The general, who had been watching me and the Western Army soldiers, said,
“Come in.”
The Western Army soldiers entered the office first, and I sighed.
‘Since the Original Knight came personally to report, they won’t take it lightly.’
Those involved in the illegal knighting would face the full weight of the law.
I was just about to enter the room when Silin’s voice came from behind.
“You’re more foolish than I thought.”
“...”
Turning around, Silin smiled faintly.
“You tried to embezzle Central Army funds to launch the ghoul extermination. I was going to punish you properly, but there’s no need now.”
“Do as you please. There will be no punishment.”
“What did you say?”
Silin’s face twisted.
“The Central General agreed on it, so there’s no problem.”
“My seal as Central Army’s chief wasn’t on that decision!”
“Then take it to military law.”
“No need for that anymore.”
Silin slowly approached me.
Then she smiled and lightly brushed my shoulder.
“Ghoul extermination is a dangerous mission risking soldiers’ lives.”
“...”
“The Western Army is already short on numbers, yet the Original Knight of the Western Army directly accuses her knights. Amazing.”
“...”
“The Western Army is pitiful. The Original Knight who should protect the troops even removed her comrades who watch her back.”
She meant my defeat was inevitable.
Silin whispered kindly.
“Use the stolen funds from the Central Army for the Western Army soldiers’ equipment. Consider it alms for the poor Western Army.”
Silin turned away with an arrogant smile.
I grabbed her hand firmly.
“What are you doing!”
“You seem to really like giving advice, so here’s some advice from me.”
“Hey.”
“Don’t touch others without permission. What if you end up like some generals, caught and kicked out?”
“What a vulgar thing to say...!”
I released Silin’s hand and stepped close.
“I keep holding back and the situation keeps getting worse, so I feel bad. You bad bad bad.”
“W-What...!”
The Original Knights and knights’ faces went pale.
They were all young ladies and gentlemen from good families.
They’d never heard such harsh insults.
The Northern Army’s Original Knight nervously touched her earlobe as if wanting to wash her ears.
Sebastia, the Eastern Army’s Original Knight, opened her eyes wide.
Silin, who clearly grew up the most refined, stiffened.
I clasped my hands and smiled brightly.
“If that’s vulgar, this is what it means.”
“...!”
“Oh my, how scary.”
I smiled and said, “Well then.” before entering the room.
Through the mirror hanging inside, I saw Silin Chateaubriand trembling.
All involved in the illegal knighting were imprisoned.
So many were detained that gathering the remaining soldiers made the place look empty.
The soldiers running through the training ground glanced at Erilot on the platform.
“Is this really okay?”
“What?”
“The ghoul extermination is less than a week away, but so many people have been lost. It’s already dangerous.”
“True...”
“Do they have any sense? They should just quietly be mascots instead of making such foolish moves.”
As the men grumbled, one who was running ahead said quietly,
“Do you want those who got illegal knighting to keep running the show?”
It was Isez.
The murmuring men looked up sharply.
“No, I mean, did it have to be now? Couldn’t they wait until after the ghoul extermination?”
“If they did, we’d doubt the Original Knight’s sincerity.”
“...What?”
“They’d do nothing before the extermination, then accuse the knights afterward. Probably to bring in knights they like.”
“Isez.”
“─Don’t think that way.”
The murmuring men cleared their throats.
Other soldiers glanced at Isez and them.
Isez said quietly while running,
“It’s /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ because it’s before the ghoul extermination that it’s trustworthy.”
“Well...”
“That young Original Knight decided to change this army even if it costs her personal gain.”
“...”
“...”
The grumbling men quieted down.
The leading commanders shouted,
“Ten spots have opened up above! If you prove your skills, any of you can be knighted!”
“If you prove your skills now, the stairs to advancement will open for you!”
A bright fire gleamed in the soldiers’ eyes.
‘Good.’
I clenched my fists tightly.
The rotten, lifeless eyes of the soldiers now showed resolve.
Dad always prioritized morale above all.
That’s why Mosco’s elite unit always took the lead.
To prove to our troops the vast gap with the enemy.
That connected directly to morale, and Dad’s army never knew defeat.
Han Ji-hyuk beside me smiled.
“You kicked out those who took spots without skill and raised morale. Impressive.”
“But morale isn’t everything.”
“What?”
“Even with spirit, if skill is lacking, you can’t win.”
“...Are you really aiming for the championship?”
I looked at Han Ji-hyuk like he was crazy.
“Of course.”
“Oh my, I thought you gave up and reported the knights.”
“Why?”
“Because losing so many illegally knighted soldiers makes us extremely outnumbered!”
“We can fill the shortage.”
“They’re already cracking down on knights in other armies.”
“There’s always a way. Finding it is the commander’s job.”
First, I need to raise the skill of the holy knight Isez.
Depending on how much he improves, the number of holy knights needed decreases.
I grabbed the loudspeaker magic device and shouted,
“Training ends here. Everyone, gather at the platform!”
The running soldiers stopped with fiery eyes.
They quickly formed ranks before the platform.
‘So much faster than the first day.’
I turned and called,
“Gorgo.”
He popped out immediately.
‘Looks like he’s on edge.’
Knowing my specialty was reporting corruption, the walking embodiment of corruption, Gorgo, had good reason to be nervous.
I handed him the parchment.
“Reorganize the units as written. Each unit will train differently over the next four days.”
Gorgo nodded while reading.
He called out soldiers’ names via loudspeaker.
The soldiers looked confused as their roles changed.
Archers moved to spearmen, mage soldiers to cavalry, and so forth.
“I-I'm an archer?”
“No way! I’m a mage soldier, yet I’m supposed to protect the front wearing all this heavy gear?”
They all looked bewildered, but I was even more bewildered.
‘Magic is so weak it disappears mid-cast, yet someone with over 90% accuracy got assigned as a mage soldier?’
Who organized these units before was baffling.
After organizing, Gorgo asked,
“Should I leave the training to the new commanders?”
“No, I’ve already arranged guest instructors.”
“What?”
Gorgo and the soldiers looked puzzled.
I smiled slyly.
“Come in!”
Boys and girls wearing robes with the Astra emblem started entering the training ground.
“I’m Liantin Astra, in charge of monster studies for all units.”
Liantin flicked her curled hair back.
“I’ll lead the cavalry training. I’m Loreina Astra.”
Loreina, blessed with beast transformation to communicate with animals, looked utterly annoyed.
“Oh dear, training archers who can’t even feel the breath of the wind. This must be another trial from Grandfather... I’m Cristi Astra.”
My cousin, the black dragon, muttered weakly.
“I’ll lead the spearmen. I’m Elmen Astra, said to be the strongest in strength!”
“Next is Dionera. I’ll lead the mage soldiers. I’m Milan Astra.”
“Kara, Lizzy Astra. We’re twins teaching infantry the art of magic, right, Lizzy?”
“That’s right, Kara!”
The third generation direct descendants of Astra, known as the strongest among the empire’s youth.
They would make the Western Army capable over these four days.
And...
“Gasp!”
“That person...!”
The soldiers’ eyes widened when the last person entered.
While the other direct descendants kept a low profile, this person was different.
The last person approached Isez.
“You’re Isez Karam?”
“...Yes.”
“I’ll be your dedicated instructor. Erilot says she has high expectations for the only holy knight.”
. “...”
“Selene Astra.”
The owner of the strongest maternal love blessing.
A holy blessing unmatched even by the priests.
It was Selene Astra.
At that moment, the Central Army was passing the Western Army’s training ground.
Seeing their armor, they were likely moving to the barrier zone for blessing training.
The Central Army stirred greatly.
“Ah, the Astra emblem.”
“Are they entering the Western Army?”
“No way. The Duke of Astra wouldn’t send direct descendants to the Royal Army unless mad.”
Leading them was Central Original Knight Silin, glaring at me.
“Allowing family members into the palace without permission.”
I smiled.
“We got palace approval. They’re guests helping with training over the next four days.”
Silin’s mouth twisted.
“Good luck.”
Then she tilted her head to the side.
“I didn’t know the direct descendants got along so well. I wonder how great a lesson those ordered by the head of the family will give.”
The Astra direct descendants gathered and stared at the Central Original Knights.
Loreina, crossing her arms, stepped forward.
“It’s true we check each other within the family.”
“Please forget private family matters when training the Royal Army.”
That was exactly what Silin meant.
How great could education come from such feuding?
Both Duke Astra, who authorized the direct descendants, and Erilot Astra, who requested it, were equally foolish.
—That’s what she implied.
Beast fur sprouted on Loreina’s skin.
The direct descendants’ eyes darkened with Astra’s characteristic sharp and ominous aura.
Loreina said,
“We are Astra.”
“...”
“No matter what internal strife happens, we Astra are an immovable mountain to the enemy.”
Yes, we are Astra.
We are the beasts commanded by Chronos Astra.
Whenever the family head orders, we become one beast, sinking our teeth into the enemy’s neck.
I stepped down from the platform and gracefully approached the direct descendants.
Surrounded by the third generation direct descendants whose eyes glowed bright red like monsters, we stared down Silin.
I said,
“And Astra has never lost to the enemy.”
Silin’s face twisted.
She bit her lips and abruptly turned, walking away.
After the Central Army left, Loreina said,
“Don’t lose to that annoying Chateaubriand.”
“Of course.”
“...Trade white jade at half price as promised.”
“Of course.”
Thus the training began.
I drank tea, accompanied by the soldiers’ cries heard here and there.
“Hmmm~.”
Humming.
‘I don’t expect soldiers to gain incredible skills in just a few days.’
It’s enough if they can move properly under my command.
And at this year’s year-end festival, I will plant my family name on the winner’s banner.