9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 162 - The Crack (6)

Lieutenant General Rudolf Eisler was a rigid man.

Everyone evaluated him as such. His own thoughts were no different. He was a man who would live and die with devotion and loyalty as his highest priorities throughout his life.

He wasn’t some tender-hearted adolescent boy, and now approaching forty years of age, he believed he would never change.

However.

“Why did His Excellency keep me in my position? Why didn’t he summon me back to the homeland for execution, and instead send me to the eastern front?”

When he heard Commander Lucas Redan’s question, shock pierced through his entire body.

Thinking back on it, it was strange.

In fact, Commander Redan had accomplished little—no, rather than accomplishing anything, he had committed the atrocity of burning canil and plunged everyone into predicament.

Why had His Excellency the Supreme Leader left him alone? He deserved to be executed, yet not even a dismissal order had come down.

From that moment, the question ‘Why?’ never left his mind.

Why had the commander defied His Excellency the Supreme Leader? Why had His Excellency tolerated it? Why had he placed a man with no experience in the position of commander in the first place? Having made such a drastic personnel decision, why had he ordered him to monitor the commander’s activities?

Why had Eisler himself tried to save the life of a private he’d never seen before? Why couldn’t he move rationally?

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

His mind was filled with that single word, making it impossible to concentrate on work.

The more he watched soldiers charging into trenches and throwing away their lives, the more an indescribable emotion pressed down on his heart.

For someone who had lived his entire life with composure, it was utterly unfamiliar.

So when he climbed the watchtower with His Excellency the Supreme Leader’s orders to find the commander, when the commander made his bombshell declaration that he was dreaming of rebellion.

When he looked at him with transparent eyes, believing in his noble soul.

Eisler’s heart was broken.

***

“I’ve really gone insane.”

Eisler muttered self-mockingly.

Even riding his horse at full speed couldn’t break the silence of this night.

He looked down at his wretched appearance.

On his head was a large straw hat, and he wore worn brown cloth wrapped around himself. Underneath, he wore shabby clothes and sturdy boots.

An appearance that would never raise suspicion that he was a deputy commander leading troops. Though they probably wouldn’t notice the vicious weapons packed in the sheath at his waist either.

His back and the nape of his neck were hot. Hellish heat was pressing down on him. If he turned around, he would see the train exploding with loud banging sounds.

And the disgusting sweet scent hanging thickly in the air. He removed his mask and inhaled the smoke mixed with burnt smell.

There wasn’t much change. About an hour ago, he had injected canil directly into his veins, so inhaling it through his nose was nothing.

The cold wind blew and struck his frozen cheeks.

Warm behind, cold in front.

He suddenly wondered if this was what life was like and smiled awkwardly, which didn’t suit him.

Those days when he was submerged up to his neck in warmth.

A powerful country.

A powerful army.

A powerful supreme leader.

Everything that had given him a sense of belonging and security throughout his life was nothing but illusion.

The moment he realized this, it felt like the world surrounding him was crumbling to pieces. And through the cracks, cold wind rushed in.

Wind that snapped him awake.

How long had he been riding?

The eastern sky began to brighten faintly. Eisler wielded his whip while gazing at the garrison stretched across the vast land.

The lights that had disappeared last night came on one by one.

He calmly received salutes from the sentries and quietly sought out the commander’s office. The commander, who had received the report, wore an expression as if the world had collapsed.

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

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

The commander raged as if he might throw things around.

Honestly, he felt a bit wronged. A pointless death?

“It’s not a pointless death.”

“You crazy bastard!!!”

The commander hurled abuse at him, but ultimately left the garrison secretly.

Leaving behind the words,

“Thank you.”

He thought that was enough.

Eisler saluted until the commander disappeared.

***

Five days later, Ossel came.

“Long live the Great Supreme Leader!”

“Long live the Supreme Leader.”

Having received a telegram from the homeland and gone out to the garrison’s main gate to greet them, Eisler saluted first. In a world where general-rank military officers couldn’t defy field-grade Ossel.

“Lieutenant General Rudolf Eisler?”

Ossel asked in a dry voice with cold wind blowing through it.

“That’s correct.”

“Colonel Johann Werner. I’ve come to investigate the train explosion incident, so cooperate.”

Eisler nodded curtly.

Johann Werner.

Did the fact that even the head of Ossel had been deployed mean he had greatly offended the Supreme Leader? It was only natural.

“Why didn’t the commander come out?”

Colonel Werner asked with a tone that revealed slight displeasure. Behind him, First Lieutenant Philip Decker was leading lower-ranking Ossel and glaring sharply at Eisler.

“I don’t know. He’s been staying only in his quarters for several days.”

Colonel Werner looked at him suspiciously, then began walking with long strides.

“No need for a guide. Follow First Lieutenant Decker’s instructions.”

Eisler obediently sent him off and followed First Lieutenant Decker back to the deputy commander’s office. Thanks to Ossel’s intelligence network, the first lieutenant knew exactly where the deputy commander’s office was located.

The journey was peaceful.

Whether armed bandits burned all the canil loaded on the train or Ossel set out to find the culprit, the war remained the same and the soldiers noticed nothing.

In the deputy commander’s office, the first lieutenant posed obvious questions.

Recite your activities on the day the train hijacking incident occurred. What efforts did you make to understand the situation? Were there any suspicious people around?

Although they didn’t restrain Eisler or use violence, the atmosphere was extremely tense.

Eisler, as always with his impassive expression, rattled off perfectly ordinary answers.

He handled routine work as usual. He learned about the incident the next day when he received a report. He immediately searched near the train but found no other suspicious individuals.

About an hour passed like this.

The door burst open and Colonel Werner entered with a hardened expression.

“You.”

His words had become extremely curt.

“Did you kill Lucas Redan?”

Eisler didn’t answer. Artillery fire could be heard from far away.

***

Late March was when the inland of Schufaben would be filled with the scent of spring.

Supreme Leader Friedrich Kruger looked out the huge glass window. The garden of the Supreme Leader’s residence was covered with lush green grass and colorful flowers. Mages and gardeners bustling about tending to the shrubs.

The garden changed daily according to the Supreme Leader’s mood.

Some days it was spring, then a little later it would change from winter to summer, or to autumn.

He had never really ordered it to be that way, but at some point it had naturally become so.

“Your Excellency.”

Knocking on the door, Supreme Leader Secretary Eve entered and bowed her head.

“Colonel Johann Werner of Ossel requests an audience. It concerns Lieutenant General Rudolf Eisler.”

“Only the lieutenant general?”

“Yes.”

“So they ultimately couldn’t find Lucas Redan.”

“That’s correct.”

Kruger, lost in thought, spun the pistol on his fingertip like a toy.

In the silent room, only the clicking sound echoed.

Bang!

Suddenly, a loud explosive sound tore through the air.

Eve glanced sideways to confirm a hole had been drilled in the wall beside her head. A slight flush rose and disappeared from her cold face.

“Quite remarkable, isn’t it?”

Kruger casually tossed aside the pistol and asked.

“What is?”

“Lucas Redan, of course. He has the power to capture people’s hearts.”

“Is that so?”

“Can’t you tell from what Eisler did? You don’t actually believe the nonsense he spouted, do you, Eve?”

“That testimony appears to be false.”

Kruger’s lips curved upward.

“Of course. Is Lucas Redan someone who would obediently play the puppet? Whoever the executor was, both this time and last winter, it was Redan’s will that stole and destroyed the canil.

Eisler insists he did everything according to his own will, but he absolutely lacks the ability to do such things. Rather, it would be Redan who used Eisler.

But Eve, why would Eisler risk his life for Redan? Have you thought about it?”

“Perhaps he promised some kind of reward.”

“Impossible. Eisler is a man uninterested in wealth and honor. He doesn’t even fear death—a true soldier. He submits to no one. Except me.”

Eve moved her slightly stiff lips.

“Then does Your Excellency believe Eisler was enchanted by Redan?”

“Why, embarrassed? What else could it be? I’ve said it countless times—Redan is a remarkable man. He made me worry about someone’s life and death.”

Eve’s expression hardened even more. However, Kruger paid no attention and gave his order.

“Tell them to bring Eisler.”

***

‘It’s cold.’

Walking down the corridor wearing a blindfold, Eisler thought.

Clearly the sunlight and air touching his skin were warm, but cold penetrated to his bones and blood vessels.

It was probably a canil side effect.

He had suffered considerable withdrawal symptoms and various side effects after taking canil. He had overcome most through willpower, but this chill was completely beyond his control.

Eisler only hoped all of this would end quickly.

Walking down a long corridor, climbing stairs, passing through countless doors.

He remembered the maze-like interior of the residence clearly. When he had visited for the first and last time, he hadn’t been wearing a blindfold.

Now he was being treated completely as a criminal, but he had no particular complaints. He simply sharpened his senses, confirming only that he was climbing to the highest point of the castle.

“It’s been a while.”

With a gentle tenor voice, the blindfold was removed.

Eisler looked at the man who appeared before his eyes. The Supreme Leader was sprawled in an armchair against a background of rolling clouds in the sky.

“I greet Your Excellency the Supreme Leader.”

“Tsk, a traitor shows no sincerity even in greetings.”

The Supreme Leader spoke in a tone more indifferent than annoyed.

“I’ve been waiting for you. I had something I was curious about.”

He leaned toward Eisler. Smiling brightly.

“Why did you spirit Lucas Redan away?”

“I didn’t spirit him away.”

“Hmm, no more suicide shows. There shouldn’t be any need to use a double for a while. It wasn’t worth worrying about anyway.”

The Supreme Leader, who had been muttering, suddenly stopped speaking and leaned back in his armchair with a bored expression.

“Tell me what you did to him. Don’t be troublesome for nothing.”

“I simply removed him so he wouldn’t interfere with my work.”

“Lieutenant General, you’re such a boring man. If you admire Lucas Redan, why don’t you try to resemble him a little? Redan is the most interesting person I’ve ever seen. If it were him, he would have put his heart and soul into trying to deceive me.”

“……”

Eisler didn’t answer.

Last year, when he visited this aerial fortress to assume the position of deputy commander.

Even then, the Supreme Leader had been like a light in his heart. Now he appeared only as a capricious dictator.

Could a person’s thoughts change so easily?

The Supreme Leader seemed to have completely lost interest and wiggled his finger.

“Then let’s begin.”

Eve walked to one corner of the spacious room, and only then could Eisler discover a small, pale woman sitting quietly on her knees.

Though young to the point of appearing childish, her hair was completely white, and her eyes were wrapped in bandages.

She took Eve’s hand and approached. The moment Eve unwrapped the woman’s bandages, Eisler was startled for the first time.

The woman was snow-white and clean from head to toe. Only in her jet-black shining eyes was the universe contained.

The woman calmly grasped Eisler’s face and met his eyes as if accustomed to it. A slow incantation began to flow from her mouth.

“I call her the ‘Mage of Truth.’ Be delighted, Lieutenant General. It’s a spell that requires a month of bedridden suffering after one use. Only she can handle it stably. Aren’t you moved that I’m using such precious personnel for your sake?”

By the time he barely understood the Supreme Leader’s sarcasm.

“Hhhuuuuugh! Aaaaaahhhhh!”

A scream burst from Eisler’s mouth.

It felt like someone had stuck fingers into his head and was stirring his brain. Along with the pain of an axe splitting his skull, all memories became tangled, fragmented, and overflowed.

An intruder has invaded! Holding a club instead of a dagger. The only area around the train tracks where weeds hadn’t grown thick. Blocking the train and smashing the driver’s compartment. Injecting canil. Brief stop. All personnel fully armed! The freight car catches fire and disappears. Thwack! Smack! Soldiers fly through the air. Stop!! I said stop!!! Stop right there, you bastard! Fuck, we’re screwed!!

Pain overload. Every single cell screamed.

The universe in the eyes of the woman who had approached as if to kiss him swirled. His entire body felt like it was being torn apart. Memories began to arrange themselves in order.

In the dark night, he alone rode his horse toward the path where the train would pass.

He staged an accident to stop the train and attacked the driver’s compartment.

Not wanting to harm innocent soldiers, he borrowed the power of canil to face platoon-sized escort forces.

That thrill, that speed. The happiness he experienced for the first time in his life. How terrifying a drug canil was.

It took only 5 minutes.

The time it took to bring down 50 soldiers.

Every time he swung his club, the bodies that went flying crashed into various parts of the freight car.

After finishing the one-sided violence, Eisler moved all 50 bodies outside the train and set fire to the freight car loaded with canil.

Then he returned to the garrison…

“Grraaaaahhhhh!!!”

Eisler suddenly writhed violently. The moment the woman released him, his fingernails dug into his eyes that had been wide open from pain.

Crack!

Blood gushed out like a waterfall from his crushed eyeballs.

Eisler’s body slowly collapsed forward.

Watching this scene indifferently, Kruger stood up and asked.

“What did you see?”

The woman told him everything, and Kruger nodded. When he extended his hand, light rippled in the air and a sword appeared.

Swish!

Kruger grasped the silver sword and swung it lightly. The body at his feet was cut in half.

“Bring Lucas Redan.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

At his indifferent command, Eve bowed her head.

“Chryseus.”

At his call, the gold dragon waddled over.

“Lunch time.”

“Kyuuuuuu!”

The gold dragon, making happy sounds, opened its mouth wide and began lapping up the flowing blood.