Chapter 3

### Chapter 3: The Noble in Military Uniform

I boarded the carriage and left through the main gate of the 5th Army Division. I probably won't be coming back here again.

It's not like I had any attachment to the place, so it's fine. The treatment and atmosphere weren't that great, and the food was terrible. That's a serious issue in the military.

What's more of a problem is this carriage.

The carriage I'm in isn't a supply wagon. In fact, it's not a military carriage at all.

The interior is luxurious, with comfortable leather seats. Despite the bumpy road, the vibrations are minimal, and the soundproofing is excellent. It's clearly a carriage owned by a wealthy noble.

Sitting across from me is a beautiful woman in military uniform.

However, she's not a real soldier. The coat she's wearing, meant for a high-ranking officer, is adorned with a crest instead of rank insignia.

That's the crest of the Litreuil family, one of the most prominent noble families in the country and the top aristocratic family controlling the 5th Division.

She's wearing a long skirt, not the riding breeches for officers. Of course, it's not a uniform.

In short, she's a strange beauty dressed in military cosplay.

And right now, I'm alone with this strange cosplay beauty.

"Are you Lieutenant Crombertz?"

"Yes, I am Lieutenant Yui Crombertz."

"It's an honor to meet you."

She smiles and bows slightly.

Her speech is clear and slow, typical of a noble.

She's around twenty, about my age.

Her face has a gentle expression, and her narrow, droopy eyes are quite distinctive. If she were in a manga, she'd be a "slit-eyed" character.

Outside the carriage, there are cuirassiers guarding us. They're heavily armed, but they're not soldiers; they're the private troops of a noble. Their uniforms are different.

The atmosphere is quite ominous, so I need to be careful with my words.

I silently salute. Due to my habit as a junior officer, I'm sitting at the edge of the seat and can't perform a full salute with my arms extended.

By the way, this beauty is sitting comfortably in the middle of the seat. Her demeanor is far from that of a soldier.

She then looks out the window and asks,

"How is the ride in the carriage?"

"It's very comfortable. I'm grateful."

I was surprised to find such a luxurious carriage waiting in front of my quarters, especially since it was accompanied by cuirassiers armed with guns. It seemed like a mistake. This kind of treatment is far from what a lieutenant from a common background would expect.

I have a bad feeling about this. When things are unexpectedly good, it's best to be cautious. This is true in both my past life and this one.

"To think a mere lieutenant would be allowed to ride in a civilian carriage out of kindness. I am deeply moved by the affection shown to Imperial soldiers."

She smiles brightly.

"Our family spares no effort in showing respect and support to all officers for the development and territorial recovery of the Schweidler Empire."

Oh, she deflected my sarcasm so easily. She seems like a dangerous person.

She continues,

"Especially for promising young officers, we provide even more generous support."

What's she getting at? Does she want to win me over for something? I decline.

"That's very admirable. I will strive to be seen that way."

I thought I had dodged the question, but the cosplay beauty persisted.

"I recognize you, Lieutenant Crombertz, as a true soldier who will shoulder the future of the Empire."

"That's a great honor, but I am not such a person."

This is bad. I want to escape. For a noble to approach a mere lieutenant like this almost certainly means something sinister.

However, I can't escape the carriage; the cuirassiers are guarding all sides.

"I've heard that Lieutenant Crombertz is known as a fierce commander with the nickname 'The Reaper.'"

"Indeed, I am called 'The Reaper Crombertz,' but it's simply because many of my subordinates have died in battle."

She looks at me with interest.

"Is that because of your bravery, Lieutenant Crombertz?"

"I don't see it that way."

Officers from a common background like me are often given difficult assignments.

I didn't fit in well at the Military Academy and couldn't join any factions. In short, I was a loner with no political power, just like in my past life.

I felt embarrassed admitting this, so I tried to dodge it, but she kept looking at me.

"Regardless, Lieutenant Crombertz's military achievements are well-known in the 5th Division. I heard that you recently led a charge against the Agan Kingdom's field artillery and scattered the enemy, capturing their guns."

Then she started recounting my past.

"You also successfully defended a fortress in a previous battle, holding off the enemy's large army for three days until reinforcements arrived."

That was easy because we were just holding out, but I remember being busy encouraging and threatening my discouraged subordinates. Many of them died then too.

"You were also undefeated in the board exercises at the Military Academy, I hear."

"That was just a game."

The board exercises at the Military Academy had loose settings.

I could inflict ridiculous damage by using the terrain, and the morale collapse rules were lenient, allowing me to use my troops as expendable pawns. The war games from my past life were much more realistic.

"And you were always in the top ranks in swordsmanship competitions, I hear."

"Competitions are different from real combat."

In my past life, I was a reserve member of a strong kendo club. I always lost in the third round of individual matches and had no wins in team matches. I know I'm not that strong.

But the beauty doesn't seem convinced and keeps looking at the command sword at my waist.

I'm a poor lieutenant, but I spent a bit more on the hilt of my command sword. I had it custom-made with a longer handle for a two-handed grip.

I treat the blade as a consumable and settle for a practical one as long as it doesn't break or bend.

She continues,

"You must have many battle honors in real combat as well. I've heard you use a unique sword technique."

"It's just a dirty fighting style from a common background. It's not worth showing."

My kendo is just at a club level, so it's not that impressive, but the two-handed strikes are surprisingly sharp and heavy. It's natural, considering the leverage involved.

However, two-handed swords haven't been used in battle for a long time, so few people know how to fight against them.

That gives me an advantage. That's all.

Still, this is uncomfortable.

The military cosplay beauty in front of me is undoubtedly a member of the Litreuil family.

She's not just a noble lady; she probably has authority close to the head of the family. The carriage and the cuirassiers make that clear.

Noble officers often have deep connections with their families and tend to form cliques within the same division. The 5th Division is dominated by a group led by the Duke of Litreuil, so something must have happened behind the scenes.

So, I decided to ask a slightly risky question.

"Is this carriage really heading to the headquarters of the 6th Special Task Brigade?"