Ch.65Establishment of the Guard (3)

I established a security force.

Since we were using existing personnel, equipment, and facilities, the procedures progressed smoothly.

I appointed Adelheid, whose credentials were verified, as the security force commander, and her adjutant as the second platoon commander.

Before that, there was a simple qualification assessment to become a security force officer, so I took the platoon commander and others to Odelin City.

They said we needed to take practical and written tests at the security force there.

First, the written assessment covered basic content such as small unit tactics and unit management.

Fortunately, Adelheid already had experience running a mercenary group, so she passed easily. The platoon commanders also passed with basic knowledge thanks to the long-term training they received from Liberone and Adelheid.

The practical assessment that followed was a sword duel with an instructor from the Odelin security force.

“Don’t go easy on them. Assessments must be strict.”

The Odelin City security force commander who came to watch remarked arrogantly.

“Understood. I wasn’t planning to take it easy either.”

The Odelin security force instructor stretched his arms as he stepped onto the dueling ground.

He looked incredibly strong with his huge build and extremely thick forearms.

In contrast, Adelheid standing before him had a small frame.

Originally, Adelheid was tall with fairly thick bones, but she appeared small in comparison.

“I don’t know what skills qualify you to become a security force commander, but an assessment is an assessment.”

The instructor said while casually swinging his wooden sword.

“Don’t resent me too much.”

The instructor attacked Adelheid with incredibly fast movements that didn’t match his build.

“Gack?!”

The instructor, who had been flipped backward and slammed to the ground, opened his eyes wide.

The wooden sword that had escaped from the instructor’s hand had already flown far away.

“What just happened?”

All the Odelin security force members watching were surprised and murmured among themselves.

“Is there anything else to assess?”

Adelheid asked coldly while retrieving the wooden sword.

“No, there isn’t…”

When the instructor sprawled on the ground answered respectfully, Adelheid handed the wooden sword to the second platoon commander and left the dueling ground.

“Get up. We don’t have time, so hurry.”

As the short second platoon commander gestured with the wooden sword, the instructor staggered to his feet.

He had been thoroughly defeated by Adelheid, but this time his opponent was a small, cocky-looking girl.

The instructor, picking up the wooden sword, decided to give his all to make up for his humiliation.

“I won’t go easy this time!”

“Huh? What’s this about going easy? Isn’t this an assessment?”

“Hyaaah!! Thunk?!”

The instructor collapsed to the ground, knocked unconscious after taking a hard hit to the back of his head with the wooden sword.

An icy silence fell over the dueling ground.

“Wow! Amazing!”

Only the mage Blanchard broke the silence, clapping her hands and cheering.

“What a piece of shit, tsk.”

The second platoon commander clicked her tongue, threw away the wooden sword, and left the dueling ground.

Then she ran over to Adelheid.

“Commander! How was I?”

“You did very well.”

“Please pat my head!”

The security force members watching the second platoon commander purring like a cat had fear in their eyes.

“Who are these women…?”

Since the instructor had been knocked unconscious, the subsequent assessments were conducted by someone called the assistant instructor, who seemed rather lacking in skill and was thoroughly defeated by our platoon commander candidates.

The result: everyone passed the assessment.

With this, all preparations for establishing the security force were complete.

All that remained was the inauguration ceremony.

We prepared for the event at the security force parade ground.

We set up a platform, trained the troops according to the event procedures.

I personally directed everything, drawing on my memories from military service in my previous life and skimming through the ceremonial manual here.

Normally, a superior commander should attend on such occasions, but our city doesn’t have one.

If we were still a village, the Odelin City mayor would come, but now that we’re an equal city, the king should attend.

When Blanchard went to the royal palace to ask, she was told that in such cases, the king doesn’t come personally, but a high-ranking official attends as the king’s representative.

Who could that be? When I asked, she said she didn’t know either.

“Jack! Can I bring the pigs to the security force event?”

Brasya asked cheerfully while peeking around the venue.

“Pigs? Suddenly?”

“Wouldn’t people like it if the pigs lined up?”

Hmm, that’s true.

Pigs marching in formation would be a sight never seen anywhere in this world.

But that’s out of the question.

“Heeng, that’s too bad…”

* * * * *

On the day of the event.

The security force members, former knights, lined up on the parade ground with Commander Adelheid standing in front of them.

On one side, a military band specially provided by the royal palace was checking their instruments.

The city’s prominent figures sat on the platform, with Liberone, the administrative officer, and the mage in the front row.

In terms of protocol precedence: Holy Knight, City Mayor, Royal Palace Mage.

That’s why Liberone’s chair was more luxurious and much larger than the others.

“Come on, Bellamy. Hurry up.”

“Uuugh, I don’t want to…”

I turned around when I heard a commotion at the stairs leading to the platform and saw the mage Blanchard pulling the administrative officer’s wrist.

“This is so embarrassing… I’ll die of shame and bite my tongue…”

“That’s unlikely. You look so pretty that everyone will be too busy looking at you to think of anything else.”

“That’s why I hate it even more…!”

I wondered what they were talking about, and what in the world?! The administrative officer cut her hair?!

“What do you think, Jack? Much better, right?”

“Ah, y-yes…”

“See, Bellamy? I told you it would be fine. This is your first event, so you need to look neat and tidy.”

“Uuugh… Don’t look at me, Jack…”

How can I not look when you tell me not to? Seriously. Was she always this pretty?

Seated in her chair, Bellamy kept brushing her bangs and pulling up her clothes to cover her exposed cleavage.

“Heung…”

Mirella, who had been staring blankly at Bellamy, looked down at her own chest with a dejected expression.

“By the way, that high-ranking official is late.”

Blanchard muttered, looking at the sun high in the sky.

The event time was approaching, but for some reason, there was no sign of anyone coming through the dimensional gate opened to the royal palace.

“Mage. They are coming, right?”

“I don’t know either. If they’re coming, they’ll come. If they’re late, we can just start without them.”

“Still, they’re the presiding officer. Oh? Here they come.”

A middle-aged balding man appeared through the dimensional gate, clearing his throat.

“Hello. I’m Jack, the acting administrative officer.”

“Acting administrative officer?”

The man examined me up and down with suspicious eyes.

“I’m the Royal Palace Administrative Bureau Director.”

So a director-level official came. Not bad.

“I was just told to come… Where should I sit?”

“This way, please.”

As I guided him to the seat of honor, the director, who had been following slowly, stopped in shock.

“A-a Holy Knight?!”

The director’s eyes looked like they might pop out.

“She’s serving in this city.”

“I-is that so?”

“Please take your seat. It’s here.”

When I pointed to the empty seat of honor, the director hurriedly waved both hands.

“No, no! That’s not my place. The Holy Knight should sit there, and I’ll step back.”

Come to think of it, a Holy Knight ranks much higher in protocol than a director-level official.

I arranged the seating incorrectly because I didn’t know a director-level official would come.

“Liberone. Over here. Sorry, but you’ll need to preside over the event.”

“Me? Understood.”

As Liberone took the seat of honor, the director sat in the chair where Liberone had been sitting and tilted his head in confusion.

“Hello, Director… I’m the mayor…”

The administrative officer, now the mayor, Bellamy, greeted him gloomily, and the director shook her hand awkwardly.

The security force inauguration ceremony began.

The event started with a full salute to Liberone, who had the highest protocol rank and became the presiding officer.

The inauguration declaration and presentation of Adelheid’s appointment certificate.

Followed by congratulatory speeches from Holy Knight Liberone and the Royal Palace Administrative Bureau Director, and then instructions from Mayor Bellamy, the direct superior of the security force.

“First, I would like to thank Holy Knight Liberone and the Royal Palace Administrative Bureau Director for gracing this occasion.”

Mayor Bellamy, standing on the platform, began with clear pronunciation.

“Our Starting City was just a barren village where nothing grew until early this year. However, we overcame hardships and adversity to become a city, and today, we are celebrating the glorious moment of establishing a security force.”

The people on the platform applauded lightly.

“Our village became a city and now has a proud security force thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of all residents.”

Clap, clap, clap.

“You members of the security force are also residents of our city, as you were in the past, are now, and will be in the future. You have been with us through every moment, from the most difficult times to the most brilliant present. I ask you to protect with your lives the miracle we have all worked so hard to achieve.”

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.

“I would like to thank once again Holy Knight Liberone, the Royal Palace Administrative Bureau Director, and everyone else who arranged this precious occasion. Long live Starting City.”

“Long live!”

The event concluded with the security force’s resounding cheer.

With the solemn performance of the military band, Brasya and the neighborhood children, who had climbed onto the roof of the platform, enthusiastically scattered flower petals.

I was possessed by an NPC from the Starting Village Potion Shop.

No coincidences, no cheats, no abilities, nothing at all.

All I had were potion recipes and knowledge of the original work.

I wanted to develop the village to live safely and comfortably.

And so, in just half a year, I managed to upgrade the village to a city and even create a security force.

“Uuugh, Jack… I feel dizzy… Please give me a potion…”

Bellamy, who seemed to have put all her energy into her speech, staggered into my arms.

When I gave her a potion, she gulped it down as if possessed.

Watching this, the Royal Palace Administrative Bureau Director shook his head in disbelief.

“What kind of city is this…”

* * * * *

That night.

I was lying in bed, humming happily, when I heard a knock.

“Who is it? Mirella?”

“It’s me, Jack.”

“Commander…?”

When I opened the door, Adelheid was standing there in casual clothes.

“What brings you here?”

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“At this hour…? Umm, come in…”

Adelheid walked past me into the room.