Hard Work Will Never Betray Me - CH 77

Now then, new recruits Eberhard and Steinfeld. Let me welcome you all as new members of the Special Division!　Everyone!

Jet shouted loudly, and the door to the room rattled open, and the examiners from earlier came rushing in. Among them were some new faces who had not been there a while ago.

Ah!”

Among those who entered the room was, to my surprise, Captain Siegfried. He must have been hurt pretty badly, but is he going to be all right .

“Um, Captain Siegfried. ”

“You can call me by my first name.”

He was blunt, but strangely enough, I did not feel any gap between us.

‘Well then, Siegfried. Are you all right now?”

“Our medical team is excellent. I’ m fine now.”

“You’ll have to rest today and tomorrow, though!”

“Hey, stop that, Commander!　I’m fine!”

“Ha-ha-ha!”

Anyway, there seems to be no problem. T. The healing magic of the Special Magic Division is really advanced when it comes to treating injuries.

“Now, the reason I asked you all to gather here is for nothing else but to welcome , the newest members of the Special Division. Come forward, both of you.

Jet called us to the  center of the room, and we walked out to the  center of the room with everyone’s attention focused on us.

We have now  with new Eberhard.  here  .”

Jet handed me a metal insignia badge in a  nice box. The silver-colored insignia is decorated with the phoenix, the symbol of the Special Division.

“Thank you.”

Although small enough to be picked up with a finger, this insignia is very heavy. It is a sign that you have been recognized as a person who is worthy to stand on  up to the imperial family. So, I received it with the proper etiquette.

“Next, Recruit Steinfeld.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Iris is also handed an insignia with a phoenix design.”

“Now, you are officially a member of the Special Division,Let’s work hard together from now on.”

“Yes.””

The senior examiners…… of the Special  Division congratulate  us with applause. To my surprise, Captain Siegfried is also clapping his hands, although he is not looking at me.

I was very happy to see them smiling at me, and I realized that I had made it into the Special Division.

✳︎

” I’ll have you start your duties tomorrow, so I’ll just give you a brief explanation about your future work.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

After the ceremony like the induction ceremony …… was over, the people in the room were back to just Jet, me, and Iris, the same three people as in the morning. Now we are being briefed by Jet in preparation for our mission starting tomorrow.

“The first thing is your position in the Imperial Army. Starting tomorrow, you will be joining the Imperial Army as new sergeants in the Special Division.”

“Sergeants?”

“Why?”

We should starting as Privates,  right ?”

I ask in return, and Iris asked as well.

“The members of the three major divisions are elites who have a rich , solid abilities, and a high-minded spirit. The entrance examinations that  we  have taken are considered to be the same as the regular division’s executive examinations. Therefore, members of the three major divisions all start as sergeants.”

I see, even  back on the earth’s military, if you pass the examination for promotion to the executive ranks, you usually start as a sergeant or second lieutenant. Apparently, the Imperial Army has  a similar system.

“The special division is an elite division,”  The first ranks are basically promoted by one grade in one to two years. If you are  knight  or decorated as Captain Siegfried was, or if you achieve something comparable, you will be promoted to the second grade. Other ranks are guaranteed to retiring wounded warriors and to those who have died in the line of duty.”

“Wow …….”

The colonel in a certain manga is quite amazing because he is a colonel at such a young age, but Jet must be just as amazing as well. I remember that Jet was a lieutenant general, and even considering that he is almost the same age as my father, his speed of promotion must be exceptional.

“Perhaps Eberhardt’s newest recruit will surpass me.”

“I wonder if that’s a  wish ……?”

It’s not impossible. In fact,  you are the youngest of all the successful candidates for the special division”

“What?”

I looked back at Iris.

“The Steinfeld recruit is thirteen, one year older than you.”

“I see ”

“I’m older than you.’

… she does not look older at all, but never mind that.

Steinfeldt is also one of the most promising young person in history I’m sorry, but I can’t help but think that she’s i equal to Eberhard. ……”

“Halt is out of the ordinary . You shouldn’t worry about it.”

New recruit Steinfeldt is also one of the most promising young person in history I’m sorry, but I can’t help but think that he’s in the same class as recruit Eberhard. ……”

You are  rookie, but  yours skills is very good  .”

Well, I’ll let you know the details in due course. . Make sure you have enough energy for tomorrow’s mission.

“Yes, I understand. ”

And so our entrance examinations ended without a hitch, with neither of us failing.

✳︎︎

“So, where does Iris live now?”

I was about to leave the garrison and head home when I suddenly became curious and asked Iris where she was living

“The rent in the capital is expensive, so I have  a bathroom with no bathtub, and I live in a 2.5 square meter room.

Oh ……, the world is a harsh place …….”

Two and a half tsubo, in short, is about the same size as a four and a half tatami mat. The bath is not a problem since you can freely use the one at the garrison, but four and a half tatami mats is quite shocking. The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that the number of people who have been in the same position for a long time is very small, but it’s not that big of a deal. And since the salary after joining the Special Division is high , I’m sure  she will be able to  find a better place in the future.

Thinking about this, I asked Iris again, ”

Don’t you have parents?

‘My parents’ home is not the imperial capital. It’s in the …… same territory. Do you know  where Calvin is?”

“I do. It’s the city northwest of the imperial capital, right?”

” Yes, that’s where my parents live”.

Calvin is a regional city in the northwest of the imperial capital. However, it is still under the direct control of the imperial family, which governs the huge Heiland Empire, is extremely vast.

I have never been there because it is in the opposite direction of my route from the northeast of the imperial capital via Bernstadt, but it is one of the cities I would like to visit someday.

Calvin is located where two rivers flowing toward the imperial capital merge to form one large river. Since it is a strategic point of transportation, it seems to be one of the towns that have been developed for a long time.

“So you’re going to have dinner alone when you get home today?”

Yes, I’m too tired to cook, but I have no choice.

Cooking after work. It’s one of the challenges that come to young people who live alone. I have servants    at home, so I don’t have to worry about meals. …… .

“Let’s  hang out somewhere if you want.”

Hmm?

It’s a celebration of  our acceptance. We’re the only two  who passed , so let’s get along.”

“……, yeah.”

It’s a party to celebrate passing the exam. I’m still a kid, so I can’t drink alcohol, but I’m fine with having a nice dinner.

“That place has a nice atmosphere.

“Yes.”

. The restaurant was a few minutes’ walk from the garrison, tucked away from the main street, but it looked very nice with the lights streaming in from the windows.

Smells good.

The restaurant is called “Wakami-Tei at Dusk,”

“Okay, let’s go here.”

When I opened the door, the waitress was walking  inside the restaurant as if she was busy.

“Welcome!　It’s just Two people?”

“Yes. Two.”

“Please take a seat here!”

We were shown to a relatively quiet table in the back of the restaurant, where we  were shown the menu and thought about our order.

It looks like the restaurant is quite popular.

“I think it’s that good. I’ll have this one.”

“Lumia beef steak. I guess they eat it around here, too. I’ll have that one too. Excuse me.”

“Yes, sir!　One moment, please.”

The waitress asks me what I want to order.

What will you order ?

“Two Lumia beef steaks and fruit water.”

“Yes, sir.”

A few minutes later, a very delicious looking steak, bread, and fruit water arrive. The meat was cooking on a stone plate with smoke billowing out of it, and the juices were about to overflow.

Then, cheers to …… for  our passing !

Cheers!

Simple but warm. The taste of the steak I had that day at “Yugure-no-Wami-Tei” for the first time in the Imperial Capital would later become a  nice 0 memories!