Kanata seems to intend to recruit Major Himnon.
I ended up drinking with Major Himnon, whom I coincidentally met at “Seafood Izakaya Wadatsumi” in the backstreets of Ligrit, for some reason. This guy… isn’t he useful?
“Major Himnon, you’re a military bureaucrat type of soldier, right? So you must be knowledgeable about military law, aren’t you?”
“As you know, Kanata, I’m hopeless when it comes to rough stuff. I’m probably the weakest soldier in the Alliance. But I’m confident in my knowledge of law, especially military law. When my father was swindled and committed suicide, I realized something. Law isn’t for justice or the weak; law is for those who know the law. I initially started studying to use the law to get ahead… but I found it fascinating. If I had the financial means, I think I would have become a legal scholar.”
So that’s how it is. Excellent, excellent.
“So, Major Himnon, you’re an expert in military law!”
“Yes, starting tomorrow, I’m scheduled to teach military law in the Officer Curriculum. Apparently, the associate professor from the Military University who was supposed to teach it cried to his superiors, saying, ‘I can’t teach students like *those* terrifying ones.’ I don’t know what happened, but to flee from a teaching position… he’s hardly a scholar.”
“…I’ll be in your care starting tomorrow.”
“…Kanata, you didn’t do something, did you?”
“I didn’t cause the problem, but I might have taken advantage of it. And accomplices showed up later.”
“Legally speaking, you’re an accessory after the fact. Given your personality, there’s also a strong suspicion of joint perpetration… I see. So you came to Ligrit to attend the Officer Curriculum. In any case, please go easy on me. Even if I have no future as a soldier, as long as I’m standing at the podium, I’m a teacher.”
Accessory after the fact and joint perpetration, huh? As expected from someone who aspired to be a legal scholar.
“If you have no future as a soldier, let’s create one.”
When I said that casually, Major Himnon seemed a little taken aback.
“You say that so easily. If it were that simple, I wouldn’t be in this predicament. A soldier with your reputation can forge a future with their own skills, but for a soldier like me, everything depends on my backing.”
“If you’ve lost your backing, you just need to find a new one. How about our Commander?”
Major Himnon made a bitter face this time.
“The bitterness of Uruka has intensified. You saw how Commander Midou constantly called me a dried fish, didn’t you? Stop teasing a middle-aged man in despair.”
“I’m not teasing you. As you know, Major, the Asura Unit is made up of physical elites, and they have poor conduct. They’re all constantly skirting military law. You said earlier, didn’t you, ‘Law isn’t for justice or the weak; law is for those who know the law.’ I agree. You should offer yourself as a defense attorney for the Rose Garden, the den of problematic soldiers!”
“…Every criminal has the right to a defense attorney. Compared to that, the soldiers of the Rose Garden, despite their conduct, are unrivaled elites of the Alliance Army in terms of combat results… I wouldn’t feel ashamed to vigorously argue that what is illegal is merely circumventing the law, even if it’s stretching it…”
“Exactly! Changing the illegal into the extralegal is the specialty of a legal expert! This is justice! It’s justice!”
Major Himnon’s expression became visibly dubious.
“When you keep shouting ‘justice’ like that, it feels incredibly fishy… It feels like you’re telling me to become a corrupt lawyer defending the wicked deeds of the mafia…”
That’s actually what’s happening, though.
“Then will you just keep eating cold rice and happily making chazuke forever?”
“Chazuke made with cold rice is my favorite, but… I can’t do it every day. And even if I were content with cold rice, it’s not impossible that I could be challenged any moment and have my bowl snatched away… Okay, let’s do it! I’m completely fed up with just simmering like this my whole life! At least I’ll show Major General Shimon a thing or two!”
I love chazuke made with cold rice too. We might get along a little.
“Okay, leave connecting with the Commander to me. But Major Himnon, you’ll need to be prepared. Prepared to the same extent as risking your life on the battlefield.”
“…I have no problem with my own situation, but… I have concerns about my rear.”
“You’re worried about your mother, aren’t you? That’s not a problem. The Commander does not treat the families of those who sacrificed their lives for the Asura Unit carelessly. If you don’t believe me, you can verify it. You’ll understand the Commander’s character and generosity.”
“Alright, I don’t know if I’ll earn Commander Midou’s trust, but I have nothing to lose except my mother. I’ll gladly be a corrupt lawyer! I’ll show those who belittle me the fear of the law!”
They say even a cornered rat will bite a cat, but how scary unchecked desperation can be.
“Then let’s toast. To myself, the thugs of the Rose Garden, and to the future prosperity of our corrupt lawyer.”
“Indeed, I will use military law to argue that black is grey! This is getting fun!”
“Then shall we order the ‘Evil Official Daiginjo’?”
“Hahaha, you’re quite wicked yourself.”
“Not at all, Major. You are too. For appetizers… oh, they have grilled carp.”
“This restaurant procures river fish depending on the season. It has a unique flavor when eaten with vinegared miso. It’s also good as an auspicious dish for a new beginning. They say carp can become dragons if they overcome the Dragon Gate.”
The definition of Dragon Gate is the same in this world too.
“Then let’s have the grilled carp… and since it’s auspicious, let’s also order the simmered snapper head.”
“As expected, we can’t leave out sea bream as an auspicious item. While well-known fish that represent success are also auspicious, if we’re wishing for the Commander to become the head of the Alliance Army, the head cut of the snapper is fitting. Kanata, you understand quite well.”
Major Himnon and I decided to drink ourselves silly with auspicious dishes as appetizers.
I intended to just have a light drink, but things turned out strangely.
Then, carrying the drunken Major Himnon on my back, I returned to the hotel.
If I fall asleep, I can’t activate the Drinking Buddy app, you see. And it would be a pity to wake up the Major who’s so pleasantly drunk.
If there’s no one at home, there’s no problem with staying out.
After laying the Major on the bed, I lay down on the sofa myself.
I’m not particular about where I sleep; as long as I have a blanket, I can sleep comfortably anywhere.
This is the only aspect of my personality that could be called suited for a soldier.
I set my alarm app for 6:00 AM and woke up on time.
After showering and getting ready, I called the Commander.
I feel bad about disturbing the Commander’s sleep, as they are busy handling corporate-related matters, but I also have the Curriculum, so I want to sort things out quickly.
I tried calling a few times, but it didn’t connect. I was about to give up and call back later when the Commander finally answered.
“…Kanata. If this is about something trivial, I’ll have you shot.”
They’re still in a bad mood, as expected.
“It’s not trivial. It’s good news for you, Commander.”
“…All swindlers say that.”
Their voice is sharp. Like Lilith, the Commander is also not a morning person, perhaps.
“I’ve scouted a lawyer who is knowledgeable in military law. They should be useful for defending the Garden Mafia.”
“Oh? Who is it?”
Oh, they’re taking an interest.
“Major Orbrich Himnon.”
“Himnon? …The dried fish who was assigned as an observer for Brigadier General Hinkley!?”
“Yes, that dried fish. I bumped into him at an izakaya last night, and when I asked, he seems to be an expert in military law.”
“…Wait a moment, I’m looking up the dried fish’s military record now. …He graduated from military academy with excellent grades. If his combat skills hadn’t been borderline failing, he could have graduated at the top. He was appointed as an officer and built a reputation primarily as a judge in courts-martial, leading to his promotion. he already obtained his legal qualifications. Was the dried fish aiming to be a judge advocate in courts-martial in the future? …He’s trash as a soldier, but he seems competent as a military bureaucrat.”
“Why would someone in the legal field be the aide-de-camp to the combat-oriented Brigadier General Hinkley?”
“That’s the hardship of a tenant. You can’t defy the farmer’s wishes.”
“A farmer in the legal field… Major General Shimon, isn’t he?”
“Yes, Major General Shimon and Brigadier General Hinkley were rivals in the race for Lieutenant General. He was likely sent to find fault with Hinkley.”
I knew Brigadier General Hinkley also had an observer. But why…
“It just seems like an annoyance, doesn’t it? How could the Brigadier General agree to such an appointment?”
“I told you that the higher you go in the military, the more it becomes politics than military strategy. It’s likely the work of the farmer’s boss, Marshal Toga. The Brigadier General probably couldn’t refuse a push from the Marshal.”
The goal of the SNC Operation was probably to bring influential unaligned generals into their own faction.
“I see. Let’s get back to Major Himnon’s case. What do you think about having Major Himnon handle the legal affairs of the Garden?”
“Impossible. Kanata, you saw how chicken he was during the previous operation. Even if he’s competent as a military bureaucrat, it’s too risky. When I appoint personnel, the most important thing is their mental fortitude.”
“If he hadn’t cleared that hurdle, I wouldn’t have recommended him. The chicken that was Lieutenant Colonel Himnon is dead. The Major Himnon I’m recommending is a hedgehog who gained the courage to bite a cat in exchange for his downfall.”
“What do you mean? Explain it in detail.”
“Actually…”
I told the Commander about Major Himnon’s situation and circumstances that I heard at the izakaya yesterday.
“…I see. He’s had quite a bit of hardship, hasn’t he? Very well. I’ll interview him now. Bring Major Himnon to the top-floor penthouse.”
The penthouse… the Commander was the owner of the Shangri-La Hotel.
As the head of a Zaibatsu, it’s natural to own a prestigious hotel or two.
Alright, I’ve managed to get an interview with the Commander. Major Himnon, it’s up to you from here.
It’s been half a year since I started posting. I look forward to your continued support.
