Imperial Academy Girl Magic Officer

The woman stroking her chin while holding a thick stack of documents let out a groan. Even after examining the contents in detail, no hidden secrets she desired came out.

Since it was a personal request, I should bring information that would satisfy her.

“…It’s too ordinary.”

There’s nothing unusual worth reporting. Helena, the short-haired woman who was the head maid devotedly serving Rina, clicked her tongue briefly.

[Summary of Yena Freud’s Information]

It didn’t take long to find out this cadet’s personal information. She was just an ordinary child, not the child of an influential family.

That’s why that ordinariness bothered her so much.

“Lady Rina clearly……”

She vividly remembered how she had ordered with a stern face to look into it thoroughly. Whenever the princess gave such sincere words, there was always an extraordinary secret hidden.

But this cadet wasn’t like that.

The only thing that could be considered special was that her father, who had already passed away, had received an imperial medal, and there was nothing else worth picking up.

Creak, creak─

Helena clutched the documents about Yena Freud and paced around the empty dormitory room.

“……”

Then she leaned against the wall and slowly closed her eyelids.

【 Erich Freud 】

He was an outstanding soldier who, as a magic officer, shot down dozens of fighter planes and annihilated one of the few awakened squads of the United States, and was Yena’s father.

It was unusual.
A background that others didn’t have.

That was as far as it went. The document didn’t have a single clue to identify the girl’s identity.

‘This won’t be enough to satisfy the princess’s expectations.’

Thud─!

Helena gently opened her eyes as she closed the cover of the document finished with thick leather.

‘I’ll have to take action myself.’

If so, there was only one answer. To uncover any secrets she might have, or might be hiding. And proudly present them to the princess.

How?
By secretly following her.

“Phew.”

One might wonder why she’s so devoted, but thinking of the mistakes she had made towards the princess, this was just a small repayment. Even if she repeated this a hundred times, there would be no end to her repentance.

‘If this can be of help, I’m satisfied with that.’

That would be the duty of a head maid serving the princess.

Thud─!

Helena stood up, pressing hard on the table to her right. Then, with an atmosphere as if cold air was about to burst out, she stepped out towards the dormitory exit.

In the office filled with the sweet scent of chocolate and the bitter smell of coffee beans,

“You can sit comfortably.”
“Thank you.”

When Gartel gave permission, I put a couple of sugar cubes into the porcelain cup he handed me and carefully took a sip.

Gulp─

The unique sharpness of espresso brushed my tongue. Perhaps because it was coffee enjoyed by imperial officers, it was certainly luxurious to the point where comparing it to what was sold at the academy store would be disrespectful.

“How’s the taste?”
“I think it’s the most delicious thing I’ve ever drunk.”
“Haha, seems it suits your taste.”

As the warm coffee warmed my insides, even the slight tension I had disappeared. Thanks to that, I even had the leisure to look around.

It’s just as I expected. The scenery of the office was no different from my memory.

The imperial flag hanging on the wall showing its majesty, the current imperial president’s portrait sewn onto the wall behind the chair, etc. It was typical interior decoration befitting an officer of the Bern Empire.

Is that it?

And among them, an envelope sealed with a red stamp asserted its presence. That must be the recommendation letter Gartel mentioned.

I wanted to receive it quickly. However, focusing on the conversation with him was the priority for now,

“Phew──, I’m sorry. It’s because I’m a heavy smoker.”
“It’s alright.”

After emptying half the cup of espresso, I adjusted my posture towards Gartel, who was puffing clouds while biting his pipe.

“You’ve come right on time, good.”

He put down his pipe on the reception desk carved with the imperial flag pattern. Then he leaned forward, interlocking his fingers.

“Your father is Erich Freud, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I’m quite curious, so I looked into him a bit. He was very active in the Great War, wasn’t he?”

Thud─

He continued speaking while pulling out a stack of documents about half a finger thick.

“At first, when I heard that your father had improved magic techniques, I was half in doubt. But looking at this content, I thought it was quite possible.”

He investigated my family?

“He was also a magic officer.”
“I’m just proud of him.”
“Of course. He’s a great man who made noble sacrifices for the Empire, so it’s right to respect him as a soldier.”

While calmly conversing, I glanced at the faintly visible documents.

What I could roughly see were newspaper articles about Yena’s father, or rather Erich Freud’s achievements during the Great War, and the rest seemed to be papers containing military secrets.

He looked into it thoroughly.

Thinking of Gartel, who must have agonized over this, I couldn’t help but smile.

There probably wasn’t anything to find fault with. As it was a story brought up after thoroughly considering plausibility, Gartel would really believe that my father had improved magic techniques.

And he must have been quite shocked by the fact that a mere magic officer had achieved such results.

“……”

Just looking at his face silently smoking his pipe, I could see what his state of mind was like.

Although it wasn’t true, if there’s no one who knows it’s a lie, it becomes the truth. While watching Gartel blankly staring at the stack of documents,

“Slurp.”

I savored the aroma of coffee beans with a joyful heart.

“Your parents would be proud of you too. For protecting the technique that was almost buried to the end.”

Finally finishing his contemplation, Gartel stood up from the sofa after several minutes of silence.

Thud─!

He brought the recommendation letter from one side of his work desk and held it out in front of me.

“You know I’m writing for you to systematically organize the concept of magic techniques, right?”
“Yes.”
“When you go to the Magic Tactics Planning Department, there will be an officer in charge. Just hand this paper to that person.”

I nodded at his words and tried to bring the paper into my bosom.

Grip─

However, his tightly clenched thumb didn’t budge. No matter how much force I applied to take the recommendation letter, he gripped it more tightly and pulled it towards himself.

“So, I have one question.”
“Uh, um?”

He leaned his head forward and pulled my arm to close the distance at the same time. It was so sudden that I maintained my composure, then flinched and opened my eyes wide.

“Yena Freud.”
“Y-Yes?”

He moved his characteristic golden mustache and closed the distance even more.

Rustle─

When we got close enough to see the color of each other’s eyes,

“After completing the normal curriculum in the Magic Tactics Planning Department, would you be willing to join the Imperial Administration?”

He conveyed a special proposal.
Clink.

Even the eagle-shaped badge symbolizing candidate status attached to my chest trembled at that.

“The Administration, you say.”

I loosened my grip on the recommendation letter I had been holding tightly with both hands. I stiffened my body at his sudden opinion.

…It’s not bad.

Gartel will prove his abilities in the future and become the head of the Administration, which meant that if I followed him, I could at least secure a position of power.

Since work mainly consists of documented tasks like economics and strategy rather than using the body, there probably won’t be many occasions to get involved in combat.

Click, clatter─!

I stirred the inside of the porcelain cup with a teaspoon decorated with purple flowers. When white foam rippled, I brought it close to my lips and warmed my throat.

That’s no fun.

As I felt the sweetness of espresso passing through my palate and lingering in my esophagus, I imagined a boring future of devising strategies in an office. It wasn’t the life I wanted after all.

Being an awakened one, I didn’t want to retreat to the rear. I wanted to go to the frontlines and stand at the forefront for the Empire’s victory.

In the first place, to create the ‘world’ I wanted, I had to go into battle even if I didn’t like it.

The Empire won’t win just by devising good strategies and tactics.

To break through the triple adversity of a corrupt army, incompetent officers, and a foolish president, overwhelming power was needed. This was not something that could be obtained from the Administration.

This is an era where one must engrave their name with guns and swords, not pens, to be remembered.

【 National Defense Army 】

I had to become a general or soldier who stands at its center and directly leaves achievements by making contributions in various battlefields.

To prevent the Empire’s downfall.

Creak!

Then there’s only one answer.

I stood up from the sofa with my hands on both hips. And I bowed to Gartel, who was quietly waiting for my answer.

“I’m sorry. I still want to experience the diversity of the world.”