Episode 13: Dangerous Toys
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In the Third Company Commander’s office, located within the Imperial Ceremonial Battalion Headquarters—which is near the Imperial Guard Regiment Headquarters in the Imperial Capital—I was saluting the Company Commander.
“I have just returned, Company Commander-dono.”
“Welcome back, Lieutenant Fonkt.”
The one who smiled at me was a gentle-mannered woman with long hair. Like Lieutenant Krimine, she had black hair, but hers was styled in a hime cut. She gave off a distinct impression of someone who did desk work.
Her name is Minaka Yugi. Her rank is Captain. Her nickname is “Toymaker.”
Her name has a somewhat Japanese feel to it, which makes me very curious, but since we all use aliases, I don’t know where she’s from. Asking is also forbidden.
However, this person clearly uses martial arts that are not from this country. She is a master of concealed weapons.
Captain Yugi looked at me and tilted her head.
“Oh my, you seem interested in my ‘toy,’ don’t you?”
“It’s not so much interest, but when it’s placed out in the open like this, it naturally catches one’s attention.”
On the Company Commander’s desk was a brightly colored braided cord. It had round ceramic ornaments at both ends and, at first glance, didn’t look like a weapon.
“Is this the kind you throw, or the kind you swing around?”
At that, Captain Yugi smiled brightly.
“Lieutenant Fonkt, you’re quite perceptive, aren’t you? It can be used for both.”
Just as I thought.
It resembles a hunting tool I heard about in my previous life called a bola, and on the other hand, it seems like it could also be used like a manriki-gusari or nunchaku.
Captain Yugi looked up at me with a pleased expression.
“Why is it that you see through things so quickly?”
“If it’s something belonging to you, Company Commander-dono, it’s probably a weapon. After that, it’s just a matter of figuring out how to use it most effectively.”
Since I’m keeping the fact that I’m a reincarnator a secret, I just give a vague answer.
“A braided cord might be inferior to a chain in terms of strength, but it doesn’t make metallic sounds and doesn’t look like a weapon, does it? In a pinch, if you burn it, all that’s left are the ceramic spheres.”
“I’m surprised. Don’t tell me you’ve used one before?”
“Never.”
From various fictional works in my previous life, I only have knowledge of strange weapons. However, I’ve never used or even touched them.
This Captain Yugi specializes in surprise attacks using concealed weapons and is one of the foremost martial artists in the Ceremonial Battalion.
However, she’s entrusted with the role of Company Commander not for her martial prowess, but because she’s a competent leader.
Also, she has strange connections in various places. It was Captain Yugi who found the Hoteishimeji Mushrooms needed for the recent mission.
Captain Yugi twirled the braided cord, making the heavy-looking ceramic spheres hum, and smiled sweetly.
“Isn’t it cute?”
“Yes, very.”
“It’s more powerful than it looks, and depending on the situation, this little one can be more reliable than a saber.”
“Oh, really?”
I responded out of politeness, but I know.
The concealed weapons this person often uses in actual combat are cloth bags filled with copper coins or leather belts. She uses whatever is at hand as an improvised weapon. And she can knock out a grown man with a single blow.
Incidentally, she’s also quite strong barehanded; if she grabs your hand, you can consider it over. The likely outcome is having your joints locked and being pulled down. Of course, after that, she’d probably crush your throat with her military boot.
She’s that type of very frightening person, so even when she smiles at me, I get nervous.
However, this person seems to know about the world outside the Empire, which piques my interest.
I wonder if there’s a region in this world equivalent to Japan from my previous life. If there is, I’d like to go. If possible, I want to eat white rice and miso soup.
“Company Commander-dono, where on earth did you learn those techniques?”
“Nfufu, I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you.”
Thoroughly secretive. Is she a ninja or something, I wonder? I’m extremely curious.
As far as I know, besides Captain Yugi, there’s no one else with a “Japanese” aura. Perhaps she’s a reincarnator too; in any case, she’s a person who piques my interest.
For that reason, among others, I can’t bring myself to leave this Ceremonial Battalion.
Incidentally, I wonder what the equivalent words for “white rice” and “miso soup” are. The Imperial language doesn’t have words to express “cooked rice” or “a paste-like seasoning made from fermented beans.”
It’s not like they’d understand if I said it in Japanese, and I’d be in trouble if I made clumsy inquiries and aroused suspicion.
“Lieutenant Fonkt, is something wrong?”
“No, I was just thinking that if Lieutenant Krimine also had special skills like these, I could take her out on assignments with more peace of mind.”
She lacks the combat skills and physique for fieldwork.
“That can’t be helped. That girl is quasi-nobility, and the Imperial Ceremonial Battalion isn’t a combat unit, you know.”
Then what is this combat machine standing right in front of me, I wonder? Well, I guess her skills aren’t necessary for conventional warfare, though.
Captain Yugi twirled the pen on her desk with her fingertips and murmured,
“If you were to team up with me, would your troubles be lessened, Lieutenant Fonkt?”
“It would certainly be very reassuring. However, in that case, Company Commander-dono’s duties would be neglected.”
I have a lot of strange fieldwork, and she has a lot of strange office work. Our responsibilities are different, so we can’t work together.
However, there are male lieutenants and non-commissioned officers in the Third Company, so I feel it would be easier to team up with them rather than Lieutenant Krimine.
Maybe I should consult with her about it.
“How about making Lieutenant Krimine your adjutant, Company Commander-dono?”
“Hmm, actually, I requested that too. But the Battalion Commander absolutely forbade it.”
Why, I wonder?
Then, Captain Yugi made a slightly hesitant face.
“And also, various people have been saying they’d rather not team up with Lieutenant Fonkt if possible…”
“Why?!”
The word just slipped out.
Eh, but am I really that disliked?! I interact with them properly as colleagues, don’t I? Sure, I don’t go to strange bars or brothels, and I don’t gamble, but…
Captain Yugi chuckled.
“It seems Krimine-chan secretly asked the others. Please don’t worry.”
“Lieutenant Krimine did? Ah, if that’s the case, I’m a little relieved.”
Good grief, you surprised me.
…Wait a minute. What does that mean?
As I tilted my head inwardly, Captain Yugi smiled with a meaningful expression.
“You’re quite the lady-killer of the battalion, aren’t you? Just how many have you charmed?”
“It’s a misunderstanding, Company Commander-dono.”
The Imperial Ceremonial Battalion has a strangely high ratio of female officers, but even all together, there are only about ten of them. On top of that, I have absolutely no contact with them outside of work. This is a completely false accusation.
Captain Yugi was counting on her fingers.
“As far as I know, three… It seems there might be more.”
“I told you, it’s a misunderstanding!”
Why am I having a discussion about romance with my superior officer in this gloomy execution squad? This is ridiculous.
I switched to a more constructive topic.
“By the way, Company Commander-dono, I’d like to visit the grave of Meinen, who died in the line of duty.”
“Ah, that’s right. We’ve already paid our respects and prayed for his soul, so how about you and Lieutenant Krimine go together?”
“It’s true she probably hasn’t visited his grave yet either, but…”
When I hesitated a little, Captain Yugi said with a smile,
“This is an order. The two of you are to go. The Army Joint Cemetery on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital is a lonely place, so I’m a little worried about her going alone.”
That’s true. But it feels like a strange order somehow…
But if it’s an order from Captain Yugi, it’s probably best to obey without question. In any case, as her subordinate, I have no authority to disobey. I immediately saluted.
“Understood. I will now rendezvous with Lieutenant Krimine and proceed to visit Lieutenant Meinen’s grave.”
I repeated the order to show I had received it.
“Yes, take care.”
Seen off by the beaming Captain Yugi, I decided to go find Lieutenant Krimine.