Chapter 304 - Episode 296: Future Outlook ②
"...And that is the composition of the reorganized territorial army and its operational plan."
It was mid-to-late June, and just as they had grown accustomed to spending their days in peaceful routine, Noein was told this by Chief Retainer Yuri while reviewing documents in the manor's conference room.
Pence, Radley, Rick, Dant, and Gustav were also gathered in the conference room. It was a situation where all the retainers in charge of military affairs were present.
"Yeah, I think the content is fine, but... it looks like everyone is going to be busy,"
Noein said, wearing a wry smile. The presented territorial army operational plan was one that forced heavy workloads upon every unit.
"That's true. It's easier compared to war, but I can't say there's much breathing room."
In the Betumia War, the Arqvist territory suffered twenty-four deaths. Fourteen of those were regular soldiers belonging to the territorial army. Including those who retired because they were not expected to return to military duty among the wounded, the human losses exceeded thirty people.
In other words, the Arqvist territorial army had lost more than twenty percent of its troop strength. Many of them were veterans who had put their bodies on the line at the front lines. That impact manifested equally in every operation of every unit.
The defense of Aspida Fortress and forest patrols by Radley's and Rick's units. The maintenance of public order in the territorial capital Noeina and the mining village Kilde, as well as the escort of mineral resource transport, by Dant's infantry unit. The protection of the lord's family and the security of the manor by Pence's Guard. And the training to maintain the proficiency of each unit. All of these were jobs that had originally operated on the premise that those thirty lost people existed.
Now that significant vacancies had occurred in various places, other soldiers would become busy filling those holes. Yuri, the territorial army commander overseeing each of them, would also be chased by management and coordination.
"Even if we mobilize the Reserve Corps to supplement the manpower shortage, it's just people who were either out at war until the other day, or were forced to act like regular army soldiers within the territory..."
"We've finally returned to peacetime; if they're called out again, the dissatisfaction will surely become too great."
Like Noein and Yuri, Pence and Radley spoke with troubled expressions.
During the Betumia War, about half of the Reserve Corps had gone to the battlefield, and the other half had acted as substitutes for regular soldiers under the few remaining territorial army soldiers who stayed behind as commanders. While maintaining their primary occupations as general citizens, they had performed unfamiliar military duties such as the management of Aspida Fortress, forest patrols, and traveling to and from the mining village Kilde.
"You're right. It's truly impossible to rely on the Reserve Corps any more than this... In order to not drop the agricultural and industrial production capacity of the Arqvist territory, we must have them work as ordinary citizens from now on."
Noein agreed with the two. The Reserve Corps system was, in the first place, for mobilizing a large amount of military force only in times of emergency. It was not a mechanism for making them substitutes for soldiers during peacetime.
"Once the entire kingdom returns to peacetime and the sending of immigrants from the royal lands to the Arqvist territory resumes, we should be able to return the territorial army's troop numbers to their previous scale. Eventually, we'll increase it to the quota of two hundred people. I think it'll be busy for a while until then... I'm sorry that I can only tell you to somehow do your best."
"There is no need for Noein-sama to apologize. This is our job."
Yuri answered on behalf of the others, and the confirmation regarding the operation of the territorial army for the near future was completed.
"By the way, around when do you think the resumption of immigration will be?"
"I received a 'Far-Talk' from the royal family the other day and was told about that matter... I suppose it would be on the early side if it resumes within this year. Since the central part of the kingdom was also quite devastated, it seems there are a fair number of refugees who have lost their place to go, but the effort of selecting those without problems from there and sending them to the Arqvist territory is the issue."
To Dant's question, Noein answered with another wry smile.
Currently, the royal army, as well as the territorial armies of the royal family's hereditary vassals, were all mobilized and chased by the reconstruction of the kingdom. Now that relations with the Lancel Kingdom had greatly improved, the royal family had no choice but to allocate manpower to the care of the royal lands and the south rather than the escort of immigrants to the Arqvist territory.
"Probably, a formal ceremony for rewards and punishments will be held in the royal capital around autumn. I think you'll be told the details by His Majesty there."
"I see, understood."
"Ah, and also, this is mainly a talk for Gustav,"
Noein shifted his gaze to Gustav, who was sitting next to the nodding Dant.
"It seems a combat unit that gathers new puppet mages is being organized within the royal army. Having known of the Claymore's activities in the western part of the kingdom, the royal family seems to have clearly recognized the usefulness of a combat unit composed of trained puppet mages... Therefore, they've approached me asking to lend a few especially excellent members from the Claymore as instructors in the not-too-distant future."
"...I see."
Hearing Noein's words, Gustav raised an eyebrow as if slightly surprised. The other retainers showed similar reactions, and only Chief Retainer Yuri, who had been told about this by Noein in advance, remained expressionless.
"As for me, I want you to serve as the representative instructor. Among the Claymore, your skill in golem operation is the best, as the captain. And... you were originally from the royal capital. You should go back to your hometown with your wife and children, and show your family and relatives how successful you've become."
Gustav had originally migrated to the Arqvist territory, betting his life to change his current situation of being looked down upon by his wife's family as a puppet mage who couldn't get ahead. Noein remembered that story.
Now, Gustav was the captain of the strongest golem unit serving a hero of the great war. Having achieved such a great rise in status, he would now visit the royal capital by a direct request from the royal family. It would be plenty prestigious enough to make his relatives eat their words.
"I understand. I humbly accept this great role."
At Noein's words, Gustav also nodded with a smile.
"Thank you. The term is one year for now, and the departure is still a bit further off; I think it will be at the same time I go to the royal capital to receive my rewards. Please select about three others to serve as assistant instructors."
"...If the royal family creates a unit like the Claymore, will the migration of golem users to the Arqvist territorial army stop from now on?"
The one who suddenly muttered this was Rick. Noein answered that as well.
"That's true, the royal family will likely put effort into recruiting puppet mages for a while to increase the scale of their golem unit... However, as for the Arqvist territory's Claymore, I think the current twenty-four person system is sufficient for now. What do you think?"
"Yeah, the reason we originally aimed for a system of over thirty people was to prepare for an attack by the Lancel Kingdom. Now that a friendly relationship with that country has been promised, there's no need to rush to gather numbers to that extent."
"As the captain, I also think the current number of personnel for the Claymore is sufficient. There is no hindrance to operations."
When Noein asked, both Yuri, the territorial army commander, and Gustav, the Claymore captain, agreed.
"Well then, that's all for the talk regarding the future of the territorial army... I think it'll be busy, but you don't have to think about going out to fight outside the territory for the time being. Let's do it without being too tense."
.....
"Yes, this is that magic carriage. Sorry for being late in showing it to you."
"Ohh! This is it!"
"The appearance doesn't differ much from a normal carriage, does it?"
In the afternoon, after finishing the meeting about the future of the territorial army. Noein had invited retainer Damian and magic tool craftsman Daphne to the front of the manor's warehouse and was showing them the magic carriage, a spoil of war of the Viscount Arqvist family.
"That's right. The functions as a magic tool seem to be concentrated in the axle part."
Saying so, Noein pointed beneath the carriage body. Because complex magic circuits were engraved and various other ingenuities were made, that axle was larger than those of carriages used in the southern part of the Adleon continent.
"Hooo~, as expected of a great nation that came for a great invasion from across the sea~! Even though it's just a transport wagon, the construction of the axle is elaborate~!"
"Wow, putting magic circuits directly on a metal axle. It looks like the magic transmission efficiency would be poor again... I wonder how it works..."
The two began to observe, diving under the carriage with their curiosity as craftsmen exposed. Damian was as usual, and Daphne, unusually, let her voice bounce a bit, showing a frolicsome appearance.
While giving a faint wry smile to those two, Noein continued the conversation.
"The Arqvist territory acquired six in total, and one of those will be renovated and used as the lord's family's dedicated carriage. The other five are wagons, but while four will be used for practical work, I'll give this one to you for your research."
""Is that okay!?""
The two, who had been immersed in observation while crouching, raised their faces, looked back, and spoke in unison.
"It's fine. Or rather, this is a lord's order. I want you to analyze the mechanism and, if possible, replicate it."
Because a magic carriage can dramatically lighten the load placed on the horses pulling it, it is seen that if used for transport, the travel distance per day can be significantly extended. If mass production is achieved, the Lordberg Kingdom will achieve great development both militarily and commercially.
"The royal family will likely analyze it too, and there are probably many noble houses that have obtained magic carriages and are attempting replication, but it's better if multifaceted research is conducted. Besides, the discoveries obtained in the process of research are also important."
If they didn't touch research within the territory and tried to get only the results or finished products from the royal family or other nobles, they would end up paying a huge price. Moreover, there would be no learning for the craftsmen within the territory—Damian and Daphne—by engaging in research.
That was why Noein decided to let them investigate, even to the extent of giving them one entire precious magic carriage.
"You can do whatever you like with this one. I don't mind if you disassemble it into pieces and it becomes impossible to put back together. If that's not enough, I'll give you another one, and I'm not in a hurry for results, and as for the perfection of the replica... even if the performance isn't as high as those of the Betumia Republic, as long as a certain level of performance improvement is made compared to a normal carriage, that's fine for now. Will you do me this favor?"
"Of coooourse! Please leave it to us!"
"As a magic tool craftsman, there is no work that makes my heart dance this much. I will do my best."
To Noein's inquiry, both Damian and Daphne nodded with shining smiles.