Vol 1 Chapter 2 (1/2)
Regis was in a deep slumber
A voice called to him from a very close distance
He couldn't tell if it was a dreairl
”He is totally not getting up! Is he dead?”
”Fufufu He is probably exhausted Princess, since there are no urgent tasks, let him rest”
” Mu, can't be helped”
There was still some time before he awakened
Regis oken up by a chorus of angry yells
”Hah!”
”ugh?”
Regis opened his eyes
Before hi
It was built with stones in the shape of an arch, a grey ceiling without any decorations
A curved line could be drawn fro to the wall
This looks like a dungeon, Regis thought in a daze
Regis was lying on the innermost bed in the room
He could touch the uneven walls if he stretched his left hand A as carved out of the cold wall, and it was open
Sunlight was shi+ning in from it
A loud, spirited, manly yell could be heard from somewhere
”Hya!”
That was probably the soldiers training; the sound of the wind fro of the feet could also be heard
” Ah So that's it”
I was banished to Sierck Fortress — Regis recalled as his
The soft bed was heavenly colad to be alive after recalling yesterday's event
” Is it ?”
”Hoh!”
The weird noise started again
Regis cupped his ears
”Is it Always like this here? What a terrible alarm clock”
He pushed himself up
He was frozen stiff by the ti some ater, he was told to use this roo after that
He surveyed the rooh for four beds and desks A pillar was placed right in the middle 10 soldiers bunk in one rooned to a four-men room
But there was only one bed beside the wall in this room
Next to the bed was a desk so grand Regis thought sorade And it came with a shelf!
It was spacious enough fro shelves
Regis instead of feeling happy felt uneasy
”Is it because there are excess rooms in the countryside? But this fortress is srade?”
A fifth grade admin officer was 10 ranks down from the very top
— Field adier general These were the general ranks
Officers were divided into adrade and third grade admin officers were commissioned officers
This was followed by the NCOs, frorade four to six
This rade admin officer was just two ranks from the bottom
The rank and file has the ranks of lance corporal, trooper first class and light trooper Even a light trooper in the ees Conscripted fared apprentice soldiers were considered voluntary soldiers and were not paid
And so— for an adned to such spacious quarters, this is concluded
”If I don't find so officer?”
The cois in various things as his supervisor
Regis hadn’t met him yet
Regis took his clothes off in the room
It was cold even though it was indoors during daytiain this really was the north
He put on the brand new uniform laid out on the desk
The Belgarian reen, red and white But the border regireen color that was almost black as its base color However the material was thick and the pockets were plentiful, a practical design
”Himent at the most forward position”
After dressing up, he heard the shouts of a horde of men
” Doesn't see Guess I have to find him myself”
He left the room
When he opened the door, the stone corridor extended to his left and right
It could barely fit two people walking side by side The paththe wall
He headed to the very end of the left corridor and entered the courtyard
”Hei!”
A chorus of shouts rose again
The courtyard that was surrounded by stone buildings was a training field where the ground had been compacted by the soldiers’ stos here
In front of the orderly ranks was a huge and bulky man
Thishis fauchard with sweat all over his body was about 40 years old
He had a thick black beard and bald head
Regis was so cold that he wanted to wear a scarf, but thisoff his body full of battle scars, and also dissipating heat
He s at his way
”Ugu, you are awake, young man!”
What a loud voice
The”hei!” and ”hah!”
They were also topless, hot and sweaty
The bald is
”Good! Co spirit will rise with a bang! Swing it swing it, make the wind howl! Wahaha!”
Regis backed away and said:
”No, no I a swords and spears is a bit By the way, you are the knight that aided us yesterday right?”
The is asked
”Yes I arade coiment!”
”I arateful for your aid You really saved us”
”Wahaha! I ondering why I couldn't find the princess So she disguised herself as a wagon driver and snuck into town And the bandits are raave me a scare”
”Hahaha, me too”
To think the wagon driver was the royal princess
”But if it is the princess, she ht wipe the bandits out instead!”
”Ah She is really strong”
”Because she is a Goddess!”
After Evrard finished, his subordinate knights nodded and agreed ”Yes! A Goddess!”
Regis didn’t understand what they meant
”I think the princess is a princess?”
”She is a Goddess!”
” Ah, I reion of La Victoire in the north”
”Yes! A Goddess!”
”I see”
The worshi+ping of idols was banned by the church, but things were less stringent here in the border regions The restrictive doctrine of the church was less influential 100 Li (444 km) away
With the way she wielded her giant sith her thin arms, it was not a stretch for the soldiers to think of it as a holy miracle
”She scattered the grey wolves with a single strike yesterday! Marvelous! Wahaha Cough hack hack!”
When Evrard laughed so hard that he choked, these young charges were s happily
”Wahaha!”
Manly voices
Regis was grateful for their assistance, but he was not comfortable with the manly atmosphere
”Haha I will take my leave then”
Evrard stopped hi off He shouldered his heavy halberd and approached with heavy footsteps
He breathed slowly as he leaned closer
”I want to ask just in case”
”Wha, what is it?”
”Did you do anything weird to the princess?”
The gaze of the subordinates sharpened suddenly
Blood vessels appeared on Evrard’s bald head
Regis took a couple of steps back
”Anything weird?”
”The princess looked different yesterday What, did you do?”
”I didn't do anything Just chatted with her”
”What did you talk about!?”
”Erm, rumors from the capital and stuff”
The youthsthemselves ”He said rumors from the capital” ”It must be about the social world” ”For farmers, it will be about the yaiven birth” ”That's not ruuys from the cities piss me off” ”The capital sucks!”
Regis felt that he was in danger
Evrard leaned further in, their lips al
”Ugh~! The princess was acting just like hter after her first date! What did you do, brat!”
”Wait, wait! I told her how the capital thinks about the fourth princess and stuff about politics How can I say those things to a child And I airl ever!?”
Silence
The noise was gone
Evrard ss
His knights showed angelic expressions
”Be strong, young man”
”Good things will happen one day”
”Fighto”
I don't need such syht
Regis shouldered the useless and gentle encourage the sad courtyard behind
He went to the corridor before his rooht instead
He heard hu
”Hmm♪ hmm, hmm~♪”
”Huh?”
He peeked in fro room
There were eight long tables and 50 chairs arranged in rows
”Is this the officers’ dining hall?”
The stony walls gave off a rugged i the place ant
A
She was the one hu
Wearing a maid uniform with a red base, with her brown hair tied behind her She aying to the rhyth
She was about Regis' age
The lady's hazel eyes and lovely sht skin was really char when she worked
”Mmm mmm, hmm hmm~♪ la, lalala~ the lady maid just like Cinderella told the ht~♪”
She was singing now
Her tone was a bit off though
She twirled around and the food scraps fell to the ground Was she cleaning or dancing?
Their eyes met
She noticed Regis standing at the door
The maid became stiff
Her singing stopped
Regis felt the at tense
”Oh what a nice song”
”Eh, really?! You were ?”
”I didn't say I was moved”
”This is a popular song that is trending lately~”
”I see, but this is the first time I’ve heard it Is it popular in this fortress? Or is it famous in the streets of Tuonvell?”
”Wrong, it is trending in my heart!”
”So it's just you!”
”I came up with it just now”
”Didn't you say it's trending lately?”
Ignoring Regis' retort, thewith a smile
”Hufufu It's about a ranny with ical powers turns up It's really romantic”
He read a siis nodded
”Did the granny use ic to help the maid attend the party in the castle?”
”What story is that? The song is about the granny using combat spells to turn the mean master into an oily splat
”Where is the eleic Are you dissatisfied with your current treatment?”
Magic was just so from fairy tales, so it was just a joke But he could feel the darkness in her heart from this tale
The maid smiled dryly
”Ahaha, that's not it The princess is a good child The battles are terrifying, but it is safe inside the fortress It is just that the future looks a bit grim”
She was a ue
She followed the proper etiquette and introduced herself again
”I a the princess, Clarisse Please address me as 'hey' or 'wench'”
”I won't use such ayou!? Hah~ Allow is Auric”
”Yes! I heard a lot about you from the princess”
”Really? What did you hear?”
”Letting the princess use the only blanket in a blizzard, and sharing your bread with her And facing the grey wolves courageously, things like that I think your actions are outstanding”
”You flatterelse?”
”You are also worse at swordsmanshi+p than a child, and a loser who spends all his money on books~”
”Sorry”
He shouldn't have pressed on
Clarisse smiled as if she had no ill intentions
”Is there any way I can be of service? Contrary to how I look, I a”
She meant no harm Probably
”Do you knohoofficer is? Have you heard?”
”I don't know about things like that”
”You are right Then Altina Ah, no Can you tell me where the princess is?”
”Fufu I know about the nicknaht But please restrain yourself if people other than me or the princess are present”
”I see Very few people have permission to address her this way?”
I have to be careful of the knights in the courtyard, Regis thought
”I think she granted e The only other person would be her mother?”
That's fewer than he thought
Regis felt more confusion than joy
”Then Why?”
”Are you asking why the princess has few friends? That's because of her character~”
”What an evil tongue That's not what I meant, why did she allowfor royalty to be asked their naon driver I am probably not the first commoner she is acquainted with”
Clarisse tilted her head
”I don't knohat the princess is thinking Did she think of you as a confidant? Despite how it looks, she is in a difficult position”
”Confidant”
”Yes, the same level of trust she has in her mother”
”Is that so”
Regis recalled his irl
Because he bought a really expensive book— she asked whether he was an idiot— was that related?
Clarisse waved her hands with a smile
”Mah, you tend to ~”
”You conclude her trust in me is a 'mistake of youth'?! I can't prove otherwise, but isn't it too early to judge it so?”
”I' I say Seereat impact on you”
”Don't tease me”
”Because if I say it with Evrard and friends, they will just reply 'yeah, a Goddess!’, a really vague answer”
”Ah, that's what the knight commander will do”
Regis sht commander he met in the courtyard
Back on topic, he asked for Altina's whereabouts again
Clarisse gazed at the clock on the wall
”She's out She will be back in a while”
”Out of the fortress? That's early if she went to town She has a serious character so she probably didn't go out to play Is she hunting or scouting?”
”So like that By the way— everyone has taken their breakfast, what about you, Mr Regis?”
”Thank you, I was about to faint froer”
”I see, it will be harsh~ There is quite some time before lunch”
”Why is the scene where you offer ?!”
”Ahaha, can't be helped, it's a special service this time”
Although Clarisse was aaround, she was quick with her work, bringing out some food in no time
It was soft bread and vegetable steith chicken meat
It was a luxurious meal since they were on the front lines
”A”
”Please enjoy your meal”
Clarisse continued her chores with a smile She hummed as she cleaned the tables with a duster
Regis enjoyed his breakfast leisurely
As Regis was finishi+ng his late breakfast—
Altina showed up at the dining hall
”Ara, Regis It's great that you are alive”
”Thanks to you”
Altina didn't dress up like a wagon driver or wear her sword today
She had put on a one piece dress with laces, equipped with auntlets and shoulder protectors
She had a snohite coat under her arm, that was taken by the maid Clarisse with a bow
”Welcome back princess”
”Thank you Clarisse Can I have some tea please?”
”Understood”
Clarisse bowed again and left quietly
Surprisingly, she was acting like a maid seriously
Altina sat to the opposite of Regis
”Hah, it's no good today too”
”I heard you were out?”
”I was patrolling the streets So caravans appeared”
”I heard about that on my journey too The probability of bandit attacks rises the further away from central you are”
The deterioration of security in toas one of the reasons of price inflation It had caused failed deliveries and additional costs of hiring armed escorts
”It's difficult for the caravans and the citizens”
”Have you heard ru attack by the barbarians?”
”What is the situation really like? I can't find relevant evidence here so I am not sure either It is impossible for the soldiers stationed in the fortress to protect all the caravans”
”That's why the co The time when you just wake up and its cold”
”Because everyone hates that shi+ft, so the commander should lead by example”
”Oh That's impressive”
”I didn't really want to patrol It will be best if the bandits just disappear!”
”I think so too”
The books would be cheaper if it becomes safer
Altina used her entire vocabulary of sords to curse the hiding bandits
After she was done, Regis changed the topic
”By the way, I want to greetofficer Who will that be? Has it been decided?”
”Co officer You mean the leader of the admin officers?”
”Yes”
”There are none”
”No commissioned admin officers want me?”
”Hmm Apart from you, there are no other admin officers in this fortress”
Regis sat stiff because he couldn’t co
Regis squeezed out some words after a while
” What did you say?”
”This regirave Jerome Jean de Beilscho”
”What is going on? Can they fight a ith only coe of the accounts and resupplies? The battle reports? Tax collection and submission?”
”The Margrave's Cha it”
Cha care of the estate of nobles
They handled the collection of tax within the territory and the purchase and sale of goods They even handled the distribution of salary for the servants They were often tapped on to handle accounting works, so there was no problee amounts of paperwork
”What an outstanding Charave house Was he an ex admin officer?”
Docuis spent two years in military academy to learn the ropes
While Regis was feeling impressed
Altina shook her head
”We receive letters of complaint every month because of the errors, and the inspectors even came to audit us”
”What?! How could this be Is this really the Belgarian Empire?”
”The ones originally stationed here are Jerome's private army”
”I think I read that in a book When nment to the borders was confirs”
” You are really weird Normally, you will feel annoyed about the place you are banished to”
”Do you feel annoyed?”
”I Have a goal”
Altina stuttered uncharacteristically
Regis felt it yesterday too, she was hiding so
She dd not say it because she judged that it wasn't appropriate Regis stopped this line of thought
”From the books and rumors, I know about Jero the admin officers out are less widespread What happened?”
”I asked him before But he didn't tell me Because Jerome dislikes me”
”He dislikes you?
Altina nodded with a frail expression
”If a young girl becole you were not involved in, you will dislike that girl too right?”
”So that's why”
The new co was a common scene
Norinal commander would be posted to another unit But Altina was a novice while Sierck Fortress was a strategic position in the north ItJerome aas too stupid of a move to make
Altina looked dissatisfied
”If the regi the citizens, I have no intentions to butt in”
”I didn't know there were no admin officers”
”Jero either”
Both of thehed
Clarisse brought a white porcelain tea pot with two cups
She placed the cups down and poured a translucent red liquid in
The fragrance of the tea was strong
”Sorry for the wait princess Soar for you?”
It was being used casually, but red tea leaves, sugar and porcelain wares were high class items in the empire It was impossible for them to be military issues items, so they must be the princess' personal stash
”Thank you Clarisse”
”You are welcois?”
”You prepared my share too? Thank you”
”What are you saying? I' about your plans for the future”
”Ugh”
Thean innocent face
”Ahaha, that is an important question”
Regis’ plans for the future was a difficult question; he scratched his head and thought
”Erm~, why did Jerome send the admin officers away? There is a need to understand this”
”That's good, but do you want to help me with my job?”
”Anything that I can help you with?”
He re that she would work him really hard
”I need your help with an i!!”
”So you have been patrolling”
”Yes Both the merchants and the citizens are troubled by this; it's a pain for the soldiers too Can you think of a way to resolve this? Regis, you are a tactician right?”
”No I am not a tactician”
”You can't do it?”
”I mean I am not a tactician, but I do have a plan What are the manpower and time frame available?”
Altina poked her index finger together, fidgeting and said:
”For the ti rao, but they didn't stir up too much trouble so there was no rush The problem is the available troops”
”Only a small part is available?”
”Will it be okay if it is just me?”
”Huh? What are you saying?”
”I am confident in my swordsmanshi+p”
”I know you are strong, but there are a lot of bandits If you e to nab a couple, the rest would have fled”
”Ugugu You are right”