The Rousing Rank System
A week had passed since the war ended. They'd wrapped up all the postwar processing, and everyone had returned to their own tribes.
"It'd be great if we could just charge straight into the Empire right now."
"Son, I understand how you feel, but unlike our tribe, the others took heavy hits in the attacks."
"Well, we need time to regroup anyway, so no choice."
"But the Thing will convene later to discuss the war."
"What do you think this council will decide, Father?"
"At the very least, there'll be calls to smash the Empire's northern front to pieces."
If even my father—who was practically neutral—was leaning toward attack, the council would surely tilt heavily that way.
But there were those who craved bloody revenge right now.
"Drengg, among the Assai right now, lots of them want to invade the Empire immediately."
"You little... SHAPE UP!!!"
Those who hadn't joined our tribe could raid the Empire however they pleased. But once they set foot here!!! That bloated sense of self would not be tolerated!!
Afterward, the utterly spineless Assai were calmed through collective camaraderie. Then I immediately gathered all the Assai.
The ones beaten black and blue like dogs in the dog days of summer finally wore faces of realization.
"Assai!! Do you know your sins?!"
"""We're sorry!! Drengg!!!"""
"Of course, I understand the pain of those who've lost family or loved ones."
But that was no excuse for the Assai to stray from the glorious path of the Marines!
"Instead, I swear on my honor! We will ravage the Empire!!"
"The Drengg stakes his honor?!"
"Th-there's no reason for the Drengg to stake his honor on spineless punks like us!"
"Hah, didn't we share camaraderie in that glorious decisive battle?"
The Assai thirsting for blood revenge dissolved into a sea of tears. They began adapting earnestly to our tribe.
Countless people had joined our tribe in this war, but with 2 to 6 family members per warrior, we had to expand the settlement far beyond imagination.
Fortunately, we had the supplies my Vikings and I had stockpiled through hard labor. And the spoils from the decisive battle were so plentiful, we had to leave some outside the warehouses.
"We won't run short later, right?"
"Heavens... What legendary city are you trying to build? We probably won't even use half for the expansion."
"That's reassuring, but Mother will have a tough time."
Now that we'd been recognized by the other jarls as one of the top four tribes, we needed planned expansion. That meant Father's retainers—the Thanes handling internal affairs—and Mother were in for a world of hurt.
"But Father, don't you help Mother?"
"Ahem! I've got to prepare for the upcoming Thing..."
A few days after clicking my tongue at my lame father, full-scale settlement expansion began.
Countless warriors paused training to build homes for themselves and their families.
Boom!! Boom!! Boom!!
"Hey!! Is this enough?!"
"More than enough—pass the rest to the neighbors!!"
"Grip it tight!!"
"Hahaha, who would've thought we'd get such a big house..."
"The perfect chance to raise our family prestige!!!"
They were even tearing down existing houses to rebuild bigger—everyone was dead serious.
And we built new workshops for the halflings making our clothes.
Clack-clack!!
"Liri, is this good?"
"Y-yes, more than enough, Drengs-nim!!"
"It's Drengg, not Drengs."
"S-sorryyy!!"
Tsk, the male halflings had adapted perfectly to our tribe. But Liri, the lone female, still struggled.
Watching the expansion from a high vantage with my little brother was quite the sight.
Seeing our tribe in upheaval, emotions crossed his face.
"I finally feel like we've truly become one of the top four tribes..."
"Tumstone, it's good news for us, so don't tense up. If the jarl's son looks uneasy, the tribesmen will worry too."
"Y-yes, big brother! I'll keep that in mind!"
With his anxiety eased, it was time to explain why I'd brought him here.
"More importantly... You want to become an Assai too?"
"Yes!!! I want the Marine spirit like the other warriors!"
He was still very young. But early education was always right.
Thwack!!!
"Wh-what's this...?"
"Pick it up."
What fell before Tumstone was none other than a shield and axe.
His joy at realizing he could become a warrior was a delight to see.
"But the moment you pick them up, that's the signal."
"!!!"
A chill killing intent swirled between us.
Grasping what I intended, my little brother broke into cold sweat but squeezed his eyes shut—chomp!!!
"Right away, big brother!!!"
"Come at me!! Little bro!!!"
He charged with good instincts.
Building the settlement and instilling Marine spirit in my brother had eaten up a ton of time.
Naturally, our tribe's explosive growth brought a flood of problems. I gathered the instructors and temporary instructors to discuss.
"The biggest issue is the Assai."
"With so many enlisting at once..."
"Definitely too disorganized."
"Drengg, do you have a solution?"
"Of course!!"
The moment had arrived!!!
Our tribe's warriors now formed a regiment-sized force. From regiment to division, and eventually legion!
Time to sew the first button.
"What future does the Drengg envision..."
"Hard for us to imagine."
"Think simple. One goal! Forge a fiercer future for our tribe!"
When scale explodes like this, command chains get messy. Time to inject that hellish system!
"From now on, Bear Claw Tribe warriors will implement a rank system!!"
"A rank system?!"
"It's proving very effective."
They'd heard of centurions or chiliarchs, but what about a modern military system? Of course, fully customized for our tribe!
"First, Private Second Class!!!"
Private Second Class were the basic-training Assai, the weakest warriors. A gateway countless Assai would pass through!
"Next, Private First Class requires becoming full Berserks!!"
"Setting the bar that high?"
"Think ahead—Drengg's judgment is spot on."
"Better than Assai throwing lives away pointlessly."
"Then, Instructor Ulfrik, what's after Private First Class?"
"You lot. Rank: Corporal."
The instructors and temps got Corporal as reward for their hard work. But only 100 Corporals for now.
Their eyes blazed with resolve at the implication.
"Then, Drengg, only one way to become Corporal."
"Heh heh heh, this'll be fun!"
"Right!! Unlimited conquest via Makgora and challenges!"
Privates First Class could always challenge Corporals, with the top 100 constantly rotating. More Privates First Class meant more Corporal spots naturally.
"Can't call weak warriors Corporals. You must always maintain peak strength."
"We won't betray your expectations, Drengg!!"
"We'll hold these Corporal ranks!!"
Satisfying to see the new Corporals' fire!
Final rank: Sergeant—just one. Me, naturally.
"Ulfrik Ragnarson takes it! Sergeant open to Makgora conquest too!"
"So strict even with yourself..."
"Does that mean Corporals (except Privates First Class) can challenge Sergeant Ulfrik?"
"Of course. Challenge whenever you get the chance."
The instructors were thrilled at formal Makgora rights against me.
But one had a question.
"Um... Drengg, sorry, but shouldn't there be Private Third Class before Private Second Class?"
"Mm, easy mix-up."
Like confusing the 3rd with the 4th—like no rank below Private Second Class.
"Think of it as grades."
"Ah, Private Second Class is second-grade soldier, Private First Class first-grade?"
"Crystal clear!"
"Then Private Third Class for third-grade..."
"Pre-enlistment warriors!"
Non-hostile tribe warriors got honorary Private First Class; jarl's elite guard Huskarls got honorary Corporal.
With all exceptions discussed, prep was done.
Then, with the Corporals, we gathered all warriors.
"Now we inherit the true Marine spirit!!!"
"""WAAAAAAAAH!!"""
"Fight endlessly—fight and fight!!"
"""RAAAGH!"""
Thus, Bear Claw Tribe warriors gained a modern, rousing rank system.
The settlement expansion had dragged into a boring, stuffy mood.
But the rank system ignited an infinite tournament among all warriors (except Corporals) for those spots.
Thwack!!!
"Winner!!! Skorvin Erinsson!!!"
"I-I'm a Corporal nowwww!!"
"""WAAAAAAAAH!!!!"""
Who knew they'd love the Corporal rank this much! Should've done it sooner!
Father was deeply moved by this system breathing infinite vitality into our tribe.
"Hahahaha! As expected of my son!"
"Now everyone will show their fiercer side for higher ranks."
"It's highly fluid, so yeah."
No rotten apples in our tribe anymore!
Of course, with us swamped and plotting bigger things, Mother shot us a icy smile.
And further—
"Hohohoho... Ragna Bearhandson? Come here a moment."
"D-dear?"
Oh shit. Mother used Father's full name.
I grabbed dazed Tumstone and fled the longhouse. Huskarls and Thanes bolted out too.
We exchanged awkward glances, but they decided to block the longhouse entrance.
Since I was out with little bro anyway, we toured the settlement buzzing with massive energy.
But suddenly, he fidgeted.
"Um... big brother?"
"Out with it, Tumstone!! Speak with confidence!!"
"S-sorry!! It's just, a halfling friend confided in me last time!! I have something to say about it!"
We treated our slave halflings so well, and they had worries?! What spineless nonsense!
But you gotta hear people out, right?
My rage gauge dropped at the rest.
"Actually, the male halflings want to enlist voluntarily too!"
"Oh."
Now that's rousing.