Seraphina's Orders

Ding!

A new system message appeared along with a sharp warning tone.

[Persuasion failed!]

[The difficulty of the request directly conflicts with the target's core values. The target's resistance negated the skill's effect.]

Gunter jerked his head up.

"…I can't do it, Lieutenant."

His voice was low and resolute.

"In my hometown… I have a sick mother and younger siblings. My pay… pays for their medicine and bread. Even if it's an order from you, Lieutenant… that's the one thing I can't do."

I stifled a groan and activated the skill.

'Status Analysis.'

[Status: Extreme inner conflict resolved; determined]

[Emotion: Deep disappointment, sense of betrayal, wariness toward his superior]

Gunter's status had changed dramatically. The place where there had been 'vague loyalty’ just minutes ago was now filled with disappointment, betrayal, and wariness.

'Damn, did I go too far?'

It was an unequivocal failure. I realized both the limitations and the dangers of the skill. It was no cure-all. If misused, it could become poison and ruin a relationship.

I still had a chance to make amends. I rose from my chair and took a step toward Gunter.

"I'm sorry."

Gunter's eyes widened at the unexpected words.

"……What?"

"I said I'm sorry, Sergeant. I clearly crossed the line just now."

I activated [Charismatic Speech] once more.

[The skill 'Charismatic Speech' affects Sergeant Gunter.]

[It conveys your apology and sincerity in a persuasive manner.]

Gunter's wary gaze wavered. The skill's effect was taking hold. I didn't miss the opening and continued.

"That order just now was a test, Sergeant. I wanted to see whether my NCO was a puppet who blindly followed orders, or a true soldier who knew his own convictions and what he had to protect."

I placed a hand on Gunter's shoulder.

"You passed the test splendidly. Even in the face of an unjust order from your superior, you refused to abandon your resolve to protect your family. That kind of steadfastness is exactly what I want from you—and from the entire 3rd Platoon. I want to fight alongside soldiers like that."

It was a lie. But [Charismatic Speech] lent weight to it. Every look, tone, and gesture of mine was melting away his suspicions.

Ding-

[Sergeant Gunter is beginning to trust your words.]

[His inner conflict is resolved and transformed into deep respect and loyalty toward you.]

'Status Analysis.'

[Status: Relief at having a misunderstanding cleared up, deeply moved]

[Emotion: Trust and loyalty toward his superior, deep gratitude at having his convictions acknowledged]

The status window had shifted 180 degrees once again. The disappointment and sense of betrayal were nowhere to be seen; loyalty and trust had taken their place.

"I… I'm just an ignorant brute. I only knew how to use my strength. I never dreamed you had such a profound purpose in mind."

I let out a sigh of relief inwardly. I had successfully weathered the crisis. Then I sent Gunter away.

Left alone, I slumped into my chair. If not for [Strong Mind], I would have been drenched in cold sweat. [Charismatic Speech] was undeniably powerful, but the risks of failure were just as great. Used clumsily, it could instead earn me irreparable resentment.

'I need to use it carefully.'

*

News of our victory spread throughout the entire regiment within a few days.

"Have you heard? About 3rd Platoon. Those trash-pit bastards."

"Oh, those guys who were always causing trouble? What did they do this time?"

While waiting in line at the mess hall, I would often hear soldiers from other companies whispering.

"It wasn't trouble. They pulled off something incredible. I heard they smashed the orcs' altar to pieces in the Ashen Forest and even brought back all the missing scouts safe and sound."

"What? Those guys? Don't lie. That's a place where even our company's elite troops are reluctant to go."

"I'm telling you, it's true! And do you know what's even crazier? They all came back without a single death."

The soldiers listening nearby were stunned.

"…Crazy. What on earth happened?"

"I hear the new platoon leader is something else. He took the lead, found the shaman's altar, and launched a surprise attack."

"Does that even make sense?"

The skeptical soldier soon found himself convinced.

"Apparently, he was promoted early and even received the Iron Cross after only six months on the job."

"Really? He must be incredible. I'd give anything to serve under a commander like that."

"Shh! Watch what you say. You never know which officer in our unit might hear you."

I pretended not to hear them and focused on my meal. There was some exaggeration mixed in, but it was mostly true. That's how rumors worked, after all. I soon finished eating and returned to my barracks. I was walking quickly, thinking over my training plans, when I turned a corner and collided with someone.

"S-sorry!"

It was Corporal Hanna.

"It's all right. What is it?"

"Lieutenant! Um…"

She fidgeted with her fingers in front of me, unsure what to do. Without a word, I activated the skill.

['Status Analysis (Lv.2)' is being used on 'Hanna Meyer'].]

[Name: Hanna Meyer]

[Race: Human]

[Rank: Corporal]

[Status: Constantly conscious of her senses since the mission]

[Emotion: Deep gratitude toward the lieutenant, confusion about an unknown sense]

[Hidden Trait: Mana Detection (on the verge of awakening)]

'On the verge of awakening…'

The experience that day seemed to have helped somehow. Hanna finally seemed to summon her courage and opened her mouth.

"About what happened in the Ashen Forest last time. Do you remember when I told you… that I felt a strange energy?"

"Of course I remember. It was very important information."

My words brought color to her face.

"Really? I kept worrying that I'd only been talking nonsense and had confused you, Lieutenant."

"No. Thanks to you, we completed the mission without a single friendly casualty. That was your achievement, Corporal Hanna."

When I called her by name and lightly patted her shoulder, her cheeks turned as red as a beet.

"N-no, sir! I only… because you believed me, Lieutenant…."

She lowered her head deeply and couldn't continue. I looked at her and spoke gently.

"It isn't just your imagination. It may be a special talent unique to you, one that others don't possess. If you sense anything like that again, don't hesitate to report it to me. I'll help you hone that sense through training."

"Yes, sir! Understood, Lieutenant!"

Hanna saluted with a deeply moved expression. Her eyes were shining brightly. After sending her away, I headed back to the barracks. But I hadn't gone far when another soldier came running toward me.

"Lieutenant Jaeger! The company commander is looking for you. She ordered you to report to the command barracks immediately."

'Already?'

I turned and headed for the company command barracks. When I knocked, an icy voice came from inside.

"Come in."

Seraphina was standing alone inside the barracks, studying the operations map. Without turning around, she said,

"I've read the report, Lieutenant Jaeger. The results surpassed my expectations."

"I was merely lucky."

"Luck? Don't be so modest in front of me."

"…I'll correct myself."

She turned to face me. Her jewel-like blue eyes gleamed coldly as they scrutinized me.

"You saw through a spatial transfer trap and completed the mission against a platoon-sized enemy force, including an orc shaman, with only two soldiers lightly wounded. You even rescued the missing scouts. Is this really the command of a lieutenant who has been commissioned for only half a year?"

It was a pointed question. I brought out the answer I'd prepared in advance.

"This wasn't achieved through my command alone. One of my subordinates provided the decisive information."

"Information?"

One of Seraphina's eyebrows rose slightly.

"Corporal Hanna of 3rd Platoon complained of unexplained nausea and discomfort during the reconnaissance mission. She said she sensed an especially unpleasant energy from a particular direction."

I paused to watch her reaction. She waited for me to continue without saying a word.

"At first, I thought it was simple tension, but enemy traps were invariably found in the direction she indicated. She even detected the energy emanating from the shaman's altar far away. Thanks to that, we avoided all the enemy's ambushes and were able to launch a surprise attack on their core."

When I finished explaining, Seraphina's gaze became sharper than ever.

"…An unpleasant energy. I believe I've heard of those symptoms before."

"So have I, Captain."

I embellished the story with a plausible lie.

"It reminded me of a rare casebook I read in the Imperial Central Academy's library. The reaction shown by people with an innate sensitivity to mana when exposed to faint mana flows or the remnants of evil sorcery. It matched the early symptoms of what is known as 'Mana Detection' exactly."

A faint surprise crossed Seraphina's icy expression. I didn't miss it and secretly activated the skill.

'Status Analysis.'

[Name: Seraphina von Reinhardt]

[Status: Deep consideration of Max Jaeger's report, wariness and surprise at his insight]

[Emotion: Extreme surprise and strong suspicion, bewilderment at a subordinate whose knowledge surpasses her own]

"…Are you saying you immediately recognized such a rare talent in the field and even used it in the operation? Do you expect me to believe that?"

Seraphina's voice was full of suspicion.

'Charismatic Speech.'

Borrowing the skill's power, I spoke in a perfectly unwavering voice.

"The situation was urgent, and I had no choice but to gamble on that possibility."

I made up the most plausible explanation I could.

"Her reaction was remarkably similar to the description I'd read in the book. The signs were too clear to simply ignore. If it was real, I judged it to be information vital to the survival of our entire platoon."

Seraphina's blue eyes narrowed. Her suspicion had not vanished completely, but the wariness in her gaze was fading.

"What was the title of the book?"

She shot the question at me. It was what I had expected. A clumsy lie wouldn't work here.

"I don't remember the exact title. During my academy days, I happened to find part of an old collection of papers in the underground archives. I believe it had some clumsy title like 'A Study of Cases of Supernatural Ability Manifestation on the Battlefield.'"

I made up the most plausible story I could. By mentioning underground archives and old papers, I made precise verification impossible. She stared at me as though trying to see through me. A cold silence followed.

[Emotion: Strong suspicion is turning into reasonable inference. She is beginning to focus more on the practical value of the information than on whether it is true.]

'It worked.'

I inwardly cheered. Instead of weighing whether my words were true, she had begun weighing the information's practical value. She was acting like the capable commander she was.

"Very well."

At last, Seraphina spoke.

[The skill 'Charismatic Speech' has been successfully applied.]

[Captain Seraphina trusts your explanation.]

[Her suspicion has transformed into a positive assessment of your capable insight.]

The tense atmosphere shifted ever so slightly. I didn't miss that fleeting moment and activated the skill once more.

'Status Analysis.'

[Status: Intense strategic consideration, reassessment of subordinate's value complete]

[Emotion: The remaining strong suspicion has transformed into practical interest and a faint scholarly curiosity]

The look in her eyes changed subtly as she gazed at me. The interrogative glare in her blue eyes softened as her wariness slowly receded. Seraphina leaned back slightly in her chair, relaxing her rigid shoulders. Then she moved on to the main point.

"If that soldier's talent is genuine, this is a serious matter that could change the regiment's strategy, far beyond being a mere tactical asset to a single company. We need an official confirmation."

"What kind of procedure do you have in mind?"

"Send Corporal Hanna to the regimental medical station immediately. The military doctor there should be able to conduct a mana-response test."

She added,

"You will personally escort her. Maintaining secrecy is essential."

"Understood."

I saluted and left the barracks.

The next day, Corporal Hanna and I visited the medical station.