episode_0127

* * *

Amir Castle.

It is located in the outskirts of the eastern part of the northern continent, and is not on a prominent road nor has any special resources, so it is not making any remarkable progress, but instead, it is a place that is a step away from difficult times and is maintaining its own sense of peace. Currently, no special defense preparations have been made in this place other than the minimum garrison of about 3,000 people.

A new order from Monarch Serpina was just being delivered.

“Are you saying that we should use the conscripted troops to defend our castle and strengthen security?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“That’s your master’s order?”

Pavl von Amir, the 13th head of the Amir family, the lord of Amir Castle and one of the seven influential families that had served the Eingart family since the days of the old empire, asked while rubbing his chin in confusion.

“Yes.”

“Aren’t you asking for additional reinforcements in other castles?”

“Yes.”

“… … Huh.”

What’s going on, stationing troops in such a remote place?

It’s not like I’m doubting my lord’s decision now. Serpina von Eyngart was, in Pavel’s opinion, a much better person than the emperor, and most of the decisions she had made up until now had a reason.

Still, it is not easy to understand.

‘Is something happening around me?’

There were no signs of a revolt, and the surrounding villages were extremely peaceful… … .

Pavel, who had been thinking about that, soon shook his head.

‘done. I guess the lord has his own will.’

It wasn’t that unethical, and there was no need to fuss over an order that only meant strengthening defenses.

“I understand. A conscription notice will be issued immediately, so please forward it to personnel in the relevant department.”

“Yes!”

So, a conscription notice was issued to Amir Castle.

Since peace had been maintained for a long time without conscription, the number of young men was sufficiently large.

Without any particular animosity among the residents of the territory, they were able to muster about 18,000 soldiers who would become a strong military force in the future.

Among the 18,000 soldiers, there was Lewis, a young man who had just turned 20 and was helping his family with farm work without doing anything special.

Although being forcibly conscripted wasn’t that pleasant at first –

The public sentiment toward Serpina in Amir Castle was quite good, so it was an environment where it was easy for the soldiers to feel a sense of pride.

Lewis, an ordinary young man, also enjoyed wearing fancy armor and patrolling around for security purposes.

Most of the conscripted soldiers, including Lewis, were trained as special position defense troops protecting Amir Castle.

As we continued training for days and weeks, we were constantly told, ‘Be prepared mentally because it looks like there will be a surprise invasion soon.’

Although he wondered how he could carry out a surprise attack in this remote place, Lewis, who had never even stepped foot on the threshold of basic education, let alone an academy, did not think too deeply about the problem.

‘I guess the higher-ups are taking care of everything.’

Anyway, I enjoyed the time holding the spear and training.

As a soldier in Serpina’s army, working for her was gradually making him feel alive.

The fact that no troops were continuing to attack was a very trivial thing compared to that.

How many weeks have passed?

It was around this time that I began to feel my identity as a soldier more clearly than as a farmer.

Lewis, like any other day, was patrolling to establish public order.

The number of soldiers increased by about 18,000, and security improved considerably as they took turns patrolling various parts of the territory.

Therefore, wherever the soldiers visited, they were always followed by words of gratitude from the territory residents.

Lewis was convinced that the reason he was able to do this work even though he was working shifts that was quite physically slow was because of the honor that came with the gaze of the people of the territory.

So, today I was carrying out my patrol duties as usual.

“Are you there?”

Lewis knocked lightly on the door of the old house.

It was also the patrol’s job to roughly determine who lived in the wilderness.

It had the meaning of a simple census, but it was also used as a hideout for thieves.

The security of Amir Castle was not bad, but since there were only a small number of troops stationed there, it would be safe to say that they were unable to check every detail and were now doing it in droves.

shortly-

A young boy appeared beyond the slightly open door.

“… … What’s going on?”

” is patrolling the area. ”

“Is that so? that… … My parents are not at my house right now. You said you would come soon… … .”

You’re still a child.

The clothes were scratchy and the skin was rough, giving the appearance of being uneaten.

He was so upset thinking about his younger siblings at home that he behaved in an extremely youthful manner.

‘that’s right.’

I packed some food to eat when I got hungry in the evening while patrolling.

It’s going to get dark soon anyway, so I guess I’ll have dinner with this friend today.

“Yes. Can I come in for a moment?”

“Yes? why… … ?”

“I’ll make something delicious for you.”

“That… … But.”

Cough-

The boy quickly lowered his head, probably because he was embarrassed that he had made a spinal reflex as soon as he heard the words, “It’s delicious.”

Lewis said with a kind smile.

“It’s okay. Even if you don’t decline. My brother has to eat anyway, so it’s better to eat using cooking utensils.”

The boy who heard those words thought for a while, then carefully nodded.

“I’ll go in?”

The inside of the house was not as worn out as it looked on the outside.

Of course, seeing as there were no food ingredients in sight, it certainly felt like the situation was not well-off.

“What about the kitchen?”

“Ah… … Hey, it’s over there.”

Following the boy’s guidance, I went to the kitchen, where various miscellaneous items were piled up.

‘I should put it away for a moment.’

Lewis roughly picked them up and then took out the cooking ingredients in his pocket.

The menu to make is home-style vegetable stew. Although it didn’t contain a single piece of meat, it was still a very delicious special dish with the flavor of butter, and it was my own creation.

Since it didn’t take that long to cook, I was soon able to warm my stomach.

“Isn’t it delicious?”

Nod.

okay. Aren’t I also Serpina-kun’s rust eater now?

The lord, Serpina, was receiving support from the people of the territory by ruling more wisely than during the time of the old empire.

In order not to become a stranger to such a lord, it would be natural to take care of each and every citizen of the territory as much as possible.

So, after a slightly more special dinner than usual.

After parting ways with the boy, I left home and patrolled for a few more hours before returning to the barracks for my shift change.

“Everyone, you worked hard today. There is a possibility that the enemy may surprise you even while you are resting, so be prepared to sortie at any time.”

“”Okay!””

Until today, they continue to warn me every single day that ‘the enemy may make a surprise attack,’ but honestly, I don’t feel that tense… … That time when I thought:

“Hey, it’s you.”

“Ah, yes!”

To his superior’s words pointing at him, Lewis responded in a commanding voice.

“What is your name?”

“My name is Lewis!”

“Okay, Louis. What did you say is the most important thing as a soldier in the Serpina Army?”

“It’s about behaving well and maintaining a neat demeanor!”

“Is this a guy you know well carrying around miscellaneous things in his pockets that are unsightly?”

“… … ?”

After hearing that, I looked down and saw that my pocket was bulging out in an unsightly way.

ah.

that’s right.

At the house of the boy I had dinner with earlier, it seemed like he had stopped cleaning out the clutter to get the ingredients for the food.

“Sorry, sorry!”

“Get it sorted right away.”

Lewis hastily took out the miscellaneous items.

Come to think of it, it was dark in the kitchen so I couldn’t see it well… … What on earth is this?

Relying on the light of the torch, he checked the round something he had taken out.

‘… … huh?’

this… … It’s a pattern.

The emblem of the Eingart family.

Although he was uneducated and ignorant, he couldn’t even recognize the patterns engraved on his armor.

So is this like a brooch with the family crest engraved on it?

Rather than wondering why this was there, a much more fundamental question struck Lewis.

‘The pattern looks a little different?’

Where there is an eagle, there are three diagonal lines that would not normally be there… …

“Why don’t you organize it quickly?”

“Ah, yes! That, that.”

“?”

The superior approached Lewis, checked the brooch he had been staring at and spoke solemnly.

“I don’t know what it is, but I can clean it up quickly and change shifts… … so that… … ?”

To be precise, I meant to speak solemnly… … He too is at a loss for words.

Eingart family emblem, three diagonal lines.

As soon as he checked it, he was surprised on the spot with his four hundred eyes wide open… …

Slowly, looking at Lewis standing there with a stupid look on his face.

“… … Rice, soldier commander?”

I pulled out the knife from my waist and asked, aiming for his neck.

“You’d better answer straight, kid. That thing… … Where did you get it?”

* * *

Eingart royal castle.

Serpina, sitting on the throne, was lost in thought with a bored expression.

The conscription order given to Amir Castle was processed smoothly, and about 18,000 troops were added to the castle.

The troops continued training within the castle and were assigned to Amir Castle rather than being deployed elsewhere.

The troops assigned to the castle patrolled the interior of Amir Castle and seemed to be in charge of security within the territory.

The number of soldiers in the territory, which had only been around 2,000, increased to over 20,000, so it would certainly have helped in securing the security of the castle.

With 2,000 men, it would not have been possible to properly patrol every corner of the territory.

but.

That was it.

Serpina was waiting for the ‘time’ that Swen had mentioned.

If what he said was correct, the flag of the Aishous Army should have been visible from across the river.

However, the area around the river was extremely quiet. Even though we sent a scouting party and advanced deep into the mountains just in case, there was no sign of any troops coming up.

If what he said was correct, it should have been a few days before we arrived, but the time was still passing peacefully without any problems.

At this point, I couldn’t help but have doubts.

Just because he was a man from a dream, because he seemed to use magic, because I saw sparkling eyes – did I overestimate the man?

That moment.

Opening the royal castle door, a man walked towards me.

It was Swen, a white-haired young man wearing a somewhat unique outfit, hiding the green rapier at his waist with the cloak he wore.

“Swen, meet your lord.”

The reason he came here was because Serpina herself called him here.

I thought this was enough to wait.

“Keep your head up, Swen.”

Serpina raised her head and looked straight into Swen’s eyes.

From now on, it was time to talk to him.

What is he thinking? And, what does he really mean?

After taking a deep breath, he focused his attention as if he were dealing with an enemy, even though he was a general under him.

Slowly, I open my shiny pink lips.

“Swen. Don’t you have something to say to her?”