To Be Comfortable, You Must Impress Piel (4)
To Be Comfortable, You Must Impress Piel (4)
Originally, military machetes are made of high-carbon steel.
But this one is made of titanium alloy.
I'd heard they were preparing a massive replacement since the high-carbon steel ones rust easily and break often.
'Those Pentagon bastards, after all their other antics, they were planning to supply titanium alloy machetes too. This is pure madness.'
This kind of absurdity is welcome to me, though.
The taxpayers will be frothing at the mouth, I'm sure.
【Requesting supply of 120 new-model Ontario Machetes (56cm).】
【Combat equipment supplies with security protocol applied to prevent loss and capture.】
All combat equipment is automatically retrieved when determined to be unrecoverable due to occupation or separation. Even shell casings are included.
So you can issue them without worry.
I received a total of 120, including enough for 100 combat soldiers plus the drill instructors and trainers. I set aside one for myself as well.
"Corporal Baren."
"Yes, Major-nim."
"These are 119 blades to be issued to the recruits and instructors. Distribute them during training and operations, and collect them when off-duty. They are extremely precious and expensive blades, so they must be strictly managed to prevent any loss."
"I will manage them with the utmost care, so that not a single one is ever lost."
Thanks to the security protocol, there's no worry about them being leaked, but if they're recovered, I have to spend budget again to request resupply.
So I gave them a stern warning.
That a single machete costs 100 budget, enough to buy 100kg of flour.
"Basic swordsmanship will be handled by Corporal Baren and you gentlemen."
"M-Me, sir?"
"Should I do it, then?"
That wasn't a rebuke but a genuine statement.
They're farmers who've never held a weapon in their lives, so Corporal Baren is about the right level of instructor.
【Major Special Strategy Budget Limit: 1,000,000 per month】
【Special Strategy Budget does not carry over and expires if not used within the month.】
【Remaining Limit: 988,000 / 1,000,000】
Idiots might go berserk thinking, 'Why the hell won't they let me save it? What's the point of letting it go to waste?'
But I could feel the warm consideration of the supply cheat.
'It's a kindness telling you not to pinch the budget to death and let it turn to shit, but to use it boldly and generously when needed.'
Savings can come from the head tax... no, the per-head budget of 6 million that comes in monthly.
Just remember to use the monthly expiring Special Strategy Budget freely.
I bought the 120 titanium machetes with the Special Strategy Budget as well.
'To supply my Hildea army with corn combat soup, barracks coffee, and milk salt snack bars every month, it looks like it'll cost a generous 700,000 in budget.'
With the remaining 300,000, I'll sell food supplies to the Rebecca army.
Then the food supply problem is neatly solved with the Major Special Strategy Budget.
And the 6 million that comes in monthly based on the number of troops.
At first glance, this seems like a lot.
However.
'One standard armored vehicle is 5 million, one standard tank is 10 million. A new Apache helicopter, including armaments, is a whopping 40 million.'
I can't request them anyway, but with the current budget, it's not even close.
'Promotion, I need a promotion.'
***
Today, once again, I was worked to the bone at the training grounds under Hildea's guidance.
I plan to earn my knighthood through archery, but I still need to have a grounding in basic swordsmanship.
During the break, once my panting subsided, I reported to Hildea.
"From now on, for security purposes, we have arranged to secretly receive supplies through a traveling merchant."
"That's a good idea. Now we must also be wary of friendly plundering by the 1st and 2nd Armies. They are not units under my command, and the commander-in-chief's rank is above mine, so recovering plundered goods is difficult."
The 3rd and 4th Armies are under Hildea's jurisdiction.
The 1st and 2nd Armies are under the 1st Army Commander.
I heard he's the eldest son of a ducal house.
"So, going forward, items enchanted with Storage Warehouse Magic will be disguised as merchant goods and transported to the county, then collected by commuting farm soldiers."
"Oh, then it will be very difficult to trace the supply movement route."
"I'm confident it will be impossible."
It's absolutely impossible.
Because in the first place, there is no maternal family, no traveling merchant, and no soldiers hidden among the 1,475 commuters carrying out secret transport missions.
There is no way to seize a transport route that doesn't even exist.
'With this, the origin of the supplies is perfectly concealed. From now on, I just have to pretend to pull things out of the subspace bracelet as I please.'
Suddenly, Hildea showed interest in the machete.
"Major Piel, but what is that sword? It's a unique design I've never seen before."
"It's a type of standard-issue military blade used by my maternal family. It's for regular combat soldiers."
"Isn't the blade a bit short?"
I, too, find the 56cm blade somewhat lacking.
But it was originally made for cutting trees and grass.
"Instead, it is very light. Would you like to hold it?"
"Oh? It's true. I was surprised by how much lighter it is than it looks."
"It's a sword to carry in case a spear breaks or is lost, so being light is important...."
Just then, someone came running quickly to the training grounds.
Hildea's right-hand man, Sir Basel, his face flushed bright red, wore an ominous expression.
"Salute! Commander-nim, I've come to see Major Piel on business for a moment."
"You heard him, Piel."
"Sir Basel, speak freely."
"Can you explain what the meaning of this is?"
As he said this, Basel held out his longsword.
No, I should say 'half｜sword'.
It had been cleanly snapped in two.
"I'm sorry, I have no idea what you mean."
"If you don't know, who the hell does!"
Why is he asking me about his own broken sword?
Basel huffed heavily through his nose, his face growing even redder. He was like a bull right before charging.
"That precious sword of yours, I'm talking about! The one you're holding right now!"
"Sir Basel? You don't mean?"
"To possess over 100 of such precious swords! And to even issue them to raw recruits in combat units? What kind of family is your maternal family, exactly?"
Sir Basel foamed at the mouth as he ranted.
"I happened to be passing by and saw Corporal Baren instructing the recruits, so I briefly stepped in. I was about to give a demonstration, and then!"
He should really breathe while he's talking.
"My beloved sword, forged by the kingdom's greatest master craftsman from carefully selected iron ore melted in the finest charcoal, hammered day and night—it was broken so vainly!"
It's a titanium alloy that secures molecular-level uniformity in an electron beam melting furnace within the inert gas environment of a vacuum chamber, and goes through a cold precision rolling process.
Of course it would shatter in a direct clash.
"Sir Basel, is that true? It broke your cherished sword in a single stroke?"
"Even though I didn't coat it with aura, it broke far too easily!"
"Let's test it, then."
Chaeng!
Hildea drew her own sword.
A magnificent sword with a keen, lively edge.
Its appearance is exquisitely balanced between practicality and splendor, perfect for the design of a unique item in an online game.
"This is a royal treasured sword, granted by His Majesty the King-nim on the day I became a Sword Master and was awarded my county. I'm curious how many blows it could withstand."
"Wouldn't it be wrong to damage a gift from His Majesty?"
I tried to dissuade her, sensing what would come next, but that was clearly my mistake.
I had properly wounded Hildea's pride.
"Rest assured, that will not happen. Or is that perhaps a very precious sword?"
"...It's not that."
"Good. Set the sword on the ground with the blade facing up. Naturally, I will not use aura."
Now I don't even know anymore.
I laid the sword flat on the ground so the blade faced the sky.
Hildea, with a confident expression, swung down the royal treasured sword with all her might, and.
Jjaenggang!
I probably won't forget that dazed, out-of-focus look in her eyes for the rest of my life.
"I-It broke?"
"Commander-nim! What did I tell you!"
"His, His Majesty the King's gift... a renowned royal sword... so futilely..."
Since she's so strong, it broke in a single blow.
If I had done it, it probably wouldn't have broken due to lack of strength.
Hildea's eyes, which had been staring blankly at the broken sword in dismay, slowly regained their focus.
"Major Piel, this commander has lost a precious sword."
"Please use this from now on."
I quickly handed over the machete.
The Sword Master who was looking at the broken sword with an expression as if she'd lost the whole world was nowhere to be seen,
and in her place was only an innocent girl, beaming with delight like she'd just received the latest American smartphone as a gift.
Seeing his chance, Sir Basel cut in.
"Major Piel, my sword is also broken, and I have no weapon to use right now..."
I know full well everyone keeps several spare swords. What nonsense is this.
"Could you perhaps sell me one as well? I'll give you 50 gold coins!"
50 gold coins is more than a 60-fold profit.
But Sir Basel interpreted my troubled look in the complete opposite way.
"100 gold coins! I'm not that flush lately either, so can't you just accept 100 gold coins for now, and I'll pay you more later?"
"...I'll just take the 50 gold coins."
"No! How could a famous blade like this be bought for a mere 50 gold coins! If you skimp on money for a fine sword, you'll be cursed by misfortune and won't live long on the battlefield! Please, take the 100 gold coins!"
"Understood. Tell Corporal Baren and take one."
"Thank you! I will have the gold coins delivered to you by the end of the day!"
Sir Basel disappeared in a state of excitement.
Hildea, who had been gleefully hugging the machete, suddenly gauged my reaction.
"...I- I, this commanding officer, cannot pay it all at once. Could I pay it over 10 months instead?"
"How could I possibly accept gold coins from Commander Hildea-nim? It's fine."
"...I'm truly grateful. I will definitely repay you by facilitating your rapid promotion."
Hildea gripped the machete and began sweeping it softly through the air.
A beautiful girl Sword Master's sword dance, with her long silver hair fluttering.
I quickly became mesmerized and watched breathlessly.
When she struck a large, hard boulder, it was cleanly sliced like tofu.
Hildea jumped up and down excitedly.
"Amazing! Even without using aura, it cuts through rock! A normal blade would surely break!"
Even if it's a super-hard alloy machete, the fact that she sliced rock with barehanded strength seems even more impressive.
Is this the power of mana muscles?
"To have over 100 of these precious swords. Truly astonishing. But Major, is it acceptable to issue such valuable swords to ordinary recruits?"
"They are collected once their duty ends. And with the security protocol... an anti-loss enchantment placed on them, there's no need to worry. They come back to me."
"Oh, then I'm at ease. As expected of a precious sword, it's treated with such care."
They don't come back to me, they simply vanish, but I put it roughly that way.
I glanced for a moment at the broken royal gift.
"Commander Hildea-nim, may I test striking it with this?"
"Of course. Here, strike it."
I grabbed the broken hilt and swung with all my strength at the machete Hildea held.
Kkang!
Only my hand stung, and the sword was perfectly fine.
Because my strength is lacking, it didn't break despite the difference in toughness.
Hildea laughed.
"For all its renown as a royal treasured sword, it's not something that could be broken by your skill, not even a squire yet."
She gently stroked the machete as if it were precious.
"To have shattered a royal treasured sword and still have an edge without a single chip. It's truly a wondrous weapon. Just what is your maternal fam... no, no, I almost committed another pointless discourtesy. Pretend you didn't hear that."
I glanced around and whispered quietly.
"In truth, compared to the explosive artifact, this isn't that remarkable, is it?"
"...!"
Hildea's eyes widened.
She must not have forgotten the destructive power of the 500 explosive bags that blew away the corrupted World Tree stump.
She nodded with an expression of understanding.
"I see.... Compared to the crossbow artifact and explosive artifact you possess, the knowledge and wisdom contained in forging this fine sword might be nothing special..."
I think the technical knowledge of titanium alloy smelting and steelmaking itself wouldn't be far behind, but...
"Now that I think of it, I haven't yet heard the name of this sword."
"It's called the Ontario Titan Machete."
"That's a wonderful name."
I roughly threw it together by mixing the manufacturer and raw material names, but now that I say it, it does sound kind of impressive.
***
I learned that rumors travel incredibly fast.
"Major Piel, would you sell the Ontario Titan Machete to me as well?"
"I've brought 100 gold coins here. Would it perhaps be insufficient? Won't this do?"
"I beg of you."
"If you give me the Ontario Titan Machete, I will personally step forward and cut down even your enemies henceforth!"
Knight officers came seeking me out with gold coins in hand.
Every single one of them carried a broken sword.
Sir Basel, bragging as he pleased, had gone around smashing the cherished swords of the knight officers one after another.
"I will contact my family and see if there is any stock available."
I took a step back, fearing that pulling them out instantly would diminish their premium value.
But the officer knights clung to me desperately.
"Please! I'm begging you!"
"Or at least sell me the ones you've issued to the recruits!"
"Wouldn't high-grade knights like us using them be more helpful for defending the front lines than recruits who can't even handle mana?"
Suddenly, I recalled the time the Ancient Tree Legion horde commanded by the Elves attacked the 4th Army.
Arm all the soldiers, who had built up ruthless mana operation training through a constant high-calorie diet, with machetes.
And then, if they were led by knights of Sword Expert level or higher?
If we continuously pump calories directly into their bloodstream with glucose biscuits throughout the entire battle?
'Next time the Ancient Tree Legion attacks, we'd win even easier, wouldn't we? And with far fewer casualties.'
A brush-cutting blade and food supplies.
It seems like an invincible, balance-shattering army could be built with just those two things.
'Maybe even a revolution to overthrow the kingdom... no, no, let's not entertain such wicked, modern-person thoughts.'