Chapter 5

"Huuhk… huuuh…"

The sound of sobbing next to me stirred me awake.

Annoyed, I turned my head to see a girl without rank insignia on her epaulet. A recruit, then.

Her name was something like Frien. I met her yesterday after being thrown into the military police detention cell.

Judging by her light brown hair and black eyes, she seemed to be from the southern regions.

Thinking she might be from my hometown, I exchanged a few words with her, and now she was clinging to me, sticking close even after I woke up. It was exhausting.

I considered ignoring her, but it seemed like she might keep crying if I did, so I spoke up.

"…It seems you've forgotten that an Imperial soldier must never show tears so carelessly."

Frien flinched at my voice and quickly stopped sniffling.

"I'm sorry! I apologize! It's just that… I suddenly thought of my father back home…"

"Your father? Is he unwell?"

"No, it's not that… He was so proud of me joining the Imperial Army, but here I am, unable to even complete basic training and locked up in this place. I'm such a fool."

"Did you just say 'yo'?" I pointed out sharply.

Frien's shoulders jumped at my remark.

"Ah, I—I'm sorry! I'll correct myself!"

Hopeless. Watching her with a cold gaze, I turned my eyes straight ahead.

"You said you refused to fire a gun due to religious beliefs, right?"

"Yes, that's correct. I applied as a medic, so…"

"Even medics need to know how to shoot. If an enemy tries to kill the soldier you're treating, would you just let them die?"

Frien remained silent. No, perhaps she couldn't answer.

"War isn't child's play. If you want to play doctor, why not go to some kindergarten and teach kids instead of coming to the battlefield?"

Frien lowered her head, clearly dejected. Watching her, I sighed and added,

"Still, I respect your determination to join the military to save lives. For a woman to volunteer, even though she's not subject to conscription, takes incredible sacrifice."

"…Thank you, Lieutenant."

A faint smile appeared on Frien's lips as she sat huddled on the floor.

"Your words give me strength. I realize now how childish I've been acting. For the sake of my father's honor as a priest, I'll try harder if I return to the training grounds."

Once again, she slipped a "yo" into her speech, but I decided to let it slide. It seemed to be an unconscious habit, and I wasn't her direct superior, so there was no need to correct it.

Still, her reluctance to use firearms because her father was a priest began to make sense. She must have been raised to see killing as taboo.

'Wait a second.'

Her father was a priest?

A woman from the southern regions who faced disciplinary action during training?

A strange sense of familiarity crept over me, reminding me of an NPC back when I used to play a game. My forehead broke out in a cold sweat as I looked at Frien again.

"Soldier, what's your full name?"

"Pardon? Oh, it's Frien. My full name is Frien Remiliat."

Hearing her full name sent chills down my spine.

Frien Remiliat—if that was indeed her name, then she was none other than the "Saint of the Empire," a named NPC.

Known for her unique magic that cast a battlefield-wide buff, Frien could turn ordinary soldiers into outright killing machines. Her presence on the battlefield was enough to force a retreat unless the odds were overwhelmingly in your favor.

Meeting a named NPC in a detention cell was shocking, but it didn't concern me too much.

'It's not like I'll stick around.'

Once I'm discharged and leave the Empire, I'll never see her again. There was no point in paying her any mind.

"It's a pretty name," I said casually.

Frien blushed slightly, looking shy.

Judging by her reaction, I guessed she didn't have much experience with men. Instead of enjoying her youth, she had joined the military. What a waste.

Then again, I had also thought of serving the military as the highest honor until I regained memories of my past life in the operations command center. So perhaps it wasn't so different.

"Lieutenant Daniel Steiner?"

At that moment, a sergeant approached the cell and called out.

I raised my hand. The sergeant confirmed my identity against his ledger, then unlocked the cell door.

"You're being discharged. Come with me."

Finally. It seemed the higher-ups had assessed the situation and were convening a court-martial.

Frien, unaware of what was happening, blinked her clear eyes at me.

"You're leaving at last. It's been an honor speaking with you, Lieutenant."

Internally celebrating, I nodded stiffly, rose, and followed the sergeant.

As we passed through the military police office and stepped outside, Captain Philip was waiting with a box in his hands, looking oddly dignified.

"Ah, there you are," Philip greeted me with a warm smile.

Feeling something was off, I saluted as a formality.

After a half-hearted return salute, Philip approached me.

"I intended to get you out sooner, but the procedures took some time. You know how the army values its bureaucracy."

I nodded. The military lived and died by its paperwork.

But the mention of "getting me out sooner" made me uneasy. As I stared at him, Philip handed me the box.

"This is a reward for your contributions, Lieutenant Daniel Steiner—or should I say, Captain Steiner."

What nonsense was this? Dazed, I opened the box to find two diamond-shaped badges and captain's insignia.

I looked up at Philip, utterly bewildered, only for him to beam at me with pride.

"Your judgment was correct. Major Karl Heinrich was indeed revealed to be an Allied spy. As such, the higher-ups decided to skip the usual promotion process and grant you an exceptional one-rank promotion."

"…An exceptional promotion? Me?"

"Yes. The core value of the Imperial Army is strict meritocracy. Also, the operations staff position will remain vacant for the time being, so you've been ordered to act as interim operations officer."

This had to be a joke. Assaulting a superior officer only to discover he was a spy, earning me a promotion? It was absurd.

"Who knows, you might even surpass me someday. Congratulations!"

But Philip's congratulations made it clear this ridiculous situation was indeed real.

So, I reluctantly shook his hand and sang the Empire's praises.

After using the one-week leave granted as a reward, I returned to the Imperial General Staff.

The moment I entered the operations office, the staff turned their gazes on me, grinning as they gathered around.

"Captain Daniel? The hero of the hour!"

"Assaulting a superior officer, even knowing he was a traitor, took real courage!"

"Two commendations in a row! Did you know your name has been coming up at the top levels?"

I didn't want any of this attention. Their clueless congratulations only made me feel more frustrated.

"Please, save the compliments. I was merely doing my duty to serve the Empire."

I smiled politely despite my irritation.

After the greetings, I made my way to my new desk—previously occupied by Major Karl.

The area was meticulously cleaned out, with only maps, documents, and a telephone on the desk. The nameplate was particularly striking.

[Acting Operations Officer / Captain Daniel Steiner]

Even as an interim position, giving an operations officer role to a captain was unprecedented. Usually, this level warranted a personal office.

It meant the higher-ups regarded me as an extraordinary talent.

In just three months, I'd been promoted to captain and given a prestigious position. It was outrageous.

My career path was paved in gold, but that only made my plans for a dishonorable discharge all the more difficult.

Listening to the chirping of birds outside, I sat at my desk, pressing my fingers to my temples.

'Why is this happening to me…?'

I was on the verge of losing my mind.