I Won’t Let the Execution Battalion Die, ~Even If the Empire Falls, We Want to Survive~ - Chapter 42: Bonds of Comradeship ①

I walked along the top of Penderltaine Fortress’s walls while calling out to Second Lieutenant Crimine walking beside me:

“We have to catch Yuo Nevilnel again.”

“Yes, one after another…”

Second Lieutenant Crimine, who’d had her leave canceled and been dragged into work, was clearly fed up.

While thinking I’d done something bad, I spoke to her:

“It was my mistake that ruined your leave, but we can’t ignore this matter. I’ll reapply for leave, so let’s give our all to arresting Yuo Nevilnel for now.”

Then Second Lieutenant Crimine lightly pressed her forehead.

“No, I was thinking maybe the battalion commander deliberately gave you leave at this time because she didn’t want you getting too involved in this matter…”

“Why do you think that?”

Second Lieutenant Crimine looked exasperated.

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten being followed recently, Lieutenant?”

“I remember.”

That’s exactly why I couldn’t treat this matter as someone else’s problem.

However, Second Lieutenant Crimine seemed to have a different opinion and shook her head.

“If you get too deeply involved in this matter, the anti-imperial factions trying to use Yuo Nevilnel will target your life.”

“That might be true, but this work tends to make enemies anyway. I’m used to it.”

“You shouldn’t get used to it. Please be more careful.”

She seemed quite worried about me. Could it be that I wasn’t as disliked as I thought?

No no, I was bad at distinguishing between goodwill and romantic interest. I’d made embarrassing mistakes about that in my previous life too.

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, I questioned Second Lieutenant Crimine:

“Could it be that the battalion commander ordered you to do something?”

“Eh?”

Second Lieutenant Crimine froze in place with a startled expression.

I sighed.

“…I thought so.”

“Eh, how did you know?”

I smiled at Second Lieutenant Crimine’s surprised face.

“I can tell that much. I’m your partner.”

The battalion commander probably considered my safety. Otherwise, there was no way Second Lieutenant Crimine would worry about me.

This way, interpreting goodwill as romantic interest led to tragedy. So when I wasn’t sure which it was, I always decided to think of it as goodwill. That way tragedy wouldn’t occur.

Come to think of it, there was no reason for Second Lieutenant Crimine to have romantic feelings for me. I wasn’t attractive as either the opposite sex or a superior officer.

“Sorry for the trouble. I’ll tell the battalion commander she doesn’t need to worry about me.”

When I said this with a wry smile, Second Lieutenant Crimine remained frozen and said quietly:

“Why are you always like that…”

Huh? Is she angry? This is anger, right?

Where did I go wrong?

I’d thought the military would be easy since hierarchy was strictly determined by rank, but human groups weren’t that simple. Even now I was being swayed by the mood of a younger female subordinate.

“Despite having that much insight, why don’t you notice that everyone’s worried about you?”

I don’t want to be told that by you. You’re quite insensitive too.

That’s what I thought, but somehow I couldn’t argue back, so I fell silent. After all, I was a coward at heart.

“Am I really someone people worry about that much?”

“Of course. The battalion commander probably gave you this mission because even if she gave you leave, you’d stick your nose in anyway. It’s safer to give you a mission and keep track of your actions.”

I see… that might be… Sorry.

Second Lieutenant Crimine was often thought to be someone who couldn’t read the atmosphere, but she wasn’t stupid at least. If she were stupid, she couldn’t have graduated from the military academy, and the battalion commander wouldn’t have brought her to our unit.

She was more the type with sharp insight who said unnecessary things, so I should probably trust this analysis of hers.

“By the way, what kind of orders did the battalion commander give you?”

“To handle your sexual needs.”

“She didn’t say that, right?”

“She did.”

She said it with a straight face. Hmm… this is hard to judge. Should I believe it?

Then Second Lieutenant Crimine showed a troubled expression while looking straight up at me:

“I don’t want you to die, Lieutenant. If there’s ever a situation where you have to die, I’ll die in your place.”

Her eyes were completely serious.

Eyes of humans who’d overcome even the fear of death had an undeniable power.

As an executioner, I’d seen such gazes many times.

Current Second Lieutenant Crimine had the same eyes as those who had passed away. Meaning she was serious.

I thought dying wasn’t a big deal since it wouldn’t be my first time, but I didn’t want Second Lieutenant Crimine to die. If she died, an indelible wound would remain in my heart. Even if I reincarnated again, that wound wouldn’t disappear.

So I had no choice but to say this to calm Second Lieutenant Crimine down:

“Calm down, Second Lieutenant. I understand that invisible danger is approaching, but I’d be troubled if you died. I don’t want to lose any more important comrades.”

“Really?”

Being looked at with suspicious eyes made my heart race. The gaze of someone who’d steeled their resolve was scarier than a gun barrel.

“Really. So don’t die. Of course, I have no intention of dying either.”

Thinking this lacked persuasive power, I desperately repeated the same words:

“So let’s live together, Second Lieutenant Crimine.”

“Eh…”

Second Lieutenant Crimine looked surprised.

Seeing her face turn red before my eyes, I reflected on my words.

…Yeah, this sounded like a confession. I messed up again.

“Together…?”

Second Lieutenant Crimine, who had been showing emotions between irritation and anxiety until just now, had become completely docile.

Hey Meinen, what’s the “correct answer” at times like this?

I tried asking my former partner who was known for being personable, but he was no longer in this world.

However, I knew what he’d probably say.

—Well, if you want to get along with her, just say so. Don’t be roundabout, Fonkt.

Is that so? Then I’ll trust you. If I’m wrong, I won’t forgive you.

I steadied my breathing and honestly conveyed my feelings to Second Lieutenant Crimine… was scary, so I used somewhat roundabout expressions.

“Honestly, I thought you disliked me. After all, I’m nagging, I make you do dangerous things, and we’re quite far apart in age.”

Second Lieutenant Crimine’s face was bright red as she said somewhat downcast:

“That’s not true. I like Lieutenant Fonkt.”

What kind of “like” was this? Meinen’s ghost was noisily telling me to confirm, but since I was doing something unfamiliar, I was out of mental fuel.

“I’m relieved to hear that. I can’t dismiss such a partner’s advice carelessly. I’ll listen to your words obediently from now on.”

Second Lieutenant Crimine’s military cap looked quite adorable as she looked down, so I lightly touched her cap.

“Hyah!?”

“Your cap is slightly crooked. Let’s both keep our appearance neat.”

Second Lieutenant Crimine had become completely docile, with slightly moist eyes. Something… isn’t this becoming a nice atmosphere? Could it be that she liked me as the opposite sex?

I couldn’t be certain, and since I’d messed up twice in my previous life, I’d be careful on the third time.

But well, maybe I should pay attention to Second Lieutenant Crimine for a while. Including my previous life, we were quite far apart in age, so I inevitably held back…

“Riesha Crimine, Second Lieutenant.”

“Y-yes.”

I smiled at my younger partner who looked up tensely:

“If my ‘cap’ is ever crooked, please tell me then. I’ll definitely fix it.”

“…Yes. Thank you, Lieutenant.”

Second Lieutenant Crimine’s smile, rarely seen, was beautiful enough to make my heart skip. In the end, no matter what I did, this girl seemed to leave marks on my heart.