NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 41 - His Ideals Are Higher Than the Clouds
Chapter 41
His Ideals Are Higher Than the Clouds
『 Translator – Divinity 』
There was no sign of riots or protests in Nordia.
Not only were there no signs, but it was incredibly peaceful.
Looking out the office window, I could even see some citizens chatting and laughing with the patrolling garrison soldiers.
‘…Shouldn’t they be scared?’
It had already been half a month since I was appointed as the acting garrison commander.
Yet, there wasn’t even a single incident, which was discouraging.
I looked away from the window and glanced at the file in my hand.
It was the “Garrison Satisfaction Survey” that Lucy had given me this morning.
《Garrison Satisfaction Survey Statistics》
Sample: 100 citizens from each district of the city
Respondents: Approximately 5,700
Question: What do you think about the garrison’s plans for the city?
• Frequency Analysis
1. Very good – 2,365 (41.5%)
2. Good – 1,254 (22%)
3. Don’t know (need to wait and see) – 684 (12%)
4. Disappointing – 855 (15%)
5. Very disappointing – 542 (9.5%)
※ Please note that all surveys were conducted through local assistants, not garrison soldiers, to ensure objectivity.
When I first saw this, I thought I had misread it.
It was a statistic showing that 63.5% of the citizens, a majority, supported the garrison.
It also indicated that there was no chance of radical protests or riots.
‘What would the General Staff Headquarters think after seeing this report…’
I couldn’t help but sigh, but I couldn’t deny reality in the face of statistics.
Turning away from the window, I tossed the file onto my desk and sat down.
Leaning back in my chair with a defeated look, I glanced at Lucy.
As she did at the General Staff Headquarters, Lucy was sitting at her desk in the corner of the office, working.
Seeing her engrossed in her work and paying no attention to me, I felt relieved.
‘Moreover…’
It had been half a month since I was promoted and appointed as the acting commander, and there had been no assassination attempts, which meant the Allied Nations hadn’t issued any orders.
This was the only good news in a situation where things weren’t going my way.
As I continued to observe her cautiously, Lucy finished her paperwork and stretched briefly.
Lucy stretched her arms, let out a soft groan, and then lowered them with a sigh.
Gazing at the front with drowsy eyes, she suddenly seemed to sense my presence and turned to look at me.
Our eyes met unintentionally.
As I broke out in a cold sweat, Lucy blinked her red eyes a few times.
“…Major? Do you have something to say?”
What excuse should I make? I thought for a moment, then said as calmly as possible,
“Are you done with your work?”
“Yes, there are still some documents to process for the afternoon, but the workload isn’t heavy.”
“That’s good to hear. You can rest well after work. You’ve been working hard helping me lately.”
“I have been working hard. Unlike you, Major, I’ve been mostly out in the field.”
So she doesn’t deny it.
“But you can also take a break today, Major.”
“Ah, yes. Actually, I was planning to visit a famous dessert shop in Nordia today…”
I regretted saying that as soon as the words left my mouth.
Because Lucy’s eyes lit up.
Come to think of it, Lucy really enjoyed the parfait in the capital.
It seemed like she was waiting for me to invite her.
After a brief silence, I cleared my throat.
“…Would you like to come with me?”
“Desserts aren’t really my thing, but I won’t refuse if you insist, Major.”
Huh? Look at her?
It was infuriating how she was feigning ignorance after enjoying the parfait so much.
I frowned and said,
“Then I’ll go alone. I can’t disturb my adjutant’s rest.”
Lucy’s fingertips twitched slightly.
Her expression remained neutral, but her disappointment was evident in her actions.
However, I had no intention of inviting her again.
Feigning ignorance was an insult to desserts.
“But if my adjutant honestly admitted that she likes desserts, it would be a different story.”
Lucy’s eyes wavered slightly as if she was contemplating.
But in the end, she chose her pride and clenched her fists.
“…I don’t like them.”
So that’s how it is.
Feeling a bit defiant, I boasted,
“The dessert I’m going to have today is an éclair. Have you heard of choux pastry dough? It’s made with basic ingredients like water, butter, flour, and eggs, and it puffs up nicely when baked in the oven.”
“…”
“It’s already delicious the moment it’s baked in the oven. The savory flavor fills your mouth. But if it ended there, it would just be bread, not a dessert. The essence lies elsewhere.”
I leaned closer to Lucy and said,
“Once the choux pastry is baked, it’s filled with vanilla cream. And then, it’s topped with thick chocolate glaze. Can you imagine the taste?”
Lucy gulped.
Seeing her reaction, I snapped my fingers.
“It’s heavenly! The soft cream and the savory pastry dough harmonize perfectly, dancing in your mouth! And with chocolate on top? It would make even an atheist praise God.”
“…”
“Of course, no matter how much I explain it, it’s hard to understand without tasting it. But I can’t force you. You’re someone who ‘doesn’t like desserts,’ after all. Aren’t you?”
As I tested her one last time, Lucy’s lips twitched slightly.
Just as I was quietly watching, wondering if this was her admitting defeat,
Ring—
The ringing of the phone in the office interrupted us.
Wondering who it was, I picked up the receiver.
“This is the acting garrison commander.”
A nervous voice came from the other end.
—Sir! It’s Lieutenant McCael! I’m calling to report that we found something strange while patrolling the collapsed military factory.
Something strange? Curious, I asked,
“Explain in more detail.”
—Yes, sir! We found an underground base beneath the factory grounds, seemingly built by the enemy. It appears to be some kind of laboratory, but the structure is… It would be easier for you to understand if you saw it yourself.
The enemy hid a laboratory?
Why? Puzzled, I nodded.
“I’ll go and see it myself. Stop the search and wait for me at the entrance.”
After receiving confirmation, I put down the receiver.
As I stood up, Lucy was pretending to work with her mouth closed.
It seemed she was about to admit defeat but missed the timing and decided not to go.
Staring intently at Lucy, I walked towards the door.
“It must be delicious. I heard it’s an éclair made by a master craftsman…”
I saw Lucy clench her jaw.
Enjoying her reaction, I walked out the door, counted to three, and then re-entered the office, stopping in front of Lucy.
“This is your last chance. Are you really not going to the dessert shop?”
Lucy seemed to be in deep thought for a moment, then she opened her eyes slightly and looked down.
“…I want to.”
“What was that? Speak clearly.”
After a short breath, Lucy parted her lips.
“I want to go…”
Finally, I nodded.
“You should have just said that from the beginning. I’ll tell you where it is, so let’s go together after work.”
“Yes, sir…”
Lucy’s voice was barely audible, and her face was slightly flushed.
She was truly a woman who was fun to tease.
But I shouldn’t cross the line.
‘I might actually die.’
I’m not joking; I’m serious.
***
Imperial General Staff Headquarters.
Deputy Chief of Operations’ office.
Knock, knock—
Cedric Wendel put down the document he was reading and looked up at the sound of knocking.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and a middle-aged man with a friendly face entered.
It was Colonel Ernst Barck, the Chief of Operations Staff.
Ernst walked to the center of the room and saluted.
Although he usually omitted salutes because he was on good terms with his superiors, he couldn’t do so in front of the Deputy Chief of Operations.
He felt a chill whenever he met those raven-like eyes.
“Deputy Chief, I have something to report.”
“It’s been a while since you came to my office. What is it?”
“Ah, it’s about Major Daniel Steiner.”
Daniel Steiner. He already knew that he was actively contributing on the Northern Front.
It was Cedric himself who had placed Daniel in the position of acting garrison commander.
However, it might have been a mistake to entrust the position of garrison commander to someone who had just become a Major.
‘Ruling is always harder than conquering.’
So Ernst must have come to report on the incidents happening in Nordia.
“Did something happen in Nordia? Like a popular uprising or a violent incident?”
“…No. According to the telegram, most of the citizens of Nordia are satisfied with the garrison’s plans for the city. Intelligence reports indicate that some citizens are even saying that life is better now than before the occupation.”
Cedric’s eyes widened.
As far as Ernst knew, it was rare for Cedric to be surprised like this.
“He… won over the people?”
And in just half a month after being appointed as the acting garrison commander?
Cedric was momentarily speechless at the unbelievable achievement, then let out a dry chuckle.
“My, it seems I misjudged Daniel Steiner.”
Even the most competent individuals would become exhausted from the fatigue of the battlefield.
He had thought that Daniel Steiner would also be experiencing similar hardships, but seeing him achieve such outstanding results, it seemed that he was thriving, not tiring.
‘He’s acting as if the front lines are his own home.’
Cedric raised his evaluation of Daniel Steiner in his mind and said,
“We need to quickly select a garrison commander and send them to Nordia.”
Ernst blinked his eyes in confusion at the unexpected response.
“Deputy Chief? There’s no need to rush, is there? Major Daniel Steiner is smoothly integrating the occupied territory into the Empire…”
“You see only one thing and miss the rest. Do you think Daniel Steiner would be satisfied with just the position of garrison commander?”
Cedric’s hollow eyes held a cold glint.
“He’s aiming for higher things. For a crucial mission where he can dedicate himself to the Empire. So…”
A chilling smile appeared on Cedric’s lips as he looked at the sweating Ernst.
“I’m going to grant his wish.”