Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Meritorious Rewards Ceremony
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The meritorious rewards ceremony was held. Under the direct command of the legion commander, no less.
The soldiers of the Eagle Company and the Arrowhead Unit, who had participated in what could truly be called an unprecedented ceremony, were frozen stiff.
It was only natural.
Even after ten years or more in the military, such a ceremony happened only once or twice at most.
And yet, how many times had it been now?
This was already the third time in less than three years.
It was enough to make one think it could etch a mark in the kingdom's history.
On top of that, it was a ceremony conducted under the legion commander's direct oversight.
That was how valuable it was to the kingdom to have finally ended the long war in Bieltona.
The Arrowhead Unit members, along with the Eagle Company soldiers, kept their swelling pride in check and maintained silence.
“Commencing the meritorious rewards for the Bieltona battle now! For smooth proceedings, we will dispense with formal speech from this moment!”
At the shout of the 6th Legion's chief scribe, a profound sense of pride surged through their bodies, beyond words.
And the first one called was,
“Squad Leader Derek! For his honorable death in battle, he is posthumously promoted to captain! In addition, his family receives 50 gold, and the unit will grant them 20 gold annually to ensure their prosperous life!”
An unexpected name.
The moment Derek's name was uttered, the entire unit fell into solemn silence.
Everyone remembered his death.
A death befitting a soldier, heroic and valiant.
But the grief of his surviving family was beyond words.
Still, seeing the kingdom remember his brave name and care for his family stirred something hot within their chests.
Rewards for the other fallen followed. Once that was done, the chief scribe shouted.
“Now, for the comrades who returned alive—!”
““Waaaaaaaah—!””
A thunderous roar erupted, and the chief scribe grinned as he shouted.
“Next, Eagle Company Squad Leader Brian!”
Starting with Brian, all the Eagle Company squad leaders were called.
They received a special one-rank promotion, a modest sum of gold, and ten days' leave as rewards.
“Eagle Company Captain Raymond!”
As the commanding officer who led the Eagle Company, Raymond did not advance to major, but he gained priority for his next promotion and was elevated from 300-Man Commander to 500-Man Commander.
Clap clap clap clap clap clap—!
Everyone present applauded to celebrate their rewards.
Descending from the platform, Raymond smiled more brightly than ever as he looked at his squad leaders and soldiers.
The ceremony continued.
“Next, the key to ending the Bieltona battle—the Arrowhead Unit's rewards.”
All Arrowhead Unit privates received a two-rank promotion, 20 gold, and one weapon or suit of armor from the Smith Forge located west of Kurtain.
The moment the chief scribe finished speaking, the Arrowhead Unit buzzed.
“Ooooh! The Smith Forge is insanely famous!”
“I never dreamed we'd get rewards like this... I was just thinking of replacing my weapon.”
“My armor's busted too, needed a new one. Who knew rewards like this existed? Heh heh.”
But they quickly shut their mouths under the glares from around them.
As the atmosphere turned solemn once more, the chief scribe cleared his throat lightly and continued.
“Ahem! Next, rewards for the 10-Man Commanders. All Arrowhead Unit 10-Man Commanders receive a two-rank promotion, 30 gold, and one weapon and one suit of armor each from the Smith Forge.”
“Mmm...”
“...Nice.”
“We get two.”
The 10-Man Commanders clenched their fists in secret, suppressing their joy.
The chief scribe then looked at a small boy below the platform.
“Arrowhead Unit Vice-Unit Leader Isaac, ascend the platform!”
At his call, Isaac climbed up, biting his lip hard.
Soon, Syla stepped forward beside him and addressed Isaac.
“As vice-unit leader of the Arrowhead Unit, Isaac has made great contributions in the Bieltona battle. In commendation, he receives a two-rank promotion, 50 gold, and a full set of armor including a weapon from the Smith Forge. Further rewards will be relayed by the unit leader.”
“Thank you!”
Isaac shouted loudly, pressing his right fist to his left chest in salute.
Syla smiled faintly and returned the salute, and Isaac stiffly turned and descended the platform.
And finally, the moment everyone awaited.
The Arrowhead Unit members all sparkled with anticipation as they watched the chief scribe.
‘Hurry and call the unit leader!’
‘It’s Rian! Rian!’
‘Ooooh! Unit leader!’
Everyone waited for Rian to be called. But,
“With this, the meritorious rewards conclude. Arrowhead Unit Leader Rian will receive a private audience with the legion commander in lieu.”
“Eh?”
“A-an audience?”
“What does that mean?”
“What kind of reward is that?”
The hall stirred noisily for a moment,
“Quiet!”
A small but crystal-clear voice.
Isaac, infusing his voice with mana directed only backward, called out.
Even the Eagle Company soldiers fell silent at Isaac's shout, tinged with slight anger.
Rian, standing beside Isaac, smiled faintly.
“Rian, follow me.”
“Yes.”
With Syla's words, the ceremony ended.
Though the outcome felt somewhat unsatisfactory, Rian followed her as instructed.
Step step.
Excluding all other aides and officers, Syla walked with Rian.
Glancing back at Rian following a step behind, Syla asked.
“Are you disappointed there were no rewards?”
“No, they weren't things I needed anyway.”
“Kukuku, you're the first person I've met who dislikes money. If awarded normally, you'd have gotten 100 gold and equivalent gear.”
“It's fine.”
It truly was.
For Rian, who already earned hundreds of times more, money held little meaning.
Syla led Rian to the legion commander's annex within the division headquarters.
A place for the legion commander to stay when visiting.
New to it, Rian curiously eyed the annex.
Before entering,
Halt.
Syla stopped and gazed at the door, speaking softly.
“I won't worry much since I know you... but from here on, mind your words and actions.”
“......”
Rian's eyes wavered at her words.
Because he knew why the legion commander had brought him here, and who was inside.
‘In here...’
Prince Ethan Artian was here...?
Gulp.
Rian swallowed unconsciously.
Rian nodded and replied.
“Understood.”
At Rian's somewhat rigid response, Syla opened the door and entered.
Further inside were about a dozen people, with one man seated at the center.
“...Ah.”
Rian let out an involuntary sigh.
Radiantly beautiful golden hair that dazzled the eyes.
A calm smile, yet an aura that made even speaking seem forbidden.
And yet, he felt warm, like standing in gentle sunlight.
As Rian and Syla took their places, Ethan spoke.
“You are Rian, yes?”
* * *
Returning to the barracks, the Arrowhead Unit members swarmed Isaac and the 10-Man Commanders.
“Hey, where did the unit leader go?”
“Man... an audience as a reward? First time hearing of that. Does that even happen?”
“We got two-rank promotions, tons of gold, and gear... but an audience for the unit leader?”
They didn't hide their dissatisfaction.
Everyone knew Rian had suffered the most and contributed the greatest.
At their words, Isaac said.
“Everyone, calm down.”
“Does the vice-unit leader know anything?”
At someone's question, all eyes turned to Isaac.
He replied.
“Well... but it must be something important.”
“Yeah... probably.”
Floran nodded.
That audience seemed different from what they imagined.
In the uncertain situation,
The unit members simply clamped their mouths shut and stayed silent.
* * *
“You are Rian, yes?”
The moment his voice flowed out, it felt like frozen silence shattered.
Rian clenched his right fist and struck his left chest.
“Arrowhead Unit Leader, 100-Man Commander Rian, greets Prince Ethan!”
Heh.
At Rian's action, Syla beside him slightly lifted the corner of her mouth.
Ethan also smiled faintly and said to Rian.
“Fine soldier. Most drop to their knees at meeting me... A salute. Soldierly indeed.”
“...You overpraise me.”
Rian replied to Ethan's words. Ethan then glanced at Gilbert standing beside him.
“Do you know this man by chance?”
“...Pardon?”
Rian turned to look at the man beside Ethan.
A face he'd never seen.
But the moment he saw him, a strange familiarity hit.
A chill freezing his body, a crushing pressure on his shoulders. And above all, those eyes...
“N-No way...?”
Rian's eyes shook violently.
At Rian's reaction, Ethan shook his head with a wry expression.
“Seems you win this time.”
“I believe I do, Your Highness.”
“Sigh... I'll hand it over when we return. Such precious liquor...”
“Your Highness.”
“Yes, that's secondary...”
Ethan looked at Rian.
“Didn't you wish to meet me?”
At the sudden question, Rian bit his lip.
His mind grew instantly chaotic.
‘How should I phrase this...’
Even in his past life, he'd never learned palace etiquette. Much less seen royalty this close.
In the Artian Kingdom, one wrong word could mean execution for insulting royalty.
He knew exactly what he wanted to say, but starting was hard.
Then,
“Just speak as yourself.”
Syla murmured softly beside him.
Rian nodded and faced the Third Prince Ethan.
Resolving himself, Rian spoke.
“I know the Third Prince's current situation in the kingdom. And the political faction relations, including Legion Commander Syla beside me.”
Ethan's expression hardened instantly. Killing intent gleamed in Gilbert's eyes beside him.
It felt like a single misstep could mean death here.
But Rian continued undeterred.
“I know that if Your Highness becomes king, you will enact benevolent policies for the people.”
“What makes you think so?”
“You can tell just from the territory you're in now.”
The place where Third Prince Ethan currently resided was not well-known, but it was one of the kingdom's best lands to live in.
Taxes were lower than other territories, and rates differed between rich and poor.
Yet there was no backlash from the wealthy because smooth connections with other territories allowed them paths to accumulate wealth.
It fulfilled the rich's greed for riches while channeling part of those gains into policies for the poor.
Truly ideal governance, taken for granted here.
“You can also tell from your way of fighting.”
His efforts to avoid civil war and spare his own soldiers as much as possible.
Some might see it as weakness. It might even be why he lost in his past life.
But even accounting for all that, his care for the people was beyond doubt.
Snap!
Rian brought his feet together and straightened.
“As a soldier defending this nation, and as a future grand general dreaming of the kingdom's revival, I wish to ask Your Highness.”
No one mocked Rian's dreamlike word 'grand general.'
His eyes and expression were too earnest.
Ethan said.
“I permit your question. Speak—what do you wish to ask me?”
At Ethan's words, Rian replied.
“If Your Highness becomes king...”
Ethan's expression grew rigid at Rian's following words.