Reich Marshal of the Belkan Reich

RM Vol 4: War – Chapter 54: Case Yellow (Day 13 – Chilling)

With my confident steps echoing throughout the hallways of the Obsidian Castle, I navigate in search of anything worthwhile to end the evening. Passing by the occasional staff that serve and protect the top floors of the castle, I receive bows and salutes of respect. The former is performed by the maids who keep everything running smoothly. The latter is made by the Valkyries who serve as elite Reichsguards, responsible for warding us from nefarious acts. Although I had the mind to tell them to do away with the constant show of consideration some time ago, they shot down the idea instantly. They exude deep reverence for the person I am, so not giving me the deferential treatment I so deserve will be negligence of the highest order on their part. To this day, I don't have the heart to order them to stop doing what they think is right. If I push the matter, I think it will be a direct insult to the professionalism and honor codes that the staff of the Obsidian Castle abides by.

While the Belkan military tends to be the one to throw the quote 'Professionals have standards' around, I think the staff in our home takes that as wise words to live by. Seriously, there was a time when my young sisters were so frightened by the ability of our butlers and maids to inexplicably appear before them, even before my sisters even realized that they needed something that they couldn't get personally. When Ningyo led her merry band of sisters and love interests to voice their fear and curiosity, most, if not the entire family, chuckled. To prove and assuage their fear, we let them test the theory of our maids and butlers being lingering spirits of the Obsidian Castle.

On a side note, it was Seele's second personality and a certain Death Goddess reborn, Veliona, that scared everyone for putting the conjecture that most of the staff were living spirits. The adults like me knew that the Veliona was teasing them, but well, it was very funny to see how the usually happy-go-lucky Ningyo clung to Mei and Daria like a koala in fear of something that wasn't even true. So, we went along with Veliona's little game, basically suggesting that we would summon a couple of maids so that the sisters could verify whether the castle's staff were ghosts or not using, well, pretty much anything they had at their disposal. The thing is, there was not a singular maid or butler around back then as we were inside my private quarter, chilling. Yet, even before a communique was sent to retrieve a few maids, two appeared right behind Ningyo's little merry band, causing my sisters to jump like scared bunnies when one of them said hello. It was funny as Seele was frightened enough that she immediately switched places with Veliona, who promptly facepalmed at her shy little host.

Still, when the Chief Maid and her Vice introduced themselves as Ragna Lothbrok and Rita Rossweisse, my sisters started calming down. Spurred by their curiosity, they pushed through their childish fear and asked a whole bunch of questions, to which the two maids catered to their whim. Throughout the ordeal, only the slightly older Daria, the analytical Mei, the blank face Bronya whose first instinct was to protect Seele/Veliona, and the sweet potato Mash remained wryly unflappable. Oh, and Griseo wasn't scared, she was more interested in seeing if she could paint a ghost. They knew the truth, but couldn't quite get the rest to adhere to that truth or were seeing how things would play out and enjoy the amusement along the way. Surprisingly, both Bella and Sirin hugged each other for dear life when Ragna and Rita first appeared... They had taken up the positions of protectors for their family but immediately faltered at the last moment.

Apparently, my sisters were hardened against the evils of the world, but not ghosts. As for how the maids and butlers were so adept at what they usually do, to the point of possessing near precognitive ability and instantaneous teleportation... Ragna herself replied.

"What good is us maids and butlers if we can't be on hand for whenever and whatever our mistresses need?"

Right, even though they're just day-to-day staff, the maids and butlers are qualified Reichsguards, albeit in a more subtle way. More than once, I have caught sight of knives and pistols hidden beneath the skirts of the maids... Yeah, I'm gonna stop there. Walking and ascending a flight of stairs as needed, I soon find myself stopping by Elysia's room. Opening the door softly, I come to see a sight that brings a smile to my face.

Today's Sunday, barring Daria, my sisters are all engrossed in their respective activities, with Nicolae, Elysia, and Eden to supervise them. Ningyo and Mei are playing around with their schematics and calculations. Griseo is off by a corner, with Mash helping her to paint a canvas featuring the cheery occupants. Sirin and Bella are cuddling with a bunch of Takodachis and reading books. While Bronya is accompanying Seele, Rozaliya, and Liliya in building and painting some model kits that Nicolae fished out from who knows where. What I do know is those models apparently feature huge soldiers in green armor holding large guns and thunderous hammers. There are also towering mechs with ostentatious cathedrals and towers on their back while sporting numerous gigantic weapons. My right eye twitches at the designs of the models, suddenly having the urge to complain to the designers of these... Religious weapon of war. In the future, I will make sure Belka stays away from such outlandish appearances.

Firepower may be temporary and style is eternal, but being pretty and cool must have a limit.

Seeing that Nicolae is also crafting a model kit of her own like a normal human, I am oddly relieved. Although the model kit she's assembling seems to be a train, a familiar one at that albeit with way too much firepower and modification than the one I know of. I feel that there's something more going on with this seemingly innocent action of Nicolae, but I can't grasp the issue here just yet. And then there's Elysia and Eden, the two romantics of our family. While the others are more or less chilling comfortably, Elysia and Eden are in a bit of a composing mood, with Eden humming a few notes as she waves her fingers in the air as if to play an instrument. Elysia, on the other hand, brings out her pink Void Archive before using it as a glorified music mixer.

"I don't know... The current lyrics still seem lacking. It doesn't have the imposing mannerisms that one would immediately associate with lumbering warships." Eden sighs, putting her hands down before bringing up a composing sheet, filled with notes and scribbles.

Elysia, nodding along to the metallic riffs that form the instrumental version of Eden's new song, comments.

"The moment these riffs were first heard, we knew these were the sounds of waves breaking under heavy ships! If we're talking about one of the biggest warships ever made, then it has to be our Bismarck-class dreadnoughts! Since the word 'battleship' is three syllables, why don't we use 'dreadnought' instead? It's shorter and much more imposing, given the meaning this song is meant to convey."

Seeing how Eden perks up at her suggestion, Elysia continues with a clap of her hands. It goes without saying that Miss Pink Elf♪ is sporting her trademarked smile of sincerity.

"Then let's mix the lyrics up! If the old one is like this:

A figure moves across the water in pursuit

It rides the waves, commands the sea and defies the wind

Instilling fear among its prey, no fear for itself

Ahead the sea lies calm awaiting the storm

...

Unopposed under crimson skies

Immortalized, over time their legend will rise

And their foes can’t believe their eyes, believe their size, as they fall

And the warships fear nothing at all

...

Light up the night when cannons roar

Cast fear on their foes, they lead the navy into war

The North Sea has drawn them near

The High Sea Fleet approach

A contest of nations commence

These days will dictate their fate

The Grand Fleet prepares their guns

Unleashed as the battleships wage war

We can modify it into this:

A shadow moves across the water in pursuit

It splits the waves, commands the sea and defies the wind

Instilling fear among its prey, feel nought for itself

Ahead the sea lies calm awaiting the storm

...

Unopposed under crimson skies

Immortalized, over time their legend will rise

And their foes can’t believe their eyes, believe their size, as they fall

And the Dreadnoughts dread nothing at all

...

Light up the night when cannons roar

In fear of nothing, they lead the navy into war

The North Sea has drawn them near

The Fleet of the High Seas approach

A contest of titans commence

These days will dictate their fate

The Grand Fleet prepares their guns

Unleashed as the Dreadnoughts clash at last

There! If we're to make the song so grippingly imposing, so heavy that it's to inspire awe just by hearing the lyrics alone, then we have to be more specific with how we represent the mightiest of the Navies. Some tasteful repetition here and there won't be jarring this time around. Since the modified lyrics basically encompass facts and recent events quite well. Vessels of the Bismarck-class were reclassified as dreadnoughts because of how they proved to be able to perform pretty much everything the Reichsmarine could think of. Then the Erusean Royal Navy also brought out some of their old dreadnoughts. Both sides did go on to clash at sea, carrying with them the hopes and dreams of two nations."

Eden giggles, mulling Elysia's lyrics seriously before finding them to be perfect.

"This is marvelous, Elysia! Thank you! And here I thought we would be stumped by the metallic and gritty nature of this song." Eden leans in, giving Elysia a kiss as a reward. "Now we should make the record a prototype and have it be sung by the Reichsmarine's band. I think they will find it very lovely."

Elysia giggles, but not before licking her lips to taste Eden's aromatic scent.

"Oh, I think they will love the finished product so much that they will make it into their own anthem. They already have Bismarck as a song, they'll be eating well with another one dedicated to their biggest naval action yet. That said, I wonder what's going on at Dunkirk, is the fight over?"

I chuckle, finally making myself known. "You can just ask me, you know?"

Instantly, I am accosted by two blurs, one with gray hair and another with purple hair. I let out a mock oompf as I felt the cuddly rockets slam into my torso, their heads nuzzling beneath my breasts. "Aiya~! I am home, my lovely girls!"

All at once, the ladies of my life greet me. "Welcome home, sister/Yuki~!"

I smile while patting Ningyo's and Sirin's heads. "It's good to be back and have my beautiful little sisters make any mess in my brief absence?"

The girls in question obediently shake their heads while Elysia chuckles. "They have been very well-behaved, totally no shenanigans at all."

Eden interjects as well with a knowing wink in my direction. "Your sisters, Sirin in particular, have been a great source of inspiration for some of my songs. Now that Elysia and I won't have any concert for a while, may I trouble you to aid us in group composing?"

That is totally not an invitation for a threesome with Elysia coming from Eden, no siree. Still, Elysia smirks knowingly while playfully swatting Eden on her shoulder. The High Elf chides jokingly.

"You can at least be subtle about it, Yuki just went back from her all-time job. The best we should do is to swipe her off her feet and into the bathroom~!"

I smile, walking closer to them with Ningyo and Sirin in tow, the pair seems content that I am now here to play with them. Although I do miss how Sirin increases the force of her grip on my arm when Eden and Elysia made thinly-veiled suggestions. I do feel curious when I see Nicolae is awfully quiet after the initial greeting, however. Settling myself on the couch and in between Elysia and Eden, now with Ningyo, Mei, Sirin, and Bella somehow setting up shop near my legs, I then turn to Nicolae's group of painters and builders. Bronya and her sisters are still adding the finishing touches to their walking cathedrals, which range from aesthetically imperious to oddly kaleidoscopic. Nicolae, however, has already finished building her war train. Now that I have a closer look though, I notice that the train is just a slightly different take on a upgrade package we have for our existing fleet of armored trains. Still, it's weirdly normal for Nicolae to just build a model kit from scratch without doing much else.

But then I see her pulling out a purplish cube from somewhere beneath her very original purple dress and proceed to stare at the square thing for the next ten minutes. Most notably, her feature screams:

Do not bother me. I am pondering my cube.

Jokes aside, I know that cube, which is basically Elysia's Void Archive made purple, is actually the physical manifestation of how Nicolae is conversing with her boss of bosses... Namely, my 'daughter'. While a part of me wants to join their little Discord session, I still think that it's not yet the time to get deeply sentimental just yet. So, rather than mulling over something that is not yet to be, I turn around to converse and play with my family. Mostly to discuss the recent ultimate victory at Dunkirk and the eventual Blitz to Paris. Now that the Reich has three very free Army Groups, Paris will go down in a splendidly fast fashion. So much so that I think it will become a mere footnote in the history of this war.

To me, Sedan and Dunkirk are much, much more interesting than slapping a near-defenseless Paris. Then there's also the Polanians that are itching to be a local bully, squaring off against armed police like an idiot. While they will be an even easier challenge, compared to the Ustian Loyalists and Eruseans, they are more interesting because they have indoctrinated fanatics in their payrolls. Not counting the Sardegnians due to its localized nature, the upcoming war with Polania will be the first time the Reich military has to deal with zealots on a big scale. A taste for a future of conflicts with Japan as they're basically Polania but better in every way.

Still, I opt to only briefly mention the war's progress, not willing to weigh any of my love with needless baggage. Eden, however, is requested by me to help form a propaganda narrative on Dunkirk tomorrow morning. Other than that, I am content with enjoying my evening with the family. Nicolae ultimately joins us after putting away her cube, she first helps Ningyo and Mei finish a simulation on their tablets before suddenly looking up to me.

"By the way, don't you think our guns are still too small?"

I deadpan. "Nicolae, what the fuck are you talking about?"

Both Eden and Elysia bonk my head. "Language, young lady."