I Won’t Let the Execution Battalion Die, ~Even If the Empire Falls, We Want to Survive~

“Rain, huh? Just my luck.”

I tilted my black military cap slightly to shield my face from the cold rain. Come to think of it, it was raining like this on the day I left my previous life behind too.

“Let’s hurry. If we don’t finish Lord Grien’s execution today, the battalion commander will chew us out.”

“Yes, Lieutenant.”

The one who nodded earnestly was a young woman in a black military uniform with black bobbed hair—Second Lieutenant Riesha Crimine of the Ceremonial Corps.

If she were a second lieutenant in the infantry or artillery, that would be quite respectable, but the Ceremonial Corps was a bit different. In our empire, “ceremonial” essentially means execution by imperial decree.

The official name of this country was [The Orthodox Empire of Zain-Warden Chosen by God, Which is Simultaneously Warden-Zain]. It’s a name that makes it easy to imagine there were some complicated circumstances at the time of its founding.

But everyone just calls it “the Empire.” There were no other empires around, after all.

In this Orthodox Empire, the emperor’s power was tremendously strong—even nobles and clergy get executed fairly easily. However, executing high-ranking people required a certain degree of formality and consideration… so a specialized execution unit was established. I was not sure if that’s rational or not.

Our Imperial Ceremonial Battalion gets called things like the [Grim Reaper Battalion] or the [Assassin Battalion] but unlike actual grim reapers or assassins, we’re a law-abiding public institution. That just makes things more troublesome.

To confirm the details, I called out to Second Lieutenant Crimine.

“Today’s execution target is somewhat formidable. He’s your typical rebel, but politically he’s a special kind of criminal.”

“I heard from the battalion commander. Something about only being able to execute him through a duel…”

“That’s right. It’s a privilege bestowed by the emperor himself. Twenty years ago.”

“I wasn’t even born yet.”

I nodded seriously back at my subordinate, who was nodding seriously again.

“Neither was I.”

“I see.”

“That was a joke.”

I smiled wryly. Right, this kid doesn’t get jokes.

Second Lieutenant Crimine remained serious as she pondered.

“You’re going to execute him as a rebel, right? I think you should just revoke that kind of privilege.”

“A privilege that gets revoked when push comes to shove would be meaningless. The other nobles would stop trusting the emperor. Besides, this treason charge is just a pretext for a purge anyway.”

The nobles swear loyalty to the emperor, and then get executed when something happens. If the emperor’s promises become untrustworthy, it would just be a reign of terror. Rebellion would break out immediately. In fact, there were signs of unrest everywhere.

Recalling the history from my previous life, I carefully stepped through the muddy mountain path.

“It’s simple. We execute him in the form of a duel. We’re the ones challenging him to a duel. In that case, Lord Grien gets to choose the method of dueling. And we’re the ones who provide the equipment.”

“Imperial Dueling Law, Article 3, Section 1.”

Since Second Lieutenant Crimine answered immediately, I was slightly impressed.

“You know your stuff.”

“I am a quasi-noble, after all.”

“Sorry for being a commoner.”

“Yes, you should know your place.”

I glared at my younger subordinate.

“In the military, rank is absolute. Insubordination toward a superior officer is subject to disciplinary action.”

“My apologies, Lieutenant.”

Second Lieutenant Crimine snapped to attention with a crisp salute.

Somehow… I feel like I’m being teased.

In this life, I came from a farming family. That was natural enough since ninety percent of the population were farmers. But if I had to choose, I would have preferred rolling nobility in the reincarnation gacha…

Meanwhile, Second Lieutenant Crimine’s family were wealthy merchants. Apparently the entire clan bought quasi-noble status. It was a major source of revenue for the imperial household, but this country was precarious in many ways.

Anyway, let me continue the explanation.

“Our opponent is an old fox with the nickname [The Strategist]. Our battalion has already lost two duels against Lord Grien and lost officers in the process. If we lose again, the number of execution targets might increase.”

“Yikes.”

Since military officers, like nobles, have their positions guaranteed by the emperor, they could be granted the honor of suicide depending on the emperor’s mood.

The reason I volunteered for this mission was because I didn’t want to get killed as collateral damage for someone else’s failure.

But that wasn’t the only reason.

“Lieutenant Meinen, who died in the last duel, was my friend. Cleaning up after that incompetent drunk is a friend’s duty. Getting bothered by him even after death is the worst.”

At that, Second Lieutenant Crimine looked surprised for a moment, but then smiled.

“So that’s why you volunteered… You really are kind, Lieutenant.”

“Kind people don’t work for the Ceremonial Battalion. Our rank insignia are just for show, and we’re despised by people from every social stratum.”

After all, we were the emperor’s direct execution squad. To anti-imperial factions, we were a symbol of hatred, and even to pro-imperial factions, we were probably a loathsome existence that could turn their blades on them.

“Our political position is extremely precarious. If something happens, we’ll all be strung up on the battalion compound fence.”

“In that case, I’d like to request the spot next to you, Lieutenant.”

“Are you sane?”

She was a good kid, but sometimes she made completely unhinged statements. Well, she was assigned to the Ceremonial Battalion…

Female officers were valuable, so normally they’d be prioritized for assignments like the empress’s guard unit.

I picked up the pace while getting soaked by the rain, just fast enough for Second Lieutenant Crimine to keep up.

“Let’s hurry a bit. Even though I’m called the [Laundry Man], I don’t have a hobby of washing the clothes I’m wearing.”

“I think it’s a cute nickname.”

“The battalion commander apparently found it amusing that I always do laundry on my days off.”

Since I was constantly washing my body and clothes whenever I had free time—a habit from my previous life—it seemed bizarre to people in this world. They think I was a germaphobic weirdo. They were mostly right.

We make a lot of enemies in our line of work, so we often use false names and nicknames. The battalion commander gave us our nicknames. It was very annoying.

“Speaking of which, what’s the origin of your nickname [Baker]?”

“My maternal grandfather was burned at the stake. If my mother had been implicated, I wouldn’t have been born.”

“…Sorry I asked.”

The battalion commander’s sense of humor was brutal.

* * *

After much hardship, we arrived at a noble’s villa in the forest.

Normally this would be a place used for hunting or secret meetings, but now it served as a prisoner detention facility.

The gate was guarded by soldiers in green uniforms—army infantry. Even though we wore different colored uniforms, we were all imperial soldiers, but they probably didn’t see it that way.

“Halt! Who goes there!”

Musket bayonets were pointed our way, so I answered curtly.

“Lieutenant Fonkt, deputy commander of the 3rd Company, Imperial Ceremonial Battalion. You’ve been briefed, haven’t you?”

“Our apologies!”

The bayonet points were quickly withdrawn, and the soldiers stood at attention and saluted.

But I didn’t sense much respect.

Well, of course not. Even though we called it a company, we had no enlisted men—just desk-job officers and NCOs. It was a company on paper only.

Our rank insignia were essentially decorative too, but since we needed to be officers to have any credibility when executing nobles, we wore them. It’s a thankless job.

The iron gate opened, and immediately an officer who seemed to be the local commander emerged. His rank insignia showed lieutenant. But since he was infantry, he outranked me in practical terms.

I saluted and showed him the documents I’d brought.

“Here are His Imperial Majesty’s orders and the dueling oath.”

“Let me see.”

Even though we were both lieutenants, our practical importance differed, so I used respectful language while he didn’t return the courtesy. That was normal.

Since they were the ones who risked their lives on the battlefield, I think that’s fine. If people like us became too important, it would be the end.

After carefully checking both documents, the other lieutenant signed the oath as having reviewed it.

Then he ordered his subordinate.

“The prisoner is on the second floor. Show them the way.”

“Yes sir. Please come this way.”

The soldier saluted expressionlessly and started walking briskly.

We followed behind him, but I could hear a voice muttering behind us.

“Just hurry up and croak already.”

Now I wonder who exactly he was talking about…