Chapter 32
(Kyle Calendar
Year 504: Age 11)
The Beginning
of a New Path
Translator : PolterGlast
"I am truly happy
that we have all been able to welcome the new year together safely.
I express my gratitude
for everyone's daily work and hope you will thoroughly enjoy today's banquet."
With Father's
greeting, the New Year's banquet began at the Lord's Manor.
It was an annual
event, and on this day only, formalities were set aside. Everyone working at
the manor and those invited, regardless of their status, mingled freely.
"Apart from the
bare minimum of etiquette, everything else is deliberately unnecessary.
Everyone is to enjoy themselves,"
Mother, the de facto
most powerful person in the manor, had strongly declared to everyone.
The number of serving
staff was kept to a minimum, and everyone enjoyed the food and drinks
self-service. That was the rule.
I loved this
atmosphere.
My brother, who was
already growing into a handsome young man, was surrounded by young maids,
rivaling the steward in popularity.
I couldn't help but
laugh at the sight of Father looking at him enviously, a hint of melancholy in
his posture.
"Everyone, please
don't hesitate and enjoy yourselves."
I said to the ten
mages who looked nervous in the unfamiliar setting.
Bart had also
temporarily returned home for the New Year's banquet.
"This feels like
a dream."
The female mages,
though still somewhat nervous and reserved, were enjoying the occasion in
attire more elaborate than usual (Mother had provided the outfits).
On the other hand, the
men, especially Gale and Gold, who belonged to the military, were stiff with
tension.
The other young people
were simply focused on satisfying their appetites.
I would turn eleven
this year.
Still only eleven, but
I could also say I had finally reached eleven.
Disasters would surely
come in two, five, and eight years.
The strengthening of
the citizenry's combat capabilities, the recruitment of those who achieved
excellent results in the shooting competitions, and other efforts to slowly
build up our forces were progressing.
Even in this altered
world, history would likely try to balance things out. Avoiding the tragedy two
years from now was absolute.
The Gryphonia Empire
would probably be burning with revenge and would undoubtedly target us in
particular.
By then, the increase
in military strength would probably not be enough. I estimated that we would
only have around 500 troops who could be deployed to the battlefield.
In that case, we would
definitely need a hidden card. I was thinking about such things during the
banquet.
"Takuhir-sama,
are you already considering future strategies even in a place like this?"
Raymond-san, having
slipped away from the circle of women, spoke to me, noticing my pensive
expression.
"Well, yeah.
There are so many things to do this year that I can't help it."
"Takuhir-sama
works too hard. I think it would be good for you to enjoy yourself according to
your age."
Hmm, enjoy myself
according to my age... if I counted my accumulated age, it would be over 80...
A scene I often saw in
the park in the town I used to live in floated into my mind.
No, that wouldn't
work. I laughed to myself at the image.
The New Year's banquet
ended smoothly while maintaining its lively atmosphere.
After the banquet, I
was organizing the current situation and future plans in my room.
The Solis baronial
family's military strength had slightly increased after the Southern Gate
Annihilation Battle.
＜Before＞
Maximum Mobilization
Strength: 550, of which 215 were standing soldiers. Twin-Headed Falcon Mercenary
Corps: 40.
＜Current Military Strength＞
Maximum Mobilization
Strength: 620, of which 300 were standing soldiers
Twin-Headed Falcon
Mercenary Corps: 50.
However, no matter how
much of a war it became, it was impossible to mobilize all the troops.
Many of the part-time
soldiers were also involved in guarding the town gates and maintaining public
order during peacetime, so security and defense could not be reduced to zero.
Therefore, even in the
previous battle, only 360 out of 550 were mobilized, with 190 remaining as a
reserve force.
Although it had
slightly increased, the total military strength was still only around 600.
If we were to try to
bring 800 men to the battlefield like Viscount Gorman, we would need more than
double our current maximum mobilization strength.
The military strength
that can be contributed depends on the population and productivity, so with the
current population of over 8,000, it was utterly impossible.
Increasing the
population, boosting the economy, and strengthening the military would take a
considerable amount of time, and the things we could do now were limited.
By turning the
citizens into a fighting force through the shooting competitions, increasing
the number of excellent individuals as part-time soldiers, and if the citizens
could also serve as garrison troops, the number of soldiers needed for defense
could be reduced.
And then there was the
magic corps, capable of fighting like a thousand... I had been thinking about
such things for a while.
Regarding the magic
corps and Teigun, I had secured Father's verbal commitment thanks to Mother's
rather forceful support.
I had also obtained
permission to seek Weiss-san's guidance on tactical aspects.
However, Father,
Mother, and I also felt reluctant to send these young people to the
battlefield. We felt it was still too early.
※
~At the Reception
Center~
Five more mage
candidates had appeared since then.
No, there were nearly
100 candidates in total, but five had finished their character checks and were
awaiting the ritual.
"So, we'll have
more comrades again,"
"Yeah, the checks
are done."
I replied to Claire's
question.
Aptitude could be
confirmed from the list of citizens.
But their
personalities and ways of thinking were unknown.
We couldn't just turn
unknown people into mages one after another.
It would be a problem
if they had personality issues or if they immediately tried to sell their
services to other territories. Therefore, we were taking steps such as reliable
investigations and having them work with my comrades for a while in the form of
employment.
As a result, the
candidates who advanced to the final selection were inevitably either soldiers
already employed by the baronial family or young people without permanent jobs.
"Raymond has a
good eye for people. He never employs the wrong kind of person."
Those were words
Mother had said to me before.
So recently, I had
also been having the steward (Raymond-san) look at the candidates.
"He's no good.
The moment he realizes he has aptitude, he might try to sell himself
elsewhere."
There were actually
cases where someone was no good. He made an immediate and decisive judgment
with a single glance.
And so, by
intentionally narrowing down the selection, five new comrades had joined us.
Three of them (two
fire mages and one water mage) who were originally soldiers were now officially
mages in the Solis baronial family, and along with the two previously announced
wind mages, they were engaged in daily new training under the military's
jurisdiction.
Those who became
attendants to me and my family at the Lord's Manor, their status as mages kept
secret, numbered ten, with the addition of Mia, the holy mage, and Clan, the
light mage.
The existence of the
three former soldiers as mages was also being kept secret for the time being.
※
After the new mages
joined, there was a hurdle I absolutely had to overcome.
The ten who were not
currently serving in the military and whose existence was being kept
secret—could I take them to the battlefield?
I conducted that
confirmation early in the new year.
"Today, I want to
hear everyone's true feelings."
First, I said that and
looked around at everyone.
"Everyone here is
a valuable mage in the Solis baronial family.
If you continue to
work as mages, there will come a time when you will go to the battlefield with
me.
There may be times
when you will kill people with your magic, and conversely, there may be times
when your life will be taken by the enemy.
So, I want you to tell
me your true feelings right now."
"I, along with
Bart, was given a means to live by Takuhir-sama.
You have been kind to
my comrades in the orphanage and have extended a helping hand to refugees and
disaster victims. If it is to protect this Solis baronial family, I will gladly
accompany you anywhere, even on the battlefield."
Claire (fire magic),
who had been with me the longest since the great famine, was the first to
kneel.
"I have always
admired Lord Darek.
I was happiest when I
found out I could use the same light magic. Please take me with you."
Clan (light magic),
who had joined us most recently, followed.
"When I went to
help Lord Hiyorimi's town this time, I couldn't stop trembling.
My town might have
suffered the same fate. Please let me help Takuhir-sama, who saved the town of
Mars. Anywhere, even on the battlefield."
Mary (earth mage), who
should have lost her life in the flood in the [previous history], followed.
"I think of my
magic as something that protects rather than harms people.
Whether on the
battlefield or within this territory, I want to protect Takuhir-sama and
everyone in the baronial family with my magic in various places."
Elan (earth magic),
who had played a major role in the flood response, followed.
"I believe my
magic also protects everyone.
If there are lives that
can be saved, it is the same whether on the battlefield or in the
infirmary."
Rosa (holy magic)
knelt.
"Me too, with
Sister Rosa!"
Mia (holy magic), who
looked up to Rosa like an older sister, followed.
"I don't know.
Honestly, I'm scared.
I don't know if water
magic will be useful on the battlefield, and I can't stop trembling when I
think about it."
"It's alright,
Sasha. Thank you for telling me your honest feelings."
As expected, the ones
having the most trouble answering were the wind mages, Christoph and Carleen.
Their specialty
(archery) directly aimed to kill people, so they were probably struggling even
more.
"Would the two of
you also please tell me what you honestly think, without hesitation? Even 'I
don't know' is an acceptable answer."
"As a hunter, I
have taken the lives of beasts and demons before.
Honestly, I was
terrified at first. But I got used to it before I knew it.
Even now, I am
confident that I can fight on the battlefield. But I am afraid of becoming
accustomed to taking human lives..."
"I have never
even shot an animal before.
I don't know if I can
shoot an arrow or cast magic at a living creature, let alone a person..."
"Thank you for
being honest. I have no intention of forcing anyone, and only a limited number
of people know the magic skills of everyone here.
So, please be assured
that everyone has the choice of living as a mage or as an ordinary
citizen."
I was glad I had
asked, having heard everyone's honest thoughts.
"From now on,
only those who wish to will begin training in the use of magic with actual
combat in mind, with Commander Weiss as the instructor.
Only those who wish to
participate, please raise your hands."
Only those who wished
to, I should have said, but for some reason, everyone was raising their hands
without hesitation.
"Training with
actual combat on the battlefield in mind, you know?
Participation is only
for those who wish to, okay? I think it will be quite rigorous
training..."
I asked again.
Everyone's expression
remained unchanged.
Are you sure? Really?
I told you, it would
be tough...
Well, whether we have
Commander Weiss instruct them or not, I need to have a solid discussion with
the commander to ensure that the direction of the instruction is not wrong...
~Reference: List of
Mages~
Mage Aptitude Name
Previous Occupation/Trigger Current Affiliation
①Wind Mage Christoph (3rd place in archery tournament)
Attached to Lord's Manor
②Wind Mage Carleen (9th place in archery tournament)
Attached to Lord's Manor
③Wind Mage Gale (Runner-up in archery tournament) To
the Standing Army
④Wind Mage Gold (8th place in archery tournament) To
the Standing Army
⑤Fire Mage Claire (Executive Committee Leader) Attached
to Lord's Manor
⑥Earth Mage Elan (Executive Committee Assistant)
Attached to Mother
⑦Earth Mage Mary (Executive Committee Assistant)
Attached to Mother
⑧Water Mage Sasha (Executive Committee Assistant)
Attached to Lord's Manor
⑨Holy Mage Rosa (From town infirmary) Attached to
Lord's Manor
⑩Space-Time Mage Bart (Executive Committee Assistant)
Attached to Lord's Manor
⑪Fire Mage Mars (Soldier) To the Standing Army
⑫Fire Mage Danke (Soldier) To the Standing Army
⑬Water Mage Wals (Soldier) To the Standing Army
⑭Holy Mage Mia (Executive Committee Assistant) Attached
to Lord's Manor
⑮Light Mage Clan (Executive Committee Assistant)
Attached to Lord's Manor
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