Strategists gather weapons, secure provisions, and move armies to the right place at the right time. Their job is to bring soldiers to the battlefield.
It might seem simple, but organizing weapons and food for thousands, and marching them on schedule, is incredibly challenging. Road width, conditions, and weather all affect marching speed. Water sources and firewood for cooking must also be considered.
Usually, there’s some leeway, with extra provisions and a relaxed schedule. But this time, Polvic couldn’t hold out, so we had to hurry.
“It’s all thanks to you, sir. If we had been half a day late, who knows what would have happened.”
I praised Welly.
Polvic was on the brink of falling. Welly didn’t wield a weapon or fight on the battlefield, but with maps and papers, he saved everyone in Polvic.
“You’re exhausted. Please rest.”
“That’s not possible. My work starts now.”
I wanted Welly to rest, but he rubbed his eyes and answered.
“That’s right, Lady Romelia. There’s no need to pamper this man.”
A firm voice interrupted, and I turned to see a dignified lady standing there.
Her hair was tied back, and she wore a navy blouse and a long skirt reaching her ankles. It was my other mentor, Ms. Quins.
“Why are you here?”
Welly looked uncomfortable seeing his old acquaintance, Ms. Quins.
I shared Welly’s surprise. Ms. Quins was supposed to be in the city of Milet in the Cashew region.
“I heard Welly had made some reckless plans, and there was no one to oversee the supply transport, so I came to supervise. I also accompanied the last supply shipment.”
“Ah, that explains it. I wondered why the supplies arrived so precisely.”
Ms. Quins’s explanation made sense to me.
To make my forced march possible, Welly devised an even more daring plan.
His method involved not using supply wagons.
Marching speed is dictated by the speed of the supply wagons. The logistics unit pulling the wagons sets the pace for the march.
But this time, we couldn’t afford to match the logistics unit’s speed. So, we separated the main force and the logistics unit. The main force carried a few days’ worth of food and marched ahead, while supplies from the logistics unit were transported by horse to catch up with us.
After detaching the wagons, the main army’s marching speed improved. However, the distance between us and the supply convoy grew day by day. Of course, we calculated the distance and planned our supplies accordingly, but even a day’s delay would leave us stranded. Honestly, I was anxious every day, unsure if the supplies would reach us in time.
But when the time came, the supplies from the rear arrived without even a half-day delay. The accuracy of the deliveries surprised even Mr. Welly, who had planned it all, but it was all thanks to Teacher Quins’s efforts.
“Honestly, to resort to such measures just because we’re short on time… What if it hadn’t worked out?”
Teacher Quins looked at Mr. Welly with exasperation.
Indeed, it was a reckless method, but Teacher Quins had rushed to the rear as soon as he saw Mr. Welly’s plan might fail. He believed that while it might be impossible for others, he could support Mr. Welly’s plan. This cooperation was possible because they understood each other’s thoughts perfectly.
“The main supply convoy will arrive in a few days, but the final shipment included not only food but also medicine and tents. Let’s distribute the medicine. Welly, you handle the wounded soldiers.”
“Yes, yes, I got it.”
When Teacher Quins gave instructions, Mr. Welly scratched his head and agreed.
“I’ll help too,”
I volunteered. War is not just about soldiers; supporting staff is essential. Since I can’t fight, I should help with administrative tasks.
“Nonsense, Lady Romelia. You must be exhausted. Please rest for a bit. The forced march must have been hard on you,”
Teacher Quins said, showing concern for me, but everyone had walked the same distance. I couldn’t be the only one resting.
“Besides, you have your own tasks, Lady. The final shipment also included your personal items brought by the maids. Please rest and prepare yourself. You might want to put on some makeup too.”
“Makeup?”
“Yes, your fatigue shows on your face. Do you plan to face the Polvic delegation looking so tired?”
Teacher Quins pointed towards the city of Polvic, surrounded by walls.
Polvic had opened its gates, and its residents were helping to accommodate and treat the wounded soldiers. From the gates, a group of soldiers in formal attire was approaching us.
A little while ago, an envoy from Polvic had come to inform us that a formal delegation would come later. We needed to discuss matters with Polvic’s nobility soon. Although some rudeness might be forgiven right after a battle, it’s not wise to negotiate looking exhausted. We should present ourselves properly. Teacher Quins was meticulous in his care.
As I accepted Teacher Quins’s instructions, the envoy from Polvic arrived in front of me.
“I am Zaltz, the commander of Polvic’s garrison,”
he introduced himself. He was a man with a sun-tanned, rugged face.
“Are you Lady Romelia, the Saint of Salvation?”
“Yes, I am Romelia, but please, just call me Romelia,”
I replied, rejecting the title of “Saint.”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
While it was gratifying that our efforts were being recognized, I didn’t want to be called a saint. I was not recognized as a saint by the Church of Salvation, the state religion of the Kingdom of Lionel. Being called a saint could cause friction with the church, and frankly, it was embarrassing.
“Lady Romelia, thank you for coming to our aid. On behalf of Polvic, I extend my gratitude.”
Zaltz bowed deeply.
“My lord, lord Dunham, wishes to thank you personally. We also wish to host a modest banquet to honor you and your soldiers. Would you do us the honor of attending at my lord’s residence?”
“Thank you, I gratefully accept. However, could you give me a bit of time to finish accommodating the wounded soldiers first?”
I responded, accepting Zaltz’s invitation but asking for some time. I knew it wasn’t ideal to keep a noble waiting, but I couldn’t ignore the soldiers who had risked their lives in battle.
“Of course. Let us assist you. We will clear the barracks for your use,” Zaltz offered.
“Thank you very much. We would appreciate that,”
I replied, accepting his offer to help with the wounded. I also instructed Teacher Quins and Mr. Welly to prepare for our entry into Polvic.
After the discussions and instructions, I found two women with blonde and black hair waiting by my side. They were maids Teacher Quins had found: Layla, with her curly blonde hair and freckles, and Tetis, with her long black hair and porcelain skin.
“Are you done with your conversation, Lady Romelia? Let’s get you changed right away,”
“We’ll brush your hair and do your makeup too,”
Layla and Tetis said cheerfully, with a smile, while I frowned.
“I was thinking of attending the banquet in my uniform…”
I meekly suggested, but the maids wouldn’t hear of it.
“A young lady attending a noble’s banquet in armor? Unthinkable,”
“Exactly. Now, let’s get you into a dress. We have the one that Count Graham sent recently. That should do nicely,”
They pulled me into a tent, stripped off my armor and clothes, and dressed me in a whirlwind of activity that even I, accustomed to the battlefield, could only describe as lightning-fast. In no time, I was in a dress, my hair styled, and my face made up.
When I looked in the mirror, a refined lady stared back at me.
My hair was neatly done, my face intricately made up, and the white dress, though simple, was elegant and of the latest fashion. There was nothing to criticize about the hairstyle, makeup, or dress.
Yes, the hair, the makeup, and the dress.
“It suits you, Miss Romelia.”
“You’re stunning, Lady Romelia,”
Layla and Tetis praised,
but I knew it was just flattery. I knew that no matter how much effort they put in, I wasn’t suited for such elegance.
My hair was damaged from being outdoors every day, and my skin was tanned. The beautiful dress didn’t suit my broad shoulders and small chest.
If Princess Lu, my former companion, had this hairstyle, her glossy black hair would have stood out even more beautifully. If Ekaterina were to wear this dress, her voluptuous figure would have been more accentuated. If Elizabeth had done the same makeup, everyone would have turned to look at her.
Compared to my acquaintances, I lacked any sort of allure.
Sighing at my reflection in the mirror, I finally put on silk gloves and leave the tent.
By then, the wounded soldiers had almost all been accommodated. Al and Ray, whom I had asked to help, returned.
“Hey, Captain Rome, what’s with the girly outfit?”
Al teased.
While Al’s words weren’t exactly kind, they were better than empty compliments. Ray, on the other hand, was frozen in place.
As Ray stared at me, Al elbowed him back to reality, and he hurriedly spoke up.
“You look very beautiful, Captain,”
Ray stammered, his voice cracking.
But I wasn’t about to get the wrong idea. Ray always praised me, and it was just the bias of someone close. I didn’t have confidence in my appearance, so I couldn’t genuinely enjoy excessive compliments.
“Thank you, Ray,”
I said with a forced smile.
“Get ready, both of you. There’s a welcoming banquet in town. We’ll enter with the soldiers,”
I instructed Al and Ray as we headed towards Polvic. Mr. Welly and the others were gathering the soldiers for entry.
The Rome squad, the Cashew garrison, and the allied forces formed ranks and lined up.
“Let’s go,”
I commanded, leading the soldiers through Polvic’s gate.
We were greeted by thunderous applause and cheers from Polvic’s residents as we entered. Confetti rained down on us from the gates and buildings, showering us with welcome.
The welcoming townspeople were mostly children, the elderly, and women. The young men were all injured, wrapped in bandages. The entire town had fought and was on the brink of collapse, which made the welcome all the more enthusiastic.
I, who was leading the way, turned my head to look at the soldiers behind me.
TLNOTE : So, the anime adaptation has been announced. Let’s hope my translation reaches volume 4 before the anime airs.
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