Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Captain Dalton, Give It a Shout (1)
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After returning to camp, I first rounded up all the guys under my command.
"All hands, listen up!"
At my words, they all turned to look at me, looking utterly wiped out.
Just from their eyes, I could tell they were begging me not to drone on with any bullshit and just let them rest.
No point in yapping on like I was some school principal I'd met back in my academy days or the battalion commander I'd served under during my military stint—even if I did, I'd just end up looking like the idiot.
"You all fought like absolute beasts today! I figured you sorry lot were cannon fodder who'd piss yourselves the second I threw you into the thick of it, but damn, you each pulled your weight like pros. Looked good as hell."
My words were rough around the edges, but truth be told, ever since I'd started drilling those eight—including Lucia—with basic maneuvers, I'd figured a solid month of hard training would make them each worth their keep.
So they'd delivered exactly what I'd expected. But this was the first time since reincarnating into this world that I'd trained up subordinates and gotten them to shine like that in battle.
It felt damn good—hard to put into words.
Hearing my praise, the mercenary lads seemed just as moved as I was. They clenched their fists, gritted their teeth, and fought back tears. A few even wiped at their reddening eyes with balled-up knuckles.
"Nah, Squad Leader, no need for that."
"It's thanks to you, Squad Leader. While the other rookies were screwing up, we could do our jobs."
"We'll do even better next time."
The mood had somehow turned into a bunch of fresh-faced recruits fresh out of boot camp. But if I let the guys keep getting all mushy like this, it'd get awkward fast.
I snapped my fingers to shake things up.
"So, per tradition, your Squad Leader here's footing the bill for whatever you want to eat or any girls you wanna hold. Fuck, grab whatever you're craving right now! And load up on beer and wine till it overflows."
With that, I handed two gold coins to the oldest of the rookies.
"Get me a slab of pork belly!"
Once I placed my order too, the guys—who were starving after the brutal fight—bolted out, dragging Lucia along with them.
These idiots were all full-grown men over twenty, but the way they sprinted off the second they got cash to grab food made them look like overgrown kids.
They came racing back in no time, arms loaded with grub. They spread out the mat we used to lay over the dirt when pitching tents and started unpacking the dishes one by one.
These bastards dragged their feet during training or in battle, pissing me off to no end, but when it came to this? Lightning fast.
I grabbed the pork belly I'd ordered—whole roasted pork belly, that is—and shoved it in my mouth.
Grilled straight over wood flames, the fat had dripped off perfectly, leaving it crispy as hell. Tastier than anything you'd cook in a Korean frying pan or on a grill.
"Fuck, this is what life's about. Shit, goddamn, this is too good for words."
"Shut your trap and eat, man. You're spitting all over the place, you prick."
"Baker, you little shit. If it's good, it's good—what's with the bitching? You some noble or what?"
With booze and meat flowing, the already pumped-up vibe from their big performance got even rowdier and warmer.
Baker and Peter had been at each other's throats for the first week we met—fighting at the drop of a hat—but after grinding through training, they'd started bonding. Now, a few drinks in, they were arm-in-arm, belting out songs without anyone telling them to.
Karin, too—no crazy assholes hitting on her like with Pior and the others—was knocking back drinks with the squad.
Though true to form, she only smiled for those she'd warmed up to, lips curled just a bit.
"This is the dream."
Standing tall on the battlefield with loyal subordinates, putting on a show, then kicking back with beer and meat to wash away the day's fatigue—what could beat that? Fuck, this is sex.
And then the chatter shifted to Lucia.
"Man, that magic from Senior Lucia was insane, right? She chants some shit, and boom—a fireball the size of a torso comes flying out and explodes."
"Fuck, good thing it didn't hit me. Seeing those enemy bastards up close, burning alive? Nearly shat myself."
"This is why everyone raves about mages. One spell, and the guy in front turns to charcoal."
Timid little Lucia soaked up the praise, wagging her tail weakly in embarrassment as she glanced around.
Hard to see by the campfire, but her face was probably beet red.
Still, perking up her ears like she was hoping for more—you could tell she was starving for compliments to fill that gaping hole in her self-esteem.
The guys, fired up by her reaction, started gushing even more.
"Never seen other mages cast, but Senior Lucia's was badass. Honestly, without it, jumping into their formation would've wiped us all."
"Looking forward to more awesome spells, Senior. Thanks for saving our asses."
"We'll step up so we don't lag behind you, Senior."
Bombarded with praise, Lucia beamed, tail swishing happily.
But she couldn't shake the shyness. She quickly ducked her head and spoke up.
"Thanks so much for the kind words, everyone... But I could only pull that off thanks to Squad Leader Martin... He drilled us with all that basic training nonsense till we were half-dead."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Even in the heat of battle, when Squad Leader Martin gave orders, our bodies just moved on instinct. That's how I did it. So it's not me being great—it's all thanks to Squad Leader Martin."
I could've brushed it off with something like, "Nah, it's all 'cause I'm that awesome—be grateful, you lot." But for an orphan like her, who'd been crushed under discrimination at the academy till her self-worth was in the gutter?
No, that wouldn't help build her back up.
"Nah, that's not it. The magic talent you have? That's all from you grinding away at the academy."
"Sure, but..."
"And most mages just hang back, arms crossed, lobbing spells. Tell 'em to train their bodies like you did? They ignore you. But you stuck it out, even when it felt like dying. That's why you could land those clutch attacks in combat. Not anyone could do that."
In games, you just pump intelligence stats for mages. Same here—the mages in this world I possessed would rather crack a book than lift a finger if they had the time.
Hell, they saw their brains as a ticket to skip the grunt work, choosing to hole up like hermits over actual training. Crazy bastards.
Considering that, her sticking through my drills from start to finish without a peep of complaint? Pretty impressive.
"You toughed out the hard training and shone in the fight, Lucia. That's why me and the rest of us made it back alive. So from today on, hold your head high with some pride."
She lit up at my words, flashing a bright smile.
"Yes, sir!"
Then Baker slammed back a mug of beer and chimed in.
"Speaking of which, that first training session? Thought we were goners. Fuck, making newbies who'd never held a spear train with sandbags strapped to our arms? Captain, wasn't that a bit much?"
I smacked Baker upside the head.
"If I hadn't, you'd be dead already, dumbass! Didn't you see Pior's squad of rookies get wiped today?"
"Really?"
"You were too busy to notice? Bunch of idiots. Still, you fought well today. Keep it up—at least this level from now on. Hell, after all this free meat and booze, step it up even more. Or I'll break your fucking limbs."
"Go easy on us, sir."
We spent about two hours gorging on meat and booze, bullshitting away until everyone was stuffed.
"Squad Leader Martin, we're gonna go drain the lizard real quick."
"Yeah, go ahead."
"You sure you don't wanna come? Word is, some smoking hot piece showed up today."
"Didn't I say I only do it with someone I love? Go have your fun—suck, fuck, whatever. We've got spears and fighting tomorrow. Don't overdo it and wreck your back."
I waved them off into the distance.
Wandering around our mercenary corps' camp, I spotted Captain Dalton's face off in one corner.
Despite our squad's killer performance in the battle, the captain looked worried sick.
If I didn't know this game's story, I'd have been dumb enough to rush over and ask what was wrong.
'Just like I figured. We did great, but the rest got slaughtered en masse. War's turning to shit.'
War's like a college group project. No matter how hard I carry, one deadweight teammate tanks it for everyone.
If things followed the original story, Count Zaltzheim's troops and the other mercs would get wrecked while the White Beard Mercenary Corps steals the show solo, racking up fame.
'But screwing around like that? Better for my career if I nudge things and make us win outright. So I'll wait for the moment our corps and I can flip the whole battlefield. When the time comes, this Martin will step up.'
And about a week passed. The war situation unfolded exactly as I'd predicted.
While everyone fretted over it, I seized the chance without hesitation.
Times like these, you gotta grab the spotlight to get noticed, right?