CH 96.7

「Yeah, Laura-san, thanks for your hard work.」

「Thanks, we managed to win. Thanks for your hard work, Second Lieutenant, Sergeant.」

When she came back from batting, she smoked the cigarette she had received from her husband and thanked us though there was no trace of sweat on her face.

I thought that someday, I’ll be a colonel but……I feel like my ability is too lacking compared to her.

This is baseball but I’m sure she’s been able to get the same surefire results in big battles where her men’s lives were on the line just as she did today.

I can’t do it.

I must go slowly and surely.

As a Robos, I must act appropriately like what a Robos would.

I somehow looked at East. I don’t know what he was thinking but he looked back at me……

He nodded with a mysterious expression on his face.

-0-

Later, when the noble league was finally over, I no longer had to practice baseball.

We were playing catch to kill time on the practice field when suddenly, we were visited by a scary inspector.

It was Alex Slayra, older brother of Laura Slayra, whom in many ways I could never be mad at.

Without prior notice, he showed up at the practice field with his little sister and brother-in-law in tow.

And for some reason, even Tashiba and Mamu stood erect and saluted at him.

「You must be Pen Pen Robos and you must be East Love. I’ve read your reports. You did a good job.」

「Yes! Thank you very much!」

「I am honored!」

My face remained stiff but I breathed a deep sigh of relief inwardly.

I wanted to hear that I had done well so I threw the white ball from morning till night day after day.

Given the praise, can we assume that we met the expectations?

「Of course, if you could have ranked higher than the zarkudo, I would no longer say anything but from what I heard from….my sister, that would be difficult to do. This y.e.a.r, for the time being, let’s just be happy that we could see the possibilities.」

「Wha……this year……is it?」

Does this mean that we need to move up the rankings next year……?

「You do realize that there are people in the army who got in trouble in the royal capital given that the team that bears the name Slayra……is being played with by the Zarkudo even if it’s only in baseball, don’t you?」

How could I say no to his excellency Alex, who looked down on me as he exhaled his cigarette smoke?

「Ah…… of course, I do!」

「So, what is your mission?」

「To defeat the zarkudo!」

「Then, do just that.」

「Sir, yes, sir!」

I am scared of Major Slayra but still not as scared as I am with his excellency Alex.

I shrank back and endured the pressure as I had done when my father scolded me when I was a small child.

「Ah, right. You can go back to your hometown for winter. I’ll get your train ticket ready.」

「Thank you very much!」

It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to return to my hometown in the north and I’m glad to be able to do so.

If possible, I would have preferred to go back during the hot summer months but……

「And……East Love, you’ve been promoted to staff sergeant. You will receive your letter of appointment shortly. Keep up the good work.」

「Thank you very much! I will continue to strive for the mission!」

East was promoted. Well, promotions come fast and furious until you reach the rank of lieutenant.

We’ll have to hold a celebratory party later.

As I was thinking about this, the face of his excellency Alex turned to me.

「Pen Pen Robos, you are already a second lieutenant so it won’t be easy for you to get a promotion. However, it would be unfair if only……your partner is rewarded. Let me know if you have anything you want and I will grant it to the best of my ability.」

Eh……even I would be troubled if asked with that out of the blue.

Money, alcohol, cigarettes, and many other desires immediately came to my mind…..

The first thing that came to my mind and did not immediately disappear was the face of a goatkin with an “I’m in trouble” eyebrows.

「…..then, please reward those two girls with something. They worked really hard on this mission.」

I pointed my hand at Tashiba and Mamu, who froze, and it was only then his excellency Alex seemed to notice their presence.

「Who are those two?」

「They are from my company. They are in charge of educating the two of yours.」

Sawadi Slayra immediately answered his excellency Alex’ question.

His excellency looked at him with eyes of a completely different temperature compared to how he looks at us. Then, he touched his chin and looked as if he was troubled.