I Won’t Let the Execution Battalion Die, ~Even If the Empire Falls, We Want to Survive~ - Chapter 51: Ghost Hunt ⑤

We decided to change locations, moving from the post town’s restaurant to the adjacent inn. It would be troublesome if that patrol unit’s lieutenant returned.

I left lookout duty to Sergeant Decoct and his men while Second Lieutenant Crimine and I conducted Yuo’s interrogation.

“I told you not to use the Ceremonial Battalion uniform.”

Since the broken promise was fact, I questioned her about it again. I understood the circumstances, but I needed her to follow proper procedure first.

As expected, Yuo looked ready to vanish from shame.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t intend to break the promise, but…”

“I understand. You were cornered with no other options, right?”

I smiled wryly and gently closed the guest room curtains. I’d spotted another patrol unit.

“The anti-imperial faction prepared Ceremonial Battalion uniforms because we have many female officers with frequent field duties. This clearly wasn’t for infiltration but escape. I can’t imagine you could escape by abandoning that now.”

A woman traveling alone would attract considerable attention and face many dangers.

However, Second Lieutenant Crimine looked dissatisfied.

“But there was no need to use my name specifically. We don’t look anything alike either.”

“Would it be okay to impersonate if you did look alike?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Though she was complaining, Second Lieutenant Crimine didn’t seem inclined to arrest Yuo either. She was quite angry though.

Then Yuo bowed her head.

“Among the Ceremonial Battalion’s young female officers, Crimine was the one I could impersonate with the least suspicion.”

“Is that so?”

This girl was one of the Ceremonial Battalion’s most problematic members. She’d caused trouble with Imperial Guards Division officers even before assignment, and her words and actions constantly stirred controversy.

But pointing that out would cause more trouble, so I nodded while pretending ignorance.

“You probably meant no ill will. Anyone becomes selfish when cornered. We’re no exception. But because you didn’t keep your promise, we’re also running out of options.”

I let a hint of threat show—keep pushing and we might arrest you.

“You understand nothing about military life. Even junior officers like second lieutenants usually travel with at least one NCO. Especially women.”

Security was poor after all. Plus officers were busy, so they needed subordinates as managers and attendants.

“Besides, I’ve never seen an officer trudging along on foot. You stand out terribly.”

“I’m not good at horseback riding.”

“Then you should give up disguising as a soldier. Your saber hanging is completely amateur—you look suspicious from every angle. Don’t your superiors teach you such things?”

When I sighed dramatically, Yuo looked frustrated.

“That’s right.”

Finally I’d extracted meaningful information. She was probably like an operative acting independently, but her command connection seemed severed.

“By the way, how did you obtain that uniform?”

“I can’t say anything that would inconvenience collaborators, but this support came from ‘lateral’ rather than ‘above’ sources.”

Local collaborator goodwill, presumably. Since it involved uniform procurement, the fortress quartermaster was suspicious. The fortress quartermaster had also supplied absorbent cotton to Second Lieutenant Crimine.

Well, I’d let that swim for now. When the wind changed, I could sell them favors. I wanted to survive even if it meant becoming a traitor.

Burying such calculating schemes deep in my heart, I spoke seriously:

“Since our Ceremonial Battalion has also tracked you down, you probably can’t continue adequate activities as an anti-imperial faction symbol. Why not return to your original self and escape far away?”

“I can’t do that. Though it’s strange to say this in front of you, I gained many comrades in the capital. If I, who persuaded them, fled, it would betray those comrades.”

She was oddly conscientious in strange places. I couldn’t tell if she was suited for conspiracy or not.

Though I didn’t know how much she was speaking from her heart, so I’d listen with skepticism. Everything could be an act. She was the enemy. The military academy hadn’t taught me to trust enemies.

Now, what to do?

Being swayed by emotion here wouldn’t matter, but unfortunately I had no margin now. I’d use whatever was available.

I selected from my prepared strategies one that seemed usable in this situation.

“Not exactly compensation for breaking promises, but I’ll ask some impertinent questions. Where did you get that wound?”

“I was told that before I was conscious, both my mother and I were pierced by a bayonet. My parents were killed on the spot, but surviving villagers rescued me and placed me in a nearby temple.”

I should verify if this was true.

“Could you show that old wound to our male NCO? You don’t need to show your chest.”

“Understood.”

Second Lieutenant Crimine’s hair was rustling somehow. How was she doing that?

“Chest…?”

Don’t dig into that. Time was limited.

“Sergeant Decoct has eidetic memory—the ability to remember things exactly as seen. He’s also skilled at drawing, so he can sketch the old wound for Dr. Buho to examine. She’s a surgeon.”

“Ah, so we might be able to judge if this person’s story is true.”

Convinced? Then stop that threatening pose.

Sergeant Decoct’s document forgery skills came from copying as images without being influenced by textual information. He perfectly reproduced even slight typos and faint ink stains.

Some people intentionally left such traces for forgery prevention, but since Sergeant Decoct reproduced everything, it didn’t work.

However, this ability made him poor at reading text. He said he needed to switch his mind from visual mode to literacy mode.

Eidetic memory was an ability humans had abandoned during evolution, so it probably didn’t mesh well with civilization’s products like writing and language. Probably. I didn’t really know.

Anyway, omitting the evolution part, I explained this to Second Lieutenant Crimine.

“I see, this way any information could be brought back…”

“No, he’s not that omnipotent. He’s still flesh and blood.”

I said this and looked at Yuo.

“I’ll have several other records taken. It will be humiliating and disadvantageous for you, but surely you won’t complain here.”

“It can’t be helped. I can’t do anything that would endanger allies, but otherwise…”

“Understood, let’s call it even.”

Making unkeepable promises then collecting later. A coward’s method. I felt somewhat guilty, but I was also a professional soldier. I had to be practical.

“Second Lieutenant Crimine, I’m leaving this place to you. Sergeant Decoct is an honest man, but it’s still undesirable for a man and woman to be alone.”

“Right. We’d have no choice but to suspect adultery.”

We weren’t married yet. Also, I’d never said I’d marry you.

…Well, I had no reason to refuse. I liked being with Second Lieutenant Crimine.

I didn’t argue and hid my face with my military cap.

“I’ll keep watch outside to make sure that lieutenant doesn’t do anything stupid.”

“Don’t you need to be present?”

When Second Lieutenant Crimine asked with a puzzled face, I could only smile wryly.

“It can’t be helped. If you sulk any more, it will interfere with the mission.”

“Hmph.”

Second Lieutenant Crimine puffed out her cheeks while Yuo showed an expression of understanding something.