For the demons to go back to their homeland required the magic ships we had stowed away on. But no ships would come to retrieve them.
With the Demon King’s death, their demon continent was surely in a state of utter chaos. They certainly wouldn’t think of sending rescue ships. Thus, the demons invading the continent of Axis were stranded in this unfamiliar land.
“The remnants of the Demon King army routed by the prince’s extermination troop can’t escape back home. They will likely spread in all directions simultaneously. Most will probably become warlords in various places, attempting to establish their own countries. Naturally, border regions like Casheware ideal targets. Though untouched until now, an invasion will certainly come someday. No one can guarantee it absolutely won’t be your hometowns.”
After I clearly indicated the approaching future, the soldiers lowered their heads. They were probably imagining family and lovers back home.
“I’m not telling you to fight for the kingdom. You should fight for your own hometowns.”
Hearing my words, several soldiers’ expressions changed. The feeling of needing to protect one’s hometown themselves was ignited within. But most still had their heads lowered. As inexperienced recruits, they likely didn’t believe they could defeat the Demon King army and monsters.
Considering the instinct for survival, it was only natural. So that instinct had to be provoked.
“Even saying it’s to protect your hometowns, I won’t send you pointlessly gambling with your lives. I intend to provide rewards.”
I held up the pouch I had brought for all to see. With that, amidst faint cheers, forty eyes were drawn in as if sucked toward what I held up.
What I lifted was a golden coin, polished to shine.
It was a gold coin from Father for my living expenses in Cashew. It was also the large coins nobles used to pay national taxes.
“You don’t know how much this is worth, right? Let me just say, with this alone, you could fool around for three years comfortably.”
Hearing me say that, I could hear gulping.
“I will reward you according to your achievements. If you render great service, this coin is yours.”
My words excited the soldiers.
Gold truly had an astounding effect. Though just pretty metal, it attracted many hearts.
I took out as many coins as I could grab from the pouch and flaunted them.
“Look closely at the sheen. It’s not fake. These are real gold coins.”
The soldiers’ eyes were drawn by the golden shine. I walked before their ranks, bringing the coins right up to the tips of their noses. The eyes of the soldiers enthralled by the gold changed color.
Doing this, it was as if I allowed them to smell the scent of gold.
Of course gold had no smell, but the important thing was making them sniff it in their minds. It was a technique used by travelling merchants I had met before.
One was the worst type of merchant who would do anything for money, but was very skilled at manipulating hearts.
According to him, there was nothing one couldn’t accomplish with money and intimidation. While they were the words of a man possessed by gold, it was true to some extent. The greater cause of protecting one’s homeland combined with the spell of gold.
Just righteousness alone wouldn’t spur people to act. Those driven by desire were fragile at critical moments. Bringing both together would become a force.
Somehow I had unified the soldiers. This was the second step. Next was practical experience.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
The ranks of long spears raised in unison plunged down.
Wearing the kingdom-issued helmets and breastplates, the soldiers shouted slogans as they charged forwards. Reaching the square’s end, they lifted their spears, pivoted in place to the right. Then brought down the spears, repeating the same motions.
In the training grounds set up beside Carulus Fortress, the recruits were training.
I also went to observe the soldiers’ training from afar.
Since they had completed basic training and physical training, they could be considered decently molded.
But veterans they were not, so the training was mere aping. How effective they would be in actual combat remained unknown.
Lacking archers and confined to close combat was also an issue. Since none of the recruits had used bows before, they could only be trained based on their aptitudes going forward.
Speaking of aptitudes, I wanted to investigate if any had magical talent as well.
People with magical aptitudes were rare, one out of a hundred would be good. If lucky, maybe one of them could use magic.
I did have a magical artifact on hand to test aptitudes – the “Magic Pigments” prepared by the Selor Company.
While I could test them anytime, it was expensive and hard to obtain. I shouldn’t carelessly use it on recruits of unknown ability.
Even so, I wanted a mage. Provided the soldiers proved useful, I would test their aptitudes later.
Lacking a healer able to treat injuries was also a problem.
Originally, a mage and two healers were stationed at the fortress, but with the Demon King army’s emergence, the mage and healers had been headhunted. As a result, Carulus Fortress now lacked both.
While the mage shortage couldn’t be helped, lacking healers to treat wounds would be very troubling. Battles would obviously produce injuries, as would training. I wanted at least one healer if possible, but that was out of my hands for now.
Though I had headaches, I could only make do with what I had for the moment.
“Captain Al, how are things looking?”
I approached the training soldiers and greeted Al, that arrogant youth.
I had appointed the brash Al as acting captain over the soldiers granted by Governor Zelbeck who were all new recruits without any chain of command.
“As you can see, splendid.”
I held back on pointing out it was an overly confident remark. I would let Al keep his captain position until he failed.
“Wonderful. Training ends today. We’re going into real combat. Word is monsters have appeared in a village two days south.”
That morning, I received a petition reporting monster appearances and requesting subjugation. According to the petition, villagers entering the mountain had encountered ten small monsters.
The so-called monsters referred to beasts turned violent after transforming somehow.
Previously only occasionally discovered, the Demon King Zelgius had used some unknown method to freely spawn monsters, releasing vast numbers of them onto our continent.
Moreover, the monsters spawned by Zelgius seemed able to impart the power to transform other beasts into monsters. The released monsters propagated everywhere, becoming a scourge eroding the entire continent.
“The monsters spawned by the Demon King army are especially ferocious, hostile to humans, and attack remorselessly. If left alone, the village being attacked is just a matter of time. Let’s exterminate them now.”
I announced the subjugation and Al nodded.
“Alright! Hey you lots, real combat!!”
Al raised his voice. Several soldiers were riled up, shouting as well. Though to cover up fear, this was fine for now.
Thank you for sending the missing portion again. Here is the full translation:
The next day, as I had declared, I led the soldiers and departed the fortress.
Including myself, three were riding horses, with a wagon loaded with provisions bringing up the rear.
Before leaving, Grandma Cairo had desperately tried to hold me back, but I could not halt my steps here.
Marching south, we advanced quickly. Being only twenty, our pace was light. Several soldiers also seemed eager to defeat the enemy swiftly, blinded by the prospect of rewards.
Though morale appeared quite high, it wasn’t very reliable. Ultimately it was just fervor whipped up by money and a sense of crisis. Such momentum would crumble at the slightest blow. I could only pray it wouldn’t collapse in actual combat.
As I rode alongside the soldiers, one of the horse-mounted soldiers was looking at me.
If I recalled correctly, he was a youth named Ray. Freckled and boyish, with pale skin and a gangly build, he resembled a radish grown without sunlight. Though he should be older than me, he looked even younger because of his looks. However, despite seeming a peasant, he could ride, read and write, and do basic calculations. A rather peculiar young man.
“Did you need something?”
“Ah, no. I just thought you’re very skilled at riding.”
Perhaps not expecting me to speak to him, Ray answered incoherently.
“Yes, I had opportunities to ride horses while travelling with the prince, and learned back then.”
I shared a little memory from my travels.
We basically journeyed on foot, but sometimes also used horses to move. Though I rode poorly in the beginning, I was taught horsemanship by the nomadic people we encountered along the way, eventually becoming the best rider among the companions.
“I like horses. I can drive a carriage too. I’ve even driven a sleigh across the frozen tundra of the snow-covered north.”
I was fond of animals. Especially horses. I thought them very beautiful creatures.
“That’s really amazing.”
Ray agreed and a whistling sound came from beside him.
“Seriously, a real wild child.”
Al riding alongside Ray grinned arrogantly.
Ray frowned, cautioning Al, but he himself let it go in one ear and out the other. And I didn’t blame him either.
“Why do you two know how to ride? You’re peasants, right?”
I was somewhat surprised by Al and Ray. Those of peasant stock rarely knew how to ride.
“Because I’m brave! I’ve ridden workhorses before.”
Though Al spoke proudly, he had courage and recklessness mixed up. Even so, recklessness was a necessary element for soldiers.
Moreover, the fact he had workhorses meant Al’s family was quite prosperous farmers.
“Um, I’m not a peasant. Um, I was raised in a church orphanage.”
Ray asserted timidly.
“I see, so that’s why you can read, write and do math.”
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