September 17, 2201, 16:15 KYT Western Trench The attack by the Lunarians had ended. There were no enemies displayed on the tactical monitor. As usual, the Lunarians continued to fight until the last one and were completely annihilated. Saika and I returned to our assigned trench, replenishing our assault rifles with Iwakram in preparation for the next battle. With the amount of hours in combat, continuously generating high-voltage electricity, it was possible that even Iwakram could run out of energy. As a precaution, we embedded a one-centimeter square processed Iwakram, commonly known as a die, into the grip of our assault rifles. After quenching our thirst and settling down, we reported the battle situation to headquarters. "From the 1111 squad to headquarters. I would like to report." "This is headquarters. We are ready to receive." "Successful rescue and defense of the 1114 sector. The commander of the 1114 unit is incapacitated due to neurosis. Furthermore, the 1111 unit has successfully defended their sector. No damage. Currently, standing by in the assigned sector." "Understood. The 1114 squad will respond at headquarters. The 1111 squad, maintain the current situation until relief." "Understood. 1111 Squad, stand by." The report ended. Until the enemy would attack again or relief arrived, we all had some free time. “Captain, can i practice a bit?” Suzuran is asking cheerily. I immediatley understood her intention. Suzuran was a medic. She would be useless in an emergency, if she was not at the top of her game. But her skills could only be honed through practice. Knowledge alone is meaningless. I saw two corpses of Lunarians pushed to the corner of the trench. They mostly looked like before, only with a few holes in their bodies here and there. I took a moment to think, and then replied, "Okay. Permission granted. Saika, could you go and punch some Lunarians as hard as you can, in an adequate manner?" The term 'adequate manner' in a military context means applying the best means or methods one is capable of. It does not refer to cutting corners. “Sure. Hitting a corpse doesn’t really elicit much of a reaction though, so it’s not that interesting.” Skilled in hand-to-hand combat, Saika stood next to the corpse of the werewolf and carelessly kicked it up into the air. The lifeless werewolf, limbs limp, rose high into the sky before falling back down due to gravity. Without hesitation, Saika delivered a powerful blow with her right hand, driving him straight into the wall of the trench. Switching her retracted left hand into a thrust with the recoil, she unleashed a barrage of punches with both fists, all without taking a breath. The speed and strength were five times that of a biological human; to the untrained eye, afterimages lingered, as if dozens of arms were simultaneously striking the werewolf. Each time the werewolf's corpse was hit, a dull sound echoed, and not only the limbs but also the head and torso twisted at impossible angles, with some parts nearly torn apart. Saika's movements came to a complete stop. Her breathing was steady, and she wasn't sweating at all. Her fists were smeared with the blood and flesh of the werewolf. "Alright, one is done. Should I go for another one?" Saika turned back towards us with a refreshing smile. She must have been delighted, that she executed her newest technique to perfection. From my perspective, there was still a considerable room for improvement. I cast a fleeting glance at Suzuran. “Sufficient and optimal for practice. No need for a second one,” she responded to Saika's question. With a serious expression she approached the werewolf, switching places with her. I, Kikyou, and Saika returned to our job of surveilling the surroundings. We did not have any grudge or hatred towards the Lunarian. They were only being used as a practice dummy for hand-to-hand combat and for medics, nothing more. Suzuran took out a scalpel and, without hesitation, cut open the upper arm. She opened it cleanly, exposing the bone without damaging any blood vessels. "Yeah, bones, all broken up. A puzzle. How fun." Suzuran grinned. The crushed bones were embedded in the muscles, having lost their original shape. Suzuran picked up the bones one by one with tweezers and arranged them back into their correct position. It was a vivid display of skill all over in the blink of an eye. After that, Suzuran began to tackle the next wound in the same manner. Normally, some adhesive would be poured into the bones and the wound would be sutured, but Suzuran practiced suturing without thread. There were no resources available to use for the enemy. Treatment practice could only go so far. She finished the restoration of all other limbs. "Chest and abdomen, treatment begins." The chest, sunken from the impact of a fist, was opened with a scalpel, revealing crushed ribs digging into the deformed lungs, heart, bronchi, and esophagus. Suzuran picked up each bone one by one, carefully restoring the organs, and returning the bones to their original shape and continued to work on the abdomen in the same manner. Two hours later, she tilted her head slightly and froze. She seemed to be thinking about something. "Captain, the procedure is complete." Apparently she was troubled about whether to finish or continue with her practice. "Yes, good job. Was it helpful?" "Perfect. I can heal injuries right away." Suzuran raised her thumb together with a confident look on her face. "Well, I wonder if we will have scheduled service the day after tomorrow." I muttered, not meant to be heard by anyone. September 17, 2201 19:11 KYT 1st Infantry Battalion Headquarters Captain Kyokazu Kagayama, a biological human, was standing in a battalion headquarter surrounded by large and thick composite ceramic defenses. The headquarter was located in the western part of the underground city. He was tall and slender, with a muscular body that appeared to have been stripped of fat. His eyes shone with intelligence, reflecting his mental clarity. He was secretly admired by some women in the headquarters. However, because a ring was shining on Captain Kyokazu Kagayama's left ring finger, there was no one who dared confess their feelings. The battle had ended, and the battalion headquarters, which had been hectic until just now, began to regain its calm. Kyokazu Kagayama confirmed that there were no people around. With the battle over and everyone except those on duty having entered a long break, the area had become less populated. He began operating the information terminal and reviewing the combat footage of Squad 1111 in fast-forward. “That fool. At least turn off the camera. It's all recorded on footage.” In front of Kagayama, the monitor displayed abusive acts by Koizumi's subordinates. “That fool, how many times do I have to tell him to stop these acts of brutality against the enemy?”

While saying that, he deleted the relevant footage from the military server. If the deletion of the footage was discovered, Kagayama would face a court-martial for a serious violation of military law. Kagayama did not make blunders that would leave evidence. He loged in through multiple terminals using his superior's authentication code. Anger bubbled up from inside him, aimed towards Koizumi, who forced him to cross a dangerous line. This was not the first time this kind of video deletion had to happen. He had to do it on countless occasions. Each time, Kagayama gave Koizumi a strict warning, but there was no sign of him changing at all. On the contrary, Kagayama could only think that Koizumi was recording this stuff on purpose. Kagayama understood Koizumi's plan well. Either he would be demoted for unauthorized actions while in service, or Kagayama was forced to erase the footage. Koizumi didn't care if the footage was being left behind. His main objective was likely to ensure that Kagayama could not escape Koizumi's grasp, by forcing him to commit a violation of military law, namely erasing footage from the military server. Even though Kagayama knew that, he couldn't leave the footage alone and ended up deleting it after all. Kagayama's anger began to turn into self-hatred. "I'm going to the bathroom. Take over for me." Feigning a neutral expression, Kagayama announced in a booming voice that he was leaving his seat and headed towards the bathroom. “Don't keep making me cross dangerous lines. If this gets found out, it will lead to a court-martial, Koizumi.” In the hallway to the bathroom, a complaint involuntarily sliped out of his mouth. This was not the first time. When Koizumi was promoted above the rank of second lieutenant, he began to treat the Lunarians as toys. Because of that, he had been repeatedly brought to court-martial and has faced demotion or confinement. When he was demoted, he restrained himself until he was promoted again, but once promoted, he repeated the same behavior. Truly a sick person, literally. Normally, it wouldn't have been strange for Koizumi to have become a captain or major and command a squad or company. He certainly had the achievements under his belt. However, due to this bad habit, he had ended up as a perpetual lieutenant. Koizumi's exceptional combat skills were recognized by the higher-ups as the kind of personnel needed on the front lines, and the fact that there had been zero casualties in the 1111 Squad since he became squad leader could not be overlooked. There were no other units in the Japanese army that took the initiative to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the Lunarians, making such a unit extremely valuable. This didn't mean that other units could not engage in hand-to-hand combat. It was possible to win against the physically far superior Lunarians. It was more a matter of casualty rates. In hand-to-hand combat, the combat forecast showed that the casualty probability skyrocket to 50%. Lunarians often targeted commanders dressed in composite armor as their primary objective. This resulted in a situation where the officers, who had much resources poured into their training, became cost inefficient. With that in mind, Koizumi had always emerged unscathed when fighting the Lunarians in hand-to-hand combat. This was a rare trait among biological humans. That was why the 1111 Squad was known among its peers as the 'Mad Dog Unit.' Even in military court, this fact often led to leniency in verdicts. However, there were limits to everything. Kagayama sensed that the higher-ups were starting to take a firmer stance on Koizumi's escapades. "Damn it. This is Koizumi's fault too. Ever since I met that guy, I turned more and more crazy." Kagayama entered the toilet stall and, driven by anger, kicked the wall repeatedly. A dull, heavy sound echoed in the restroom. However, he wasn't foolish. A human leg could never match the hardness of a cold concrete wall. He used just enough strength to avoid injury. Venting his anger on the wall brought him a bit of relief. Sitting on the toilet and heaving a sigh, the blood that had rushed to his head subsided, and his calm began to return. Unexpectedly, he recalled the time he first met Koizumi at the intermediate officer school. August 2193, KYT Intermediate Officer School Male Dormitory Kagayama came from a long lineage of military workers. Both his parents were in the military, so it was a given that he would follow the same path. After graduating from elementary school, he could have moved on to junior high, but aiming to enter the elite military course as early as possible, he took the entrance exam for the prestigious intermediate officer school and passed. According to the plan, he was supposed to advance to the advanced officer school and then military university before enlisting in the Japanese army and starting as a second lieutenant. Everything went off course though, when he ended up sharing a room with Koizumi. The Intermediate Officer School was a boarding school with separate dorms for boys and girls, and two-person rooms were the norm. If the number of students became odd due to expulsion or accidents, three-person rooms would sometimes be used. It was always ensured there were no individual rooms, no matter what happened. Though Koizumi and Kagayama were in different classes, they shared a room, so they spent a lot of time together—eating, studying, and playing—making it no exaggeration to say that Koizumi was always by Kagayama's side. Koizumi's friendly demeanor and bright, generous personality quickly brought him and Kagayama close, and they recognized each other as close friends. From an outside perspective, Koizumi stood out in many ways since his entrance into the school. Koizumi's consideration for others was remarkable for a student of his level. He treated everyone equally, had outstanding athletic ability, and always wore a cheerful smile. He was very popular among the girls, including upperclassmen, and his friendly demeanor and caring nature made him popular with the boys as well. There was never a moment when people weren't around Koizumi at school. However, his academic performance was unremarkable, and in regular exams, he was always slightly below average. Everyone has areas they struggle with, and this made Koizumi seem more relatable since he had weaknesses too. There were a few who didn't get along with Koizumi, but they were in the minority, and no one dared to harm him. Doing so would clearly turn many students at the military academy against them. Throughout April, Koizumi had been relatively reserved. But as relationships solidified and the surrounding circumstances became clearer in May, Koizumi started to take action behind the scenes. He became well-acquainted with the relationships within the academy, grasped each individual's weaknesses, and became the hidden force that pulled the strings behind the scene. By June, he had completed preparations to bring the upperclassmen under his control, and by July, he had similarly finished preparing to control the teachers. No one associated with the military academy noticed or anticipated such a situation. No one would have even dreamed that Koizumi had completely collected everyone's personal information. Koizumi did not let any signs of this slip out and overall seemed to simply be enjoying school life. However, as soon as August began, Koizumi, who shared a room with Kagayama in the dormitory, unexpectedly started to explain the current state of military academy in detail to Kagayama. "You intend to rise through the ranks as fast as possible, right?" "That's right. My family, the Kagayama family, has been soldiers for generations. I have no intention of leaving a stain on that lineage." "Then I would advise you to brush up on some machiavel-level strategies​." "We're cadets. Academics are more important than cloaks and daggers, right?We'll advance to higher military schools and academies, starting our military careers not as warrant officers, but as lieutenants graduated from the military academy. That alone will shorten our advancement by several years." "With your intellect you will definitely not have problems. But, they don't teach trickery in school, do they? I'll teach you." "Such underhanded techniques are unnecessary for us Kagayama. Integrity and purity are my principles. Moreover, it sounds absurd to that you would teach me trickery. At the very least score above average first before you say such stuff." "I got those grades intentionally, you know. Someone who can do anything only becomes an object of jealousy. If you create false weaknesses, you can appear more endearing to others. That’s the basics of not being disliked. If I took assessments seriously, I could become a the top ranker nearly every time." "If that’s the case, than that is good enough. It’s best to ascend the military ranks openly and honorably." "I'm not interested in advancement. While rising in rank means more things you can do, it also means taking on more responsibility. I hope to be excused from that." "What on earth do you want? I completely don't understand." "It's simple. I want to live a free and interesting life. Therefore, from now on, I will create collaborators and eliminate obstacles." "Are you still half-asleep? If you're going to talk about pipe dreams, atleast make them realistic." “This isn't a pipe dream. I've already taken control of the military academy. To proof you that, I'll create a rumor about sexual harassment incidents involving female students tomorrow. Then, in three days, I'll have the physical education teacher dismissed for that scandal. If all of this plays out like I said, you'll believe that I'm effectively controlling this military academy, right?” "What on earth are you talking about? Did you hit your head? Is the heat making you lose your cool?" "I've made my decision. I'm going to make you, Kagayama, my brain of operations. You have the qualifications and abilities to do so. That's why I'm revealing all this to you." "Try someone else. I'm not that kind of person, and I have no intention of indulging in such absurd delusions." "I will be the one deciding that. By the way, do you want to read your school record?" Koizumi pulled out a smartphone, and Kagayama reflexively accepted it.

He had no interest at all, but several words unexpectedly caught his attention. All of his personal information was accurately written down, accurately and objectively. There was no trace of prejudice or personal opinion. Only the facts were recorded. It is human nature to be unaware of how one is perceived and judged in terms of ability by a third party. Kagayama couldn't take his eyes off this report, reading it intently in silence. There was absolutely no room for misinterpretation or misunderstanding in that report. There was even information that Kagayama himself was unaware of, but if he were to check with his family, there would be no doubt that they would confirm it. What really caught his attention was the section about a fiancée. Could it be that he had a fiancée chosen by his parents, and the woman knew about this fact? Furthermore, it stated that both families had already consented to the engagement. He had never heard such things from his family at all. It seemed that it was to be announced on the fifteenth birthday, when he would be recognized as an adult by law. Personal information concerning that fiancée was also written down. The girl he was seeing for the first time, shown as a three-dimensional holograph, was beautiful, despite her expressionless face. Her hairstyle, a rounded chignon bun made from a ponytail, suited her intellectual face well. She was the same age as Kagayama and was attending a public middle school. Despite being a first-year middle school student, she had a sharp intellect and had already acquired knowledge rivaling that of high schoolers. Due to compulsory education, she had no choice but to attend middle school, but already she was receiving invitations to enroll in advanced high schools and prestigious universities. He found himself drawn in just by looking at the photo. What kind of voice does this girl have? What kind of smile will she show? What does she think about her engagement to me? Kagayama's heartbeat quickened. "So... Found something interesting?" Kagayama was pulled out of his fantasies by Koizumi's voice. "How did you find this all out? Who are you, Koizumi?" "Since I have a wide network, information just comes to me on its own. People are chatty, after all. You can't put a lock on people's mouths. After that, if you assemble the information you've obtained in a multi-faceted way and eliminate falsehoods and misunderstandings, the truth will emerge. By the way, information such as jealousy and longing are surprisingly important elements, as they clarify human relationships. My friends have no awareness that I am acting like a spy. They are just gossiping and complaining, acting selfishly. However, you are different. You discipline yourself and never slander anyone. Despite being a middle school student, you strive to behave like a saint according to your family's teachings. You are a special person to me. You can become a marshal. I guarantee it. Therefore, I absolutely will not let you slip through my fingers." Kagayama was subjected to Koizumi's intense gaze, and damp, oily sweat flowed down his back, but he did not change his expression. "Is it really impossible to resist or escape you, no matter how much I struggle?" "I absolutely will not let you go. With the information I have on you, I could make you my slave. But you see, that way, I can't make use of your skills. As a slave, it would erase your individuality. I’ll repeat myself, but I only want to live my life in a fun and interesting way." Kagayama stared into Koizumi's eyes while sweating profusely. How pure and innocent his eyes were! Kagayama realized that Koizumi was genuine in his wishes. ― I can't escape from Koizumi, no matter what I do. If that's the case, should I accept Koizumi's proposal and try to benefit from it as much as possible? Koizumi's information-gathering ability is the real deal and likely comparable to that of the military's intelligence department. Therefore, I have no choice but to consider it a fact that he has mastered the art of leadership. There's no denying that. But, can it be that a middle school student has gained such ability? ― Doubts about Koizumi began to rise in Kagayama. He did just confronted him with accurate personal information that proved his abilities, though. Information is power and a treasure. With correct information, there is no need to financial or military resources. By simply continuing to make the right choices, one can naturally come out ahead. “...Fine, I understand. As you said, I want you to teach me the art of leadership. I will use that power to control the military.” "Muhaha. I didn't think words like 'controlling the military' would come out of your mouth, Kagayama. On the contrary, I'm happy. Let's find our fortune together." Koizumi answered with an innocent smile. Just like Koizumi had predicted, the harassment incident occurred and was resolved. Kagayama had not the slightest doubt that it would, so he was completely unfazed. Back in the current time. Kagayama could still vividly remember what happened at that time. He had no regrets about that choice. On the contrary, he want to express his gratitude to Koizumi. He taught Kagayama about a new world. Originally, he would have graduated from university, been assigned as a lieutenant, and ended up living life as a stick in the mud simply aiming for steady advancement. That had gone awry because of Koizumi, and he had begun to secretly control the headquarters. Kagayama became friends with anyone he considered should be on his side, one after another. Even those who he felt physiological disgust towards were not exceptions. Thanks to Koizumi's words, information had gathered under Kagayama's influence, leading to the possession of vast amounts of personal data, which continued to increase every day. However, this information has never been leaked even once because the time to use it had not yet come. Even after raising his rank and seizing power, it would not be too late. Suddenly, his eyes caught the silver sparkling engagement ring on his left hand's ring finger, reminding him of the beautiful woman with a bun in a white coat. He noticed that he hasn't met her for a while, but she probably doesn't mind either. While he was engaged, their relationship has not moved beyond holding hands. After graduating from middle school, she entered university by skipping grades, and now was employed at a research institute. She was an oddball with little interest in romantic matters and constantly engrossed in research. Although they had been dating frequently, there wasn't any significant progress. Their relationship was extremely positive, though. After he saw his personal information in middle school, he talked about it with his family. An arranged marriage was held immediately. They were in a long-term relationship since then. She became good friends with Koizumi, and the three of them would hang out together; there were also times when she was involved with the members of the 1111 squad. He is pretending not to know that, because she seemed to enjoy herself, but Kagayama is aware of everything she did and where. Of course, it’s not that Kagayama actively investigated her; the information just happened to fall into his lap. "I can’t afford to step away for too long. I should go back." Muttering that, Kagayama returned to his command post.