Volume 10 Chapter 7 The Decline Of Gwain
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
*Mild’s Perspective
I gathered my troops and told the remaining group to return to the Northern Fortress after clearing the base.
I had them leave because if we left a defense here, I expected Gwain’s soldiers to block our way when we head south with Yaalan.
I planned to take 3 territories as a gift, so keeping Gwain’s soldiers nearby was dangerous. I also ordered a return to the Northern Fortress with General authority.
Accompanied by my loyal soldiers, we marched up the town street and arrived at the castle of Helstahl, the entrance to the 3 territories.
Since we were still in Gwain’s military uniform, the guards at the checkpoint took my words about reinforcements seriously and let us pass without question.
As we approached the castle, the doors opened by themselves.
With the royal guard’s flag flying high, the captain of the guard mistook my visit for an inspection. He hurriedly rushed out of the castle gate and fell to his knees before me.
”Y-Your Excellency! Why are you here in such a place? We had no notice of your inspection!”
Ignoring the bowing captain, I led my army through the open gates.
It seemed the news of my betrayal of Gwain hadn’t reached this place yet.
”Y-Your Excellency!? P-Please wait! It’s not possible to bring so many soldiers into the town without prior notice! The people will be scared!”
The captain chased after me, wringing his hands and acting like a nervous clerk.
”Quick! Gather the soldiers of this territory!”
”Huh? What?”
”I said, gather the soldiers immediately! If you’re late, I’ll take your head. I mean it──cut it off from your body.”
I stopped my horse and pointed my sword at the captain’s neck.
The captain, with his hands wringing, stopped and sweat poured down his face like a waterfall.
”Y-yes! I will call the troops right now!”
The captain signaled to the guards at the gate, and soon the alarm bell rang loudly.
By the time my army entered the castle, it took forever for the 5 hundred guards of Helstahl to gather.
Even though it was a surprise call, it took way too long, and their clothes were a mess.
This shows that their discipline is worse than I thought… Maybe I should make them train harder during this mission to seize the 3 lands…
”Your Excellency Mild! It’s done. The Helstahl guards are all here, 5 hundred of them.”
The sweaty captain proudly approached me.
”Good work! Helstahl guards! I see your lack of skill. I blame this man for it.”
After saying that, I swiftly cut off the captain’s head while he stood in front of me wringing his hands.
The head flew through the air, and the body fell to the ground, blood splattering everywhere.
The guards gasped at the sight.
”Stop your whispering! You’re in front of Your Excellency Mild! Anyone who talks will meet the same fate as this man!”
Denies, who was standing straight next to me, stepped forward and shouted with a booming voice to intimidate the guards.
The talking stopped, and everyone held their breath, staring at me.
”First, fix your uniforms! Just like in new soldier training, check each other’s clothes! Messy clothes mean messy discipline! We don’t need soldiers like that!”
As Denies gave orders, the 5 hundred soldiers started fixing their outfits.
Since they had training before, they quickly remembered what to do and fixed their clothes.
”Alright! Rest! Everyone, listen to Your Excellency Mild’s words!”
With a rustling sound, the soldiers snapped to attention, their eyes locked on me again.
Killing their captain without letting him speak seemed to sharpen their focus.
Maybe they’ll be useful after all…
”Listen up! You’re now under my command. We march north for defense training. No breaks──fall behind and you’re left to die. Move out now! Next stop: Esche territory!”
”Squad leaders──gather here NOW! I’ll brief the route. Regular troops──pack your gear. We leave whether you’re ready or not!”
Denise barked orders at the panicking soldiers.
They scrambled to barracks like mice, prepping for the march.
When squad leaders saw Malte’s map, their faces went pale.
”No complaints allowed.”
I scanned the trembling leaders.
Every face was green with fear.
But I sent them back without argument──time to move.
Meanwhile, my elites picked 500 troops to stay behind as Gwain’s roadblock.
With Helstahl’s forces added, 2,000 men marched toward Esche.
My route would get us there by nightfall. Helstahl’s men pushed hard, desperate to survive.
Only 30 dropped out──better than expected for green troops.
At Esche’s gates, night had fallen.
Guards challenged us, but seeing our flags, they opened up──just like in Helstahl.
We strode in boldly, summoning their captain to assemble all troops.
These border soldiers near Black Dragon territory?
Way more tense than Helstahl’s.
It took only a fraction of the time for the troops to line up compared to Helstahl.
Plus, their gear was all set, already in a combat-ready stance.
”Hmm, these soldiers are well-trained. What’s your name?”
The young commander of the Majin Clan, named Claude, looked nervous as he answered.
”Claude.”
”Do you know why I’m here?”
Claude hesitated, his face showing confusion.
”No worry. Just say it.”
”Um! So, I think Your Excellency Mild came to the Esshe territory because he has lost faith in Sir Gwain. I just heard that he has brought all his soldiers from Helstahl to Esshe. It’s been said that Your Excellency Mild upset Sir Gwain during the Daracallia battle. So, coming here without a word means he plans to switch sides to True Demon Dukedom?”
I pointed my sword at Claude’s neck.
But he didn’t flinch and stared directly into my eyes.
A cold killing intent focused on him after I drew my sword.
It seemed the soldiers really respected this young commander.
”Do you want to die?”
”No, I don’t want to die. That’s why I’ve risen from a private to an officer. I was drafted during the Gertroud campaign and thrown into battle, just trying to survive… So, I respect Your Excellency Mild. You always choose to survive. I’ve tried to transfer to your unit many times, but it was never accepted.”
Next to me, Malte suddenly realized something from Claude’s words and looked shocked.
”Oh, it’s you, Claude… the coward Claude.”
”That rumor’s spreading in the army, huh? Someone told them I survived the Gertroud campaign by running away. But I fought Living Dead too! Battle isn’t just about screaming like an idiot. Those academy officers wasted so many soldiers’ lives…”
Claude made a frustrated face at Malte.
Having been a grunt himself, his expression showed clear disdain for academy-trained officers.
”Surviving that war at your age is impressive. Good judgment, steady nerves, well-trained troops. Claude, did you open the gate knowing I’d betray Gwain?”
”Yes. I gave up on Sir Gwain early. Meeting Your Excellency Mild decided me. I’ll explain to my men.”
”Good. We camp here tonight. Leave for Footland tomorrow. I’ll take you and all your men, leaving mine here. We’ll reach Footland by noon.”
”Y-yes sir! I’ll prepare quarters immediately. The men will be ready soon!”
Claude gave a Kingdom Army salute and ran to his troops.
As I watched him go, Denise approached.
”He smells like you. Good for troops, but risky for commanders. Can’t have him switching sides if we’re losing.”
”I’ll watch that. Not getting outnumbered is my job. If he runs, you can cut him down. He’ll be your personal aide. Use him well.”
I decided to make Claude Denise’s aide.
Denise knows battlefield instincts but lacks tactical vision – Claude should fix that.
”MY aide?! You’re making me babysit that brat?”
”Yeah, it’s perfect. You’re both ex-grunts – you’ll get along.”
”Even if I’m just a soldier, those guys are from the Gertroud campaign. They won’t get me.”
Denies used “Gertroud campaign” to tease Claude. It meant the new soldiers who lost many in that battle. They were seen as low-quality soldiers in Gwain’s army.
”Claude became an officer in less than a year, even as a Gertroud soldier. That’s crazy! When I joined, you had to bribe to become an officer!”
”Maybe Sir Gwain’s army is running out of good people, or they changed to focus on skill.”
”Anyway, I’ll leave it to you from tomorrow. You can have a little fun. You’re young, so you can handle it, as long as it doesn’t mess up your duties.”
My joke made Malte scream.
”No way! What if you die from [Essence Sucking]? If they find out you killed someone to get close to Lady Yuri, it’s over! Denies, you need to hold back!”
”Are you crazy? I’m not interested! I’m not that desperate to go after a kid!”
Denies looked at Malte and me with a shocked face.
* * *
The next day, we left Esshe early and started marching to Footland, the northernmost area.
The soldiers from Helstahl looked tired from yesterday’s hard march, but Claude’s troops helped the weak ones keep going.
When we arrived at Footland, the castle gate was tightly shut.
We sent a messenger to ask for the gate to open, but the leader of Footland heard about what happened in Helstahl and thought he would be killed, so he hid in the castle.
I called out again to the leader on the castle wall to open the gate.
”If you open the gate now, I won’t punish you. But this is the last warning. If you don’t listen, I’ll have to fight you with my bow. If you think I’m just a weak general, I’ll show you my skills!”
I shot an arrow meant to scare, just missing the leader.
The leader, hit with fear, collapsed on the castle gate. Then, the gate opened.
”Wow, amazing! I saw Your Excellency’s archery skills. I need more practice. I’m really bad at martial arts…”
Claude, my new vice-officer from yesterday, praised my archery.
I’m not great at sword skills, but I’ve practiced archery since I was a kid, so I’m good at it.
”Hey, Claude! How can a vice-officer be so bad at combat? Your job is to protect me! I’ll make sure you get better!”
It seemed like Denise liked Claude, always keeping him close during marches to share thoughts and ideas.
”Take it easy! If you can’t help, it’ll be a problem.”
”A soldier should have at least some confidence in combat. I’ll teach you the basics.”
”That’s what they say. Good luck, Claude. But first, we need to take over the castle in Footland. If we hold it, we’ll have enough food.”
I gave the army orders to enter the castle.
Inside, the leader was on the ground, pressing his forehead to the dirt.
The Footland soldiers watched this with disgust.
”M-Your Excellency Mild! I had no intention to shoot my bow! But this reckless captain whispered to me about the trouble in Helstahl and dared to say I should shoot you!”
The person in charge offered the man’s head in his hand towards me, and he didn’t even try to look at his eyes while his forehead was on the ground.
”What? Does that inappropriate man mean that you slay the man?”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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