Chapter 137 - Episode 134: Recruitment ①
In the early afternoon, after the ceremonies and banquet had concluded and with the return to the Arqvist territory two days away, Noein visited a facility located near the royal palace.
Alighting from the Arqvist family carriage in front of the facility, he proceeded toward the gate accompanied by Matilda and Dant as guards. Seeing the family crest painted on the carriage, the knight waiting at the gate called out to Noein.
"Are you Baronet Arqvist?"
"Yes. I have an appointment with Count Burkhard, the Minister of Military Affairs."
"Welcome to the Royal Army Headquarters. His Excellency Burkhard is waiting in the reception room of the administration building. I shall guide you."
Guided by the knight, Noein passed through the gates of the facility along with Matilda and Dant.
As the knight had said, this was the headquarters of the Royal Army, the military under the direct control of the royal family. As the place that oversaw the operations of the Royal Army, it was not only where many clerks worked, but also where the First Corps, the most elite force, the Second Corps, responsible for the defense of the royal capital, and the Tenth Corps, responsible for the Royal Army's logistics and material management, maintained their command centers.
Noein and his companions followed the knight, walking past training grounds for Royal Army soldiers and rows of massive warehouses for storing supplies.
They must have walked in silence for about five minutes through the vast grounds. Finally, they arrived at the administration building, and the knight stopped in front of a room close to the entrance.
"Excuse me. I have brought Baronet Arqvist."
"Let him in."
The knight knocked and reported with a sound that was light yet firm. In response, Count Burkhard's voice was heard from inside the room, and Noein was prompted by the knight, who had opened the door, to enter.
"Good morning, Count Burkhard. I am grateful that you have granted me your time today."
"You've come, Lord Arqvist. There is no need for stiff greetings. Please, have a seat."
"Yes. Excuse me."
Noein sat on the sofa as instructed by the Count.
The reason he had come here today was to have the other of the "two rewards" he received from the royal family—in exchange for the presentation of the Crossbows and other weapons—granted. It was the request that was not the deterrent against the House of Count Kivileft.
Originally, Noein had made this request as a bonus, thinking he would be lucky if it were accepted, but the royal family and Count Burkhard, the head of the Royal Army, had generously permitted it.
"Just to confirm once more... there is no misunderstanding that you wish to 'recruit volunteers from among the puppet mages belonging to the Royal Army and employ them in the Arqvist territory'?"
"Yes, that is correct. I am grateful that you have permitted my selfishness in poaching Royal Court Mages who are military personnel."
"The various weapons you are presenting will be of great use in strengthening the Royal Army. This is a cheap price as compensation."
Noein boasted an outstanding ability regarding the handling of golems, but originally, talent for puppet magic was considered less attractive compared to other magical talents.
This was because the general perception was that golems were things that could only move sluggishly, and at most, they could only be used to lug heavy loads that humans could not carry.
Among skilled puppet mages, there were rare experts who could move golems as smoothly as humans, and there were cases where such individuals were assigned to combat units.
However, normally, puppet mages were assigned to idle positions such as transporting luggage in the warehouses of this Royal Army Headquarters, and it was said they were laughed at as being "Royal Court Mages in name only."
Puppet mages were existences that were just a bit more convenient to have than not to have. For Count Burkhard as well, honestly speaking, it was not a loss he cared about even if they were poached.
"But is it truly alright? I hear that you possess genius-level golem manipulation skills, Lord, but even if you provide guidance, it is not guaranteed that mediocre puppet mages will be able to acquire techniques like yours, is it?"
"It is certainly as Your Excellency says... nevertheless, I would like to try it once."
The reason the puppet mages of the world could not move golems as skillfully as he could was that they lacked the leeway to undergo proper training. That was what Noein believed.
In the first place, it was common for magic to be learned by polishing one's skills through self-study, or if lucky, by apprenticing under a mage with the same talent. Regarding the unpopular and minor talent of puppet magic, it was difficult to even find a master.
Precisely because there was no way to acquire techniques systematically, even when someone who reached the heights through their own effort appeared—like Noein—it was dismissed as a matter of individual talent.
However, if there were an environment where one could devote themselves to training as he had as a child, and furthermore, if there were someone to provide proper guidance, Noein thought that the number of puppet mages who could grow enough to handle actual combat might increase.
"Well, if you say so, then very well... the Royal Army's puppet mages have already been gathered outside. Shall we go there immediately?"
After only a brief exchange of greetings and confirmation, Noein stood up again and this time followed Count Burkhard's guidance.
...
Leaving the administration building and walking behind the Count, they eventually arrived at one of the walled training grounds.
About twenty young people were lined up there. About a third of them were women. Since a single golem stood behind each of them, it was clear that they were puppet mages.
"...Their posture is poor,"
Dant, seeing the puppet mages, whispered his impression to Noein. To be fair, the people themselves were standing with their backs straight and saluting. The ones with poor posture were the golems behind them. Every single one had its body tilted, looking as if they were being forced to stand by being suspended by strings.
"Rather, it's probably that my golems' posture is good. Count-sama isn't reprimanding them, so I think this is normally how a golem's standing posture is."
Noein had left his own golems in his territory, but seeing general puppet mages like this, he realized that simply straightening the back and making a golem stand upright was normally a difficult thing.
"Everyone, this is Baronet Noein Arqvist. I have gathered you here today because the Baronet has something to say to you."
When Count Burkhard introduced him, the suspicious gazes of the puppet mages concentrated on Noein. A strange noble accompanied by beastman slaves had suddenly appeared and said he had something to say. It was only natural.
"Lord Arqvist. These are the Royal Court Mages who belong to the Royal Army and serve in the headquarters warehouse with the talent for puppet magic. There are currently 21 in total."
"...There are quite a lot of young people."
Noein noted his observation. The puppet mages lined up before him looked to be as young as their mid-teens and as old as their mid-twenties at most.
"Well, puppet mages are not spoken of very well within the military, and their pay is low... many of them quit within a few years and change jobs to places like large merchant guilds where the pay is higher."
"I see..."
Presumably, even while belonging to the Royal Army, they were likely called salary thieves or useless. Therefore, after serving for a few years to add the prestige of being a "former Royal Court Mage," they would quit quickly and seek re-employment. There would be employers, such as merchant guilds or port warehouses.
The expressions of those looking at Noein showed no confidence or spirit. That fact spoke volumes about their position and treatment.
"...Um, nice to meet you. As Count Burkhard introduced me, my name is Noein Arqvist. I have been granted a territory in a section of the Bezel Great Forest, at the northwestern edge of the kingdom."
Hearing Noein's self-introduction, the puppet mages looked at each other anxiously. They likely wondered even more what a frontier lord like him wanted with them.
"Like all of you, I am also a puppet mage. With this talent, I fought hard in the previous war and was personally granted a reward by His Majesty the King."
Hearing those words, the puppet mages stirred. This was because normally, puppet mages could not be active in war.
In reality, Noein had achieved military merit with the help of the Crossbow and Ballista, but since the golems' contribution was also great, he was not lying.
"...Right, it would be faster if you saw my technique. You there. Could you lend me your golem for a moment?"
Noein called out to a young man standing around the middle of the line. He looked to be about the same age as Noein.
"Eh... y-yes. I understand."
The young man answered timidly. In the next instant, the golem standing behind him collapsed to the ground. The manipulation by magic had been cut.
Noein pointed his right hand at that golem and sent his own magic. In response, the golem stood up again.
"Oh..."
Unlike before, the golem stood with its posture corrected, like a trained soldier. Seeing this, the puppet mages let out voices of admiration.
Furthermore, when Noein moved it and made it run toward him, a stir of "Whoa!" arose at its agile movements.
"You there, could you also lend me your golem?"
"Eh? Y-yes!"
While maintaining the magic supply to the first golem, Noein called out to another puppet mage. A female mage who looked to be in her early teens hurriedly handed over her golem.
Noein pointed his left hand to make that golem stand, and again made it run toward him.
"M-manipulating two at the same time!?"
"No way!? I can't believe it!"
At the sight they had never seen before, the puppet mages this time raised their voices in surprise.