Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Uterngardt Garrison
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We marched on foot, sometimes taking boats along the waterways, heading toward Uterngardt, the city where General Gerhard's legion was stationed.
Our supplies still weren't properly prepared, and we weren't even carrying weapons, so it hardly felt like a proper legion.
Yet even on this grueling, monotonous march that could sap anyone's morale, they never lost their spirit.
Maybe it was because those who'd followed us this far had nowhere left to go, and their goals were crystal clear.
Or perhaps there was some other reason—I couldn't say for sure.
Still.
"Undying Legion—doesn't that sound badass?"
"You're gonna jinx it! General, what about Victorious Legion?"
"Hmm..."
I traded opinions amid the soldiers' heated debate over our legion's name,
"General."
"Yes."
"General."
"Mm."
"General."
"...Cut it out."
"Heehee."
and chatted with Anna, who had resumed her role as my adjutant and was sticking oddly close, until even the last traces of my unease melted away, lightening my steps.
...Since they'd entrusted their lives to me, it was only right I repay them in kind.
Upon arriving at Uterngardt, Gerhard emerged from the gates in resplendent armor, flanked by his officers, to welcome me.
"Welcome. I'm Gerhard Weissilt, commander of the 10th Legion."
"Victor, commander of the 1st Provisional Legion."
He approached with a faint smile, extending his right hand.
"I've heard the rumors. I don't take them all at face value, of course, but I trust His Majesty's judgment in appointing you legion commander."
He was well past sixty, with graying hair and wrinkles etched into his face, yet the grip of his hand felt like that of a frontline soldier.
"I'd love to talk right away, but your troops must be exhausted from the long march. I've prepared quarters in the barracks—let them rest first, then we'll speak."
"Understood."
Perhaps because I'd come as reinforcements bearing the Emperor's orders, Gerhard approached me with notable warmth.
Growing closer to him would only make my voice carry more weight, so I responded with polite respect.
"Colonel Klaus. Please guide Legion Commander Victor."
"Yes, sir."
After shaking hands a few times, he assigned a young general standing nearby to escort me and departed.
"I'm Klaus Schultz, brigade commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade. This way, please."
Klaus introduced himself as a brigade commander.
In the Empire's structure, brigades fell directly under legion command, so Gerhard assigning one as my guide was a clear sign of treating me as a proper legion commander.
A good omen.
After settling the soldiers in the barracks, Anna and I followed Klaus to the legion headquarters where General Gerhard waited.
Knock knock.
"Legion Commander Gerhard, Legion Commander Victor has arrived."
Klaus knocked on the legion commander's office door, announced our arrival, then stepped aside,
Click.
"Good to see you, Legion Commander Victor. Come in."
"Yes, sir."
Surprisingly, Gerhard opened the door himself to greet me.
Whether he'd given prior instructions or not, the office was empty save for him.
"Have a seat wherever's comfortable. Care for some tea?"
"...Thank you."
Gerhard lifted the teapot and prepared the tea with leisurely motions.
...Even accounting for his Emperor Faction ties, this level of hospitality felt a touch excessive.
It usually meant he wanted something from me, so I sat down with a hint of tension.
Anna quietly followed and stood behind me.
Clink.
"Fond of tea?"
"More like savoring it while I can. Once we head to the front, there won't be time to leisurely brew a pot. Right?"
"...You're probably right."
"Mm."
He set down his cup and sat across from me, taking a sip.
"Rumors of devil this, monster that... but seeing you in person, I can't fathom where they came from."
"Probably got twisted in the telling."
"Maybe. My daughter up north mentions you too. She says just saying your name stops my granddaughter's tantrums cold."
"Haha..."
Gerhard opened with personal chit-chat, but I couldn't relax—he'd been waiting alone in his office, which nagged at me.
No need to dismiss even his adjutant for casual granddaughter stories with a first-time visitor.
"I've wanted to meet you. Glad it's happened."
"The honor's mine—seeing Legion Commander Gerhard, whose name I read in officer academy textbooks."
"Is that so? Hahaha!"
After several minutes of light—some might say empty—banter,
"My staff's been poring over records of your battles. Your tactics are solid, but they rave about your troop handling."
The faint smile he'd worn throughout dipped slightly with that remark.
Feeling the real purpose of this meeting approach, I chose my words carefully.
"My men just followed orders well."
"Your men. Hm..."
He stroked his chin at my response, pondering,
"That's your adjutant behind you?"
"Yes."
As if shifting to the main topic, he leaned forward, his expression hardening a bit.
"Reliable?"
"Of course."
"Mm... Should be fine, then."
"I did some digging beforehand. About you, and the soldiers you've brought."
It had taken time to reach Uterngardt, passing through several cities, so Gerhard having intel on us wasn't surprising.
And I could guess what he was getting at.
"As I said, I don't doubt His Majesty's judgment. Nor do I question your abilities—it's good to have more talent under him. But your soldiers... that's another story."
"..."
"Former POWs who've turned sides. They've seen war firsthand, and these are the ones who chose to follow you to the end, so they might be different."
He pushed aside the teacup in front of him,
"But until recently, they were fighting the Empire. Plenty worry if your troops can truly mesh with ours."
He broached the issue delicately.
From Gerhard's perspective, some frontier enemy general shows up with stragglers claiming to reinforce—that warranted skepticism.
His subordinates and soldiers feeling the same was natural.
That he raised it so politely, rather than bluntly, spoke volumes of his character.
In a situation where he could've demanded what 5,000 conscripts could possibly do, he framed it as cooperation concerns.
I lifted the cup before me, took a light sip, and set it down.
"Your forces arrived today, so we'll hold joint training with all units in a few days."
He grimaced slightly as he mentioned the timeline.
"I know it's tough, but show their capabilities in the joint drills."
"Should I take that as needing proof?"
"If your legion performs well, the doubts will fade."
By saying "plenty worry" to distance himself and frowning at the short prep time, Gerhard clearly wanted my legion to prove itself to everyone.
I couldn't pinpoint why exactly, but that was his wish.
"Understood."
My legion might be rusty from lack of formal training, but they'd already seen real combat under me.
With my Tactical Map, reviving their instincts would get us through joint training easily.
"Take it as high expectations from me. I hope you understand."
"Of course."
"Sorry to hit you with heavy talk right away. Training schedule's coming soon—rest up and recover today."
"Yes, sir."
Under Gerhard's concerned gaze, Anna and I left the office.
After receiving the Empire's training protocols, my legion and I dove straight into prep.
My legion consisted of 32 spear companies, 6 sword companies, and 12 archer companies.
Most who'd followed me were battlefield veterans, so despite being mostly conscripts, the ratio of elite sword and archer troops was high.
Back in Ruth Kingdom, I'd organized them the same way, and the company formations were set before leaving Josef's outpost, so no confusion.
I left basic company drills to the veteran-of-veterans company commanders,
"1st Infantry Company, 100 men, assembled!"
"Good."
and handled joint training prep myself.
"My orders are always relative to the unit's facing. You know that, right?"
"Yes, sir!"
No elaborate prep needed, really.
We weren't heading into battle tomorrow, and the legion's size was small enough for me to command by company.
Just remind the assembled companies of my command style and drill maintaining formation on the move—that'd suffice.
Standardizing facing and holding formation wasn't easy, but it was familiar training, so they'd adapt quickly.
Once companies moved in sync, no need for large-scale formation drills.
Joint training meant focusing on mass maneuvers, unit coordination, formation shifts—the legion's overall flow.
That was my strongest suit, spotting variables via Minimap and directing with Tactical Map.
"Face 12 o'clock, advance at normal march!"
"Moving!"
The soldiers quickly fell back into old training and combat habits, meeting my demands smoothly.
This alone should impress in joint training.
Might not scream "legion prowess," but if no one catches on, it's fine.
We'd polish the rest later.