“You should go back now. Why did you follow me anyway?”

“I’m not talking about my problems. I’m already in a position where I have to wander the frontier because of that incident. But you’re different, Major.”

Schaefer felt frustrated. She couldn’t understand why someone who should be walking a brilliant path would choose to rot on this falling-apart ship.

She had already been sidelined in her career after voluntarily shooting at the asylum-seeking princess. She had lost the opportunity to assist Jens in his rise to the top due to a momentary mistake, but she had no regrets.

She was prepared to remove anyone who blocked his path, whether it was officers blinded by their own achievements or a princess who spoke carelessly.

But she never expected him to choose such a ridiculous path himself.

Schaefer was certain Jens had deliberately chosen this ship. No matter how much Chief of Staff Sol disliked the Will family and Jens Will, he couldn’t openly do something like this. The President would have objected immediately.

He must have come to this ship solely by his own strong will, abandoning the Elika Ter that had been unofficially reserved for him.

Knock knock.

Having reached the captain’s quarters, Jens knocked on the door with an inexplicably excited expression.

“Schaefer, look at this. They’ve left the ship’s critical pipelines in tatters, yet they’ve made the captain’s door so splendid. Isn’t that funny?”

The door was made of luxurious yellow pine instead of iron. Schaefer sighed deeply.

This ship had barely been operated anyway. They said its movement to this location for Jens Will’s appointment and repairs was the first in several years. And it had broken down several times on the way here.

Since it had merely been maintaining its position at its home port, newly appointed captains probably spent money on things like this instead.

“The archive is unnecessarily impressive too.”

“Major Rock, the 11th captain, was a tremendous bookworm. I owe him quite a bit.”

“I wonder if this is a ship or the captains’ private villa.”

Schaefer remarked sarcastically before she could stop herself. Nodding in agreement, Jens turned around and pulled out a paper from his pocket to hand to her.

“Making it into a proper ship is my job. Schaefer, take this to the Navy Headquarters Personnel Department. If you want to request a ship transfer, submit it then too.”

“I’m not going anywhere else.”

Schaefer firmly stated as she took the paper from Jens and looked at him. When he nodded, indicating she could look at it, she unfolded it with a rustling sound.

Seeing its contents, Schaefer involuntarily turned quickly back to Jens. He had already moved on, examining every corner of the captain’s quarters.

Schaefer thought she knew Jens.

She had watched him since their military academy days, when he strangely attracted attention despite trying to keep a low profile, and after graduation, she was coincidentally assigned to the same ship, the Nautile.

At first, she looked down on him as the heir to the prestigious Will family who showed no enthusiasm and made no effort. But eventually, a nail that sticks out is bound to be noticed.

So Schaefer decided to repay the life debt she owed him.

From saving her from a suicide mission she was assigned to after earning a superior’s dislike on the Nautile, to recently preventing her from killing the princess—she had accumulated countless debts to him.

But regardless of her feelings, he still seemed to lack motivation and interest in anything.

So what was this list about?

Schaefer recalled her military trial, which had been resolved with surprising ease despite its seriousness.

‘Could it be…’

The only people who could arrange for her to be released without significant punishment after shooting at a princess were the involved parties and powerful figures with strong influence in the military.

The Jens she knew despised such things—using power to gain unfair advantages.

But among the people connected to her, only Jens could have pulled strings.

If he had arranged for her release because he needed her…

‘You sly fox.’

He told her to leave the ship with his words, but he had already taken all measures to keep her on board. This list was probably part of that plan. Jens Will was truly willing to use any means necessary.

Thump.

Schaefer’s heart raced. It was surprising. Someone with such capabilities who had been wasted like a diamond thrown into dog food, showing no motivation, had now decided to do something with this decrepit ship.

What could it be?

“Lieutenant!”

Boom boom boom boom.

Ignoring the vibrations in the floor, Yuvil came running. Schaefer kicked his leg.

“Ow! What was that for?”

“You’re too loud. Don’t run. The floor might collapse.”

“That doesn’t mean you should kick me!”

“And what’s with ‘Lieutenant’? Idiot.”

“Oh, sorry. It’s just so familiar. I apologize, Major.”

Jens smiled slightly as he watched their antics. He smiled much more than before.

“Yuvil, you should come with me. The Personnel Department won’t miss you either.”

“What?”

As Yuvil blinked in confusion, Jens held out his hand.

“Hand it over.”

“Oh, Major. A letter arrived for you.”

Yuvil quickly handed over the letter he was holding. Jens sat casually on the dusty desk in the captain’s quarters and opened it.

Watching him, Schaefer unconsciously turned her head toward Yuvil. A superior’s private expressions weren’t something to be observed. Receiving this unintended attention, Yuvil blinked.

“What?”

“Nothing. Captain, I’ll head to headquarters now.”

“Schaefer.”

“Yes?”

“Could we delay our departure by one day?”

Schaefer blinked. Jens looked somewhat embarrassed. But Schaefer deliberately avoided his expression as she answered.

“Since we’re practically rebuilding the ship, we can make any excuse. We’re an independent operations vessel anyway, and you set the sailing schedule, Captain. I’ll discuss it with Major Ibsen.”

“Well…”

He looked like he was about to make some excuse, but Schaefer quickly continued. Whatever his reason was, it didn’t matter. When a superior gives an order, you follow it.

“I’ll inform headquarters of the changed departure date. Then.”

Schaefer quickly saluted and pulled Yuvil away. Yuvil looked confused but hastily saluted Jens as he was dragged away.

“Oh, really.”

“What’s wrong?”

After they had moved far from the captain’s quarters, Yuvil stopped Schaefer as she spat out her words. Schaefer glared at him.

“You ox.”

“That’s a creative insult, Schaefer.”

“I’m glad you understand it’s an insult. Work like an ox, Lieutenant Yuvil.”

Schaefer had failed to get promoted despite her achievements in the naval battle because she was called to military trial, but Yuvil had been promoted to lieutenant.

Although Yuvil was technically her superior now, neither of them acknowledged it.

Schaefer took out a notebook from her pocket and quickly copied down some names from the list Jens had given her. She tore out the page and handed it to Yuvil.

“I’m sure he didn’t expect me to do this alone. Yuvil, meet these people and convince them.”

“What? Who are they and what am I supposed to convince them of… huh?”

Yuvil scanned the names and his mouth fell open.

“What is this? Did the navy finally decide to get rid of all the crazy ones?”

“Are you insane? This is the crew list for the Paul Nor.”

Schaefer wanted to make a similar expression, but instead pushed Yuvil’s hanging jaw closed.

“You’re drooling.”

“So after the ship, he plans to fill it with misfits too?”

“If you say it like that, the captain is included in those misfits.”

Yuvil shook his head.

“What are you talking about? Judging by the ship he’s planning, the captain is already a general among misfits. His true colors are finally showing.”

“…”

Schaefer couldn’t deny it and turned away. Despite the one-day delay, they would be busy until departure.

* * *

The military academy’s schedule was packed with classes. Especially during periods of brewing conflict with the Empire, the time before and after classes was filled with mandatory self-study sessions disguised as “personal maintenance time.”

On top of that, weekends and vacations were crammed with sailing and combat training schedules, leaving cadets without proper holidays.

As a result, cadets had to focus on their studies to become officers without any personal time.

The academic schedule was so intense that cadets would grind their teeth, vowing to destroy the Empire just to escape their current situation. They were only given two days of leave each month.

Usually, students used this time to request overnight passes and visit their families. Those whose homes were too far away would invite their families to Conifer to spend time together.

Now on the second holiday, Roje was packing while glancing at Aira.

“I’m relieved. I was worried about you staying behind.”

Aira shrugged while tying her military boots.

“Don’t worry about me. I’d be lucky not to get hit with rotten eggs if I went outside.”

“I keep telling you, no one recognizes you. So go out this time and in the future too. My parents are only coming down this month and won’t be coming next month. Let’s go out together then.”

“It’s fine.”

Aira had stayed in the dormitory during the previous holiday. Partly because she had nothing to do outside, and partly because her story had finally been published in Republic newspapers.

The school had politely advised her to refrain from going out, and Aira, who didn’t think much of it, complied.

But this time, she couldn’t stay in. The school was flustered by her leave request and held long meetings before reluctantly approving it when Aira openly presented Jens’s letter.

At least this letter had clear dates, subjects, and predicates.

However, her overnight pass request was rejected, and Aira had to make a round trip to Oculer, which was three hours away by train, in a single day. And she had to return before lights-out.

The fortunate thing was that the day Jens mentioned coincided with the academy’s holiday. Aira considered meeting him more important than attending school, so she would have left even if it had been a class day.

Well, even if she got expelled from school, she could always go back in time and fix it.