Chapter 43

"Fairy Bullet - The Mechanized Maiden and the False Beast Soldier - Volume 1, but thank you very much for the advance orders even before its release!

'I am Captain Allison Baker. This time, I will be boarding Merea. I look forward to working with you all.'

In Merea's bridge, the main crew members of the unit were gathered, including Emma, who was treated as a squadron leader of the mobile knights.

Allison, who demonstrated a textbook-perfect salute, seemed to be a bridge crew member.

The vagueness in her role on Merea was because it had been decided by the fleet headquarters.

'Excuse me, may I ask a question?'

When Emma raised her hand modestly, Allison only glanced at her and nodded slightly.

'You are Captain Emma Roddman, right? Yes, go ahead.'

Although her words were soft, Allison's attitude seemed to create a wall around her.

Emma asked about Allison's position.

'You were sent as an inspector, but what exactly will you be inspecting? Our mobile knight squadron?'

Allison turned to face Emma and smiled.

However, that smile seemed to mock her.

'Everything. Everything.'

'Everything?'

'This unit was previously known as a border security force, a place for demotions. Morale and training were low, and there are records of them acting passively in all missions. Despite this, they are equipped with special features... The fleet headquarters could not ignore this situation and decided to send me.'

Emma understood the purpose of Allison's assignment.

'So, you're a watchdog.'

'Monitoring is part of my duties, but my role is to ensure that you follow the orders of the fleet headquarters. In a sense, I am a temporary inspector.'

When the surrounding crew murmured at the mention of supervision, Allison raised her voice.

'My orders are the orders of the fleet headquarters. Disobedience will not be tolerated. Regardless of rank, you will follow my instructions from now on.'

Allison, who seemed to look down on Emma and the others, made the crew uneasy.

Among those gathered, Doug pointed out a concern.

'Another troublesome superior, huh. By the way, the last name Baker...'

At Doug's words, the crew's gaze turned to Tim, who was silent.

Allison and Tim were alternately looked at, and both seemed uncomfortable.

Allison spoke first.

'There's no need to hide it. The colonel is my great-grandfather.'

The crew was surprised, exclaiming, 'What!'

Curious, Emma asked Tim about his relationship with Allison.

'Commander, you have family!'

'...Yeah.'

Tim's gruff response excited the crew.

'Your great-granddaughter has been assigned here.'

'Tim, you're so cold. You could have told us.'

'What a fine great-granddaughter, Commander.'

The bridge, which had been tense, turned into a welcoming mode for Allison.

However, Allison did not open up.

Not only did she act like a soldier, but she also seemed to look down on Merea and did not want to get deeply involved.

'Even if we are related, we are still strangers. I have never met the colonel. So, please do not bring up our family connection.'

Although Allison was rude to Tim, who was a colonel, she was a troublesome guest sent by the fleet headquarters.

Tim, who seemed to have mixed feelings, said nothing, so Emma spoke up.

'Captain Baker, aren't you being a bit harsh?'

'After acting so irresponsibly, it's unreasonable to expect to be treated normally. I hope you understand the significance of my assignment and approach this battle with that in mind. Besides, I didn't want to be assigned to such a unit.'

The crew reacted visibly to the phrase 'such a unit.'

Emma couldn't stay silent.

'Calling us such a unit is not nice. We are—'

Allison continued, aware of the reaction.

'You seem to be receiving special attention, but to the central command, the main force, the regular fleet, is what matters. You, assigned to the guerrilla fleet, should understand that you have only that much value.'

Despite coming to Merea alone, Allison seemed fearless or perhaps arrogant, looking down on Emma and the others.

◇

After Allison and Emma left, Doug remained in the bridge.

'Your great-granddaughter is quite a lady. Not only is she a captain at her age, but she's a real elite.'

Allison had become a captain at a young age and was a talented woman on the elite track.

Tim, recalling his great-granddaughter's attitude, put his hand to his forehead.

'To think my great-granddaughter would be such a stuck-up elite. The world is full of surprises.'

Tim had not imagined his great-granddaughter becoming an elite and being assigned to Merea.

Doug looked at Tim with a complex expression.

'Commander Tim, what about your family?'

'...I haven't been home in centuries. I keep sending money, so I haven't received a divorce notice.'

Tim responded with a joke, but Doug was worried.

'If you have a family, you should go back at least once.'

But Tim didn't want to go back.

'What face could I show them now? As that girl said, we're just strangers connected by blood. What could I do now—'

Tim, not wanting to say more, pulled his cap down to hide his eyes.

◇

In the star system chosen as the battlefield between the Argland Empire and the Oxyse Union Kingdom, mercenaries and arms dealers who saw the war as a golden opportunity had gathered.

Sirena, a member of the mercenary guild, led the Daria Mercenary Corps to the battlefield.

Large-scale wars between interstellar nations involve enormous budgets.

Although assisted by artificial intelligence, most people in this world dislike AI.

Therefore, the enormous budget is entrusted to human hands.

Such a budget attracts not only mercenary corps and arms dealers but also groups that provide entertainment to soldiers.

On the bridge of the Daria Mercenary Corps' flagship, Sirena stood without sitting in the captain's chair.

Smiling at the scene displayed on the monitor.

'With a war of this scale, we can make a profit for at least a few decades.'

The subordinate she had chosen as her new adjutant stood beside her, chest puffed out, hands clasped behind his back.

'This is a golden opportunity for us.'

'Thanks to the foolish interstellar nations and nobles. By the way, which side do you think will win this time?'

Sirena enjoyed the conversation with her adjutant.

She also used the conversation to gauge his abilities.

After all, this adjutant was a new recruit she had added to the team to train as an excellent commander.

The adjutant placed his hand on his chin.

'In terms of numbers, the Empire has the advantage, but the Oxyse Union Kingdom has higher morale... Furthermore, the Empire's supreme commander is Prince Cleo, the third prince, who is in a succession dispute with the first prince. He has little experience on the battlefield. On the other hand, the Oxyse Union Kingdom is led by a talented woman who rose to the rank of general at the youngest age... I think the Oxyse Union Kingdom will win.'

Sirena applauded and praised the adjutant, who had analyzed the situation.

'Well done. You have the same thoughts as me. Now, which side should we support?'

Sirena's question made the adjutant smile.

'The side that can sell us at a high price and ensure our survival. It doesn't matter which side we support. We can change our allegiance as the situation demands.'

Sirena was satisfied with the adjutant's answer and mentally gave him a passing grade.

'Correct. In a war of this scale, it's impossible to support just one side. We are mercenaries, so we must support the side that offers the highest price. But don't forget to avoid losing battles.'

'Yes, sir!'

The adjutant saluted, and the bridge operator turned around, a hint of tension in his expression.

'Commander Sirena, the Empire's de facto commander has been identified.'

Prince Cleo is only the nominal supreme commander, and a general or knight assists in the overall command.

Rumors and unconfirmed information abound, but no specific person had been identified.

Sirena, curious about the operator's reaction, maintained a calm demeanor.

'Who is it?'

'Knight Claus Sera Monte of the Vanfield family!'

The bridge crew's reactions were divided.

Some were surprised, while others were skeptical about an unknown knight.

In such wars, it is common for famous and capable knights to serve as assistants, so it was hard to believe that an unknown knight was assisting Cleo.

However, Sirena's reaction was one of surprise.

For a moment, her eyes widened, and then she furrowed her brow.

The adjutant, puzzled by Sirena's reaction, spoke about Claus.

'Claus... I haven't heard of such a capable knight. It's hard to believe that the Vanfield family would recommend an unknown knight as an assistant, so he must be capable. Or perhaps, some political influence has placed an incompetent person in that position.'

Sirena, seeing the adjutant's confusion, explained.

'Didn't I tell you that the Daria Mercenary Corps suffered a major blow recently?'

'Yes, I heard that the commander had a hard time rebuilding the corps.'

'...Claus Sera Monte.'

'Huh?'

'After investigating, I found out that Claus was the one who dealt us that major blow. He was leading a smaller fleet at the time... but he has risen so quickly in such a short time.'

The Daria Mercenary Corps had suffered significant damage during the attack on the seventh weapons factory.

Most people in this war would consider Claus an unknown knight, like the adjutant.

However, Sirena and her team knew that Claus was dangerous.

'He's not just incompetent. However, it's unclear if he has the talent to command a fleet of this size.'

Commanding a fleet of millions is not a matter of talent alone, experience alone, or luck alone.

It is a feat accomplished by a select few who possess all these qualities and are blessed with favorable circumstances.

Many generals and knights who can command a fleet of tens of thousands fail when given the responsibility of commanding a fleet of millions.

While it is unknown if Claus has the talent to command a fleet of this size, Sirena considered him a formidable opponent.

'Don't underestimate him. At the very least, assume that the Empire's commander is capable.'

The adjutant swallowed hard.

Sirena's high evaluation of the opponent was unexpected.

'Understood.'

【That Otome Game is a Harsh World for Us - Volume 4】 is now on sale!

What if Leon and Marie met in the early stages? This unique spin-off, which started as an IF scenario in a survey bonus, has been published as a book.

Enjoy a different perspective on the mob characters in "That Otome Game is a Harsh World for Us."