Ch.203My Army. My Party (1)

“So… all together… 40 gold coins?”

“Hehe. That’s right, my lord.”

“Here you go.”

“Thank you kindly! As promised, I’ll take responsibility for the delivery!”

“Hmm.”

On a certain day when half of the first year of the 13th century had already passed.

Resources needed to feed and maintain my airship and army were flooding into the mooring tower of Zirconia, which was gradually transforming from ruins back into a cityscape.

With beggars everywhere while I alone possessed over tens of thousands of gold coins, merchants, true to their nature of avoiding losses, had no choice but to gather around me.

Consumable supplies like food and clothing for 10,000 people. And as I purchased various calibers of shells and bullets for different artillery pieces, I gradually made the Sky Warden fatter, and the Sky Warden, now adorned with sturdy 8-inch naval guns, was cramming all those resources into its storage.

“I wonder how heavy the Sky Warden has become now.”

“It must be over 50,000 tons by now. Including personnel and cargo, it would exceed 60,000 tons.”

“That much?”

“We’ve dismantled and incorporated more than 10 warships, so it has to be over 50,000 tons. I’d like to push it past 100,000 tons, but that would be putting the cart before the horse!”

“Indeed. That would certainly be excessive.”

I smiled slightly as I began to listen to how the Sky Warden, once a (relatively) small transport vessel, was transforming into a massive aerial battleship worthy of being a nation’s flagship.

Honestly, I could only understand about half of what was being said, but whether I understood or not, isn’t it the party leader’s role to listen attentively to their comrades’ opinions?

They weren’t my subordinates, and as long as they respected my authority, their authority deserved respect as well.

“Today marks the end of our time in Zirconia. It’s only been a few months, but it feels like years.”

“Well… we haven’t exactly been idle. That’s just how life is.”

“Yes. That’s how it is.”

I muttered as I watched the fully loaded Sky Warden descend to the ground.

Soon after, a brigade commander with newly attached epaulettes came from the Sky Warden, saluted me, and informed me that the soldiers were ready for inspection.

“The soldiers are ready, Lord Victor.”

“Begin the review. I shall personally inspect the Soldiers of the Sun.”

“Yes, sir!”

*

“Soldiers of the Sun!”

As I shouted, the soldiers raised their arms in unison and chanted back.

“””Long live the Sun!”””

Their response was so thunderous it gave me goosebumps, and I laughed heartily as I looked at the brigade commander and said:

“Now it’s starting to feel like a proper army. This is what an army serving the Sun should be like.”

“It’s all thanks to your arrangements, Lord Victor.”

“That’s enough, Colonel… Even praise should be moderate to avoid embarrassment.”

I was listening to the brigade commander’s flattery while reviewing the 10,000 soldiers standing in formation.

When I led a force of 1,000 men—a battalion-sized unit—it felt like nothing more than a large mercenary group at best, but now that the scale had surpassed 10,000, and seeing soldiers armed with various artillery pieces, it exuded the distinct atmosphere of an “army.”

“How curious. Just adding artillery makes such a difference in atmosphere. Perhaps this is why armies are so fond of using artillery.”

“Unlike cold weapons, artillery pieces all look similar.”

I nodded.

From ancient times to the present, the lifeblood of an army has been unified formations, and when soldiers wield weapons that maintain this discipline, the atmosphere is amplified.

Just as one can resist small ripples but not large waves.

“How is the loading of supplies progressing?”

“Almost complete. The armory is fully stocked, and we’ve secured ammunition for all weapons as well as maintenance parts.”

“Good.”

I nodded.

In truth, among these 10,000 soldiers, only about half—5,000 or so—were direct combat troops.

The rest were weapon operators or those who manned the airship’s naval guns, along with those responsible for provisions, maintenance crews, medical teams, and others handling various miscellaneous tasks.

“Brigade Commander.”

“Yes.”

“How strong would an army of this size be? That is… including our party and the Sky Warden.”

“As I was only a battalion commander, I don’t know in detail, but if we position ourselves well, we could easily defend against a full division.”

“I see. That will do.”

Mobility isn’t an issue since we have the airship, and our offensive power is actually excessive with the support of naval guns and magic. As for defensive power, since it’s heavily influenced by terrain and obstacles, it varies by situation, but engaging in a full-scale battle against armies of heretics or traitors shouldn’t be too unreasonable.

“Ah… it’s truly moving. It seems like just yesterday I was killing tens of thousands alone, and now I command an army of over 10,000!”

“Isn’t this all due to the protection of the Sun of Humanity? When you complete your pilgrimage and establish a nation, the faith of the Twin Moons will once again stand tall in these 13 worlds.”

“Your answer pleases me. The review is now over. Have the troops board the airship.”

“Yes, sir!”

I stood quietly, watching the soldiers file into the airship in perfect order following the brigade commander’s command.

Those men were my army.

Soldiers who would carry out only my orders.

“Is this how dictators are born… I’m starting to understand a little.”

I muttered, realizing that if commanding an army of 10,000 could make one feel this omnipotent, how much greater must be the task of ruling as a monarch over millions of lives.

“My nation… my country…”

Someday, in this world, I will be known not as Victor of Parcival, but as Victor the Founding Monarch.

*

“So, where are we heading next?”

Our party gathered in the captain’s room—no, now the command center—and began discussing our next destination with a map spread out.

There were four famous sites in this Meridia, and I started drawing and erasing lines between each point, trying to determine the best route.

“Let’s go this way: Becarium – Peredias – Harpoon Bay – Long Legs.”

Becarium was a historical site.

It was where the first intercontinental communication vessel capable of ocean travel during the Dark Age was built, and its original form is said to still remain.

Peredias was a site of great achievements.

Here, humanity first launched rockets toward the moon and sun, and during the Imperial Era, tens of millions of rockets were said to have been launched skyward each day.

And Harpoon Bay was a religious site.

It was the birthplace of the Goddess of Love, Medina. Just as numerous colosseums were built in Fernheim to honor Karil, this place would likely be filled with brothels to please Medina.

Finally, Long Legs was the most beautiful site.

Columnar joints formed from volcanic rock resembled “long legs,” hence the name. It’s said that the bizarre rock formations soaring to the sky’s edge would make even skyscrapers look like basement dwellings in comparison.

“Then our course is set. I’ll inform the helm of our destination.”

“Hmm.”

I nodded, watching Simon issue orders to the helm through the voice tube.

I really intended to acquire an elixir on this continent, even if it cost a fortune.

After all, I shouldn’t die of old age before visiting all 13 continents.

Above all, I still needed him.

His wisdom and intellect could grab me by the collar and knock some sense into me when I thought, “Why use words when you have a sword?”

And the same goes for my other companions.

Though we joined at different places and times, we now share an iron bond, united under the single ideal of pilgrimaging through this world, walking together under the sun.

If I had made this pilgrimage alone, at best I would have died in the Miriam continent, or at worst, been caught by pirates while crossing the Faerun continent. Or perhaps I would have become yeti food in the Crucis Mountains.

Just one year… only one year.

It took only one year for me to travel from Parcival to this distant Meridia continent, yet my body, soul, and mind have grown incomparably from when I was an orphan in Parcival.

For the first time, I formed a family, made friends, and found comrades.

These precious things I could never have gained had I not set out on this adventure.

[Announcement from the helm: Airship taking off. Brace for impact.]

Soon the airship leaves the mooring tower and rises between wind and clouds, as sunlight begins to shine through the windows, illuminating the path ahead.

I pray that until the end of this pilgrimage, we continue to trust and rely on each other, and survive together.