Episode 165 - Beekeeper's Alliance (3)
It was nearly noon when Lieutenant Colonel Soren Kaufmann, the newly appointed 1st Battalion Commander, finally appeared before the battalion.
Word was he'd arrived in Lanosel early in the morning, so nobody could figure out what on earth was holding him up at regimental headquarters for so long.
"As of this moment, I am Soren Kaufmann, the new 1st Battalion Commander. I've heard many stories about the 1st Battalion, said to be the most elite among the infantry in the 5th Division."
Soren was a man whose thoughtful demeanor was accented by brown hair and dark brown eyes.
Yet, when he first showed up and gathered the staff officers and company commanders, what he said made everyone's faces turn pale.
Just a month ago, the 1st Battalion really had been the most elite in the 5th Division.
They were veterans who had survived the hellish Battle of Bertagne Forest, and they'd suffered through Bailey's nightmarish training too.
But now, most of those outstanding soldiers were dead because of Bailey, and the majority of those left were raw recruits.
And here comes the new battalion commander, tossing around phrases like "the 5th Division's most elite."
'He must be another one like Hoffman!'
Despite his appearance, Andersen was a cautious man—but this time, he jumped to conclusions with alarming speed.
Soren must be planning to drive the 1st Battalion through brutal training as well, desperate to maintain that "most elite" reputation in the 5th Division.
On top of it all, this new commander's brown hair and dark eyes looked uncannily like Bailey's.
Over a hundred men in the battalion had the same features, but still—he resembled Bailey.
And with that serious expression, there was no doubt his personality would be just as rotten.
Everyone's nerves were stretched to the limit.
"Before we move on to official duties, I want to have a meeting. The Section Chief will come with me, and everyone else is to complete your assigned tasks and then stand by."
"Yes, Battalion Commander Sir"
The very first thing he did upon taking command was to conduct individual interviews.
Hans, looking both bewildered and fearful, followed Soren, and as he did, everyone else began whispering anxiously, trembling with fear.
"What are we supposed to do? What if he's another one like the last battalion commander…?"
"There's no doubt the higher-ups want to wipe us all out. They're planning to finish off the 1st Battalion with another bastard for a commander and sweep everything under the rug."
"Calm down. Nothing's been confirmed yet."
The officers, thrown into confusion, fretted openly about the new battalion commander.
Ernest struggled to keep calm and spoke up.
"Still, I don't think they'd send us someone like Major Hoffman again this time."
Ernest spoke with heartfelt conviction. Heinz had promised him—he would send a good commander.
And with Ferdinand here, surely Heinz wouldn't send someone like Bailey again.
For reference, all the surviving members of the 1st Battalion had immediately spilled everything about what kind of bastard Bailey was, so word had it that Bailey—unprecedentedly—had been demoted to major posthumously.
Normally, someone at the rank of lieutenant colonel would be a hereditary noble with a distinguished military career, so even if they made a serious mistake, if they died in action, the military would quietly cover things up and bestow honors.
But Hoffman had made such a spectacular mess that, forget honors, he got the harshest punishment they could give a dead man: a demotion.
"But you never know. Maybe this one's just an expert at playing the game, fooled everyone, and made it all the way here."
"Please stop bringing me up every time you talk about maneuvering through life."
"Anyway, we should be careful."
"Ferdinand, if anything happens, we're counting on you."
"..."
With everyone's desperate eyes turning to him because of the new battalion commander Soren, Ferdinand simply stayed silent, his expression solemn.
"Haha, I'm getting worried your blood's not circulating because your head's turned to stone. Maybe you need someone to get the blood flowing."
Andersen cracked a joke about Ferdinand's rock-like demeanor, laughing heartily.
Ferdinand stared at Andersen for a moment, then glanced at Ernest and gave a slight nod.
"Go ahead. If you think you can."
"Ugh, even if I tried, I couldn't win, so I'll let it go."
Andersen, who had tried the same approach Ernest used to keep Robert in line, shrugged and backed off with a grin.
Andersen was hardly small himself, but standing next to Ferdinand, he looked a bit on the puny side.
"Well, I'll get back to work, then."
With that firm statement, Ferdinand quickly took his leave.
The others hesitated to disperse because of their anxious feelings, but there was work to be done, and they couldn't stand around forever.
One by one, they drifted away.
"Hey! Hey! Ernest is back!"
"How dare you call our Company Commander, who's as high as the sky, like that? Show some respect for your superior."
"So? How was it? Did you see him? What did he say?"
As soon as Ernest returned, Robert came rushing over, panting as if he hadn't seen him in a month, just like Drek would, and grabbed him, bombarding him with questions about the new battalion commander.
Billim and Bruno were no different, and so were the non-commissioned officers and soldiers who'd survived the previous battle. Even Isaac and Simon, pretending not to care, sidled over to eavesdrop.
"I couldn't talk to him. The Section Chief said he'd be having one-on-one meetings first."
"Still, he must have said something, right?"
"He said he'd heard a lot about the 1st Battalion, the elite of the 5th Division."
"We're doomed!"
"Calm down. We're not doomed yet."
"Sir, what did you think? Do you think he'll be alright?"
Pulling the dejected Robert out of the way, Isaac asked Ernest. Ernest folded his arms and thought back to Soren, then gave a calm nod.
"Well, I don't think he'll be bad, at least for now."
"We're saved!"
Bruno jumped up and cheered at Ernest's words.
"Of course, Major Hoffman didn't seem bad at first, either."
"We're doomed!"
As soon as Ernest mentioned Bailey's example, Robert cried out in despair again.
Ernest just shrugged, then addressed the company members who had gathered around.
"Seeing you all wasting time like this must mean you're feeling pretty relaxed. I guess I'll need to keep you busy."
"As you command, sir!"
The moment Captain Ernest Krieger asserted his authority as Company Commander, Deputy Company Commander, Second Lieutenant Robert Jitman, shouted for everyone to disperse.
Like a pack of rats fleeing a burning warehouse, they all scattered in different directions.
"There'll be training this afternoon! Get ready and stand by!"
"We haven't even made a training schedule!"
"I'll write it up and get it approved, so don't worry!"
"You bastard!"
"Aaaah!"
"Ughhh!"
The sudden announcement from the Company Commander sent everyone into an uproar.
But Ernest didn't even bat an eye and headed to his room to draft the training plan.
He wasn't planning anything extreme.
Most of the current 1st Battalion members are new recruits, so even if Ernest wanted to do something more challenging, it simply wasn't possible.
For now, the focus had to be on the basics: marksmanship, formation drills, advancing and retreating, and maintaining security.
No matter how much the battalion grumbled, everyone knew how important training was, so they all gave their best.
If there was one thing Bailey truly excelled at, it was training.
His methods were harsh, but thanks to that grueling regimen, they had managed to overcome several dangerous moments during the battles in the forest.
Ernest quickly wrote up the training schedule and read his Belliang language book from Lanosel as he ate lunch.
Before mealtime ended, he went to find Hans, the Section Chief.
"You've been working hard, 2nd Company Commander."
"Training is crucial, sir."
"It's just basic drills this time and nothing else is on the schedule, so I'd like to tell you to start right away. But you'll have to wait for the Battalion Commander's approval first."
"Yes, sir, understood. By the way, what did you think?"
Ernest had come to Hans under the pretense of getting approval for the training plan, but he didn't want to waste time with small talk and got straight to the point.
After Hans's one-on-one meeting with Soren, what did he think of him?
"Hmmm…"
Hans rubbed his beard with a peculiar expression, clearly deep in thought.
He was silent as he searched for the right words, but didn't look particularly troubled—just a bit perplexed.
"I'll be honest, I've never met anyone quite like him before, so I'm not sure what to say…"
After a long silence, Hans shrugged his shoulders and spoke.
"He'll be a good superior for us. Probably."
"…When you say 'us,' who exactly do you mean?"
Hans's answer was so vague that Ernest asked again, carefully. Hans gave a slight smile.
"I mean, he'll be a good superior to subordinates who know how to take care of their own work. You'll understand after you have an interview with him yourself. But."
Hans grabbed Ernest by the shoulders with a very serious expression and gave a stern warning.
"Don't say anything that could be misunderstood. Please."
Hans knew very well what kind of person Ernest was by now. He was a highly capable, diligent, and humble young man. But Ernest was also the kind of bastard anyone could easily misunderstand. He was almost too competent, too diligent, and yet he always kept himself hidden from others.
"It seems he pays a lot of attention to the rumors about you. Don't say anything unnecessary—just speak plainly."
"Yes, understood."
Now more myth than legend, and more legend than rumor, Captain Fox pressed his forehead as if his head might split and replied. He thought he should really track down the bastard who first spouted all that ridiculous nonsense, rip off his insignia, and go a round with him—otherwise, he'd feel unfairly accused forever.
Ernest returned to the 2nd Company. Since approval for training hadn't yet been given, he postponed preparations and ordered everyone to standby. Hans had assured him the approval would come, but you never know. For now, it was best to just wait quietly.
"2nd Company Commander. The Battalion Commander is calling for you. He's also approved the training, so you can proceed right away."
"Understood. I'll go immediately."
Finally, it was Ernest's turn.
Approval had come down as well.
Since Ernest now had to go for an interview, the responsibility for running the training naturally fell to Deputy Company Commander, Second Lieutenant Robert 'Slave' Jimman.
"Don't slack off—make sure everything is done properly!"
"Aaagh! You bastard! Why are you doing this to me?"
Robert answered energetically to Ernest's warning. Leaving all the work to Robert, Ernest, tense but not showing it, set off to meet the new 1st Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Soren Kaufmann.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Battalion Commander Sir. This is Captain Ernest Krieger, 2nd Company Commander."
"...Come in."
After Ernest knocked and spoke, there was a brief rustling inside before a reply came.
Ernest opened the door and stepped in.
In that brief moment, his eyes scanned Soren's room.
He hadn't even unpacked his belongings yet, so the place was completely empty.
Soren hadn't brought much with him, either.
Ernest saluted Soren, and Soren, still seated, returned the salute.
"Have a seat."
"Yes, sir."
Soren gestured toward the chair across from the solitary table in the austere room, and Ernest sat down right away.
"Don't be too nervous. I just want to have a casual conversation, that's all."
Soren spoke in a more relaxed tone than his initial, serious manner. But Ernest could sense a subtle wariness in the battalion commander's eyes. It wasn't Ernest who was on guard—it was Soren, the newly assigned battalion commander, who was wary of Ernest.
Ernest remembered Hans telling him that Soren had paid particular attention to the rumors circulating about him. What is his intention
"You're still young, yet you've already received two medals. I heard somewhere that you'll also be getting the Silver Star Medal for the previous battle."
Soren said this, gesturing at Ernest's chest.
Rather than Soren's manner, it was the memory of Bailey that sent a chill down Ernest's spine.
He was about to say something, but then recalled Hans's advice and decided to answer honestly.
"It's not as though I wanted them. I only received them because the situation left me no choice."
Soren quietly clasped his fingers together and observed Ernest in silence.
His dark brown eyes calmly studied him.
Silence can sometimes be a powerful force. Just by staying quiet, a superior can exert tremendous pressure on a subordinate. In an attempt to escape that pressure, people often ramble and end up exposing their weaknesses.
But Ernest simply waited in silence for Soren's next words, not saying anything unnecessary.
"The other officers of the battalion seem to trust you quite a lot. Of course, the soldiers as well."
It was a difficult statement to respond to. It wasn't a question, nor was it an accusation, and it certainly wasn't praise. Ernest waited, and Soren continued.
"I'm rather confused because I don't know what kind of person the 2nd Company Commander really is."
Soren still sat completely still, fingertips pressed together, only his lips moving as he spoke.
"You were promoted to captain and became a company commander after serving as a new platoon leader for only four months, you've received two medals, are set to receive another, have distinguished yourself in every battle with tactics that defy common sense, and everyone speaks highly of you. Then there are stories—how you can shoot through thick undergrowth and hit the enemy's eyes with uncanny precision, take down knights armed with swords in close quarters combat using only a dagger, see through the darkness, detect things a thousand paces away just by sound and smell, hide in shadows so that even someone staring directly can't see you, or even read the enemy's mind—these kinds of wild and unbelievable rumors are going around."
"..."
Soren must have done some research on the 1st Battalion before coming here.
He was a careful man.
As soon as Soren mentioned the Legend of Captain Fox, Ernest felt his whole face flush with embarrassment.
He had no idea which lunatic had started spreading such nonsense.
Some of these tales had grown from kernels of truth, exaggerated as they passed from person to person. But if Ernest really could do any of those things, there was no way he'd even be sitting here right now.
"On the other hand, the battalion's officers describe the 2nd Company Commander as diligent, honest, and humble."
The moment Soren used the words "on the other hand," Ernest could clearly see how Soren viewed him.
Soren was suspicious that Ernest, despite being called the Son of a Hero, was just an inexperienced greenhorn, a hot-blooded youth driven mad by ambition and the desire for glory.
After all, anyone could see how unlikely it was for someone so young and with no powerful backing—a mere greenhorn—even if he was the Son of a Hero, to rise so quickly through the ranks and rack up medals like Ernst had.
Soren suspected that Ernest was so obsessed with achievements that he was doing reckless things.
And after hearing all those wild rumors about Ernest, he wondered if Ernest himself—driven by an urge to show off—had started spreading those stories.
Ernest seriously wondered how and where he should begin to clear up these misunderstandings.
Remembering how his failure to resolve similar doubts had completely destroyed his relationship with Bailey, he realized he needed to address it here and now.
And in that moment, Ernest understood that Hans's advice had been given precisely for this situation.
"I have no interest whatsoever in achievements, promotions, or medals."
Ernest spoke with absolute conviction.
"What I want is to make it home safely with my friends when this war is over. I didn't fight for glory—in fighting, the achievements just happened."
"..."
"I don't want to drive my subordinates to their deaths with reckless battles. I don't want to lose friends, and I don't want to die myself. I'm going to fight in a way that minimizes casualties within the limits given to me. That's all there is to it."
Ernest spoke so openly and firmly that it almost sounded like he was challenging Soren's authority as Battalion Commander.
As he spoke, even Ernest wondered if maybe he was taking things too far.
But these words reflected his true feelings.
After hearing this, Soren sat for a while, tapping his fingertips together in thought.
He could sense the sincerity in Ernest's words.
Yet, from the perspective of an Imperial Army officer, Ernest's honesty was something that shouldn't be spoken out loud.
Officers of the Empire were supposed to fight and, if necessary, die bravely for the Empire and His Majesty the Emperor.
"Coincidentally, I feel the same way."
After a long silence, Soren finally broke into a slight smile, his serious expression softening for a moment. He, too, began to say things an Imperial Army officer wasn't supposed to admit.
"My goal is simply to survive until the war ends, collect my pay from the Empire, and then quietly retire."
"..."
Ernest, too, was taken aback by those words. To say such things so boldly!
But when he thought about it, it was actually a pretty admirable goal. Ernest gave a small nod.
"I tried to see the end of the war as a major, refusing promotions and holding out in the rear, but things went awry and I ended up here on the battlefield."
Soren muttered in a serious tone, though what he was saying was almost pitiful.
Tilting his head slightly, he fixed Ernest with a sharp, penetrating gaze.
"I'll give you a word of advice—or rather, two, 2nd Company Commander."
"Yes, Battalion Commander Sir."
Soren spoke gravely, and Ernest answered. Soren, who had desperately tried to stay safe as a major in the rear but ended up catching Heinz's eye and being forcibly promoted to lieutenant colonel and sent to the front lines as a battalion commander, now spoke with all the dignity and seriousness of his office.
"Make sure you don't attract unnecessary attention. Even if there's something you want to do or have to do, handle it quietly so you don't stand out. What I'm saying is, don't leave any stains on your record—or any unnecessary achievements, for that matter."
Soren was vehemently opposed to not only blemishing his record, but also accumulating any distinctions or accomplishments.
If you get promoted to lieutenant colonel, you can become a battalion commander.
The battalion commander bears enormous responsibility.
That's why he'd tried to hide and hold out without being promoted to lieutenant colonel, but Heinz had found him anyway and forced him up the ranks against his will.
If he made any more achievements and got promoted again, he could become a colonel, or even a regimental commander.
It was hard enough just being a battalion commander, but a regimental commander?
Absolutely not.
Soren just wanted to remain in the middle.
Of course, he also didn't want Ernest to draw any unnecessary attention by achieving something that would make him stand out.
If you catch the higher-ups' attention, you have to live up to their expectations.
And once those expectations are raised, they never come back down.
In other words, if you accomplish something once, you'll be expected to keep doing more and more. From then on, even the standard for being "average" just keeps getting higher.
For Lieutenant Colonel Soren Kaufmann, who had the grand dream of quietly hanging on until retirement, living comfortably off whatever money the army gave him, a subordinate earning distinction was the last thing he wanted.
He was already on the radar of Heinz Hartmann, Brigadier General and Chief of Staff of the 2nd Corps, thanks to Ferdinand.
If Ernest joined in and started making a fuss too, Soren felt like he'd really lose his mind.
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
Ernest, who wanted neither more attention nor a promotion, wholeheartedly agreed with Soren's philosophy of keeping his head down.
All he wished was to finish what Levin told him to do and then sit on his hands, doing absolutely nothing else. Really, truly, with all his heart!
"Next, Captain Krieger."
Soren, speaking seriously, finally addressed Ernest as Captain Krieger and not 2nd Company Commander.
His eyes flashed with a kind of resolute determination.
Ernest, feeling tense, listened carefully to Soren's next words.
"It's best to get promoted to major and then dig in. The treatment is much better, and the pay is significantly higher."
"...."
"After the war is over, keep your head down, wait for an opening, then get promoted to major and settle in. Your life will be twice as comfortable as it is now."
Lieutenant Colonel Soren Kaufmann, who had determined and pursued his life's direction at a relatively young age, was offering invaluable life advice to a junior who seemed likely to follow a similar path.
There's only a single rank difference between captain and major, but the treatment is worlds apart.
And if you get stuck as a captain and hit your thirties, people around you start hinting that maybe it's time for you to retire.
If you reach that point, it basically means your promotion prospects are blocked, and being a captain at that age just makes everyone uncomfortable.
That's why you need to make it to major—then hold on for dear life.
Ernest was still young and had achieved enough accomplishments.
He just hadn't been promoted because his service was short and he was young; as soon as he filled the time requirements, moving up to major would be within his grasp.
The plan was to keep his head down for now, build up some experience in a rear-echelon position once the war ended, then quietly get promoted to major and stay put.
Between that and his friendship with Ferdinand, he could make the right connections and enjoy a sweet life living off what the military provided until he retired.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Ernest also took Soren's advice seriously.
Ideally, he'd hold on as a captain and aim for an instructor post at the Military Academy.
If he made it, he'd build up experience there, get promoted to major, then step away from hands-on teaching and transition to the faculty division as an officer—before eventually retiring.
Perfect.
If he couldn't make it into the Military Academy, he'd just follow Soren's path.
Having fought through the war, Ernest no longer saw things like being a Beowatcher as goals worth chasing.
The Capital Defense Force was no different.
He wanted to move into a post that didn't involve combat at all.
In fact, despite earning considerable achievements at such a young age, he was even thinking about retiring from the military as soon as the war ended.
There was quite a significant age and experience gap between Ernest and Soren.
Still, although their paths were a bit different, in the end they were both serving in the military with the same goal in mind.
That goal was to enjoy a comfortable life, living off the sweet rewards of the taxes collected from imperial citizens, all without enduring any hardship.
They were members of the Beekeeper's Alliance.
"Make sure to keep up the training. We can't afford any issues during the operation."
"Yes, Battalion Commander Sir."
The two met each other's gaze in earnest.
Ernest stood and saluted, and once again, Soren returned the salute from his seat.
As Ernest left the room and began walking down the hall, his thoughts lingered on Soren.
Unlike Bailey, Soren had no intention of driving his subordinates hard.
His only concern was whether they could accomplish what was assigned from above.
And now that the war was almost over, as long as they just kept up with the basics, there wasn't anything from above they couldn't handle.
At the moment, Soren was determined to simply aim for the middle and seemed to have a sharp sense of exactly where that "middle" was.
'He's a truly capable person.'
Put another way, Soren was competent enough to figure out the middle ground in every area and hold his position there—neither lacking nor overdoing it.
If necessary, he could use his abilities to shore up any shortcomings and keep everything at an average level. He wasn't hungry for honors or ambition; he would simply carry out whatever orders Levin handed down, no more, no less.
Since Colonel Levin Ort, commander of the 13th Regiment, was a careful and capable leader, having Lieutenant Colonel Soren Kaufmann—someone who would follow orders and never act on his own—as the current commander of the 1st Battalion made him the best possible choice for the role.
This time, Heinz had truly sent them an excellent commander. What's more, instead of just promoting someone already on the shortlist, he personally pulled Soren—who, despite his abilities, had been hiding out as a major—up by the scruff of the neck and sent him here.
Feeling a deep sense of relief and joy, Ernest strode cheerfully back to the 2nd Company. Thanks to Robert, who grumbled with his mouth but always led training enthusiastically, Ernest approached the company members sweating through the hot weather.
"What are you grinning about! Hurry up and grab your gear! I'm not doing it this time! It's your turn for everything now!"
Robert, smiling as Ernest approached, snapped irritably and shouted at him.
Still, Ernest didn't tease Robert by claiming the company commander was as high as the sky.
When Ernest simply gazed at him quietly with a gentle smile, confusion flickered across Robert's face.
Then, as if struck by a realization, his eyes flew wide open.
"No way… Teacher Ernest, don't tell me… our Battalion Commander…"
Robert, throwing aside his damned helmet, which was scorching hot from the sun, rushed over.
Ernest, smiling serenely as ever, raised both arms high above his head, tracing a huge circle in the air.
"Ah…! Ahhh! At last! We're saved! We're really saved!"
"Waaaaaaah!"
Robert began leaping in the air, yelling in delight. Seeing this, the members of the 2nd Company—who had experienced Lieutenant Colonel, no, now Major, Bailey Hoffman—also erupted in joy, running wild. Some tore off their helmets and threw them, while others grabbed their chinstraps and spun them over their heads in a frenzy.
Even the usually reserved Isaac and Simon were raising their fists high, exultant and loud.
The new recruits, who had only heard rumors about their new commander but didn't really know him, looked around, bewildered and unsure how to react.
"Still, he said we have to keep training hard. Let's keep going."
"Aaaaargh!"
At Ernest's words, the cheers of the 2nd Company turned into groans as memories of their nightmares came rushing back.
Ernest, meanwhile, briskly strode into the barracks to get his gear.
Not bad at all.
No—this was wonderful.
Ernest finally felt at peace, sure that from now on, there would be no more reckless orders from superiors leading to pointless deaths for his subordinates, his friends, or himself.
Two days after Lieutenant Colonel Soren Kaufmann took his post as 1st Battalion Commander, the long-stalled 13th Regiment finally began to advance once more.
Considering the other units had already pushed ahead and occupied half of Belliang, the 13th Regiment was more than just a little behind.
They had no time left to waste.
They would have to fight again.
But at least, unlike when Bailey was in command, there would be no more reckless charges straight into the enemy's traps, leading to pointless deaths.
And Belliang had now lost its will to fight.
Maybe, just maybe, they could advance smoothly without even having to battle at all.