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 The soldiers of the 6th Special Task Brigade set up their tents in the courtyard of Zephyr Fort, finally able to settle down.

 "Staff Officer, the setup is complete," Corporal Hannah reported sharply as she entered my tent and saluted crisply.

 She added, "By the way, all the garrison soldiers here are men..."

 "Well, that's expected," I replied.

 Young men are chronically scarce in the Empire, and female soldiers are rare.

 "You might find the garrison soldiers a little intimidating. If you ever feel threatened or uncomfortable, don't hesitate to report it to me or the Brigade Commander."

 "T-thank you!" Hannah saluted again, relief visible on her face.

 Even Hannah, who stands tall enough that ordinary male soldiers look up to her, seems uneasy around men. That's understandable. Men in this world are rough — by the standards of my previous life, their brutality is hard to stomach.

 I muttered quietly, "Men here think hitting their wives or girlfriends is a sign of manliness. It's beyond comprehension."

 Hannah blinked, clearly confused. "Is that so?"

 I nodded. "It used to be similar decades ago in my previous world, but 'common sense' changes fast."

 "The Brigade Commander and I will protect you. If anyone treats you badly, say so. I'll raise it with the division commander. How can this division not respect the allied forces who came to help?"

 "Yes, Staff Officer!"

 With a bright smile, Hannah moved closer to my desk. "Staff Officer, you seem mysterious. You don't come across as a commoner or noble."

 "That's a frequent comment," I deflected casually. "Maybe because I grew up on the streets." Being reincarnated means my values don't match this world's.

 She looked like she wanted to ask more, but Lieutenant Colonel Althea entered.

 "There you are, Second Lieutenant," she said.

 "This is Your Excellency," I said, standing to salute along with Hannah.

 The Lieutenant Colonel turned to Hannah with instructions.

 "Hannah, I'm sorry, but please handle the squad's meals. I've arranged to borrow the laundry area—make sure laundry is done in shifts. And, of course, be discreet with your undergarments. This isn't brigade headquarters."

 I added quietly, "Also, always move in groups. When washing your hands, have a guard with a drawn gun outside. Never unbutton your uniform outside the tent."

 "Y-yes, understood! Let me take notes!" Hannah replied quickly, saluting sharply before rushing off. She's like a mother to the soldiers.

 The Lieutenant Colonel then faced me, lowering her voice.

 "Have you seen inside the fort?"

 "I have. It's either a museum or an antique shop," I replied, grim.

 She nodded. "From the outside, it's obvious — this is a fort built for bows and catapults. The high walls keep out infantry and stones, not firearms. A strong side hit would bring it down."

 Pointing through the tent gap, I added, "The walls weren't meant to withstand modern weapons."

 The Lieutenant Colonel crossed her arms thoughtfully.

 "This was originally a local lord's castle. A base to patrol against bandits and protect the roads."

 Outdated, barely suited for war. Defenses are weak.

 "Second Lieutenant, can you plan a strategy for any possible situation here?"

 I answered calmly, "Of course. The Staff Officer epaulet isn't just decoration."

 In a crumbling fort like this, the best plan is probably an escape route. Safety lies in retreat. I'll send a message to the third squad at Headquarters.

 The Lieutenant Colonel smiled at me. "You're reliable."

 "I'm flattered."

 "We don't know much about battlefield tactics. It's reassuring to have an experienced officer here."

 Being praised by a superior like her feels good — something I never had in my previous life. I resolved to meet her expectations.

 Suddenly, she added, "Second Lieutenant, could you brief the soldiers on the situation and give them a defense tactics lecture? I want them to be able to think for themselves. I'll leave the content to you."

 "Understood." It's nice to be trusted, but that's a lot of responsibility.

 I gathered everyone and began.

 "Zephyr Fort is a satellite to Godo Stronghold. See it on the mountain peak west of here? It's a border guard base and looks intimidating even from here."

 "Zephyr Fort protects the road connecting to Godo Stronghold. As long as it stands, the enemy can't fully surround Godo. Reinforcements and supplies can pass."

 "If the enemy surrounds the Fort, the line will stretch thin, making it easier to break through."

 The troublesome part is this Fort.

 A soldier raised his hand.

 "Staff Officer, what if the enemy attacks here before reaching Godo Fort?"

 He looked worried.

 I smiled. "Then Godo Fort will bombard the enemy fiercely. When reinforcements arrive, the enemy will be caught between the Fort and the troops."

 If the Fort falls, it's over for us too — but I kept that to myself. The garrison was watching.

 "The unit here is the artillery company of the Third Division. They have six small cannons and about thirty infantry to protect them. The rest are artillery crew and staff. We were sent to supplement the infantry shortage."

 I doubted there would be a shootout.

 "Godo Fort has several outposts. Zephyr will be attacked after most others fall. If we lose here, there's no way out."

 It seems Duke Litreille placed the 6th Special Task Brigade here for political reasons. Fighting probably isn't expected.

 I hoped that was true. Still, I felt anxious and knew I had to prepare for the worst.

 "Everyone, check your equipment. Learn the Fort layout. Once ready, standby duty begins. Take shifts resting."

 Since combat could start anytime, staying tense would exhaust us.

 I left the rest to the corporals and went to inspect Zephyr Fort.

* * *

 The girls of the 6th Special Task Brigade relaxed, chatting quietly while cleaning their guns.

 "Finally, some rest," one said.

 "Even if it's just a tent."

 "Better than sleeping outside. I can't sleep when I'm scared."

 Small talk was one of the few pleasures they had.

 "Is there a place to wash here?"

 "No. Best we can do is fetch water and wipe ourselves down."

 "Ew."

 The conversation shifted to the new Staff Officer.

 "Staff Officer Krombelts is always so well-groomed."

 "Yeah, no manly smell at all. No body odor."

 Schwider soldiers rarely bathe, but Japanese people have the habit of bathing daily. Even when Krombelts couldn't bathe, he kept himself clean, standing out among the others.

 "He's well-groomed but somehow distant."

 "I hate the smell of men, so I like him."

 "He's cool, kind, and doesn't get angry."

 "Compared to the garrison here, he's a catch. Should I go for him?"

 One soldier cleaning her gun said that, and another shook her head.

 "There are too many rivals. Better to give up. Captain Hannah seems interested too."

 "Seriously!? No way I can win."

 The young soldier gripped her cleaning rod and looked up at the sky.

 "The Staff Officer didn't tease Hannah or react to her height."

 "He's different from any Staff Officer we've had."

 But the girl clenched her fist firmly.

 "It's up to the Staff Officer who he chooses! I still have a chance!"

 "I hope so," another whispered.

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Notes:

• Zephyr Fort - A rear outlying castle located in the border region. It is part of a network of fortresses designed to prevent enemy encirclement. The brigade is deployed here to reinforce its defenses. Securing a 'hotel' for accommodation was a significant achievement, given the challenges of field camping.

• Hannah - Hannah Heiden. Female. A Corporal in the 6th Special Task Brigade. Her appearance is tall with broad shoulders and a reverse triangle athletic build. She has a confident and assertive demeanor. Her relationship with Second Lieutenant Krombelts is initially formal but becomes more respectful after recognizing his rank. She is strong and capable, easily carrying heavy luggage.

• Althea - Colonel Althea Medelin. Female. Brigade Commander of the 6th Special Task Brigade. Young woman in her twenties with long black hair. Noble from the Medelin family, a rival to the Litreille clan. Professional and disciplined, yet approachable. Holds a high rank despite her age, indicating exceptional ability. Relationship: Superior to Euner Krombelts, welcomes him to the brigade.

• Godo Fort - A stronghold located on a mountain peak, west of Zephyr Fort. It serves as a border guard base and has the capability to provide fierce bombardment in case of an attack. Located in the Empire.

• Duke Litreille - Female. Politician from the Litreille family, not a soldier. Beautiful woman around 20, wearing military uniform with a family crest. Described as suspicious and of high caution. Relationship: Rival noble family to the Medelin clan, encountered by Euner on his journey.

• Schwider - The country where the story takes place. It is ruled by nobility, with the 'Five Royal Families' holding the highest status. The language and culture are distinct, with a strong emphasis on class and accent.

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