Chapter 72
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: A Bold Proposal
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*Knock, knock.*
“Come in.”
Kiaren’s office.
Edmon entered and spoke to Kiaren.
“Commander, Captain Vincent is here.”
“Vincent? What’s he doing here all of a sudden?”
“You asked me to look into a soldier named Demian. I requested that Captain Vincent handle it.”
“…Did you just pawn it off on him?”
“Pawn it off? Please, I entrusted it to the most suitable person.”
Edmon couldn't hide his dumbfounded expression.
And…
“Besides, Captain Vincent said he had something to tell you himself, which is why he came in person.”
“…Still, I am the commander. Shouldn't he at least make an appointment first?”
“I manage your entire schedule, Commander, so it's not a problem. You're on a break right now, are you not?”
“…Tell him to come in.”
She could never win a war of words with that snake.
Suppressing a sigh that rose from the pit of her stomach, Kiaren spoke quietly.
Soon, Vincent entered the office.
“Glory to the Kingdom!”
“Ah, yes. What brings you all the way here? Your unit must have some downtime.”
A faint smile touched Vincent’s lips at Kiaren’s question.
“We're very busy. The soldiers' training schedule is quite demanding. We're doing our best to carry out your orders, Commander.”
“For someone doing their best, you seem to have plenty of time to spare… but have a seat.”
Vincent sat down as Kiaren offered him a seat.
Kiaren asked.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
“First, I’ll report on your orders concerning Sergeant Demian.”
Vincent relayed Demian’s current status in the Makstri Unit.
He spoke of how, in his first month, Demian had retaken the base just three days before ownership of the gold mine was to be completely transferred to the Iren Kingdom.
And how he had immediately abandoned the base and returned with his unit.
Kiaren frowned as she listened to the report.
“What do you mean? He retook the base, only to abandon it right away?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“The reason?”
At that question, Vincent’s face brightened slightly.
Although Kiaren was known throughout the military for her wild personality, it was for reasons like this that she earned her subordinates’ respect.
Vincent immediately relayed what he had been told.
And as Kiaren listened to Vincent’s report…
“Khahahahahaha, that bastard's a psycho, isn't he?”
To abandon the base because they lacked the ability to defend it and couldn't train there.
Looking only at the outcome, one could say a sergeant had abandoned a recaptured base on his own authority.
“He has a perfectly valid reason. It means he'd rather train them properly and take it for certain than fight a half-assed battle.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Kiaren assessed the situation coolly.
To her, pretexts and formalities were irrelevant.
All that mattered was finding the answer that led most directly to the goal.
“But Makstri is a den of criminals. Is it even possible to train men like that?”
“Under normal circumstances, I would say it’s impossible. There was a previous attempt to train them, but the backlash was so severe that it led to clashes with the regular army.”
At Vincent's words, Kiaren's eyes gleamed.
“But you're telling me that sergeant is pulling it off? By himself?”
“…Yes, based on the current situation, that seems to be the case.”
“Hahahaha, looks like your eye for talent hasn't failed you. I was starting to think I was losing my touch in my old age.”
“…You're only thirty-six, what are you talking about?”
“Khahahaha, it’s just an expression.”
Kiaren said, waving her hand dismissively.
But as she thought of Demian, her eyes flashed with a sharp light.
She was curious to see what else he would do.
“And you said you had something else to tell me?”
“Yes. I recently received a dispatch from Sergeant Demian.”
“A dispatch?”
“Yes. It was a letter containing a proposal for you, Commander.”
At Vincent's words, Kiaren’s expression soured slightly.
“A mere sergeant has the audacity to make a proposal to me?”
“Well… the matter is so unusual that we couldn't handle it ourselves.”
“…?”
What on earth was his proposal that it made Vincent wash his hands of it?
Kiaren glanced at Edmon, but he just shook his head as if he knew nothing.
Kiaren asked Vincent.
“Well, let's hear it. What's the proposal?”
“It’s…”
As Vincent continued, Kiaren’s expression turned to ice.
***
“Halt!”
A strange visitor had arrived at the Makstri Unit.
A Makstri soldier standing guard at the unit’s entrance questioned a woman who had arrived with a wagon.
“What's your business? This is a restricted area.”
Then, seeing a woman for the first time in a long while, he casually looked her up and down.
At that moment.
*Smack!*
“You crazy son of a bitch, watch where you're looking!”
“S-Squad Leader!”
“You bastard. She's a guest of the vice commander. Do you need a beating like the old days to repent, huh?”
“I-I’m sorry!”
The guard dropped to his knees and prostrated himself on the ground.
Since Demian’s arrival, the prisoners here had undergone significant changes.
There were many, but a considerable number had begun to reflect on their pasts and were trying to change.
Of course, there were still quite a few like this one who hadn't kicked their old habits.
The 1st Squad Leader glared at the man before turning his attention to the female visitor.
“My apologies for that disgraceful display. This way, please. The commander is waiting for you.”
“Thank you.”
As the woman followed the squad leader inside, unit members on break turned to look at her.
But unlike what had just happened, no one made any lewd comments.
They were just staring, intrigued by the sight of a woman in such a grim place.
“Sir Demian, your guest has arrived!”
“Ah, you're here!”
Demian emerged from the barracks and called out cheerfully to the woman before him.
It was Diel, the person Demian had been so eagerly awaiting.
“…What on earth happened? And wasn't it a bit much to make me come all the way here?”
“Haha, my apologies. But you're the only person I could trust, Diel.”
“Haaah…”
Makstri was located on the complete opposite side of the country from where Diel had been.
Erkal was at the western edge.
Makstri was at the eastern edge.
For her to have arrived now meant she must have set off immediately after receiving the dispatch Demian sent.
But despite her blunt words, Diel gave Demian a bright smile.
“Still, I’m glad to see you look healthy. I was very worried when I heard you’d gone to Makstri.”
“If I wasn’t tough, I’d be a corpse.”
Demian said with a laugh.
Diel glanced around before speaking in a low voice.
“But… the atmosphere is a little different than I imagined.”
“How so?”
“The Makstri Unit is for… criminals…”
Diel lowered her voice, speaking cautiously. Demian nodded.
“You're right. It's a gathering place for irredeemable trash.”
“S-Sir Demian!”
Diel jumped in surprise at Demian’s bluntness.
“But what were you expecting that makes it different from your expectations?”
“Well, I thought… they seem more gentlemanly than I expected?”
“Because they'll die if they don't.”
“…Excuse me?”
Diel blinked.
Demian pointed toward the barracks.
“Let’s talk inside. We have a lot to discuss.”
“Okay.”
Demian led Diel into the barracks.
After serving her a cool drink, Demian took a seat. Diel, having quenched her thirst, continued the conversation.
“First, I’ve confirmed all the items you requested. However, some of them are prohibited from trade. They’re items that could cause great harm to the kingdom’s citizens if they fell into the hands of criminal organizations.”
“Ah, is that so? I wasn’t aware.”
“But I was able to procure some of them right away… and among the prohibited items, there are some that can be acquired with the kingdom’s approval. The items pending approval will take a little more time.”
Diel gestured toward the wagon that had entered the unit.
Demian grinned at the sight of the goods piled high on the cart.
“You’re always so reliable.”
Demian gave her a thumbs-up.
But Diel asked.
“But are you planning to start a war or something? What are you going to do with all of this?”
“That's right.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I'm planning to start a war.”
Diel was startled by Demian's words.
It was a conflict zone, so a war was possible, but…
“A war you’re running on your own, Sir Demian?”
“On my own, if you want to call it that. Since I’m the commander.”
“…”
For a moment, Diel looked utterly baffled.
This was a man who had enlisted less than two years ago.
How could he possibly be a commander?
As if reading her thoughts, Demian spoke.
“You know what kind of place Makstri is, don’t you?”
“…I know it’s a conflict zone. But the kingdom isn’t trying very hard to hold onto it, right?”
A smirk formed on Demian's lips.
That was Diel for you.
She had a perfect grasp of the kingdom’s stance on Makstri.
“Correct. They have no intention of expending significant military power to seize a gold mine in this conflict zone. The fight has dragged on for a long time, and the return on investment isn't great.”
Besides, they were just dragging out the fight as a way to manage the prisoners.
Diel asked with a puzzled expression.
“Then why…”
“But I have a reason to end this war.”
From the perspective of Kiaren, who sent him here, this was nothing more than a small game.
If Demian succeeded, he would prove his skill. If he failed, she would lose nothing.
That was why he had to succeed.
It was something Demian had decided for himself, even before her test.
‘If I can't even do this… then all the grand plans I have for the future will be meaningless.’
What was the point of making grand plans?
You needed the skill to execute them.
The battle at Makstri was also a test for Demian himself.
Seeing the intense seriousness in Demian’s eyes, Diel watched him in silence.
Then, after a moment.
“I will do my best to help you.”
“That’s very reassuring. Thank you.”
At Demian’s words, Diel took some documents out of her bag.
“Since I’m here, you should hear the report on Erkal. A lot has happened since you left.”
“Understood.”
As Diel gave her report, Demian spent a long time discussing work-related matters with her.
***
Another month passed.
Only one month remained until ownership of the gold mine transferred to the Iren Kingdom.
That meant they had to engage the enemy in battle again within the next month.
And now, the members of the Makstri Unit looked completely different than they had a month ago.
“Charge! Faster!”
“Aaaaargh!”
“Hyaaaaaaaah!”
The fifty or so soldiers at the forefront raised their shields high and charged toward the enemy, crashing into them with force.
*CRASH!*
With a tremendous roar, the group on the other side staggered back.
Their charge had been more powerful than expected. However…
“How dare you criminals!”
“Hyaaaaaah!”
*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*
Under the fierce blows raining down on his shield, the soldier holding it began to shrink back.
The group the Makstri Unit was facing…
was none other than the regular army from the outer perimeter.
Seoreil watched the training unfold with an expression of disbelief.
“…Hahahahaha.”
He let out a bewildered laugh.
It had only been two months, no, three.
In that short time, criminals who had undergone training had changed so much that they could, to some extent, push back regular soldiers.
Seoreil turned to Demian, who was standing beside him.
“Are you a magician? What kind of spell did you cast?”
At Seoreil’s question, the corners of Demian’s mouth lifted into a faint smile.
A month ago,
Demian had received a response from the commander regarding the proposal he had submitted through Captain Vincent.
And that response was what had created the men before them now.
“There was simply… motivation.”
Demian murmured, recalling the commander’s answer.