Chapter 74
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Chapter 74 - 뜻밖의 여정 (1)
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Journey (1)
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Who is she?
Based on her clothes and the instinctive aura she exuded, her presence was starkly different from any other woman I had ever seen.
Silver-white hair.
Blue eyes.
And a dress that, despite being slightly damaged, was clearly high-end at a glance.
She was completely different from the other female prisoners who had been wearing ragged, useless clothing.
"Ughk…!! Ughghhk!!"
Furthermore, seeing that she was not only gagged but also bound in chains, it seemed she was indeed someone the bandits had captured.
Did she happen to be an unlucky noble who got caught?
"Release her."
"Yes!"
At my command, a soldier nearby quickly approached and removed the gag restricting her mouth.
"Phah—!"
As soon as her mouth was freed, the woman let out a deep breath, likely from feeling stifled. She looked at me and asked.
"Who are you people? Did my father send you?"
"We are the 8th Assault Magic…."
"Hold on."
I stopped the soldier who was about to blurt out unnecessary details and signaled to Claude. He seemed to understand already, striding over to her and tapping her dress here and there.
She was startled by the sudden touch, but upon realizing it was just a simple body search, she calmly complied.
Her ability to think clearly even in this situation. She's definitely not just an ordinary person.
"No weapons. Judging by the fabric of her clothes, she seems to be a high-ranking prisoner."
"I am Lieutenant Enok Levandel of the Ukran Army. Please state your identity."
There was no need to reveal my specific affiliation, like the 8th Assault Magic Infantry Battalion. Since we weren't a formally registered unit within the army yet, revealing too much could unnecessarily leave a trail.
After I stated my identity first, the woman made an expression of relief and answered.
"I am Yekaterina Pedro, the second daughter of Count Jack Pedro, the honorary lord of the Byaltok territory."
So she is a noble indeed.
The Duchy of Ukran has a centralized system, but the noble class has not been completely eliminated yet.
Even Bell Mayer currently refers to herself as a member of the Mayer Baron family.
While the title of "honorary lord" suggests it's now just an honorable position, it doesn't mean they have completely lost their say in the region's administration.
'And they messed with a noble like that? These bastards really had some nerve.'
I instructed Claude to release the rest of her restraints as well.
"Wait a moment. This might sting a little."
Clang! A strong electric current surged, and the tightly wound chains were cleanly severed and fell away.
"Thank you…."
"Let's discuss the details after we move to a safe location. 1st Platoon, please search the surrounding area."
"Let's do that."
Claude nodded, and I handed over Yekaterina's safety to Lumia and Roxana. In these situations, the female soldiers would be much more discreet than the male soldiers.
Not long after.
The "Mordor Village Bandit Suppression Operation," which was the first real combat for the 8th Assault Magic Infantry Battalion, officially concluded.
The 2nd Company, deployed to the north, and the 1st Company, deployed to the south, successfully joined forces. The 3rd Company, which had infiltrated the underground mine, also safely rescued the detained residents.
In simple numbers, about 100 bandits were killed, about 30 were captured as prisoners, and around 70 detained residents were rescued.
In contrast, our side had only 5 injuries. And none of them were classified as serious.
Truly, it was a highly successful result, making the grueling training we endured until now feel worthwhile.
Yekaterina and the members of her household were urgently transported via an escort unit that rushed over from a nearby city upon hearing the news.
Luckily, the bandits weren't so far gone as to touch a noble's daughter and her servants. They were mostly safe, showing only mild symptoms of malnutrition.
"Count Jack Pedro sincerely thanks you for your dedication."
A man from the Pedro family said, saluting Soni Chepelin respectfully.
Had he been a fellow soldier, the Colonel would have undoubtedly refused the favor, but instead of accepting the salute, he pointed to me standing behind him.
"The one who rescued you is not me, but Lieutenant Enok Levandel over there."
"Ah…! My apologies. I thank you once again, Lieutenant Enok Levandel."
It was an utterly unexpected situation, but I managed to accept the salute and answered in a stern voice.
"I only did what I had to do."
"Count Jack Pedro has expressed his personal desire to commend your merit. Is there any particular way you would like to be rewarded?"
"Um, are you asking me…?"
"Yes."
As I looked back and forth between Soni Chepelin and Joseph Levandowski in confusion, the two simply shrugged their shoulders as if they didn't know either. In the end, since I was the field commander who rescued Yekaterina Pedro, they were telling me to decide for myself?
"Hmm…."
I fell into thought for a moment.
Hearts of General is fundamentally a military strategy simulation game, but since it is set in a "virtual fantasy world" rather than modern or modern times, the authority possessed by the status of noble is also very real.
The authority of lords or minor royal families managing territories has completely disappeared, but many nobles are still power players in the central government.
As I mentioned earlier, they still hold significant status even in the regions.
Just because their teeth and claws have been pulled doesn't mean a beast stops being a beast.
Since the game's background is set in the 19th century, before World War I, one could argue this is historically accurate in a way.
And such nobles are treated as quite important resources or encounters within the game as well.
The more nobles support the player character, the faster the character's promotion speed becomes, allowing them to quickly seize control of the military and the region.
Just look at Soni Chepelin. Even if he is a great archmage, he couldn't have established a secret unit like the 8th Assault Magic Infantry Battalion on his own.
Training grounds, barracks sites, supply lines, etc.
Even excluding the upper echelons of the military, he had to get permission from the administrator/lord of the nearby village and the region where the unit was located.
'But that's only useful once you've become a high-ranking officer.'
In procedures that must be done systematically, like promotion, the status of a noble isn't much help.
Especially if it's a count of a border territory like Byaltok, even more so.
'What should I do…?'
It's also awkward to just let the opportunity slip away. Building a connection with a count's family isn't exactly an easy thing to do, is it?
And I won't be in the 8th Assault Magic Infantry Battalion forever. The grand picture I'm drawing is that of a "national hero" who will save the nation of Ukran from the fires of war.
I have no intention of being buried here for eternity.
I need to become a battalion commander, not just a company commander, then a regiment commander, a division commander, a corps commander, and eventually a commander.
'Then maybe I should approach this as building a network of connections.'
In short, sponsorship.
Considering what I need to do in the future, I must secure sufficient support not only from the central government but also from the local administration.
The minimum goal was to become a captain holding a key position before the war breaks out.
But since I've already been promoted one rank in less than a few months, to be honest, isn't it worth aiming for the field officer rank? Then my options during the war would expand significantly.
My head started spinning rapidly.
As if the CPU was overheating, my insides heated up.
"I…."
I looked straight at the majordomo, who was listening intently to my next words, and spoke.
"I wish to meet Count Jack Pedro in person."
"The guy was staring wide-eyed, shoving gunpowder into the muzzle! I calmly aimed the gun and pulled the trigger!!"
"...but the bullet didn't come out, and you got shot in the butt. Congratulations, Rick Hanson."
In a field hospital set up in one corner of the Mtsensk Fortress.
Bell Mayer looked at the soldier boasting of his valor with a pitiful gaze.
"Oh, come on, Squad Leader Bell. Spilling the beans like that kills all the romance!"
"Of course, if you had been hit just a little to the side, you would have never seen your descendants again. That would have been romantic, though."
Instantly, Rick Hanson's face turned pale. The colleagues gathered around burst into laughter in the blink of an eye.
"Anyway, stop gathering like this and making a racket. The injured need to rest."
"Yes! Understood, Squad Leader!!"
She was a 1st Class Blue Mage, and along with other Blue Mages, she was caring for the wounded soldiers.
They were mages specialized in handling 'Water,' the most essential element for the human body.
They often displayed exceptional talent in 'healing arts' rather than in combat.
"Speaking of which, how is your condition?"
"I'm fine. My butt throbs occasionally... but this feels strangely weird. It's like I got hit with a bat 200 times."
"Still, you mustn't let your guard down. Wounds healed with magic have a high chance of reopening if they aren't fully recovered."
"Thank you, Squad Leader."
Rick Hanson expressed his sincere gratitude. It was Bell Mayer who had quickly finished the emergency treatment, and it was also Bell Mayer who was currently taking care of the wounded on the front lines.
Who wouldn't be truly grateful for such dedication?
"Everyone doing well? How's the infirmary?"
It was then that Enok Levandel, the 1st Company Commander, entered the infirmary.
"Glory to the Fatherland!"
The sergeant rummaging through medical supplies immediately saluted, and the soldiers who had been clamoring with their colleagues shut their mouths and saluted in unison.
"Glory to the Fatherland!!"
"Glory. Everyone, at ease."
"At ease!!"
It was a clear display of military discipline.
Even when I first saw them, they were much better than the previous 3rd Magic Battalion, but after two weeks of training and one real combat experience, the unit members exuded the aura of 'elites.'
The fact that they could still smile despite being shot was proof of that.
"Seeing everyone's expressions loosened up, it seems you're definitely doing well enough to live?"
"Ah, why do you say that, Company Commander? Isn't it all thanks to us fighting so hard?"
"That's right. If you get hurt next time, I'll make you do PT exercises again. Make sure you prepare yourselves properly."
"You're going to make us do that hellish training even when we're hurt? You're truly a devil."
Chekhov, the sergeant who had suffered the most during the water training, said with genuine revulsion, and the people around him threw in a few jokes.
"Hey, but you won't let them take your fiancée, right? You even got shot."
"That's right. If any guys try to hit on her, show them that wound. Tell them to come out if they've ever been shot."
"That would look so cool, Company Commander."
Bell Mayer watched the Company Commander exchanging jokes with the soldiers and let out a small laugh.
"You've worked hard too, Squad Leader Bell."
"Not at all, I just treat them and handle the aftermath. Is the maintenance done after the training?"
"Yes, we've safely sent all the rescued people back to the village. They were all sincerely grateful."
At Enok's words, Bell Mayer felt secretly relieved. As someone who had a similar experience when she was young, she could vaguely empathize with how painful those days must have been.
"By the way, what brings you here? I doubt you came to deliver news, and if you have something to say to the soldiers, should I step out?"
"No, that's not it. I have something to talk about with Squad Leader Bell."
"Excuse me?"
At those words, the inside of the infirmary fell silent for a moment, then immediately filled with cheers.
"See! I told you!"
"I told you the Company Commander was going for Squad Leader Bell~! Who owes me silver coins!? Pay up!"
"What is this?! My intuition is spot on!"
The soldiers were making a big fuss. Enok Levandel shook his head repeatedly and let out a sigh.
"I was wondering who was spreading such rumors, so the culprits were here?"
"Ah…."
"Everyone, get ready to touch your knees to the floor."
"I'm sorry!"
As the soldiers buried their heads in their knees, Enok Levandel took Bell Mayer outside the infirmary tent. Of course, as soon as the two left, all sorts of whistles could be heard.
What is this? What's going on? Did the Company Commander have something to say to me specifically?
Bell Mayer looked visibly slightly confused. Given that they had been together for a few months, the situation the soldiers were thinking about definitely wouldn't happen, but the atmosphere felt a bit strange...
"……So, what did you want to talk about?"
"Squad Leader Bell."
The Company Commander's rough hand was placed on her shoulder. Bell Mayer flinched. Not only that, Enok spoke in a deep voice.
"I need you to accompany me for a bit."
It was enough to dye Bell Mayer's reason pure white.