We've Found the Answer, Only...
We've Found the Answer, Only...
the most cost-effective Corn Soup.
This is about 0.11 Budget per 1,000 kcal.
The Pepperoni Square Pizza combat ration is about 0.15 Budget.
However, if you apply the rebate unit price that starts at colonel, it becomes 0.05 Budget.
Plus, you can heat this in water or just eat it as is, so it's much more convenient than Corn Soup.
'Just how much Budget could we save like this.'
Should I just close my eyes and serve this instead of Corn Soup?
We could save on the kerosene cost for boiling water too.
The devil's temptation shook me.
'No! I can't do that!'
But I overcame it.
Meals are an absolute factor in military morale, no dangerous compromises.
'Still, if we distribute it as regular meals for the territory residents, we could save Budget while increasing their calorie intake, right?'
The sight of the new territory residents eating it so deliciously was a shock to me.
I gave it to them just to fill their bellies, but they were happily eating it like Hildea eating a Marshall Burger.
I stepped outside the palanquin official residence.
And before the thousands of expectant eyes, I agonized once more.
"Those who want Chil-do noodle dishes, stand on this side. Those who want Pepperoni Square Pizza, stand on that side."
Urrrrr.
As expected, over 90% gathered on the ramen side.
Could it be that the taste buds of that 10% have died off?
"The pizza will be given in double, no, triple the quantity of the noodle dish."
The pizza price (rebate) is about 1/6 of the Chil-do Jumbo Lunch Box.
If they choose pizza as the special meal, we can feed them a larger quantity while cutting the Budget in half....
Why is everyone rushing over to the pizza side?
Not a single one is left.
'So it's quantity over quality, is it.'
It's bitter. Unpleasant. I don't know anymore.
"Fine. It's 10 Pepperoni Square Pizzas per person."
Heh, to think I can feed them 30,000 kcal of calories with just 0.5 Budget.
This is an addictive taste.
The bone-dry laughter of the USFK Commander echoed in my mind again.
'So defense industry waste starts being sampled from colonel onward, is that it.'
I don't think this is all there is.
I scanned through the food items list.
【Rebate】
【Rebate】
The items that return Budget as a rebate had a commonality.
They were unpopular and tasted bad.
Things that make you wonder why they were even supplied in the first place.
The rebate price of some American beer I'd never heard of was groundbreaking.
【Nellis White & Black (Lager)】
【Budget : 200L / 100】
【Upon request, you receive 101 Budget as a rebate.】
'Fuck? Does that even make sense? What's left for them then?'
Every time you buy 200 liters, 1 Budget gets duplicated.
Theoretically, if you buy 2 million liters, 1 million Budget comes in for free.
'Who's going to drink all that. Even if you receive 2 million liters a month, your monthly Budget only increases by a mere 10%.'
Let's stop thinking about exploiting Budget duplication tricks and just accept that we've got free beer.
'Let's not do Budget duplication by dumping beer. It's only 1 per 200 liters, the cost-effectiveness is way too low.
If we throw away that much beer for no reason, no matter how much everyone praises the Marshall family, they'll find it strange.'
Monsters who've tasted beer might also get attracted.
Anyway, the reason they supply at a loss is just....
Ah, I've attained enlightenment.
It's a collaboration between a promotion to spread the beer brand name to 2 million US soldiers and subsistence-level defense industry corruption.
"Colonel Piel? Why are you staggering?"
"Piel, are you dizzy? This won't do. Let's go inside."
"Let's go in quickly. I will give you a refreshing mana massage. But Marquis-nim, is it really true that my Colonel Piel can feel mana?"
"We'll have to do it until he feels it. Are you going to give up?"
"I could never do that."
Supported by the two female commanders, I returned to the bedroom.
After changing into comfortable sleepwear, Hildea and Rebecca also changed into their nightgowns and came in.
Hildea wore angular pajamas that looked like something children would wear, while Rebecca's nightgown was a sexy style that revealed the curves of her body.
At first, it was hard to find a place to rest my eyes, but now I've gotten quite used to it.
The massage was just so deeply relaxing and wonderful.
"Commander-in-Chief, this time I'll do the upper body."
"Very well. This time, I shall do the lower body."
"Piel, let's start with your back. Lie face down."
"Yes, Rebecca-nim."
The two women climbed on top and gently loosened my muscles, putting their weight into it.
They said something about using mana for this and that, but it was more refreshing than any massage I've ever received.
So much so that I'd fall asleep the moment the massage started.
'Now that I've made colonel, I can preview the supplies that unlock at brigadier general... I'll do it after I sleep... Ah, so refreshing....'
"I want to live my whole life receiving massages like this."
"Really? Shall I do it for you for life?"
"If it makes you comfortable, I will continue doing it even after you feel mana."
I snapped to my senses.
Oh my god, did I just say that out loud?
"I-I'm sorry. The massage was so refreshing, I said it without realizing."
"Mm-hmm. No, it's not. I actually feel good about it?"
"Don't mind it at all. Compared to what you've done for us, a massage like this, I could do it all day, for a lifetime."
"Sleep well. We'll keep doing it even while you sleep."
"We'll take turns on night watch massage duty again today, so you just rest comfortably and sleep deeply."
"Ah, then before I fall asleep, I'll unwrap some Marshall Burgers in advance."
With about 100, there's absolutely no way the two women will go hungry by tomorrow morning.
Feeling the pleasant pressure of the two women's hips and hand pressure, I sank my consciousness into dreamland.
***
「The rank of colonel is where true military life begins. Of course, those below lieutenant colonel won't really grasp what this means. Hahaha!」
At the dinner party, when the USFK Commander (Four Star) said that, we KATUSA soldiers all just laughed it off.
Later on, I recalled those words from something an esports pro player said.
「Grand Master is where it truly begins.」
At the time, he got some flak, told to stop spouting nonsense about whether Challenger wasn't the real start.
But I did think the meaning connected, in that a colonel has a star right before their eyes.
And now that I've made colonel.
Though the fields of gaming and military are different, I've attained the enlightenment that the celestial realm of the stars is all the same.
【You have been promoted to Colonel.】
【From now on, you must complete your unit's full organization to be promoted to the next rank.】
【All Budget and supplies are based on your 'recognized rank'.】
Until now, failing to fill the unit organization only resulted in not receiving the full Budget.
But from now on, it was different.
Colonel requires 6,000 men, Brigadier General 10,000, Major General 15,000, Lieutenant General 60,000, General 150,000, and Marshal 500,000 men to be filled before the next promotion is recognized.
Even if Hildea held a sword to the King's throat and pinned four stars on me, the Budget and supplies would still be executed based on the colonel standard.
'Ah, no. Since I've already filled 6,000 men in advance, Brigadier General would be recognized right away.'
I can somehow manage up to the 15,000 for Major General.
But 60,000 for Lieutenant General is really tough.
Though I probably won't be getting promoted in reality for a while anyway.
'In the worst case, I can just accept regular territory residents as non-combatants. The problem is after Marshal.'
I need to fill 500,000 for Marshal to become a Minister.
To fill that, I'd have to swallow up even Rebecca's territory.
Should I seriously consider marriage?
The problem is what happens to my relationship with Hildea if I marry Rebecca....
'I don't know. Let's think about it when the promotion angle comes up. Starting from the stars, it's really not easy.'
It's been a little over half a year since I enlisted, and I've made colonel.
But it feels like I've barely finished the tutorial.
True military life starts from colonel, looking towards the stars.
I finally feel the weight of those words now, Four Star ahjussi.
I can almost hear the supply cheat's scolding, asking how I dare gaze at the stars when I can't even fill a brigade-level unit.
"Piel, we poured fresh water into the bathtub and heated it. Let's wash up. I'll wash you."
"Why would the Marquis-nim wash my duty officer? Please don't."
"Then shall we wash him together, Commander-in-Chief?"
"That might be acceptable in its own way...."
"I-I can wash myself. Please don't do that."
The two women had apparently gotten up and washed first, as their faces were fresh and dewy.
"This body wash that Piel gave us, it's so good. Every time I wash, I feel like I'm reborn."
"It truly cannot be compared to the bath water made by boiling Heiji flower petals."
"I feel like we could make an enormous amount of money selling this to the central region."
I shook my head.
"Honestly, we're not exactly desperate for money."
"That's true."
"Since we squeezed them hard this time, it seems unlikely we'll be short on gold coins."
The Budget should be used to increase the population.
Whether it's food to feed the territory residents, or buying weapons to defend the territory and raising an army.
It's foolish to spend Budget doing business with central nobles just to earn some gold coins that aren't even urgently needed.
'But is it over once I make Minister? Somehow I feel like there's more.'
***
The messenger from the Noble Council who brought Hildea's general rank insignia did not leave immediately.
Because he had witnessed the spectacle of countless refugees heading north.
"Count Balckenhardt, Your Excellency. Wh-what on earth are you doing?"
"I've found a new home for the territory residents who lost their homeland due to the Ancient Tree Legion's disruption. Is there a problem?"
"Th-they are the assets of their lords! If you arbitrarily take them away like this!"
"I didn't take them away. I merely supported their evacuation for their safety."
"If this fact becomes public, you may face trial!"
"If they send a summons, I will gladly attend. I've been wanting to see the capital for the first time in years."
"Count, Your Excellency! Please reconsider!"
"You're noisy."
Hildea, with her arms crossed, glared at the messenger as if he were ridiculous.
"Was it not the Noble Council that appointed me as the Commander-in-Chief of Ainshvan?"
"Th-that is true, but...."
"To defend the empty west after the 1st and 2nd Armies were annihilated, more residents and supplies are needed. It is merely a redeployment of residents and supplies for that purpose."
"Pardon? A redeployment of residents and supplies?"
"Previously, the Noble Council unanimously entrusted me with the responsibility of defending even the west. So shouldn't I fulfill my duty by redeploying their assets to the west?"
Hildea sneered fully at the pale, frightened messenger.
"The Noble Council only gave me great responsibility but not the tools to fulfill it, so I have flexibly redeployed them on my own. Relay that to the Noble Council."
"Co-Count, Your Excellency...."
"Tell Marquis Corbel. That the food and gold coins promised before are clearly separate from this."
In the end, the messenger, having failed to persuade her, had to stagger back across the Dwein River.
Only then did Hildea turn around to Piel, who had been watching beside her, with a bright smile.
"Colonel, how was that?"
"You did well. Your great general force is overflowing."
"Naturally. Because I am a Four Star."
"Aigo! Hahaha! Hildea-nim, how is your humor so outstanding as well?"
Feeling good, Hildea raised her nose proudly.
"Heut, this level of wordplay is only natural for a Four Star Master. Now, follow me. I shall give you a mana massage."
***
The Anvelrum vassals who had initially greeted the Northern Army with anticipation were soon greatly disappointed.
Those lazy loafers were really the elite of the North?
Because the moment the Northern Army arrived, they blatantly demanded only alcohol, gold coins, and banquets.
As if they had made a pact, the young knights snatched up the young ladies as brides, and instead of carrying out the subjugation they were told to do, they were busy bleeding the territory dry.
Every time the defensive line maintained in Viscount Potashu's territory collapsed, the vassals' hearts burned black with anxiety.
However, in a single clash, the Northern Army proved why they were the elites of the front lines.
If not for them, Elenoa would have been trampled by the Ancient Tree Legion and killed in action, and even the Count's Castle would have been miserably destroyed.
Only after experiencing it firsthand did the vassals of Anvelrum realize how terrifying the Elves' Plant Legion was.
At the same time, they shuddered at the combat power of the Northern Army, which had annihilated the Plant Legion without casualties despite being far fewer in number.
Why are the Northern knights so abnormally strong?
The vassals desperately dug into it, and finally found an answer.
"It is true that they are strong, but the secret of their true strength lies in the swords they use."
"The knights used their Aura comfortably, without needing to worry about damage from mana overload."
"Since there was no fatigue from operating the Aura Sword, they could fight more roughly and for longer."
"It is an astonishingly durable sword."
It wasn't that they had picked the wrong answer.
It was just that there were six more multiple correct answers, including Mandrake Root, Fentanyl, Glucose Biscuits, Priests, Machetes, and their usual high-calorie, high-intensity training.
"We absolutely must! Purchase those swords."