New Recruit Banquet (1)
New Recruit Banquet (1)
The moment Lord Deville broke through Sword Expert and ascended to Sword Imperial.
I watched through my left eye only, wearing the night vision goggles in recording mode.
'Oh, this is that rare moment a Sword Imperial-class knight is born...!'
Now our 3rd Army has a fighting strength of 1 Sword Master, 2 Sword Imperials, and 117 Sword Experts.
'If we combine the absorbed 2nd Army troops, that's about 70,000. Add the artillery power to that... isn't this enough force to pull off a counter-revolution?'
Ah shoot, there I go again with these bad thoughts.
It honestly startles me every time I become aware that blood is thicker than water.
The 3rd Army's loyalty to Hildea runs so deep.
'Our 3rd Army can become fully self-sufficient in the North. Let's not entertain bad thoughts.'
Hildea standing guard to ensure Dvil's breakthrough isn't disturbed is a reassuring sight.
The very ideal model of a beautiful young Sword Master.
For a moment, the image of her sitting with her knees together before me at dawn, wolfing down a burger, overlapped with the present....
Finally, Dvil finished his aura emission and opened his eyes.
The flames within his pupils were greatly refined.
"Commander-in-Chief-nim, thank you."
"Lord Deville, congratulations on your breakthrough."
"It is all thanks to Major Piel."
"Thanks to Major Piel?"
Hildea flinched.
The other knights also listened to Dvil's words with their eyes wide open.
I was curious too. Why did my name suddenly pop out?
"The latent power that the mandrake root exploded... within the flow of the ascending realm that the original me could never experience, I glimpsed a clue to the breakthrough."
"The explosion of latent power?"
"Because of the mandrake root?"
"Ahh, so that's why Lord Deville said it's thanks to Major Piel...!"
"If not for the pain blocker, wouldn't he have died in eternal agony as the price for glimpsing the ascending realm?"
Don't twist it weirdly.
You don't die as the price for glimpsing the ascending realm, you die because you chewed on mandrake root.
"The hard-won clue to the ascending realm, the pain of a mortal that could not kill me, and the complete Healing Grace. Had any one of those three been absent, I would not have achieved Sword Imperial."
The other knights muttered dejectedly.
"Damn, I chewed the same mandrake root and fought hard, so why?"
"A clue to the ascending realm? No wonder the sensation of swordsmanship that felt like it was being swung as if not my own body was tingling, so that's what it meant!"
"Indeed, I should not have taken the pain blocker so quickly and savored the extreme pain of the mandrake root a little longer!"
Hildea, her expression utterly flushed, praised Dvil before turning her gaze to me.
"I see. Perhaps this could become a clue for rapidly elevating the knights' realms. Major Piel, how much pain blocker can you supply?"
"...."
A profound silence fell.
Everyone had their mouths tightly shut as if they'd become part of a mural, waiting only for my answer.
'Why does everyone look like children put up for adoption.'
There's actually no issue.
As long as there's a priest, you can aim for a complete recovery without the side effects of the fentanyl kit.
Combat power increases, if you're lucky you gain enlightenment, and you recover completely without aftereffects.
There's no reason not to do it.
But....
「 I was curious how painful the root's side effects are. 」
「 If not now, when would I ever experience it. 」
「 Pain that cannot kill me merely tempers my spirit into something stronger. 」
「 You won't die anyway. Just feel it. 」
Recalling the knights' reactions from earlier makes my stomach churn strangely.
"I will create very strict administration rules. Every time these are violated, there will be a penalty of exclusion from 3 special meals."
"Heok! Exclusion from 3 special meals! No!"
"We must never violate the administration rules."
When you dangle food in front of them, they listen well. They're actually good-hearted knights, you know.
***
All the ancient tree corpses were gathered in one place and burned.
Not knowing what dangers they might hold, and since it's just creepy, ancient tree corpses aren't originally used for firewood.
We decided to burn down all the vineyards as well, for good measure.
It was to completely mop up any stragglers that might be hiding.
It was an excellent choice.
Because the remaining ancient tree monsters that had dug deep into the earth and hidden their massive bodies were exposed, screaming as they burned.
"Uhahaha! With this, those Southern bastards have had all their wine for this year drunk up!"
"How refreshing."
While watching the vineyards blaze fiercely, we all ate special meals together.
The knights from the 1st Army, upon seeing the Chil-do Jumbo Lunch Box, had their eyeballs spinning round and round.
"Th-this is noodle cuisine? I've never seen such thin and beautiful noodles!"
"The scent of the red soup is so intoxicating."
"Ah, I see. My real body must be dying right now in the hallucination of the mandrake root...."
"Dying while eating high-quality noodle cuisine in such an intoxicating hallucination isn't so bad."
"Vice-commander Luna-nim, I loved you. In the next life, please live as the heroine for me, keuk!"
"Shut up and just stuff your faces. You bastards."
Quite a few 1st Army knights saw the cup ramyeon and mistook it for them dying in a hallucination.
Every time that happened, 3rd Army knights would walk around and splendidly smack the backs of their heads.
The 1st Army knights were confused whether it was a hallucination or reality, but still, everyone truly devoured the cup ramyeon deliciously and hurriedly.
But....
'Luna Rosenberg. The Wind Mage.'
Not quite on the level of Hildea who hit Sword Master at 15, but still, a mage with talent counted among the top in the kingdom.
Her frame is small. Smaller than Hildea.
Actually, Hildea is flat, not short.
Red hair that sharply reflects the sunlight ripples at the nape of her neck.
She has skin as white as Hildea's, but a whiteness tinged with a certain haggardness.
'She's the only one eating poorly.'
Luna was mechanically eating cup ramyeon with sunken eyes.
It was a reaction I hadn't experienced before, so I was honestly fresh and surprised by it.
'To eat supplies that US Forces Korea spread even back to the mainland so indifferently.'
Not seeing the usual reactions left me feeling somewhat regretful, yet my eyes kept drifting toward Luna.
"Piel, why do you keep staring at Unit Commander Luna like that?"
"It seems she's not eating well."
"Hmm, surely it's not that your taste leans towards that type?"
"It's not like that."
"I'm a little uneasy. I'm starting to worry whether Piel might actually prefer the smaller size."
The saying that your beloved woman just happened to have a small chest, and that you almost never fall in love because the chest is small, suddenly came to mind.
But I just swallowed it alone.
"As you said, Unit Commander Luna really isn't eating properly. That's worrying."
At that, the young muscle-priest who had been inhaling ramyeon as if burying his face into the container spoke solemnly, his mouth heavily smeared with broth.
"The wounds of the flesh have completely healed, but the aftereffects lingering on the soul likely haven't been erased. Considering the trials Unit Commander Luna has endured.
However, I believe this too shall pass. So I request one more noodle dish."
Luna ultimately left more than half uneaten.
Why can't she eat when I made ramyeon.
It's barely a mouthful of less than 4,000 kilocalories anyway.
Rebecca leaned close to my ear and whispered softly.
"Piel, if you marry me, I'll actively step in and make Luna your second wife too."
"I-it's not like that!"
I need to quickly make General and command a grand army of 2.5 million.
Romance? Marriage?
At my current rank, if those things even cross my mind, that's insanity.
'A 7th-class mage at 24, this is an extremely precious asset, you know.'
Though she looked so young you'd say she was 14, not 24.
Come to think of it, I heard she's older than Rebecca.
'Why does Rebecca seem like the eldest eonni?'
The sight of her barely swallowing noodles with that gaunt face sticks in my mind.
'Is she originally a picky eater? No, then she'd have died long ago in Ainshvan. Did her taste buds die from the shock of enduring successive tribulations?'
After being surrounded by a wall of people who gobble down anything eagerly,
seeing that powerless figure as if her appetite had been extinguished, I can't tear my eyes away.
***
Hildea watched that side of Piel with slightly anxious eyes.
'Why does Piel keep looking at Luna like that?'
An anxiety of a different shade than with Rebecca.
Rather, this one gives off a stranger sense of pressure.
Hildea intently observed Luna's limp fork movements.
Nibbling, nibbling, motions that made it confusing whether she was eating or pretending to eat.
On top of that, she put the container down without finishing even half, leaving most of it.
Hildea almost asked, 'If you're not going to eat more, shall I eat it?' but stopped because of some warning her instincts sounded.
'I can't explain it, but it seems like I shouldn't do that in front of Piel right now. Just seems like I shouldn't.'
Originally, after eating 5 Chil-do Jumbo Lunch Boxes (16,345 kilocalories), Hildea had planned to secretly ask for 20 Marshall Burgers for dessert.
But after seeing Piel staring at Luna's nibbling figure as if entranced,
she couldn't bring herself to ask.
'It's fine. I didn't participate in the battle in earnest today, so I didn't use that much mana....'
"Commander Hildea-nim, I'd like us to survey the perimeter briefly."
"Understood. I shall carry you on my back."
"...It's an honor."
Burning with the feeling that she couldn't possibly subject the frail Piel to the March of Hardship, Hildea carried Piel on her back and scouted the perimeter.
Once the main camp troops were out of sight, Piel settled down and sat.
"You should eat Marshall Burgers, shouldn't you?"
"Ung?"
"You always eat 20 Marshall Burgers for dessert after lunch. I thought it strange you didn't request them today. Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Feeling an inexplicable sense of embarrassment, Hildea slightly lowered her head.
"I-it's not that. Just...."
"Then please eat as much as you like."
"...."
Hildea fidgeted as she held one of the Marshall Burgers that Piel was neatly making and stacking up.
A shamefulness she had never experienced, hard to explain, washes over her.
But her body was honest.
She could not overcome the fragrant, savory meaty aroma of the patty wafting gently from the burger and the sweet flavor of the meat juice sauce.
When she came to her senses, 22 Marshall Burgers had valiantly oxidized into her stomach.
Piel, wearing a smile, carefully wiped her mouth with a paper tissue (napkin).
"If you go back with sauce on your mouth, Commander Rebecca and the other knights will think it strange. You must be careful."
"Ung...."
"Please use the mouthwash here as well."
"Understood."
Hildea held the now-familiar, sharply stimulating mouthwash liquid in her mouth and rinsed.
"Let's head back now."
"Let's do that."
Just as when they came, Hildea lightly carried Piel on her back and returned to the military camp.
Perhaps because she had devoured a ton of Marshall Burgers, her footsteps felt lightly refreshed, unlike before.
Or perhaps it was because of Piel's smile, gazing at her with satisfaction every time she devoured burgers.
'Why is my chest so itchy again.'
But right now, both hands were occupied supporting Piel for a comfortable riding experience.
Though the desire to ask him to scratch it burned like a chimney, Hildea endured it.
Having lived her life with the sword as her only companion since she was 10, she was naive in the ways of the world, but she at least knew she shouldn't make such a request.
***
The Military Inspector General is dead.
I will never forget his sense of duty, sending me only the rank insignia before dying a valiant death.
Therefore, the remaining procedures and the King's intentions had to be conveyed through a courier.
Among the items sent from the capital was a ceremonial blade so pretty just to look at, and so fragile it seemed like it would break if you just tapped it with a machete.
The kind that seems to have no use other than wearing it on your hip to show off its visual.
"This is the Sword of Subordination bestowed by His Majesty. If you drip a drop of blood onto the blade to complete the subordination seal, the rights over the life and death of the 202 members of the Penal Unit will be vested in the sword's master."
They were a penal unit in the truest sense.
The freedom of their remaining lives was held captive by a single sword, which aside from that pretty appearance, was utterly pathetic.
"His Majesty could not overcome the opposition of the Noble Council, who feared it was unknown when you might storm the capital again to cause unrest."
"To bind these loyal knights with the Sword of Subordination, no matter what. It is truly a cruel act."
At the word that Count Anbelrum had spearheaded the argument, I nearly died of shame.
It was a good thing I had cut ties early.
After the courier withdrew, Hildea suddenly held out the Sword of Subordination to me.
"Major Piel, drip your blood here."
"Did I mishear?"
"This is more useful to you than to me. With Luna and 201 guardian knights, you can be safely protected on any battlefield."
Hildea went on and on explaining the fate of those bound by the Sword of Subordination.
She said that if I ordered them to die, they would die, they could not refuse my orders, and they could not harm or cause injury to me.
"His Majesty ultimately could not overcome the Noble Council's opposition, but with the wish that they might spend their remaining lives meaningfully...."
Hildea's words didn't reach my ears.
So, this is a drone, I mean, no no, a personal guard unit that I can trust and use without worries of betrayal or leaks?
However, the excited feeling was brief.
Looking at the faces of those gazing at the Sword of Subordination with dark expressions, my breath caught in my throat.
"Can't this be nullified?"
"It's impossible. I also wish to do so."
"So it's unavoidable. In that case...."
I looked at the penal unit, especially the gaunt face of Luna, and made up my mind.
"I will proceed with the sealing after feeding everyone first."
Hildea, I'm sorry....
I feel like I absolutely must feed these people samgyeopsal until their stomachs burst first.
I cannot proceed with that damned ceremony before that.