This is a Youjo Senki Fan Fiction Only.
He honestly began to look at the papers, and for some reason, he looked at one when he finished reading it, nodded and continued to the next page, I didn't have much sleep so I made the papers as straight forwards and precise as possible. "Strumm you know you continue to surprise me, not something that happens to me often."
"The formation of a smaller response squad is a good idea, the only problem is that currently, the Empire has been under attack on all borders, we are in a rather situation where our troops are fighting for the survivable of the Empire. The smaller unit would need to be trained extensively, all training currently is focused on replacing dead officers and soldiers, hence why the training is as you said not that difficult."
"That is one reason I was not angry with your answer because you realized something must be wrong for the lesson requirements are so much lower than even you would expect, that is because we are focusing on numbers, quantity over quality as it were. The Rhine theater has caused more casualties than we had anticipated, and the Franco Republic is making a push to invade and capture some of our territories."
"But who would you suggest that train this special unit that you propose?" I told him I could, and with the help of my childhood friend Tanya Degurechaff, it would be easily achieved. The main problem would not be the training, it would be the operational orbs. They would require to use a much higher power range than what they use currently."
He took a page with a design on it, "I see that is why you thought of this particular operational orb configuration, I have to confess Karl this idea is not unknown to me, in fact, one of our top scientists is, in fact, working hard to build an operational orb pretty close to your idea, it is a multiple core design."
"The only reason that it has not been completed is that for some strange reason all tests end in failure, the person using the orb either can not send magic properly or he causes the orb to go into meltdown and explodes. It is truly a disappointment since if we had a better operational orb to supply our troops I could easily allow you and Tanya to form your special mage squadron."
"The only problem is that we are running out of potential test subjects, the lab has gotten a rather colorful reputation of being called were mages go to die. Funny enough your friend Tanya and you have been requested several times by the chief researcher as potential test subjects since the scientist saw the power you both generated when you killed the enemy in that forest."
"I personally am against it, I don't like the fact that I would be risking two of my most promising officers to an experiment that has claimed the lives of so many and produced little in the way of results. However, after you told me you found the demands of the current curriculum to be so low, I have made a decision young Karl, I think your friend is also thinking the same thing, except she is not telling anyone her opinion because like you nobody asked her."
"So I plan to train both of you personally, you will be instructed by me and be allowed to skip classes should you show that you have the necessary mastery of the subject, when you finish your officer's training under me you shall be allowed to graduate and receive the rank of Captain. You both then shall be assigned to go to the lab and work with the scientist developing our new operational orb, seeing that you know a lot of the mechanics and theories thanks to the detail of this proposed designs, I think you and your friend might pull off a miracle and save this doomed research project and the personnel."
I nearly forgot that the people who are in charge of this project would suffer severe consequences should the project not produce any usable results, in truth I think the Chief Researcher is the only one that will be spared should they fail to meet the expectations of High Command.
This could be an opportunity to shine and rise through the ranks much like my friend Tanya and I both want, or it could end up costing us our lives should we not make this research project a success, well no time to let myself be stopped by getting cold feet. We can gain a lot, and the future only exists for the bold. To take a risk and succeed or die trying.
"I honestly do not know what my friend Tanya would say about this, but I can tell you for myself I accept the challenge and I am eager to meet your academic requirements. I will do my best to make you proud, sir."
I was standing at attention as I finished telling him my answer, "I told you to relax Karl, you are quite astute in realizing that while yes I am a demanding taskmaster, I am before all fair, sit down and drink your coffee before it gets cold, now that the most difficult part of our discussion is over we can both relax."
"I would now ask you a few personal questions if that is alright, you see I have been keeping an eye on all the activities of the officer candidates, and there are several things I saw that made me wish to ask you to explain, for instance, while waiting in class, most people talk to their fellow students, decide to be sociable and form friendships."
He took a sip of his coffee and so did I, as he placed his cup on the saucer he continued, "You, however, Karl do not talk to anyone other than Tanya, or the one soldier that was with you at the front lines, you instead are reading a book or doing weapon maintenance. You are always doing something focused on academics, if it is not taking care of your rifle, it is reading suggested materials."
I took a sip of my coffee cup and thought about it, as soon as my cup was placed on the saucer, I looked at him, "I was not sent here to goof off, I was sent to learn and so I focused on the duty I understood the Empire wished for me to focus on. My weapon is also a means to deal with stress, I find it very relaxing taking apart my trusty rifle and doing maintenance."
"I also spend many hours in the shooting gallery, experimenting with different possible ammunition configurations, besides the training regiment for the special squad, or the operational orb, I also tried my best to find a means to prevent our ammunition from being usable by our enemy."
I looked at him and continued to drink my coffee, it seems my experiments didn't go without somebody noticing, it seems I should be more careful about how I conduct my experiments. "Now tell me what do you think is going on, I imagine you been reading the newspaper but the thing that the newspaper doesn't tell you I am going to."
"The Empire has been under attack at our borders, you saw that in two fronts, but what you don't know is that this has happened at all our borders. Now tell me young Strumm, why would our neighboring countries do that? We have done nothing to incite these aggressive attacks and invasions, what do you think caused it?"
I finished off my cup of coffee and looked at him, I felt like I was getting a test, a very important test so I better respond as if it is a test. "I could think of no less than three reasons why a neighboring country would do that. Would you mind if I use the map on the wall?"
He told me to go ahead, "First the single most obvious, they are testing the strength of the troops on our border, to see if there is any chance that our military is weaker than they expect. The second they are testing our troops to see if we had improved our military technology, they need to be able to keep up, and finally, they are testing new equipment and or tactics against our troops to see if this new equipment has gained them any military strength."
"The first would be the prelude to invasion, the second would be an attempt to steal military development secrets, and the third to promote an increase in their own military both for national security, to prevent invasions, or to prepare for war."
He too finished his cup and looked at me with a smile, "Glad to see we both think alike, yes those three possibilities had also occurred to me, be sure to inform your friend Tanya of the change of instructor for both of you and I will see you both here tomorrow morning to begin your instruction."
I could not help but to salute and tell him that while I am only speaking for myself I was looking forward to it. I was allowed to leave his office and since lunch was near I decided to meet with Tanya to tell her what just happened and how this will change our time in Officer's training.
As I went to have my dinner I saw Tanya and apparently she had a wonderful time, she sure was a lot more relaxed since I pretty much could tell people heard who I had a meeting with, and also what happened to the people that are not sitting in the metal cages out in the open, I wouldn't be too surprised that people heard them scream some rather colorful comments about me.
As I sat down right next to her, she looked at me with a smile, "You know Karl am I ever glad that I am always on your side, you actually wanted to blast the heads off those guys? Didn't look as if you were kidding from what the people that saw you said, you looked dead serious that you consider them traitors and you looked like you wanted to end their lives."
I took my glass of water, took a quick drink and looked at her, "Well it would be a lot better than what they are experiencing right now, and this is only the beginning, There are worse things than death and both you and I know it. Dishonorably being kicked out of the Imperial Military, doomed to be beggars in the streets, when people don't or will not give anything to anyone."
" They think I am cruel for trying to kill them, compared to what they will go through, death would be merciful. What you should really ask is what I talked with the Deputy Director about. I am going to tell you, but how about I do it back in our room away from the audience. Knowing you the way I do, well the things I talked about could end up making you so happy you will kiss me, or so angry that you will want to knock my block off."
"So, for now, how about if I just eat my meal, and let's keep the interrogation until we are alone." She continued to eat from her plate and pick a few things she actually liked from mine, "As it will matter anyway, these people gossip more than bored housewives, but if you think it is that important sure, I will talk in our room, but make it quick, or I will feed it to you."
Not exactly the way most people are thinking if the few people I saw were blushing. I ate my meal finished my glass of water and waited till she finished her meal, she offered me what was left of her juice and I had no reason to deny that I needed it.
Victoriya was seated across from me and for some odd reason she was glaring at Tanya, I would think she would be glaring at me after what I did today, but no, she is glaring at Tanya. This is my second life and I guess the only truth I can not deny is that as a man, I will never understand what goes on in a woman's mind.
"Well first I told him that I found the classes to be both boring and ineffective, then I told him of the idea of a special forces squad, that led to the ideas I had about a new operational orb that would be needed for that squad." She just listened and sometimes she looked a bit concerned here and there, nothing out of the ordinary.
"Then he suggested that since classes were so bad for us, he would teach us. If we manage to impress him to his standards we would get a higher rank than those that normally graduate from officer's training. The rank of Captain and when the new operational orb was completed train and command that new special forces squad. This should at least make it easier for both you and me to ascend the ranks."
Good thing she was sitting on her bed at the time, I mean she was laughing pretty hard, "Honestly Karl, I could kiss you, I guess you took the idea of nothing risked nothing gained? Well actually this works better for us, we gain a proper education on regulations and tactics from someone who practically lived it, and a higher rank, not to mention our own squad to really blow the socks off High Command with our results."
I wish I could take all the credit but honestly I couldn't, "He also said that the new operational orb was nothing knew, one of their chief scientists is working on something similar, I wouldn't be surprised that the first assignment will be to test it for them since apparently our high magic capacity will be needed, since there have been many who tried to use it, and failed and yes by fail I mean died."
"As far as kissing me, well if I understood the reason why Victoriya was glaring at you, I would say you already did kiss me several times in our last meal alone, albeit indirectly, so in summary, my attempt to as you said to blow the socks off my instructor landed us on a much high difficulty class, and the possibility for both of us to be guinea pigs. With a very nice carrot at the end should we succeed to survive the beating we will get with the stick."
She just looked at me and smiled, "I see it as an opportunity, a gamble to be sure, but an opportunity never the less, and if it takes me away from the front lines where death is practically standing on my shoulder, you will not hear me complain, I would expect you to complain more actually since this will pretty much put your out of the battlefield.
I looked at her as I sat on my bed and could not help but to sigh, "Except that weirdly I am not away from the battlefield, the battle is still happening just a different sort of battle. He apparently has been keeping an eye on us since the battle at the forest."
"He also has been watching me in my private time in the shooting range, and my attempts to create new types of ammunition. You saw that my phase ammunition works since I managed to stun the idiots that tried to get fresh with you, and my other two types of new ammo also work just not as well as the Deputy Director would like."
"I wouldn't be surprised to find that he is actually listening to this very conversation as we speak. So, all in all, I say we better go to bed and get ready for our classes and to that I say goodnight Tanya, and of course good night Deputy Director see you in the morning."
She actually laughed until she heard something like something shutting off, guess this at least proved to her that I am not as paranoid as she was thinking. All I could do is try to sleep and get ready for training, it was the same routine but with much higher stakes and much more demanding instructor, it looks like the school is about to become fun.
Well, there was an old saying that came to mind as soon as I woke up, be careful of what you wish for because you might just get it. Well I went to the room that I was told and sure enough it was the office where I met him, and sure enough, the man seemed as pleasant as ever, then mind explain to me why it is that the hands of Tanya are shaking like a leaf in the wind?
For the next days, I was put through something similar to law school if law school involved having to do Olympic style weight training for every single answer I gave to a question, and he as smiling the entire time. I was so focused on preparing for my next class, my next time doing physical skills training, then magic education, then magic engineering principals, and finally perfect my three new types of ammo that by the end of the day I was crawling to my bed.
I was feeling pain in places I didn't even know could hurt, and I could finish my meals under five minutes, I know that it was weird and some people did call me a freak while doing so, but in the end I didn't care a minute lost was an opportunity wasted, I had to be efficient if I am going to be able to keep up with everything I needed to do.
The Deputy Director was like I said always smiling during the lessons and training, but he never spoke a single word that was not telling us what to do, what he was teaching, or what we answered incorrectly, always focused on our training and education and nothing more.
Days became weeks and weeks became months, and in no time at all, we finished our time at Officer's training, I honestly do not remember the last time I sat down and ate a meal simply with enough time to actually enjoy it, or when Victoriya actually stopped glaring at Tanya. As the surviving students meaning the graduates stood in the stadium we waited.
Each was called by name to be given their new rank and certificate of completion of training, we waited and waited until we were the last two to be called, they didn't call us by the birth names they called us by Pure Silver and Radiant Gold, and once we stood in front of the stadium on that platform I think I felt what others call stage fright.
"These two young people have gone beyond any, they completed a training supervised and taught by the Deputy Director himself, the only regret he told me was that he could not be present for this occasion, it is said that everyone present received the rank of 1st Lieutenant after completing your training here, but these two have received something else, the two people before you have received the rank of Captain for excellence and determination."
"You shall receive your new posts as soon as this ceremony was over, these two, however, I am proud to say that they have been placed to work under the command of Chief Engineer Adelheid von Schugel. For the foreseeable future, they will be involved in advancing military technologies and make the Empire even stronger than ever before, so with this in mind, keep these two in your prayers and ask God to help these two brave heroes in their monumental task."