Volume 4 Chapter 5 General Gertroud
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
What was supposed to be a simple monster hunt turned into a significant event──the ‘Ant Nest Incident’──when we ended up facing the Queen Ant. It has now been 3 weeks since then, and today marks exactly one month since I entered this residence.
The development of Estfort is progressing smoothly, with the quarry now open and stone materials available. The northern wall, repurposed from the garrison, is about 50 percent complete, and work on wooden fencing and scaffolding along the eastern coastline has begun.
The foundation of the castle is complete, and construction of the main structure has commenced.
In this past month, our military capabilities have started to improve.
First, the royal army recruited about 100 soldiers through connections and transfers from hunters, bringing the total to 3 hundred 20.
Currently, Akebus is training the new recruits as part of the training corps, focusing on maintaining public order and conducting drills.
The remaining 220 are serving as regular troops under Fristoph, defending the great wall and conducting patrols.
Meanwhile, the number of female volunteers has increased, and the Red Valkyrie now has 2 hundred members.
They have become a large group, consisting of 25 8-member parties.
Due to the rapid expansion of party numbers, the average Hunter Rank (HR) of the Party Leaders (PL) has fallen below ten, and we have currently stopped new recruitments.
The degraded Red Valkyrie has banned hunting in the southern region and recommends hunting in nearby areas such as Indra Plains and Great Forest Nigith with 2 or 3 parties.
The party that did not participate in the subjugation wore the Blackdagger family lock (designated) athletic wear and conducted running and combat training inside the great wall.
Kerstin has officially separated her group of gunslingers, known as Gunsmith, from Red Valkyrie, forming a new Hunting Group.
The total number includes 20 members, including those transferred from Red Valkyrie.
Everyone belongs to the Gunsmith class, with Kerstin appointed as the leader of the Hunting Group, in charge of the first unit.
The newly established second unit will be led by Noemi, a gunslinger who helped defend the castle gates during a battle.
As for Noemi, I confirmed her training scene using unique items like Invisible Cloth and X-ray Glasses, and as Aida said, she is indeed beautiful.
When I suggested to Kerstin that I wanted to make her a Carrier, I was told that she belongs to Aida.
Reluctantly, I approached Aida to negotiate for her to become a Carrier, but I was firmly denied, leaving me currently in negotiations with Aida.
As a result, Noemi is still not a Carrier.
By the way, this newly established ‘Black Bullet’ will receive salaries and equipment from the Blackdagger family, just like Crimson Bride.
The armor consists of black leather, and the main weapons include Elitzina for Gunsmiths and Dragunov for Gunslingers.
Aida, the person in charge of equipment development, worked overnight to produce them, managing to gather a sufficient number.
The ‘Black Bullet’ is an elite Hunting Group, and the transfer list to Aida’s ‘Black Bullet’ includes only veterans with HR over 20. Seeing that, Giuliana got angry, but with my negotiating skills (s*x), we managed to settle things and get the group established.
I established the Gunsmith and Gunslinger Hunting Group because I experienced the power of the magic gun created by Aida. I believe Aida’s guns are the most effective for fighting many monsters with a small team.
Therefore, I plan to expand ‘Black Bullet’ as the trump card for the Estfort defense.
My town was steadily developing.
And today, I had a mountain of tasks to tackle from morning.
”Hey, Milly. You were called to father-in-law’s today, right? Was it in the afternoon?”
”Sir Kent. I mentioned the meeting with Sir Arbalest was in the morning──Ah, Dee. Bring Sir Kent’s formal attire.”
”Yes, understood.”
Dee dashed out from the parlor that served as her office.
It seemed she went to fetch my formal white uniform.
”As Ms. Annabella said, the meeting with stepfather is in the morning. Stay focused.”
”Right, the general stationed in the west is coming to greet us, so we need to be there too.”
”That’s correct. He’s Gwain’s trusted subordinate, General Gertroud. Unlike General Karvai, he’s competent and has successfully led the central army in monster hunts in the southern regions multiple times. It seems Gwain sent him as stepfather’s observer.”
Milly no longer calls Gwain her father, since he divorced Lila.
The person Milly calls “father” is her stepfather, Arbalest.
Gwain, unlike Arbalest, seems to be obsessed with power, and his actions and words seem incompatible with mine.
I thought maybe he was the kind of person I couldn’t get along with.
When I heard that one of Gwain’s best men was going to be the General of the Western Garrison, I thought it would be worthwhile to observe him carefully.
”Who is General Gertraud?”
”I heard he’s an outstanding Combat Commander. He’s not that strong in individual battles, but it’s said that he can turn weak soldiers into elite soldiers in group battles. Maybe he has a lot of legion-related jobs and skills.”
So, a person specialized in commander jobs and skills…looks like they’d be a hassle as an enemy.
”I’d like to get along if possible. We’re neighbors, after all.”
”Right. As long as they don’t provoke us, let’s stay friendly. But once Estfort is complete, they might make our logistics painful, so this may be temporary.”
Speaking of which, the western garrison only has a narrow road from the north that passes through the monster-infested Lazarm Marsh. Hardly any use of the north road, so they rely on Abyss Vena for supplies.
”Ah, speaking of that… they’ll probably get angry once we complete ours…”
”Oh, Kent, we need to prepare soon or we’ll run out of time!”
Just then, Dee returned with my formal attire.
”Is this good?”
”Thanks, Dee.”
I ruffled Dee’s hair fondly.
”Mmm, you’re messing up my hair!”
Seeing Dee sulk a bit, I hurried to change into my formal wear.
Then, I got into the carriage and headed towards Abyss Vena.
I decided to bring Milly as my companion and Aurelia as my guard.
* * *
I arrived at my father-in-law’s castle immediately and was shown into the audience chamber.
There was already someone in the audience room.
General Gertraud, who had been posted to the garrison in the west, was meeting with Arbalest.
”Oh, Kent, you’ve done well. This is the newly dispatched General Gertraud. I’ll leave the defense of the west to you. You’re both Southern Generals, and you’ll both be protecting the safety of the south. Kent, please take good care of him.”
”Haha, father-in-law. I’ve heard that General Gertraud’s command can turn weak soldiers into elite soldiers, so I’d like to learn from him.”
I greet the middle-aged Asura Clan man standing next to father-in-law.
Next to him was a young man from the Asura Clan who seemed to be the vice-commander.
”Nice to meet you. I am Kent Blackdagger, recently appointed General of the South by His Majesty. I look forward to meeting you.”
”Thank you for your polite greeting… Unfortunately, I am Vice Commander Kondrad. The newly appointed General Gemma Gertroud is here.”
The middle-aged man who greeted me as the General was actually the Vice Commander.
I glanced at the young man beside him; his outstretched hand trembled as he tried to shake mine.
Seriously?
I messed up!
But it’s natural to assume the older one is the General at the Standard level…
”Kent… You always manage to mess up… General Gertroud. My apologies if I offended you.”
”No… It’s understandable. Someone as young as me being a General is hard to believe. After all, Sir Kent is the youngest General and Baron in the kingdom, and above all, the adopted son of Sir Arbalest in the south. Someone like me wouldn’t dare approach you casually.”
General Gertroud’s face twitched as he responded to Arbalest’s apology.
”I’m so sorry! I thought the Vice Commander here was the General! I heard the kingdom’s military leaders were seasoned, so I didn’t expect someone so young. My apologies.”
”Lord Kent, no apology is needed.”
General Gertroud acted as if it was nothing, but his face was pale.
”General Gertroud, my husband was rude. I also apologize.”
Milly, too, seemed to have mistaken the Vice Commander for the General, just like me.
General Gertroud gave Milly a lingering look.
At that moment, I marked him as an enemy.
”So you are Lady Miriallia… As beautiful as the rumors say… I heard you were adopted by Lord Arbalest. And I believe you’ve married Lord Kent. Congratulations.”
”Thank you.”
Milly appeared to feel something unsettling from General Gertroud’s gaze and quickly stepped back behind me, barely managing a greeting.
General Gertroud gazed longingly at Milly, but when Arbalest cleared his throat, he diverted his eyes from her.
”General Gertroud, would you care to join us for a celebration dinner for your new assignment? It seems Kent is also interested in your military knowledge.”
”I appreciate the invitation, Sir Arbalest, but I have just arrived and have a backlog of work. I must sincerely decline this time. If you wish to hear military lectures, I recommend you ask my deputy, Kondrad. He has fought under me for a long time and will be helpful.”
”I see, that’s unfortunate. Then I would like to borrow Kondrad. I, too, am interested in military theory.”
”Understood. Kondrad, please attend the dinner in my place and give a lecture.”
”Yes, Sir! I’ll gladly serve as your proxy.”
”Then I will take my leave.”
As General Gertroud sent a glance toward Milly, he bowed and exited the audience chamber.
Afterward, we moved to the dining room to welcome Kondrad for the dinner.
* * *
Upon exiting the audience chamber, I rejoined my escort, Aurelia.
At that moment, Kondrad looked surprised and asked Aurelia a question.
”Oh, aren’t you Lady Aurelia? The daughter of the Klaushten family?”
Aurelia was surprised by the sudden question, but she answered Kondrad honestly.
”Yes, that’s true. That was ten years ago. But how do you know me?”
”I was an aide to Lady Aurelia’s father, Lord Iskarl. My name is Kondrad. Do you remember me?”
Aurelia looked intently at Kondrad’s face.
After a while, she seemed to recognize him and they shook hands.
”I didn’t notice you because you had a shaggy beard. Kondrad! You used to practice sword fighting with me. I miss you.”
”Lady Aurelia has become a fine young lady… I’m sorry about your father. I never expected the Klaushten family to turn out like that after I joined the military.”
”It’s in the past. I can only accept that my father was an unlucky man. But why is Kondrad here?”
”After I was transferred to the army, I’ve been serving as the deputy under General Gertroud. This time, when the General was assigned to the western garrison, I went along.”
”Aurelia, do you know Lord Kondrad?”
”Yes, he used to be a part of our household.”
”By the way, what is Lady Aurelia doing here? Has she become a retainer of Sir Arbalest?”
Kondrad seems puzzled by Aurelia’s presence here.
Aurelia’s family was destroyed by the current Demon Lord.
He has heard that the daughter of her fallen family was cast out with nothing, so he seems worried about her.
”Um, actually… I am serving as both bodyguard and concubine to Kent, Baron Blackdagger. It’s not that I’ve sold myself or anything.”
”W-What! You’re a concubine of Baron Blackdagger! How did that happen? Lord Kent, is that true?”
Kondrad pressed me urgently, almost as if he were going to hit me with his question.
”Ah, yes. Aurelia is my concubine.”
”Lady Aurelia is the daughter of the grand Klaushten family of the Asura Clan! How can she be a concubine? Is Lady Aurelia alright with this? If you’re unhappy, please stay with us. My wife Furia and my daughter Ane would be pleased.”
”Kondrad, I have feelings for Lord Kent. Besides, as I mentioned before, my family has been destroyed. I am now a commoner born of noble blood. Lord Kent has the generosity to accept someone like me as a concubine of the Baron family.”
Kondrad seemed relieved to hear that Aurelia herself was willing to be my concubine.
”By the way, Ane is here too? I miss her. She was my playmate.”
”Ane is also serving in the Royal Army as a soldier. When I return, I’ll tell her that Lady Aurelia is at the eastern garrison… no, Estfort, I think. She will be happy to come and see you.”
”She’s welcome to come anytime. Tell Ane that.”
”Okay. I’ll let her know.”
The dinner afterwards was pleasantly filled with stories from Aurelia, discussions about Battalion Group-based skills by Kondrad, General Gertroud’s strategies and command during the southern monster hunts, and more.
I never liked General Gertroud, but I had a good impression of Kondrad’s character and attitude.
Listening to the conversation, it seemed that Kondrad executed General Gertroud’s tactics as the field commander.
Perhaps Gertroud’s competence stems from having a well-equipped staff.
This is likely since Gertroud gave off a scholarly vibe focused on knowledge.
Moreover, he has been marked as my enemy for making advances on Milly.
* * *
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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