Chapter 79

Kaita Kawakami stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

"Kaita Kawakami. I have arrived."

"......Come in."

"Hai."

"......Haa."

The order came near the end of the training, instructing Captain Kawakami to report to the battalion command post as soon as the training was over. When he arrived, the person who called him out sighed immediately.

I can't help but think that it's not right to show such a demeanor in front of subordinates, but I can also understand why the boss would want to sigh. This makes it difficult to react.

The unit is composed of teachers and students. Even the boss, who is the commander, cannot satisfactorily perform the first stage of 'shooting.' Sending such an extremely inexperienced unit to the battlefield is not a sane decision.

Of course, as a commander, it's natural to want to sigh.

The problem is that he's showing this to me... If the boss can't show any weakness in front of me, who is a captain and a deputy, then he will eventually break down, no matter how excellent his qualities are.

I should pretend not to notice the sigh of a teacher burdened with heavy responsibilities. After all, I'm older than him if you count my previous life.

(But, completely ignoring it would also be a problem.)

If I ignore it, the boss's dignity might be temporarily preserved, but the heavy burden on his shoulders won't lighten. If I continue to pretend not to notice, he will eventually break down.

(Well, the boss is still in his late 20s, after all.)

I'm older than him if you count my previous life. Therefore, I should be the one to take care of things.

"Is the reason for my summons about the expedition?"

"......Aa."

So, I decided to make it easier to talk by leading the conversation. What's important in such situations is empathy. It's even written in the Kojiki.

"By the way, when did you find out, Captain?"

Huh? Does this mean he thinks I was hiding information? It would be troublesome if he misunderstood and felt alienated, especially since there's nothing to hide. I should answer honestly.

"Just a moment ago. I was informed by Masaoka."

"......Soo."

"......"

The boss, who muttered this, fell silent. He must be thinking about various things. I can understand that.

"However......"

"?"

Normally, I should wait for the boss to speak, but I decided to speak up. It would be troublesome if there's a mismatch in information.

"However, what I was told was about the 'engineers' intentions' and that 'the groundwork seems to be done.' Also, that 'the higher-ups want an escort.' I haven't been informed of the details of the expedition."

In fact, I haven't been told about the schedule or the destination.

"That's the same as knowing everything... No, it's different."

"Hai. I think it's important to align the information."

"Sou. That's right."

Yes, what I know is almost everything, but not everything. If I don't point out this subtle difference, the boss might mistakenly think that 'Kawakami understands everything.'

If this misunderstanding leads to something trivial, it could be ignored, but since it involves the battlefield, it could even lead to the annihilation of the unit. Considering this, there is no option but to align the information here.

"Then, can you tell me what the colonel was instructed by the higher-ups? Of course, only what you can share."

"Aa. I understand. After that, if there's any discrepancy with what the captain was told, I'll let you know."

"Hai."

To be honest, I don't want to know information that makes the boss sigh—especially in front of me, who is a subordinate and a student. But if not knowing puts my life in danger, there's no other choice but to listen.

"The reason for this is that the schedule for the expedition of the First Division's higher-ups has been set..."

---

"Huh? Accompany the first wave of the expedition? Us?"

"Yes. You can consider this a done deal."

During the training, I received a call from Asaka, the head of the Integrated Headquarters. I thought something troublesome had happened, but the content was that the Instructional Battalion, including Shizuka, would accompany the First Division's higher-ups on the expedition.

Shizuka's reaction, of course, was "Are you serious?"

What kind of world sends students to the front lines? Well, in the worst case, it might be necessary, but the National Defense Army is not in such a dire situation.

The expedition by the First Division's higher-ups is a punishment for the upper echelons who were scolded by a high-ranking official for not understanding the reality of the situation. They were ordered to "see the actual battlefield and change their minds, or if they don't, they are a menace and should be retired."

Therefore, most of the field officers who are considered to understand reality have been excluded from the expedition. Of course, the Instructional Battalion, which handled the incident where the upper echelons were found to not understand reality, is also excluded.

Especially for Kaita, who is a student and is even considered essential for the capital's defense, there is no reason to send him out.

Furthermore, the other members of the battalion, including myself, are a collection of inexperienced people who can't even move the machines.

(Send them on an expedition? Impossible.)

As a superior and a teacher, it's unthinkable. That was Shizuka's conclusion.

"Yes, I thought the same. But..."

"But, what?"

If they were trying to force the expedition on us with authority, I would shoot them from behind. Shizuka had a very dangerous resolve, but it was easily shattered.

"The ones who petitioned for this were the engineers in your battalion."

"......Hai?"

(Engineers? Not Masaoka. He wouldn't send a student who can't even move a machine to the battlefield, let alone lead such an initiative. Besides, the other companies wouldn't follow if he led it.)

Masaoka was the first name that came to mind as the most likely to want to go to the battlefield, but Shizuka immediately ruled out the possibility that he petitioned the higher-ups based on practical considerations.

(If not Masaoka, then it must be the people sent from the companies. Their goal is to connect with the First Division and investigate the machines made by Masaoka Heavy Industries. They might also want to get combat data by putting Captain Kawakami on a mass-produced model. From the higher-ups' perspective, having a unit under the First Division is convenient, so there's no reason to reject this proposal. Well done, those guys!)

Shizuka's inner thoughts were filled with anger at the engineers who acted without her knowledge and her own carelessness for not noticing their actions.

"It seems you didn't know about this."

"......Hai."

If only she could punish the people who acted without her knowledge right away, but reality doesn't allow it.

It's a fact that the engineers in the battalion acted without her permission. However, they are merely representatives sent by the companies that sponsor the battalion.

In other words, the proposal to accompany the First Division's expedition is not their personal opinion but the opinion of the companies that sponsor them.

The engineers petitioned the higher-ups to say, "This is the opinion from the field."

The higher-ups, who usually don't consider opinions from the field, are now different after being scolded by a high-ranking official to "understand the field." They will likely actively adopt the "opinions from the field" that have come up this time.

Since the higher-ups have responded to the field's petition, what can a mere field commander like Shizuka do?

(Damn.)

The frustration of being used grows, but the conversation is not over.

"The Fourth and Fifth Divisions, who initially said, 'We would be troubled if a unit not under our command came,' seem to welcome you if you are the ones accompanying..."

"That makes sense."

There is no such thing as a soldier who isn't interested in new weapons. Especially if it's a machine that has a record of defeating a large monster alone or an exoskeleton that achieved overwhelming results in urban warfare.

Moreover, the Instructional Battalion has Ayase Mari from the Fourth Division and Hashimoto Natsuki from the Fifth Division. It's natural for them to want to get information directly from these people who handle the latest models.

The problem is that Kaita, who is considered essential for the capital's defense, will be absent...

"The First Division's generals have also said it's not a problem for Captain Kawakami to be absent."

"......Soo."

"If the 'opinions from the field' align to this extent, no one can oppose it, including me."

"......Hai."

To reiterate, the purpose of this expedition is to reform the consciousness of the higher-ups. Therefore, the only ones who will be absent are the higher-ups, not the field units that have been defending the capital.

So, even if someone points out Kaita's absence, the First Division will likely say, "It doesn't matter if Captain Kawakami is absent for half a month," and that will be the end of it. Further questioning would be seen as a slight to the First Division, which has been defending the capital, and other divisions would likely remain silent.

(The engineers, the First Division going on the expedition, and the Fourth and Fifth Divisions as the receiving units. Everyone except us wants the Instructional Battalion to go on the expedition. Even Asaka-sama can't change this.)

Shizuka, who is approaching a state of resignation, still had one misunderstanding.

That is, the misunderstanding that Asaka was against the Instructional Battalion's expedition. Shizuka considered this her only hope, but this misunderstanding was quickly corrected by Asaka's words.

"Most importantly, we also want you to accompany us."

"......Why?"

"We" means that this is not Asaka's personal opinion but the opinion of the entire military.

When told this directly, there is no room for misunderstanding.

Shizuka, who cannot even use the misunderstanding for a reality escape, is told by Asaka.

"First, it is urgent to investigate the performance of the mass-produced and new exoskeletons when used by people other than Captain Kawakami."

"......"

Kaita is an exception. This is a common understanding in the military, so Shizuka doesn't question it.

"The problem is that there is no one other than the captain who can handle the mass-produced model satisfactorily, but fortunately, we have received a report that the prototype No. 3 can perform [shooting]. Is this correct?"

"......Hai."

While it is a fact that Ito can perform [shooting], it is also a fact that Ito, who is a subordinate and a student, has reached this stage, while I have not. However, knowing that the machine was only received a few days ago and that even the best pilots in each division struggle with it, I can answer Asaka's question with only a slight drop in my tone.

Regardless of Shizuka's inner thoughts.

"Then, the minimum standard is met."

While it is not a problem for the prototype made by Masaoka Heavy Industries to outperform the mass-produced model, this can be resolved by purchasing the data from the prototype.

What Asaka and the higher-ups of the military are looking at is not the profit of the companies.

"What we want from you is not defensive capabilities but offensive capabilities. Therefore, the military wants you to gain experience from the expedition."

"Offensive. ...I see. That's it!"

The current National Defense Army, due to the annihilation of the Third Division, is focused on defense. However, defending against the endless monsters will not end the war. To win, we must attack.

Attack is the best defense, which is a bit different but similar in nuance.

"Thanks to the annihilation of the Third Division... It's a strange way to put it, but it has eliminated complacency towards the demons and monsters, and creative ideas have emerged in each division. Also, the incompetent people within the military are being gradually eliminated, which is not bad."

Including the reform of our own consciousness... Asaka's tone is unwavering.

"We want to show the presence of an offensive capability to the surroundings and give you the experience of the expedition. This is the opinion of the Integrated Headquarters, no, the National Defense Army."

"For the coming time, right?"

"Yee. That's right."

The information about Kaita, which should have been kept secret as a secret weapon, cannot be hidden anymore after he has achieved results like saving a princess abroad and defeating a demon in the capital.

Then, let him fight openly, gain experience, and boost the morale of the human side through grand propaganda. This is the aim of the military, led by Asaka.

Kaita's original machine is the prototype No. 1, not the mass-produced model, and this will be kept as secret as possible.

Revealing the necessary minimum information while hiding the truly important information, giving Kaita, the main force, experience from the expedition, and letting other battalion members gain experience. Ideally, if Shizuka and Tago, who will ride the mass-produced models, can grow by experiencing the combat atmosphere, it would be even better. Of course, taking combat data with the exoskeletons is also important.

All of these are necessary for [offense], so please do your best.

When told this by the head of the Integrated Headquarters, Shizuka had no room for argument, and it wasn't something to oppose in the first place.

After understanding everything, Shizuka finally said, "Understood!" and ended the communication with a lively salute.

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This is the first part.

The reason why Shizuka, who ended the communication with a lively salute, was so dejected and sighed will be explained in the next part.

Thank you for reading.