Conscription 3

After electing the vice captain, I took Vercil Gowland aside for a private conversation.

As the captain, it felt only right that I say a few words to her.

“Haha, congratulations. You’ve finally got your hands on some authority.”

“…Please stop joking.”

Well, I just wanted to lighten the mood since she seemed to be taking the vice-leader position a bit too seriously.

Well, the second-in-command does need to have a serious side.

“Versil Gowland.”

“Yes, speak.”

“Starting today, you are our clan’s Vice-Leader. When I am not here, you must lead the clan in my stead. Everyone will help you, but the final judgment must be yours, and you must bear the responsibility for the outcome.”

“I know…”

Judging by her expression, she wasn’t taking this lightly. It put me at ease, and I felt confident she would handle the vice-captain’s duties diligently without cutting any corners.

Good. In that case…

I don’t need to give a long speech.

In the end, I decided not to bother with the advice I’d planned beforehand. For someone who already understood the weight of the position, what she needed was trust and encouragement.

“You’ll do well.”

“…….”

“Let’s go, everyone is waiting.”

With that, I patted her on the shoulder a few times and brought our private conversation to an end. We then rejoined the others and formally began the clan meeting.

Well, calling it a “meeting” might be overselling it. Honestly, it felt more like a bunch of criminals huddling together to make sure their stories matched before talking to the police.

“Since we prepared in advance, this part shouldn’t be a big problem.”

“Prepared?”

“We had no idea how long we’d be stuck outside the city walls, so we went ahead and told everyone that the clan was heading out for a special training camp.”

The idea of the entire clan engaging in special training for more than two months was certainly suspicious. But if that was the official story we had decided on, what could anyone really say?

In fact, many clans operated private underground training grounds of their own. Technically, using skills in those facilities was just as illegal as using them anywhere else in the city, but training in public facilities meant exposing their techniques to everyone. So most clans chose to practice their tactics and strategies in private, and the city more or less turned a blind eye to it.

“To be honest, it doesn’t matter what excuse we give. As long as we respond to the mobilisation order on time, they have no grounds to question us. It doesn’t matter where we are for two or three months; that’s not illegal.”

Well, that’s the truth.

This city respects freedom as long as you pay taxes and follow the law.

The key was simply not getting caught for having gone outside the walls.

Okay, that’s settled then…

After that, we spent some time discussing our future plans.

“From here on, your role becomes important, Captain.”

“Mine?”

“You’ll be the clan’s voice within the military command.”

“So you’re telling me to pull strings so we get assigned somewhere safe in the rear.”

“Yes, that’s right. Though, of course, it all depends on your disposition.”

“My disposition…?”

Wasn’t I fairly normal? Well… I did like hitting more than getting hit.

“Many will see this war as an opportunity.”

Ah, so that’s what she meant.

“You could try putting us in positions that give us a better chance at earning military achievements. Even if it’s a bit more dangerous than the rear—.”

There was no need to hear more.

“It’s fine. I’m not interested in that,” I cut her off firmly. “What matters is that no one gets seriously hurt and everyone makes it back alive. That alone is enough. So don’t push yourself—got it?” Since this was the most important part, I met each member’s gaze one by one.

“Don’t worry. I understand exactly what you mean, Captain,” Versyl, the last one to meet my eyes, spoke with clear confidence.

“Good, that’s all I need.”

That eased my mind a little.

***

After roughly sorting out our plans, we finally left the sewers and entered the city.

The roads were completely empty because everyone had already been evacuated.

However, the closer we got to the Bifron walls, the more people we encountered along the way.

“…….”

“…….”

They weren’t civilians selling fruit or going about everyday tasks, but adventurers and soldiers—people who made their living by fighting.

It didn’t take long before they began whispering about us.

“Bjorn, son of Jandel.”

“That’s the Anabada Clan……”

“I heard they went for some kind of group training…”

“Then are they only now confirming the mobilization order and joining the war?”

The adventurers didn’t come up to us; instead, they backed away to clear the path, whispering quietly as we went by.

Most of them reacted positively to seeing us.

“I’m so relieved I got assigned to District Seven.”

“Indeed. If they are protecting the front line with us, it feels reassuring already.”

In the chaos of war, a powerful ally was the most dependable thing there was. Even those who would usually look at us with envy or jealousy seemed glad to see us.

“…I heard he doesn’t abandon his comrades.”

“I hope that reputation is true.”

“Those higher-ups wouldn’t bat an eye even if a thousand like us died.”

“But with Baron Jandel here, it’s reassuring.”

Thinking about it, it was a natural reaction.

I was the only noble still active as an explorer, so it was only natural that I cared about District Seven, where my clan lived.

The explorers around here must feel like they have a powerful ally.

“Nia Raphdonia!”

As we walked towards the city wall, a group of knights who had heard the news rushed over and saluted us from a distance.

“We greet Baron Jandel!”

“Your affiliation?”

“Muellen Byle, commander of the Fourth Palace Knight Order and leader of the Iron Wall Guard.”

The knight didn’t waste time asking questions in front of everyone.

“If it’s not too much trouble, could you come with us for a moment? The commander was very pleased to hear of your appearance.”

“Who is the Commander?”

“It is the 3rd Commander, Eltora Terserion.”

Right, that Marquis’s son.

No, to be precise…

[My son… Eltora Tercerion is already dead. What now possesses my son’s body is some nameless evil spirit.]

The evil spirit that had taken over his son’s body, and the same one that deserted us during the Ice Rock Expedition.

‘With a bastard like that sitting in the commander’s seat, it’s no wonder the country’s a mess.’

“Um… Baron?”

“I understand. Lead the way.”

As it wasn’t possible to talk in the middle of the street with everyone watching, I followed the knight to the command center positioned at the central section below the city wall. It seemed they had set up their base in the biggest inn near the wall.

“Could the others please wait on the first floor?”

“Vercil, over here. You’re coming with me.”

“Um… that is…”
‘

 

The knight who brought us here looked as though he wanted to stop Versyl from coming along, but he kept quiet after what I said next.

“She’s my clan’s vice-captain. It would be better if she were present as well.”

“Yes, then this way…”

The knight then led us to a guest room on the third floor, where someone I hadn’t seen in a long while was waiting.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Baron Jandel.”

Ha. This bastard.

He’s become even more arrogant since I last saw him.

“Please sit.”

He didn’t even hold a noble title, yet he acted arrogantly just because he was a commander.

Feeling irritated for some reason, I plopped down on the sofa, only for it to collapse beneath me with a loud crack.

“I’ll… just stand behind you.” With that, Vercyl stood behind me.

It was only then that the Marquis’s son… or rather, the bastard, seemed to register her presence and frowned at the knight who guided us.

“I said not to let anyone else in, didn’t I?”

“He said… she was the Anabada Clan’s Vice-Captain…”

“Hmm, the Vice-Leader…”

At first, the bastard looked ready to throw her out, but then he paused, bringing a hand to his chin as he seemed to reconsider his decision.

I was beginning to understand why salespeople from small businesses were promoted so quickly. Even if a title was mostly for show, there was a huge difference between having one and not.

“The Vice-Captain and I have no secrets between us, so speak freely.”

“No secrets..?”

“Hmm, very well, I understand. Miss Gowland? You may remain here.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“By the way, it must be tough.”

What the hell is this bastard saying? Has he forgotten that I’d beaten him up before?

Seeing him puff up just because he got a little power was pathetic, so I quickly got to the point.

“So why did you call for me?”

“How could I not call for you, Baron Jandel, when you suddenly showed up after disappearing? Besides, didn’t you come in response to the mobilization order?”

“Well, that’s true. I was in an isolated area with no outside contact and only received the conscription order recently.”

“Could I ask where this isolated place was?”

“Nothing much. I was undergoing intensive training at a private training ground.”

An answer that anyone would find suspicious, but openly showing doubt toward a noble like me would be a serious mistake.

“…Haha, is that so?”

 

As expected, he didn’t press the issue, and the topic was closed.

“By the way, this is my first time dealing with a situation like this, so could you tell me what’s going to happen next?”

“Ah, yes. Your situation is quite unusual, Baron.”

“That’s what I heard.”

“First, under the Explorer Special Act, the entire Anabada Clan will be temporarily attached to our 3rd Corps and will operate under our orders.”

“And what about me?”

“For now, wyou will be incorporated into the Military Command of the Imperial Capital, Karnon, and your assignment will be decided there. Well, most titled nobles are stationed with the rear strategy teams, but on rare occasions they are deployed to the frontlines.”

“Oh? That’s possible?”

“If the noble personally wishes it, or if their abilities are required at the front, then yes.’

It was information I hadn’t heard from Kaislan.

“So, does that mean I can also remain here with the 3rd Corps?”

“Hmm, in that case, the Baron would have to follow my instructions. Is that acceptable?”

“I don’t mind.”

“If so, I would welcome it… but for now, it would be better to go to the Military Command and discuss it directly. I do not have the authority to arbitrarily incorporate a titled noble such as yourself, Baron Jandel.”

“Tch. So I’ll have to stop by the Imperial Capital, Karnon, first.”

“It’s likely the Military Command has already been notified. You can head there right away. A person will be waiting for you after you take the military magic circle.”

“I see.”

“Understood. But what the hell happened? I rushed over as soon as I heard the news, so I don’t have any information yet.”

He let out a sigh. “I don’t even know where to start. Long story short, the Noarkans who had seized Bifron set out on their own. They marched as if the imperial capital were their target, so all available forces were mobilised to stop them. We even had to deploy the Magic Weapon to drive them back to Bifron, which we managed to do today.”

“Magic Weapon?”

“Ah, you might not know this since you’ve never served in the military. In a way, it represents the true power of the royal family. A single shot can tear the sky apart and shake the earth. After seeing it in action, I can say that wasn’t an exaggeration.”

 

So, the royal family’s version of a nuclear missile?

Hard to tell just from the description…

Was the vibration I felt earlier in the sewers caused by that ‘magical weapon’?

I was seized by an inexplicable sense of frustration.

It felt like peeling an onion without end, one layer after another, only for more layers to appear. If the palace were my enemy, my future began to look increasingly bleak.

Still, one thing was positive.

‘If they are this strong, they should be able to hold off the Noark bastards well enough.’

Perhaps the ‘incident’ recorded in the record stone doesn’t happen here and now. Perhaps the palace would easily crush the Noarkans, drive them out and restore peace.

‘…That might be too hopeful.’

Sigh. If it weren’t for goblin’s intuition, I could have relaxed a little.

“Ah, we’ve just received word from the military command: You’re urgently summoned to Karnon, Lord Baron. Someone will be there to receive you when you use the military magic circle.”

“I see.”

As I stood up, the bastard spoke to me like he was my superior.

“Before you go, is there anything you’d like to ask… or anything you’d like to say?”

Ah. That.

“There’s no way I don’t.”

I’d already decided that there was one thing I had to say before leaving.

Yeah. So…

“Eltora Tertcerion.”

I walked up close and whispered into his ear.

“I know what you did at the Ice Rock expedition.”

Whether it was the Marquis’s order or not, this bastard abandoned us as the frontline commander at the time.

He must not have expected me to say it to his face, because his shoulder twitched in shock.

Regardless, I continued my words.

“So, do a good job.”

“There won’t be a second chance.”

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