AN: This is a baseball episode which spans from chapter 94 – chapter 96. It all started with brother in law’s reckless remark at the end of chapter 93….

It has ballooned to about 20000 words so I’ll adjust it so that there is no problem even if you want to skip it.

Sawadi-kun will return in chapter 97.

TN: In short, if you don’t want to read this, see you again next month.

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I remember it was still snowing when I was ordered to this remote countryside by former army marshal Ixio, a leading figure in the second prince’s faction.

Exhaling white breath, I kept a daily watch on the facility for the super behemoth beast type magic construct project that had been built outside the city.

There was nothing much in the way of research facilities back then, it was just a big hole in the ground.

I watched the workers dig holes, haul dirt off the ground, all the while while smoking like an idiot.

I’m a soldier.

It’s a soldier’s job to follow orders.

「Aren’t I a lieutenant? Why do I have to do this job?」

I suppressed such complaints and watched the hole in the ground day in and day out.

However, looking back, those days were still good.

I honestly think so.

It was right after the new year that things changed.

『Sawadi Slayra is feared to have committed treason.』

I was released from my carefree job of counting the number of workers digging the hole when I received such urgent news along with a large number of additional personnel.

Instead, I was instructed to protect Sawadi Slayra, who is suspected of treason as well as the executor of the plan to build the super behemoth beast type magic construct until the moment his guilt is confirmed.

Without time to inquire about the details with my superiors, a base was set up very close to the Slayra’s residence and worked without sleep at night.

In addition to providing personal security in the shadows, we also made a round up of the target’s friends and associates. We also checked if he bought up any dangerous property that could be used to snuff out the mansion without regard for money.

If Sawadi Slayra died before he left our care, I would never be able to get a promotion in the future.

I became a second lieutenant at the age of twenty three and had joined a faction through my family’s connections but that was when I was just starting my career.

With that thought alone, I have been desperately protecting him from the shadows on rainy days, snowy days, and even on days he was exposed to the murderous fury of Princess Slayra, from the family my family is related to.

Every time he went out and about as he pleased, I will follow him while being looked at as a suspicious person by the townspeople, barked at by dogs, mistaken for a lingerie thief, etc. and when I was wondering what was going on, after some twists and turns, he was acquitted of all charges.

I thought I was finally going to be free but I was told that he was an important person for the army and that I should continue to guard him.

It’s alright, I’m a soldier.

A soldier’s job is to follow orders.

If the top brass said he was an important person, then this young man must be necessary for this country.

I held back all kinds of complaints, held my head that’s almost tilted by the back of my hands, and protected Sawadi Slayra day in and day out.

However, a few months later, a new order was issued. It was so ridiculous that even I could not suppress the tilting of my head.

『Join the baseball team Slayra White Beam and beat the Zarkudo Style baseball team.』

To be honest, I did not understand what it meant.

Why me?

Why play ball?

Why zarkudo style?

These three “why’s” were immediately cleared up.

The order was signed by Alex Slayra, heir of the Slayra family, the family my family is related to.

I, the child of the family that is related to the Slayra family, was asked to participate in a game of baseball started by the son in law of the Slayra family, in order to show my mettle against the zarkudo style, which is strongly related to the Slayra family.

It was good that I understood what he was talking about but in the end, I stood there on the training field in the middle of summer with my head still tilted.

「Second Lieutenant Penpen Robos, I’m going to ask you to play the pitcher, that is, the key part……」

「Please call me Robos, Major Slayra. Whatever the role is, Robos will see it through to completion.」

「Don’t call me major too. I’m no longer in the military. I’m a researcher at the Magic Academy. More to the point, I’m just a housewife.」