Abandoned by my Childhood Friend, I Became a War Hero chapter 54

54 – Slight Changes #2

It’s hard to intervene.

Conflicts always arise in places where two or more people are gathered. Even in a secluded rural village or in the military where top-down is the rule.

Of course, conflicts occur within the academy as well.

Resolving conflicts that occur in human relationships is not only very difficult, but it is easy to be criticized by both sides, and it is rare that something comes back to me when I solve it well.

Even in the military, I never got involved in these conflicts. And I intend to do so in the future.

I was busy with my own work, but I didn’t have time to take care of other people’s circumstances. There’s no way I’ve ever done anything to stop kids from fighting.

But in this world, even if you are not used to it, there are certain things you must do, and right now was such a moment. However, there was little chance of me solving this problem on my own.

And the person I go to when I’m like this has been decided.

I headed to the office after confirming that Saladin was going to the infirmary after morning class. Fortunately, there was the person I was looking for.

“Ummm, the Eisenfeld student tactical report… It’s spotless. But, if you make up for this a bit….”

Instructor Lilya had been immersed in paperwork since the morning.

She was reviewing the assignments submitted by students one by one in her tactics class, and in the process, she praised the strengths of the tactical strategies presented by the students, while pointing out areas that needed revision.

Looking at the contents from the sidelines, it was quite impressive even to me who had spent decades in the military. I wonder if it’s a tactic that makes me nod my head as a tactical instructor.

With this level of skill, it seemed like he would be able to play a significant role in the headquarters under Marquis Karlstein. Of course, now that the war is over and the military is being massively reduced, it doesn’t mean much to make this assumption.

As I was thinking about that, I suddenly became curious.

Instructor Lilya said that she was from a gentry from an aristocratic family that was much wealthier than commoners. She must have grown up in an environment where everything was provided.

According to her, she graduated from Fillion Academy early, and her grandfather was a count, so she must have grown up in an environment that would envy even the ranks of nobles. How did she come to teach tactics and history at her academy?

With that thought in mind, she waited for her work to be over, when Instructor Lilya finally finished and took off her glasses and began to stretch her.

“Ugh-! Finished-!”

“… ….”

Hmm, how to say.

It shouldn’t be obvious to think this way, but when Instructor Lilya stretched her, it looked like her child was doing gymnastics to grow taller.

Instructor Lilya let out a sigh with her relaxed face after stretching her, then she belatedly realized that I was looking at her and she jumped up in surprise.

“That, Instructor Graham! Since when have you been watching!?”

“I’ve been watching since I was reviewing Eisenfeld’s assignments.”

“That, almost from the beginning!”

Seeing my calm reply, Instructor Lilya’s cheeks turned slightly red, and she suddenly did something incomprehensible, such as straightening her bangs or fixing her clothes.

“Oh my gosh! If you’ve been watching, please tell me… ! Silently watching her lady’s careless look… Is that something you shouldn’t do as a gentleman?”

A lady? Gentleman?

Apart from the fact that I am a man who would suit the word gentleman, what bothered me the most was the word lady.

No matter how Lilya looked at it, she didn’t look like a lady… If I mention that, I’m sure he’ll get angry. Even I, who was not familiar with human relationships, knew that much.

“Sorry. He was so focused that I didn’t want to disturb him.”

“Well, if that’s the reason, I can’t help it.”

Instructor Lilya seemed to think that he raised his voice for nothing, scratching his cheek with a shy face and speaking shyly.

I continued talking while glancing at the papers piled on the desk.

“You are very focused. I can tell just by looking at the students carefully.”

“Of course. Students who study tactics are more likely to enlist as officers in the Imperial Army in the future. Later, these students will graduate and command the Imperial Army, so shouldn’t I be responsible for teaching them?”

Instructor Lirya looked down and said with a somewhat bitter expression.

“It’s a big deal when someone dies senselessly on the battlefield for teaching the wrong tactics.”

“… ….”

For some reason, at this moment she felt as if she had glimpsed a hidden dark side of her past.

But instead of digging deeper into this topic, I switched to another story instead.

“Actually, I have something to consult with Instructor Lyra.”

“Consultation?”

I explained her current situation to Instructor Lilya.

About Saladin’s hostile attitude and discord within the class.

Instructor Lilya listened intently to my explanation for a while, then nodded her head and said.

“This is common.”

“Is this common?”

“The meaning has faded a lot because it was written a little indiscriminately, but there is a saying that children grow up fighting. Eighteen is not a child… To be honest, you’re not very mature, are you?”

“Um….”

She didn’t know whether to agree or not.

When I was that age, I was at the forefront of the army and fought for my life in front of monsters every day.

Can you relate to the saying that kids grow up fighting?

At my silence, Instructor Lyra also put on an ambiguous expression, probably thinking that I might have given an analogy to an inappropriate person.

I quickly changed the topic because of the sudden awkwardness.

“Anyway, Instructor Lyra seems to have a lot of experience in this sort of thing, so she wanted to hear her opinion.”

“Well, if Instructor Graham needs my help, of course I should! However….”

Instructor Lilya looked around. There were also other instructors in the office, so it was an inappropriate place to have a long conversation.

I could already feel the eyes of the other instructors glancing at me with just a short conversation.

It’s lunchtime soon anyway. Instructor Lilya spoke cautiously with a shy expression.

“It’s a little vague to talk about it here. For what happened last time, I want to properly apologize… Shall we have a light meal outside at the bar… ?”

I didn’t turn down the offer.

***

Honestly, Instructor Lyra said that she would serve meals, but there was no problem at all with the student cafeteria or the inexpensive cafeteria on campus.

How many times have you received help from Instructor Lilya so far? How can you care about that? As long as we could talk comfortably in a quiet place, it didn’t matter.

However, the meal that Instructor Lilya mentioned was quite serious.

We took the tram to an upscale restaurant in District 7. At a glance, it was a restaurant with a fairly burdensome price to enjoy a light meal.

I wondered if I had to come all the way to this place… Come to think of it, Instructor Lilya wasn’t just an aristocrat, he must have lived a life worthy of a decent aristocrat. I’m sure you’ve been to this restaurant many times.

Rather, it might be common sense for Instructor Lirya to enjoy a light meal in a place like this.

I respect her opinion and enter her restaurant without bothering to say no.

“Ummm… Conti, Cassore… ? Brunoise… ? That, so….”

However, Instructor Lilya found it difficult to even read her menu board, and her fingertips trembled with her bewildered expression. No matter how he looked at it, he didn’t look like a restaurant like this at all.

“… Is this your first time here?”

“Oh no! It can’t be! I’ve been here so often! So, Instructor Graham, don’t be burdened at all and just trust me- um, uhm….”

Instructor Lilya rolled her eyes as she looked at the menu board with strange words written on it that were not in the official language of the empire. Eventually, she put down her menu board with a short sigh and answered honestly.

“Haa… that’s right. Actually, this is my first time here….”

“Then it would have been fine if I had chosen a more convenient store.”

“I wanted to treat Instructor Graham. That and… I also wanted to come to a restaurant like this with a man alone one day….”

Instructor Lilya muttered to herself as she covered her face with her menu board as she was about to say her final words.

She, of course, may be talking to herself to her, but she was all heard by me.

But instead of reacting to those words, I calmly raised my hand and called a passing waiter.

When the employee met my gaze, he made a surprised expression for a moment. Then she changed her expression and approached the table with a soft smile and asked,

“Yes, sir. Do you need anything?”

“This is my first time visiting a place like this, so may I ask for a menu recommendation?”

The clerk nodded and kindly answered my question.

“Of course. Meat dishes and seafood dishes are especially popular in our restaurant. For steak, we recommend Chateaubriand or Filet Mignon, and for seafood, oyster gratin and salmon tartare are popular.”

Instructor Lirya, who was listening by the side, asked in a puzzled tone.

“Chateau… yes? What is that?”

“As for the menu-“

In the end, we ordered several dishes according to the waiter’s recommendation.

After her spell was finished, Instructor Lilya bowed her head down with her shy face looking exhausted.

“Sorry….”

“No. It could be.”

“Instructor Graham is always calm. When I arrived, I was so flustered that I didn’t even know what it was… Are you more familiar with this store than I am?”

“Nothing like that.”

I shook my head slightly and answered.

When I was young, I grew up in the countryside, and when I grew up, I ate meals provided by the military. How could I be used to a place like this?

I just acted the way I always did. In any restaurant, if you follow the staff’s recommendation, at least you won’t fail. I thought it wouldn’t be much different in such a high-end restaurant.

Actually, Instructor Lilya seemed a bit intimidated by the authentic atmosphere of the restaurant, whether it was the menu or the store atmosphere.

“Honestly, I was surprised.”

“Did you think I would be used to a place like this?”

I nodded slightly. There was no reason to deny the fact.

Instructor Lyria opened her mouth with an awkward smile.

“Not too much. Actually-“

The moment Instructor Lilya was about to say her words with a serious expression, the waitress suddenly approached with a clicking sound and placed two cups of coffee on the table.

We, who had never ordered coffee before, asked the waiter a little puzzled.

“Is coffee served?”

“It is provided as a service.”

“Well, thank you.”

“Nothing.”

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The long-haired, mature-looking waiter gave me a kind eye smile and withdrew.

Instructor Lirya, who was about to resume the story that had been interrupted for a while, continued talking with a nervous expression.

“Actually, I-“

At that moment, a different waiter came to the table. He was a tall, elegant employee with bobbed hair.

“Guest. Is there anything else you need?”

“… No. Doesn’t exist.”

“If you need anything anytime, just let me know. I can also help you refill your coffee.”

I haven’t had a bite yet.

I nodded lightly, and the short-haired employee also smiled at me and backed away. He didn’t even look at Instructor Lilya.

After that, the waitresses never called, but they came up to the table and talked to me for various reasons.

While thinking that the waitress was quite kind, perhaps because it was an expensive restaurant, Instructor Lirya opened her mouth with a slightly tired expression.

“Instructor Graham… Are you popular?”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Great.”

For some reason, Instructor Lilya didn’t seem very happy when she said that.