Why Are You Here?
54 seconds. That was the charge time our platoon had recorded. Thanks to me flying around above the platoon like a drone, intercepting enemy attacks, we'd set the shortest record possible without any interference.
"Prin— no, 3rd Platoon Deputy! That was some incredible magic!"
"She didn't even draw her staff—just cast spells barehanded. Her proficiency must be top-tier."
Cheers erupted from the 3rd Company soldiers.
"Not a single arrow hit."
"She's royalty through and through, huh…?"
Disappointed murmurs came from the 1st Company soldiers.
Anyway, that wrapped up the ranged training. The final event was close-quarters assault training, led by our company commander from 3rd Company. Was it because he was our company commander? The 1st Platoon leader was sucking up to him.
"Company commander, sir, we're almost done with today's schedule anyway. How about we keep this one light?"
"Save that talk for when the battalion commander isn't around."
The company commander glanced toward the battalion commander in the distance, then shrugged. He swung the staff in his hand toward the ground. With a rumbling wooddrdrdr, five stone pillars rose up from the earth.
"Charge in on horseback and shatter them with one strike each. No ranged attacks. This is training for when the enemy closes in right up to you, so keep that in mind."
This was disadvantageous for ranged specialists. Training lances were provided, but wielding something outside your specialty wasn't easy. The 3rd Squad leader sighed as he went to fetch one.
But I didn't need to bother. Unlike bows or throwing weapons, magic could be used at close range.
"Alright, one at a time—mount up, come forward, and destroy the pillars. As soon as the last pillar falls, the next person goes. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Then start with the 1st Platoon leader, in order!"
The 1st Platoon leader charged first. He channeled mana into his sword and swung; the pillar cleaved clean through like it was tofu.
"Next! Keep it moving!"
The company commander dismantled the shattered pillar and raised a new one in its place. After the 1st Platoon leader came the deputy, then the squad leaders. 1st Platoon finished, then 2nd Platoon, and finally it was our 3rd Platoon's turn.
The platoon leader charged ahead holding his shield and war hammer, gripping the reins only with his lower body to steady himself before swinging the mana-infused hammer. Kwaang! The struck pillar exploded in a shower of debris like a cream puff bursting. Through the flying dust, he kept swinging the hammer. With a series of thuds, all the pillars vanished in seconds.
"Good. Next!"
After the platoon leader came the deputy—my turn.
"Let's go, Thunderer."
I spurred Thunderer forward. Lowering my stance, I drew my staff and channeled mana through it, releasing lightning. I focused the scattering bolts to the tip of the staff. This was my lightning lightsaber. It wasn't as good as using a real sword as the conduit, but it was plenty for now. Honestly, if the staff had still been like the crude branch it was when I first got it, it'd have been harder to visualize. But thanks to Thunderer munching on leaves and twigs until they were gone, it was much easier. This crazy unicorn probably didn't plan it that way, but it helped, so I'd give him an extra carrot later.
Anyway, I struck the pillars one by one with the lightning lightsaber. It wasn't as sharp as the platoon leaders' cuts or as explosive, but it still cratered the surfaces with solid power. After me came the squad leaders, finishing our platoon's run.
The company commander didn't hold back on sharp advice for anyone who fell short during training.
Finally, with all mounted combat drills done, the battalion commander called everyone together.
"Good work. That's training wrapped up. You've all earned it."
"Thank you, sir!"
"Alright, let's head back!"
We returned to base after training. The soldiers had done a thorough job weeding; the grounds looked cleaner than when we'd left. After stabling the horses, the knights gathered in the parade ground. The battalion commander stood at the podium, surveying us.
"Before dismissal, one announcement."
If there was an announcement, he could've just said it at the training field. Armies were the same in my past life and here—never wrapping things up in one go.
"Everyone knows the Arkael Church is coming this weekend for chaplain services, right?"
Arkael Church. The most widespread religion in this world. History books said the founding emperor of the Rosenhardt Empire received an oracle from Goddess Arkael… but whatever. I wasn't religious in my past life or now. If a true transcendent god existed, they wouldn't have left my shitty parents alone back then. My experience with religion was limited to getting a chocolate pie at Nonsan Training Center.
"Unusually, we've gotten orders from above. They want the chaplain services held in as clean an environment as possible."
Murmurs rippled through the knights at the battalion commander's words. I was puzzled too. Weren't these services routine, once a month? Why the sudden emphasis on cleanliness?
"To that end… we're doing a full base deep clean until the services in two days."
What the hell. We didn't even clean like this for a legion commander visit. Was royalty coming? …Wait, no—and besides, I'm already here, the princess herself. Why another show-clean for optics? Was the weeding today part of it? Or just scheduled maintenance? It felt off.
To figure it out, I called Elina as soon as I got back to my quarters.
"Your Highness, you're back? Tough training? Shall I draw a bath right away?"
"Yeah, sounds good."
But first, a quick rinse. I'd sweated buckets today.
"Chaplain services? I haven't heard anything."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Maybe they got chewed out for poor upkeep last time?"
Elina offered one possibility. It sounded plausible at first, but no—if that were it, they'd just clean the chapel, not the whole base.
"You don't think… Father or Mother coming?"
"Huh? No way. If His Majesty the Emperor or Her Majesty the Empress were visiting, it'd be chaos at least a month out, not two days."
True. Father was swamped with state affairs, Mother with high society. No way they'd schedule something this short-notice. Scratch that theory.
Then what? The Arkael Pope? Nah, that'd be a month-long frenzy too.
Ugh… no clue. I was tempted to kick down the battalion commander's door again for answers.
…Of course, just a passing thought. No way I'd actually do it. That'd be real abuse of power, tarnishing royal honor.
The next day dawned with the mystery unsolved. Soldiers hustled from morning till night, scrubbing and repairing everything—barracks by platoon, parade ground, training fields, mess hall, you name it. Knights were just as busy, handling inventories in the armory and supply rooms—stuff too sensitive for enlisted.
Counting arrows in the armory, I turned to Supply Officer Sir Brick beside me.
"Sir Brick."
"Yes?"
"No matter how I think about it, Arkael faithful aren't poking around the armory. Why are we doing this?"
"Beats me."
"Heard anything?"
"Wish I knew. 3rd Deputy, you got intel?"
We stared at each other, then sighed in unison. He perched on a crate in the corner and gestured for me to sit. Fine. A quick break while no one's watching.
"I asked the company commander… he doesn't know either."
"Really?"
"Battalion commander hasn't breathed a word."
"Was it like this when I joined?"
"No. They briefed the whole base two months early—total pandemonium."
Hmm… not royalty, then. What? No noble would trigger this with me already here.
Argh, who the hell?
Time passed without answers. The deep clean turned into major repairs, but we somehow wrapped it up in two days. And finally, the day of chaplain services arrived.
The knights turned out to greet the Arkael Church at the base entrance. Déjà vu. Last time, I was the one arriving.
The battalion commander stared rigidly down the road. The weird tension silenced the other knights. But it bugged me, so I nudged the platoon leader next to me.
"Platoon leader."
"…Yeah?"
"Do knights normally turn out like this for religious events?"
"First time for me."
Oho. Not standard procedure, then.
Then, in the distance, a group appeared. At the front rode the Silver Eagle Corps legion commander on horseback, followed by Arkael priests. The knights stiffened further at the sight of the legion commander personally escorting them.
As the group drew near, the battalion commander bellowed.
"Battalion, attention for the legion commander!"
"For Rosenhardt!"
We saluted on cue… but wait, we never did this for the legion commander. What the hell?
"Aish, why are you all out here? Just go inside already."
Uh, what? Why's the legion commander talking like that? Bad lunch? On death's door?
He grumbled that and strode into the base. The priests followed.
Then, one priest stopped right in front of me.
"Long time no see, Arselia."
Uh. Seeing his face, my mouth hung open dumbly.
"Brother Ragna?"
My second brother, 2nd Prince Ragna Rosenhardt, stood there in priest robes. No way—why was he here?