“Then why were you trying to leave?”
“I waited, and then judged that instruction had ended.”
“The judgement is mine to make!”
“But you didn’t say anything else after that.”
“I was about to! You should have waited!”
“I understand. Then, please be brief. Captain Lorenzo is waiting as well.”
“That can wait! He’s idle anyway, and this is more important!”
“…Understood.”
“You, what are you going to tell Captain Lorenzo?”
“The same content I reported to the lieutenant.”
“Say it! I can’t trust your words.”
“I’ll report that we’ve reached a ceasefire agreement and that the Queen will be coming here later.”
“…Anything else?”
“I’ll answer if asked.”
“What about the matter of the special commendation?”
“I’ll answer if asked about that as well.”
“Say it! What are you going to say?”
“Pardon me, but which question are you asking about?”
“I’m telling you, the special commendation! The-spe-cial-com-men-da-tion!”
“I will answer, ‘What about the matter of the special commendation?'”
“Hm… Which squad should receive the special commendation?” The question was asked.
“I think the 8th Platoon squad should receive it,”
“Whaaaaat?! Whaaaat?! Why? I said the 4th squad is appropriate!”
Lieutenant Mospitza stomped around in a frenzy.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you say that?!”
“I am not lieutenant Mospitza.”
“But I’m the superior officer, right?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to object to the decision made by the superior officer?”
“…Wasn’t the lieutenant’s decision to decline the special commendation?”
“Grrrr! Then why didn’t you say that?!”
“The question was hypothetical about which squad should receive it. It wasn’t about whether to accept or decline it.”
“Ah… I see. I’m speechless, amazed.”
“I see.”
“Wait! Don’t leave! Don’t leave until I say you can!”
“Yes, but please be brief. I’m keeping Captain Lorenzo waiting.”
“Who cares about keeping that grinning idiot waiting! He can wait as long as I want!”
“I see…”
“Alright, then if asked whether to accept or decline, what would you say?”
“I would say that I would like to accept it, but the lieutenant said he wanted to decline it.”
!?
“Whaaaaat?! You’re the worst! The absolute worst!”
Lieutenant Mospitza stomped around like he was tap dancing.
“I see.”
“Listen, you say this: ‘I think the 4th squad should receive the special commendation.'”
“I decline.”
“Why?!”
“Because I don’t think so.”
“That’s an order from a superior officer!”
“Understood.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Say it then. If asked which squad should receive the commendation?”
“I was instructed by Mospitza lieutenant to say ‘I think the 4th squad should receive the special commendation,’ but that is not my personal view.”
!
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
“Whaaaaat?! Are you doing this on purpose?!”
“I am simply following the instructions given to me.”
Of course, it was obvious that Hazen was doing this intentionally.
“I didn’t instruct you to do that! I never said anything like that!”
“I see.”
“Alright, we’re going to rehearse this. Don’t change a single word, don’t add anything, and don’t leave anything out. Understand?!”
“But Captain Lorenzo is waiting..”
“I’m telling you it’s fine! That guy will just smile and forgive anything no matter what you do! Just keep him waiting for hours if you have to. I’ll make you do this over and over until you get it right!”
As Lieutenant Mospitza yelled, a voice came from outside the door.
“I’m afraid I can’t allow that.”
“…Huh?”
The one who entered was Captain Lorenzo.
“A-a-ah, Cap…tain…Lo…renzo…”
Lieutenant Mospitza was so shocked he looked like he was about to foam at the mouth.
“My ears are burning from hearing how you tried to twist your subordinate’s report for your own convenience.”
Even the usually easygoing Captain Lorenzo couldn’t hide his look of disdain.
“N-no, that’s not it! I was just…trying to be polite, you see…”
“Lieutenant Mospitza, I heard your rudeness, but Second Lieutenant Hazen did nothing disrespectful.”
“Crap. …… Um, when did you ……?”
“From the beginning.”
“Huh? From the beginning?”
“From the very beginning of your conversation with Lieutenant Hazen. I was standing outside the door.”
“Wha…what?!”
Drool started dripping from Lieutenant Mospitza’s mouth. It seemed he lost control of his mouth when flustered.
“I was informed of Lieutenant Hazen return to the fortress and was waiting . Of course, I was eager to hear the report right away, but I was told by Lieutenant Hazen that he was told to report to you before me. So I considerately waited outside to allow you two to speak first.”
“H-Hazen, you bastard!”
” …… “
No response. Hazen had clearly orchestrated this, but his expression made it seem unintentional. As long as the higher-ups understood, a few slips of the tongue were enough.
But this man’s dialogue was almost entirely verbal slip-ups, to the point where they didn’t even sound like mistakes anymore – just pure nonsense. Meanwhile, Captain Lorenzo looked at Lieutenant Mospitza with disgust.
“You’re blaming the wrong person. You shamefully tried to appropriate his accomplishments, and forcibly at that. Shame on you!”
“Eep…”
“…Maybe the lieutenant’s rank was a bit premature for you. I’ll recommend to the higher-ups that you be demoted and that the ceasefire agreement’s success be attributed to him instead.”
“No, then who will be the lieutenant?!”
“Well, with this latest achievement, we should recommend Lieutenant Häzen.”
!
“Wh-What?! That’s ridiculous!”
“Captain Lorenzo, is that alright? I will thoroughly crush the parasitic vermin that is corrupting the Empire.”
Häzen glared at Lieutenant Mospitza while crushing the curled-up insect in his palm and grinding it into the ground with his foot.
“Ugh…”
Seeing the powdery remains of the insect on the red carpet, Lieutenant Mospitza clung to Captain Lorenzo’s pants, drooling.
“No, no, please, please…”
“…Lieutenant Häzen. This promotion is only provisional for now. It will take time before it is officially announced. Interpret it as having the authority of a main lieutenant, but your rank remains that of a second Lieutenant.”
“I see. Understood.”
It was an implicit order to go easy. Captain Lorenzo was a kind and flexible military man. He likely did not approve of tormenting the weak.
But Häzen thought differently. Whether one is weak or strong did not matter. He would dispose of his enemies properly.
“Captain Lorenzo. There is one thing I would like to request.”
“What is it?”
“Could you please recommend that former Lieutenant Mospitza be assigned to my 4th Company?”
“Eep?!”
“Why?”
“The former Lieutenant has a bad habit of being tyrannical towards his subordinates. If he is assigned to another company, his future men will suffer. In my company, however, I can immediately punish such behavior.”
“…Understood. But do not take revenge.”
“Of course not. I will simply crush his rotten core, thoroughly.”
“Eek… eek… eep…”
Former Lieutenant Mospitza fell to the ground, foaming at the mouth and weeping. Watching this, Captain Lorenzo gave a wry smile.
“But this is quite remarkable. To be promoted to in less than a month.”
“Never mind that. We should focus on the next step.”
“The next step?”
“The war with the Duchy of Diode. Now, they are unaware of the ceasefire agreement with the Kumin tribe. We should take the opportunity to capture their fortresses.”
“The upper echelons have discussed that as well. However, now is not the right time. We lack the food supplies to mobilize a large army.”
Normally, border patrols do not actively attack. Therefore, their food reserves are limited. And transporting food from the central region is taking time due to the heavy snowfall in the north.
“Then, let’s do it ourselves.”
“…’Ourselves’ you say?”
“The 4th Company alone will capture the fortress.”
“That… Häzen, even for you, that might be too much.”
Captain Lorenzo voiced his surprise. The enemy’s fortress had at least 5,000 soldiers. The plan had been to mobilize at least 30,000 troops.
To attack with less than 400 was nothing short of a fantasy.
“Of course, the reinforcements will be prepared. To secure the capture of the fortress. But the initial assault will be handled by us.”
“…I’ll bring this up for discussion with the military.”
“It would be better to act quickly. Otherwise, this ceasefire agreement may have adverse effects.”
“Don’t say it so easily. This stalemate here has been going on for 10 years.”
“But the ceasefire agreement has set things in motion. It is different from when both sides lacked the means to attack.”
“…I’ll give it some serious thought.”
Captain Lorenzo left.
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