……
I gazed at the spacious room that was on a different level from any of my previous offices, feeling quite captivated by it.
Colonel Enok Revendale,
Commander of the 8th Aerial Mage Infantry Combat Unit.
It’s been nearly a year since I fell into this damned world.
At first, I was at a loss about how to navigate this miserable situation over five years. But when I came to my senses, I found myself already promoted to a colonel.
“A promotion from lieutenant to colonel in just one year. It’s madness.”
The rank was temporarily granted due to wartime circumstances, but King Orlando Rus III and the Minister of State elevated me to colonel as a commendation for my contributions.
In fact, even if they bestowed numerous medals upon me at this point,
they would be useless to me.
I preferred having a rank with inherent authority over simple metal decorations.
Even a war hero like Major Enok Revendale wouldn’t compare to Colonel Enok Revendale.
Moreover, what I gained from the Quernen War wasn’t just glorious ranks, medals, honor, and fame.
From the moment I arrived as the commander of a demoted platoon, one question had been gnawing at me.
Why does Okhraine fall apart right from the start of the war?
Think about it.
Even though this place is originally within the game Hearts of General,
it’s a nation with considerable territory and four corps despite being a duchy.
This means its military strength is substantial.
After exploring every corner, I found that the fortresses and cities scattered throughout were highly effective in blocking the infantry forces of the Soviev Empire.
Mutant infantry?
While it was almost certain that the Soviev Empire would invade with mutants at the forefront,
mutants aren’t Hulk-like beings capable of pushing through cities or fortresses.
They know how to build trenches and fortifications.
The Soviev Empire isn’t adept at blitzkrieg tactics, unlike the Reinhardt Empire.
Their basic strategy is an endless supply war.
Though not ideal, they consistently pour out well-equipped troops.
It’s a miracle that after annihilating twelve divisions, twenty-two new ones appear three days later.
No wonder their motto is “A country where people grow in the fields.”
However, this strategy may be effective initially but becomes ineffective once the war reaches a stalemate with long supply lines.
Specialized in quantity warfare, the Soviev Empire’s logistics capacity is horrific.
Considering these factors, it’s absurd that Okhraine couldn’t stop the Soviev Empire’s first offensive and lost its capital.
High Mage Sony Chepelin is also there.
King Orlando Rus III is highly proactive about military reforms and has the capability to implement them.
The combat power of the southern corps is formidable.
Even more astonishingly, Okhraine was the first to develop airships alongside the Reinhardt Empire.
Sony Chepelin’s Special Response Brigade and Diabolus weren’t changes I initiated; I merely happened to fit into the changes.
“The national power is sufficient. It’s at a level the Soviev Empire can’t easily surpass.”
But the problem was that Okhraine Duchy was destined to be the first to fall in any scenario.
Unreasonable.
Ultimately, my conclusion was—coup d’etat.
To commemorate our victory, I spent a week in the capital Kajeif, meeting countless people.
Most were supportive and looked at me favorably, but there were those who weren’t.
“Be careful, Colonel. If you stand out too much, you’ll be trampled.”
“I understand.”
Hints dropped by some central bureaucrats.
Given their genuine concern, this indicated that forces jealous of me had surfaced.
The probability of overlap with those wary of Sony Chepelin was high.
From their perspective, both Sony Chepelin and I were likely to seize the power they had maintained.
“In the end, you intended to devour the country for power. There might be many officials within the military who collude with the Soviev Empire.”
The coup might be suppressed.
Since the war began, the Duke of Okhraine was undoubtedly Orlando Rus III.
But what if it’s suppressed?
During this process, Okhraine’s military strength will be severely weakened, and all developed tactics and military technologies will be lost.
With the central government in chaos, local areas will be rife with criminal and rebel organizations.
If the Azoff Islands aren’t eliminated in time, the National Liberation Front will emerge, wreaking havoc in the south.
That was why Okhraine fell at the onset of the war.
The Imjin War took twenty days to lose the capital, and Poland held off the German army for over a month, yet its territory was divided in just two weeks.
“Desperate.”
Even if we managed to take the Azoff Islands, the coup’s success would make it hard to guarantee that Okhraine could completely repel the Soviev Empire.
“From now on, we need to prepare for a major upheaval.”
Traditionally, before a war, internal stability must be strengthened.
I lightly swept up the gleaming badge.
*
A month has passed since the Quernen War ended in victory for Okhraine.
During this period, the members of the 8th Aerial Mage Infantry Combat Unit entered a comprehensive rest phase instead of routine training.
Soldiers and non-commissioned officers returned from their accumulated leave.
Some even brought their hometown girlfriends as wives.
They were warmly welcomed as war heroes in their villages, receiving countless proposals.
Indeed, thanks to Wilson Times, everyone in the remote village near the Calpas Mountains knew about the Quernen War.
Though still cautious about fallen comrades,
they remained proud to be part of the esteemed 8th Aerial Mage Infantry Combat Unit.
Awaiting the return of those on leave…
“Rick Hanson, Sergeant, you’ve truly worked hard.”
“Colonel Enok…”
“Now, you’re not a colonel but a battalion commander.”
A massive restructuring was underway.
King Orlando Rus III wanted to recruit more aerial mage infantry units.
Unlike airborne units in the original world, aerial mage infantry units are fast, agile, and effective in narrow spaces.
The king likely saw no better military asset.
As a result, he ordered additional four airships from Count Petrinant’s airship factory and planned to establish a production facility locally.
Whether this was the right decision remained uncertain.
Regardless, following the king’s wishes, we downsized the 8th Aerial Mage Infantry Combat Unit back to battalion size while naturally dispersing our subordinates to other units.
Those who played a crucial role in the victory were scattered across training centers and units nationwide, tasked with sharing their expertise.
“Gah, we’ll see each other again!”
“Hey, Erwin Ruth, First Platoon Commander, is leaving us!”
“He always talks about perseverance, but he can’t hold back his tears!”
“You guys… This isn’t tears, but the sweat of hot men’s friendship!”
“We had a great time! Please take care!”
Officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers left their units, each with mixed feelings of relief and anticipation for their new assignments.
It wasn’t exile; it was recognition of their abilities and moving to appropriate positions. Everyone felt a mix of sadness and happiness as they bid farewell.
Captain Eisen, who excelled as chief of staff during the landing operation, was appointed commander of a newly formed aerial mage infantry battalion in the center.
This was clearly more beneficial for his career.
Among those I had to say goodbye to were:
“Captain Nikolai, Captain Luna Aire.”
“Battalion Commander Enok…”
First and Second Platoon Commanders were also there.
“Just call me by my name. After all, both of you have higher seniority than me.”
“What does seniority matter? Your rank is still far behind.”
“If you wanted this position, you should have done well at Remansk Arsenal.”
“Ugh… Well, I don’t have any complaints. Enok, you’re truly remarkable.”
Captain Luna Aire spoke in her usual, slightly irritated tone.
“At first, I was skeptical, but now I’m sure. You’re truly an outstanding soldier.”
“Do you really have to say such embarrassing praise?”
“I’m not stingy with compliments. Remember that!”
“Hahaha! Hey, Enok, let me tell you something funny. You know, Luna used to say…”
“Hey!! What are you saying?!”
Luna hurriedly covered Nikolai’s mouth.
Indeed, while I moved outward after unexpectedly taking command, their relationship seemed to have grown closer.
“Anyway, if you can, meet me in the center. Or rather, you’ll be in the center, so you’ll definitely meet me.”
Captain Luna Aire was assigned as a company commander in an elite mage unit under the central corps.
Given her achievements in the Quernen War, she was likely to be promoted to major this year.
“Before going to the center, I’ll visit the eastern corps.”
“Of course.”
I gently grabbed Nikolai’s hand. He, my only fellow officer, was joining the mage staff of the eastern corps headquarters.
He was essentially promoted to major upon his appointment.
“Then, let’s go.”
“Take care.”
Waving goodbye, Luna and Nikolai exchanged glances and smiled, then saluted in unison.
“To the glory of our homeland!”
“Glory!”
“It was truly an honor to serve with such an excellent battalion commander.”
Early March, as the lingering winter chill slowly dissipated.
The 8th Aerial Mage Infantry Combat Unit—or rather, battalion—faced a new chapter.
It was a bittersweet moment, not entirely joyful.
