MBD | Chapter 21

As Everhart’s eyes sparkled, Alexander nodded. He acted nonchalant, but inside he thought, ‘Of course, that’s how it is.’

Occasionally, there were some nobles who, caught up in appearances, would recklessly volunteer for the front lines, thinking that’s where soldiers should be.

Being nobles, they couldn’t be outright refused, so they were usually talked into taking cushy or idle positions.

Most of them would then return to Feldheim, saying, ‘The front lines are nothing! Hahaha!’ Of course, once back, they would boast as if they were war heroes.

“How about administration or communication security? We’ve recently had an increase in recruits, so we need someone to train them. You haven’t graduated from the academy long ago…”

“I want to go to the 1st Tank Company.”

“I thought you’d do well as an instructor, cough!”

Alexander, who had a coughing fit, spilled coffee down his chin.

Everhart handed him a towel from the table.

“Thanks. No, I must have misheard.”

“I heard that Captain Nikolas Schneider was promoted, leaving a vacancy.”

“Well, that’s true. But there’s someone coming for that position.”

“Who would come to a company commander’s position that’s been vacant for over a year?”

Recently, with the unsettling atmosphere of the Free Union, the number of recruits had increased, but the important thing wasn’t the number of soldiers.

People often mistakenly think war is about numbers, but from the past to the present, war has never been about sheer numbers.

You can overwhelm the enemy with superior numbers, but that doesn’t guarantee decisive victory.

If that were the case, why would we need officers?

Fortress Feldburg always suffered from a shortage of officers and commanders. Most of the officers produced were nobles, and for them, Feldburg was just a passing gateway, while commoner officers were few.

Who would put a noble officer on the front lines? Thus, there was a mismatch where officers were absent from important places and present where they weren’t needed.

It was stranger for Alexander to be here than for Everhart to volunteer for Feldburg.

“That…”

“I want the tank company commander’s position.”

“I didn’t want to say this out of pride, but Lieutenant Friedrich. Aren’t you a graduate of the Royal Military Academy?”

“Yes.”

“I’m a graduate of the 61st class.”

“I know. You’re a great sunbae-nim.”

Alexander’s face, deeply marked by his time in the military, crumbled with a sigh.

“Of all the positions, why the tank company?”

The soldiers of the tank company were generally rough and unruly, making it a difficult position to handle for someone newly commissioned.

Moreover, if something went wrong with the tank, the chances of dying were high.

Alexander pleaded almost tearfully.

“Can’t you reconsider? Please? Cute little hoobae-nim. Do I have to say this? If you, well, break an arm or something, I’m dead. I am.”

“Isn’t it an honor for a soldier to die on the battlefield?”

“You’re the eldest son of the Friedrich family. I can’t handle that. Go to the communication company or the recruit division. War isn’t a joke.”

“Would it be enough if I wrote a statement saying it’s not your fault if I die?”

“…”

“And my family has another son, so it’s fine. The most useless worry in the world is worrying about a noble family, isn’t it?”

As the conversation took an unusual turn, Alexander finally sighed and rubbed his forehead.

“Actually, I’ve already talked to the regimental commander to some extent. So…”

“Then let me have a private meeting with the regimental commander.”

Oh, please!

Please!

Everhart smiled brightly. The halo of the Friedrich family was shining behind him.

Very brightly.

࿐⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆

That evening.

After wrestling with Everhart for four hours, Alexander faced the regimental commander with a slightly haggard face.

Colonel Erik Reichenbach took a puff of his cigar and chuckled.

“I thought the crazy ones here would stop at Karl Heinrich Stein and you. Is there some curse on Fortress Feldburg?”

Second Lieutenant Karl Heinrich Stein, who arrived last year, was a monster who won every battle he entered.

Honestly, his skills were so outstanding that it was a shame for him to be stuck in a place like this.

“Why am I included? I’m working hard.”

“Do you think it makes sense for there to be two members from the Five Great Families in a place like this?”

“Not really. So, are you really going to give him the tank company commander’s position?”

Even as a lieutenant, it was dangerous without experience.

“Let him have it. It’s a position that’s been vacant for a long time anyway, isn’t it?”

“That’s true.”

“But make sure to clearly state that if he dies, I’m not responsible.”

“What do you mean?”

“He needs to write a statement. Of course, make sure the Friedrich family can’t complain to us.”

With that, Alexander was convinced that Erik was just as crazy.

࿐⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆

Fortress Feldburg housed the 4th Guard Regiment and the 7th Mechanized Brigade. The Guard Regiment was responsible for maintaining order in the Norderian District, so when a civil war broke out, the 7th Mechanized Brigade was the one that fought the fiercest battles.

The 7th Mechanized Brigade had three battalions, and Everhart was appointed as the commander of the 1st Tank Company under the 1st Battalion, which Alexander commanded.

“There are now three regular military academy graduates at Fortress Feldburg.”

Alexander muttered as he reluctantly appointed Everhart as the company commander.

‘Actually, it makes sense now.’

A regular military academy graduate referred to someone like me who went through the two-year academy course. Most commoners attended the 1.5-year Third Military Academy.

Everhart, who had come to terms with it internally, thought to himself.

“Who else is there?”

Everhart deliberately pretended not to know about Karl Heinrich’s presence.

“Second Lieutenant Karl Heinrich Stein. I heard you know him, don’t you?”

“We’ve both been busy since graduation, so I haven’t seen him. I didn’t know he was here.”

“He’ll be back on duty soon, so catch up with him. You’re close enough in rank, so feel free to use the same room. But don’t bully him just because you’re a higher rank.”

Everhart’s promotion to lieutenant was entirely due to the influence of the Friedrich family.

But Everhart heard something other than Alexander’s advice.

“Karl Heinrich… Am I sharing a room with sunbae-nim?”

“Yes, I assigned you together with care. Why?”

“…Nothing.”

He wanted a single room, but if he pushed any further, Alexander might really see him as a troublesome young master, so he gave up.

When he arrived at the door, his hands were sweaty for no reason. Was it because he knew the future that he felt so intimidated despite having gone through similar things before?

“Take a rest today.”

Responding to Alexander’s farewell with a salute, Everhart swallowed hard.

‘Just follow the plan. Follow the plan. Just add a spoonful, help him without being a nuisance… But when else will I get a chance to use my rank to suppress him!’

Recalling the thrilling thought of insubordination, Everhart gathered his courage and firmly grasped the doorknob. As the door opened, the air inside changed instantly.

Centered around the window directly in front, there were desks and beds on either side.

There was a small personal locker on one side, and curtains above the bed.

Having stayed in a mansion as large as a soccer field, this room felt cramped, but compared to the dormitory during the academy days where nearly ten people shared bunk beds, it was heaven.

Everhart’s bed and desk were empty, but Karl Heinrich was sitting on his bed by the open window, reading a book.

From the side, he looked like a literary youth.

“…”

Had it been over a year since he last saw his face? He was much more solid and sharply honed than when he saw him at the academy. His masculinity was undeniable. It was somewhat expected, but still surprisingly so.

Karl Heinrich, who had recently bathed, was wearing a gray short-sleeved shirt, and his arms were as thick as Everhart’s thighs.

No, his build wasn’t the issue. Karl Heinrich’s aura was different from before.

Karl Heinrich slowly closed his book and turned his head. Everhart closed the door.

“Uh… No…”

Everhart suddenly remembered that he outranked Karl Heinrich.

He intended to speak informally, but old habits die hard, and his words came out wrong. He regretted not rehearsing before entering.

“Ahem! A lieutenant has arrived, and you don’t even greet him?”

Everhart proudly entered, placing his bag on one side of the bed with an ‘ahem.’

Karl Heinrich stood up abruptly. He seemed to have grown taller in just a year.

“Welcome, Lieutenant Everhart.”

Huh? This isn’t right. Everhart, who intended to play a prank, was momentarily taken aback when he faced Karl Heinrich, who exuded a dangerous aura.

Karl Heinrich even approached, using formal language as if anticipating Everhart’s teasing.

Something felt dangerous. Instinctively, Everhart became alert.

“It’s been a while for me too. Have you been well? Sunbae-nim. I was just joking a little.”