Chapter 7

007 Chapter

Just as the timing was perfect, the effect of Daniel's letter delivered to Petain's office was clear.

Perhaps because I sent it as "This is the answer. Just the answer," instead of "Wouldn't it be like this?" Colonel Petain called me to the regiment headquarters as soon as the day broke.

The road to the regiment headquarters located on the western outskirts of Arras.

Captain Edtuer, the colonel's personal adjutant, came to pick me up himself.

Indeed, the effect was good. It's quite an honor for a captain to come and pick up a first-year lieutenant.

"What kind of person is Colonel Petain?"

I asked Captain Edtuer as if I knew nothing.

"He is a quiet person. But when necessary, he can be like a fire."

"Why did you use the past tense?"

"Ha ha, it's been too long. I only saw him get angry once. A subordinate training officer had reported a false fact."

"..."

Indeed, Petain is like a dragon resting for a moment. Although he is quiet now, like a flower that knows when to wither, I won't be fooled.

'Who would have thought. A mere colonel is gathering momentum right now.'

Perhaps he hasn't pinned on a star yet because he is temporarily bowing to become the supreme commander.

Well, even my future self didn't know that the French army, except for a few, was mostly incompetent.

"Oh, and congratulations. Since you are from Saint-Cyr, you will likely become a captain next year and a major in no more than three years, but you applied to Ecole Polytechnique."

"...? What's wrong with ethanol?"

"Huh? Oh, you didn't hear that."

For a moment, I suspected my ears, thinking I had misheard.

Ecole Polytechnique? Isn't that the artillery school, a higher version of Saint-Cyr? Why are my name and this strange substance-like school mentioned together all of a sudden?

The kind Captain Edtuer explained it step by step.

"Colonel Petain was deeply impressed by the reports you've written and wrote a recommendation letter for you as you wished."

"No, no... No, no."

The premise is wrong from the start. As you wish?

Recommendation letter? Ecole Polytechnique? No, before that, what?

'Could it be... Petain knows I'm from the Republic of Korea's artillery and wants to send me to the French artillery?'

This suspicion flashed through my mind for a moment, but my nearly broken sanity managed to hold on. It's an absurd imagination.

Something. Something is going wrong. It feels like the Earth is rotating without me, but for now, Captain Edtuer is not someone to argue with, so I waited silently.

As the car smoothly drove along the road, my mind was incredibly complicated.

Colonel, what kind of conspiracy are you plotting?

***

A spacious and comfortable office. The well-lit room, seemingly without a speck of dust, felt warm.

Yet, it was clean, a stark contrast to my cluttered room.

Every time I saw such a high-ranking officer's office in my past life, I felt the same way.

'I want... to have one.'

This thought briefly crossed my mind, but I quickly turned my head to shake off the base temptation.

I can't sell my life for such a trivial thing. Damn, that's it.

I vividly remember the tears shed by those who, after driving stakes into the ground out of envy for the battalion commander's office, realized too late.

After Captain Edtuer left, only Petain and I remained in the room.

"Don't stand so stiffly, take a seat."

"Yes, sir."

It was more a matter of experience than authority. Approaching his sixties, Petain felt more like a sergeant major who moves around all day rather than a high-ranking officer.

"Are you adapting to the unit life?"

"I am adapting well!"

"Hmm."

It's uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable. If a high-ranking officer asks a question and you answer with a short reply, it feels like you're choking.

However, knowing that my discharge depends on his hand, I waited with a face that said, "Wow, Colonel, you're amazing! Nice shot!"

"Hehe, you seem to have expected it."

And the effect was significant.

Petain took a piece of paper from the neatly arranged documents on his right and handed it to me.

"What is this?"

"It's what you wanted. An admission recommendation letter. I can only do this much. The decision to admit you is up to them."

No. Just a moment. Who is recommending and deciding my life?

Thinking I needed to clear up the misunderstanding as soon as possible, I quickly spoke.

"It seems there is a misunderstanding. Colonel, I have no connection with the artillery in this life."

At least in this life.

If Petain pushes this, I will have to suspect his true identity. Was he the driver who hit me with a car at the guard post? Did he die and possess me?

"I repeat, I am satisfied as an infantry officer."

"Hmm, I see. I see... "

Fortunately, Petain seemed to be the Philippe Petain I knew.

"Then let me ask you directly. The reports you've been submitting. What was the purpose? They don't seem to have anything to do with training."

"I..."

I fell into deep thought at his question. What should I answer?

I want to be discharged. Why? Because a war that will destroy everything in two years is coming, and I want to live well with the inherited money. How do I know? Ha ha. Indeed.

'Shit, how do I say it?'

It doesn't make sense, and even if they believe me, it's a problem. They'll send me home.

In the short span of three seconds, countless thoughts flashed through my mind, but I quickly suppressed them and gave a standard answer.

"I thought you would listen to my thoughts, sir."

"Yes, I was curious about your thoughts. The Balkan War. How did you know?"

This was a question from my interview preparation, so I could answer without hesitation.

"It was a planned event."

"Remarkable. No one knew you would call it a planned event so confidently."

Petain's tone, devoid of any sincerity, seemed to urge me to explain.

"It was just the realization of the will and desires of various countries. Just as there's no need to be surprised when a planned event is carried out."

"Please explain in detail. I'm old and might not understand."

Bullshit. His eyes were already saying, "Don't talk nonsense."

Still, as a lieutenant, I had to quickly provide what the high-ranking officer wanted when he nodded.

"I won't talk about nationalism or Pan-Slavism. This war happened because it was deemed feasible."

"By Russia, or the Balkan countries?"

"Both. The Balkan countries probably thought the Ottoman Empire was feasible, and Russia thought it could push against Western Europe."

The Ottoman Empire was revealed to be a paper tiger in the Italo-Turkish War.

Russia also reacted similarly when the Austro-Hungarian Empire 'sighed' and swallowed Bosnia and Herzegovina.

All this was driven by the combination of nationalistic justifications and the greed of various countries.

"Our French Republic will close its eyes and ears. Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire will go wild, but who will join them?"

"What if Britain actively supports Germany? They have no reason to support France and Russia."

"The opposite is also true, right?"

If you grab anyone on the streets of Berlin and ask, "Who is our enemy?" they will all say, "Those damn Tommies!"

Germany and Britain have already crossed the diplomatic and political river.

They have become the politically optimal enemies for each other. Now, politicians will beg for votes by saying, "Our enemy is those guys beyond the border!"

"Hmm, it seems you wrote this."

"...Yes."

Of course. I wondered why he would ask such a thing.

"I've already heard the details from that pile of papers. But the most important part is missing."

"What is it, sir?"

"The result of the war. If you've identified the cause, you should also provide the result."

Look at this guy. He's showing off his coat and now wants to see the underwear.

Indeed, the old Petain is sharp. It's not easy to continue the conversation while pretending to be innocent.

'I've already thrown the bomb of the Balkan War. My competence should be proven.'

Still, if I give Petain a mediocre answer like "Wouldn't it be like this?" it could be dangerous.

The old man in front of me is not just a colonel. He is someone who, when all French officers say something is right, will stake his life to say it's wrong.

After a moment of thought, I had no choice but to give a 90-point answer with a few mistakes.

"Regardless of what happens to the Balkan countries, it will ultimately lead to the alignment of the great powers."

"Alignment...?"

Not only will it clarify who is on whose side and who is the enemy, but it will also ignite nationalism and imperialism.

'That's why the Balkans are dangerous. They don't explode alone.'

"And?"

"Damn."

"Hmm?"

"Ah, no."

Does this guy really think I'm a magic mirror that answers whatever he asks?

Sigh, but if the colonel, who is like a god, tells me to speak, I have to open my mouth. Damn.

"Will it end in the Balkans?"

Will it end? The Balkans are just the prologue. Petain, who read only the first chapter and asked for the ending, probably doesn't realize how heartless he is.

Still, I have to tell the story the reader wants. And the reader is none other than Philippe Petain.

My mouth started to act on its own.

"Will anything else happen?"

"Hmm, if they align, there will be something left, right? For example, disputes..."

"Europe is not ignorant enough to leave disputes unresolved."

They won't leave it alone. Europe will cheer madly for the war in two years.

From the people below to the political circles above, they will all unite and call for war. Truly, they are rational collective suicide enthusiasts.

"There are no complete victors in a war between great powers. Only those who are less damaged. The fear and the desire for current dominance will prevent everyone."

Perfect. To me, it's a waste to give an F, but to Petain, it's a 100-point answer.

The grading criteria are different, so what can I do?

'I'm from a rote learning background, not a discussion-based one.'

As long as I get the score, that's it.

"The Bismarck system is completely broken, but Germany won't care. Because the balance of power is in place."

"Indeed, they only clung to alliances when they were weak. The Austro-Hungarian Empire will also remain still, so nothing will change."

Half right. The Bismarck system itself prioritizes maintaining the status quo, so if it breaks, a new system must emerge.

If there is no international order to follow the Bismarck system?

'What can be done? The strong will have to fight it out.'

This is the biggest gap between Petain's and my thoughts.

Petain's interrogation disguised as a conversation continued, and his stern gaze gradually softened, eventually returning to that of a relaxed sergeant major. It was a signal that I had passed the test.

Still, the small talk with Petain didn't stop for a while.

Since he showed interest, I willingly joined in. Not that I had a choice.

"Thank you for joining in, even though it must have been difficult."

"I am grateful that you listened to my story deeply."

I proved my ability, left an impression, and to some extent, built a good relationship.

When would a mere lieutenant have such an opportunity? I have to make the most of it while I can.

The seed of me in Petain's mind is planted, and now I just have to wait for it to sprout during the Great War.

As I picked up my coat and stood up, Petain confirmed one last thing.

"Let me ask again. Do you really have no intention of going to Ecole Polytechnique? You can see a much bigger world if you graduate."

"Absolutely not."

Petain looked at me with a gaze similar to that of a personnel officer offering an extension of service.

'Not to mention, it's impossible to graduate. What's the point of a grande ecole?'

This part must be clear, so I answered with a serious expression.

"It's an overly generous offer for me. I think it's better to give the opportunity to someone else."

"Hehe, what a pity. I understand, I understand. My friend."

I gave a crisp salute and left his room.

It was the moment I hung myself on the thickest Petain rope in France.

***

After Berger left, Captain Edtuer entered the office.

"How was it?"

"Curious?"

"I've never seen you show such interest before."

"Yes, he's an interesting young man..."

Petain watched Berger's back as he left, lost in thought.

"Indeed, I know even less after meeting him."

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Everything."

What he wants, what his goal is. No, how he even has such insight is even more of a mystery.

"I thought he was a smart rich kid... but he seems to have rolled around somewhere at the bottom."

He has a presence, but not the authority or the feel of a noble.

Did I test him? It's a quiet laugh from Berger behind his back.

'He felt like he was evaluating how much I know and how much I think. What a brat.'

Still, it didn't make me feel bad. On the contrary, it felt like my blood was boiling for the first time in a long time.

"His name is Berger Mohel, right?"

Where did such a person come from? At least the old Saint-Cyr military academy couldn't have produced such a gem.

'Looking at it that way, it makes sense that he doesn't want to go to a grande ecole.'

So, I know even less.

Promotion? Hmm. If he wants to be promoted, does he need to tell a colonel on the verge of retirement such a story? He would have just gone to a grande ecole.

"Adjutant."

"Yes, sir."

"From now on, bring all information about Lieutenant Berger to me."

"Understood."

Berger Mohel. He got the attention and connection he wanted from Petain.

Just a bit too much, though.