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She Was Both Called God, as Well as Satan (Web Novel) - Chapter 73 – A New battlefield
Chapter 73 – A New battlefield
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
Thanks to Katamimi, the soldier boy received enough rest to be able to manage the schedule the next day.
Immediately after waking up, he eats breakfast while checking the schedule, and Katamimi and several homunculus soldiers help change his clothes.
He participates in various ceremonies during the day and in tea parties held by upper class women.
In the evening, he attends a banquet full of high-ranking government officials and military generals.
Between events, he changes his clothes, trims his hair, and recovers his wits.
*(E/N: Originally it was "slams his lines into his head," not "recovers his wits," but that made more sense.)
And when he becomes exhausted, he returns to his room, with Katamimi waiting by his bed.
He hugs Katamimi in his formal wear and falls asleep as it is.
Katamimi carries him to bed, changing his clothes to pajamas.
Then, she slips into the bed, sleeping and embracing the soldier boy in their rest.
Such a life continued for several weeks before he was finally released.
Waiting for him was a new rank, emblem, and position.
His rank, originally the lowest, became that of an officer's, and his position, originally the frontlines, had moved to the backlines. Once a soldier boy, he is now a young officer.
"...Really... this room is so empty..." murmured the young officer, inspecting his new office.
Katamimi responds to his soliloquy, "This document says that 'If you need anything else, apply,'" and hands him a thick document.
Upon receiving the document, the young officer merely sighed...
*(E/N: Originally, he didn't sigh, it said "he was handed over")
"The military is really just a government office job... By the way, I've heard a rumor. The army will resist change using the might of the bureaucracy, just as they put their all into fighting the enemy..."
*(E/N: It originally wrote "The army will fight the documents with all its might, and fight the enemy with extra power...")
Her face gradually growing more determined, Katamimi encouraged the young soldier boy.
*(E/N: I added the "growing determined" part for flow.)
"Let's fight with all our might. This is our new battlefield!"
The new workplace given to the young officer was a department whose main purpose was to recycle the newly established homunculus soldiers.
The main task here was to train injured homunculus soldiers for new jobs.
This department was created by the Imperial Headquarters, knowing the truth behind the soldier boy's "success."
Reviewing the true records of the "hero's battle" revealed that recycled homunculus soldiers had a higher morale than new homunculus soldiers.
Unfortunately, no matter how high morale was, there were many difficulties associated with sending recycled homunculi to the frontlines.
Homunculus soldiers not only serve as weapons but also act as a vital comfort for human soldiers.
If recycled homunculi were to be sent to the front lines, it is highly likely that a myriad of complaints would emerge among the soldiers, the most likely being "I was forced to use second-hand goods!!!"
There is a good chance that dissatisfaction amongst soldiers would swell.
Resultingly, the Imperial Headquarters made the decision to give the recycled soldiers only backline tasks.
The Imperial Headquarters had the idea of improving frontline facilities by placing all the recycled soldiers under the command of the "hero".
However, the military had no idea what to prepare, resulting them saying things like:
"Well, apparently he's done something like this before, so let's just leave it to him."
"It'll also be a bit of a hassle if you complain and have it become a liability issue."
"Therefore, know that if you make a mistake, it's no big deal; if you succeed, think of it as a profit."
"Then, let's make an appropriate budget."
As a result of the meeting, the old office given had only desks, chairs, and shelves.
Putting aside the dusty office, the young officer became enthusiastic.
"OK!!! For now, let's clean up!!!"
It's been a while since the young officer was assigned to a new workplace.
Having been given the task of recycling homunculus soldiers, he diligently put in effort towards his new job; because, while this may have been the job he was originally looking for, the young officer struggled with the constant paperwork sent from the front lines.
Outside the building where he is residing in, many recycled soldiers are learning how to build various facilities using specialized construction wands.
Owing to the success of him and the recycled soldiers, the friendly army's front-line facilities became significantly enhanced, greatly helping them prevent invasions from the enemy army.
Seeing such successful results from the young officer, other countries also created similar departments and have begun to produce similar recycled soldiers.
As a result, the number of homunculus soldiers who remain alive are gradually decreasing; however, the armed forces of each country have employed recycled soldiers to enhance various facilities, causing battles to intensify on the frontlines. Consequently, each country was forced to purchase an increasing number of weapons from the Republic of Sages to continue the war.
*(E/N: Originally, it was just "a large amount," but "an increasing number of" fit better.)
During this time, the young officer decided to give the recycled soldiers a new job before other countries.
It was a groundbreaking idea that was ahead of its time and was a steppingstone to what he would accomplish in the future.
Down in a small-town diner run by an old elderly couple, the two elders mumbled amongst themselves during the preparation.
*(E/N: Originally, it was "chatting with Mogomogo," which means to mumble in Japanese, so I saw fit to adjust.)
"Is it today? Is it really coming?"
"It seems that a military officer is coming to say just that."
While chatting, the two move their hands to prepare the food to be served to the customers.
At that time, the door at the entrance of the cafeteria was knocked.
The couple who noticed the knock stopped the preparation and left the kitchen, opening the door together.
A soldier stood on the entrance, with a girl beside him.
"Eh... is this the right address?"
The soldier checks a small notepad and nods affirmingly.
"Oh, good, good. No doubt here. Sorry I made you wait. This is the homunculus that will be provided to you."
The soldier pushes the back of the girl standing beside him.
The girl whose back was pushed stepped forward a single step, saying,
"Thank you for your support from today!"
She bowed her head down.
In this era, every country is engaged daily warfare.
Therefore, every country has turned all their resources towards the military, causing pressure to the lives of their people in various ways: Heavy taxes were levied to pay for weapons and homunculus soldiers from the Republic of Sages, young workers were taken to mass-produce various weapons for use on the front lines, and research was also militarily focused. Entertainment had disappeared from the town.
People had no choice but to survive every day desperately.
The town has lost its vibrancy and security has deteriorated significantly.
Everyone was frustrated by this eternal and painful time.
Then, one day arrived.
The young officer was walking around the nearby shopping district, thinking of eating outside the base for the first time in a long time.
When he entered a cafeteria, attracted by the delicious smell, the cafeteria clerk became happy and said,
"Oh! You're a hero! Welcome to our cafeteria!"
They greeted him cheerfully.
The young officer smiled at the clerk, looking down at the menu that was provided to him, and he was surprised at the number of items on the menu.
"Hm? Is this all??"
The clerk became embarrassed by the comments of the young officer, apologizing.
"I'm sorry, Hero. The truth is, my son went to a military factory for labor and isn't in the kitchen. Thus, the number of dishes that we can serve has decreased. I'm not the only one. Nowadays, there is a shortage of manpower everywhere... everyone is lamenting that they can't work... "
Convinced, the young officer decided to choose a dish that suit the diner.
Then, the clerk hurriedly returned to the kitchen and started cooking.
He kept staring at such a figure...
A large pile of documents awaited the youth officer who returned to the base after eating, so he processed the papers, before realizing it was already dark.
After work, what happened in the daytime gnawed at his mind, though it had long passed.
In fact, he was suffering from a problem.
At this point, he now commanded many recycled soldiers, but recently there have been fewer places where the recycled soldiers can play an active role.
Almost all frontline facilities have already been built, and neither supply nor communications units needed any more recycled troops.
Additionally, there was a situation that bothered him even more.
It was an update of the homunculus soldiers.
The Republic of Sages created new homunculus technology every day, which was subsequently sold to other countries in the form of new homunculus soldiers.
Well, the update didn't mean that all homunculus soldiers would be replaced overnight.
Firstly, new models will be introduced preferentially on important fronts, but inevitably, the new homunculus soldiers come to dominate on all fronts.
If all the homunculus soldiers are updated to the new model, the old homunculus soldiers would be rendered completely obsolete.
Until now, old models were slaughtered, preventing the problem, but the young officer would not consider that.
Unfortunately, they were running out of work for them to do.
If he let too many homunculus soldiers idle, he didn't know what the upper management will say.
Such problems plagued the young officer's mind.
(Currently, the military has a surplus of recycled soldiers and old-fashioned homunculus soldiers.
They may be military-grade, durable, and obedient, yet it's difficult to come up with any new ideas.
However, they can faithfully do what they are taught.
Hm... the military troubled with surplus personnel, while the town is suffering from a labor shortage...
Many people have been mobilized in military factories, putting pressure on their daily lives.
Substitutes for daily necessities and foodstuffs are on the market, which is a major economic obstacle...)
"That!? Isn't this something that can be done!?"
