859 – Elite Army, Elite Officers – 6

The establishment of the military academy became the biggest topic of interest in imperial social circles, to the point that whenever two or more people who had once been soldiers gathered together, the topic of the academy inevitably came up.

“I’m also thinking about taking up teaching.”

“yes?”

Even my first father-in-law, who had become a complete unemployed man this year, was deeply interested. He was a former duke and was officially the oldest duke until last year, so much so that he was talking about teaching.

It was probably just a joke, but I couldn’t help but shiver. A military academy planned by Jeon Seung-gong and led by Cheol-hyeol-gong. What kind of monsters will they raise? Won’t a golden monster generation emerge that will turn the continent upside down?

“Well, it’s funny that a guy of his age is starting a second life.”

“What does age have to do with what you want to do? If you have passion and will, you can start a second or third life.”

However, I instinctively felt comforted by the craftsman’s bitter muttering.

When an old person blames his age, it makes the young people who hear it uncomfortable. If there was a person with basic humanity, what kid would say something like, “Well, it’s hard to dream at that age.” to an old person who blames his age?

That’s why my hands, hidden under the desk, were trembling. I was worried that my words might awaken my father-in-law and that he might actually apply for the position of a teacher at the military academy.

“Speak with some spit in your mouth. What are you going to do if I suddenly ask you for the teaching position?”

Fortunately, the craftsman only smiled at my consolation and did not wake up.

“…Did you get a lot of tea?”

“I’ve lived three times your life. If you can’t even understand the mind of a kid who’s not even thirty, you should bite your tongue and die.”

It wasn’t a wrong statement, so I just laughed awkwardly. Even though I’ve spent years in a high-ranking position that wasn’t even in my fortune, my father-in-law has been a duke for decades. You can probably figure out what he’s thinking just by looking at him.

“But it’s a bit of a shame. If the military academy had been established about 30 years ago, I would have gone there as soon as the war with the eastern guys ended.”

“Wasn’t it the same as the heyday of your father-in-law 30 years ago? Why did you turn down the flowery path and become a mere teacher…”

“When my knowledge and experience reached their peak, wouldn’t I have been able to teach better then? Instead of me stepping down from the field, countless futures will be born.”

I nodded immediately because it was a convincing statement.

Well, if there is enough manpower, it is common to send those who have achieved great things to the rear instead of the field, and teach the younger ones there. Just like when pilots achieve ace status, they go to the rear and teach new pilots.

However, if there is no room for manpower, it is the fate of the ace to take care of the juniors’ share as well. Unfortunately, 30 years ago, there were no military academies, and the talent pool to replace the masters was not sufficient.

To be exact, there was, but there was no guarantee that they would obediently follow the emperor’s orders. Furthermore, if there were loyal talents, they had to fight against internal evils, not external ones. That was the time.

“What a pity, what a pity. I wish I had been born 30 years later.”

I drank my tea quietly as I watched my father-in-law sighing and constantly rubbing his chin.

I am worried that my father-in-law will say, “I have the blood of a teacher flowing through my body.” From what he says, he seems to be very foolish. Now that he is retired, I wonder if he puts his reason aside for a while and pursues pleasure.

In fact, considering the decades of dedication the craftsman has put in, no one can object if he pursues pleasure in his later years. Who would dare to stop someone who has suffered all his life from doing what he wants at the end?

Even the pursuit of pleasure is a pleasure for the national interest of nurturing future generations as a teacher. It is perfect even in name.

‘Is it true that the father-in-law becomes the school principal rather than the commander of the Central Army?’

Oliver Valenti of Wolken, 18th Duke of Wolken, first headmaster of the Imperial Academy.

Just imagining it makes my heart pound and my hands and feet tremble. If the first principal is a duke, who should be the principals after him? Isn’t this a convention that only former and current dukes can become the principal of a military academy?

It is truly a fearful thing. The Military Academy will inevitably become an agency under the Ministry of War, and the Secretary of War will nominally have the Duke of York as his subordinate.

‘I already have it, so it doesn’t matter.’

Come to think of it, the Imperial Army, an organization under the Ministry of War, is also led by the Jeon Seung-gong. In that situation, even if one more clerk is added, it won’t be a problem. Whether you get shot once or twice, it’s the same.

It seems that there is no other job as extreme as the Secretary of War. The Treasury and the Inspector General were relative beauties.

“Hmm.”

“Why are you doing that?”

“When you retire, don’t you think about becoming a teacher? Since you have an honorary teaching degree, why don’t you just take off the honorary title and become a real teacher?”

It was quite a nice comment, but I immediately shook my head.

If I retire, it will be a long time, and I don’t want to roll around and go back to work. I don’t want a second life.

And I have never studied professional military science, nor have I ever commanded a large force and maintained the front line. My level is just that of a private soldier who is active in a separate unit. What can I teach someone like that? Should I teach them how to cut the sky?

‘Then you’re not a teacher, you’re a clown.’

A clown who periodically performs tricks in front of students by cutting the sky. A special clown who brings joy and cheers to the students.

My honorary professorship cannot make me a professor at a university. Honors are most beautiful when they remain honors.

‘If you step forward for no reason, you’ll only end up losing money.’

If I try to teach someone with my shallow skills, I’ll be laughed at in an instant.

That is absolutely unacceptable. I cannot allow my pride and self-esteem to be trashed.

***

The establishment of the Military Academy was not the personal dream of His Excellency Jeon Seung-gong, but the consensus of the military. Now, even if His Excellency wants to stop, the military will push ahead.

That’s why, while playing with Teresa, I read books in between and organized my experiences to prepare to become a teacher. Acquiring knowledge and experience and teaching what you’ve acquired are two separate things.

This is a military academy that Your Majesty is preparing for the future, so as the first faculty of that academy, I must fulfill my duties.

‘I’m a teacher.’

He put the quill pen down on the desk and let out a chuckle.

I never thought the word teacher would come into my life. I worked in the Inspectorate for a short time, then in the military, and then in the National Assembly. The word teacher was a very distant word to me, who had not even entered the academy.

But I, who was like that, became a teacher. It’s something that even I, last year, couldn’t believe.

‘hmm?’

But I couldn’t continue to deny the reality that was right in front of me, so just as I was about to pick up my quill pen again, the communication port on my desk started emitting light.

“This is Wilhelm Krasius.”

– Big brother. I’m leaving.

“Elin?”

Because it was a welcome face, I picked up a communication tool instead of a quill.

There is no set date for the opening of the military academy, so what is important now is not my studies but conversations with Elin. As the eldest brother, what could be more important than hearing from his youngest sister?

– I’m sorry for contacting you so suddenly. Did I bother you during your time with your eldest brother?

“For those who have no title or position, all they have left is time. There is no need to worry.”

– I guess you must be busy with the military academy issue these days.

He smiled faintly at those words. It was a pleasure to listen to the news of this great brother and to worry about him.

“Even considering that, there’s still plenty of time. It’s not something we need to rush.”

– Is that so? That’s good.

Elin smiled faintly and looked down for a moment, as if she was organizing what she wanted to say.

“Speak comfortably. Why should you be concerned about what others think when you’re talking to your family? If you have something to say, just say it.”

– …Yes, Big Brother. Thank you.

Elin nodded at my words, then opened her mouth again.

– Big brother. Do you remember where your second brother lives?

“Of course I remember. It’s at Count Deast’s house.”

I nodded right away because it was a question that didn’t require much thought.

Elin’s second brother, the second son of our siblings, August Crassius. He is currently my younger brother who has entered the family of Count Deast in the eastern part of the Empire as a son-in-law and has become August Deast.

He was the one who suffered the most after me among my siblings, so I worried about him a lot and felt sorry for him, but fortunately, he was getting along well with his wife in the Deast family.

– The Deast Counts are also known as a prestigious military family in the world. In fact, when the Iron-Blooded Duke was subduing the Eastern Kingdoms, the Deast family head at the time served the Iron-Blooded Duke.

“That’s right. That’s why Father sent August to Deast.”

– I heard that your second brother also received an offer to be a teacher at the military academy.

“What.”

The hand holding the communication device trembled slightly because it was unexpected information.

– As my eldest brother said, the Deast family is a prestigious military family that my father chose. My second brother is said to have honed his military skills as the husband of the current Deast family head. Thanks to this, His Excellency Jeon Seung-gong also highly regarded my second brother’s knowledge.

I couldn’t open my mouth for a while because of the explanation that followed slowly.

I was still in the process of becoming close with Elin, so I wasn’t very familiar with the situations of my other siblings. All I knew was that there was no discord at home and that my nephews were healthy.

But I never thought that Elin would come with news about August.

‘August is also a teacher…’

I had no idea that I might even see August at the military academy.