To Be Comfortable, You Must Impress Piel (5)
To Be Comfortable, You Must Impress Piel (5)
Corporal Baren respectfully presented the last 119th machete, which Piel had entrusted to his care today, to the officer knight.
"Here you are, Colonel-nim."
"Hmm, here is your basic armament set."
"Thank you."
Corporal Baren carefully gathered the chainmail armor, helmet, combat boots, long spear, and steel sword handed over by the officer knight. The officer knight, having secured the last remaining machete, grinned and hugged it to his chest, stroking it preciously. Only when the officer knight turned away did Corporal Baren straighten his back. When he turned around, 100 fully armed new recruits were lined up, glistening in chainmail, helmets, long spears, and steel swords.
The sight of new recruits fully armed with the equipment left behind by the officer knights who had taken the machetes, claiming they had Piel's permission. To an outsider, they appeared perfectly armed, as if they had spent years on the battlefield. But those men were all fresh recruits who had just enlisted today.
"What on earth is going on here?"
***
The 119 officer knights succeeded in obtaining a machete with Piel's permission.
They had handed over 100 gold coins and received the very items the new recruits had been using for training. In exchange, they gave the recruits their unused chainmail, long spears, and steel swords.
For the first time in a while, the knights who had undergone a light group training could only marvel at the machete's incredible balance and durability.
"It can truly be called the finest blade in existence!"
"However, it is a shame that the blade itself is a bit short."
"Fool! Do you not realize that this sword was designed from the outset to be wielded by swordsmen at a level where the length of the blade is no longer a concern!"
"What, such a profound design philosophy?"
"You are right! If one can project an Aura Blade, the physical length of the sword is not a major issue in the first place!"
"On the contrary, it can be said to be the perfect length for easy portability!"
Hildea's Vice-commander and right-hand man, Sir Basel, spoke up gravely.
"Therefore, we must all strive to reach the level of Sword Master as quickly as possible through bone-crushing training."
"Understood!"
"You must not forget the spirit in which Major Piel prepared these Ontario Titan machetes for us."
The knights nodded with serious expressions, as if they truly understood.
'These are absolutely not swords meant to be issued to new recruits of peasant origin.'
A master sword that had cut the King's own treasured sword, gifted to Sword Master Hildea, clean in half. Could he truly have issued them for new recruit training? Absolutely not. Unable to directly present them to his superiors, he had clearly taken this roundabout way to re-equip the knights. An extremely sensible conclusion.
"Exactly 120 blades, including the Commander's share. It perfectly matches the number of knights in our army who know how to use Aura."
"Ever since the 4th Army was attacked by the Ancient Tree Legion, Major Piel must have been racking his brains on how to strengthen our unit's combat power in various ways."
"Even the expansion of the full corn soup distribution alone shows Major Piel's determination. All soldiers can now engage in daily mana application training without worrying about stamina."
After Piel's unconventional supply, the combat power of the 3rd Army had jumped dramatically. Twenty thousand soldiers could now conduct intense mana application training to their hearts' content without fear of collapsing from daily hunger. The potency was so great it even startled the knights themselves—so much so that they itched to test the improved collective combat strength of the soldiers in real combat.
Vice-commander Basel gathered the officer knights for a moment and finally revealed his own thoughts.
"Everyone here must feel that the scale of support from Major Piel's maternal family is so unconventional that it surpasses our understanding."
"...."
"...."
"There could be several reasons. One is the fact that Major Piel is an important heir who will inherit the future of his maternal family, and another is...."
A fierce-looking knight with a scarred face, who had been preciously stroking his machete, finished the sentence.
"It is certain that Piel's maternal family is seriously considering settling in our Valkenhart County."
Rumors about Piel's maternal family were rampant, but their true identity was unknown. However, everyone knew they possessed suspiciously vast amounts of money and supplies and considered Piel extremely important.
"The Ainshuvan Front is the most dangerous in the kingdom, and the 10-year mandatory service period is very long. It would not be strange for Piel to die in battle at any time."
What decision could his maternal family make to keep their precious heir alive? A tremendous amount of support to maintain the unit's fighting power. And outright settling in the County.
"Having suffered great damage in the past after being unjustly swept up in false charges of treason, they are undoubtedly moving more cautiously."
"I agree with Sir Basel's thoughts. They must be trying to verify our Valkenhart army's discipline, loyalty, and reliability in the long term."
The officer knights were convinced by the rational conclusion they had reached.
A family that had fallen unjustly but miraculously revived. A long-term strategy to not only pour out material support for their precious heir's safety, but to also relocate their entire base to the County.
Piel was an illegitimate child. Even after finishing his military service, there was no place for him in Count Anbelrum's household. So, wouldn't they consider migrating and settling here?
'Piel is undoubtedly the sole heir who will carry on the lineage of his maternal family.'
Basel's eyes flew wide open as he warned the knights.
"Listen carefully. If Piel dies in battle, all this support will be cut off, and we will ultimately fail to hold out and collapse. You must protect Piel with your lives in any situation. Understood?"
"This is already the 72nd time we've heard this. You can stop emphasizing it now."
"Shut up! I'll hammer it into your ears at least 700 more times from now on!"
After swinging his machete around here and there with satisfaction, Sir Basel suddenly asked.
"Speaking of which, where is Major Piel?"
"He went out on reconnaissance outside the barracks with the Commander again today."
"Hmm...."
Basel dared an irreverent speculation in his heart.
'Could the Countess be thinking of tying Piel to the territory through marriage? It would be nice if that worked out....'
***
Having eaten her fill of the charcoal-grilled lunch outside the barracks without having to worry about the smell spreading, Hildea was completely melted into a boneless puddle.
"Major Piel, I wish I could live the rest of my life eating nothing but grilled skewers for lunch...."
My plan to dominate the Commander-in-Chief's mouth and tongue is progressing step by step.
"Major Piel, I am grateful that you handed out the machetes to the officer knights. Thanks to that, our unit's fighting power has grown even stronger."
"No, it is I who am thankful."
Since they paid 100 gold coins and handed over long spears, steel swords, and armor to arm the new recruits.
'Then it would be right to supply the machetes mainly to veterans, correct?'
Things got a little tangled because everyone perceives them as master swords surpassing royal treasures. I never expected the treasured sword the King bestowed upon the Sword Master to be cut clean in half in one strike. I overestimated the smithing arts of this medieval fantasy world. I thought they would have developed somewhat since magic exists.
【Machete-001】
【Occupation Status: Commander-in-Chief Hildea Valkenhart】
【Machete-032】
【Occupation Status: Vice-commander Basel Draken】
Combat equipment could not be transferred due to the security protocol. However, issuing it to a unit member is recognized as a 'normal occupation' status. I explained it by circumventing that point, but the knights took it rather solemnly. It seems I won't be grabbed by the collar and told to hand over the gold coins later.
"How are the 1st and 2nd Armies doing these days? I heard their supply situation is even worse than ours."
"They are being crushed by the consequences of their own choices."
"...?"
"In our 3rd Army, out of 20,171 soldiers, we have 120 knights, including myself. The 1st and 2nd Armies have a combined total of over 60,000 men...."
So the weight class itself is different?
"Among them, there are more than 3,000 knights alone."
"Can they manage the food distribution?"
"How could they? Each knight devours several times the amount of an elite soldier."
Let's say an ordinary soldier is like a regular transport truck. An elite soldier using mana muscles is like an armored fighting vehicle, and a knight is like a heavy tank. To fight properly, their fuel consumption is monstrous.
"If you hadn't enlisted, Major... it's terrifying just to imagine. The front line would probably have collapsed during the last Tree Legion attack on the 4th Army."
With skewer seasoning still smeared on her mouth, Hildea trembled slightly.
"Carlton Marquis would have died in battle, and our 3rd Army would have collapsed as well. The 1st and 2nd Armies would have followed in a chain reaction. You, Major Piel, might as well have saved everyone on the Ainshuvan Front."
"Commander Hildea, please wipe your mouth with this."
I held out a disposable napkin, and Hildea promptly took it.
It was time to head back, and as we were tidying up, Hildea asked with an anxious look.
"Major Piel, we can come outside together tomorrow as well, right?"
It seems she truly took a liking to the grilled skewer lunch.
"Of course. There will be no problem at all in continuing to serve the special grilled skewers for weekend lunches."
"Haah, it would be nice if I could eat grilled skewers on weekdays too."
"I will try harder."
Her reaction is so adorable that I'm dying to feed her grilled skewers for lunch on weekdays too. But 'I can't do that.'
I forcefully suppressed the impulse.
If she eats the US military diet three meals a day, she'll just get used to it. She needs to eat the barracks mess hall diet at least for weekday lunches so she feels the value of how precious the meals I provide separately are.
'Still, now that the mess hall is serving corn combat soup, even Hildea doesn't leave her lunch behind anymore.'
***
We returned to the unit. Commander Rebecca, who had come over to hang out from the neighboring unit, was waiting for me.
"Hello, Piel?"
"Commander Rebecca? It's still too early for dinner, though?"
"Mm, I came early to help you with archery training for a bit before that. I had nothing to do at my unit anyway. Is that alright?"
"I'm thankful."
In the afternoon, I rolled around the training grounds. It was tough, but I gritted my teeth and endured it, thinking it was a necessary process to quickly earn my knighthood, become a full major, and get high-speed promotions.
'Movies, dramas, games... To receive cultural life supplies, I'd need to be at least a division commander, right?'
Come to think of it, even in this medieval fantasy world, they can record and play back plays using magic crystals. I wonder what reaction I'd get if I played 'Saving Private Ryan' for the soldiers here.
After training ended and I had washed up, I prepared a combat ration meal for Hildea and Rebecca in the official residence's office.
"This beef dish is really delicious. To be able to savor such a delicacy every day on the battlefield."
Rebecca ate with a truly happy expression.
After finishing the meal, we were having a light tea time with barracks coffee when a messenger arrived urgently.
"Commander-in-Chief! The 1st and 2nd Armies went out to hunt a herd of wild buffalo, but a fight broke out between them over the distribution!"
Rebecca and Hildea reacted nonchalantly.
"That brings back memories."
"Was it 9 months ago? We also fought fiercely over 10 wild buffalo..."
"Carlton Marquis, shall we go?"
"Forget it. Tell them to claim it for themselves. Their supply situation is so severe these days, if we butt in, it could really escalate into an Ainshuvan civil war."
So the reason the messenger came running so urgently was to ask, 'Shall we sortie and snatch them too?'...
Perhaps because they were both in full-bellied lioness mode, they chose to rest lazily.
***
That night, at dawn. I was sleeping in my new bedroom, which divided Hildea's bedroom in half, when suddenly the door burst open.
I got up rubbing my eyes and was startled to see Hildea in her nightgown.
"Commander Hildea?"
Did her appetite explode at dawn? Is she craving a late-night snack?
But it was all my misunderstanding. Hildea's face, which approached me with long strides, was stiff with tension.
"Major Piel, get changed, quickly."
"Is it an attack?"
"The 2nd Army has collapsed from a surprise attack by the Elf Legion. I don't know what happened to the 1st Army."
***
1st Army Barracks. Traces of fierce combat filled the surroundings. The corpses of Ancient Tree monsters and the bodies of knights and soldiers lay scattered, while injured soldiers missing limbs groaned everywhere.
Priests hurriedly moved about, casting healing magic, but there was no sign that the situation was being brought under control.
Perhaps the only fortunate thing was that there was no more fighting.
A small girl with red hair like a blazing flame sat staring vacantly into the air with hollow eyes.
A messenger in a pitiful state approached the girl and gave a military salute.
The girl asked irritably.
"The 2nd Army?"
"There is no word. It seems their damage is worse than ours."
"Ha, shit. That's why I said it felt ominous, I told them not to chase those wild buffalo herds... Forget it, what's the use of cursing a commander-in-chief who's already dead."
The young commander stared blankly at the ruined barracks and spoke.
"Jegun."
"Yes! Vice-commander... Acting Commander-in-Chief!"
"Still, desertion is better than rebellion, right?"
"...Did I mishear?"
"What? You think rebellion is better?"
"I'm sorry!"
The messenger turned pale and disappeared as if fleeing.
The girl conjured a large, blazing flame in the air.
"Desert, rebel, desert, rebel, desert...."
The focus in her eyes, staring at the flickering fire, gradually faded away.