Imperial Academy Girl Magic Officer

“Wouldn’t working in the Administration be enough experience?”

Not hearing the words he wanted, Gartel frowned while tapping the ashes off his pipe. He openly expressed his displeasure.

“As one of the Empire’s few magic officers, I want to take off for success. On the day my father passed away, I promised myself I would become a splendid and strong soldier like him.”

Nevertheless, I didn’t bend my principles.

Rather, I shed a few insincere tears and tried to persuade him fluently, expressing my strong will to him.

“…If you ever change your mind, feel free to come back anytime. I can’t help it if you make such a sad face.”

Then Gartel stopped pressuring me. He chuckled, shrugging his shoulders, and held out his hand. In it was the envelope I had so desired.

“Then I’ll be going.”

I politely received that rough-surfaced item. I folded it in half and put it in my chest pocket, then stepped back.

“Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Click─!

With his farewell, I left the office.

“Phew.”

I could no longer smell the strong coffee or feel the pressure that had been choking me. I leaned against a corner of the hallway and slightly raised the corners of my mouth.

It was a satisfying meeting.

Although he hadn’t risen to the position of minister yet, anyway, since the Administration would be his front yard, the fact that he offered such a deal meant I had achieved the goal of gaining his favor.

“Since I successfully received the recommendation letter too……”

There’s nothing to regret.
I gained many benefits.

Rustle─!

While putting on the coat and cap I hadn’t been able to wear properly in my haste to leave, I put my hand into the brown envelope hidden in my bosom.

[This document is sent to the ‘Magic Tactics Planning Department’]

Inside was a fluttering piece of paper densely written in the imperial language. I had finally obtained the recommendation letter I so desired.

Now I just need to go to the research department.

Rustle─

I took a step, smoothing back my hair to tidy it. Unlike before, my steps walking down the corridor were light.

Only one thing remains.

Meeting Officers Derian and Lutz, and joining the Magic Tactics Planning Department.

Click─ Click─

I headed towards the stairs, my bright blue eyes flashing.

Erika clenched her fists and pursed her lips tightly while staring at Yena’s back as she entered the main building.

‘I need to do my best too!’

It was amazing how she always worked hard despite having lower grades than herself. She was even in awe that Yena had already caught the instructor’s eye and was receiving a recommendation letter.

‘She even said she trains every day.’

When classes ended, most students chatted with friends or took a break. But Yena was different. She always silently strived for growth.

There was a time when Erika disliked Yena for always going somewhere when she wanted to play together, but not anymore.

Because she knew Yena was an incredibly kind person. She didn’t dislike it, knowing it wasn’t that Yena was avoiding her because she disliked her, but that it was part of her efforts to develop her attitude as an officer.

‘…I should rather learn from that aspect of her.’

Erika firmly built up her motivation, recalling the always progressive Yena.

“She certainly wasn’t ordinary from when I first met her……”

Whoosh─!

While watching the ever-green grass sway gently, she recalled when she first faced Yena in the classroom.

With Yena’s help, she passed a test she couldn’t even attempt. Following that, when groups were formed but no one talked to her, making her feel awkward, Yena welcomed her warmly.

All of it must have been actions stemming from Yena’s pure and gentle personality.

Erika was certain. Although Yena’s appearance was cold and mature, her inner self was more delicate than anyone else’s.

Crunch─

That’s why she was so worried about her.

‘It looks too dangerous…’

Because her one and only precious friend was being threatened by Wolf, a fellow group member. Erika bit her lips, thinking of Yena who would be talking with the instructor by now.

‘Didn’t they fight on the entrance ceremony day?’

A commoner cadet fought with the son of the Streman family, infamous for their viciousness, and that cadet’s name was Yena Freud. It was news she knew from rumors she had heard.

She wasn’t worried because she had a narrow view of commoners.

It was just concerning that there was friction with the Streman family. They were the royal, top-tier class even among nobles.

‘They’re even known to be a cruel group.’

Stories were widespread among nobles that they would act without hesitation regardless of the consequences if it was for power, so she was anxious about Yena’s safety.

Even someone as oblivious as herself could clearly see how hostile Wolf was towards her.

‘She absolutely must not get hurt.’

No matter how much Yena won against that guy in a duel, that was just a ‘duel’. It means it was a fight where safety was guaranteed.

If Wolf tried to subdue her in earnest, there’s no way she could fend him off.

Grip─

In the end, I should stand by Yena’s side and be a reliable support. Erika clenched her fists until they turned white while staring blankly into space.

“I’ll protect Yena……”

That’s the duty towards her only friend, repayment to the person who helped her.

Then, instead of wasting time playing around in the dormitory like yesterday, she needs to build up her strength like Yena. She needs to acquire the ability to protect her.

Thud─!

Erika stood up, taking a deep breath while puffing out her chest.

‘Starting training from today!’

At the same time, she set off towards the training ground, looking for nearby signposts.

Click, click!

In the corridor where only the intermittent sound of instructors’ military boots echoed, I arrived in front of a wooden door, adjusting my sleeves and raising my head.

[Magic Tactics Planning Department]

The sign hanging in the middle of the door indicated that I had come to the right place.

Derian and Lutz are in here, huh.

Knock knock knock─!

Once I was certain, there was no hesitation. After checking one last time that the back of my hair was well-groomed, I immediately knocked.

Click!

Soon after, the tightly closed door opened.

“You’ve come to apply for the department?”
“Pardon?”

Through the gap came the warm air of the department room along with a welcome from a woman with striking pink hair and round glasses.

“Come in comfortably!”

The woman, who was similar in height or even a head taller than me, greeted me with a smile and gestured inside. I took off my cap and carefully entered following her guidance.

“…It’s warm in here.”
“Right?”

A warmth unlike the cold corridor outside enveloped my whole body.

“Can you pass that work over there?”
“I’ll leave this with the administrative office!”
“Where was that book on magic techniques……”

The chatter of students that I couldn’t hear while in the corridor now reached my ears.

“It’s quite noisy, right? Everyone’s busy writing theses, that’s why. You might not know as a first-year, but our seniors have a lot to submit.”

The woman helping with the guidance spoke while gently patting my head.

Indeed, as she said, most of the cadets in the department room looked at least a year older. The color of the epaulettes on their shoulders wasn’t that of first-years.

Come to think of it, this is an important time.

Clack, clack clack─!

Looking at the senior cadets earnestly pounding on typewriters, I suddenly realized.

The spring of February when new students enroll every year, this is the moment that decides the fate of cadets studying at the military academy, especially those scheduled to graduate.

This month was when research reports or theses were completed. And depending on their level, it was customary to determine where they would work in the future.

It couldn’t help but be a sensitive time for cadets.

If they do well, they might work in Bern, the capital of the Empire, but conversely, there could be the disaster of being assigned to a remote area.

Well, even places called remote areas are difficult for ordinary soldiers to go to since they’re magic officers, but anyway, everyone avoided it because it meant being far from the main stage of Bern.

“So I’d like you to follow quietly, okay?”
“I understand.”
“Good, then come this way.”

Perhaps because of this, the pink-haired woman put a finger to her lips and led me by the hand.

Click─ Click─

She finally stopped in front of a bright-colored door.

“When you go inside, there will be a list, just write your name there.”
“Yes.”
“I hope to see you again later. I’ll pray for your success!”

And after giving a final instruction while bending her knees to match my eye level, she left.

This must be the office.

I briefly watched her back as she hurried off to do her own work, then turned the doorknob horizontally.

Click─

“Excuse me.”

It was quiet.
And cold.

As if sound-proofing was built in, once the opened door closed, the commotion outside could no longer be heard, as if it was a lie.

“Phew──.”

Only the breathing of a man holding a cigarette in one hand and reading a newspaper resounded inside.

What tremendous pressure.

He didn’t say a word, and his face wasn’t even visible behind the newspaper. He probably didn’t want to check the faces of the numerous candidates coming to apply one by one.

[Magic Tactics Planning Department Member Application Form]

His attitude seemed to be telling me to quickly write my name on this paper placed on a table that could be used in a conference room and leave.

That’s why I wanted to check who he was even more.

Creak, creak─!

I took a step forward, smelling the cigarette and coffee scent typical of any instructor’s office. Passing by the wall finished in Bollywood color and the long conference room table,

“Greetings, Officer.”

I approached the unnamed instructor who had his feet up on the table and was puffing heavily on a cigar.

“The application form should be over there, what are you trying to do?”

He glanced up with a bored expression, slightly raising his head.

But despite such irritation, I looked at the man with an inner smile.

More precisely, I showed a happy expression at the appearance of the guy with neatly combed front hair with pomade and a black cross medal swaying on his chest.

The one whose identity I was curious about was none other than Hinz von Derian, the one I had so wanted to see.

I can’t forget that appearance.

How could I forget? He was one of the members who had been together since before the Great War and ultimately achieved the great feat of victory.

Moreover, Derian was the very person who handed over the imperial flag to me right before the ending in the past. For me, this man was someone I couldn’t erase from my memory even if I wanted to.

Rustle─

Having confirmed who the instructor was, and to ease this tense atmosphere, I immediately took out the recommendation letter from my bosom.

“I’m Yena Freud.”
“Hm?”

I handed it to Derian with both hands politely joined.

“So you’re……”

His cold atmosphere changed. Derian put down his cigar, put on the monocle on the table, and took out the recommendation letter, opening the envelope.

“Haha…… I didn’t recognize a celebrity, so you’re Yena Freud?”

For the first time, he opened his mouth.

“Yes, that’s right.”
“Do you know your name is spreading among the instructors?”

Derian turned his chair while adjusting his monocle with an elegant gold chain. The guy who had only been looking at the newspaper finally met my eyes with both of his.

“I’m somewhat aware of it.”

I nodded and answered his gaze.

With years of practical experience, how could I not know? Of course I knew how much impact receiving a recommendation letter on the first day of class had on the military academy.

Thanks to that, many instructors probably look at me unfavorably.

Since the military itself is a conservative group, and many instructors are nobles, there must be widespread opposition to me, with my poor background, receiving a recommendation letter. In a way, it was an obstacle I had to overcome.

“That’s why I wanted to see you as soon as possible. I was so curious about your face, haha─!”

Fortunately, Derian didn’t seem to be that type, as he grasped my hand with a friendly gaze and shook it up and down.

“Anyway, nice to meet you, Yena. I heard your father improved Prussian magic techniques?”
“That’s correct.”
“You have amazing parents. The techniques your parents cultivated will contribute to the great development of the Empire in the future.”