Chapter 8

When I heard that the number of applicants had surpassed two thousand, I asked the recruiter in despair.

Why my recruitment notice was well-written.

The recruiter then explained with a smile.

Kindly while extending his fingers as well.

1. As the war with the Allied Nations drags on into a prolonged conflict, children who lost their parents on the battlefield have grown up and are now joining the army in large numbers, burning with a desire for revenge.

2. Lieutenant Daniel Steiner’s recruitment notice from the Operations Staff fanned the flames of vengeance in these parentless soldiers, naturally increasing the number of applicants.

3. Furthermore, the northern front where the Imperial Army holds the advantage is drawing in soldiers who wish to make a name for themselves in a favorable battle zone.

4. The phrase describing the rear as infested with parasites must’ve stirred up resentment among the soldiers. Some likely took the words seriously and applied for the sake of honor.

5. Setting aside all logical deductions, there was something in Lieutenant Daniel’s recruitment notice that stirred the hearts of men.

Having extended all the fingers on one hand, the recruiter added praise by saying, “You have a talent for propaganda,” and suggested that if I wanted a transfer to the personnel department, I should speak up anytime.

I awkwardly smiled at the job offer, dismissed the recruiter, and ordered the soldiers to start sorting through the documents.

Realistically, I couldn’t reject all two thousand plus applicants, so it was practically set in stone that I’d be heading to the northern front.

Thus, selecting the most stable and elite soldiers would be the best course of action to ensure safety.

Exclude anyone with even minor criminal records.

Also exclude those whose sole purpose is revenge.

Eliminate those suspected of harboring impure ideologies or showing signs of mental instability.

Remove anyone who has disobeyed an officer’s orders even once during training.

Exclude anyone who didn’t score perfect marks in the shooting test.

Also eliminate those without magical aptitude.

After filtering through the applications initially, 327 candidates remained.

From them, I carefully selected twenty squad members who demonstrated excellent performance and exemplary military conduct, sending out acceptance notices.

Ten days after sending out the notifications…

I stood before them.

“…”

At the fountain in front of the General Staff Headquarters’ main gate, the sight of my chosen squad standing in neat rows of ten gave me an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

Especially their piercing gazes.

Exaggerating a bit, they looked like the type who’d charge suicidally without hesitation if ordered.

‘Even though I picked them… could they lack humanity?’

Cold sweat trickled down my back without me realizing it.

Of course, not all squad members were devoid of human emotions like war machines.

There was a woman blinking her clear eyes amidst the burly men.

‘Prien Remiliat.’

The woman I met previously in the holding cell, destined to become the Empire’s future saint NPC, had apparently completed basic training smoothly and now sported a private badge.

I absentmindedly picked her without much thought, but seeing her bright eyes gleaming amid the battle-ready soldiers reminded me of someone with pure insanity.

Did I make a mistake picking her? I cleared my throat nervously while eyeing Prien cautiously.

“It’s good to see you all, soldiers.”

It’s the duty of a commander to give a brief overview of the mission before departure.

Right now, I’m fulfilling that duty.

While doing so, I secretly hope they’ll run away in fear.

“As you’ve seen in the recruitment notice, I am Lieutenant Daniel Steiner, operations staff officer and your squad leader. In case you missed it in the notice, let me reiterate: I have no combat experience.”

Despite warning them about my potential incompetence, there wasn’t a single murmur of unrest.

Fine. They’re sticking it out, huh? Let’s turn it up a notch.

“Therefore, don’t expect a competent commander. All I desire is the annihilation of the Allied forces and the screams of the barbarians belonging to them.”

I’m currently emphasizing that I have no expertise in tactics or strategy.

A normal soldier would feel fear at this point.

But strangely, the squad members’ faces only twisted into savage smiles.

Looking at them, I paused briefly in silence before firing a warning shot.

“I have no use for cowards. This is your only chance to flee the bloody battlefield. If anyone wishes to abandon the mission, raise your hand now.”

As expected, not a single hand went up.

These guys really aren’t sane.

Sighing inwardly, I spoke one last time.

“Good! You fools eager to challenge death! I’ll personally assist you. Your sweat and blood will bring glory to the Empire!”

The moment my words ended, the soldiers saluted in unison.

“Glory to the Empire!”

Their synchronized voices resonated throughout the General Staff Headquarters.

Seeing this, I closed my eyes quietly with a wry expression.

‘They’re insane…’

Truly, there are no greater war maniacs.

*

Four days later.

Northern Front – Temporary Forward Operating Base of the 307 Special Mission Unit.

“Today is supposedly the day reinforcements from General Staff Headquarters arrive.”

Captain Heinz Schmidt of the 307 Special Mission Unit, who was resting in the tent, pulled out the recruitment notice he’d seen earlier from his pocket.

『Recruitment Notice for Northern Front Support Troops』

Listen up, worthy ones!

A fierce battle to protect our homeland’s sacred land is currently raging in the north!

I seek those willing to sacrifice their lives for the Empire!

You there! Don’t covet the Empire’s crops while alive; become fertilizer to adorn its glory in death!

Join me to destroy, ravage, and eliminate the enemy until we perish together!

We shall desire nothing but the deaths of our foes!

“…This feels like madness.”

Even Heinz, who prided himself on witnessing all kinds of madness since joining the special missions unit—assassinations, high-ranking target eliminations, anti-terrorism operations—felt unfamiliar with this notice.

“It’s almost like… this isn’t recruiting comrades to fight alongside…”

It seemed more like seeking disposable parts for the Empire.

“Captain Daniel Steiner, was it?”

According to his aide-de-camp, this individual had recently achieved three significant feats, earning him a special promotion to lieutenant, yet still chose to volunteer for the northern front—a fact laden with meaning.

“A rank-obsessed war maniac!”

To Heinz, Daniel Steiner appeared to be someone who wouldn’t hesitate to exploit allies for personal advancement, bloodlessly or tearfully.

Finding this unsettling, Heinz unconsciously tightened his grip on the paper before shaking his head.

“One shouldn’t judge people based solely on rumors.”

One can never truly know a person’s intentions without direct experience.

Just as he steadied his thoughts, a soldier entered the tent entrance and saluted.

“Captain! The reinforcements sent from General Staff Headquarters have arrived!”

Heinz nodded upon hearing the report.

“Understood. Let’s go take a look.”

Slipping the notice back into his pocket, Heinz rose from his seat.

On the way out, he glanced at a nearby girl leisurely reading a book but decided against speaking since she seemed focused.

Nodding slightly in greeting, Heinz opened the tent door and stepped outside.

The view brightened, revealing a squad of twenty soldiers moving across the snow-covered ground.

Somehow radiating an intense atmosphere, these twenty soldiers exuded an oppressive aura just by standing there.

Even nearby officers and soldiers of the special missions unit instinctively stepped back.

Leading them was none other than Lieutenant Daniel Steiner.

His eyes, devoid of any emotion, flickered as he stared straight ahead.

“…”

“…”

When their eyes met, Heinz felt an inexplicable stiffness creep over his body.

Frowning, Daniel recognized his counterpart as the commanding officer and quickly saluted.

Relieving the tension, Heinz returned the salute as Daniel approached with a faint smile.

“Honored to meet you, Captain Heinz Schmidt.”

“…You know my name?”

“Yes. I conducted a rough investigation into the unit I’d be joining. It’s an impressive team that’s handled numerous challenging missions. Now I understand why I’m here.”

“Your words are appreciated. It must’ve been tough getting here. Aren’t your soldiers fatigued from the journey?”

Daniel chuckled lightly and shook his head.

“You mean those suicide hopefuls? After observing them for a few days, they show no signs of exhaustion, so please don’t worry.”

At the term “suicide hopefuls,” Heinz broke out in cold sweat.

‘So… he really does treat his soldiers as mere expendables.’

Though intended as a joke to lighten the heavy mood, Heinz, already prejudiced, began perceiving Daniel as some kind of demon.

“…Captain Heinz?”

Unaware of this, Daniel tilted his head curiously at Heinz’s stiff expression when—

“What’s the commotion?”

The entrance of the nearby tent opened, revealing a blonde girl.

In a pristine blouse with a red brooch around her neck, she clearly belonged to a noble family.

Naturally shifting his gaze, Daniel froze momentarily upon meeting her eyes and fell silent.

Seeing this, Heinz introduced her.

“Ah. This lady is a war journalist who volunteered to join our unit. She arrived a few days ago and wished to capture the valor of the Imperial Army through her camera.”

Despite Heinz’s explanation, Daniel couldn’t tear his eyes away from the girl.

Aware of his gaze, the girl smiled gently at Daniel.

Simultaneously, Daniel felt as if every cell in his body had frozen.

‘Is this girl really a war journalist?’

No. Absolutely not.

As far as Daniel knew, the identity of the girl before him was royal.

‘What are you doing here?’

The future heir to the throne of the Empire.

Selvia von Amberg.

That was the true identity of the girl.