Chapter 73

It's going to be busy at the end and beginning of the year, so updates may become irregular.

"Here it comes."

"Hmm."

"Then I will explain. Ask all your questions after I finish."

"Hmm."

It was mid-December, just before the winter break.

It seems that the aftermath of the chaos that occurred during the cultural festival has finally settled down.

I was summoned by the boss to be informed of the results—frankly, I didn't want to hear about the upper echelons' mess, but of course, I had no right to refuse. However, the content I heard was completely unexpected.

"An expedition by the upper echelons of the First Division? And I'm a major? Moreover, the commander of the Training Battalion, right?"

Isn't that a bit too much?

"Yes. I will be the overall commander of the battalion. You will be in the position of training and commanding the mech pilots as the battalion commander. Consider this as a personnel decision that also includes your lieutenant and captain training."

"That's quite sudden."

"There are reasons to hurry."

"Hmm."

I don't mind if the upper echelons of the First Division go on an expedition to snap out of their complacency. I might even wish they would go.

If they die, so be it, and if they return safely, they will likely be more considerate of the front lines.

...But I might be resented for causing the situation, though I doubt anyone would resent a royal decree. They wouldn't, right? I hope not.

It's pointless to consider the feelings of people whose survival is uncertain, so I won't think about them any further. The problem is my position.

"I have a few things I want to confirm. Is it okay to ask questions?"

"It depends on the content. Go ahead and ask."

Sure. I'll take the liberty of asking.

"Yes. First, is it okay for me to become a major? Not just after graduation, but I only became a lieutenant in September. A major in December, really?"

Three promotions in a year? That's impossible, right?

And during the cultural festival, I only defeated one pawn?

Could there be a secret order to 'make me resign'?

I thought about confirming it directly, but it turned out there wasn't.

"It's fine. There's no problem."

That's a lie.

"Let me explain step by step. First, your promotion to lieutenant. This is due to your achievement of eliminating over ten large monsters during the First Major Offensive, so there's no problem."

"Ah."

But there was that special lieutenant thing before. It seems they're not touching that.

"Next, your promotion to lieutenant. This is also fine because you saved the princess of an allied country and thousands of civilians."

"Ah."

Given the praise and knighthood I received there, it would be embarrassing not to recognize it here. I understand.

"And this time. Compared to the previous two, this achievement is weaker, I know."

"Right."

Winning a one-on-one duel sounds impressive, but it's just 'I took down a guy that everyone could have beaten together if they tried.'

In terms of results, no matter how much it stands out, I only defeated one monster. The time it took was less than ten minutes. If I got a promotion for that, the military would be in chaos.

"But in terms of impression, it's strong enough."

"Impression?"

I thought so, but apparently, my perspective was too narrow.

"A one-on-one duel in front of guests and civilians, and winning. The impact on the civilians and guests living peacefully in the capital is not trivial. Considering it as a public relations mission, it has more than enough value."

"...I see."

The cultural festival was originally a significant public relations event.

The fact that I 'responded to a one-on-one duel and defeated a demon' is indeed a great promotional material. Even more so if the hero is me.

"Yes. So, this promotion, like the previous one, is strongly about appealing to the surroundings. It also includes compensation for you."

"I see."

Rewarding and punishing appropriately is essential for an organization. Considering that, I probably needed a prize for the grand one-on-one duel I performed. The prize being a promotion is a clear reward for a soldier, right?

And it's not a medal or rank, because I received one two months ago.

If they thought giving another one would devalue it, then a promotion is the most understandable reward. I understand that.

Compensation? This is essentially a gag order.

Specifically, 'don't talk about the circumstances leading to the one-on-one duel.'

I had no intention of talking about it, but I'll take what I can get.

Next.

"About the establishment of the Training Battalion and my appointment as its commander?"

Establishing a training unit is good. I think it's necessary to create a unit to handle the mass-produced models and the new weapons being developed by Ms. Saigo. But why me as the commander? I'm just a student who can operate a mech. Are you telling me to quit school and join the Training Battalion?

"Yes. There are some complicated reasons for this."

"Complicated reasons?"

"Yes. First, the members of the newly established Training Battalion will be students from this Seibei Military Academy and the maintenance personnel for their mechs."

"What?"

A unit composed entirely of active students? That means...

"Is this a precursor to student mobilization?"

"It could be said to be similar."

Wait a minute. That's something a country losing a war would do.

Shouldn't they send the elderly to the front lines before the students?

Ah, right, the elderly are also being sent on the expedition.

The prime working-age population has already been mobilized, and the elderly are also being used.

If it comes to this, the only ones left are the students to fill the ranks of soldiers.

Yeah. I get it.

"But this isn't the time to be convinced!"

(Is the country in such a dire situation?)

Indeed, the Third Division is gone, the Second Division is half-destroyed, and the Sixth and Eighth Divisions have taken significant damage. The capital is in such a state that demons can invade... It's bad.

I thought everything was fine because the divisions were still fighting for power, but upon closer inspection, the country was in a very tight spot.

(Should I evacuate my sister? But I don't know of a safer place than here.)

"...I don't know what you're thinking, but listen to me first."

"Yes. My apologies!"

Whoa. I got a chill down my spine.

This person is way scarier than any demon. Seriously.

"I'll overlook your rudeness... Anyway, regarding the student mobilization, I said it's 'similar,' not a complete affirmation."

"Ah, indeed."

Yes. Recalling it, the boss did say that.

"As you suspect, there is a possibility of mobilizing students, including you, at this point. In fact, you are already eligible for conscription."

"That's true."

I am, after all, a lieutenant, no, a major. Participating in the defense is natural.

"However, even if mobilized, it won't be all students. Those who will go to the battlefield will be the students incorporated into the Training Battalion."

"Hmm."

I see. It's a measure to give experience to the mech pilots in the Training Battalion.

To quickly master the new weapons, practical combat experience is essential.

In my case, I was made a special lieutenant almost forcibly, but in the future, they plan to streamline the process so that even ordinary students can undergo field tests.

It seems the country still has that much leeway.

Then, the remaining questions are one, or maybe two.

"Who will be the personnel assigned to the Training Battalion, and who will have the authority over them?"

Ideally, I'd like someone who can teach normally.

I don't need someone overly arrogant or someone hungry for military glory who won't follow orders.

And, if possible, I'd like the authority to dismiss people.

It's like a game; I can't handle mental care and training for troublesome people.

Well, if they say 'training includes correcting and shaping such people,' I can't argue.

If they deliberately bring in troublesome people to use for my education, I can't object.

But considering actual combat, I think it's better to start with someone straightforward.

For me, for the person being trained, and for the boss.

"Yes. I understand your concern. Initially, there will be five members, including you. The authority over personnel will be mine. I will consider your opinions on field assignments and combat instructions, but fundamentally, all authority will be mine. Do you have any complaints?"

"No, I have no complaints."

Honestly, I'm grateful.

I'm a major in rank, but I haven't decided on my resolve as a battalion commander.

It's natural not to give authority to someone like me. After all, rights come with responsibilities.

I thought I wanted authority to dismiss people, but considering the aftermath, it's better not to be resented.

Especially in combat. Frankly, I can't bear the responsibility for others' lives right now.

Of course, the military doesn't intend to burden students who haven't completed their training with such responsibility.

So, the boss is taking on everything, including my part, this time.

...I don't know what will happen after the training is complete, but I'll leave that to future me.

I'll have to trust future me.

"If you're satisfied, that's fine. The battalion will start operations after the New Year. I'll prepare the mission and training schedules, so make sure to read them thoroughly."

"Understood... What?"

The materials are fine. If I get them in advance, I'll read them.

But I think I heard a strange word just now?

"What's wrong?"

"Well, it's just that..."

"Spit it out if you have a question."

I think it was just my imagination.

But I also feel it might be a problem if I don't ask now.

"Will the new Training Battalion start operations after the New Year?"

"Yes."

Feeling the boss's growing irritation, I decided to ask, but it seems I wasn't imagining things.

"Isn't that too early?"

Isn't this usually supposed to start in April?

"There are reasons it can't be delayed."

"I see?"

I remember you said that before.

"The details... You'll understand when you see the personnel."

"I'll take a look. ...Yes."

As I said this and glanced at the materials handed to me, I saw names that were not entirely irrelevant to me.

"...Fujitani, Taguchi, Hashimoto, Ayase. Is this really true?"

"Yes. You and these four will be the initial members. A few more will join in April."

Ah, I see. Yes. That's why they're accelerating the start of the battalion.

"...If the progress of the second-term members and my classmates is the same, Fujitani and the others won't have a place."

"Yes."

Also, being classmates makes it easier to align training schedules, and even if it's a new unit, the tasks won't be much different from before. So, it's natural for the start to be early.

If it took months to start with this lineup, we might get reprimanded from above for 'What are you doing?'

The only issue is that, nominally, I will be their superior.

"If my memory serves me correctly..."

"What is it?"

"Aren't they from very good families? Is it okay for me, who's not a teacher, to train them?"

If I get accused of 'power harassment' for hitting them in the preliminary stages of a mock battle, that would be a problem.

"No problem. They will be treated as test pilots for the mass-produced models at this stage."

"I see."

Currently, no teachers are available, so it's not 'I can train them' but 'I'm the only one who can train them.'

"So, you can be as strict as you want in training. However..."

"However?"

"No sexual harassment. I can't protect you from that."

"I won't do that!"

The ratio is 1:4, or 1:5 if you count the boss.

If I do anything, I'll be killed physically before I die socially!

"...Ah!"

"...What?"

While focusing on the sexual harassment issue, I realized the possibility of 'false accusations of groping.'

I ended up asking the boss, who was looking at me suspiciously, to 'install surveillance cameras properly!' and 'not to allow false accusations of harsh training!'

---In the end, the boss, who sighed and said, "What do you think of women...," still agreed to install the cameras and other requests, and I thought he was a great boss, mark.

New chapter starts.

Thank you for reading.