I Won’t Let the Execution Battalion Die, ~Even If the Empire Falls, We Want to Survive~ - Chapter 48: Ghost Hunt ②

“You did something quite dangerous.”

In the clothing warehouse of Penderltaine Fortress defended by the 3rd Army Division, a middle-aged male officer was sighing.

The weak lantern light momentarily illuminated his rank insignia. A quartermaster captain.

“I’m sorry. I think so too.”

The one who answered was ‘Yuo Nevilnel’ wearing a Ceremonial Battalion uniform.

The two were hidden behind stacked wooden crates, quietly holding a secret meeting.

The quartermaster captain crossed his arms.

“There are limits to how long I can hide you here. Even though I’m the chief clothing officer, if I place too many unnatural orders, audits will expose it.”

“Yes, I heard you had trouble obtaining this uniform.”

Yuo bowed her head obediently. With their age difference being like father and daughter, she looked like a daughter being scolded by her father.

But the quartermaster captain’s attitude remained respectful, seeming to show deference to Yuo.

“On orders from ‘above,’ I procured a Ceremonial Battalion uniform with the highest freedom of action, but everyone in the Ceremonial Battalion should know each other by sight. Meeting Ceremonial Battalion officers while wearing that is too dangerous.”

In the Imperial military, female officers were never entrusted with commanding units. Most served as bodyguards for the Empress or Princesses, not acting independently.

The almost sole exception was female officers belonging to the Ceremonial Battalion. With missions including executing noble women, they were confirmed to be flying around the Empire.

“I understand that. I managed to enter the fortress by timing their arrival here, but…”

“I emphasized that you shouldn’t encounter them. I haven’t even told the comrades inside this fortress that you’re here. Consider yourself isolated and helpless now.”

Though not accusatory in tone, the captain’s voice carried fatigue.

“If captured, you cannot escape death. And…”

“If I die, the next ‘Yuo Nevilnel’ will be chosen. From among those of similar age and appearance who are eloquent.”

“Exactly. We’d again burden someone new with this harsh mission. If someone must do it eventually, fewer people suffering is better.”

When the captain said this quietly, Yuo smiled.

“Was I the third?”

“I heard you’re the fourth. The first was executed, the second disappeared, the third was purged.”

“Frightening. Will I also be purged?”

Contrary to her words, Yuo seemed cheerful.

“If you fear that, obey orders from above submissively. I don’t understand what they’re thinking or how far their reach extends. Besides…”

“Besides?”

The captain hesitated momentarily but answered embarrassedly:

“I want you to survive and find happiness too. You’re the same age as my daughters.”

“Thank you.”

Yuo thanked him politely, then looked straight at the captain.

“I took a dangerous risk, but I was able to make contact with the rumored Lieutenant Fonkt.”

“Ah, the man who executed the third ‘Yuo Nevilnel.’ Though the third Yuo had already been purged then, so he executed someone already dead.”

The captain clasped his hands before his chest and offered a brief prayer.

“May that unknown soul rest in peace. What kind of person was Lieutenant Fonkt?”

Then Yuo put her hand to her cheek with a troubled expression.

“He was… quite mysterious. Definitely a soldier, but not soldier-like. His gentle manner was like a priest, his calculating side like a merchant, his logical reasoning like a scholar.”

The captain tilted his head at Yuo’s words.

“I see? Well, the Ceremonial Battalion are more civil servants than soldiers—executioners specializing in death sentences.”

“Perhaps that’s why. Though he should be an enemy, he was strangely calming. He seemed very sincere. I almost let my guard down and misspoke.”

Then the captain groaned.

“Hmm. For you, renowned as one of the sharpest among those gathered as Yuo candidates, to evaluate him so highly is unusual. This may be crude to ask, but you weren’t swayed by appearance, were you?”

“Come to think of it, he was good-looking too. Very clean, so he must be quite popular.”

Yuo chuckled.

“I got the mysterious impression he’d appeared from a completely different world. I’d been curious since calling out to him before—he seems somehow special. Is he really a commoner?”

“I wouldn’t know, but don’t favor enemies too much. It would be troublesome if the ‘above’ dignitaries learned of it.”

To the captain’s stern tone, Yuo smiled wryly.

“Right, I’ll be careful. But the Ceremonial Battalion really has many interesting personnel.”

“That battalion commander has connections with Kavaraf region’s anti-imperial factions, and her subordinates are all crafty too. Hard to believe they’re part of the Imperial Guards Division.”

The captain scratched his head and furrowed his brow.

“Yet they don’t sympathize with us either, having become the Emperor’s lap dogs. I can’t read their intentions. Such people can’t be trusted.”

“Yes. However, Lieutenant Fonkt let me go knowing I was Yuo, so he might serve as a negotiation window.”

Though Yuo said this, the captain shook his head.

“That’s also premature. Arresting a fugitive inside this fortress would make fortress personnel subject to questioning. He probably feared that.”

“I think that’s true, but even accounting for that, he was still an intriguing gentleman.”

The captain smiled wryly while smoothing his graying hair.

“Good grief, stubborn woman. You really took a liking to him. But don’t forget you’re currently a fugitive.”

“Yes, I must somehow escape to the Kavaraf region…”

Yuo answered seriously, then muttered:

“Traveling musician or pilgrim clothing is too standard for fugitives now—it only arouses suspicion. Can’t you procure priest robes?”

The captain shook his head.

“This is the military. We do have military chaplain robes supplied by temple craftsmen, but there are no female military chaplains. You’d have to disguise yourself as a man.”

“Male disguise would be immediately discovered. With this… figure.”

Gently pressing her chest, Yuo bit her lip.

“The remaining options are becoming a merchant or disguising as a prostitute… No, as a prostitute, the scars would be discovered when undressing.”

“A merchant would also be difficult. A woman alone carrying merchandise and earnings would be too unnatural.”

The captain who answered thus suddenly tilted his head.

“Won’t you use that uniform?”

“I promised Lieutenant Fonkt. That I wouldn’t use this.”

The captain narrowed his eyes, then quietly admonished:

“I know your sincerity has moved people’s hearts and gained many allies in this short time. But now you can’t afford to keep promises with enemies. Use it just this once.”

Yuo closed her eyes, pondered briefly, then nodded.

“You’re right… If we meet again, I’ll apologize. One ‘debt,’ then.”

“How conscientious. I’d like my daughters to learn from you.”

The captain smiled wryly, then became serious.

“Please be extremely careful. Though weakened, the opponent is still the Imperial Household—those who never once relinquished the throne throughout their long reign.”

“Yes. Though they’re ghosts clinging to past glory, they’re still the rulers for now.”

Yuo answered with fighting spirit gleaming in her eyes.

“I won’t die. I’ll survive and destroy the ghosts infesting the Empire. That will be my offering to my unknown parents.”

Saying this, she gently pressed the scar hidden beneath her uniform.