In General’s Hearts, the unit evaluation event is considered essential for future promotions and ability score improvements.
This literally means assigning specific missions to the organization in question, and then focusing on how each platoon, from the squad to the company level, will achieve their tasks.
This is the unit evaluation, which was essentially the most efficient opportunity to advance ranks and accumulate merit before the world war that would take place five years later.
Naturally, this is a significant evaluation, and if one makes a mistake, it could mean losing the most important chance of the year.
And now, this is scheduled for next month.
‘Shit.’
If it were a month, one could say it’s quite ample time to prepare for the evaluation for a typical squad.
But who is our squad?
Except for Claude, they lack practical experience and are all odd individuals. Starting with me, the squad leader, who is like this.
It’s not like I can just eliminate all the squad members in a short period as in real military.
I also don’t think everyone will follow well, and while Claude is nearly uncontrollable, he has been demoted after reaching the rank of sergeant, so it doesn’t seem like he is striving for promotion.
A person who thinks promotion is irrelevant wouldn’t cooperate with the evaluation.
Fortunately, Lumina clearly shows her ambition to climb higher.
Bella doesn’t seem too eager for merit either, and Roxanna, who just joined, is almost non-existent in terms of power.
“In the end, we have no choice but to keep training.”
Immediately after being assigned to the unit, I was deployed for the recapture of Belgorod Fortress, and along with it, I participated in eliminating the traitors in Chernov City with the National Guard.
The path of a newly commissioned lieutenant fresh out of the officer academy was unbelievable to me.
But when I think about it, it was practically all done by me.
During the fortress recapture, Lumina and Bella fought together, and although Claude joined late, he was under my command entirely.
Lumina also participated in investigations and tracking in Chernov City, but strictly speaking, she hadn’t fully demonstrated her combat abilities as a military mage.
She did use magic, but it was only for fire suppression.
That means we’ve never had proper teamwork. If I predict correctly, there wasn’t any before me either.
“Haa…”
“Squad Leader, what did the Personnel Officer say?”
When I returned to the barracks, the women gathered in the lounge asked me as they did before.
“There’s no definite decision yet, but they said our squad might be going up to the capital.”
“The capital?”
“No way… Did the National Guard Commander report it?”
Lumina Blué asked with disbelief.
Isn’t it obvious that the commander should be informed? When the security chief of a city openly engages in treason, at least the commander should know.
The problem is that the final decision-maker isn’t the commander but someone even higher.
“The National Guard Commander and His Royal Highness Prince Orlando Rus have personally called for our squad.”
“Wh-What!?”
Bella and Lumina were startled, and Roxanna, who was sleeping, suddenly opened her eyes.
“Is that really true?”
“Why would I lie about something like this?”
“Oh my… Oh my… That’s impossible…”
Lumina was trembling with shock. Is it that shocking?
From a modern perspective, it’s like meeting the president. It’s the greatest honor for a soldier, and even for civilians, it would be an exciting experience.
I’m not sure why it’s such a big deal.
Of course, we must consider that democracy hasn’t fully taken root here yet. For now, a prince is akin to having absolute power over a duchy.
Being called by such a person would be a refreshing shock for Lumina, who has lived her whole life as an Okhrainian citizen.
“Anyway, it’s good news… But there’s a problem.
“What?”
“The Personnel Officer said that there’s a platoon evaluation next month, and our squad has to participate.”
“…What?”
The two people’s eyes filled with doubt.
“You’ll need to help. Didn’t I say it many times? I’ll give you opportunities if you follow me.”
Positively, it’s actually an opportunity. A squad that has always been treated as inferior, and its squad leader.
Even though they’ve achieved significant merits, they might not be recognized by fellow unit members or others. There are quite a few senior officers and others who don’t find this atmosphere favorable.
If we could completely dominate the platoon evaluation, leaving no room for rebuttal?
Not only merit, but it would be a perfect opportunity to transform the long-standing image of being inferior.
“Our goal is to get full marks in the platoon evaluation.”
I looked at the stunned squad members and firmly stated.
*
“…Is that why you came to me?”
“Yes, Facilities Manager Debra Bennett.”
She said, wearing a black eye patch like her hair color. Debra Bennett, a lieutenant and the facilities manager.
Despite returning to the unit yesterday after working on repairs for the heavily damaged Belgorod Fortress due to the last attack.
She seemed to be enjoying her own vacation, even setting up a hammock in one corner.
She truly embodies the role of a facilities manager. Although she looks about my age, there’s something commanding about her that feels like a logistics sergeant.
Debra didn’t speak directly but peeked at me from the hammock.
“Simple defensive magic deployment would be enough with just your squad members, right?”
“I heard from those around me that you’re the best at deploying defensive magic within the battalion.”
“Hmm, that’s true….”
“And Facilities Manager, didn’t you show interest in my magical skills last time? This is a perfect chance to see them firsthand.”
I gently tried to persuade Debra Bennett.
Although my first impression was that of a stubborn old woman after the incident at the infirmary, I thought she would be more interested in my proposal because of that.
She seemed to have considerable interest in such matters.
Soon, Debra Bennett’s eyes rolled, and she sniffed before saying,
“Not bad.”
She jumped out of the hammock. My prediction was spot-on.
“The role of a facilities manager seems busy, but in reality, there’s nothing much to do. At least you guys managed to complete the reconstruction and repairs of the old barracks on your own.”
It would be more appropriate to be grateful for taking over your work.
According to the personnel officer, she’s actually a captain (acting).
Even after getting promoted, she installed a hammock in her office, making her a peculiar workaholic.
Could that be why she got promoted? She works hard when she needs to.
“Still, I’m curious about your capabilities. I need to verify the rumors, right?”
Grinning, Debra closed one eye. I couldn’t figure out what the rumors were…
Especially considering the image Major Enok Revendale has spread throughout the battalion.
In conclusion, Debra accepted my request and followed me to an open area behind the main building.
An open area as vast as the main building’s grounds, about three times larger than a typical military shooting range.
Originally, the corps intended to build a magic training facility, but it has been neglected for years.
Due to the constant magic practice by the third battalion’s mages, all that remains are large craters and heaps of yellow soil.
“Honor to our homeland!”
The other squad members saluted Debra as they arrived at the open area.
“Why, everyone is here.”
“We also have nothing else to do,”
Bella replied curtly. Debra’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but she showed no outward reaction.
“First, I wanted to see the maximum strength of the squad members, right?”
“Yes, listening to the story… I heard that Facilities Manager Debra Bennett can deploy up to a second-level magic barrier.”
“Where did you hear that?”
As I glanced at Bella Meyer, Debra Bennett made a complicated expression.
“Umm… Yeah… Right.”
While I don’t know what their relationship was in the past, they clearly aren’t close enough to call themselves friends.
Both Bella and Debra’s expressions revealed mixed emotions.
“Let’s get to the point quickly. What does Major Enok want from me?”
“I prepared five targets.”
I pointed at the wooden dummies stacked in the corner.
They were magic-specific targets that had been left in piles in the training equipment warehouse. Finding decent ones was quite a challenge given their poor condition.
“I would appreciate it if you could set up a second-level magic barrier on each target.”
“…On each target?”
“Yes, on each target.”
According to Lumina and Bella, battalion-level evaluations check the overall combat capability of each squad rather than the entire battalion’s skill level.
Even during the recapture of Belgorod Fortress, Major Arrendt Schultz of the Second Battalion didn’t issue any special orders.
Eliminating the bandits and illuminating the area with flares were ultimately decisions made by me.
Even though it was a battalion evaluation, it was effectively a squad evaluation.
Evaluating how efficiently and wisely the squad leaders respond to the battalion commander’s objectives.
In other words, it’s about efficiency and wisdom.
All you need to do is cast the strongest magic possible in response to the situation.
Given that Debra Bennett, as a facilities manager, has already undergone several squad evaluations as a squad leader, she probably understood what I was planning.
The facilities manager looked back and forth between the targets, me, and the assembled squad members.
“Are you thinking of casting Meteor?”
She answered with a look of alarm.
