I Won’t Let the Execution Battalion Die, ~Even If the Empire Falls, We Want to Survive~ - Chapter 44: Bonds of Comradeship ③

It was certain that ‘Yuo Nevilnel’ faction members were at Penderltaine Fortress, but as military personnel, they probably wouldn’t reveal their identities. If discovered as part of the anti-imperial faction, they could face execution by firing squad.

But since they apparently had some business with me, they might contact me again.

“They seem like someone with quite a sense of humor, so they’ll probably do something clever.”

I tapped the desk, making the paper stick figure do solo paper sumo while considering future moves.

Second Lieutenant Crimine looked dissatisfied.

“They’re probably just making fun of you.”

“That might be so. To them, who are expanding their influence undercover, the Emperor’s lap dogs probably look stupid.”

The Empire had originally expanded territory through military occupation and annexation. There was no unity as a single nation. Because there was no unity, anti-imperial factions hadn’t rallied either, but now there was the idol of ‘Yuo Nevilnel.’

“However, I’m the same as them in thinking being the Emperor’s lap dog is ridiculous. I want to use that as a breakthrough point to gather information about them.”

Then Second Lieutenant Crimine made an openly anxious face.

“You’re not thinking of doing something like an undercover investigation, are you?”

“I’m not thinking of going that far.”

“That’s good, but people often get drawn into the enemy’s inner circle and then absorbed by them.”

Being from an upstart quasi-noble family line, this young lady understood the world well.

Military academy had also included intelligence warfare lectures, and I’d been taught not to imitate spies. The professionals in that field were apparently terrifying in this world too.

“Right. There are even strategies to turn enemies into allies that way.”

“My maternal grandfather was apparently burned alive on such suspicions…”

Ah, so there was quite a specific case close to home.

I smiled to ease my partner’s anxiety.

“First I’ll see how they move. Then I’ll report everything to the battalion commander. The reports should prove my innocence. I won’t cross the line no matter what happens. Is that acceptable?”

“Well… yes.”

She still looked worried.

This girl remained calm even when facing dangerous situations or humiliating treatment herself, yet she worried about me this much.

“I’m fortunate to have a partner like you.”

When I said this, Second Lieutenant Crimine looked down and muttered:

“For life, together…”

I said together, but I didn’t think I said for life. I didn’t say that, right?

I probably didn’t say that, but looking at Second Lieutenant Crimine’s expression made it hard to bring that up.

This topic was somehow scary, so I’d avoid it.

I smiled ambiguously like a reincarnator from Japan and fled from the trouble.

“For now we’ll stay here tonight. I’ve told the fortress side we’ll depart tomorrow morning, so if there’s going to be movement, it’ll be tonight. Please stay alert.”

“Yes, Lieutenant.”

Being saluted with the usual straight face, I felt relieved. This distance between us was about right.

****

After that, we had dinner at the officers’ mess in the fortress, eating nervously in case poison had been added.

In case poison had been added, we decided not to drink alcohol. It would affect drug metabolism, but the resentment of missing a drinking opportunity was great.

Being at a peacetime fortress and not being able to drink was somehow irritating.

“You like alcohol, don’t you, Lieutenant?”

“Do I look that eager to drink?”

When I asked while slowly eating potato and bean soup, the quasi-noble daughter answered with a composed face while eating with perfect table manners:

“You’ve been looking at other people’s wine glasses the whole time.”

I’d been thoroughly observed. I could only give a wry smile.

“Anyone who knows me well would think they could easily kill me by putting poison in alcohol. Plus, being drunk makes you more susceptible to poison.”

I’d intended to appeal to being a serious soldier, but Second Lieutenant Crimine somehow looked bored.

“You have strong self-control, Lieutenant.”

“I do, but?”

What was wrong with that? Hey, don’t persistently poke that potato with your fork. That potato was starting to look like me.

She’d become meek or irritated—I didn’t understand this girl well.

Only officers and senior NCOs could enter the officers’ mess, but enlisted men and military personnel handled service and cooking. Security-wise, it was somewhat concerning.

“Let’s eat quickly and return to our room. I wanted to wash my shirt at least, but I’ll give up this time.”

“Come to think of it, you really are clean, Lieutenant. You don’t smell at all.”

I thought that was proper grooming, but Second Lieutenant Crimine still looked dissatisfied. What was wrong with being clean?

Second Lieutenant Crimine finished her potato and bean soup, carefully ate the pork she’d saved for last, then stood up.

“I’ll go get clean too, so may I return to the room first?”

“Solo action is dangerous.”

When I said this, Second Lieutenant Crimine made a disgusted face.

“You’re not going to make a woman say it, are you?”

“Ah… Sorry, of course I permit it. I do. Please go ahead.”

Since the Empire had almost no female officers, the fortress had no women’s restrooms either. That meant she could only change sanitary supplies in our room. She couldn’t do it with me there.

I’d like to be able to sense these things, but I was always one beat behind. I felt my limitations.

I checked the time on the wall clock before calling out to Second Lieutenant Crimine:

“I’ll drink two cups of tea here before returning. If you have other necessary business, please take care of it.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant.”

Perhaps finding my dejection slightly amusing, Second Lieutenant Crimine smiled just a little.

*****

So I drank two cups of the officers’ mess’s thin, tasteless tea, and when my throat became scratchy, I stood up. Cheap, used tea leaves were the taste of the military. Alcohol really was the way to go in the military.

Now, Second Lieutenant Crimine’s preparations should surely be finished.

I returned to the front of our assigned room but knocked on the door just in case.

No response. Since Second Lieutenant Crimine had the key, I couldn’t open it, but when I lightly gripped the doorknob, I could tell it wasn’t locked.

I gripped my saber’s sheath with my left hand while speaking in my usual voice:

“I’m coming in?”

The moment I opened the door, I crouched while drawing my sword.

If nothing happened, it would become a funny story, but that was something to think about after confirming safety.

There was one woman in the room.

But it wasn’t Second Lieutenant Crimine. She wore the Ceremonial Battalion’s black uniform but was someone else.

“Lieutenant Fonkt?”

“I recognize that voice.”

It was the mysterious person who had called out to me in the crowd when we were being followed.

I confirmed no one else was in the room and sheathed my saber.

“Where is Second Lieutenant Crimine?”

“I took her away under the pretext of supplying absorbent cotton. That was genuine, so she should return soon. I haven’t harmed her.”

I hesitated whether to believe this, but decided to just keep my guard up for now.

“You’re quite bold. Have you decided to be arrested?”

Then she picked up the paper figure on the desk while smiling softly:

“Will you arrest me here and now?”

“Arresting ‘Yuo Nevilnel’ here would cause a major problem. Not a good strategy.”

If an outsider in a Ceremonial Battalion uniform had infiltrated the fortress interior, it would develop into investigation of collaborators and questions about the commander’s responsibility. Someone’s head would definitely roll. Not metaphorically but physically.

It wouldn’t settle down otherwise.

That’s the kind of person the current Emperor was.

“If you want to cause us damage by creating a major problem in exchange for your life, I could arrest you.”

“That would be fine. I would die, but it would deal considerable damage to both this fortress and the Ceremonial Battalion.”

A completely undaunted attitude. She had the eyes of someone who’d steeled their resolve.

Arresting this woman here would be high-risk, but overlooking her and having a conversation would be problematic in its own way.

“Arresting you would be simple, but you came here because you had business with me, right?”

“Yes. I’m somewhat interested in you.”

The woman smiled pleasantly.

So that’s how it is…