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

At the Third Company commander’s office in Imperial Ceremonial Battalion headquarters, located near the Imperial Guard Regiment headquarters in the imperial capital, I was saluting the company commander.

“I have returned, Company Commander.”

“Welcome back, Lieutenant Fonkt.”

The one who smiled cheerfully was a gentle, long-haired woman. She had the same black hair as Second Lieutenant Crimine, but hers was cut in a princess style. She gave the distinct impression of someone who did desk work.

Her name was Minaka Yugi. Her rank was captain. Her nickname was [Toy Dealer].

Her name had a somewhat Japanese feel to it, which made me very curious, but since we all used false names anyway, I had no idea where she was from. It was also forbidden to ask.

However, this person clearly used martial techniques that weren’t from this country. She was a concealed weapons specialist.

Captain Yugi looked at me and tilted her head slightly.

“Oh my, you seem interested in my ‘toys.'”

“More like curiosity—when they’re displayed so openly like this, it’s hard not to notice.”

What was placed on the company commander’s desk was a colorful braided cord. It had round ceramic ornaments attached to both ends and didn’t look like a weapon at first glance.

“Is this the kind you throw, or the kind you swing around?”

Captain Yugi smiled cheerfully.

“As expected of Lieutenant Fonkt. It can be used either way.”

I knew it.

It resembled a hunting tool called a bola that I’d heard about in my previous life, and it also seemed like it could be used like a weighted chain or nunchaku.

Captain Yugi looked up at me with a pleased expression.

“Why do you see through things so quickly?”

“If it’s the company commander’s personal property, it’s probably a weapon. I just have to think about how it would be most effective.”

Since I was keeping my reincarnation secret, I glossed over it appropriately.

“While braided cord may be inferior to chains in strength, it doesn’t make metallic sounds and doesn’t look like a weapon. If necessary, you could burn it, leaving only ceramic balls behind.”

“I’m impressed. Have you perhaps used one before?”

“No.”

I only had knowledge of strange weapons from various creative works in my previous life. But I’d never used or even touched one.

Captain Yugi specialized in surprise attacks using concealed weapons and was one of the Ceremonial Battalion’s premier fighters.

However, she was entrusted with company command not because of her martial prowess, but because she was capable as a commander.

Also, she had strange connections everywhere. Captain Yugi was also the one who had found the Hotei mushrooms needed for the recent mission.

Captain Yugi spun the braided cord, making the heavy ceramic balls whir through the air while smiling cheerfully.

“Cute, isn’t it?”

“Yes, very.”

“It’s more powerful than it looks, and depending on the situation, it’s more reliable than a saber.”

“I see.”

I responded politely, but I knew the truth.

The concealed weapons this person frequently used in actual combat were cloth bags stuffed with copper coins and leather belts. She would use things lying around as improvised weapons. And she could knock out a grown man with a single blow.

Incidentally, she was quite strong bare-handed too, and if she grabbed your hand, you might as well consider it over. You’d be joint-locked and thrown down. Of course, after that, she’d probably crush your throat with her military boot.

Since she was that type of very frightening person, I got tense even when she smiled at me.

However, this person seemed to know about the world outside the Empire, which intrigued me.

Was there a region corresponding to Japan from my previous life in this world? If so, I wanted to visit. If possible, I wanted to eat white rice and miso soup.

“Company Commander, where exactly did you learn those techniques?”

“Hehe, sorry I can’t tell you.”

Thoroughly secretive. Was she a ninja or something? Very intriguing.

Within my knowledge, no one besides Captain Yugi had that “Japanese” atmosphere. She might be a reincarnator, or at any rate, she was a person of interest.

For that reason too, I couldn’t bring myself to leave this Ceremonial Battalion.

Incidentally, what would be the equivalent words for “white rice” and “miso soup”? Imperial language had no words for “cooked rice” or “fermented soybean paste seasoning.”

Speaking in Japanese probably wouldn’t work either, and I’d be in trouble if I probed clumsily and aroused suspicion.

“Lieutenant Fonkt, is something wrong?”

“No, I was just thinking it would be reassuring to take Second Lieutenant Crimine on missions if she had such skills.”

She lacked both combat techniques and physique for fieldwork.

“That can’t be helped. That girl is quasi-nobility, and the Imperial Ceremonial Battalion isn’t a combat unit.”

Then what was this combat machine sitting in front of me? Well, this person’s techniques weren’t needed for regular warfare.

Captain Yugi spun a pen on her fingertip while suddenly murmuring:

“If I partnered with Lieutenant Fonkt, would that reduce your hardships?”

“It would certainly be very reassuring. However, in that case, the company commander’s duties would be delayed.”

I had many strange external assignments, while she had many strange internal assignments. Since our responsibilities differed, we couldn’t work together.

However, since the Third Company had male second lieutenants and NCOs, I felt it might be easier working with them than with Second Lieutenant Crimine.

Should I consult about this?

“What if we made Second Lieutenant Crimine your aide-de-camp?”

“Hmm, I actually hoped for that too. But the battalion commander absolutely forbade it.”

I wonder why?

Captain Yugi made a somewhat uncomfortable expression.

“Also, various people have told me ‘We’d rather not work with Lieutenant Fonkt if possible’…”

“Why?!”

I couldn’t help but exclaim.

Eh, but am I really that disliked?! I maintain proper collegial relationships, don’t I? Sure, I don’t go to strange taverns or brothels, and I don’t gamble…

Captain Yugi chuckled.

“It seems Riesha-chan secretly asked the other people. Don’t worry about it.”

“Second Lieutenant Crimine did? Ah, if that’s the case, I’m somewhat relieved.”

What, you scared me.

…Wait a minute. What’s going on?

As I puzzled inwardly, Captain Yugi smiled meaningfully.

“You’re quite the ladies’ man in the battalion. Just how many have you charmed?”

“It’s a misunderstanding, Company Commander.”

The Imperial Ceremonial Battalion had an unusually high ratio of female officers, but altogether there were only about ten. Moreover, there was absolutely no contact outside of work. This was a false accusation if I ever heard one.

Captain Yugi was counting on her fingers.

“As far as I know, three people… There seem to be more.”

“I keep telling you it’s a misunderstanding.”

Why was I having romantic discussions with my superior in such a gloomy execution unit? This was absurd.

I switched to a more constructive topic.

“By the way, Company Commander, I’d like to visit Meinen’s grave to pay my respects.”

“Ah, that’s right. We’ve already prayed for his soul, so why don’t you and Second Lieutenant Crimine go together?”

“She certainly hasn’t visited the grave yet either, but…”

When I seemed slightly reluctant, Captain Yugi smiled and announced:

“This is an order. Go together. The army communal cemetery in the capital’s suburbs is a lonely place, so I’m a bit worried about sending her alone.”

That made sense. But it seemed like a strange order…

However, if it was Captain Yugi’s order, it was best to comply obediently. I had no authority to refuse orders anyway. I saluted immediately.