A few more days passed like that. The 3rd Platoon had become a completely different unit. Rumors spread like wildfire, and the soldiers had started falling in line with me.
Late at night, after all training had wrapped up, I collapsed onto my bunk in the barracks, dead on my feet.
That's when a familiar chime rang in my ears.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙You have successfully established discipline in the platoon and fully seized command. You have gained experience points as a reward.✨ LEVEL UP! ✨Lv. 3 → Lv. 4
+ Skill Points +1
'Oh.'
I grinned. The fatigue vanished in an instant. It had all been worth the effort.
Skill Points Available: 1 Choose one of the following options to claim your reward: 1. [Enhance Existing Skill] 2. [Acquire New Skill]
This time, it was a little different from before. Just to get familiar with it, I checked each option briefly.
Nothing special. [Acquire New Skill] let me pick a new one like last time, and [Enhance Existing Skill] upgraded the ones I already had. Exactly as it said.
Now came the hard part. Last promotion, I'd chosen [Status Analysis] over [Bullet Time].
What to pick this time?
The [Acquire New Skill] list had two skills sparkling.
The first was the one I'd seen before but sadly passed up.
⚙ SKILL OPTIONS ⚙1. Bullet Time
Upon activation, enter a super-acceleration state where everything except yourself is perceived at 1/10th speed for up to 3 seconds. Usable once per day. Usage increases with level.
The second was brand new.
⚙ SKILL OPTIONS ⚙2. Charismatic Speaker
In conversations, subtly influence the target's subconscious to make them pay more attention to your words and receive them positively. Grants bonuses to persuasion, negotiation, command, and all verbal interactions. Maximized when proposals align with their hidden desires. Effect strengthens with level.
Both were tempting.
[Bullet Time] went without saying. Even if combat broke out tomorrow, it'd guarantee my survival—the ultimate lifesaver.
[Charismatic Speaker] was perfect for a commander. I could've taken control of the 3rd Platoon in days instead of a week, and it'd be handy for handling tough superiors like Seraphina.
But I hesitated. I'd learned something from the past week.
More important than raw power or silver tongue was information.
'...If I'd known what Kurt was really thinking from the start, this would've been a breeze.'
I hadn't figured out his scheme until Day 4. Even [Status Analysis] only showed general dissatisfaction. Then on Day 4, the slacking agitation info popped up.
If [Status Analysis] had been higher level, I'd have spotted it right away.
I turned my gaze to the first option: [Enhance Existing Skill].
Enhance the 'Status Analysis' skill?
Without a second thought, I tapped the floating 'Yes' button in the air.
⚙ SKILL UPGRADE ⚙'Status Analysis' skill level has increased. (Lv. 1 → Lv. 2) You can now detect the target's [Emotions] and discover [Hidden Traits].
A sensation of the skill strengthening seeped into my mind.
'Time to test it.'
I immediately used the upgraded skill on myself.
'Status Analysis.'
⚔ STATUS ANALYSIS ⚔👤 Name: Max Jaeger 🧬 Race: Human 🏛️ Affiliation: Imperial Army 7th Infantry Regiment 🎖️ Rank: Lieutenant 📊 Status: Satisfaction from goal achievement, mild fatigue 😔 Emotions: Calm on the surface, but deep-seated anxiety about survival and uncertainty about the future 🕵️ Hidden Traits: Possessor, Harem Overlord Integration Pack, Minimap, Resilient Mind, Status Analysis (Lv. 2)
"Huh...?"
I let out a disbelieving chuckle. A skill that pierced even my own anxiety and uncertainty? The emotions suppressed by [Resilient Mind] were laid bare. Reading them myself felt... profoundly awkward. Bluntly put, peering into my own soul wasn't exactly pleasant.
I shook my head to clear the thoughts. What mattered was the skill's performance. Now I could see emotions and hidden traits. It even listed that I was a 'Possessor' with the 'Harem Overlord Integration Pack' downloaded, plus my bonus skills.
But it felt insufficient for an irregular like me. I needed to test it on others. Conveniently, two soldiers on patrol were visible outside the barracks window. The minimap showed two green dots moving slowly.
I approached the window and peered out. First, I locked eyes on the lead soldier and activated the skill.
'Status Analysis.'
⚔ STATUS ANALYSIS ⚔👤 Name: Hans 🧬 Race: Human 🏛️ Affiliation: Imperial Army 7th Infantry Regiment 🎖️ Rank: Private 📊 Status: Boredom from patrol, sleepiness 😔 Emotions: Longing and worry for little sister left back home 🕵️ Hidden Traits: Perfect Pitch
'...Perfect Pitch?'
I nearly burst out laughing. Useless on the battlefield. [Emotions] was somewhat useful, though. He looked like just another sleepy rookie, but inside he was homesick for his family. Definitely more info than before.
I shifted my gaze to the soldier following behind.
'Status Analysis.'
⚔ STATUS ANALYSIS ⚔👤 Name: Friedrich 🧬 Race: Human 🏛️ Affiliation: Imperial Army 7th Infantry Regiment 🎖️ Rank: Corporal 📊 Status: Dissatisfaction with subordinate, jealousy toward peer promoted ahead 😔 Emotions: Anger and helplessness at his situation, impatience to make achievements 🕵️ Hidden Traits: Natural Gambler
This one was intriguing. On the surface, a dutiful veteran on patrol, but inside, seething with jealousy and impatience. Paired with Natural Gambler, he could be a ticking time bomb or a clutch performer in a pinch.
'Fascinating.'
Just scanning three people—myself included—and it was already fun. This went beyond mere info; it stripped souls bare, exposing desires and weaknesses.
Hans would crumble to family appeals. Friedrich would throw his life away for glory. Invaluable for command and more.
'This is seriously good...'
*
The next day, I headed to the company command tent with the weekly training report. I casually returned salutes from soldiers I passed and stepped inside. Captain Seraphina stood before the operations map, deep in thought.
"Lieutenant Max Jaeger reporting the 3rd Platoon's weekly training results."
The faint rustle of her uniform. She turned from the map in a graceful arc. Her taut jacket traced her slender waist into elegant curves, and cold blue eyes gleamed through cascading silver hair.
"Very well. Let's hear it."
A voice cool yet clear. I launched into the report without delay.
"All weekly goals—physical fitness improvement, marksmanship enhancement, squad-level tactical maneuvers—have been exceeded."
Seraphina's brow twitched faintly. Ignoring the report, she stared me down. I met her gaze steadily and quietly activated the skill.
'Status Analysis.'
⚔ STATUS ANALYSIS ⚔👤 Name: Seraphina von Reinhardt 🧬 Race: Human 🏛️ Affiliation: Imperial Army 7th Infantry Regiment 🎖️ Rank: Captain 📊 Status: Confirmation and satisfaction with 3rd Platoon's changes, high evaluation of Max Jaeger 😔 Emotions: Cool exterior, but inwardly surprised and intrigued by exceeding expectations 🕵️ Hidden Traits: Mana Overload - Chronic internal injury. Uncontrollable mana rampage causes extreme pain. Suppressed by strong will, but destined to worsen without a fundamental cure.
'...Mana Overload?'
I swallowed dryly inside. Completely unexpected. What used to show as 'suppressed fatigue' was now detailed—and worse than imagined.
Mana Overload, no less. A chronic internal injury.
[Mana Overload] was one of the debuffs in Empire's Heart: Eagle Chronicles. A rare curse inflicted on a handful of hero units.
Utter garbage trait. Periodic DoT damage, random status ailments, massive stat debuffs, and more demerits piled on.
Mages afflicted with Mana Overload cannot escape pain even in sleep. Their dreams often burn with uncontrolled mana flames.
The in-game description flashed in my mind. Pain like thousands of needles piercing veins, prickling discomfort over the body, disrupting sleep and focus. Worsening led to organ-twisting agony, bone-deep aches, eventual mana incapacity or crippledom.
So Seraphina was enduring runaway mana pain right now, suppressed only by sheer willpower...?
I glanced at her face again. Her skin was ghostly pale. The Ice Witch moniker wasn't just innate—she was pouring every nerve into numbing pain and controlling her body.
"The rumors are flying, Lieutenant."
Her unchanging expression filled me with awe.
But I kept my face neutral, waiting for her next words. Knowing this changed nothing. For now.
I answered as casually as possible.
"You're too kind."
"Taming the 3rd Platoon in a week, they say. Even spooked them with Eastern Front talk."
"Necessary measures."
"Methods don't matter. As long as results are solid."
She nodded curtly, pleased.
"I've confirmed your abilities firsthand. Time for your next mission."
"Awaiting orders."
She spread a map on the desk.
"Recently, an allied recon team vanished in the Ashen Forest. Tomorrow morning, your 3rd Platoon will conduct a search patrol there."
The Ashen Forest. One of the fiercest battlegrounds against the orcs. Quiet now, but still a hotbed of skirmishes between small units.
"Understood."
Her eyes flickered at my instant reply. The upgraded Status Analysis caught that fleeting emotion shift.
[Emotions: Satisfaction with expected compliance, faint relief that her pain went unnoticed]
"Be careful. It's likely more than getting lost."
"I'll keep that in mind, ma'am!"
With that, I left the tent.
The next dawn, the 3rd Platoon marched toward the Ashen Forest.