Weltkrieg: A Youjo Senki Fic

"Heeh, so you're under Major Tanya Degurechaff," I never expect the girl much less my friend when we still refugees in Empire became a soldier for the fatherland.

"Right, though it was hard at first, I'm sure I won't survive a week on the Rhine, but then Major came so everything will be alright." She said with a beaming smile, pure praise for the Major in question.

Somehow, I felt a twinging pain inside of me, hearing her praise...well, we're 6 years apart, after all.

Nevertheless, she's never struck me as a girl who has an iron will keeping all the horror of war away, and managed to retain that pure smile of her.

Sometimes, I envy these kinds of people.

I'm sure she has her reason, vengeance perhaps? Given her parents died amidst the flame of revolution in the Union.

I still recognize a girl among countless others, no more than 13th cried, and cried. The revolution didn't merely let its claw torn the Russy Empire apart, but also those who still loyal with it.

I clenched my teeth, how many times everyone has to suffer. How many times do I have to cause them to suffer? The hand-stained not only in blood but flame, vengeance, hatred.

Wiping away those thoughts in a single swipe, we've arrived at the 203rd mage battalion recruitment offices.

I thought these were an excellent time to finally met her.

The peerless goddess of war, a pair of silver wings enveloped her back.

The Argent.

Tanya Degurechaff.

As Visha tried to reach the handle.

"This is impossible!" A man in fit a fierce rage, shouted as he came out of the room.

We stupefied, examining his back until it fades into a corner.

We naturally looked at each other, then shrugged as it was another day.

"How many times is it, Major? Are these men so underqualified to your eyes?"

"I have to meet the standard, if they can't counter such measly optical formula, they even won't last a minute on the field, much less keeping up with other recruits," Came a sigh, it was like a child trying to deepen her voice to match those to a.d.u.l.t.

"Hmm? Look like we've got a guest." She shifted her attention to us, especially me. I feel those eyes, a cold, scrutinizing as she checked how my worth was.

A keen one, Indeed. As expected of the Prodigy silver wing.

"Here's the next batch list, Major." Visha properly placed the stack of paper on the Major Degurechaff table.

"Ah, please apologize me for my sudden intrusion, and I was near the neighborhood so I thought I could greet a fellow silver wing here," I said, with a brief salute.

"Hmph, that's fine, it's time for a break anyway." She grunted.

"Then please excuse me." The high-ranking officer from before saluted then leaves the room.

Now it just me, her, and Visha.

"Would you prefer coffee, Major Richard?"

The argent with a subtle glared at me. Though it didn't go noticed by Visha who has been tilting her lovely head since the beginning, before breaking off toward the ornate door preparing some coffee.

"Absolutely, please."

It was like an eternity, first chancellor then her, can I just have a relaxing chat with someone or something?

Sweat formed on my back, I wonder what am I actually doing?!

Of course, an 11-year-old child soldier won't be normal. How could I assume, therefore? Unless she's a person who somehow possessed a previous memory of life.

They could be anything, a prodigy, a madman, there's a thin line between.

"What do you want Major? I'm certain someone of your caliber won't squander his time away in the meaningless endeavor?"

Ah, at this time I wonder where did violet go? I'm certain she's fine without me, right? Or rather, is it me that not fine without her around?

I want to nuzzle her so bad. I could rub that silky hair all day. Stop that.

Okay, I'm not here to play or something, stupid adolescent minds. I need to stop these overthinking, or at least control it.

The silence represents the answer.

"Sigh, I thought someone like you won't squander his time away." She looked up and down at my small figures, not her figure is also bigger than mine too, though.

"Eh?" Did she think, I came here to do business?

There's something wrong with that line of thoughts.

"No, as I said, I merely want a friendly banter or something. But is it so inappropriate to enjoy a relaxing break?" I answered as I seated myself on a sofa.

"No, nothing wrong with that. It just I have an excessive expectation of you."

"What do you expect I am?" I seriously arched a brow, the ultimate brow-raising, my ill.u.s.trious subordinate Albert praised over. Since he said, I was too stoic, flat or something, not before I silenced him with a Ruger pistol, of course.

"Some kind of walking autonomous armor or something?" I asked incredulously.

"As I ashamed to admit it and read your dossier, yes." She said, with her head cast down to the floor as she sat there behind the desk.

The profound silence filled between us.

The ice breaks, "Pfffttt...Hahahaha! You truly something else Major Tanya Degurechaff, a fascinating person, indeed. Hahahaha!" With a boisterous laugh, I exclaimed.

"Wha!" Her astonished face promptly turned beet red, genuinely shocked over my hearty laugh. Though I didn't detect it, as I still laughed over her confession.

"Is something wrong Major Richard?" Visha called beside me, rending me out of my stupor.

"No, there's nothing wrong Second-Lieutenant." I stopped, as she poured a cup of fragrant coffee on the polished table.

"Well, don't be stiff. Our age is similar, our rank is even. No need for formality, it's a break after all." I slowly sipped the hot coffee.

It's…delicious, I never fan of this particular kind of drink, but by Fatherland's beard Visha sure know how to make these.

"Sigh, guess You're right…somehow all these weights are slowly squashing me." He shrugged, reaching the cup that has been poured.

"Well, a break off all these matters Is needed after all." Visha chirped her own remark in.

"You seem familiar with him Visha."

"Well, we met when we were a refugee, after all. How long is it, three years?"

"I see." Tanya nod, contemplating of our situation back then.

"At that time, you were a crybaby though, until I offered you my stash of chocolate bars," I smirked behind the cup.

After that, she's a practically a fanatic when it comes to something smelled chocolate.

"Richard!" She frantically waves her hands up and down, "Aren't we've agreed to forget that!"

"Ah, please apologize me of my tardiness," I smirked again, this time raising my hat in mockery of apology.

"Mou!" She pouted at me, then looked away like a child...no, that's adorable!

I managed to see a faint laugh of the Major Tanya Degurechaff before it faded away.

"I see, something like this is not bad at all…" She muttered though it was loud enough for us to hear.

"Finally, I can see you feel relaxed Major," Visha breathes a sigh of relief.

"You mean?" She raised an eyebrow.

"You always scowl away when looking at those stacks of papers in a break…and I don't want to disturb you or so…"

"A good leader should always wear their best smiles, or I am a failure in the face of my subordinate…huh."

"No, that's not what I mean! I think you should...uh…be more honest at least when there's no one around, ehm!" Visha nodded vigorously at Tanya.

"I-I see." She falls into her thought, pinching her chin. Perhaps stupefied at Visha exclaims?

"Incidentally, I'm merely intrigued, what were you doing before coming here, Major Richard." Tanya shifted the topics.

"Ah, I just turned in my proposal to the General Staff this morning." Not a lie of course.

"May I know?"

"It was about, the proposal for the creation of backline mages."

"Backline mages?"

"You know, the people who fail the mages tests or simply didn't have enough mana to operate on the battlefield. They were sent over straight to the front along regular conscript, can you believe that?!"

Her fierce face said to continue, as she raptly listened to me.

"Empire logistic department Is the worst. They could at least recruit them and use them as auxiliaries forces supporting the front from behind."

"Can you elaborate, major" She grew curious of my proposal.

"Do you know what mages are, before…operation orbs invented?"

"Yes, they were recognized as wizards, witches if my practical knowledge didn't betray me."

"That's right before we undoubtedly become the flying artillery we are, mages are an excellent support. They're healers, alchemist, technocrats, they could do many more than shooting targets from the Air."

"So, I tore the ancient spell books at the Imperial War college library, efficiently converted them until they could be implemented inside Operation orbs.

And what did I discover? Reinforcement formula to enhance the durability of equipment on the field, healing formula to replace Morfin as a painkiller. It made me almost cried over the absurdity why the Empire, why the entire world won't adopt these convenient spells."

"I take it they accept your ambitious proposal?" Tanya asked with a gulped as she was keenly regretting something.

"Yes, thanks for the Fatherland Meritocracy and the General Staff keen insight, I reasonably managed to make it a successful pass."

I don't perceive why, but she has grown restless hearing my story.

She looked like just seen a ghost or something, her hands leaned over the table concealing her mouth.

I faintly hear teeth-gnashing and being X or something.

Must be my lively imagination.

"What's the necessary criteria for these auxiliary mages?"

"Everyone that at least capable to remotely cast a spell, even the most fundamental one."

"I-I see…" She mused again, her gaze shifted to Visha as screaming for her to leave the room or something.

Poor Visha, she could only tilt her head innocently at Tanya.

Gah, I need Violet right now…my urge for cuteness, it's overloading!

Okay stop being a chuuni for now, that's…cringy, please, seriously stop!

"I can only wish you a good luck Major, I hope these recent additions in our doctrine could contribute to the end of the war." She said in her strict tone, although I felt she just masked something away. A regret perhaps?

I'm never a proficient reader, anyway.

"That's my sole intention, major" I looked at my watch, pocketing it back.

"I guess, it's time for this to be over. A shame really, I can, however, have many pleasant things to share."

"I share the expressed sentiment. It was rare to discover a person to reasonably and pleasantly to talk. I sincerely hope we could meet again, Major Richard." We shake hands.

"Oh, you nothing but need to search it close enough," I naturally said, as I briefly glance at Visha.

Before I take a break to the door, I turned away, overlooking them again.

"Major, would you…ehm, you know to transfer Visha to me?" I instantly flashed a gentle smile at her.

She glanced to Visha who with immense eyes said, Eh? Me?

"Regrettably, she's not for sale, no matter the price. She's a precious subordinate of mine." She properly managed to smile back.

"I see a pity really. Her coffee is exquisite, well then see you later Major Tanya Degurechaff."