Click.
The box opened, and two radiant silver flowers flashed.
“Captain Max Jaeger is hereby temporarily promoted to lieutenant colonel under wartime special provisions.”
“……!”
Naturally, the conference room erupted.
“L-Lieutenant colonel?”
“A two-rank special promotion? Even in wartime, there’s no precedent for this!”
“Your Excellency!”
Protests mingled with shock. To skip major and rise to lieutenant colonel in one stroke—since the founding of the Imperial Army, such a drastic appointment could be counted on one hand.
Brigade Commander Dietrich’s eyes bulged as if they might pop out, and Major Helga, who was always so composed, stood with her mouth hanging open.
And the most dramatic of all was—
“……Huh?”
Erika.
She stared blankly, mouth agape, looking back and forth between the silver lieutenant colonel insignia in Division Commander Falkenheim’s hand and my face.
She rubbed her eyes again and again as if trying to deny reality, but reality did not change. I, whom she had considered a classmate and rival, had suddenly shot up two ranks above her.
[Name: Erika von Stahlberg]
[Status: Cognitive dissonance, sense of defeat]
[Emotion: Feeling a sudden, immense distance from the man she thought was her peer.]
Seraphina beside her was a little different.
She stood demurely and looked at me. Outwardly, she seemed calm, but her eyes were trembling violently.
[Name: Seraphina von Reinhardt]
[Status: Confusion over a relationship reversed in an instant, while also rapidly adapting.]
[Emotion: She expected this, but now that it has become reality, she feels a strange mixture of confusion, excitement, and thrill.]
Her right hand unconsciously moved toward her lower abdomen.
Even amid all this, Falkenheim did not budge as he spoke.
“Precedent? Holding Rosenheim for three days was itself unprecedented. Those who perform miracles deserve treatment befitting a miracle.”
He rose from his seat and approached me.
Then, with his own hands, he removed the captain’s insignia from my uniform and fixed the two silver-shining flowers in its place.
“Only one who blooms in the highest place, enduring the coldest winds, can become a field officer of the Empire.”
Calling to mind the edelweiss, the symbol of field-grade insignia, Falkenheim struck my shoulder with a heavy pat.
“For you, who made a miracle bloom amid Rosenheim’s blizzard, what maxim could be more fitting than these silver flowers?”
“…I am humbled.”
Now, two silver-shining flowers rested upon my chest.
“And one more thing.”
It was not over. Falkenheim’s adjutant brought another box. A heavy velvet case engraved with the imperial crest.
When the box opened, golden light spilled out.
“Ha….”
The staff officers around us inhaled at once.
The Imperial Eagle Cross.
Lavish gold ornamentation wrapped around the four corners of the cross, and at its center, the eagle—the symbol of the Empire—spread its wings in majestic flight.
“This is….”
“It was personally bestowed by His Majesty. Ordinarily, it would be only proper to hold a grand award ceremony at the Imperial Palace in the capital, but due to the wartime situation, I have been entrusted to deliver it in his stead.”
Major General Falkenheim picked up the medal and pinned it onto my military coat.
“Lieutenant Colonel Max Jaeger. The Empire will not forget your devotion. This golden eagle will lead you to victory.”
I snapped my heels together and raised a crisp salute.
“It is an honor. I will do my utmost for the Empire.”
“Good! That’s exactly it!”
Falkenheim’s hearty laughter rang through the conference room.
*
The formation of the battle group proceeded with astonishing speed.
I made full use of the authority granted to me and picked out the choicest forces one by one.
“First, I request Sergeant Hanna Meyer of the 7th Brigade Intelligence Section as my adjutant.”
“Granted.”
“And please assign the 1st Battalion, where Major Reinhardt and Captain Stahlberg are stationed, to me.”
“Hmm, the two noble young lady commanders, is it? Very well. If it’s you, you’ll handle them just fine.”
“Lastly… I need the Air Force. Support from an aviation squadron and an 88mm battery.”
“You’re trying to take everything useful, aren’t you? Well, it shouldn’t matter. Take them. Come to think of it, that fellow Major Hermann is already practically joined at the hip with you.”
There was no obstruction.
By the time the meeting ended and we stepped outside, it was already evening.
“C-Captain?”
Hanna, who had been waiting outside the bunker, saw the insignia on my shoulder and rubbed her eyes.
“You’re not seeing things, Adjutant.”
I gave a faint laugh and tapped the insignia.
“Be careful with how you address me from now on.”
“My goodness… Is this real? From captain to lieutenant colonel…?”
“It only makes sense because this is a battlefield.”
Just then, Brigade Commander Dietrich, who had followed us out, approached me.
“Congratulations, Jaeger… Lieutenant Colonel.”
A subtle tone. Since a subordinate had suddenly leapt ahead in rank, it would be only natural for him to feel bitter.
But I knew what he was thinking.
‘Status analysis.’
[Name: Karl von Dietrich]
[Status: Jealousy, but calculating]
[Hidden Desire: Wants to emphasize that Jaeger is in his line and claim a share of this achievement.]
I bowed my head first.
“Thank you, Brigade Commander. But even if my insignia has changed, I am still your subordinate. The defense of Rosenheim would have been unthinkable if you had not played such a reliable role.”
“Ah, no, well… that’s true! Yes, of course!”
Dietrich’s expression quickly brightened.
“I knew you were a decent man! Don’t worry. I’ll defend Rosenheim like an iron wall, so you can strike their rear with an easy mind!”
“I’ll trust you.”
There was no need to make enemies for nothing. For now, we were still in a position to give and receive help.
Once Dietrich left in good spirits, Seraphina and Erika approached this time.
“Loyalty. Congratulations… on your promotion to lieutenant colonel.”
Seraphina spoke with a calm salute. Her formal speech felt awkward.
“How does it feel, Major? Your subordinate has climbed right over your superior’s head.”
I asked deliberately, mischievously.
Seraphina lowered her gaze and slowly swept her eyes over the medal and insignia on my chest.
“…Not bad.”
Oh-ho.
“…I see. Then I look forward to working with you. Your support will be essential in this operation as well, Major.”
Then I looked at Erika.
She was still standing there like a cat had got her tongue.
“Nothing to say on your end? Captain Stahlberg.”
“Ah….”
Erika’s lips twitched.
My academy classmate. The ducal young lady who had always treated me like a rival and snarled at me.
But now, her gaze was wandering, having lost its direction. Captain and lieutenant colonel. In the military, the difference between those two ranks was heaven and earth.
“I should say… congratulations. No, please… accept my congratulations. Your Excellency… no, Lieutenant Colonel.”
Her words tangled into a mess. Her pride was strong, but she had to acknowledge reality. That cognitive dissonance showed plainly on her face.
[Name: Erika von Stahlberg]
[Status: Humiliation, cognitive dissonance]
[Emotion: Feeling an overwhelming gap from Max Jaeger, almost like the gap she feels from her father.]
Oh-ho.
I let out a long breath and took one step toward her. White vapor scattered with a whoosh.
“Captain Stahlberg.”
“…….”
“What’s with that look? You don’t have to force yourself to congratulate me. If you’re pissed, why don’t you take out a few battalions of tanks and get promoted too?”
“Wh-Who said I was pissed… sir! And I can do it too… sir!”
Erika snapped back, then saw the silver flowers on my shoulder and lowered her tail again.
“……Hmph. You were just lucky.”
“Luck is a skill too, Captain. In this operation, just follow behind me properly. Don’t get pushed back by the orc remnants again and start crying for no reason.”
“I didn’t cry! And this time, I’m going to stand at the vanguard! Just you watch!”
Her face flushed as she fumed.
I gave a faint laugh and turned my back to the two of them.
“Then get plenty of rest. Starting tomorrow, it won’t be easy.”
I looked up at the night sky. Above the ruins of Rosenheim, the stars shone coldly.
Promotion to lieutenant colonel. The establishment of the Jaeger Battle Group.
On the surface, it looked like a path to success, but in reality, it was like climbing onto a tiger’s back.
If I slipped here, I would die.
I clenched my fist tight.
*
The road back to my quarters was quiet. I passed piles of collapsed buildings and tank wreckage that had yet to be cleared away.
The place I arrived at was a hotel building being used as temporary quarters. Naturally, it was half destroyed.
One wall had been patched with plywood, and dust occasionally fell from the ceiling, but even so, it was among the best accommodations in our unit.
When I entered the room, empty air greeted me. Without hesitation, I sank deep into a sofa that had practically turned into a rag.
How much time had passed with my body lying there?
Ding!
A cheerful sound effect rang in my ear.
[Rank increase (Captain -> Lieutenant Colonel) confirmed.]
[Congratulations on your promotion!]
[Your level has increased to 18 due to your promotion.]
[Current Level: 18]
[Owned Skill Points: 3]
“…Oh.”
I let out a short murmur.
As a promotion reward, I had leveled up twice in one stroke. Adding the 1 point I had saved when I reached level 16 as a reward for successfully defending Rosenheim, there was now the considerable sum of 3 points before me.
I scanned the system window.
[You can acquire a new skill. Please select one from the list below.]
1. [Enhance Existing Skill]
2. [Acquire New Skill]
I immediately entered [Acquire New Skill].