I Won’t Let the Execution Battalion Die, ~Even If the Empire Falls, We Want to Survive~ - Chapter 54: Voice of the Nightingale ①

After returning to the capital, I submitted a half-hearted report saying “Yuo Nevilnel has likely already escaped, and allocating personnel to information gathering rather than highway blockades would be better strategy,” and then devoted myself to information gathering and communication duties.

If my predictions were correct, Yuo should start moving eventually. I had to prepare for that.

However, the Ceremonial Battalion’s duties as secret police kept increasing, with daily patrols and investigations leading infantry.

Thanks to this, we could barely move from the capital.

In the provinces, dignified executions based on social hierarchy had become difficult, and preserving noble dignity through suicide or duels had apparently decreased. That stuff was subtly troublesome anyway.

But executing nobles by firing squad or hanging like commoners inevitably provoked family resentment. Having executed relatives was already disgraceful—such execution methods made it impossible to save face. A matter of life and death.

[My nephew was ordered to commit suicide on suspicion of treason. Though he drank poison, there wasn’t enough, so he suffered until morning when a pitying servant shot him with a hunting rifle.]

[If it was suicide, his honor as a noble should naturally be preserved. Too cruel.’]

[Previously the Imperial Ceremonial Battalion would come and handle everything smoothly.]

[They probably lack the resources to dispatch. I heard they’re desperate hunting subversive elements in the capital.]

[The Imperial Household has declined.]

[Moreover, my nephew’s innocence was later proven, and no matter His Majesty’s judgment, this remains utterly unforgivable.]

[No wonder anti-imperial factions are gaining momentum. Lamentable.]

[Perhaps it’s time we reconsidered as well.]

Such conversations were all I heard from afar. Of course, everyone publicly pledged loyalty to the Emperor. But their true feelings were unknown.

After several months passed while thinking this was bad, I was asked this question in the battalion commander’s office:

“Hey, do you know anything about ‘nightingales’?”

Since she probably hadn’t suddenly awakened to natural history, I smiled wryly at the battalion commander.

“I reported that before. Yuo Nevilnel’s parting words.”

“Ah, that’s right. This is bad—I’m becoming forgetful with age.”

The battalion commander was ruffling her blonde hair.

“It’s because you’re so busy. Please don’t prematurely age yourself when you’re still young.”

“You’re the only one who says that.”

Well, including my previous life, I was older than the battalion commander. She was still in the cute young lady category.

Though I couldn’t say that, so I deflected appropriately.

“So what about ‘nightingales’?”

“Ah, I’ve heard some concerning rumors. Apparently an anti-imperial faction group called ‘nightingales’ has formed. Around the same time, nobles and high-ranking clergy have gone missing en masse. Many were under suspicion of anti-imperial faction ties. Several Third Division officers too.”

Here it came.

The battalion commander sat on her desk, crossed her legs, and pushed up her glasses.

“If that Yuo has taken control of part of the anti-imperial faction, it’s quite interesting. Come to think of it, what did Buho say?”

“Ah, about Sergeant Decoct’s sketch? The doctor said she only performs autopsies, so she doesn’t understand external injury prognosis.”

Since Dr. Buho dealt mostly with corpses and her regular patients were all adults, she apparently had no idea how infant wounds would look in adulthood.

So whether Yuo’s life story was true remained unknown.

The battalion commander nodded thoughtfully and recrossed her shapely legs.

“Taking Yuo’s age as about twenty, if she was wounded at age two, that would be about eighteen years ago. I heard there were famines and epidemics everywhere then, with many peasant rebellions.”

“Right, my family apparently had quite a hard time too. The landlord was a good person so we managed somehow, but otherwise I’d be under the earth by now.”

Burying babies to reduce mouths to feed apparently wasn’t uncommon. If unlucky, my life could have ended right after reincarnation.

The battalion commander looked somewhere distant with lonely eyes and spoke:

“Among the peasant rebellions, some received harsh examples. Besides executing the ringleaders naturally, they apparently executed all other villagers and displayed them on highways.”

“Isn’t that excessive?”

“Excessive indeed. All agricultural experience from that village disappears, so bringing in farmers from elsewhere doesn’t work well. It was already famine time. Various people appear—those who flee, those who steal.”

Even suppressing rebellion by force wouldn’t improve agricultural production. It wasn’t solving the problem.

That’s why I’d given up on such an Imperial Household.

The battalion commander threw a stack of documents onto her desk.

“I investigated roughly, but there were too many similar cases everywhere to narrow down. In short, it’s a ‘common story.'”

“I don’t think it should be common.”

“I agree. But such retribution should be directed at the appropriate place. Not us.”

The battalion commander sighed and looked at me.

“The ‘nightingale’ faction seems to be rapidly expanding their influence. But since it’s a regional activity, the Ceremonial Battalion can’t keep up. Could you investigate a bit?”

“If I’m caught, there’s no telling what might happen.”

“Then your Yuo would do something about it.”

“She’s not mine.”

What was this superior saying? I’d spank her bottom.

While thinking about things I couldn’t actually do, the battalion commander chuckled.

“You say that with such an innocent face. Despite charming women everywhere.”

The superior’s evaluation was terrible.

The battalion commander propped her chin on her knee.

“You’ve apparently even captivated that Buho?”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

I hadn’t done anything. Since my public identity was military doctor, she just taught me good disguise methods.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen her show that much interest in anything besides corpses. Assuming you’re not a corpse.”

“I’m still alive.”

Though I’d died once. Thinking about it, I might have some corpse-like qualities.

“But well, I understand Buho’s feelings. Men like you—clean, capable, and gentlemanly—are precious. I’m thinking of pairing you with Second Lieutenant Crimine.”

“I don’t dislike Second Lieutenant Crimine, but…”

She was somewhat strange, but I understood she was risking her life as my partner. I couldn’t possibly dislike her.

Rather, I quite liked her. Maybe the mere exposure effect.

The battalion commander laughed cheerfully.

“If you can act together this much without disliking her, your compatibility is excellent. Normally people give up within ten days.”

“I’m patient.”

“Ahahaha!”

So she could laugh like that.

“Alright then, you and Second Lieutenant Crimine investigate anti-imperial faction movements in the Empire’s south together. Focus especially on the ‘nightingale’ faction. I’ll have Decoct take over regular patrols and investigations.”

“Command received. I’ll depart immediately.”

I’d be anxious alone, but if Second Lieutenant Crimine was with me… no, I was becoming more anxious.

But if she was with me, I felt we could return safely from anywhere.

No, that was slightly different.

Even if we couldn’t return safely, I’d have no regrets if she was with me. I didn’t want to die leaving her behind, and I didn’t want only her to die either.

I suddenly noticed the battalion commander staring at me intently.

“Your responsibility is to bring Second Lieutenant Crimine back safely. Don’t forget that.”

“I’ll engrave it in my heart.”

Right. I’d be careful.

But the trouble was, dying with her seemed like it would be fun too.