Just One Supercar
Just One Supercar
The rumors of the splendid Triumph Ceremony that had begun in western Ainshvan spread rapidly throughout the North.
The territory residents who had gathered from each village to the central areas waited anxiously for Colonel Marshall-nim to visit as soon as possible.
And finally, the massive harem palanquin arrived in Count Balckenhardt's territory.
"He's here! Colonel Marshall-nim is coming!"
"It's the palanquin!"
"Count Balckenhardt-nim is coming too!"
Then came the grand Triumph Ceremony.
The commoners of the county who experienced true Marshall Stew shed tears of emotion, their whole bodies overwhelmed with feeling.
"Delicious! So delicious!"
"So this is true Marshall Stew! Truly a heavenly dish!"
"How is there no hair on the meat? Why aren't there any bone fragments at all?"
Meat from breeds improved solely for superior eating quality, raised on abundant feed, then cleanly deboned and deodorized using advanced butchering techniques.
Just like the residents of the northwest, the county residents reveled in this fantastical experience to their hearts' content, praising the generosity of the Marshall family.
"How wonderful would it be if the Count married Colonel Marshall?"
"Some fools apparently mistake the Count-nim and the Marquis-nim for Colonel Marshall-nim's concubines."
"What? You mean the soldiers just let such blasphemy slide?"
"I heard the mood is they just correct the titles and laugh it off?"
Piel, riding in a small palanquin, paraded through the streets with beautiful women, tossing out snack bars left and right.
Children and adults alike were frantically busy picking up the snack bars without any distinction.
"It's amazing how the wrapper just vanishes after you eat it."
"To cast magic even on each individual food item like this. Truly astonishing."
The territory residents fervently raved about the Triumph Ceremony.
They worshipped and re-worshipped Colonel Marshall's generosity.
But a party must come to an end.
The next day, the massive palanquin departed for the next region.
The county residents saw them off with empty and wistful hearts, endlessly longing.
"When will they hold another Triumph Ceremony like this?"
The hearts of the territory residents were already directed toward the next Triumph Ceremony.
And so began the indefinite wait with no promised date.
"If we win a great victory in the war, wouldn't they hold one again?"
"That's right! We just need to win the war!"
"So when will the next war start?"
If we win a great victory in war, we might get to eat Marshall Stew again!
The eyes of the territory residents glistened with anticipation.
"Wait! If you become a soldier, even outside of Triumph Ceremonies, couldn't you eat Marshall Stew when you achieve military merit?"
"Maybe you could even eat it occasionally as a special meal!"
"Damn, how do I become a soldier?"
"You have to awaken mana. Otherwise, you can't become a combat soldier."
The non-combat soldiers under Piel's command burned with fighting spirit.
Until now, commoners who valued their lives and feared combat had been content with farming roles in the food procurement units.
But after tasting Marshall Stew once, they began to crave more.
"Wasn't there not a single death when they subjugated the elf legion that infiltrated the rear?"
"Our Ainshuvan Army's combat power is just that overwhelming, isn't it?"
"Then isn't the risk of dying low too? Enlisting as a combat soldier seems worth trying?"
"Should I try mana training once...?"
Varen didn't miss this excited atmosphere.
"Colonel Marshall-nim wholeheartedly welcomes your enlistment as combat soldiers! Unlimited caloric supply will be provided for your mana training! Enlist as combat soldiers right now!"
Originally, for the northern residents, war was a hellish existence that made life desolate.
But starting from some point, their aversion to war had been gradually getting eaten away without them even realizing it.
What made the invisible accumulation of subconsciousness awaken was the unprecedented Triumph Ceremony and the unlimited Marshall Stew.
A festival that loaded them up with all sorts of delicious meats and vegetables cut into generous chunks was unprecedented.
'War... combat soldier... might not be so bad?'
The territory residents had finally opened their eyes to this thing called war profiteering.
"Combat soldiers, only combat soldiers!"
"War, ever forward war!"
"Ever war for Marshall Stew! Only victory!"
***
We had gone through a pilgrimage of Triumph Ceremonies lasting over 20 days.
And finally, we grandly concluded the Triumph Ceremony at Carlton Marquis Castle.
Dawn.
Torches illuminating everywhere.
The marquisate commoners, having thoroughly enjoyed unlimited beer and six types of meat stew, lay scattered everywhere.
At the highest central watchtower of the palanquin residence, I grilled samgyeopsal with Hildea and Rebecca while checking the festive mood from time to time with binoculars.
"Piel, this ice cream is so delicious no matter how much I eat it!"
Rebecca's preference was mango sorbet.
But she likes everything except mint choco.
The two women ate about half a gallon of ice cream each, then swapped their tubs.
"To create such a food. That ice mage is definitely a dragon polymorphed archmage!"
Amusingly, they mistook the ice cream for food meticulously crafted by a highly skilled ice mage.
Well, it's an army where mages baking bread and heating cauldrons is common sense.
I reworked my financial plans.
With fast promotion and now Landris budget coming in too, I had to restructure my expenditures.
【Remaining Budget : 17,006,120】
It had been over 39.5 million, but a single Triumph Ceremony reduced it to 17 million.
About -20 million on stew cans.
About -3.5 million on snack bars.
+1 million from rebate beer.
'To squander 22.5 million budget on a single banquet...'
Still, I have no regrets. It was a necessary expense.
With one blowout Triumph Ceremony, the northern territory residents were united into one.
Army morale was also endlessly boosted.
The name Marshall was also widely spread among the territory residents.
'Let's raise the army's monthly food expenses to 4 million.'
On top of the staple of cheap and cost-effective corn soup, I decided to add a little meat stew.
This amount includes the pay for my 6,000 direct unit soldiers.
On top of this, I plan to receive and stockpile ammunition with a monthly budget of 1 million going forward.
Additionally, I decided to spend 5 million every month to grow my territory and Hildea's territory.
This is a budget that feeds 500,000 people.
'From now on, I really have to feed them heavily. Since nutrition is still insufficient.'
I'm fortunate to have the rebate pizza & beer.
Otherwise, it would have cost over 20 million monthly to sufficiently feed 500,000 territory residents.
Rebecca's territory is in better shape than ours, so just selling a little rebate pizza & beer is enough to achieve sufficient nutritional supply.
'So income 39.5 million monthly, expenditures 10 million.'
I can save 29.5 million per month from now on.
How on earth did I endure my second lieutenant and lieutenant days?
"Hildea-nim, what about distributing the rye we received from the Noble Council this time as a military victory allowance?"
"Victory allowance?"
"Yes. Since there's no salary, I think we need to provide at least this victory allowance to help morale."
"But if we give it once, don't we have to keep giving it? I don't have any money though..."
"...I'll handle it myself."
Hildea's eyes went round and round, so I quickly soothed her. Somehow it felt like she'd cry if I pushed further.
"But Piel, in the 3rd Army region, white flour is relatively common, so I don't think the soldiers will be that thrilled if you give them rye?"
"Do you have a better idea?"
"Sell me the rye. I'll pay in gold, so you keep the gold, Piel, and give out flour exchange tickets as the victory allowance. Then everyone can smile, right?"
"Oh, not bad. I'll do that."
"Because our territory hasn't been reached by the flour influence yet."
That's why I feel a bit sorry that it seems like I'm only favoring Rebecca's territory.
Of course, I'm providing rebate beer across her whole territory for reasonable gold...
Rebecca smiled softly.
"Our territory still has leeway, so it's fine. Honestly, I'm so grateful that you even held a Triumph Ceremony for my territory."
"...In time, all lands of the North will be able to receive equal treatment."
"Yes, I'll look forward to it."
"Do you perhaps have another subspace magic tool?"
"Just one more. Want it?"
"No no, that's not it."
I plan to leave just 1 million in budget and fill up Rebecca's stocks with 16 million worth of flour, corn, and barley.
It's less than what I gave Hildea's strategic reserve (worth 36 million in budget), but it can buy time for Rebecca to attempt central raiding in case something happens to me.
Rebecca showed a deeply moved reaction.
"Piel, thank you so much. I'll never ever forget this sentiment. But you absolutely must not die."
Hildea felt proud that the amount was less than half of what she received. Though she didn't show it.
【Remaining Budget : 1,006,120】
Strange.
I definitely had over 39.5 million. Where did all that budget go?
'6,000 men as a colonel is no way near enough. Even as a brigadier general, it's only 10,000, a major general is 15,000. I'd need to reach lieutenant general to hold a Triumph Ceremony with any peace of mind.'
***
After a tour around the North, we leisurely spent time in Carlton Marquis Territory.
'I need rest.'
After running one expedition and returning, I'm exhausted to death.
For two days after the Triumph Ceremony ended, I did nothing but receive mana massages day and night from the two female commanders in the palanquin and rested deeply.
"But I keep telling you, this is all useless..."
"Piel, but it feels refreshing, doesn't it?"
"...Yes, honestly, it feels good."
"Then that's enough."
"Colonel Piel, we're also doing this betting on a thread-thin possibility, so don't feel burdened."
On the third day, we decided to visit Carlton Marquis Castle.
We moved to the marquis castle on a small palanquin carried by 8 soldiers.
"Actually, it's been a little over a year since I last came to the main family home too."
"What? You're the Marquis, aren't you?"
"The situation was such that I couldn't leave the front for a moment all that time."
"..."
"It's thanks to you coming, Piel, that I have this leisure. I'm always grateful."
At her bright eye smile, something made my heart tingle.
"Do not seduce my duty officer. I will absolutely never approve a personnel transfer."
"Commander-in-Chief, are you scared?"
"S-scared! How could you say such a thing!"
"I just expressed my gratitude, that's all?"
The Triumph Ceremony effect was killer.
Every time the palanquin moved, the marquis territory residents lined up in droves, bowing their heads respectfully.
The sight of them voluntarily running over and abandoning their work was like a fervent fandom seeking out a superstar leaving the airport.
The inner castle was large and magnificent.
It displayed a grandeur surpassing our house.
Getting worried, I stole a glance at Hildea, and her expression was slightly stiff.
'Hildea's house is indeed a bit too small.'
Since it was originally the governor-general's residence, it's inevitably somewhat small and shabby.
Compared to the ancient prestigious family seat of Carlton Marquis Castle, the size difference is just too much.
The palanquin passed through the main gate of the inner castle.
From here on, it's truly Rebecca's main family home.
"Th-the castle is very large. Carlton Marquis-nim."
"It's old. So they kept expanding it."
Hildea's eyes went round and round again.
When I gently wrapped my arm around her waist to comfort her, she seemed slightly calmed.
That's when it happened.
An unusual sight caught my eye.
"What is that foal? There's a horn growing on its forehead."
An undergrown foal was weakly following behind its owner.
Its fur was patchily falling out and it was severely emaciated overall.
Curiously, a white horn the size of a small carrot had sprouted on its forehead.
"Ah, that? It's a unicorn. You can only see them in the North."
"What? A Unicorn?"
"Yes, among horses, there are individuals that awaken mana after 2 years from birth. We call those unicorns."
What, a horse that awakened mana?
I'm hearing this for the first time.
No, if such a great thing exists, you should have told me earlier.
"So that foal, I mean, the Unicorn, receives special training and gets reborn as an elite super-elite warhorse?"
"No, we're going to slaughter it."
"...Excuse me?"
I'm flabbergasted.
It felt like getting smacked in the back of the head with a taser.
"It eats an enormous amount of hay but is always sickly. It's useless as a warhorse or a transport horse. So we slaughter unicorns immediately as soon as they awaken, that's the way to save hay."
"Are there no unique strengths of Unicorns? Still, if they've awakened mana..."
"They can use psychokinesis. But it's not very useful. Raising other transport horses with the hay it takes to feed one unicorn is far more cost-effective."
"It's psychokinesis and you say it's useless?"
"The range can't leave a radius of 2, 3 meters from itself, so where do you use that? But it still eats more than 10 times the hay."