Illusion Sword Master

＜ Punishment Unit (2) ﹥

As I returned to the western front, I had a determination.

“No matter what happens, let’s resolve it fairly.”

So, as an inspector, I had also kept my work at a moderate level.

I would usually call in a few soldiers who were causing trouble and tell them, “If you don’t want to be punished under military law, let’s get along,” “Let’s be loyal to the empire and find freedom by achieving merits.” Then, I would submit a report saying, “No problems. Issues resolved.”

Many incidents occurred, and just as many were buried in the military.

There was no need to dig up things I didn’t want to know.

But the current situation couldn’t be described as “fair” even in a joke.

It was a unit composed of former prisoners, and a riot had broken out, reminiscent of a prison uprising.

The independent unit members who were supposed to suppress them were unable to do so.

The number of former prisoner soldiers was more than three times that of the independent unit members, and if they made even a slight move, the unit commander would be caught and executed.

I had to suppress the urge to turn a blind eye to the events unfolding before me and return to the way things were.

“Inspector, please, we beg of you, perform a heroic feat once again!”

Yelina, the independent unit leader, pleaded.

“Don’t worry, Unit Leader. The inspector will soon suppress those rioters and instill loyalty in them!”

“Is that so? Hurrying the Imperial Inspector, I’ve committed a discourtesy.”

Ollek spoke calmly, trying to reassure her. It seemed like he thought this was just part of his loyal duty as an aide, but to me, it was unbearable.

I had no loyalty to the empire, nor did I have any sense of responsibility as an Imperial Inspector. And as for solving this situation, I didn’t have a clue.

However, due to the exaggerated rumors and propaganda spread by the central government about my achievements, Yelina and Ollek seemed to have no doubt that I could easily resolve this situation.

As I received their burdening gaze, I briefly unfolded a fantasy.

[Edan! I trusted you, but you’re disappointing me. Go to the rear lines. You’re not fit for heavy responsibilities.]

If I messed up here and proved my incompetence, maybe the Three Emperors, who had mistakenly regarded me as a loyal subject and hero, would let me off easily.

It was a sweet dream, but it only made me feel more depressed.

The dream was impossible to realize, after all.

[You misjudged me. You’re not good at using your head. It’s okay. You can make up for it with your body.]

This scenario was more plausible, anyway.

At any rate, I didn’t have time to think about a solution.

“I am Imperial Inspector Edan. From now on, I’ll take control of the situation. If you follow me, I won’t hold this against you.”

I walked into the training grounds, pulling out my Imperial Inspector’s badge. I hoped the 13th Division’s soldiers, who had turned violent, would understand the authority behind my position and this badge.

“What, Inspector? What the hell are you doing here?”

“What’s going on? You’re here to suppress us, right?”

“Don’t pretend you won’t hold it against us! You’re going to execute us for sure!”

The soldiers panicked at the mention of the Imperial Inspector. I repeated myself.

“Let me say it again. I am Imperial Inspector ‘Edan’. 13th Division soldiers, put down your weapons immediately. I’ll make sure you won’t be disadvantaged.”

This time, I emphasized my name. Perhaps my unwanted fame might ease their caution.

“Wait a minute… Is that Edan, the Edan? The magic academy student who rose from a lowly soldier?”

“The one who led a single unit to kill 1,000 orcs and trolls?”

“And then became an Imperial Inspector?”

The soldiers murmured among themselves.

Luckily, they knew about my reputation, but they didn’t know it was exaggerated.

“You’re thinking of the right Edan. Then you should know that I’m a man who keeps his promises. From now on, follow my orders. There won’t be any disadvantages.”

I didn’t give the soldiers time to think, immediately continuing my words.

“You, over there.”

The soldier I pointed out was startled. He was the one holding a torch near the soldiers who had tied up their commander.

“Step back from there. I appreciate the welcome, but we have a lot of work to do before we can have a barbecue party.”

Instead of using provocative words like “insubordination” or “summary execution” that might provoke them, I used a witty joke to prevent him from accidentally setting the commander on fire.

The torch-bearing soldier took a few steps back from the commander.

“Phew, that’s a relief.”

I let out a sigh of relief inwardly. If he had disobeyed, I would have had no choice but to use force, and who knows what would have happened if the already agitated soldiers saw blood?

“So, who’s the mastermind behind this? You seem to have prepared some kind of surprise party for me. If you tell me, I’ll help you resolve it.”

Someone stepped forward from among the soldiers in response to my question.

“A young soldier?”

The boy who represented the soldiers looked too young to be their leader. The one standing before me spoke in a soft voice and a rough tone that didn’t suit him.

“I bring glory to the empire. My name is Bellam, and I’ve served in the 13th Division for 7 years. Since the older guys all died, I’m the highest-ranking one left.”

I corrected my impression of Bellam from a boy to a young man. He looked much younger than his age.

The large, long ears that were not human-like were an elf’s characteristic. They lived longer than humans, and their growth and aging processes were slower than those of humans.

However, strictly speaking, Bellam was not an elf. Unlike the elves with ears that pointed upwards, his ears were horizontally aligned.

“A half-elf, huh.”

“Yes. I’ve had a hard time being called a mixed breed.”

Although there was a problem with a single soldier addressing an inspector in such a tone, he didn’t pick on me. It was fortunate that he wasn’t overly excited at the moment.

“So, Bellam, what happened?”

I pointed to the commander, who was still bound. He was struggling and screaming with a gag in his mouth.

“To be honest, we had no choice but to survive.”

“Tell me more.”

Hatred filled Bellam’s youthful face.

“The commander of the 13th Division is not human. He forced us to take on a suicidal mission and executed those who refused, calling it disobedience. There are more comrades who died because of him than because of the orc bastards.”

If Bellam’s words were true, the commander was an incompetent and untrustworthy leader.

Surprisingly, such leaders existed in reality, and I had encountered many during my time as a soldier.

“It’s not unreasonable to think of a mutiny. It’s just that, as a sensible soldier, you didn’t stop at just thinking about it, which is regrettable.”

“What’s the difference? We’re all going to die anyway.”

Bellam shrugged, showing a carefree attitude as if he had accepted death.

“I see. First, let’s release the soldiers and free the commander. I’ll listen to both sides and take appropriate measures.”

“Hmm… If we release that human, he’ll try to kill me as soon as possible.”

I added words to persuade him.

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“Don’t you think it’s all the same whether we die or not? Listen to me, and I can help you find a way to survive. Think about the people who followed you and make a wise choice.”

“…Yes. I have no choice but to trust you, Inspector.”

After a brief moment of consideration, Bellam reached a conclusion.

It was astonishing that such a sensible person would start a riot without hesitation, and the commander’s incompetence was confirmed.

The commander’s words turned his thoughts into conviction.

“Inspector! We must eliminate those rebels immediately! Yelina! What are you doing? Why aren’t you killing them? It’s the commander’s order… Ugh!”

As soon as the restraints were removed, he started shouting loudly. I quickly gagged him again before things got out of hand.

“Let’s talk in a quiet place.”

#

After barely resolving the situation, I gathered a small number of personnel at the 13th Division’s headquarters for a debriefing.

With a table between us, the commander and Yelina sat on one side, and Bellam sat on the other.

I sat at the head of the table, accompanied by my aide, Ollek.

The atmosphere in the room was heavy.

As the inspector leading the inquiry, this was essentially a military trial, which was bound to be serious.

“What’s the point of this process, Inspector? Didn’t you see it with your own eyes? What kind of crimes did that damn half-breed and the unpunished criminals commit?”

The commander broke the silence.

“What crimes? You’re just a piece of trash who tried to survive before we died. You damn… If I think about the people who died because of you, I should have killed you on the spot.”

Even Bellam, who had maintained a calm demeanor until now, couldn’t hold back and retorted.

The commander had a talent for enraging people. I felt like gagging him on the spot.

“What? A lowly soldier dares to speak to a superior officer like that…!”

“The superior is absurd. Even if we treat the orc as a superior, it would be better than this.”

The mediator was in an impossible state.

A unit that had lost trust in its commander to this extent couldn’t function properly no matter what measures were taken.

“Shut up, Commander. What I saw was not only the rebellion of the soldiers but also the incompetence of a commander who had lost control.”

“How can this be my fault? I am a loyal servant of the Emperor, leading the unit with dignity!”

The commander shouted in protest.

“If others had thought the same, this wouldn’t have happened today.”

I glanced at Belram, hinting that he should speak up. Belram, understanding my intention, continued to speak like a rapid-fire cannon.

“As I said before, that guy is like a suicide bomber, throwing soldiers into futile battles and executing them on a whim. It’s like we’re just disposable tools to him.”

I expected the commander to refute this, but he showed an unexpected reaction.

“That’s not true! As a commander, I made the right judgment! I gave those criminals a chance to atone for their sins with their deaths! My judgment was also strategic!”

Don’t soldiers usually die? Is it wrong to use them like disposable tools?

This revealed the worst possible thought a commander could have.

I restrained myself from slapping him and instead asked Yelina.

“Yelina, do you think the commander’s judgment was really strategic?”

If even she, a fellow officer, didn’t defend the commander, there was no need to hear his story anymore.

“……”

“What you say here has the same effect as testifying in the Imperial Court. If you don’t want to commit perjury, speak honestly without embellishments.”

I urged her, who was hesitant to speak.

“The commander’s judgment was overly emotional. I couldn’t sense any strategic consideration in his decision to send soldiers to their deaths.”

Yelina bowed her head and answered.

“Ah! Treating the daughter of a traitor as an officer? You’re betraying me!”

The enraged commander brought up Yelina’s personal history, which I was unaware of.

I let out a sigh I had been holding back and declared to him.

“Commander, as the Imperial Inspector representing the imperial authority, I will temporarily revoke your command authority. Further disposition will be decided after a thorough investigation.”

This commander was a mess, and to normalize the 13th Unit, I had to impeach him first.

It would be fortunate if this could be settled like this.

“How dare you! You young, ignorant brat! You dare to insult a loyal servant of the Empire like me?”

The commander didn’t accept the situation and lost his reason, making the worst possible choice again.

He drew his sword and charged at me.

I reflexively drew my sword and counterattacked.

Fortunately, the commander’s swordsmanship wasn’t impressive.

His sword didn’t inflict any wounds on me, but this led to another tragedy.

Swish.

“What the…?”

It was too ridiculous. The sword I had swung carelessly had neatly beheaded him.

＜Punishment Squad (2)﹥ End