9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 161 - The Crack (5)

“What do you think of this, Commander?”

Eisler asked back.

It was conduct unbecoming of a soldier. But he seemed completely unaware of his transgression.

I gazed at the battlefield where dust was gradually settling, and answered lightly as if making casual conversation about nothing important.

“Of course, playing the canil card at this point is a very appropriate measure. His Excellency’s judgments are always correct.”

“As expected…”

“If we only consider winning this war, that is.”

“…”

I glanced at Eisler’s stiffening expression and continued.

“You understand too, Deputy Commander. This kind of total war can’t exist without wagering a nation’s future as collateral. It’s different from the old territorial wars, different from civil wars. Modern warfare means betting a country’s very fate on a single decisive battle. We Schufaben established that principle. Why do you look like that? Am I showing off by stating the obvious?”

“No, sir.”

What do you mean ‘no’?

“Anyway, we’re sacrificing too much in this war, Deputy Commander. Just between the 1st and 2nd Corps, casualties have already exceeded 100,000. Add the southern front and it’s nearly double that.

And you know this, don’t you? Actually, you know it better than I do. To build camaraderie among soldiers and make them rely on each other, we grouped volunteers from the same neighborhoods into the same squads. Look, Deputy Commander.”

I pointed to the corpse-strewn battlefield.

“Trying to break through those hellish trenches, entire squads are getting wiped out regularly. What happens to those young men’s home villages then?”

They hold mass funerals. I swallowed the sarcastic remark.

“Distribute canil to extract high combat effectiveness in a short period and break through those trenches. It’s a good story. You could even argue that ending the war quickly this way benefits the nation. But tell me, how many more soldiers will die in the process? Canil is highly addictive and treating its aftereffects isn’t easy. Even if we don’t distribute canil, massive casualties are inevitable, but at least we could reduce meaningless suffering.”

I thought Eisler might get angry. But he only quietly objected.

“However, His Excellency the Supreme Leader couldn’t have failed to predict such things. He is…”

“Perfect, benevolent, and flawless?”

“Yes.”

I openly snorted.

“Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“Pardon?”

“Does His Excellency the Supreme Leader appear to you as a superhuman without any flaws who worries about the people day and night?”

“Yes.”

“Hahahahaha!”

Explosive laughter burst out. I clutched my aching stomach and gasped for a while.

“Ha! That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in my life! Don’t be mistaken, Deputy Commander. The Supreme Leader I’ve met isn’t that kind of person. Quite the opposite. He was an intensely selfish and self-centered individual.”

“Commander!”

Eisler’s face turned blue as death. Suddenly like he’d become a zombie. This is the first time I’ve seen him make such an expression.

“Hahaha! Why are you so shocked? How can someone who clings to the absurd dream of continental unification, illegally invades neighboring countries, and drives hundreds of thousands of young people onto battlefields be ‘flawless’? Fine, you’re free to consider him a great leader. But greatness isn’t the same as goodness!”

“Stop it!”

Even as Eisler trembled and pleaded, my mouth, once opened, wouldn’t stop.

“This is thin air. A voice this loud can’t possibly reach the ground. Wake up from your delusion, Deputy Commander. Even if we conquer the entire continent, does Schufaben have the power to maintain it? We didn’t gradually expand territory over decades—we’re swallowing it this hastily? We’re bound to get indigestion! Someday we’ll have to vomit it all back up. And that ‘someday’ isn’t the distant future!”

“Then why did His Excellency the Supreme Leader!!”

He shouted as if trying to drown out my voice.

“Just what was his reason for starting this war!”

“I don’t know! I don’t know either! That’s what’s so frustrating, Deputy Commander!!”

I also shouted angrily and shot up from my armchair.

“His Excellency the Supreme Leader is a highly rational person. He sees through everything in the world. He’s absolutely not a crazed warmonger like my ancestors. So why is such a person doing this—that’s uncharted territory. One thing is certain: this is absolutely not a war started for the people.”

“How can you be so certain? Through this war, Schufaben will be reborn as a glorious nation like the great empires of old—”

“Anyone who believes that crap is a complete moron!!!”

I pointed accusingly at Eisler’s chest, making him flinch and step back.

“Even His Excellency the Supreme Leader himself doesn’t believe such shallow propaganda! You know it too! No matter how this war ends, at this rate Schufaben will suffer for at least 50 years! From ruined diplomatic relations, destroyed population ratios, and collapsed economic structures! Even if we pacify the entire continent, we’ll be torn apart by endless rebellions!

The best option is to quickly sign a peace treaty before the damage becomes extreme! If we’re lucky, we might get Cortana recognized as our territory. And that’s only if things go very well!

But if we abuse these canil charges like this, even that becomes impossible, Deputy Commander! The perception of ‘Schufaben suffering under a cruel dictator’ will spread uncontrollably! Those Rubellia idiots’ delusions will become reality!

Have you heard them? ‘Let’s rescue the groaning Schufaben people! Let’s bear the revolutionary burden! We are the righteous liberation army!’ They’re seriously spouting such nonsense! At this rate, it won’t be long before it comes true!”

Eisler fell silent at my tirade.

I caught my breath briefly, then shot back in a low, cutting voice.

“You look like you have a lot to report. Feel free to tell His Excellency the Supreme Leader every word I said.”

“…Why?”

“As I told you before, Deputy Commander. His Excellency knows I despise him.”

“Then why.”

Eisler’s face was now burning red. He’s showing me many unexpected sides today.

“Why do you help someone you so despise, Commander, and why does His Excellency keep you by his side knowing this?”

“Ha!”

I deliberately let out a big sigh.

“Still don’t get it? Then I’ll tell you just once, Deputy Commander. I’m sticking to this battlefield, playing the ill-fitting hero role, to minimize Schufaben’s damage and stop His Excellency the Supreme Leader’s madness. And to use that as a foundation for taking his position.”

“…!!!”

Eisler made a small gasping sound. Even someone with nerves of steel like him was quite shocked by this sudden coup declaration.

“Th-this traitor…!”

He trembled and rushed at me. I stumbled backward and tripped over the armchair.

For a moment I thought I was falling and nearly had a heart attack, but Captain Himmel, who had been standing quietly like she wasn’t there, caught me.

Whap!

Then she struck Eisler’s neck with her elbow. It was a fluid, natural motion.

“Ugh!”

“Don’t lay hands on the Commander.”

Eisler collapsed to his knees. Whether from Captain Himmel’s attack or despair.

Though dazed by the sudden turn of events, I quickly managed my expression and sat down in the chair.

“Where was I? Ah yes, Deputy Commander. That’s the extent of my purpose. And the reason His Excellency tolerates my thunderous insubordination is because it benefits him, and because he believes I could never harm him with my meager abilities!”

“Huff, huff…”

Unable to breathe properly, Eisler clutched his heart in agony for a while, then raised his head to stare at me blankly.

Captain Himmel had returned to her quiet state. Only the wind whooshed in my ears.

“…Finally, could you answer one thing for me?”

His voice, emerging after a long while, was completely hoarse.

“Ask ten, ask a hundred. I’m just a figurehead with plenty of free time.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“…”

I smiled mischievously and whispered very softly.

“Why indeed. Because I believe you’re not stupid enough to devote yourself to a meaningless war. Because I trust you’ll realize what path is truly right for nation and people. Because I believe you love the military enough to despair at soldiers being ruined by canil, possess a noble soul willing to risk your life for a single private. Because I trust you, Deputy Commander.”

At my brilliant words, Eisler’s trembling pupils gradually grew calm. He stood up briefly to straighten his disheveled clothes, then spoke in his usual firm voice.

“Give me time.”

“As much as you need.”

I smiled brightly again.

***

After that, Eisler acted as if nothing had happened, working as usual. I too made no demands or attempts at conversation, faithfully playing the meerkat on my watchtower.

Though I’d flattered Eisler by saying I believed in his noble soul, what I truly believe in is myself.

If I felt his soul was noble, then it’s noble. If I felt it was evil, then it’s evil.

That’s all.

In fact, I deceived him with half-truths and half-lies.

I do want to kill Kruger. But not to steal the Supreme Leader’s position—simply because I want to tear that bastard apart.

This malice is something I can’t confess to anyone except my White Raven Order friends. Honestly, it’s too one-dimensional.

‘Please make the right judgment.’

I stretched out leisurely in my armchair and quietly opened my mouth so the mages wouldn’t hear.

“Captain Himmel.”

“Yes.”

“Do you still feel like following me?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”

“You heard all my wicked true intentions. Stay with me and you never know when your head might roll.”

“Ah.”

Captain Himmel tilted her head briefly, then replied bluntly.

“I’ve known what kind of person you were for a long time.”

“Right, of course you have.”

I chuckled cheerfully.

Everything was proceeding according to Kruger’s orders.

Engineers used materials from the homeland to steadily lay railway tracks. The ones the Rubellia army had destroyed months ago.

Mid-March, when spring had fully arrived.

Even as the tracks neared completion, soldiers continued their push-and-pull battles in the trenches.

Surprisingly, the casualty ratio on both sides felt about even.

The Schufaben army suffered enormous daily casualties by pouring manpower and materials into the trenches, but they had far superior weapons compared to the Rubellia army.

‘Schufaben’s technology is number one in the world!’

No joke, it really is. Especially in the defense industry.

Of course, firing superior guns at enemies hiding in distant trenches is pointless.

But the Blue Eagles persistently dropped bombs. Snipers hastily deployed from the homeland shot at ground enemies from low-flying airships.

In this stagnant situation.

One early morning, Eisler suddenly visited the command office.

“Wh-what the hell is this supposed to mean? The canil was stolen? By armed robbers?”

“So it’s reported.”

“That makes no sense! The escort force alone was dozens of men! Some paltry armed robbers couldn’t possibly hijack a train and steal canil!”

I’d heard the canil was supposed to arrive today.

With airships and dragons all deployed to the battlefield, nearly all transport was by rail. There had been no problems so far. But armed robbers? What the hell!

I should be overjoyed, but there are too many suspicious elements to believe it outright.

‘Lies. Such conveniently timed good news? Robbers attacked the train on the very day canil was being transported? Just one person alone? No matter how much the black market has grown and criminal smuggling increased, this doesn’t make sense.

It couldn’t have been breached so easily in the first place. Even if information leaked due to incompetent bureaucrats, not unless the soldiers had completely lost their minds. This is either a Rubellia army operation, or…’

I suddenly looked at Eisler standing rigidly at attention.

“Deputy Commander.”

“Yes!”

“This happened last night, you said.”

“Yes!”

“How did you find out? It’s only been eight hours.”

“I received a report.”

“From whom?”

“…”

Eisler clamped his mouth shut. My heart sank with foreboding.

“Speak! Deputy Commander! This is an order! How did you find out!”

“Commander, I’m sorry.”

He bowed his head slightly. In that moment, a throbbing headache hit me.

“You’re insane!! How could you commit such a reckless act! How will you handle the consequences!”

“Run away.”

“What?”

“His Excellency the Supreme Leader will find the culprit. Please escape quickly.”

“Deputy Commander! Hey! Eisler!!! You’re going to die because of me!”

Panicking, I dropped all formality. But Eisler, who could easily overpower me just by grabbing my shoulders, shook his head.

“It’s not a pointless death.”

“You crazy bastard!!!”

Eisler dragged me, still yelling, outside the command barracks.

“Commander!”

Just then, Captain Himmel came running when she heard my shouting.

“It’s nothing. No, that’s not right. Whew, wait a moment. Rudolf Eisler, what exactly do you want to do?”

After catching my breath, I asked, and Eisler looked slightly apologetic.

“I’m sorry, Commander.”

What he had done, what he planned to do.

He briefly summarized it, and I nearly fainted grabbing the back of my neck.

“Y-you insane… insane… That’s exactly what a pointless death is!!”

“I’m sorry. Please bear with it a little longer, Commander. You must leave now.”

Captain Himmel, who had put her hand on her pistol, nodded, and I had to stagger onto a horse.

“You’re really crazy…”

My eyes began stinging unbearably. When I rubbed them with my hands, they came away wet.

“Thank you.”

“Commander, take care of yourself.”

Eisler slapped the horse’s flank.

The horse’s full-speed gallop, with a bit in its mouth and cotton and cloth tied to its hooves, was utterly silent. Eisler, maintaining perfect salute posture, gradually receded into the distance.