed the proper procedures to give the special mission to the lieutenant. On the other hand, did you follow the formal procedures? Perhaps you only made inquiries?"

"...Hai."

To repeat, Shallowako is also dissatisfied with being outmaneuvered. She thinks that the Integrated Headquarters, including herself, were also negligent in Kaita being removed from the battlefield.

However, even if the same thing happened again, she thinks she could not prevent the Third Division's faction from achieving their goal.

After all, they did nothing.

Specifically, all they did was suggest to Myoujou Heavy Industries, "Why don't you try making a new type of exoskeleton?"

Regarding Kaita, they simply reissued the original order to "continue cooperating with Myoujou Heavy Industries."

If it were a new product presentation or a formal competition for adoption, Shallowako could have intervened. But she cannot interfere with a suggestion to make a new product.

Or rather, Shallowako is not so idle as to be privy to such trivial matters.

Therefore, the argument that the Second Division is at fault for not issuing a new order—such as a stand-by order—despite knowing that monsters were coming, is prevailing.

Then, can some kind of punishment be given to Myoujou Takafumi, who tried to protect himself by using this interpretation to bark at the military? The answer is no, or rather, impossible.

This is because the root cause of Takafumi's actions lies in the harassment by the Third Division's faction and the corporate groups associated with them.

How can the Second Division or the Integrated Headquarters, who did not protect Takafumi, criticize him for defending himself?

Therefore, Togashi and others cannot complain to the Third Division, the corporate groups, Myoujou Heavy Industries, or Kaita. (Of course, they had no intention of complaining to Kaita from the beginning.)

However, the military high command does not intend to completely ignore the feelings of the soldiers who risked their lives in the defense.

"Of course, I understand that many people are not satisfied with no punishment at all."

"Hai."

"However, we do not intend to give laws or punishments based on emotions."

"...Hai."

If we do, the National Defense Army will become a collection of private armies led by various factions. Therefore, Shallowako absolutely does not allow emotional retaliation.

"These are the compromises we have come up with after considering all of this."

"I will read it. ...I see."

The document Togashi received outlined the reorganization plan for the future.

"Un. As you can see, the reconstruction plan for the Third Division has been frozen, and the budget has been allocated to the reconstruction of the Second, Sixth, and Eighth Divisions. ...Will this hold the line?"

"...It will be difficult, but I will try."

"Thank you."

"Hai."

Human emotions are troublesome. Especially when they involve the lives of oneself or those close to one.

However, even understanding this, no further preferential treatment can be given, either legally or logically. Togashi, who was implicitly told this, decided to accept the compromise offered by Shallowako, though he was not truly convinced. ...Or rather, he had no choice but to accept it.

Togashi, who will have to persuade his subordinates, already looks tired, but he has to endure it, considering it was his own carelessness that led to this situation.

"By the way,"

Once the on-site opinions were somewhat accepted, Shallowako decided to change the topic.

"Regarding Lieutenant Kawakami, his official assignment will be to the First Division."

"That is!"

Kaita was a talent that the Second Division had been eyeing from the beginning.

It was a coincidence that he took the entrance exam, but after that, the Second Division recommended him to the military academy and gave him preferential treatment during the exam.

If he had been in another division, it can be said that Kaita would not have risen to prominence so quickly. Taking him away after his success would be too tyrannical.

Especially when the rebuilding of the forces is urgent, losing Kaita would make even the defense of the country precarious.

"I understand what you are trying to say."

"Then!"

"There is a reason. Listen to it first."

"Ku!"

Shallowako's voice, calming the anxious Togashi, remained calm.

"First, regarding this incident, I believe that making Kawakami a special lieutenant was one of the root causes."

Naturally, most of the tasks given to a special lieutenant like Kaita are 'special missions.'

The content of these special missions is known only to the person who receives the order and a few related individuals. Therefore, in this incident, not only his teacher and superior, Kusaka Shizuka, but even the principal, who is responsible for the students and teachers, did not know the content of the special mission given to Kaita.

If they had known, they would have undoubtedly contacted Shallowako with the question, "Is this really okay?"

However, they did not know the content. On the other hand, they did know that the monsters would attack again. Therefore, they misunderstood that the special mission given to Kaita was "to use him for the next interception."

This misunderstanding arose because they had some knowledge.

Naturally, with such a misunderstanding, there would be no confirmation call.

As a result, no one on the school side knew that Kaita was sent to Far Eastern Russia instead of Kyushu.

The same was true for