Chapter 71

In the end, the cultural festival at the military academy was immediately canceled due to an incident far too significant to be called a disturbance.

While there were some civilians who lamented the cancellation, the fact that a demon had infiltrated the military academy, which is home to many civilians and the future leaders of the nation, and had even appeared openly, confirmed by a large number of people including the media, made it impossible for even the top brass of the First Division to continue the event.

If the festival had continued, they would have faced even more severe criticism from all quarters, questioning what the military was thinking.

The only silver lining was that no civilians were harmed, but that was only a result of circumstances; the military had not done anything to prevent it.

Moreover, the content of the First Division's upper echelons' meeting, which was recorded, was so sloppy, lackluster, and incomprehensible that those who participated in the meeting were now facing intense criticism from all sides.

"Phew. What a mess."

Amidst this, Shizuko Asaka, the Chief of the Integrated Headquarters, who had just completed her investigation, sighed deeply as she returned to her office.

"Not 'Phew,' is it?"

The one delivering a stern rebuke to the sighing Asaka was Katsuyuki Ogata, the commander of the Second Division, who had been waiting for her investigation to conclude.

Incidentally, Ogata and the others in the Second Division, who had been dedicated to its reconstruction, had been concerned about the performance of the mass-produced units operated by Keita, but due to their busy schedules, they had not participated in the cultural festival at the military academy.

Thus, they only learned about the appearance of the demon at the military academy after everything had ended—though it had taken only about 20 minutes from the demon's appearance, claiming to be Alba, to its defeat by Keita, so it wasn't that late.

(When we received the report that 'a demon has appeared at the military academy,' the next report was 'Second Lieutenant Kawakami defeated the demon in a one-on-one battle.' You can imagine how confused I and the others working with me, like Shino, were.)

Ogata, trying to keep his wits about him amidst the storm of information, instructed the relevant personnel on the ground to provide updates and details.

Shortly after, Ogata was informed of the series of incomprehensible orders issued by the First Division's upper echelons and the combat records of Keita, who had been forced to fight under those orders.

If the performance of the mass-produced units had been below catalog specifications.

If Keita had not been able to handle the mass-produced units.

If the demon had been a bit stronger.

If the demon had been enveloped in that black magic from the start.

All of these are hypothetical scenarios, but none of them are impossible.

A commander should anticipate the worst-case scenario. Given this common sense, the situation required considering the possibility that Keita could have died.

Making students fight at a cultural festival is one thing, but if a student were to die, the military would face an immense amount of criticism.

Some might say I'm overthinking it, but it's the job of the upper echelons to be this cautious.

Despite this, when Shizuka Kuwabara, who had confirmed the situation, was told by the First Division's upper echelons, "If he lost the one-on-one battle, there was nothing that could be done," it was as if they were living in a dream.

Upon receiving this series of information, it was only natural for Ogata and the others, who valued Keita as a decisive weapon and a key to defense, to be furious, thinking, "Why can't they see that one lieutenant is more valuable than all of them combined!"

And the flames of anger that Ogata felt at that moment have not yet completely subsided.

"First of all, there was no need for a one-on-one battle with a demon. Why didn't you stop it?"

This was a question not only for Ogata but for the entire military.

"I answered that in the investigation, didn't I? I thought the one-on-one battle was nonsense too. But the higher-ups, who claimed to have combat experience, pushed for it, saying, 'If challenged, don't run.' I just went along with it."

Incidentally, among those who pushed for it were division commanders.

"Stopping it was your job, wasn't it?"

"Well, to be honest, it was more the Chief of Staff's job."

The reason the Chief of Staff's name didn't come up is that the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the First Division.

The General Staff and the Integrated Headquarters, composed of officers who formulate overall strategies, tend to refrain from giving opinions on the ground.

Of course, Ogata knew this. He would find it troublesome if they actually interfered.

However, if it was clear that the situation on the ground was out of control, it would be a different story.

"If the division commander was out of control, the Chief of Staff, who belongs to the same division, couldn't stop him. That should have been understood from the Third Division incident, right?"

"... Yes, that's true."

Furthermore, the upper echelons of the First Division are composed of royalty and nobility. In such a case, only another royal, like the Chief of Staff or Asaka, could rein them in.

Therefore, she could not refute the criticism that "Asaka and the Chief of Staff, who participated in the meeting but did not stop them, failed to fulfill their responsibilities."

Of course, she could not refute the sarcastic question, "What did you learn from the Third Division's destruction?"

"I have reflected on it. I was also severely reprimanded by His Majesty."

"That's good to hear."

Naturally, only a select few can investigate the upper echelons of the First Division, composed of royalty and nobility.

Therefore, they can usually suppress most issues with their power, but this time was different.

Why? Because a higher authority was not hiding their anger.

For him, the appearance of a demon in the capital, which he personally oversees, was one thing. What he could not tolerate was the subsequent response.

Since demons and humans cannot be distinguished by appearance, infiltration is possible. If they infiltrate as guests or their guards, it is even more likely. Some preparations are needed in the future, but it cannot be completely prevented at the moment. However, what happened after the demon appeared?

Why didn't they quickly defeat it?

A one-on-one battle? What nonsense!

Negotiate in ten or twenty years?

What presumptuousness!

Letting children fight instead of themselves?

Using a unit whose performance hasn't even been fully tested?

And calling the victorious child 'dishonorable'?

If you're going to say such things, why don't you go first?

You left the demon alone for nearly ten minutes until the hero appeared?

Do you realize you disgraced yourselves in front of guests from allied and cooperative countries?

Do you realize you have tarnished my reputation? Fools, know your shame!

Despite trying to remain calm, the reprimand and criticism from the higher authority were relentless, and the upper echelons of the First Division were literally squeezed.

Of course, Asaka was not immune. However, as a military administrator overseeing the entire organization, she received less severe criticism compared to the members of the First Division, but the fact that she received criticism remains unchanged.

(If I continue to make mistakes, I might be dismissed, or even stripped of my royal status and executed.)

In this era, the nobility are nobility because they are warriors and protectors.

And the royalty are at the top, setting an example. Therefore, the higher authority will not continue to favor those who do not fulfill their duties or lack the ability to do so, especially if they are family.

(The upper echelons of the First Division have also been ordered to go to the battlefield.)

Indeed, it became clear that the First Division, which had long defended the capital, had become complacent. Therefore, a certain imperial decree was issued to the upper echelons of the First Division.

While the details are complex, in summary, it was "Go back to the battlefield and fight the monsters."

Whether they would go as commanders or as soldiers is unclear, but the intention is to "snap out of complacency."

Of course, they resisted, saying, "If we leave, the capital's defense will be compromised." However, their resistance was easily dismissed.

(They probably didn't expect to be asked, 'What can complacent people protect?' I can imagine the First Division's upper echelons turning pale.)

It was a satisfying response. The problem is that I am also included in this criticism, but it is an undeniable fact, so I must accept it.

The punishment for Asaka is precisely there.

"Where to send the units, how many, and for how long. How to defend during that period. The budget for movement and reassignment. Oh, there's so much to think about, it's overwhelming."

In addition to this, she had to consider the analysis of the demon's actions and measures to prevent a recurrence. The amount of work was daunting just to think about.

Currently feeling disheartened, Asaka found no help from Ogata, who was there to push her further.

"The Second, Sixth, and Eighth Divisions, which are in the process of reconstruction, cannot send troops to the capital, and due to command structure issues, they have no room to accommodate the complacent First Division. The Seventh and Ninth Divisions, which are preparing to send reinforcements for the next major offensive, are in the same situation."

Naturally, the Second Division, which was engaged in defense within the country, was the first place Asaka considered for the First Division's deployment. However, being directly turned down by the division commander, and told that they had no room to take on additional burdens, Asaka could not force the issue.

"... So where should the First Division go, and who will replace them in defending the capital?"

However, it was decided that the First Division would gain combat experience. Field commanders' opinions are important, but they cannot override an imperial decree. Therefore, Asaka had to somehow persuade Ogata, but Ogata was determined not to accept the First Division.

"Perhaps the First Division could be divided into three groups and sent on overseas expeditions in rotation. The Third Division could fill in the gaps. I don't think the Third Division would be necessary as long as Captain Kawakami is there."

"Overseas expeditions?"

"Is there a problem?"

"The problem isn't the expeditions, it's the budget..."

Of course, sending units abroad requires much more preparation, time, and budget compared to sending them domestically. While she could accept the increased workload as part of her punishment, the budget was a different matter.

"Then send the upper echelons as military observers. Even just fighting small monsters on the ground would be quite different. Of course, you should go as well, senior."

"... Learn the field, you mean?"

"Yes. Besides, if they go to Kyushu or the Chugoku region, the locals will be in winter quarters, so they won't be able to fight monsters. But if they don't, they won't fulfill the imperial decree during the winter. That wouldn't be good, would it?"

"... That's true."

If reforms were to be implemented, they should be done as soon as possible. Moreover, if they were left for too long, the First Division might devise a way to avoid the expeditions, rendering the imperial decree meaningless.

Considering this, Ogata and others had completed various preparations to block the First Division's escape routes.

"Besides, it's a good opportunity for them to understand the hardships of those on the front lines. The Fourth and Fifth Divisions have already responded that they would 'gladly accept them.'"

"... So you've already done the groundwork."

"Yes. It is the duty of a subject to fulfill the imperial decree as quickly as possible."

To be precise, it was more like, "You sent us to the battlefield while you lounged in the capital? Fine, we'll show you hell! We'll gladly accept them!" However, their statement that they would "gladly accept them" was not a lie.

This proposal was possible because the domestic defense group, which did not want to accept troublemakers, and the overseas expedition group, which wanted to teach the domestic group—especially the First Division—the hardships of the front lines, had their goals perfectly aligned.

"Hmm."

(Not bad.)

Asaka could not and did not intend to argue against the common sense that "the imperial decree should be fulfilled as quickly as possible." The only issue was that the command structure might be compromised if the upper echelons went abroad, but as Ogata suggested, a rotation system would solve this problem.

"The budget and effort would not be as significant if we send individuals rather than units."

"Yes. Fortunately, the local group, led by Lieutenant Colonel Kuwabara, does not seem as senile as the upper echelons, so there is no need to send units. Besides, if units are sent, they might use them as personal guards. The presence of units from different command structures would only hinder those fighting on the ground."

"So, individuals, then."

"That's right. Oh, by the way."

"... Is there something else?"

Asaka, who was becoming tired of the various divisions' pent-up frustrations as expressed through Ogata's words and attitude, knew that Ogata, who had the opportunity to vent years of frustration, would not show mercy.

"Perhaps the Third Division, especially the Policy Promotion Section, should go with them and test the new enhanced exoskeletons. The Fourth and Fifth Divisions are interested in exoskeletons that can slaughter medium-sized monsters individually, so they won't treat them poorly."

While they would be sent to the front lines to fight, that's a different matter.

The Policy Section would be happy to get the data.

The front lines would be happy to see fewer monsters.

The divisions would be happy to reform the central group's mindset.

The parties involved would be happy to fulfill the imperial decree.

The higher authority would be happy to see the imperial decree fulfilled.

No one would lose, making it a wonderful proposal.

(There's no way out.)

"If your divisions have already discussed this, I can't refuse. ... Fine. I will prepare the plan and start the movement as soon as it is approved by His Majesty."

The First Division's approval was not sought because this was a form of punishment. Asaka, who was also in a position to receive punishment, had no intention of making excuses or buying time.

It is because of this