No Easy Days
"Is everything inside these safes really money?"
"Twenty-five million crowns," I replied. "A mix of gold bars, gold coins, letters of credit, and cash. It's the lifeblood of our North, Mogant. Don't lose sight of it."
"Haha! Of course, Commander! Of course!"
The wolf beastmen who had come with Mogant carried away the safes extorted from Duke Orph, their faces bright with glee.
I had squeezed an extra ten million crowns on top of the initial fifteen million.
On top of that, we were to receive ten thousand tons of gasoline quarterly. Two thousand tons of that refined fuel for magic engines was loaded onto the Behemoth for emergency transport, and I decided to take it directly to the North myself.
There was a lot to move and a lot we had extorted, but unlike Mogant and the wolf beastmen who were grinning from ear to ear, my mind was growing heavy with thoughts.
One year. I've managed to perform emergency triage.
We had agreed to receive supplies and funds quarterly from the West, South, and East, but it was only for a single year.
One might ask why we couldn't just extort them again after a year, but the dukes of each region would never sit idly by.
Once they claimed they had given enough over the year, I would have no leverage. If they suffered any more losses, the East, West, and South would join forces and refuse to tolerate it.
So, I had to somehow rebuild the North using the funds we would receive over the next year...
Rebuilding the North's infrastructure. Repairing the destroyed Blood Wall. The ammunition factories and other military production plants were all destroyed during the war. That means we have to build new factories, but where do we find the engineers for that? And the money to build a large-scale industrial zone? Will the money we've earned now be enough to build large-scale factory facilities?
Endless worries and anxieties swirled in my head.
The political situation was unstable. The Emperor was old, and his successors were all arrogant, self-important bastards.
Even if the Emperor passed away leaving a will to bestow the throne upon his chosen successor, there was a high probability that the heirs would ignore the will and start fighting.
The imperial authority has been weakened too much by the Ten Years' War. The nobles' influence has grown excessively strong. There's a high chance of a civil war. The Alliance of Kingdoms, led by the Principality of Kramkin, would also wish for the Empire's division. If a civil war breaks out, they will likely actively support the nearby West to prolong the war.
And that wasn't the only thing to worry about.
My brother and sister-in-law. What was the cause of death for the original female and male leads? What is the identity of the Crow Brotherhood? Why are the demonic beasts in the Northern Magic Realm attacking so excessively often? On top of that, there's no way the Tsar of the Karvark Empire to the east will just sit back and watch.
Nothing was certain, and there were no allies who would pity the North and offer support or help in an emergency.
My head began to throb.
By the time I had forgotten I was even arriving at the Behemoth due to my endless worries and thoughts—
"Commander!"
The adjutant's voice finally snapped me back to reality.
"What is it?"
"The Rose of the East. Hybel of the rabbit beastmen wishes to see you, Commander."
"Ah. Where is she?"
The adjutant silently pointed in one direction.
There, Hybel and the rabbit beastmen were gathered near the Behemoth.
And seeing them made me temporarily forget the worries that had been weighing down my mind.
Children.
Very young children were crying their eyes out in their parents' arms.
Duke Orph had kept his promise.
Probably because he knew what I would do if he didn't.
"Commander Volka."
Hybel.
The last time I saw her was when the 3rd Battalion Commander was taking her away as she wailed.
The woman who had been trembling as if she would faint, her makeup ruined and smeared, was nowhere to be seen. Standing before me now was the leader of the Eastern beastmen, dressed neatly and tidily.
"Are the children all safe?"
"They are all safe. No one was hurt. Though they ate quite a lot, perhaps because they were hungry..."
"Good. Mogant!"
At my call, Mogant stepped up to my side.
"The extra ten million crowns we received? Bring it over here."
"Yes, sir. Right away."
With a brief howl, several thick iron safes were brought over and set down in front of Hybel.
"Hybel. This is ten million crowns."
"..."
"I heard some of your people had their ears cut off. Use this for their medical treatment. I extracted this from Duke Orph as compensation for that act."
I opened the safes, showing Hybel the gold bars, gold coins, cash, and letters of credit inside.
"Take it and use it for your clan."
Hybel stared silently at the safes for a moment, then shook her head.
"No. Tell the wolf beastmen to carry them back. Load these safes back onto the armored train."
"This was taken as compensation for the rabbit beastmen. We cannot take this..."
"We are following you to the North."
Hybel spoke firmly, then quietly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and bowed her head.
I had heard from the 3rd Battalion Commander.
While wolf beastmen pledged loyalty by pressing their heads against one's body, rabbit beastmen did it like this.
"Please accept our clan as members of the North."
"Will you not regret this? I will be honest. The North is harsh and rugged. Much of it is ruined, and things are not in the best shape."
"Yes, I know. There will be moments when we miss the luxurious life of the entertainment districts. But every rabbit beastman here knows that while life here is luxurious, it is hollow, like empty chaff."
Hybel looked up at me.
"You have already bestowed so much grace upon us, but I must shamelessly ask for one more thing."
"Speak."
"My children. Can you ensure that the children of our clan do not have to live as prostitutes?"
I nodded.
"It will be a difficult and painful time. But I will make it happen. I will provide an environment where they can live the lives they want, safe and protected in their own homes. If we overcome these hard times together, I will ensure you obtain a life lived with human dignity. I promise you this on the name of Volka Adrakin."
I lied.
I didn't know what the future held.
The Emperor could die tomorrow, a civil war could break out early, and there was no telling when or how the Principality of Kramkin, the Alliance of Kingdoms, and the Karvark Empire would attack.
I knew better than anyone how chaotic and ruined the North was.
Even so, I lied.
Because I knew better than anyone that a leader is someone who must shoulder the weight of a present lie to speak of future hope.
"Then we will follow you. Please accept our clan. We will never forget the grace you have shown us today until the day we die. Though we are lowly creatures who sold our bodies, we will not shrink from any dirty work if you will only use us."
Not that other beastmen had it any better, but like the rat beastmen, the rabbit beastmen were among those with the worst reputation among humans.
Prostitutes of the brothels. Lustful, unchaste trash.
I was probably the first. The first to treat them like human beings and take their side.
I reached out a hand to the kneeling Hybel.
"From now on, I forbid you from calling yourselves lowly or making any self-deprecating remarks, Hybel."
My tone had shifted.
Hybel raised her head.
I tried to give her the gentlest smile possible, despite my hideous face.
"Welcome to the Hellhound Brigade."
Hybel gripped my hand tightly.
And so, the migration of the Eastern rabbit beastmen to the North was decided.
"So... how many rabbit beastmen are migrating, exactly?"
"If we only count those who can migrate immediately, it is about twenty thousand. If we include those in brothels across the entire East, there are far more."
It was an absurd number.
"It is impossible to transport that many people on the armored train."
The adjutant beside me spoke up.
It wasn't as if I didn't know that.
"Hybel. Taking all the rabbit beastmen on the armored train is realistically impossible..."
"Do not worry. The rabbit beastmen know how to drive, and our belongings are limited to what can be loaded onto vehicles. Most of our clan in the East travel around to sell their bodies. It is rare for a clan to settle down and live in only one place."
Oh? Is that so?
Come to think of it, the 3rd Battalion Commander was exceptionally good at driving vehicles.
"Then you can follow us to the North along the road running parallel to the train tracks. Is that possible?"
"Yes, it is entirely possible. As long as you provide enough food and water."
"Don't worry. Mogant and the wolf beastmen will stop at every station to supply food and water."
"Then there is no problem. Sisters!"
Hybel let out a peculiar whistle, and all the rabbit beastmen turned to look at her.
"We're moving! Pack your things and load them into the cars! We are going to a place we can finally call home!"
At her words, the rabbit beastmen began to move immediately without asking twice.
Before long, a massive number of cars and trucks began to swarm around the train station.
It was an overwhelming number.
Wait. Where did people from the entertainment districts get the money to buy so many vehicles? I wondered.
As if reading my thoughts, the 3rd Battalion Commander stepped up to my side and tossed out a comment.
"Men and women in the entertainment districts make quite a bit of money. They also receive a lot of sponsorship from their lovers. And even though they have that money, they can't buy a proper house. So where else would they spend it?"
The closest thing to a house: a car. Ah, so that was why.
"The tracks leading to the North are severed, so once the supplies from the West, South, and East arrive at the nearby station, they must be transported by truck."
"I know."
"It would be perfect for the rabbit beastmen to take on that role. I'm counting on you, 3rd Battalion Commander."
"Leave it to me."
I climbed onto the armored train.
The locomotive let out a familiar whistle and began to move slowly.
And along with it, thousands of trucks and cars began to move in unison.
Our numbers had grown exponentially compared to when we first set out, and as a result, our pace had slowed.
They were my strength, but at the same time, my responsibility.
I had to feed them, build stable homes and living environments, and create jobs and welfare.
To do that, I couldn't afford to rest, even during this journey to the North.
"1st Battalion Commander. 5th Battalion Commander."
The 1st Battalion Commander was a bear beastman. The 5th Battalion Commander was a wolf beastman.
These two had barely made their presence felt until now.
The 1st Battalion Commander was a taciturn man who never spoke unless absolutely necessary, and the 5th Battalion Commander was the only person I had ever met who was even more tight-lipped than the 1st.
"You two will lead your battalions as combat engineers. Once the steel and train rails arrive from the West, your top priority is to repair the destroyed tracks. We can't transport supplies by truck forever. For the sake of logistics, the tracks must be restored."
The two of them nodded.
"2nd Battalion Commander."
Rabelt-Chi, the rat beastman. His role was also clear.
"You will also act as an engineer for the time being. Take charge of the city alongside Kka-Chi. Oversee the repairs of Pandril's destroyed roads and buildings."
"Understood, sir."
"And finally, 3rd Battalion Commander."
"Yes, Commander."
"Logistics is your responsibility. With the help of the rabbit beastmen and Hybel, transport the supplies from the West, South, and East to the North. You may use all of the brigade's trucks if necessary."
"Most of the drivers were from our battalion anyway. I'll handle it as ordered."
"Good... and Adjutant."
Wagging his long wolf tail, the adjutant stepped up to my side.
"Managing the transported supplies and funds will be the responsibility of you, Mogant's pack, and the 5th Battalion. Take charge and ensure the food and various goods are stored and managed without issue. Keep in mind, if the supplies are lost or damaged, we are finished."
"Of course, Commander."
"Yes. I trust you'll do well."
More and more beastmen would flock to the North in the future. They would hear the rumors.
For the sake of those who would arrive, we had to quickly organize the North and get it back on track.
I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Please, I beg of you, let there be no more problems. Please.
I prayed as I headed North.
But as they say, good fortune always manifests with the slimmest of probabilities, while misfortune usually occurs with the highest.
Three days after departing from the East, leading twenty thousand rabbit beastmen and Mogant's pack of two thousand, we arrived at the station near the North.
"Commander. Is the Messenger connection working again?"
"Yeah. Maybe because we're close to the North, the connection with the troops is back... Oh, dammit!"
"What's wrong?"
"It's a demonic beast attack! Tens of thousands of them! The Blood Wall... it's about to be breached!"
What welcomed me was not a crowd cheering for the Grand Duke who had returned with supplies and money, but the horrific sight of the Hellhound Brigade soldiers, covered in blood, desperately grinding down the beasts with their chainsaw swords.