Chapter 80

"Ultimately, while the impetus for this decision came from our engineers, after careful consideration, the National Defense Army has concluded that there would be no issue with us accompanying the expedition. Or rather, they believe it would be better for us to go along, right?"

To summarize, that's the gist of it, right?

"...Yes."

It seems my understanding was correct.

"I see."

If I may give my personal opinion, I frankly find it troublesome.

Generally speaking, why must I spend almost all of my winter break, including New Year's, overseas, and on a battlefield at that? I feel bad for those already on the expedition, but I want to spend time with my little sister.

However, if I consider this not as an individual but as a soldier, the situation changes dramatically.

Firstly, it's a well-known fact that defense alone won't win the war. Resources will eventually run out. Additionally, the Second Division, a key defensive force, is in a semi-destroyed state, which is a painful point.

Of course, the National Defense Army will try to replenish as much as possible during the winter, but increasing the number of machines alone won't help if the number of pilots and gunners is limited.

It's clear that maintaining the current level of defense will become impossible if things continue as they are.

If left unchecked, Kyushu and the Chugoku region will be overrun by monsters. The National Defense Army must have made this judgment.

"Here, the Instructional Brigade, or rather, you, Captain, become crucial."

"Understood."

"You need to be more aware of your own value."

"Understood."

Apparently, in the military, I am counted as the equivalent of over ten large-scale units.

The current plan of the National Defense Army is to keep me as the main force while focusing on assigning the graduating students to the Second Division to meet the required numbers.

Aren't the students here related to various divisions?

Is it okay to decide their assignments like this?

I thought this, but typically, cadets like Iizuka, who are potential officers, usually attend the main campus in Ichigaya, not the branch campus in Oume.

However, they came to the Oume branch campus due to the destruction of the Third Division two years ago.

To quickly replenish the combat forces, the National Defense Army requested that talented children be enrolled in the Oume branch campus, and the divisions, wanting to infiltrate their own people into the rebuilt Third Division, decided to send many of their children, originally destined for the main campus, to the Oume branch.

Thus, a large number of division-affiliated students have been enrolling since last year, while the current seniors in the third year are less influenced by their divisions.

Therefore, their assignments are more flexible.

The National Defense Army decided to assign most of the graduating seniors, who would normally be evenly distributed among the divisions, to the Second Division.

This might invite complaints from other divisions, but if the Second Division collapses, the country will be invaded by monsters, and the next front will be their own. Some politicians are concerned about the thinning of local defenses, but there are no loud objections.

Leaving aside some politicians who lack a broad perspective and strategic vision.

"By doing this, we can at least meet the numbers. Just the numbers, though."

"That's true."

War is about numbers. Even ancient wise men said so.

However, numbers alone are not enough. The National Defense Army suffered heavy losses in the Second Great Offensive despite having a large number of mass-produced units and defensive weapons.

That's where I come in.

"The Second Division believes that with you, Captain, they can hold out for at least a year."

"I'd like to say that's an overestimation..."

If the scale is the same as last year, it might be manageable.

Of course, I won't be permanently stationed in Kyushu. I'll attend school and be called out when a large-scale monster attack is confirmed.

"I believe I can do that much as a captain. However, the military doesn't intend to burden the defense of the country on just one captain."

That's true. There are cases where I might die, get injured, or even fall ill.

The military can't say, "We lost because Captain Kawakami caught a cold and collapsed."

So, the military must prepare other defensive forces besides me.

The most likely candidate is...

"...The members of the Instructional Brigade, right?"

"Yes. We will go abroad this winter to gain experience, while the other instructional units will focus on developing a curriculum for operating mass-produced units domestically."

"Hmm."

While it's strange to talk about gaining experience when we can't even handle basic shooting in the simulator, the "experience" the boss is referring to probably means using the Kusanagi-type or enhanced exoskeletons to fight monsters and store magic power in each person's magic crystal.

The collected magic power will be used to control the mass-produced units.

Mikami-san also said that storing magic power in the magic crystal makes control easier.

I apparently use magic power unconsciously for braking the machine. You can think of magic power as a training wheel.

Once the boss and others can use magic power as a training wheel to handle the mass-produced units, they can do the same for the pilots who will use them. If it doesn't work with magic power, they'll consider other methods.

It's more like a test brigade, but considering the new weapons involved, it's understandable.

I understand this. Personally, I don't see any particular problems except for the possibility of being assigned to guard the upper echelons.

But the boss seems to think differently. He sighed before this conversation.

"From what I've heard, it seems reasonable, doesn't it?"

Is there something I'm not understanding?

"Indeed, it's reasonable. As a soldier and as part of the Instructional Brigade, gaining combat experience is important, and providing information about new weapons to the friendly forces on the front lines is not a bad thing."

That's true. Knowing that the new weapons have high counter-attack capabilities will boost the morale of the Fourth and Fifth Divisions.

So, there shouldn't be any problems, right?

"...What I'm concerned about is our immaturity."

"...Isn't it natural for first-year students at a military academy to be inexperienced?"

We're handling new weapons. It would be strange if we were proficient, right? I was puzzled.

"Of course. The First Division, which is sending us, and the expeditionary force, which is receiving us, won't mind this point."

So, there shouldn't be any problems, right? Or, maybe...

"Are you worried about taking students to the battlefield?"

I might be okay, but the others are ordinary students. That's a possibility, right?

"No, I'm not saying I don't feel guilty about taking you students to the battlefield. But if I can rationalize it as necessary for the future, I can accept it. I must accept it."

"...I see."

I don't think someone who can truly accept it would say that. I was puzzled again.

However, the fundamental purpose of the military is to win. As a soldier, if a commander judges that sacrificing subordinates is necessary for victory, they must not hesitate to order them to die.

The boss is probably someone who can make such necessary sacrifices, or he wouldn't be a lieutenant colonel at this age. However, it seems different when the one he has to order to die is an inexperienced student.

It's a commendable human quality not to easily sacrifice students' lives, but it's a bit awkward for a commander.

Well, the boss will ultimately resolve this himself. I, a middle-aged student, can't persuade him effectively.

The current issue is what the boss is worried about.

If it's about immaturity but not about the lives of subordinates, then...

"Are you concerned about reprimand from a high-ranking official?"

After all, I was criticized for fighting as a student. Sending us to the front lines might invite more reprimand.

"...No, that's not it."

"Really?"

I don't understand the thinking of nobles or samurai, let alone those above them.

"Basically, the reason the upper echelons were reprimanded by a high-ranking official for the cultural festival incident was that they issued orders to leave the defenseless citizens and guests unattended, did nothing themselves, and sent a single student, Captain, to fight. They also agreed to a one-on-one duel with the demons without proper judgment. Therefore, if they go to the battlefield themselves and judge that it's necessary for the future to let the Instructional Brigade gain experience, the high-ranking official, as someone who bears the country, won't oppose it."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

I don't understand, but that's how it is.

"Besides, with you around, they won't die. Therefore, this expedition will be an opportunity for us to gain experience. If we explain this clearly, we won't be reprimanded."

"...I'll do my best."

I don't like carrying the lives of others at this age, but I can't say that, can I?

After all, we're going to a place where the expeditionary force has established a base, not a fierce battlefield. We won't die unless something extraordinary happens.

Flag? I don't know.

However, if it's not about being worried about taking students to the battlefield or fearing reprimand, what's the problem?

"...Didn't I say it's about our, or rather, my own immaturity? I can't even handle [Shooting] properly, let alone protect you?"

The boss told me what he was worried about, seeing my puzzled look, but... is that really it?

"A commander doesn't need to be a strong fighter."

Of course, a commander of an operational unit needs to be able to fight to some extent. It's true that a commander who can fight is better than one who can't.

As a teacher, the boss probably thinks it's his duty to protect us, who are both subordinates and students. I understand that feeling.

However, what's required of a commander is not combat power to defeat enemies with their own strength.

It's calmness in any situation, solid intelligence, the ability to make quick judgments, and political skills necessary for maintaining the unit, among other things that are not combat-related.

Given this, the boss shouldn't be depressed just because he can't handle the mass-produced units properly. He just needs to use me more efficiently.

As someone who doesn't want to get involved in politics, I genuinely think this, but apparently, it's an opinion I can say because I'm "useful."

"Captain, do you know how the pilots of the Third Division, who survived the Second Great Offensive, are being treated now?"

"...Yes."

During the Second Great Offensive, the pilots who disobeyed orders at the last moment but were not punished due to various circumstances.

They weren't punished because the field commander, then Colonel Shizuno, handled them as malfunctions to avoid chaos on the battlefield, and they performed their artillery duties properly until the final bombardment. Most importantly, they successfully brought back machines that had achieved the feat of defeating large-scale monsters in actual combat.

However, their subsequent treatment was terrible.

Why? Not only did they abandon their allies on the battlefield, but the machines they brought back had shrunk to avoid detection by monsters, and their cannons had also shrunk, a degeneration rather than an evolution.

This was recognized as a research achievement by researchers, but it was a disgrace from a military perspective.

As a result, the members of this squad were not allowed to retire or change departments and are now isolated, referred to as "those people" by military personnel.

If they were to escape or fall ill from stress and retire, they would be killed by Third Division personnel for disgracing the division or by personnel from other divisions as traitors. They would be labeled as [Symbionts].

Living is hell, and running is hell. It's a hopeless situation.

(Well, considering their actions, there's no room for sympathy.)

After all, disobeying orders is almost the same as desertion. They would be shot on the spot in normal circumstances.

I can understand the boss's concern in mentioning this case.

"To be honest, I'm scared. Not only of not being able to protect you with my own strength, but also of hiding behind Captain and recklessly firing incendiary grenades to gain some experience."

"...Ah."

Finally, I understood what the boss was worried about.

"What will be the result? How is this different from those pilots?"

From my perspective, "at least it's not a violation of orders."

But that's not what the boss is looking for.

"...I'm scared. Scared that the machine I control will shrink. Scared of being looked down upon by the officers on the field. Scared of disappointing Captain, my subordinates, and my family."

In short, the boss is nervous about his first real combat mission, even though he has already completed his military initiation.

Especially since the boss knows of a similar case that failed and how those involved are treated now.

He's afraid of failing. As someone from a prestigious family, he's afraid of losing his name.

I can understand that, to some extent.

But...

To put it bluntly, it's a 30-year-old noble lady, who can't use her weapon properly and has inexperienced students as subordinates, nervous about her first real combat mission.

It's a bit of a letdown.

"...What's that look for?"

Yeah, the boss probably felt humiliated, having confessed his feelings. Normally, he would be comforted or encouraged, but my reaction was just a letdown.

It's important to him, and as a subordinate, it's problematic if he commands with such feelings. So, I should probably say something to support him.

If this were a game, the protagonist would give effective support to increase the boss's favor.

But...

I don't need the boss's favor.

"...Hey."

After all, no matter how much you talk, the anxiety about the first combat mission won't go away until you actually go to the battlefield.

What can I say in this situation? "Let's train hard" is about all I can say. If the training results in better [Shooting] skills, the boss might feel a bit better.

"...What do you have to say?"

"Well, what can I say..."

(Anything I say to the boss now will probably sound sarcastic, and there's nothing I need to say.)

"...So, you're looking down on me? Is that it?"

"Huh?"

I don't understand how that conclusion was reached.

"Alright. I've decided. You're coming with me for a while."

"Huh?"

---After that, we trained a lot.

The boss seems to have a lot on his mind.

Or rather, a 30-year-old noble lady, who can't use her weapon properly and has inexperienced students as subordinates, can't help but be nervous about her first real combat mission, which was decided on the spot.

Not everyone is as crazy as Keita-kun.

It's understandable to feel anxious.

Thank you for reading.