Chapter 335 - Episode 327: Daily Life of the Archduchy of Arqvist Army ②
"They went that way! Circle around!"
"Sir!"
Deep within a forest, somewhat removed from the Bezel Highway within the Archduchy of Arqvist. A patrol squad led by Baronet Radley Nordheim was pursuing a single monster.
A Great Wolf, possessing a coat of grey nearly black and a body larger than a bear. Alongside Orcs and Great Boars, it was a powerful enemy considered particularly dangerous among the monsters inhabiting the depths of the Bezel Great Forest.
However, this Great Wolf had encountered an enemy it had never seen before—a golem—and in its surprise, it was attempting to flee.
The Great Wolf tried to leap nimbly through the forest to escape, but another golem appeared in its path. It came to a sudden halt and attempted to change direction.
At that moment, an arrow flew. The one who fired it was Jeremy, Radley's adjutant.
Radley's unit, which guarded the Aspida Fortress and the Bezel Highway, was the only unit in the army permitted to keep Angel's Honey on hand and use it at the unit's discretion. The tip of the arrow Jeremy fired was coated in the undiluted liquid; the Great Wolf, taking the arrow directly in its flank, flinched for an instant, and its flight slowed.
Once the Great Wolf's movements had slowed sufficiently, Radley closed the distance in one burst, gripping his favorite spear.
Even though it had been hit by the undiluted Angel's Honey, the Great Wolf possessed a massive frame. Against the enemy approaching its feet, it unleashed a sharp slash with its front claws—a strike that would be a sufficient threat to any ordinary person.
However, Radley dodged it effortlessly, slipped inside its guard, and thrust his spear upward into the Great Wolf's head.
The spearhead pierced the Great Wolf's jaw and went straight through the back of its skull. The Great Wolf's body shuddered for a moment, and as Radley pulled the spear out, it collapsed sideways.
"A-amazing..."
"As expected of Your Excellency Nordheim!"
The soldiers and puppet mages of the squad gathered around Radley, praising his extraordinary movements while remaining vigilant of the surroundings.
"Tch, don't start flattering me over something like this now."
Radley brushed off his subordinates' praise and shook the blood and brain matter clinging to the spearhead. Jeremy approached him then.
"Your Excellency, that was splendid."
"Yeah... hey Jeremy, can't you stop with that 'Your Excellency' thing? It makes me restless."
"If we were not on military duty, I would be happy to call you Radley-sama, but right now, I cannot. For the sake of military order, Your Excellency has a duty to be called Your Excellency. Please get used to it."
"Tch, what the hell. You've certainly grown a backbone, haven't you?"
Giving a wry smile at having his own remark brushed off, Radley looked down at the Great Wolf's corpse.
"About a kilometer from the highway, huh. It's been a while since something this big showed up around here."
"Yes. As expected, monster territories shift somewhat before winter."
To maintain the safety of the Bezel Highway, such patrols and the elimination of monsters were indispensable. For that reason, the defense force of the fortress city Aspida led by Radley was composed of combat-oriented types, centered around beastman soldiers.
Originally, Radley held a position where it would be permissible for him to sit comfortably in the fortress as a commander, but even now, he personally led patrol squads regularly to hunt monsters. This was partly to ensure his skills did not dull, partly to kill time, and partly because of his belief that the battlefield suited his nature.
"Alright, split the squad. I'll lead one half and carry this thing back to the highway. You take the other half and call for reinforcements for the recovery."
"Understood."
Jeremy and the other members of the squad moved quickly according to Radley's orders, and with reinforcements from Aspida joining in, the Great Wolf's corpse was promptly recovered and sent for butchering.
Radley also returned to Aspida, swapped shifts with the next patrol squad, and returned to his actual workplace—the commander's office at the Aspida defense force barracks.
"By the way, Jeremy."
While being served tea by Jeremy, Radley suddenly called out to him.
"Yes, what is it?"
"When are you marrying Cecilia?"
"What!?"
Jeremy let out a startled cry, shaking the cup as his tea was being poured. After frantically dealing with a bit of tea spilled on his leg, he raised a voice of protest to his superior.
"W-where did that come from all of a sudden?"
"Idiot, 'all of a sudden' my ass, not after all this time. Kicking the backside of a stubborn subordinate is also a superior's job."
Since the time of the Betumia War, the fact that Jeremy and Cecilia were conscious of each other had become common knowledge to everyone in Radley's unit and the Claymore.
"...I'm not telling you to forget your former wife and kid. But if you yourself think you need to move forward, isn't it about time you took action?"
When Radley spoke in a serious tone, Jeremy's expression also became solemn.
When Jeremy was a citizen of the Kingdom of Lancel, he had lost his wife and child due to the influence of Cadne's tyranny.
"Besides, normally, soldiers are the ones who are left behind. I can't say the Claymore is an absolutely safe job, but in terms of the probability of dying in the line of duty, ours is likely higher. That's why I think you should get together with the person you like as soon as possible while you're still alive."
Radley wasn't saying this out of mere meddling.
During his mercenary days, Radley had seen many men and women who could not marry precisely because they were mercenaries. They would promise to save money, quit being mercenaries, buy land, and live in peace one day. He had seen many people break down in tears after the partner they made such a promise to died.
The soldiers of the Archduchy of Arqvist army were blessed. Even if they died, sufficient aid would be provided to the bereaved family by their lord, Noein. In the first place, Cecilia had the skills to survive on her own. There were no obstacles to a marriage with a soldier. That was why one should seize the happiness they could grasp as quickly as possible.
"...I understand. Perhaps the next time Cecilia and I have overlapping leave... no, Cecilia's unit is scheduled to be stationed at Aspida in two days. I will tell her then."
"Do that... I'll make sure you both get the early shift."
When Radley grinned, Jeremy also gave a wry smile and nodded.
.....
Baronet Bart Heidemann, the Foreign Minister of the Archduchy of Arqvist, was visiting a camping base for trade merchants located exactly in the middle of the Bezel Highway, which territorially sat on the side of the Kingdom of Lancel.
"Lord Heidemann, welcome today."
"I appreciate the welcome. I look forward to our time."
As Bart exchanged smiles and handshakes with the lower noble of the Kingdom of Lancel who was the person in charge here, the surrounding gazes—the curious eyes of the soldiers guarding the base and the merchants staying there—gathered on him.
Having become a Baronet, Bart was dressed in clothes that were obviously expensive at a glance, and his movements were more refined than ever before. His original appearance was also well-featured. As an important figure entrusted with considerable discretionary power in diplomacy by the Archduke of Arqvist, he radiated an impeccable presence.
The clothes, the movements, the appearance—to put it simply, it was mere bluffing, but for a diplomatic noble, bluffing was the most powerful weapon of all. If one could make the opponent think "this is no ordinary person," everything worked in one's favor.
"Then, I shall guide you through the facilities immediately."
Following the guiding noble, Bart looked around the various parts of the facility.
The Bezel Great Forest was vast, and from the entrance of the Bezel Highway on the Kingdom of Lancel side to Aspida, it was well over forty kilometers. Since it was difficult to traverse in a single day without preparing for a forced march, the Kingdom of Lancel had created this camping base as a relay point to stay overnight midway.
The purpose of Bart's visit here as an envoy of the Archducal House was, on the surface, foreign affairs in the name of a friendly inspection, but in reality, it also had an aspect of military duty in the form of reconnaissance.
How much value did this camping base have as a military facility? Was there a possibility that it could suddenly become a frontline base for an invasion of the Archduchy of Arqvist one day? He also intended to probe for such information.
While receiving explanations from the noble, Bart observed every corner of the facility and solidified his evaluation of this camping base.
The perimeter was surrounded by sturdy log fences. They could likely withstand the charge of a Great Boar. The permanent military strength was around twenty people. They were clearly elites, and on top of that, there were two who appeared to be mages. As a preparation against powerful monsters, it was sufficient for now.
However, as a military facility, it was likely not a threat.
Since it was strictly a camping base, the scale was small. There were only barracks for the soldiers and buildings for the guests to stay in; there were no warehouses capable of stockpiling large amounts of supplies. Even if an army were to be stationed here, it was doubtful if two hundred people could fit even if packed to the limit.
The strong log fences were, in the end, made of wood. For the Archduchy of Arqvist army, which possessed a large number of explosive flame arrows and the Claymore, it could be taken without much trouble.
"Thank you for the polite guidance. It is a very well-made camping base. On behalf of His Excellency Arqvist, I offer my thanks to the Kingdom of Lancel for creating such a facility for the development of trade."
This was truly just a base for trade merchants to stay overnight. Bart evaluated the facility as such.
"I am glad you say so. Now, Lord Heidemann, I understand that you will be staying here today."
"Yes, I will be in your care."
"Then, I shall guide you to the room we have prepared. It is modest, but we have a dinner setting as well."
While expressing gratitude to the noble, Bart moved to the prepared room with his subordinates. Tomorrow, he would depart toward the Kingdom of Lancel and perform a friendly visit—or rather, reconnaissance—of the city governed by Viscount Barthelemy as the governor.
.....
One night as early winter approached. Cecilia and Alain, executives of the Claymore, and Gustav, who had just returned from a long-term mission in Lichthagen of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, were sharing dinner for the first time in a while.
The location was a private room in the restaurant run by Rosetta's parents, a place familiar to the vassals of the Arqvist house.
"Well then, for now, let's toast to celebrate the return of our captain!"
Following Alain's spirited voice, both Gustav and Cecilia lightly clinked their cups filled with beer.
"Still, it's a good thing. That you were able to return before the full onset of winter."
"True. Even if winter had come, His Excellency Arqvist would have sent a pickup... but traveling in midwinter is hard on both us and the soldiers."
Gustav nodded at Cecilia's words.
Upon the return of Gustav and the others, their lord Noein had sent a magic carriage with guards to collect them. It was a measure to show appreciation to Gustav and the others for completing their mission over a long period of one year, and to ensure the safe return of precious puppet mages.
"So, how was the golem unit of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg? Did it turn out to be useful?"
At Alain's question, Gustav showed a subtle expression.
"Well... it took shape, for the most part."
"For the most part?"
"Yeah, I instructed about fifty puppet mages who gathered for the royal recruitment... but only about fifteen improved to the level we were at when we were first deployed. About fifteen were below that level but could somehow be put to use. The rest were either failures or dropped out midway."
To improve to a level capable of facing combat, one must continue mentally grueling training. Many of the young puppet mages could endure it, but those who had already aged, in particular, continued to throw in the towel and quit.
Some thought that rather than enduring hardships now to switch to a combat profession, it was easier to leisurely carry luggage in a merchant guild warehouse and receive a decent salary.
Furthermore, putting aside the talented ones who had been employed as royal mages, the talent of puppet mages working in the private sector varied wildly. There were those whose innate talent or magical power was too low, and their golem manipulation techniques did not improve to a sufficient level even with effort.
Gustav told the two about these things.
"I see... so you need people with sufficient magical power to train while they're young."
"The personnel of the Claymore also have variations in ability, except for those who were originally royal mages of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg."
Out of the twenty-four members of the Claymore, eight were not former royal mages. While their skills were at a sufficient level, they were inferior in some ways compared to the others, such as lacking endurance or dexterity.
"By the time we retire from active duty, we'll probably struggle a bit to find the next generation of puppet mages. We'll have to gather applicants for appointment while being prepared for a certain number of failures."
"That's true, but... there's no point in worrying with such a grim face right now, is there?"
"Hahaha, that's true. My bad."
Gustav, who had begun to think with a serious expression, gave a wry smile at Alain's point.
"So, did anything happen over here while I was gone?"
Gustav had received work reports regarding the successful completion of the founding ceremony and the state of development in various parts of the Archduchy. However, he hadn't heard any private topics among comrades for a long time.
When Gustav asked to be told such things, Alain wore a fearless smile.
"Oh, prepare to be surprised... Cecilia and Jeremy's marriage has been decided. Our little sister is finally becoming someone's bride."
"Pfft!"
As Alain spoke, shifting from a straight face to a fearless smile, Cecilia choked beside him.
"I-is that the first thing you say...?"
"Heh, that's wonderful! Congratulations, Cecilia."
"Also, Mary is carrying my first child. It's scheduled to be born around next spring."
"Oh, that's also wonderful. You're finally a father."
At the good news from his comrade since their royal mage days, Gustav also wore a happy expression.
After that, while their conversation blossomed with reports of each other's recent situations, the three enjoyed their dinner.