Chapter 70
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Talent
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“How’s he doing these days?”
“Who are you referring to?”
Edmon tilted his head at Kiaren’s question.
She rarely asked about other people.
In response to Edmon’s query, Kiaren leaned back on the sofa and said.
“You know who. The one who went to Makstri.”
“Ah… not the one who ‘went’ to Makstri, but the one you ‘sent’ to Makstri.”
“Whatever.”
Kiaren showed a hint of annoyance, but Edmon just grinned.
“It seems you’re worried about him now that he’s gone.”
“Why would I worry about sending off one soldier? It’s just that Vincent recommended him, so I was curious how he’s doing.”
Kiaren waved her hand dismissively.
She wasn’t one to bother herself with others.
Besides, there was no reason for her to care about a mere sergeant so far beneath her.
But Edmon let out a small chuckle.
“You can trust Captain Vincent’s recommendation, can’t you? Besides, I heard Instructor Leonhard also held that soldier in high regard.”
“Well, that’s true… but I’m still curious. That’s why I sent him there, to check him out.”
At her words, Edmon sighed softly and shook his head as if he couldn't help it.
“I did tell you it was a cruel hobby.”
“What’s so cruel about it! It’s a verification process to identify a more superior soldier!”
“Yes, I understand, so could you please sign this document?”
“…What document is this?”
“The kingdom is overflowing with bandits. I don’t know why… these guys who do nothing but laze around all day without fighting are requesting so many supplies.”
“Are there still people skimming off supplies?”
Kiaren’s expression hardened slightly.
She had gone through quite a bit of trouble in the past because of people messing with military supplies.
Edmon sighed.
“Hah… of course there are. They think they’re doing it secretly… but it’s so obvious.”
Kiaren clicked her tongue at his words.
“Tsk! We should round up bastards like that and behead them. To think they’re still at it after what happened before… The army is rotting because of those sons of bitches.”
“Which is why I need you to sign this document. It’s regarding the suspension of additional supply provisions.”
“…Ugh. Can’t you just take care of this yourself?”
Kiaren snatched the document and scribbled her signature.
Taking the paper back, Edmon said.
“I wish I could. But the final approval must be given by you, Commander.”
Edmon presented another document to Kiaren.
As she signed it, Kiaren spoke to him.
“Anyway, look into that soldier’s situation. Find out what position he’s in and what he’s doing.”
“Understood. I’ll find out as quickly as possible and let you know. And this is the last one.”
“Dammit, so many documents.”
“It just means you’ve been slacking off.”
“Hey, come on!”
Kiaren raised her voice slightly.
But Edmon, as if used to it, took the documents, checked them all over, and then…
“All done. I’ll be heading home now. Have a good evening.”
“Get out of here.”
As Kiaren waved him away, Edmon gave a slight smile, saluted, and left the office.
Now alone, Kiaren…
“…”
She stood up and opened a locked drawer.
Inside was a document.
It was a high-level briefing for senior officers containing information on recent continental trends.
Kiaren took out the document and casually flipped through the pages.
Her expression grew increasingly stern as she read the contents.
“…It seems we need to hurry our preparations.”
A deep shadow fell over Kiaren’s face.
* * *
“Brace your arm.”
“When you draw the bowstring, you have to feel like you’re spreading both arms at once. If you just pull the string with your right arm, it’ll take too much strength.”
“Like you’re puffing out your chest! A little more! Hold that position and tense your body!”
He felt like he was going crazy.
Demian was teaching archery to each and every member of the unit. But…
‘This is completely hopeless.’
Demian’s plan was to retake the base in three months, and then defend it for the remaining three months to end this fight.
But judging by the way things were going…
‘It’s absolutely impossible within three months.’
Even if they managed to seize the base, defending it would be impossible.
‘There’s a mountain of things to do.’
At the very least, even if their accuracy was poor, if they could just get the arrows to fly straight, it would be a partial success.
But…
“Ugh!”
*Twang!*
“Aargh!”
What could he possibly do with these men who struggled just to nock an arrow and draw the bowstring?
‘Was my thinking wrong from the start…?’
Back when they were practicing formation tactics, he had thought they were quite useful.
They weren’t slow learners, either.
If they didn't know something, he taught them until they did.
Of course, some excessive violence was used in the process, but that was just a tool for faster education.
However, handling a bow was a different concept entirely.
‘It’s purely… in the realm of skill.’
It might be different for those with talent, but some of them still couldn’t get the hang of it after three days of learning.
Demian’s expression grew darker and darker.
But just then.
*Fwoosh! Thwack!*
A clean release followed by the dull thud of an impact.
Demian turned his gaze to the left.
“…?”
The 3rd squad leader was watching the arrow he had just shot.
After checking the arrow’s position on the target, he raised his empty bow as if to aim again.
‘…Well, look at this.’
Just hitting the target was commendable enough.
But to see him readjusting his aim because it wasn’t in the dead center was…
‘A rare one.’
Demian watched the 3rd squad leader quietly.
Soon, the man nocked another arrow on his bowstring.
*Ssk.*
*Creek.*
The wood bent slightly, making a peculiar noise.
Having drawn the bowstring to its fullest, the 3rd squad leader carefully held his breath and aimed at the target.
*Thrum.*
*Whoooooosh!*
*Thwack!*
Another dull thud echoed.
Demian walked over to the 3rd squad leader.
“You.”
“…Yes?”
“Have you ever shot a bow before?”
“This is my first time. But… it feels surprisingly natural in my hands.”
The man said, looking at the bow in his left hand.
Demian frowned.
‘Why is a guy like this…’
Not around before?
But the answer came quickly.
‘Did he die before his talent could even manifest?’
After all, it wasn’t common for ordinary soldiers to use bows.
Demian looked at the 3rd squad leader, then pointed to a man in the back who was completely hopeless with a bow.
The man was struggling stiffly, unable to even draw the bowstring properly.
Demian spoke.
“That man, can you correct his form?”
“…I’ll try.”
The 3rd squad leader walked over to the man Demian had pointed out.
“Draw the string lightly. You can’t? Why are you so tense?”
Then, he took the man’s bow.
“The string seems too tight. I’ll loosen it a bit… try again.”
He watched as the man drew the string.
“There, that’s better. Now, look at the target… don’t twist your body, keep it straight with your line of sight. Yes, arms level. Right… hey, are you not focusing?”
While they trembled before Demian, the squad leaders were well-known figures among the prisoners.
When the 3rd squad leader scowled, the man tensed up and began to concentrate.
*Twang!*
*Whoooooooosh!*
*Thwack!*
Once the man who had been hopeless with a bow finally hit the target, the 3rd squad leader walked back to Demian.
“Yes, I believe he can be corrected.”
“…Ah, so the bowstring was too tight.”
Demian could handle most weapons, but he knew next to nothing about bows.
Demian looked at the 3rd squad leader and said.
“Alright, I’m giving you a special rank.”
“…A special rank?”
“As of this moment, you are appointed as the archery instructor.”
“…Pardon?”
* * *
People don’t change.
Tairen had always believed that.
“…Unbelievable.”
It had only been about two months since Demian was assigned here.
But in that short time, Makstri had completely shed its former self and been reborn.
“One, two! Three, four! Hup, two, three, four! Hup, two, three, four!”
The sight of the prisoners running in time with the cadence was quite jarring to Tairen.
Demian, who was running alongside them, spotted Tairen entering the unit’s area.
“You all keep running.”
“Yes, sir!”
After hearing their resounding reply, Demian approached Tairen.
Beads of sweat dotted his forehead.
Demian asked Tairen.
“What brings you here?”
“Ah… the Company Commander wanted me to let you know that the last report went well, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Oh?”
Demian let out a short laugh at that.
He was really trying to take all the credit.
Demian smiled wryly.
“Sounds like you had a tough time.”
“Well… I don’t think that was really the case. But… what happened here?”
“What do you mean?”
“Them. How in the world did you handle them to get them training like this…?”
Tairen was genuinely curious.
When he first arrived here, he had thought he might be able to change this place.
He had even tried various things, quite bold for a newcomer.
But every attempt ended in failure.
No, worse than failure, he had only ended up despising the men.
*There’s a reason they’re trash.*
*They’re beyond redemption.*
That’s what he had come to believe.
But seeing this now, he was beginning to wonder if he had been wrong.
To that, Demian replied.
“Nothing special. They’re just people, same as anyone else. However… I just had to do some preliminary work to knock loose what was stuck in their ears.”
“…Knock loose what was stuck in their ears?”
“They wouldn’t listen to a damn word, would they?”
Only then did Tairen nod in understanding. But…
“…They may be prisoners, but some of them are stronger than most officers…”
“I’m stronger. Much stronger.”
“…I see.”
To survive here, one needed the power to unequivocally crush them.
Tairen could now clearly see what he had been lacking.
Tairen asked.
“What are your plans for the future? There’s been a lot of talk about you retaking the base only to abandon it immediately.”
Tairen was also one of those curious about that incident.
Demian replied.
“We have to take it back. And I plan to end it.”
“End it? You mean the war here?”
“Yes.”
His plan was to retake the base and hold it for three months.
Of course, the enemy wouldn't just hand it over.
If they felt pressed for time, there was a high probability they would deploy an even more elite force than before.
That was why Demian was in a hurry.
He had to defend the base while accounting for such variables, but…
‘With just the current strength of these men…’
However, it wasn’t an entirely impossible task.
Thanks to the 3rd squad leader’s recent help, the number of men who could handle a bow had increased considerably.
Their skills were nothing to write home about, but they could now shoot an arrow in a passable manner.
But he knew that alone wasn't enough.
To make this plan succeed…
“Could you possibly send a letter for me?”
“…A letter?”
“Yes.”
The time had come when he needed that person’s help.