Ch.244The Last of Meridia. Cape Falcata (1)

We formally expressed our intention to accept requests from the Adventurer’s Guild and Mercenary Guild, and the Adventurer’s Guild gladly accepted, connecting us with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lorelai Federation.

Typically, when a nation hires mercenaries, the Ministry of Defense is involved, but in such international mercenary arrangements, the Foreign Ministry sometimes takes charge.

“Finally, this request is going out. The Federation’s Foreign Ministry will be delighted. I’ll connect you right away.”

“Hmm. Please do.”

The Adventurer’s Guild employee, wearing a broad smile, lifted a crystal orb and began making complex hand gestures. Soon, the magical energy inside the orb started swirling and twisting until it formed the shape of a human face.

That must be the diplomat’s face.

[…Hello?]

An unfamiliar accent… Even with the common language passed down from the Ancient Empire, distant continents inevitably developed dialects and differences in pronunciation.

It happened even in the Ancient Empire, so how much more pronounced would it be in the modern era, which had regressed considerably?

“Are you the diplomat from the Lorelai Federation?”

[Yes, I am.]

“I am the Apostle of the Sun, Victor Walker, who leads the Army of the Sun. I heard you’re requesting salvation.”

[Ah! You’re the one who accepted our request! Excellent! I apologize for asking so abruptly, but when might you be able to arrive?]

I turned to my staff officer.

“Assuming we depart in two weeks, it would take about two to three weeks to arrive.”

“It will take about five weeks,” I relayed.

[…That’s too late. Is there any way to expedite the schedule?]

“The two weeks are necessary for producing supplies, but if the Lorelai Federation can provide medical support to the Sun’s soldiers, we could arrive within three weeks.”

[Medical support… Very well. When your foot is on fire, even muddy water will do to put it out.]

“Hmph. Does a diplomat have such authority?”

[I am a plenipotentiary ambassador, the highest rank among diplomats. I can make that kind of promise.]

A plenipotentiary ambassador refers to an ambassador who can exercise full authority over negotiations at their discretion.

Naturally, such individuals are considered very important figures in their home countries, and since a single word from them can establish agreements or nullify treaties, all plenipotentiary ambassadors are careful not to make promises carelessly.

Nevertheless, the ambassador’s casual agreement to provide medical support was indirect evidence that the Lorelai Federation was truly in a precarious situation.

“Good. Then we’ll depart today. Do you have a means of communication during the journey?”

[Take this crystal orb. It’s one we’ve entrusted to you, so don’t worry about it.]

“Understood.”

I carefully wrapped my hand around the crystal orb.

The sensation was neither cold nor warm, but lukewarm—distinctly strange.

[I’ll end the communication now. Please come as quickly as possible. The Federation’s safety is in your hands!]

*

Rumble, rumble!

The tracked and wheeled war machines were trampling over the bumpy sand field prepared inside the ship, making clanking noises.

We had only about three weeks—barely 30 days to somehow train these people to operate these steel war machines.

“The time is far too tight…”

It normally takes a year just to teach someone how to properly wield a sword, yet we’re supposed to master the operation of a massive war machine crewed by five people in 30 days?

That was impossible.

If they move, they can’t attack; if they attack, they can’t move; and if they try to do both, they can’t observe their surroundings. Such absurd operations were barely possible… For tanks to truly become the kings of ground warfare, they needed crew members of matching quality.

The situation was somewhat better for armored vehicles, as they were lighter than tanks and thus more agile. Plus, with an infantry squad inside, experienced infantry could compensate for many of the weaknesses of the armored vehicle operators in joint combat.

“My lord.”

“Division commander.”

“Were you observing the training?”

“Yes. They’re hopelessly clumsy. At this rate, they might even lose in close combat against infantry… I doubt they could even pass a straight-line driving test.”

“It can’t be helped. The time is too short.”

I nodded.

Down below, tanks were tangled up, unable to move forward or backward, while trainees with their upper bodies sticking out of the hatches were bickering about who was at fault.

“The main firepower will be the Sky Warden. We might as well use the ship’s guns and missiles. Don’t you agree?”

“That’s right. However, if we conduct high-intensity training for 30 days…”

“Everyone will collapse from exhaustion.”

“…”

Training isn’t play.

Even Aura users get physically drained when pushed hard by their wives at night, so ordinary soldiers undergoing 30 days of training could potentially die from exhaustion in severe cases.

Back when I was carrying water containers, the older men who carried more containers faster than me all eventually died from overwork, while others died from weakening after abusing drugs like methamphetamine.

That’s why I don’t believe in those who overestimate human endurance.

“Every other day. Train them like that, and give the soldiers at least minimal rest. These are new recruits, after all. If they undergo 30 consecutive days of maneuver training, which even veterans would find difficult, some might end up hanging themselves with their bootlaces.”

“Understood, my lord. However, that would lower the training effectiveness…”

“That can’t be helped. Even with virtual reality training, actual driving practice, and intensive firing drills during maneuvers… it’s still just a short period of less than a month… Even five weeks wouldn’t make much difference.”

They say practice makes perfect, but that practice requires at least minimal training.

If civilians could become soldiers just by being handed weapons, why would there be formal training?

To achieve the minimum requirements of a soldier—not panicking in the chaotic and deadly battlefield, maintaining the front line, moving in formation, and engaging according to orders—requires years of training.

Of course, there are those like me who acquired such qualities on their own, but that was because I was in such a hellish place that I would have died otherwise.

Ordinary citizens of civilized nations who were neither adventurers nor members of authoritative organizations like the police faced too many challenges in becoming soldiers, despite volunteering.

The tremendous contradiction of having to destroy the legacy of civilization they lived by, the instinctive reluctance to kill people, and above all, the deprivation of personal freedom and the need to obey even inappropriate orders.

“Sigh… I hope the battlefield is at least muddy.”

“Why is that?”

“Then there would be an excuse for moving in such a mess.”

“…”

In truth, our military strength ranked quite high among mercenary forces.

First, our command was composed of Aura users who would not only resist decapitation strikes but would likely decapitate the attackers instead. Our headquarters was an impenetrable airship, and our combat forces consisted of a full-strength division of 50,000 troops handling thousands of armored vehicles.

This was an incredible force that could easily pass for the elite royal guard of any decent nation, and even I thought so despite watching the dismal training situation.

Military power is half deterrence to begin with.

Imagine two cities in identical situations. One does nothing but lazily till fields and sing songs, while the other fortifies everything in sight with barbed wire and anti-tank defenses, deploys mortars and artillery, and fills parking lots with the latest tanks. It’s obvious which one would face more invasions.

The same applies to our Army of the Sun.

From the enemy’s perspective, seeing an awe-inspiring airship with thousands of armored vehicles clustered beneath it, protected by infantry, would intimidate them into attempting breakthroughs elsewhere. This would ultimately force them to funnel their forces into narrower fronts, which is the best possible scenario for the defending Lorelai Federation.

If the enemy dares to make a move, they’ll experience firsthand the firepower of sixty 460mm ship cannons. With the extreme firing range from the air, the enemy’s mercenaries and conscripted regular troops will be reduced to bloody pulp by the barrage of shells from the Sky Warden, fertilizing mountains and fields.

Add tanks and armored vehicles to the mix, and it’s game over.

Sometimes, overwhelming firepower is the only means to impose one’s will.