Rising Through the Ranks
"I'm heading to Grimoire. I'm going to enlist as a soldier there."
"...Master, you have no reputation to speak of. Even if you ask to enlist, they won't give you anything more than a common foot soldier's rank."
"That might be true at first, but I'll rise through the ranks in no time," I said, brimming with confidence. "Once I scale my buff skills to an entire army, the results will be staggering. I'll give you a buff too, Bella Greenwood."
"Your benevolence brings tears to my eyes, Master."
"Are you still sulking?"
"You will never understand what it feels like to be forced to call someone 'Master.'"
"Don't be like that. It was a necessary step anyway."
"A necessary step?"
"Did you plan on hiding in that cabin for the rest of your life? You had to step out into the world eventually. But how could you live a normal life with a fatal weakness like the Slave's Engraving? Think about what would have happened if I hadn't touched that mark. If I took you to another country, and some random bastard spotted the engraving on the back of your neck and claimed ownership, what then? If he ordered you to betray me, you'd have no choice but to obey. If he ordered you to swear loyalty to Lidorphia, you'd have to submit to that too, wouldn't you?"
"...I suppose that is true," Bella admitted reluctantly.
"But as long as I am your master, no one else can control you. It's as simple as that. I won't give you any absurd orders. My revenge is ultimately intertwined with yours. And once my vengeance is complete, I will return to my distant home, and you will naturally regain your freedom. Isn't that enough?"
"...Is that the truth, Master?"
"You can read minds, can't you? See for yourself if I'm lying."
"..." Bella stared at me intently. Her stiff expression softened significantly, and she finally nodded. "I believe you, Master. Since we are in the same boat, I will continue to follow you."
"I appreciate that. First, let's get out of Lidorphia's territory. You said you know the way to Grimoire?"
"I will lead the way, Master."
We set off on our long journey. For Bella, it was a monumental migration—her first time stepping beyond the confines of her cabin in decades. We scaled rugged mountains, built rafts to cross rushing rivers, and trudged through treacherous swamplands. After walking without rest for nearly ten days, we finally crossed the border into Grimoire, Lidorphia's most bitter adversary.
"Grimoire is currently nothing more than a small city-state. Do you see that building over there?" Bella pointed toward a dilapidated structure that looked no different from the run-down buildings surrounding it.
"Yeah, I see it."
"That is the royal palace of Grimoire."
"That's a palace? It's worlds apart from the one in Lidorphia. It looks like a commoner's house."
"That is the reality of Grimoire today."
A pitifully shabby palace. Yet, perhaps it was the perfect stage for me to launch my new career. I entered the palace with Bella. There wasn't a single guard at the entrance. As I forced open the creaking door, a shower of sawdust rained down from the ceiling.
"Haha... This place is seriously falling apart."
"Who goes there!" The moment the door swung open, we found ourselves in what appeared to be a banquet hall. Seated on a shabby chair that presumably served as a throne was a young girl around my age. She glared at us with sharp, hawk-like eyes.
"How dare you trespass into the royal palace of Grimoire without permission! Insolent fools!"
"I didn't even know who to ask for permission... By the way, who might you be?"
"How dare you! I am Meloni de Grimoire, the ninety-eighth Queen of the Grimoire Kingdom!"
"Ah... I see." A queen. Yet there wasn't a single soldier in sight to protect her. Surely she wasn't living here all by herself?
"State the purpose of your audience!"
"I'm here to get a job."
"A job? Do you possess a letter of recommendation?"
"Nothing like that... but I want to enlist as a soldier."
"A soldier?" Queen Meloni scanned me from head to toe.
"You seem to have a decent build, but how can I entrust the sacred duty of national defense to someone of unverified identity!"
"Come now, don't be so stingy. It's not like you have many soldiers to spare anyway."
"Nonsense! The proud soldiers of Grimoire are currently deployed at the border, fighting to hold back the detestable invaders of Lidorphia!"
Ah. So that was why there wasn't a single soldier to be seen.
"Are you at war with Lidorphia?"
"Hmph! Those scoundrels have always coveted our lands. Just because they summoned a Hero and support the Hero's party, those thugs act as if they represent all of humanity, demanding tribute from other nations. When Grimoire refused to pay a single coin, they sent their army to take it by force. I refuse to yield even a copper to such a band of thieves!"
Queen Meloni clenched her fists, shouting with fierce determination.
"That's a splendid spirit. In that case, Your Majesty, grant me the opportunity to fight against those detestable Lidorphians."
"What do you mean?"
"You need every able-bodied soldier you can get right now, don't you? I'll fight."
"...Are you serious? What is your true motive?"
"I told you. I'm just looking for a job."
"..." Meloni stared at me for a long moment, her face clouded with deep thought, before finally speaking.
"I cannot bestow a high rank upon someone as suspicious as you. However, if you are willing to serve as a mere foot soldier, I shall write you a recommendation. Go to the border and seek out General Cornelia."
Grimoire's border was completely surrounded by a massive Lidorphian host. While the Grimoire forces led by Cornelia numbered a mere five thousand, the Lidorphian army boasted ten times that amount. To make matters worse, that force of fifty thousand was but a drop in the bucket compared to Lidorphia's total military might. The disparity was so vast that even a child could see the war was already decided.
"Damn it... Damn it all!"
The situation had grown even more dire recently. Cornelia, the commander of the Grimoire forces, had sustained a severe leg injury that left her completely immobile.
"Has the support from the capital still not arrived?!" Cornelia barked at her subordinate while receiving treatment inside her command tent. Characterized by her tied-back red hair, bold red lipstick, a voluptuous figure, and the rapier slung at her left hip, she had succeeded her father—the former Grand General—as commander. Lately, however, she had been drowning in despair over her declining homeland.
'I heard that during Father's time, Grimoire was a powerhouse that rivaled Lidorphia. But now, we're just a weak, battered nation... Unless we receive divine intervention, reversing this situation is impossible. Honestly, it wouldn't be surprising if Grimoire fell tomorrow.'
"The capital... is there still no word on reinforcements? I can't even command like this. My leg is completely ruined. Damn it..."
"A-About that... Queen Meloni sent word that she has dispatched a new army."
"Really? Five thousand was Grimoire's entire military force. Where did she find new soldiers? Well, whatever the case, this is good news. So, when will the reinforcements arrive?"
"T-They have just arrived."
What the scout brought in, however, fell catastrophically short of Cornelia's expectations. It was a mere two recruits: a man of average build and an elf who appeared to be his slave. For Cornelia, who desperately needed to close the gap against fifty thousand Lidorphians, this was a devastatingly disappointing "reinforcement."
"Is this... all? Does Queen Meloni expect me to win a war against Lidorphia with just these two?! What on earth is to become of this country's future! Is my homeland truly... truly destined to perish under my watch?!"
"It's too early to despair, General Cornelia." Suddenly, the man with absolutely no backing spoke her name without hesitation.
"You impudent fool! How dare you speak to me as an equal when our stations are worlds apart!"
"I came here with a recommendation from Queen Meloni. Surely I am entitled to voice my opinion."
"Voice your opinion?! Ha! Very well! Let's hear how you plan to stop that swarming horde of Lidorphians! Out with it!"
"General Cornelia. Before that, I have a question. I was only instructed to join as a recruit, but what is my rank?"
"Is that even a question? You're at the absolute bottom—a private!"
"Hmm... By the way, it looks like you've injured your leg."
"And what of it! A scratch like this doesn't even qualify as an injury!"
It was pure bravado. Cornelia's leg had been struck by a poisoned arrow, completely robbing her of her mobility. The man offered a proposal.
"How about this? If I heal your leg, grant me an officer's commission."
"Arrogant bastard!" Cornelia barked. "I told you, you're a mere private! How can a private suddenly leap to officer rank? Speak sense!"
"Then at least give me a battlefield promotion."
"A battlefield promotion! Ha! Fine, if you heal my leg, I'll promote you by two ranks. I might even let you lead a squad!"
"Sounds fair."
It happened in the blink of an eye. The dark-red, swollen inflammation suddenly subsided, and the excruciating pain vanished completely. Cornelia stared in utter disbelief as her leg moved as freely as it had in her prime.
"W-What is this...?"
"So, I'm a squad leader now? Not a bad first step for my career."
"Wait... Hold on. Who are you? What is your name?"
"Kim Youngho." Only then did he reveal his name.
"Kim Youngho... J-Just what on earth are you?"
"Who knows... For now, I'm just a squad leader under your command."
"..."
"Now, shall we begin our war council to secure our victory?"
"What? V-Victory? You're talking about winning? Do you even understand the disparity in our numbers?"
"It's only a tenfold difference, isn't it?"
"Only?! I... I despise people who let their mouths run ahead of their capabilities!"
"So you prefer those whose actions back up their words?"
"O-Of course!"
"Then let me show you. Give me command of just a few soldiers. I'll bring you the enemy general's head in no time."
For some reason, Cornelia couldn't dismiss Kim Youngho's words as mere bluster. Though she did not know it yet, this would mark the very first battle of the man who would one day be revered as the legendary national hero of Grimoire.