PTSD Military Chaplain of the Academy

Two is better than one.

Dennis truly believed that.

He thought having a child was better with two than one, and he believed that money would come easier in greater amounts with two than one.

The first thought was something he could achieve in reality.

Unless Dennis had issues like azoospermia or factors hindering pregnancy, it was entirely possible to accomplish this if he communicated well with his wife, raising their beautiful daughter with care.

However, the second thought was different.

Yeah, who wouldn’t want more opportunities to make money?

When there is more work, you earn more money; conversely, when there is less work, you earn less. Even a fool could understand that.

And Dennis was no fool.

He devoted himself to the interior design business he was currently engaged in. In addition to that, both his veteran pension and disabled pension arrived monthly, giving him three sources of income.

The problem was that simply relying on the veteran pension and the disabled pension made it exceedingly difficult to make ends meet.

In fact, there really wasn’t much trouble. If money was tight, he could just work more.

Thus, Dennis thought he was providing for his family comfortably. His interior design business was running smoothly.

Until recently, that is.

Just last month, around mid-March.

“I think this job will finish soon.”

“Indeed. How about a beer after work then?”

“I’m good. My wife told me to cut back on drinking.”

As usual, after finishing their day’s work, the employees rushed into the cramped office. Dennis let out a weary sigh and collapsed onto the office sofa.

He should have been bothered by the dirt and paint on his dirty work clothes. If the sofa he lay on hadn’t already been filthy, he probably wouldn’t have laid down there.

“…I’m dying.”

Work is always hard. Dennis gritted his teeth and endured another exhausting day, thinking only of his wife and daughter waiting for him at home.

That fact filled him with some pride, and when he thought of the family that would welcome him when he returned, a small smile escaped him.

“Boss.”

At that moment, an office worker approached him. A crisp white envelope was in his hand.

“You got a letter.”

“Who? In my name?”

“No, it’s….”

“…Just give it to me.”

If he thought it was just a letter from someone, he wouldn’t have cared much. However, the letter bore an official seal from a government office.

[Imperial Construction and Development Bureau]

An official document sent from the Bureau of Construction and Development, one of the administrative organizations of the Empire. Like any business person, Dennis sensed that this was related to his interior design company and felt a chill run down his spine.

It must be nothing serious, it must be nothing serious. He mentally repeated this dozens of times as his rough hand slowly tore open the envelope.

[This is a notice from Redevelopment Project Team 3 of the Imperial Construction and Development Bureau.]

And the contents inside surpassed Dennis’s imagination.

[Your business, Dennis Ryan Interior Expansion Office, has been placed on hold for selection in the designated industry by the Construction and Development Bureau.]

Placed on hold for selection in the designated industry. That meant…

‘…Redevelopment project.’

The redevelopment project that the Construction and Development Bureau had been actively engaged in for years at the city outskirts.

Naturally, the industries participating in this project could not be just anyone; only those designated by the responsible administrative organization, the Construction and Development Bureau, could participate.

Dennis’s interior office had never once been excluded from that industry list. For four years straight, apart from the three months of this year, he had received subcontracting work from the Construction and Development Bureau without any issues.

‘This, this is….’

But suddenly being put on hold like this meant…

‘This is merely a notification! Damn it!’

Dennis internally erupted with frustration. There couldn’t be a worse piece of bad news than this.

The selection and evaluation of industries by the Construction and Development Bureau happens quarterly, and the results are notified to each supported industry.

Being placed on hold for selection at this point, in mid-March when the first quarter was ending, essentially meant that starting from April, when the second quarter began, he would not be able to engage in the redevelopment project.

In other words, starting next month, he would have to accept interior design requests directly.

Dennis, who had seen potential in the redevelopment project and started his business, felt darkness looming before his eyes.

It was bewildering. If he and his employees had left some loopholes while working, it would have been noted somewhere. However, the contents of the official document were closer to a notification.

Moreover, he believed that his employees had never made any mistakes or major incidents.

It would have been reasonable if Dennis had clashed with a government employee from the Construction and Development Bureau, but he had never done anything that warranted being excluded from the industry list in such a manner.

If that was the case, what was the reason…

“…Ah!”

The official document was folded into quarters. Shaking himself out of his daze, he hurriedly skimmed through the remaining content of the notice.

[We inform you that there is a need to investigate your unjust income. In accordance with Article 10, Section 6 of the Basic Law regarding the Imperial Defense Force and Legal Matters, the acquisition conditions for participants in national reconstruction wars and health law classifications of 2nd class disabled veterans (hereafter referred to as veteran pensions and disabled pensions) must not exceed a monthly basic income of 3,215,000 denars, and you do not meet these conditions….]

Basic income. 3 million 215 thousand denars. Compliance with conditions….

As Dennis continued reading the official document, he experienced a wave of dizziness.

‘So, veterans and disabled veterans who exceed the monthly basic income are legally denied state-level industry participation or other support?’

It felt absurd. That’s what Dennis thought.

The veteran pension and disabled pension he received were compensation for the price he paid, stained with blood, having discarded his healthy body and mind in his youth during the war, killing and being killed.

But now, suddenly, he had to give up other state support and funding to receive that money?

[…Therefore, based on the above-mentioned content, please choose between giving up your veteran pension and disabled pension or being excluded from the industry list of the Construction and Development Bureau.]

Choosing between giving up the veteran pension and disabled pension or being excluded from the industry list.

A binary choice. And a clever trick. Dennis’s face twisted in real-time.

‘If I give up the pension, I won’t have money for Sonet’s entrance into the academy.’

The house he had bought was also a debt he had to pay off someday. While the country provided support, he had to tighten his belt to repay the principal along with the interest that was deducted monthly.

In the meantime, Dennis had been saving money to finance his first daughter Sonet’s entrance into the academy, carefully budgeting every expense. Most of it came from the veteran pension and disabled pension.

‘But then, if I choose the pension over the industry….’

Though it was slowly nearing its end, there were still a few areas in the city that needed redevelopment.

For the next two years, he could avoid worrying about work by being on the industry list. Moreover, Dennis’s interior office, designated as an industry for three consecutive years, could also receive additional grants because of that stability.

But now, he was being told to voluntarily withdraw from the industry list starting next quarter?

What about the loan interest and principal that would flow out like water starting next month? What about the living expenses for today and tomorrow? Taxes? Food expenses?

The entrance of his daughter into the academy alongside taxes and living expenses.

Given the choice, Dennis could see either option glimmering greedily in his eyes.

“Ah, ah….”

Dennis’s mind desperately refused to be wrung out.

“Boss? What does it say…?”

“…Damn it.”

“B-boss?”

Dennis looked up. His despairing expression twisted in an instant, and it seemed he was about to cry.

“W-what should I do….”

What should he do?

As March drew to its end, Dennis had no choice but to stress over this, unable to sleep properly.

[We inform you that your business, Dennis Ryan Interior Office, has been selected as a designated industry for the second quarter redevelopment by the Construction and Development Bureau.]

He made a choice.

[We inform you that the payments for your veteran pension and disabled pension have been suspended. For related inquiries, contact the Imperial Defense Bureau… ]

In favor of erasing his past sacrifices.

***

“…That’s how it happened.”

“…”

Even after Dennis finished speaking, I couldn’t say anything and just puffed on my cigarette.

Dennis was also smoking. I thought he had quit, but it seemed he had started again recently.

“B-because of this, I fought a lot with my wife…! I-I was frustrated too….”

“…”

“Reverend Antenelli… what am I supposed to do? Why, why do I have to go through this? I served in that war, so why can’t I receive compensation for it? Why…?”

With trembling hands, Dennis threw down the cigarette he was holding, then slid down my pant leg. The wrinkles in his clerical robes were an extra concern.

“Is it… could it be that my faith in the Lord isn’t sincere enough? Is it because I don’t go to church often?”

“…It’s not that.”

“But I really haven’t had the time. I’ve been busy working… Even on weekends when others rest, I was getting my clothes dirty with dust…! I’ve worked more diligently than anyone…!”

“Corporal Dennis.”

“Don’t call me corporal—!!”

Dennis shouted. People passing in front of the pub were startled but soon resumed their previous activities as if nothing had happened.

I paused in my smoking and stared at Dennis. He was looking at me with trembling eyes.

“The country does too…! I participated in the war, but they say I didn’t! So they can’t give me compensation or my pension!”

“Calm down.”

“Damn it… I didn’t want this… This isn’t what I intended… I’m sorry for yelling, Reverend. Really, I’m very sorry. I just… Ugh…!”

Dennis grabbed my legs and started sobbing. The fabric of my pants grew damp.

I took a long drag on my cigarette with a complicated heart. The red-hot tip of the cigarette burned intensely.

‘3 million 215 thousand denars… My salary is more than that; why haven’t I gotten such a notification?’

Even if I received a notification, it would be too sudden a change. Why would they have been paying well until now and suddenly stop?

And I knew the excuses that could lead to such abrupt changes.

‘…The amendment to the veteran compensation.’

An amendment to pensions for veterans and disabled veterans proposed by the Adelhaid Duke.

There had been no significant changes recently apart from that.

“Huuh….”

A deep sigh escaped from my chest.

Without even thinking of comforting the sobbing Dennis, I continued smoking my cigarette.

The evening sky was as dark as the feelings in my heart.

Not a single star was visible.

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