Chapter 200 - Episode 194: Frontline Inspection
Noein, having finished his meeting with the King and the two ministers, set out on the road back to the Arqvist territory a few days later.
Although it had been a while since he last visited the royal capital, he could not afford to spend too much time enjoying a leisurely stay. There was plenty of work to be done upon returning to his lands. He also wanted to start preparations for welcoming immigrants from the royal lands as soon as possible.
It wasn't so urgent that he had to return at full speed regardless of everything else, but the sooner he returned, the better.
And so, returning to the Arqvist territory as quickly as possible, it was mid-August, and things had settled down slightly. On this day, Noein was swaying on the back of a horse.
He was heading toward the frontline base located further west from the territorial capital, Noeina. It was a place where the combined forces of the Royal Army and the northern nobles were stationed, and where the construction of a fort was currently underway. Today was the day for his inspection.
"I believe the fort's completion rate was around thirty percent?"
"Yes. I have received reports that the foundations have been largely solidified, and it is gradually taking the shape of a building. It is expected to have a certain form as a fort before winter, and is anticipated to be completed after winter ends."
The inspection party consisted of Noein, Matilda, Chief Retainer Yuri, and several cavalrymen for escort. When Noein questioned Yuri beside him, Yuri replied in the tone of a vassal, as they were technically on military duty and outdoors.
"I see, I'm glad things seem to be going smoothly... The road to the fort has been finished nicely as well."
In utilizing the former encampment of the enemy invasion force as a frontline base, the first priority had been the maintenance of the roads. The forest roads created by the enemy had ended far before the territorial capital of Noeina, so those had been further developed to create a path leading to Noeina. Therefore, they no longer had to move by entering the forest every single time.
While road maintenance carried the risk of being exploited by the enemy, in this instance, priority was given to the ability to rush to the fort from their side.
"...We shall arrive shortly."
Just as Yuri said, as they proceeded along a road with a gentle curve, the area opened up and the point serving as the frontline base came into view.
With over a thousand people gathered—the stationed army, sutler merchants bringing in supplies for them, and mercenaries escorting those caravans—the frontline base was noisy enough to be noticed even from a certain distance.
Beyond the rows of tents created for specific purposes, such as barracks, dining halls, and warehouses, the foundations of the fort under construction were visible.
"Heh, it's been a while since I've been here, but the atmosphere is quite different from before."
"It has been about four months since the stationed army arrived, after all."
The last time Noein visited the frontline base was in early summer, when he inspected the stationed army and held discussions with the commanders. Seeing the base after a long time, it had already become like a small town.
As he entered the frontline base, the commanders were the first to greet him. The deputy commander, who led the dispatched unit from the Royal Army's Ninth Legion, and Count Marcel, who led the Northwestern Allied Forces, approached Noein.
"Viscount Arqvist-kakka, welcome to the frontline base."
"...Lord Arqvist, you've come."
"Deputy Commander-dono, Marcel-kakka, thank you for the welcome."
Noein dismounted from his horse and returned the greetings to the deputy commander, who greeted him quite normally while saluting, and Count Marcel, who welcomed him with a somewhat complicated expression.
As the practical head of the Northwestern Allied Forces, Count Marcel was almost always at the frontline base. Despite having attended the royal capital's ceremony and banquet alongside Noein for his achievements in the counter-invasion of the Lancel Kingdom, he had the diligence to return at breakneck speed the very next day to resume his military duties; as expected of the greatest warrior in the Northwest.
While he showed respect on the surface to Noein, who had now become a high-ranking noble, it seemed he still personally disliked Noein.
"I have heard that the border is being firmly guarded and the construction of the fort is proceeding smoothly. I am simply grateful to you both."
"There is no need for thanks. This is our duty."
"Yeah, I'm just fulfilling my role as a noble of the kingdom."
Contrary to the smiling deputy commander, the sentiment of "it's not like I'm doing this for you" flickered within Count Marcel's words.
"Arqvist-kakka, would you like to see the fort right away? It hasn't taken much of a shape as a structure yet."
"Thank you. However, if possible, I would like to meet the subordinates of my territorial army first..."
Under the guise of cooperation with the stationed army, a unit from the Arqvist territorial army had also been dispatched. The scale was about twenty people, which was incomparable to the main body of the stationed army, but the very fact that Noein had sent troops for the defense of his own territory was important, and furthermore, the meaning of the dispatch was great because eyes were needed to constantly monitor the state of the frontline base.
"My apologies. That is certainly true... The barracks for the Arqvist territorial army are slightly north of the center of the base. I shall guide you."
Count Marcel took charge of the stationed army's command, and the deputy commander personally guided Noein. At the destination they followed, the figures of the Arqvist territorial army's dispatched unit were visible.
"Then, I shall leave you to it. Until later," the deputy commander said, seemingly being considerate as he distanced himself from Noein and the others. After thanking him, Noein approached Radley, who served as the captain of the dispatched unit.
Radley noticed immediately and called out to the surrounding officers and soldiers.
"Oi, you lot, it's Arqvist-kakka, line up... Kakka, thank you for your hard work on this inspection."
Along with the members of the dispatched unit who quickly lined up, Radley gave a clean salute.
"Good work to you all as well. Are you getting along well with the stationed army?"
"Yes, we're doing just fine."
Lined up before Noein were Captain Radley and Rick, who commanded the Ballista and sniping Crossbow unit, the core of the dispatched unit. And Jeremy, who was currently attached as Radley's assistant. Furthermore, the figure of the dialogue mage Konrad, acting as the liaison to the territorial capital Noeina, was also there. For him, it was a stationing together with his father, Rick.
"That is the best news. I feel bad for forcing you into a mission that keeps you away from the territorial capital for a long period without giving you much vacation, despite your heroic efforts in the previous battle."
"No, I'm just doing the obvious work of a retainer."
"I am simply happy to be given such a duty."
"I also wish to continue showing my loyalty through my performance..."
In response to Noein's words, Radley, Rick, and Jeremy all expressed their will as retainers and officers. The other soldiers nodded in agreement.
"I feel proud as a lord to have soldiers like you as my subordinates... Honorary Retainer Konrad, I am grateful for your great contribution despite your young age."
"Being able to be of use to Kakka and the Arqvist territory is my pride!"
Konrad, answering energetically, had volunteered to be stationed there, knowing full well that the frontline base was by no means as safe as the territorial capital.
Noein had agonized a bit over placing him, a precious mage who was still eleven years old, on the front line, but he had granted permission considering that the merit of information from the frontline base being transmitted without time lag during emergencies was very great, that Konrad himself was eager to finally have a major role, and that his father, Rick, was also stationed at the base.
"Now then... Radley, I want to hear a slightly more detailed report regarding the state of the frontline base."
"Yes. Then, to this tent. For now, it's designated as the command post for the Arqvist territorial army... Rick, Jeremy, keep watch so that no one from outside the territory approaches the tent."
""Understood.""
Noein, Yuri, and Matilda followed into the tent Radley had entered. Now that the eyes of others were gone and only their own people remained, everyone finally relaxed.
"So... how is the state of the stationed army? Especially the Northern Noble Allied Forces."
Noein was most worried about whether the forces of the lower nobles would disturb the public order within the territory. Receiving a detailed report from Radley about the situation of the stationed army was, in a sense, the main purpose of this inspection.
"Since Marcel-kakka is a commander who is strict with discipline, there haven't been any guys who wander off to the territorial capital Noeina or nearby pioneer villages on their own and cause trouble... In the future, there probably won't be any worry about the women of the territory being attacked. It seems he's letting the soldiers vent to some extent."
"Vent?"
"Near the entrance of the frontline base, weren't there rows of reddish-colored tents? Those are simple brothels set up by the sutler merchants."
"...Ah, there was something like that, wasn't there—" Noein muttered, recalling the scene from when he entered the base.
Setting aside the Royal Army, which had its own logistics units, sutler merchants attached themselves to the large forces of noble territories. They delivered food, consumables, luxury goods, and sometimes even prostitutes to the army to conduct business.
Since most soldiers were men, the demand for prostitutes was high. Furthermore, the soldiers possessed salaries that had little use on the battlefield. It was said that surprisingly many prostitutes wished to accompany sutler merchants because they could earn money quickly by having themselves bought at high prices.
"Well, it's a good thing that supply and demand are functioning healthily. Are you using them too, Radley?"
"Gyahahaha, that's a harsh joke. I've already decided that I'll only ever hold Gina for the rest of my life."
When Noein asked jokingly, Radley answered while slapping his knee and laughing.
"Ahaha, you're a model husband... Anyway, as long as it seems unlikely that problems will arise regarding that in the future, that's good."
If people who decided to make a living selling spring could earn a fair price, that was for the best. For Noein, as long as soldiers starved for women didn't wander over to the territorial capital or pioneer villages on their days off and attack young girls, that was fine.
"Even if you don't have to worry about that... small thefts or fights might occur. A few days ago, there was an incident where a lower noble's soldier picked a fight with a sutler merchant's escort mercenary inside the base. They must be bottling up their frustrations."
"Ah... I'd hate it if the territorial people suffered from things like that."
Noein frowned slightly. It would be heartbreaking if a territorial person were injured because an irritable soldier picked a fight with them, and it wasn't impossible that the evaluation of the lord who stationed such an army would drop among the territorial people.
"But I'm a Viscount now, so if something happens, I can protest face-to-face to most noble houses."
Noein thought that having the status of a high-ranking noble was convenient at times like this. If he hinted at his connections with the royal family or great nobles and said, "Your soldier injured my territorial person, what are you going to do about it?", a lower noble would likely bow their head in an instant.
"For now, as a preventative measure... could you lightly spread a rumor like, 'Since Arqvist-kakka has become a high-ranking noble, any soldier who lays a hand on his territorial people might earn the hatred of their own lord as well'?"
"Understood. If I talk about it in a slightly loud voice, it'll spread in no time. Around here, gossip is a precious entertainment for the soldiers."
When Noein spoke with a mischievous smile, Radley nodded while laughing.
If it meant not only being punished for their own reckless actions but also causing their lord to be shamed along with them, there would likely be almost no soldiers who did foolish things to the people of the Arqvist territory.
Having finished the work of confirming the state of the stationed army—which was in a sense the most important task—Noein felt relieved inwardly.