Return of the Bastard (1)
Return of the Bastard (1)
Starting from colonel, you can at least request the Bradley armored vehicle, a tank destroyer.
'As always, the problem is the price.'
【Budget: 5 million】
Yeah, I'm not buying it. No, I can't buy it.
5,000 tons of flour would feed how many territory residents.
How great would it be if I could just rip off the 25mm autocannon from the armored vehicle and give it to Hildea.
Hildea's main gun, the 105mm, is a howitzer, so it lacks penetrating rounds like depleted uranium shells and tungsten shells.
In terms of penetration alone, the 25mm direct-fire autocannon's tungsten shells would be better.
'You can't help it since you mounted a self-propelled howitzer on the world's strongest tank. But at the time, that was the best option.'
"When firing the 105, wrapping the shell alone in aura to strengthen it isn't possible, is it?"
"The technique of loading aura only onto a projectile is the domain of a Bow Master. Since I'm a Sword Master, the aura inevitably gets carried onto both the shell and the barrel as a single unit."
She tried before, but the aura prevented the fuze from detonating, so it wouldn't fire at all.
Rebecca could load aura only onto machine gun bullets, so I thought Hildea could too. Domain separation is definitely real.
A combat scene of Hildea holding a tank gun and blasting tungsten shells....
I hope the day comes when I get to see it.
'Still, considering she can accurately land a 105mm shell in direct fire, where else can you find that level of cost-effectiveness.'
【Requesting supply of 50 105mm high-explosive shells.】
I had requested the shells in advance.
Receiving unclaimed supplies when needed is faster than finding each item individually and requesting supply.
Come to think of it, the Humvee was just supplied with the first budget.
【This is a free transportation vehicle supplied as a basic single unit to colonels.】
【Fuel and ammunition are separate.】
【Free resupply upon destruction, requires 30 days】
But it's noisy and conspicuous, so I probably won't ride it.
Riding around with Hildea is much faster and more discreet.
'As expected of a colonel. Even the basic supplies are different. I wonder if they give a free armored vehicle when you make brigadier general?'
I can preview the items requestable at the brigadier general rank.
Since it's the very next rank.
'Tank, self-propelled howitzer, HIMARS multiple launch rocket system.... But they're all just pie in the sky.'
Looking at the budget table, I can't even dare imagine it.
With that money, how much flour would that be, how many territory residents is that.
'If the beer rebate was 100% instead of 1%, I'd try duplicating the budget.'
I'll have to diligently sell a lot of beer.
"It seems all preparations are complete."
"Yeah, then before we change clothes.... shall we hold a closing ceremony for our intelligence-gathering undercover newlywed couple?"
Did we ever actually gather intelligence?
It feels like we just played around for three days.
Wait, was this a date....
"Then the husband should hug his wife one last time."
Hildea smiled brightly and opened her arms wide.
At that beaming smile, I was momentarily speechless, then quietly embraced her.
Warm, soft, and smelling wonderful.
So much so that I wanted to stay like this forever.
"Honey. The undercover period, it was still fun."
"Madam, for me too."
"It was the first enjoyable time I spent not as Sword Master Count Balckenhardt, but as Hildea the woman."
"Since you enjoyed it, I feel good too."
We stayed embraced for a long while before separating.
Her moist blue eyes feel especially melancholic today.
"I'll go change clothes on the other side of the tree."
"Yes, I'll change too."
A moment later, we reunited in military uniforms.
I deliberately wore the 3rd Army official uniform I had left neglected all this time. The one with the ensign rank insignia attached.
Hildea poked my chest lightly with a bold expression.
"Colonel Piel. No, Ensign Piel. Are you ready to go see the face of the father who abandoned you?"
"Of course, Captain Hildea-nim."
"Then let's go."
"Yes."
The newlywed couple setup was over, and we became soldiers again, moving toward the inner castle of the territory.
***
"Don't be nervous. Don't shrink back, don't be intimidated. Even a duke is crushed under a Sword Master."
"But why do you always yield to Marquis Rebecca-nim? Even though your rank is higher."
"Because she's an ally defending the same front line."
I decided not to make the bad remark that it was because her marquisate is a prosperous neighborhood that produces everything except food.
As we approached the entrance of the Count's Castle, the guards tilted their heads at our military uniforms.
"They look like Lord Deville's unit members, but was there a female soldier?"
"Wait, the man beside... Pi, Piel doryeonnim?"
This sort of thing is handled by the duty officer stepping forward.
I stepped forward confidently and spoke.
"Open the gate."
"Uh, how is doryeonnim here?"
"I said open the gate."
"Just a moment. I must report to His Excellency the Count...!"
"Hey there, do you not recognize who this person is? Can you not see this rank insignia?"
"Gasp! Four stars? A Captain-ranked officer?"
"A silver-haired female knight! Captain rank? Is it possibly His Excellency Count Balckenhardt, the Commander-in-Chief of Ainshvan?"
"I didn't recognize you! Please forgive me!"
The guard finally turned pale, bowed his head, and rendered a military salute.
I spoke once more.
"Open the gate quickly and report to Count Anbelrum. Say that the kingdom's greatest hero, Sword Master Sir Hildea Valkenhart, has arrived."
"I will report immediately!"
"I'll open the gate!"
One ran hastily inside, and the other quickly opened the inner castle gate.
Hildea took the lead, and I walked slightly behind to her side.
The house I've come back to after several months.
Nothing has changed at all.
The training grounds, the garden, the fountain, the large broadleaf tree shade lawn I liked—all remain the same.
We strolled leisurely through the garden.
As if we had come sightseeing.
"Do you see that tree shade next to the training grounds?"
"I see it."
"I used to lay out a mat there and enthusiastically cheer on my half-siblings while they sweated, eating snacks."
"You failed to awaken mana, yet did you not feel any anxiety or fear at all?"
"How could that be? The Count always said it like a habit. He'd later set me up with enough wealth to comfortably live on when I branched off, so I shouldn't dare covet the main family's possessions."
I merely faithfully followed the Count's words, yet I was conscripted to the North as the least painful finger.
"Piel? Is that Piel?"
"Really Piel?"
"Good heavens... weren't you killed in action?"
"We thought you were dead. You were alive?"
My half-siblings who recognized me crowded around one by one, then stopped short when they saw Hildea's rank insignia.
"Four stars, a Captain-ranked officer...."
"A silver-haired female knight.... It, it can't be His Excellency Count Balckenhardt?"
"The youngest Sword Master!"
Hildea folded her arms, smiled, and shook her head.
"Pay no mind to me, please greet Ensign Piel."
I decided to hide my actual rank for now.
The identity reported to the Noble Council is Colonel Marshall, so there's no risk of being discovered.
Hildea stepped back a bit.
The bastards chattered noisily, still mindful of Hildea behind them.
"Seriously, what happened? We really thought you were dead."
"Elenoa was truly heartbroken."
"What on earth happened?"
Seeing them greet me so enthusiastically, I suppose I didn't live in vain.
"I became duty officer to Sir Hildea. Being directly under the Commander-in-Chief, there was a lot to adjust to, so I was insanely busy."
"But you could at least send a letter."
"His Excellency Count Anbelrum didn't send any supplies at all."
"What? Is that true?"
"That can't be. Isn't it a mistake?"
"If they sent, I would have received."
"Embezzlement, or looting...."
"Supply embezzlement is a serious crime. The discipline in the Ainshuvan unit is strict."
Everyone asked after my well-being, but I could feel their attention was entirely focused on Hildea.
"As expected of Piel. No matter where you're placed, you earn your keep."
"It definitely wouldn't have been easy for a Water Ensign to become the Commander-in-Chief's duty officer, but you pulled it off."
"Surely you didn't come alone with just the Commander-in-Chief?"
"Wow, amazing. How did you seduce the Commander-in-Chief?"
These bastards start spouting nonsense as soon as they see me.
I debated whether to tell them the horrifying truth that Hildea is listening to everything, but I let it go.
"The Commander-in-Chief is a magnanimous person. She knew I was abandoned by the main family and made me her duty officer to protect me from ostracism."
"...."
"...."
"I, I see... We thought you landed a cushy post thanks to your looks...."
"Wait, Father is coming over there!"
"Father?"
The bastards scattered in a swarm.
Count Anbelrum was approaching us confidently, accompanied by knights.
Hildea, who had been watching with her arms folded, stepped forward in front of me.
The Count finally stood before us.
I was curious.
What kind of reaction he would show upon seeing me.
"I sincerely welcome the hero of the North to the domain of Count Anbelrum. The unit of Lord Deville, dispatched at the Commander-in-Chief's orders, has led our Anvelrum to peace."
"Thank Ensign Piel here. The troop dispatch was entirely thanks to Ensign Piel."
I thought he would flinch, even just a little.
But the Count looked at me with the eyes of someone seeing me for the first time and expressed his gratitude.
"I am thankful you gave counsel to the Commander-in-Chief, Ensign Piel."
"...."
This is a reaction I never anticipated anywhere in my expectations.
I thought he would at least be surprised, but to be this indifferent, treating me like a stranger.
"Let's have a talk, Father."
"...."
"I have a few things to say. Do you not have much to say to me?"
"...."
The Count looked around at the knights, then strode wordlessly to a table on one side.
Hildea tried to follow, but I quietly stopped her.
"It's fine."
"I shall watch from here. Be at ease and say everything you wish to say."
"Thank you."
I also had no intention of facing the Count alone in a place without Hildea.
You never know what might happen.
About 20 meters away, under Hildea's watchful gaze,
I sat face to face with the Count at the table under the shade.
"What do you have to say, Piel."
"You don't look surprised at all seeing me."
"I was surprised. I'm sure I told you not to even glance south of the Dwein River until your service period was over."
"Why did you do that?"
Would he make excuses, or would he come out boldly.
I was curious about that.
"A useless bastard who couldn't even awaken mana until the age of 19."
"...."
"I fed you, housed you, even found you a job. As a father, I did everything. What more should I have done?"
"You abandoned me because I couldn't awaken mana?"
"Is there any other reason but that?"
The Count stared at me for a moment, then emphasized his words with clear enunciation.
"If only you had awakened mana, I wouldn't have abandoned you like that."
"Wasn't it you, Father, who told me there was no need to insist on the path of a knight?"
Getting a job as the head butler for noona, managing the household, carefully looking after the nephews and nieces, and enjoying a life of leisure.
Setting up the 'Piel Plan' was entirely due to the Count's dinner-table education.
"Still, you should have awakened mana at the very least. Whose bloodline is it, after all."
"...."
"Grab any passerby and ask them. Even the child of a talentless serf can learn to use mana if drilled for a few years. But what about you?"
"...."
"Maybe it's because you resemble your mother too much. Anyway, I didn't want to leave your low-quality bloodline in my territory."
The Count's reaction at our first reunion was not within my expectations at all.
"If only you had awakened mana, I wouldn't have sent you to the North either."
But this brazen admission now surpassed the reaction I had most anticipated.
Yes, this kind of attitude is better.
Not suddenly softening up just because I brought Hildea along, or anything like that.
"Fine. Let's say abandoning me is one thing."
In my father's kind consideration to never suppress the filial piety filling my heart, I felt a warm, descending parental love.
You're telling me never to hold back, right, Count-nim?
"But why didn't you send supplies to the North? Isn't this treason?"