Territory Status Check (2)
"But more than that, something's been bugging me ever since we entered the territory."
Jeong-jae said suddenly, his face lighting up with a recollection. Jenis tilted her head quizzically.
"Something from when we came in? Hmm, the guards' attitudes were a total mess. Want me to go chew them out?"
Jeong-jae stood up quickly to stop Jenis as she rolled up her sleeves. The newly tasked Jenis seemed bursting with enthusiasm for everything now.
"No, forget it. What do you mean 'chew them out'? We can train that stuff gradually. The issue I'm pointing out is the numbers."
"Numbers, huh. Yeah, there was definitely just one guard at the entrance."
"One guard isn't enough. If he's overpowered while checking outsiders, there's no way to alert the inside. At minimum, you need two at the border—one for inspections, one on standby."
"But there are only three guards in the whole territory. You planning to recruit more?"
"I'd love to if conditions allowed, but they don't right now. First, let's gather the guards here. This is something I need to discuss with them directly."
"I'll go tell Huck the village chief to round them up. Uh, all three okay? No one needed to guard the border?"
"Normally it'd be a problem, but for a short while, it'll have to do. Nothing's gonna happen in the meantime."
Confirming Jeong-jae's orders, Jenis darted out of the office like a shot, her footsteps thundering down the stairs.
Jeong-jae smacked his lips while gazing at the Harriet family banner hanging in the office.
"Now I've got my own flag too..."
In this world, famed commanders each had their personal banners by custom. For Jeong-jae, who had rarely led armies solo, even inheriting someone else's felt profoundly special.
The mere sight of a hero party's banner on the battlefield could turn morale around and reverse the tide. Walter made good use of his—white field with a thick golden circle. He only flew it when stealth wasn't required, but when his golden circle banner arrived with reinforcements in a pinch, the battlefield cheers could swell any heart to bursting.
'The eye of wisdom gleams gold.' That was the banner's motto, drawn from Harriet's Monocle, naming Walter H. Hellhound's flag.
Princess Rose Caprice's banner was equally a beacon of hope for the empire's troops. Her elegant red field bore a gray iron shield, symbolizing unbreakable defense—so much so that it was sometimes hoisted on walls without her to deceive foes. Of course, overusing the ploy dulled its edge; enemies learned not to fear the iron wall. But on an impregnable fortress, the sudden appearance of the crown princess's banner could sap even mighty monsters' will, making them realize the siege was futile.
'No keen blade may enter.' Her banner's motto. Truth be told, it was the one Jeong-jae had always admired most.
Margaret had no personal banner, but she favored Eramenia Kingdom's green field with a white laurel wreath—meant to signal elven reinforcements. In this war, though, Audrich Empire humans equated "elven hero" with Margaret, so it effectively symbolized her alone.
In the end, of the five, only Bernard—who never commanded—and Jeong-jae lacked banners. Getting booted stung, but for a romantic like Jeong-jae, claiming the blue Harriet flag was a silver lining.
What the "VR" in this world's unused alphabet meant remained a mild mystery. Guessing Simon Harriet's lifespan, it likely stood for Queen Victoria—Victoria Regina—suggesting the man retained fierce loyalty to his original sovereign even here. Impressive.
Lost in such musings over the banner, Jeong-jae heard Jenis return, dragging all three guards into the office.
He rose personally to greet the territory's sole defenders.
"W-We greet the baron! Er, see you again! We heard you summoned us three!"
Sammy, the one whose name and face Jeong-jae knew—the gate guard—spoke for them like a leader.
Jeong-jae sized Sammy up and down, accepting the greeting. Armor seemed solid. Not full knight plate, but breastplate, pauldrons, and thigh guards were properly worn. Pre-Walter's reforms—when he squeezed the Imperial Council and Magic Tower—this was beyond typical peasant militia gear. Likely stocked in Harriet's armory.
"You're doing good work, all of you. I didn't call you here to scold or punish—keep that in mind."
Their faces darkened at his words. Probably burned by similar lines before real tongue-lashings. Jeong-jae got it; he'd seen plenty "I'm not mad" speeches turn furious.
"I'm just curious about your working conditions. How's it going? Manageable? Uh, you—George, right?"
He pointed at the border guard he'd met. Sammy had said George was on duty, so if true, this was the dimwit who'd waved the carriage through on Harriet crest alone.
"Yes! All clear, Baron!"
"I see some issues. No offense. Not your attitudes—more the system itself. Attitudes need work too, but we can fix that later."
George trembled, forcing rigidity. Seeing his seven-years-ago recruit self in the guy, Jeong-jae pitied him with a wave.
"At ease. I'm serious. How's it your fault you're green?"
"C-Could you explain what you mean by the system being wrong?"
Sammy, the chattiest, asked. Jeong-jae nodded.
"You need two at the border. Otherwise, a real attacker could silence the inspector with no alert inside."
"But our numbers..."
"Skip castle gates. If you catch intruders at the border, gate watch is redundant."
Obvious, but reality demanded compromise.
"Professor, that means..."
Jenis started. Jeong-jae smiled her way.
"You and I live here—the two mightiest mages alive, maybe. If trouble hits us, one guard more or less won't matter."
"R-Right... just you and me... living together..."
Jenis flushed, squirming. Jeong-jae briefly derailed into weird thoughts but refocused on the guards.
"So, one on village patrol, two at border. Reschedule shifts. Patrol can have downtime; ensure personal rest. But border stays two-man unless zero incidents all day."
"Yes, sir!"
They chorused. But crunching numbers, Jeong-jae realized full sleep for three was near impossible. Strict vigilance was ideal, but exhausted guards helped no one. He sighed for more hires.
Pondering, he offered the final compromise.
"If shifts are too rough, allow one night watch to nap alternately. But the other must wake him instantly. Caught both asleep? You're done. Got it?"
"Yes, Baron!"
Jenis's eyes widened in shock. Lenient by strict Hacker County standards.
Wrapping up, Jeong-jae conjured magic circles in both hands, approaching. Guards backed away, spooked by first-time sight.
"Hold still. Not gonna hurt. Won't even sting."
First to sharpest-looking Sammy: Jeong-jae imprinted a circle on his breastplate, pressing firm. On release, a red circle and cursive "VR"—Harriet crest—glowed.
"Baron, this is..."
"It'll alert the baron's castle if you're in trouble. Plus, bearing my crest means represent me—give your all."
Seeing it painless, the other two meekly got theirs. Jenis peeked, noting potent defense enchantment, smirking.
Dismissing the trio, Jeong-jae flopped wearily into his chair.
Jenis approached. "Sending those guys off like that? You didn't fix their attitudes."
"Think lecturing helps? They're terrified of rank. One word from me, they'd piss themselves."
"Fair. I'll brief Huck on basic guard posture. Have him train 'em?"
"Didn't think of that—great idea. Thanks, Jenis."
"You're generous, Baron."
"Generous? Gotta do enough not to get lynched by the peasants."
Jeong-jae joked dryly. Jenis perched on another chair, gazing ceiling-ward thoughtfully.
"What's next today? You're hustling for day one."
"This'll do. Overdo changes day one, folks sour. Fixed urgent border stuff—rest today."
Jenis agreed, hopping up.
"Tea then? Inventory lists decent imports from nearby. I'll brew."
"Nah, I'll do mine."
"Pfft. Why have an aide if not for this?"
Jenis zipped out again. Jeong-jae chuckled, letting her.
As the new baron and aide enjoyed rare peace, Walter's party endured hellish forced march down steep mountains—sans swift magic aid.