Eric: — I've returned. We'll join the main force soon after.
Oscar: Oh, you're back. Good work. You've been on a string of missions just before.
Eric: Next is subduing the Ma-beasts. Captain has informed me that it'll be an expedition to the Charette territory.
Oscar: Oh, Charette territory…
Eric: Sir Oscar?
Oscar: Whoops, my bad. Isn't that your hometown?
Eric: Yes, but now's not the time to loaf around… We should make haste and get going.
Oscar: Still, don't you think a trip to the Eastern frontier is a bit too far?
Eric: Seriously… It's best to stay vigilant.
Because this mission is probably a request from my Father, the marquis of Charette…
(That reminds me, I heard my Father talk about it yesterday. Was it during the shooting practice—)
[sounds of gunshots]
Eric: — That makes it one hundred. My accuracy is… Alright, I've improved from last time.
Who could it be…? It's unusual for someone to be here this late at night.
Regular soldier 1: I feel sorry for Prince Claude. Isn't the adjutant the son of a marquis?
Regular soldier 2: Can he do the job at such a young age?
Regular soldier 1: The Commissioner is using him to make himself look good. I envy him, he got his position promised through his parent's influence.
Eric: …!
[flashback ends]
Eric: (I remembered those unpleasant memories again…)
(But it's only reasonable for them to think like that. Even amongst the imperial nobles, Charette family stood out for producing excellent soldiers for generations—)
(I joined the military because that's also what my Father wanted.)
(Did the Captain appoint me as his adjutant because of Father’s influence after all…?)
Oscar: What's wrong? Why do you suddenly stop?
Eric: … Excuse me, let's get going right away.
……
… Parent’s fame, huh.
Chapter 2: Unwavering Pride
Eric: Our Ma-beast target is no doubt deep in the woods.
Oscar: Alright, well done. Let's go and close our distance.
…!
Eric: Sir Oscar, please leave this to me.
Oscar: No way, it's gonna be tough to snipe from here. Can the bullet even go through?
Eric: It's possible within this distance.
Oscar: … Got it. I trust that one over there to you.
Eric: Roger…!
(... The wind is calm.)
(The Ma-beast has slowed since it has its guard down, I can shoot it from here as long as I read its movement.)
(It's alright. Just do as you are often trained to do.)
(I'll definitely show them my own result…! I won't let them say anything about my parent's fame…!)
Ma-beast: Groowwwl…
Eric: (— Now!)
[shoots]
Eric: (— Target has stopped, subjugation completes.)
Oscar: Eric, stay down!
Eric: Huh?
Small Ma-beast: Graaawr!
Eric: (A Ma-beast!? There's another one hiding?)
(Oh no, I can't make it in time to load my bullet…!)
Oscar: Take this!
[attacks the monster with his sword]
Small Ma-beast: … Grrrraaar!
[dies]
Oscar: … Alright. That's over. You okay, Eric?
Eric: Yes…
Oscar: That Ma-beast is pretty brutal for attacking us out of the blue like that, haha.
Eric: … Were you aware that there's another one hiding nearby?
Oscar: Yeah, I guess you can say it's from my experience?
Eric: Is that so…
Oscar: Ah… Come on now, the people are fine and we're safe. Doesn't this mean we've done a great job?
Eric: No, it was due to my poor judgment that I put you in danger…
(Father always told me that only when you accomplish beyond what had been expected can you be called a qualified soldier.)
(I'm still far from it even after all my efforts I've put. Am I lacking after all…)
……
Oscar: (Aaah. He looks so down in the dumps. I wanna do something for him, but what should I do.)
Chapter 3: Unwavering Pride
Eric: … That's all the reports from me.
Claude: Great work. Your skill has improved by a great amount, looking by the fact you took down a monster in one hit.
Eric: … It was a close call if Sir Oscar wasn't there.
Claude: Are you being modest?
Eric: I'm only stating the truth… Through this incident, I realized how truly powerless I am.
Captain, surely there'd be someone more qualified to be an adjutant out there.
Claude: Hmm… May I ask you to tell me all the details?
Eric: There's discontent rising amongst the soldiers with common origins over the fact that the Charette family monopolise key positions within the army…
Claude: Is that all?
Eric: ……
Captain… Are you on friendly terms with Father?
Claude: Yes, I won't deny that. I'm on friendly terms with the Commissioner.
Eric: So it's true…
Claude: But I want you to understand this.
Your family background wasn't the only reason that led me to promote you to adjutant.
Eric: There are other reasons?
Claude: Of course. I can't recall when it was, but I heard gunshots echoing in the training grounds late at night.
I stopped flipping through my papers to visit there and take a look, that's when I found a young man engaging with shooting training so fervently.
Eric: …!
Claude: It seems like he'd continue his training without missing a day. He never slacks off and remains earnest even in the face of criticism from others.
Eric: … I-I'm only doing what's natural. I can't allow my skill to deteriorate.
Claude: What you consider natural isn't a simple task anybody can accomplish.
You should be more confident in your own pride. I consider you to be a suitable man as my adjutant.
Eric: Sir Claude…
Claude: You aren't saying there's something amiss with my judgement, are you?
Eric: O-Of course not…!
Claude: Fufu, see?
All right, allow me to ask you this again. What do you want to do, Eric?
Eric: I'm afraid to say this, but I retract my previous statement.
Please allow me to stay as your adjutant!
[after Eric left]
Claude: It's just as Oscar reported. Seriously, even he himself can't be honest with him.
All things well if he can pull himself back together though…
Eric: (Never knew I'd feel so encouraged after hearing Sir Claude say that.)
I'll write it down in my diary so I won't forget…
(I want to be someone that can make my family proud and worthy of the title adjutant.)
