What a stubborn man, Major Simanto spat poison in his heart again. Without thinking things through, he immediately raises the white flag saying “It’s no good” or “It’s impossible.” In short, he lacks the spirit to bite into difficulties. There’s no way someone like that can get promoted.
Honestly, young people these days, Major Simanto thought.
“However, could you tell me the business first? Even if you kindly get the suspension lifted, if I cannot actually be of use, it can’t be helped.”
“Th-That is…”
Major Simanto reluctantly began his explanation. Captain Lorenzo listened silently, but when the story was finished, he let out a deep, deep sigh.
“……I see. It seems I won’t be of any use to you.”
!?
“Heeyyyyy! Heeeeeeey! That’s not what we discussed! That-is-not-what-we-discussed!”
Major Simanto desperately held back Captain Lorenzo, who was trying to close the door again.
“P-Please let go. There is no way I can handle negotiations without Lieutenant Hazen.”
“You can do it! Where there is a will, there is a way!”
“How exactly do I do it? The interpreter, Private First Class Edal, and the merchant, Nandal, are both not available for months, right? Then isn’t relying on Lieutenant Hazen the only method?”
“……That is…”
Major Simanto grit his teeth. It’s because of your subordinate that we are in this mess. Why can you act so detached, like it’s someone else’s problem? I can’t believe his nerve. And to think he would make his superior do the thinking… he really couldn’t understand the mindset of recent youth anymore.
“I-If Captain Lorenzo instructs that man, then it won’t be me relying on that man.”
“……I admit, that thought never crossed my mind.”
“Right?! This is the power of a superior officer.”
“Haah……”
When he puffed out his chest, Captain Lorenzo sighed deeply for some reason.
“However, even in the unlikely event that Lieutenant Hazen agrees to interpret, since he will be the one actually translating, I believe Colonel Gedol will find out about it at that time.”
“……I have to think about that part. Like making him memorize the lines in a rehearsal beforehand.”
“Haah…… Are you planning to make the ‘Blue Queen,’ who unites the surrounding tribes, read from a script?”
“Guh……”
Since a while ago, this Captain Lorenzo has done nothing but look at him and sigh. What a rude subordinate, Major Simanto thought.
“Colonel Gedol is the top brass! Setting up the arrangements is basic of basics!”
“That may be so, but saying things like ‘Please say this here’ to a tribal chief is lacking in manners.”
“We are the Empire, you know!? How much difference in military power do you think there is between us and those barbarian dogs!”
“That is only if we hold the superior negotiation cards, right? Since the initiative is completely in their hands, negotiations won’t hold up unless we are the ones acting humbly.”
“Guu……”
For a useless guy, he sure talks a lot of sound logic, Major Simanto thought.
“Anyway, I will somehow get permission from Colonel Gedol, so you give firm instructions to that man.”
“Wait… that’s impossib—”
Before he could protest, Simanto closed the door and, with slumping shoulders, headed toward Colonel Gedol’s room.
“Sigh……”
Major Simanto sighed and walked sluggishly. It was always like this when he had to make a bad report. Basically, you only give good reports to your boss. Bad reports are left for subordinates to process. For him, having climbed the ladder this way, this was an act that caused tremendous stress.
Knock, knock, knock.
“C-Colonel Gedol. Are you in? It is Major Simanto.”
“Oh, come in.”
Hearing a good-humored voice, he stroked his chest in relief just a little. Timing is crucial for reports.
“Excuse me.”
“How is it? How are things going?”
“Yes. Overall, things are going w-well……hk.”
No good. My mouth moved reflexively. In truth, far from going well, it was on the verge of collapse. However, Colonel Gedol, unaware of such thoughts, smiled refreshingly.
“Is that so? As expected of Major Simanto. I have high expectations.”
“Y-Yes. Thank you very much…… Umm, regarding that.”
“Hm? Is there something else?”
“No… well, it’s about the treatment of Captain Lorenzo.”
“Ah, that man?”
“Yes. Well… I was thinking the suspension might have been a bit harsh… or something like thaaat.”
“……Are you saying my judgment was wrong?”
“N-No, that is not it at all!”
Colonel Gedol’s voice dropped, and Major Simanto hurriedly denied it. Then, he felt ashamed of his words. Objecting to a superior’s judgment is something that must never happen.
“It is simply that, due to my lack of talent… I apologize, but we are short-handed.”
“……Hmm.”
Good. By daring to appeal to his own lack of ability, he succeeded in not negating Colonel Gedol first. If the superior closes the shell of their heart even once, they will not open it again.
That is because it is generally impossible for a superior to admit their own fault. Furthermore, if it is a force majeure that cannot quite be called a failure, there is a possibility the superior will forgive the subordinate.
“No, well… Captain Lorenzo begged me with tears in his eyes. I also have a part of me that cannot be completely heartless to a subordinate. Besides, he has originally been working hard in our faction until now… and, well, I started to pity him.”
Major Simanto lined up his words fluently. Originally, Colonel Gedol had taken a liking to Captain Lorenzo and treated him well. So, he wanted him to somehow remember the old days and reconsider.
“……Certainly, with Lieutenant Colonel Kenneck absent, the burden on you is heavy. Forgive me, my consideration was lacking.”
!?
“Also, we must take Captain Lorenzo’s achievements into account a little. Above all, forgive me for not being considerate of the fact that you feel responsible as a superior.”
“……Hk. What unworthy words!”
What broad, warm words. Major Simanto saw greatness in Colonel Gedol. To think he would show enough magnanimity to admit his own blunder here. Despite being a superior, showing a blunder to a subordinate is a humiliation equal to dancing naked in public.
And he felt even more ashamed of himself for putting him through that.
“Colonel Gedol.”
“Hm?”
“I was the one who said ‘Leave it to me’ once before. You are not at fault even one millimeter, Colonel. Furthermore, Captain Lorenzo’s failure is my failure as his superior. Despite that, I would like to ask you to please forgive me for making such a request.”
Major Simanto bowed deeply.
“……No. Since you will eventually be a Colonel yourself, I think you understand, but I am the one responsible for every event that occurs in this fortress. I want you to carve that deeply into your heart.”
“Ohh……”
What deep, heavy words. Yes. This is exactly what a Colonel is. While Major Simanto gazed at him with eyes of envy, Colonel Gedol wrote the order to lift the suspension and handed it over.
“Instruct for Captain Lorenzo’s suspension to be lifted immediately… actually, you tell him yourself.”
“Yes, of course! Thank you so very much!”
Bending his neck and waist at a right angle, Major Simanto bowed deeply. And once again, he reaffirmed ‘what kind of existence a superior officer must be.’
He bowed again at the door, exited, and immediately headed for Captain Lorenzo’s room.
“Here! It’s the suspension lift order you wanted so badly. I moved mountains for you, you know!”
Major Simanto said, puffing out his chest.
“……I didn’t want it at all, though.”
“Did you say something?”
“……No.”
“Then, go to Lieutenant Hazen’s room immediately. Make it succeed at all costs. At all costs!”
“Since it is an order, I will do my best.”
“I don’t need your sass! Just make it succeed!”
Leaving those words behind, Major Simanto left the room.
And then, several hours later.
“As expected, it was no good.”
“……Hk.”
Captain Lorenzo came to report.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
Another half a day later. Major Simanto was pacing around the vicinity of Hazen’s room. He had lectured and incited that useless trash (Captain Lorenzo) for about five hours, but since he showed no sign of moving, Simanto had no choice but to go out himself, fully prepared.
A superior simply giving instructions to a subordinate. It’s a natural thing. A completely irreversibly natural thing. Furthermore, that guy is a subordinate’s subordinate. He told himself that over and over again.
“Damn incompetent subordinates. It’s because you are looked down upon that you can’t even do this.”
Muttering in a tiny, tiny voice, he knocked with a trembling hand.
“Lieutenant Hazen. It’s me, Major Simanto. I’m coming in.”
“Come in.”
When he opened the door and entered the room, Hazen and a young girl were there. The two looked at each other, then stared intently at him. Why is there a child in this fortress? He couldn’t help but wonder, but right now, he had bigger problems.
Hatefully, Hazen turned his chair toward him and crossed his legs while reading a book.
“So? What do you want?”
“……Hk.”
What an attitude. A Lieutenant who had been assigned for only about three months, showing no courtesy to him, a Major who had served in this fortress for over 20 years. He didn’t even stand up.
While somehow suppressing the welling anger and hatred, he took a deep, deeeep breath.
“Lieutenant Hazen. This is an order. Accompany me and attend the agreement with the Kumin tribe.”
“I refuse.”
!?
“Y-You refuse?”
“Yes.”
“It is a superior’s order.”
“I don’t want to.”
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