After Reichel submitted her thesis entitled 'Lehre No.126' anonymously, she was given the rank of Second Lieutenant as a reward by the High Office, and with it came the responsibility and privilege of leading as well as taking care of 50 men.

These 50 men were survivors of the incident at Urganschoft, meaning they were recruits with a slight if not a large amount of psychological trauma gained after the gruesome scene of a battle, also meaning that Reichel had to tend to their psychological needs.

But Reichel, who was ignorant of the effects of psychological trauma just made them undergo large amounts of training. At first the recruits wanted to leave due to the sheer intensity, but after a week of running a marathon with their armour on they found the training to be some sort of unorthodox therapy which helps them forget about the trauma they suffered at the Urganschoft incident.

Second Lieutenant, Reichel Schwertspinne, Russiva Imperial Year 782 Month 4, Day 3, Berilian Officer Academy, Deutsche Imperial Army

*thwack*

*phuk!*

*crack*

Wood made contact with the clothes, skin, and hair of recruits ... and with them the sound that made it seem like it was actually sledgehammers hitting concrete.

"Come on, stand up, hit faster and harder! HAHAHAHA!"

Reichel's voice thundered, but it was drowned out by the squeals of ten members of her new platoon.

"Ahhhh save me!"

"Help!"

"I don't want to dieeeee--"

*kwak!*

"And that's another person out cold. When will you learn that you have to not get hit to actually win?"

The recruits gulped in fear, that statement just now made by their sadistic platoon leader was completely oblivious to the limits of the human body, but they couldn't actually say anything because they were all too afraid to get hit by Reichel's wooden training sword.

Reichel ... now nicknamed 'Schwarzer Engel' (Black Angel) seemed more like a demon after witnessing all the atrocities she pushed to the new recruits under the guise of training.

But today for some reason just seemed to be more intense, as the group of fifty were split into five groups of ten and made to fight their Lieutenant in what felt like a death sentence with wooden swords.

Even if it was 1v10, they were butchered mercilessly and only left off if they faint, get knocked out, break a bone, snap a tendon, dislocate a joint, or made to vomit.

"Letters! Letters for Lieutenant Reichel Schwertspinne!" A soldier from another unit had visited her platoon's zone, carrying what seemed to be two envelopes assigned to Reichel, However Reichel's wooden sword didn't stop beating the batch she was currently 'training'.

*bonk!* And with that the final member of the first ten of Reichel's platoon had been knocked out.

"Reading letters can be done later, Next batch!"

Reichel ignored the runner, and turned her gaze to the next ten men that she was going to have fun hitting her sword with.

"One of the letters is from a Duke named Theodor, and the other one is from the Imperial High Office!"

And with the runner's words, Reichel stopped motioning her sword menacingly. The words 'High Office' also made her platoon members hold their breaths.

"Give me the letters."

The members of Reichel's platoon sighed in relief, as if they had just escaped death.

Theodor von Blohm, an influential noble with the respectable rank of Duke as well as one of the largest suppliers in the Empery.

... As well as Reichel's legal 'caretaker'.

Not only did a letter come from him, but there was also a letter from the Imperial High Office.

Letters from two very important entities in the Empery had just sent a letter to her hands, and she couldn't afford to not read them.

'First is ... Theodor's ...'

If it was from Theodor, it was most likely a letter containing an update about her little 'invention'.

With sweat still flowing down Reichel's unnaturally pale skin from the training and 'binge' eating she had been doing, she opened the letter with large expectations.

Imperial Year 782 Month 4 Day 2

Second Lieutenant Reichel Schwertspinne

We are thrilled to say that your design for the new weapon named the Armbrust was approved for immediate mass-production by the Imperial Arms Division, 10,000 orders for a copy of the weapon have been placed after the demonstration, and as per the contract that was agreed upon the Blohm Company and yourself, 10% of the profits gained have been successfully saved in your name ...

Reichel was nodding in accordance to the words, she wasn't surprised at all as she knew that the Imperial Arms Division would immediately accept any advantages in technology in less than a heartbeat no matter how much money it took.

The Empery's pockets ran deep and it was also going to the right places, and it was also something that Reichel was thankful for.

Reichel gave a few nods of approval there and there, but as she read the letter more ...

We would have liked to send you the coffers filled with the funds you have rightfully earned, but as of now the Blohm Company cannot spare any manpower due to the fact that all of the Blohm Company's personnel had been tasked to keep the information about the Armbrust a secret available to only a few influential officials until it is ready for mass-production, instead we would like for you, the designer to understand the weight of our situation and come claim the funds at the Blohm Company Headquarters in Berilian.

Until your arrival, we will make sure that the money is in safe hands.

Sincerely,

The Blohm Company

...

...

...

Reichel put her hand on her forehead to hide her expression. She was as dazed as one could possibly be.

It was not only until a few seconds after the dazedness that Reichel finally allowed the contents of the first to sink in.

'What the hell?' Reichel was practically laughing.

The old man's friend ... now caretaker of Reichel was practically telling her 'I know you're a materialistic person, You have earned your money rightfully through a fair trade but you'll have to come to the capital to actually claim your money.'

"Fufufufufu ... hahahahahaha ... hahahahaha ..."

'This is absurd ...'

"Hahahaha ... Ahahahaha ..." Reichel couldn't stop laughing like a maniac.

Usually she would keep her poker face intact so as to not show any susceptible weaknesses, but this was just too good even for her to actually keep up her normal expression.

"... AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The volume of her laughing could now be heard outside the tent, and with the sound of Reichel's laughter came a feeling of uneasiness from the members of her platoon.

In unease they started to train harder, perhaps thinking that their Lieutenant once again had something in store for them after one of them mistakenly committed such a small issue that shouldn't normally prosecute a person for.

But eventually, the laughter died down and the Lieutenant never came out of her tent, which made the recruits sigh in relief as their pace of training dropped to the normal speed.

'That guy must be crazy ...' Reichel thought inside her head as the face of Theodor once again surfaced in her mind.

The man's outgoing friendliness seemed to be genuine at first glance, but Reichel being the skeptic prick she was obviously not going to buy into any of that. The man may have been a friend to the old man, but now that he was dead it was very much possible that he had some ulterior motive for taking care of her and wanting to adopt her into his household.

'Not to mention ...'

The man was a sly fox, underneath his friendly appearance was a cunning that even Reichel was impressed with.

'Well, it's still inferior to me but nonetheless it does deserve some praise.'

Rose to the rank of Duke in his lifetime despite being a commoner, the man being an outstanding entrepeneur managed to buy his way into the top ranks of nobility without any kind of third party's support.

Thedor worked and bled like a workhorse for his dream, naturally even Reichel would have to respect somebody like that.

'But even still, it seems like you lack the necessary intellect to even try and predict my actions ...'

Reichel was a materialistic person, and if the material gain outweighed any small sentiments she had, she would switch them out with each other in a heartbeat.

The scent of money was alluring, Reichel was very much tempted to go the the capital and claim the money herself.

But there was just one problem ...

'It's not like I actually need the money right now.' Reichel snorted at the man's attempt to try and get her out of No Man's Land.

There was no place on the battlefield to use money, there was no place in the camp to actually use money. Well she could perhaps bribe officers to make her do her bidding but she would prefer to forge good relationships with them instead because it brought even better results.

Reichel would stay in the Sturm Division until she turned 18, which were 8 months from there. But until then, she would never take a step outside of it.

'You'll just have to try better next time it seems ... Although I doubt you'll succeed anyways.'

*fwiish* Reichel and while Reichel was sipping from a cup of lemonade ... She opened the second letter, and in it was content that she had not expected at all.

Imperial Year 782 Month 4 Day 4

Second Lieutenant Reichel Schwertspinne

Congratulations! You have received this letter to inform you regarding the acceptance of your request for admission to the Berilian Imperial Officer School! ...

*KHAK*

Reichel choked on her drink.

She coughed for a few seconds before easing the irritating sensation on her throat and then continuing to her thoughts.

'What the hell!?' Reichel was convinced she was hallucinating ...

She rubbed her eyes and once again read the first sentence of the letter.

Congratulations! You have received this letter to inform you regarding the acceptance of your request for admission to the Berilian Imperial Officer School! ...

But no matter how much she rubbed her eyes it seemed that the words 'admission to Officer School' won't disappear from the implant on her head.

'I'm ... not hallucinating ...'

Reichel let the fact sink in, and then continued to read the rest of the letter containing more information.

...

Due to your outstanding pysche and tactical acumen, talent for martial prowess and critical and rational decision making, as well as your recent achievements in the battlefield as well combined with the recommendations of local high-ranking officers, rank-and-file soldiers, logistics staff, and the Intelligence department as well as other third-parties the Imperial High Office has agreed to make an exception regarding your age for your admission for extra necessary education as an officer!

You will find the attached paperwork needed including the acceptance form that you will have to fill out should you decide to attend the extra courses. The new students are to attend the orientation which takes place on the Main Building of the Berilian Imperial Officer School campus Imperial Year 782 Month 4 Day 10 on which attendance is mandatory to all ranks of nobility and peasantry.

We expect to meet you at the orientation with an acceptable image, and again a warm congratulations on your efforts to serve the Empery being recognized.

Long live the Empery!

Sincerely,

The Imperial High Office

"What the hell!?"

Reichel just couldn't hold in her thoughts anymore, she found everything just so hard to take in suddenly despite her mind which was genetically engineered for ease of adaption.

'Request for admission? But I never sent such a thing!' Reichel was wondering how her name was suddenly inside a letter of admission to Officer School.

'Maybe the High Office just decided they couldn't let a 17-year old lead a platoon without any education from Officer School?' Reichel wondered, but then shoved aside the thought instantly for its ludicrous meaning.

The Empery would whore itself for talented individuals, but due to their own laws they couldn't just admit anybody into joining anything forcefully, even moreso if it was woman they were trying to put into a military institution.

And besides, on the letter it clearly says 'Your request for admission ...' meaning that someone had entered the request in her name.

The Empery was off the suspicion zone, and it obviously wasn't Reichel herself who sent a request for admission ... but there was something else that was weird and out of place in the letter.

'Recommendations of local high-ranking officers, rank-and-file soldiers, logistics staff, and the Intelligence department as well as other third-parties ...'

'Third parties? What third parties?' Reichel didn't know of any third party that could particularly send a request in her name.

Reichel thought and thought, until the sender of the last letter came into mind.

'... well played' Reichel resigned herself.

Theodor, being the legal caretaker of Reichel had the same authority just as a blood-related parent does ever since Reichel signed a specific waiver.

Just as how real parents can send their children to school even without their consent, Reichel not reaching 18 years old yet could mean that she could be thrown into Officer School even without her consent as she wasn't a legal adult yet.

'Bloody hell!'

Damn Empery, damn Officer School, damn Theodor, damn loopholes, damn military education, damn child-protection laws ...

'Why are the child-related laws so damn advanced in this age anyways!?' Reichel was practically biting her fingernails in frustration.

Not only the child-protection laws, but it seemed that the world of Hyurasia was much more advanced in the subject of Law if compared to Earth.

An international treaty of war in an age which was like Medieval Europe ... A republic, confederacy, democracy, and even a damn federation where monarchies were still supposed to be the trending ruling system ... Although the new world Reichel was placed in was strangely similar to Earth in terms of landmasses and countries and even culture, she couldn't say that the advancements of technology were about the same.

'Is it because of magic? But magic wouldn't necessarily trigger the early invention of advanced child-related laws ...' Reichel once again thought about a different thing for a while, until she finally decided that she couldn't make anything out from the information she currently had in hand.

'More importantly ...'

The admission to Officer School in the capital.

There was no way in hell she could refuse the admittance, and since there was already confirmation that she had already read the letter containing the information about her admission she had to pack up her bags and leave first thing in the morning or the higher-ups of the Sturm Division would forcefully make her leave for the capital ... lest they want High Office to make their heads roll.

She got played, checkmated, played like a fiddle, and utterly left bamboozled like a fool.

'Theodor ...' The man's name suddenly came up again, and an inhuman sound of gritting teeth from frustration could be heard.

But even if she was frustrated and humiliated, Reichel couldn't help but admire the man's courage ... or was it stupidity? For provoking her and jeapordizing her well-made plans.

She wanted to kill the man for his misactions, but she knew that killing her only noble sponsor would leave her open to attacks from much more politically powerful entities in the Empery.

'Now I'll have to put everything to back in the bin and start from scra--' Reichel was about to start over with her plans again, when suddenly a new idea came to mind.

'No wait, this is a chance!'

It wasn't like it was all bad.

'In bad situations always stay positive ... No that doesn't sound right.'

'In bad situations always stay opportunistic.' Reichel nodded in approval of the saying that wasn't really a saying but more like a personal rule.

There were many things that could be done in the capital that couldn't be done on No Man's Land.

'For example ...'

Reichel was craving for ingredients she could make concoctions with ... If she had any of her self-made poisons, or even the Willowflower paralyzing poison she could have made her duel with Michal go much more smoother.

And even if the stocks of Willowflower did run out she could always search up a new alternative in the woods, so there was no problem!

Not only could the problem of her precious handy poisons could be solved, but two other issues could be worked on as well.

One of those was her lack of influence.

By now, most of the higher ups in the High Office may have heard about her merits from the Intelligence Department ... And if it was like that then surely some people would take an interest in her abilities and she would use that moment to forge good relationships with the high-ranking members of the army!

And finally, there was the problem in her body.

*groooowl*

Reichel could hear once again the faint sound of her rather complicated yet simple digestive system rumbling and reaching her ears ... She was hungry and it felt like she could go mad at any given moment.

The military rations were useful, and since she was now the leader of fifty good men who she fought with during the battle of Urganschoft she now had fifty men who were willing to share their rations with her despite her questionable hunger.

But that wasn't enough, she needed something to eat that would actually satiate her hunger as well as make her stronger ...

For example, humans.

Reichel didn't know why, but the taste of humans made her shiver in delight and ecstasy aside from visibly being able to make her stronger.

'Actually not only humans ...'

Not only humans, but the thought of elves, beastmen, and dwarves always seemed to make her mouth water in anticipation.

She wanted to eat those bipedal creatures, but she couldn't do it in the Sturm Army Division because a few missing soldiers would surprisingly get snuffed out very easily despite the incompetence of the staff.

She couldn't eat anything fulfilling in No Man's Land ... which was literally killing her.

But what about the capital?

There were many lives in the capital, too many to regularly keep a track of.

And as long as she targeted the less privileged, she could keep filling her belly with delicious food.

After all ... who would care about a few beggars, degenerates, and thieves, and orphans being missing from the streets?

"Alright then ... it's decided."

Reichel resolved herself. When it came to the point of getting a meal that could actually fulfill her for even a second without any visible demerits, she couldn't really refuse.

She resolved herself to feed on the lives her fellow countrymen as well as study the subject of war with her fellow countrymen.

'Time to be schoolgirl then I guess ...'