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Having decided to go to the battlefield alone, I had to start organizing the troops.
Initially, I planned to take the soldiers from our territory, but they were already busy restoring the previous territory of Rivel.
With originally no more than two thousand soldiers, I had to borrow soldiers from Rainfall, but the issue was that they were soldiers from Crossing.
As someone from Caliper, it was not my place to take the soldiers from Crossing.
In this difficult situation, Olaf came to the rescue.
“Alright, Als. The organization is done. You just need to take them with you.”
“This is….”
Suddenly, an army of two thousand ready.
“When did you prepare this?”
“After you mentioned it. With the help of Viscountess Bisqueta, we quickly organized it. We selected hopefuls among the soldiers from Kurrabel and reorganized them as mercenaries. Of course, we agreed to pay them a decent wage.”
“But some of them don’t seem to be soldiers from Kurrabel. Who are they?”
“You’re right. Even from my perspective, I have quite a few subordinates. Especially many mercenary subordinates.”
“Mercenaries?”
“How do you think I gathered a circus troupe while on the move?”
As he said that, he introduced someone.
“He is Dilas, the leader of the Mercenary Band of the Four Seasons. I hope you get along well.”
A middle-aged man with a rough appearance politely bowed his head.
“The Four Seasons….”
He was referring to the circus troupe.
Olaf answered my question.
“The Four Seasons was originally a mercenary band and a wandering troupe. Seeing that potential, I hired them exclusively three years ago. He is now in charge of the mercenary side. He is a trustworthy friend, so you can leave most of the troublesome tasks to him.”
Olaf seemed to show consideration in his own way.
The biggest issue in this war was leadership.
It was because soldiers and officers might not follow well due to being too young. That’s why we tried to organize mainly with local soldiers.
“Anyway, didn’t you listen to Master Ilya’s words?”
“It’s not that big of a deal. Besides, if you die, I’ll be in trouble too. Why do you think I left Europe and devoted myself to you?”
Dilas was a top-tier mercenary, but his martial arts skills were not particularly high. In gaming terms, his combat stats would barely reach 70. He was just assigned one officer to handle the troublesome tasks, as Olaf had mentioned.
“Thank you. Then I’ll leave the affairs of Lainpol to you. If necessary, you can ask for help from Viscountess Rutger.”
“Alright. Please, just don’t die.”
“I’ll do my best.”
A war fought alone. Deep down, I wasn’t particularly anxious.
I cleared my throat and shouted.
“We will march with the Alz Infantry!”
And so, we headed towards Alpenserd, the gathering place of our forces.
* * *
The support army from Caliper this time, judging by the scale and the opportunity given to cadets, had a strong display of showmanship.
Choosing Alpenserd as the gathering place for the troops was no different.
Normally, it would have been more appropriate to gather in the northwestern city adjacent to Beccabia, but the king deliberately chose Alpenserd as the gathering place.
This was to host a party under the guise of a departure ceremony.
Thus, stationed the troops in Alpenserd, I had to quickly prepare for the festivities.
“Hwiyou! It’s no joke when you’re in charge of the decorations.”
Bannings, who was dressing up with me, whistled.
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“Be careful. You might end up in trouble with an After Request.”
“Today isn’t that kind of party.”
“Well, technically it’s a departure ceremony.”
“And besides, I’m just a decoration.”
Six cadets chosen as commanders.
I was overwhelmingly weaker in terms of my family’s influence compared to the other five. No matter how Rainfall had grown, it was nothing compared to the nobility.
Normally, I would go unnoticed.
Even at past parties, although I had conversations with young ladies due to my appearance, no eligible person ever sought me out.
This time, too, I intended to pass the time in a corner, but the situation had changed significantly from before.
Regardless of the weakness of my family’s power, I was chosen as one of the six golden generation commanders.
Helian Viscount discreetly came to my table to offer encouragement, General Ironheart who was appointed as my aide on this mission. And even Viscount Reinhardt, who knew my identity, paid a visit.
And now, even that man had come.
“Nice to see you, Ilyne. I heard Rainfall’s festival ended well. I am pleased by that as well.”
It was Gilbert Saleon. He had come with his wife and Erena to where I was seated.
I immediately stood up and bowed to him.
“It is an honor to see you again, Lord Gilbert.”
“Hmph, no need to be so formal. More importantly, I heard you were chosen as one of the six commanders this time?”
“Unfortunately, that’s how it turned out.”
“Unfortunate, you say. Who else is supposed to take on that important role if not you?”
Unbeknownst to me, I was building a reputation. Despite trying to keep a low profile, I was now being evaluated as a promising figure within the top 10 of the military.
“Could it be because I didn’t manipulate my academy results.”
I didn’t really want to go that far, and above all, correcting such low-level issues hurt my pride.
Gilbert not only exchanged pleasantries but also kept bringing up topics. As a result, the attention of the party guests was gradually shifting towards me.
The Helian Viscount in the distance had a look as if he had chewed on dung, and Casper was grimacing fiercely.
“It’s always enjoyable to converse with the youth who will carry the future of the nation.”
Gilbert smiled satisfactorily. He then made exaggerated gestures and said, “Oh, am I monopolizing your time? It’s probably more enjoyable for you to talk with your peers than with an old man like me. Enjoy the party.”
With that, he left, leaving Erena behind.
Erena, now left alone with me, seemed uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry. My father seems to be preoccupied these days…”
“What is he preoccupied with?”
“Well… how should I put this… it seems like he’s seriously considering a match between you and me. Today, if the atmosphere turns jovial, he might suggest dancing together… In a setting like this, dancing together means… well, you know what I mean.”
“Wow.”
I hadn’t even considered that. The Viscount suggesting a match first? And with the son of a Viscount?
I whispered softly, “He knows about my identity.”
“No! That’s not it at all!”
“If not that….”
“It seems like my father thinks you will soon become a general in the military. If you excel in this upcoming war, he might even suggest a match soon.”
“Ugh, he knows I will refuse, right?”
“Ugh…!”
Putting aside the connection forming between Erena and me, getting entangled between families could lead to many headaches. I didn’t want our family to be criticized over my marriage issue.
However, even if I refused, problems would arise.
If the Viscount’s side made an effort and the son of a Viscount rejected the match, it would greatly damage their pride.
“So please try to keep that topic from coming out.”
“Hmph, I know.”
Erina pursed her lips, idly playing with the folding fan in her hand.
Seeing her like that, I couldn’t help but smile involuntarily.
“But if we already have permission for a dance… how about one song?”
“What!? You know we don’t do such things at parties.”
“For some reason I feel like it today. But doing it in the ballroom is a bit much, so earlier I found a nice spot in the garden. It’s secluded and has a great view. I’ll let you know the location, so slip away there once the ball starts.”
“Uh… I-I’ll go.”
And so, sneaking away, I led Erina towards the faint music coming from the direction of the party.
“Is your body feeling stiff?”
“Do you really have to say that out loud?”
Erina, blushing, discreetly whispered in a hushed voice.
“You’re oddly proactive today. Is there some change in your mood?”
“I just see it as a service for buying a large number of books last time.”
“Oh! If that’s the case, this is insufficient. I spent most of my allowance back then.”
“That’s why you shouldn’t show off unnecessarily.”
There was a brief silence. The music seemed to be slowing down as if it was about to end.
At that moment, Erina seemed to have made a decision and spoke to me.
“I think I can get along well with Estelle. She has a cute side to her. Maybe I’ll treat her like a little sister. So, don’t worry.”
Asking what not to worry about would be foolish.
“I heard Estelle is a year older than us… right?”
“Really? But then why was she at the same academy as you?”
“There was a little twist due to an illness. But mentioning this makes her gaze turn cold.”
“Oh, that sounds scary.”
As the song ended, I discreetly let go of her waist. Erina, looking wistful, glanced towards the party area and then hesitantly took something out.
“Take this.”
“What is this?”
It was a small piece.
“I made it while wishing for a safe return. Didn’t Estelle give you something too?”
“Yes, she gave me a single bullet.”
She gave a survival knife, so even here, the difference in their personalities was evident.
“When Estelle took that out, I almost fainted.”
“Anyway, thank you. I’ll attach it to my military uniform.”
“Yes, please return safely.”
The music started playing again. We subtly made our way back to the party area.
—
The official inauguration ceremony began the next morning.
Myself and the other six cadets kneeled at a distance, and General Delvadova, who was representing us, headed towards the king.
“It’s been a long time since we went out, so don’t get too worked up, Delvadova. If you encounter the enemy, focus on preserving your life first. Strictly speaking, this is not our war but Beccabia’s war.”
“What are you saying? If we meet the enemy, we must crush them without fail.”
“Hmph, it’s precisely because you’re like that that I’m worried. If you die, who will listen to this old man’s orders?”
“Don’t worry. I will bring back results that His Majesty will be pleased with, no matter what direction it takes.”
“Very well, I’ll trust you.”
When the king bestowed the sword, Delvadova drew his sword and shouted, “March, all troops! Head to Beccabia!”
The prepared army of 20,000 left the city, receiving blessings from the citizens, and marched towards Beccabia.
Six officers each commanded 2,000 troops, totaling 12,000. The remaining 8,000 were under the command of Delvadova and his direct officers.
The distance to the target front was approximately 280 km. The estimated time for the march was 6 days.
Due to the rough terrain along the marching route, most horses were used for transport, and even I, as a commander, had to walk with the soldiers.
“Heuk! Heuk!”
By the 5th day of the march, Dorothy was breathing heavily with a pale face. It was her first time doing a long-distance march in full armor, so the exhaustion had caught up with her.
“Dorothy, are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, just keep going.”
“That’s not possible. Give me your gear. I’ll carry it for you.”
“No! I’m a commander… I need to set an example…”
Seemingly overwhelmed by compulsive thoughts.
The elderly officer, Greenwood, who assisted Dorothy, looked at me pleadingly as if to implore me to persuade her since she wouldn’t listen to him.
“Anyway, collapsing is more of a nuisance. Listen to me!”
I addressed my officers.
“If anyone has extra energy, could you bring them here?”
Upon which, Delas gestured to someone.
The person who responded to the gesture had a somewhat familiar face.
“Mr. Delas! You called for me?”
“Yes, Egert. The commander is summoning you.”
“Oh, finally you’re giving me a role! Of course! I can’t just be a mere soldier!”
With a snort, the boy who ran up, upon seeing my face, furrowed his brow.
“Huh? Who are you? You look like a woman.”
Egert, threatening me with arrogance. Delas urgently shouted, “Hey! He’s the commander of our unit! Watch your words!”
“Huh? This parasite-like guy?”
“Quickly, bow your head, you insolent brat.”
Delas forcibly grabbed the boy’s nape and made him bow his head.
“If there’s a task, entrust it to this lad. He’s a good lad as strong and spirited as they come.”
“hahahaha, an interesting fellow.”
It seems that colorful characters from the circus are scattered throughout the unit.
“Come to think of it, he did mention he’s from Egert’s Mercenary Corps.”
It seemed like he would do anything to earn money.
“Seeing this young lad doing such things…”.
The slavery of Crossing was evident.
“Your name is Agott, right? What’s your full name?”
“I don’t have one! Ouch! Stop hitting my head, you damn old man! Ugh! I don’t have a full name!”
“Alright then, Agott. Could you help me carry this luggage here?”
Dorothy untied the bundle she was holding and handed it to Agott. The weight of the bundle was roughly around 20kg.
He effortlessly took it with one hand and murmured with interest.
“With this weight, it would be good for training in between.”
As Agott started weight training using the bundle, Dorothy sighed in disbelief.
“Hmm, you seem to have some strength left.”
“Of course! This weight is nothing! …Oops!”
“Anyway, fine. You carry that for a while and stick by Dorothy’s side.”
When Dorothy expressed her gratitude to Agott, he replied,
“It’s no big deal. But are you weak? Why did you join the war?”
Thud! Delas’s fist came down without hesitation.
“He’s also a leader of the unit. Don’t speak recklessly.”
“Alright, alright. But is this unit really okay? All these leaders seem to be weaklings.”
“Watch your words.”
“Yes, yes.”
As we trailed behind Dorothy, we hastened our pace and caught up.
By the time we caught up, it was dusk on the 5th day of marching.
As the soldiers set up tents and prepared for the night, a unit officer came by.
“Ars Eilain. There will be a general staff meeting tomorrow. Come to the main hall.”
Summoning order from General Delbadova.
I entrusted the camp preparations to Delas and headed towards the main hall.