Living Off the Land Is Tradition (4)
Living Off the Land Is Tradition (4)
This is a first.
Across both my past life and current life, being confessed to by a woman.
And it's not even asking to date, but marriage?
Without realizing it, I found myself scrutinizing Rebecca's face and figure in detail.
A tall height like a model in the mid to late 170s.
A slender waist and limbs, contrasted with fraudulently developed chest and hips.
Healthy skin tone and long blonde hair tied into a single ponytail.
If I had heard those words in my past life, a top 0.01% beauty I would have dashed straight to the district office to file the marriage registration with.
For such a woman to suddenly confess.
"Piel, your maternal family has abundant food, right? My territory is abundant in everything except food. We could make a good combination."
Rebecca sends me a maximally alluring smile.
"Think about it seriously. I'll make sure you won't regret it."
The step of pushing in and backing out is impressive too.
Feeling the inside of the barracks had become hotter for no reason, I changed the subject.
"However, with ten boxes of gold coins, I was worrying about how to carry them alone."
"Ah, don't worry about that. I'll give you this."
As if she had been waiting, Rebecca held out an ornate bracelet.
The moment I saw it, I knew immediately.
"Is this a Subspace Bracelet?"
"Yes, it should be about the scale of a field army's logistics warehouse."
"You're readily giving me such a large-capacity Subspace Bracelet?"
"I don't have any food to store in it anyway. Most supplies are shipped out immediately the moment they come in, so it's been ages since I even used this bracelet."
A Subspace Bracelet is a convenient Magical Device for stockpiling large amounts of supplies long-term.
But if the supply turnover is fast and there's no margin for long-term stockpiling, it's just an accessory.
"Still, it must be extremely expensive."
"Consider it the value of my life, and my army's. Besides, you'll be able to think of me every time you see it, which is even better, right?"
Without declining, I put on the bracelet and stuffed all the gold coin boxes into the subspace.
My heart feels secure. Truly, gold is the best.
"Let's see each other often, Second Lieutenant Piel."
"Always stay healthy."
For now, I took a step back as well.
Anyway, even prospective husbands are procured locally at the front lines, huh.
***
"Second Lieutenant Piel, it seems the Carlton Marquis compensated you quite well."
"Pardon?"
"I'm saying it because your face looks extremely good."
Was it that obvious?
I quickly adjusted my expression.
"I received quite a lot of gold coins. Enough to never worry about money for the rest of my life."
"You are not being transferred. I will absolutely not approve it, so don't even think about applying."
Hildea laughed as if joking, but I felt a needless pang of guilt.
As Rebecca said, if we became family, I could be transferred to the 4th Army regardless of Hildea's intentions.
But would that help maximize my utilization of the Supply Cheat?
▶ CLASS 10. Cultural Life Supplies
: Movies/Dramas/Animations/Games/Books/Music albums....
My grand dream.
To request all modern supplies from the Supply Cheat without restriction and enjoy a life of material and cultural abundance until I die.
To achieve that, I must possess a very large army absolutely loyal to me.
Hildea and Rebecca.
Which of the two would truly be the greater help?
'Sword Master and Bow Master. Count and Marquis. Commander-in-Chief and Subordinate Commander. Commoner origin and traditional noble.'
Their styles are also sharply divided between a delicate beauty and a mature older woman.
They share no overlapping traits in any aspect.
"Returning."
"Yes!"
When we came, it was 101 including me.
Returning, it's over several thousand. That number includes the supporting troops.
While riding back on horseback, I staggered several times due to my poor riding skills.
Then Hildea stuck right next to me and grabbed the reins.
"Your equestrian skills are poor?"
"It's embarrassing. Because I am an illegitimate son...."
"Even an illegitimate son is normally given a basic education, but it seems Count Anbelrum was particularly indifferent towards you."
A subtle anger flickered in Hildea's blue eyes.
It seems she is empathizing with me.
'What kind of reaction would she show if I accepted Rebecca's proposal?'
I'm purely curious.
What expression Hildea would make.
I want to know exactly how much value the human named Piel holds in her heart.
That way, it will help with promotion.
"But Second Lieutenant Piel, what in the world was that Combat Biscuit?"
Hildea recalled the excitement of the last battle and clenched her fist with a flushed face.
"I believed that the soldiers' proficiency in mana operation determined the outcome of a fight. But this defensive battle completely exceeded my imagination. The Carlton Marquis also seemed extremely surprised."
"Mana-based combat leads to rapid fatigue. This is due to a calorie deficiency."
"But it's strange. A few years ago, there was a unit that fought a defensive battle providing an unlimited combat diet, but the knights and soldiers ultimately could not overcome fatigue and were annihilated."
"It's the difference in delay between eating and digestion. What you eat doesn't immediately convert to calories. It takes at least a few hours."
"Don't tell me that Combat Biscuit is different?"
"Yes. Because it's a biscuit compressed with high calories, it converts to energy instantly upon consumption."
Warriors who use mana burn through calories at an incredibly fast rate.
And carbohydrate intake cannot keep up with that discharge speed.
But Combat Biscuit MK3 is a lump of glucose.
The moment you eat it, glucose is injected into the bloodstream.
As I explained it in an easy-to-understand way, Hildea's eyes grew wide.
"Amazing. If you could provide that Combat Biscuit for every meal, the entire unit's combat power would skyrocket, wouldn't it?"
"Eating it daily in non-combat situations could actually harm your health. It's food designed for urgent combat scenarios."
"Ah, is that so?"
I don't really remember how we arrived at the Official Residence because I was so tired.
Skipping even washing up, I lay straight down on the bed and turned off my switch.
***
When a battle ends, the reward and recognition phase naturally follows.
"Second Lieutenant Piel, with selfless dedication, you prevented the annihilation of the Ainshuvan 4th Army and led them to victory...."
My special promotion ceremony took place with most of the officers gathered.
No one denies that without my Combat Rations MK3, Rebecca's army would have been annihilated.
This is enough to merit a field promotion.
【Piel Anbelreum】
【Rank : First Lieutenant】
【Position : Duty Officer, Supply Officer, Logistics Officer】
Logistics Officer has been added to my concurrent positions.
To be honest, I wanted to be the Logistics Chief.
Because then, the items I could request for supply would be incredibly unlocked.
I could receive just about any weapon or ammunition from the field army.
But the Logistics Chief position requires at least a Major.
That's why, when Hildea asked what position I wanted, I held back and requested the concurrent Logistics Officer role.
'I must not make enemies.'
【You have become a Logistics Officer.】
【Requestable items: Swords, Pistols, Rifles, Grenades, Machine Guns, Directional Mines, Other Special Ammunitions....】
Regrettably, requests for mortars and above were blocked.
It seems it's because my rank is still 'First Lieutenant'.
Though with the current monthly budget, it would have been tight anyway.
Previously, I could only possess one personal firearm for my own share, but that restriction has disappeared.
I can now arm troops without limit, if I wish.
'The problem is that the budget isn't unlimited.'
With a budget that trickles in at just 52,000 monthly, requesting food is far more efficient.
'No, since my subordinates have increased, it's now 100,000 monthly.'
This defensive battle made me realize keenly that the military is a budget-devouring monster.
Even though I only requested Combat Biscuit MK3, over 66,000 in budget dropped to 0 in an instant.
'More budget! To do that, I need to command more subordinates.'
But even if I suddenly asked for a direct unit to be organized under me, Hildea wouldn't grant it, no matter how much she favors me.
A method to naturally increase my subordinates (budget) without violating military law and unit operations....
"Commander, I propose a new organization for a food procurement unit."
"Food procurement unit?"
"Yes. Seeing as I am not much help in combat, I wish to contribute to the unit in the supply area."
"I'll hear a detailed explanation."
"Gathering non-combat soldiers who cannot operate mana to farm and raise livestock, or...."
In other words, a medieval-style Garrison Farm Unit.
After hearing my explanation, Hildea clapped her hands in great surprise.
"Remarkable. A unit that farms directly to procure food, why had I never thought of such a thing?"
Because this is a world where the stereotype that 'a soldier's job is solely combat!' has deeply taken root.
Even ordinary soldiers can operate mana to some extent once trained.
Naturally, it's hard to think of using them purely for non-combat purposes. It's a waste of combat power.
Hildea's complexion darkened slightly.
"But there's a problem. Soldiers who barely grasped mana operation through harsh training won't want to take up farming now."
"I know. Pride is important."
Letting go of farming and becoming a soldier is a huge success for a commoner.
Of course, soldiers don't want to put down their swords and pick up farming tools again.
"Please allow me to recruit from the Commander-in-Chief's territory."
"Recruitment? The territory is already devastated by the long war... if we pull out personnel, the residents will only suffer more...."
Worry clouded her small, pale face.
Swallowing my inner thought that it was unnecessary worry, I spoke again.
"Don't worry. I will operate it in a way that benefits the new recruits, their families, and the field army."
My plan is perfect.
1. Operate the recruited soldiers as a commuting full-time unit.
2. Pay them daily flour as compensation so soldiers can support their families.
3. The unit's operational performance doesn't matter even if it fails. The true purpose is the Supply Cheat budget that comes in equal to the number of soldiers.
'It's a loophole to maximize my direct subordinates.'
The Supply Cheat probably intended for me to get promoted step by step and grow my command unit diligently.
But I am pursuing the extreme efficiency possible in my current situation.
What? I'm a greenhorn junior officer who enlisted only a few months ago so I can't command a big unit?
Anyway, as long as the headcount is met, the Supply Cheat budget comes in regularly, doesn't it?
"Understood. I will delegate everything on that matter to your discretion."
"Then the briefing...."
"Omitted. I won't understand it even if I hear it, and I trust the ability you showed last time."
"...I will not disappoint you."
I never actually demonstrated unit command ability against Rebecca's army, I just supplied unlimited glucose biscuits.
But it seems that left a fairly powerful impression in Hildea's mind.
***
"Corporal Baren, we're moving out to the Count's territory. Leave only the minimum personnel and have everyone else prepare."
"Could it be we're on leave?"
"No, we're going to recruit non-combat soldiers."
"It's recruitment, not conscription? Then no one will respond."
"That's why we have to lure them with food. Prepare the cooking equipment, including a large cauldron."
Leading my subordinates, I headed to the Count's territory city located behind the field army.
"The great Sword Master, the hero of the Kingdom, Lady Hildea Valkenhart, esteemed Count and protector of the Ainshuvan Front, seeks cowardly, self-preserving, diligent labor soldiers!
You there, won't you enlist for the hero?"
"S-sir Knight. What in the world is a cowardly and diligent labor soldier?"
"You will not bear weapons nor receive training! You will only be assigned to tasks unrelated to combat, and it's a commuting position! Also, you will be given 1 bag of flour daily as compensation!"
Three days after setting up shop and starting recruitment.
【Direct Unit : Food Procurement Unit】
【Subordinates : 199 soldiers】
With the additional recruitment of 175 soldiers, the number of my subordinates became 199.
Including myself, I can now receive a budget of 800,000 every month.
'To think so many would volunteer for just a palm-sized bag of flour.'
It hits home anew.
In this era, in this frontline region, the magnitude of food's power.
It was a life I didn't know when I was a wealthy Count's nth illegitimate son, just loafing around.