My Platoon is Fucking Hopeless – Chapter 53

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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The incredibly awkward situation was finally resolved by the timely arrival of King Orlando Luce III. I had been on the verge of being split in two, not five years later like Ukraine, but five minutes later, but I managed to survive.

It wasn’t a special banquet to celebrate my achievements, and it wasn’t even on the official schedule; it was an impromptu after-party. With the King’s appearance, the atmosphere became lively, like a company chairman showing up at the end of a workshop.

“Did you enjoy the after-party?”

“It was dreadful. I’ve never missed the battalion so much.”

“That bad…?”

Lumia, who came out to greet us as we returned to our quarters, exhausted, looked at me with concern.

“Did they give you a hard time…? Threaten you to stay in line?”

“Not really.”

If that were the case, I could have brushed it off with a bitter “This is why the country’s doomed.”

The problem was, it was the complete opposite. I understood why birds and reptiles died from too much attention. This was more stressful than I thought.

“It’s just… being surrounded by generals was suffocating.”

“Ah, I understand. I know what you mean,” Lumia said, nodding with a smile as if she understood perfectly.

“Where’s Sergeant Belle?”

“In her room. She went shopping earlier.”

“That’s a new outfit, isn’t it?”

“Right? Hehe, as expected of the capital, so many pretty and nice clothes…”

“It suits you.”

Her silver hair contrasted beautifully with the black blouse. The slightly sharp look, combined with the elegant atmosphere, made her seem like true nobility. At my genuine compliment, Lumia averted her gaze slightly.

“Th-Thank you. You looked really dashing in your dress uniform today, Platoon Leader… like someone from a fairy tale.”

“You don’t have to flatter me.”

“No, no! Really. At first, you seemed very stiff, but you’re actually kind, and your face is… well, handsome.”

Physically, I was impeccable. Character customization was my forte.

“By the way, Sergeant Lumia, are you also getting reassigned in June?”

“Most NCO’s don’t get reassigned unless they have exceptional skills or apply directly…”

“You received a medal this time. Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”

The 3rd Class White Medal. It was the lowest military medal, but being awarded by the King himself carried weight in personnel decisions.

“Well… I haven’t really thought about anywhere besides the 3rd Battalion.”

Lumia’s response was unexpectedly lukewarm.

“It feels like home now. I don’t really want to go anywhere else. And…”

“You resolved the Sergeant Rex issue, Platoon Leader.”

She added shyly.

“Belle will probably stay in the battalion too… and the soldiers and officers will keep changing, so someday, we’ll shed our reputation as the reject platoon and be treated properly.”

“Isn’t that going to take a long time?”

“You managed to change things quite a bit in just one month, Platoon Leader.”

Her amethyst eyes stared at me intently. I was momentarily captivated by her dreamy gaze.

“Are you getting reassigned in June, Platoon Leader?”

“Probably. I didn’t expect to be promoted to first lieutenant so suddenly.”

“That’s a shame,”

Lumia said with a subtle smile.

“I wish we could have spent more time together.”

“There’s the issue of seniority, and various other complications.”

While automatic promotion was granted after the minimum service period of one year, a promotion to first lieutenant after only one month of service was exceptional. It would be difficult for me to stay in the 3rd Battalion.

“But don’t worry. I intend to complete all the plans I had for you before I leave.”

I had made that promise to Sony Zeppelin, so I had to at least keep up appearances. I hated going back on my word, and just because I was promoted to first lieutenant didn’t mean I wanted to neglect my platoon.

“The Facilities Management Chief said she’d look after things while we’re away. Let’s aim for a perfect score on the platoon evaluation next month.”

We could shed the “reject platoon” label right away. The individual skills of my squad members were impeccable. Even excluding Sergeant Claude, even Roxana was a 1st-grade Green Mage.

On the battlefields of Hearts of General, the presence or absence of a 1st-grade mage made a huge difference. ‘Mage’ itself was a classification of weaponry. Since typical ‘conscripted’ mages were 3rd or 4th-grade, a 1st-grade mage, capable of projecting dozens of times more firepower, was highly valued in the military.

There was a reason Sony Zeppelin, despite being a colonel, was a close confidante of the King and held her own against major generals and lieutenant generals. She was the Ukrainian Principality’s only Archmage.

You couldn’t just boss around someone with the equivalent firepower of an entire corps.

In that sense, a 1st-grade mage, just below an Archmage (though their actual abilities were worlds apart), capable of single-handedly taking on an infantry battalion tactically, was highly valuable.

So, if I could address the shortcomings of Lumia, Bell, and Roxana… they could become a powerful force for the Ukrainian Principality, second to none.

‘No, they will become a powerful force.’

For the future of this country, and for the reason I was brought into this world.

‘I will make sure of it.’

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“Then I look forward to meeting you again someday, First Lieutenant Enoch Levandal.”

“Thank you very much, Major.”

On our last day in the capital, before returning to the battalion, we had lunch with Major Lannister and said our goodbyes.

“Who knows? Maybe you’ll come to my unit in June, as Commander Zygmunt suggested?”

“…Haha, I would certainly like that.”

“Having someone as capable as you by my side would be incredibly reassuring.”

“I’m flattered.”

Receiving offers from high-ranking officials was good, but also exhausting. Currently, neither the Military Police nor Sony Zeppelin’s Special Response Brigade particularly appealed to me.

‘If I’m going to the center, the strategic planning department or technological development would be my priorities.’

My original plan was to spend two years in the field, two years in technological development, and then return to the field for the final year to command battles. But having been promoted to first lieutenant, going straight into technological development wasn’t a bad idea.

Currently, there were no modern tanks or aircraft, but… as the war dragged on, similar equipment would appear. Massive airships called ‘Zeppelins,’ powered by magic stones and mages, as well as trucks and combat vehicles operating on conventional fuel engines, would gradually begin development.

‘The problem is Ukraine will be destroyed before any of that is widely deployed.’

So, after gaining enough field experience to understand combat and unit operations, I needed to overhaul the Ukrainian military’s technology and tactical doctrines. It would be nice to get involved in politics, but… that was a secondary priority.

While I didn’t know how skilled a politician King Orlando Luce III was, it was ultimately ‘military power’ that decided a nation’s fate. Even a power hungry for conquest would think twice before attacking a nation perceived as militarily strong.

In that sense, Sony Zeppelin’s Special Response Brigade was a better fit. As a newly formed unit, it would be easier to implement various tactics.

“Then I’ll be heading back.”

“Let’s exchange letters from time to time. It wouldn’t hurt to build a rapport with a Military Police major, even as a first lieutenant.”

“Of course.”

I’d be grateful for that. I smiled and shook Major Lannister’s hand. Making connections with departments like the Inspectorate and Military Police was always beneficial.

“Glory to the Motherland!”

“Glory.”

I saluted from inside the carriage, marking the end of our stay in the capital. Major Lannister watched the carriage depart for a moment before turning and disappearing.

We stopped at the same transit point we used on our way here, and after a four-night, five-day journey, finally returned to the familiar 3rd Battalion barracks.

“Phew, I’m tired.”

“Me too. I don’t think I can make another trip to the capital…”

Lumia sighed as she unpacked. Lumia, Bell, and I, even the parrot, were exhausted from the long journey.

“It’s late, so let’s report back to the Battalion Commander tomorrow. Let’s unpack first.”

I only brought a few sets of clothes and my dress uniform, so I just grabbed my backpack and entered the barracks.

“We’re back.”

The crackling sound of a fireplace could be heard from the lounge. The faint warmth suggested someone was waiting for us. Roxana? Sergeant Claude wouldn’t be waiting. But my expectations were completely off.

The person who rushed out to greet us wasn’t a welcoming squad member, but—

“Second Lieutenant Enoch!! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting!? I was bored to death waiting here all day!”

It was Facilities Management Chief Debra Bennett.

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