………」「………」 It was the morning after a whole week (eight days) since our return to Capital Parnam .
Inside the governnt affairs office at Parnam Castle, the only sounds that could be heard was those of moving the pen and Liscia presenting the docunts .
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I had worked in the Dukedom Capital Van, but this workload, ever since my return to Parnam, wasn’t that much different either…… Not at all, or rather, it had multiplied .
Since the system of the Three Dukes had been dismantled, I need to reform the military imdiately .
Then, in order to have an equal relationship with the Empire, I need to expand the military, so I can oppose the threat from the Demon Lord’s Territory together with them…… so to speak, I have to『strengthen the military』[1] .
And that “Strengthen the Military” plan is, for sure, the 『United Army Plan』 that I had declared during the Final Counsel with the Three Dukes .
Looking at humanity’s history, a “strong soldier (in this case, it has the aning of an army)” might be a mobile army corps .
In short, whether or not we have the ability to send essential military forces to important positions quickly .
[2]In practice, our complete victory in the battle against Amidonia was also because we were able to take up positions on the predicted battlefield earlier than our enemy .
Since we arrived earlier, we would have had plenty of rest and were able to battle with the totally exhausted enemy .
If we had arrived at the sa ti instead, then our fatigue levels would be similar and although the Amidonian Army’s numbers were a bit inferior, it would result in a battle with no retreat for them, so they would have held out considerably longer .
If this happened, then the Kingdom Army would have surely had a harder fight .
Then, so that we are able to gain this mobility, together with the road improvents, I need to remove the fence between the Royal Army, the Kingdom Army, the Navy, and the Air Force; unite them under the sa command; and create a structure that is able to move the whole army imdiately .
This is the 『United Army Plan』 .
The Royal Army with the Kingdom Army, Navy, and Air Force, together with the disassembled Nobles’ Army, the Nobles’ private soldiers attached to Royal Army, will be reorganized to create the 『Elfrieden Kingdom Defense Force』 (or EDF for short)[3] .
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Well, the abbreviation does give “that” sort of impression[4], but for the people of this world, my complex feelings about the na wouldn’t be able to be transmitted to them .
By the way, it seems that this world has giant ants .
Now, let’s return to the previous topic .
Of course there is a worry that by establishing the EDF, it could draw resistance from each army, but by conducting rebellions, the Kingdom Army and the Air Force have lost their voices, so there weren’t any problem in this area anymore .
Even so, since Glaive and Tormann, the people that I entrusted to take charge for both of their armies were also cooperating in this endeavor .
Then, the Navy, that made no mistakes for choosing our side, also wouldn’t resist too much, since I decided to appoint the Navy Admiral, Excel, as the EDF’s Commander in Chief[5] (the person herself dislikes to be put in such a high position, but since I said to her that it was only until Ludwin gains enough experience, she reluctantly accepted it) .
The troubleso one was the Nobles’ Army .
They are attached to the Royal Army, but the right to command them rested on the Nobles’ side, a very troubleso army corps to handle .
In this world where dangerous wild creatures, monsters (although before the Demon Lord Army appeared, they only existed inside dungeons), bandits, pirates, and brigands exist, it was necessary for each territory to gather so forces to police the land .
That’s why, the nobles, who held territories, trained a private army that have the duty of guarding the safety of the territory .
It was just that, at this present point in ti in this country, that their numbers were too excessive .
This was the influence of the territorial expansion focus of the King from two generations ago .
At that ti, obtaining military exploits in the battlefield was the shortest and quickest way to fa, so the Nobles even conscripted their fiefs’ population to assemble private armies .
Military power would increase even if it was through conscripting amateurs, but isn’t won’t it have zero aning if the productivity falls down as a result……?
Eventually, even though the previous ruler, King Albert, had moved away from the expansion focus, the enlarged Nobles’ Army had been left as it was .
That is why, right now, I am working to break up the Nobles’ Army, leaving only the minimum number sufficient enough to police the territory .
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For the people who were conscripted, although they have occupations, they will be released and receive a severance paynt upon discharge .
For the people who showed any interest in joining the EDF, then if they show good promise by passing the exams then they would be enlisted .
After that, I will work to appoint talented people to suitable positions (the personnel composition had been decided by the military authorities of Excel, Glaive and Ludwin, my job was just looking at the plans they made and giving my seal of approval) .
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「………」「………」
During the work, Liscia and I didn’t exchange even one word .
What an unpleasant situation…… No, this unpleasantness might only be felt by one-sidedly .
Liscia was behaving normally .
That day, even after I told her that Georg Carmine had committed suicide inside the prison, Liscia didn’t make any changes in her expression .
While being expressionless, she only muttered a tiny 「I see……」 .
It didn’t an that I expected her to lose her composure .
It also didn’t an that I expected her to bla either .
My relationship with her is not that shallow to the extent where I don’t know that she isn’t that kind of person .
However, I never expected that she would still behave normally even until now .
I thought that at least her expression would beco gloomy to so degree .
Not only did she not feel any anguish or any sadness, Liscia was acting as if nothing ever happened .
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This put at lost for words .
If it like this, then it will be better if she at least said even one complaint…… 『Why didn’t you do anything to help Duke Carmine!
』 ……Yeah . This hypothetical situation wasn’t any better .
Just imagining the scene of Liscia scorning was depressing for .
Then, if she just hit to finally wipe the slate clean…… But in this case, the one who should be worried will be instead, right?
Really…… What am I doing?
I had boasted to Georg,「No matter what happens, I will protect my family」, but in the first place I couldn’t protect the girl closest to .
「Souma .
」(Liscia)「Eh, ah, what is it?
」(Souma) I looked at the one who called .
It was Liscia, who slightly tilted her head .
「Your pen stopped .
」(Liscia)「……Ah, sorry .
」(Souma) Not good…… I need to pull myself together .
I once again returned to my work .
Let’s finish the things in front of right now .
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Perhaps, one day, ti will fix this .
While thinking like this and working, soone knocked on the door .
「Co in」 I called out to the door, 「Excuse 」, Serina-san the grand chambermaid entered .
「I ca to inform Your Majesty that the preparations have been finished .
」(Serina)「I understand .
」(Souma) After stopping our work, I put on the kingly mantle and then we headed to the audience room together .
This day was the Comndation Day for the people that had perford distinguished services in the war against Amidonia .
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「Glaive Magna .
I comnd you for your loyalty and the great deeds that we have been indebted to .
To reward that loyalty, I confer to you the territory of Randell and its surroundings .
」(Souma)「Yes, Your Majesty .
I am grateful for this blessing .
」(Glaive)「Yes .
This is just temporary, but I bestow to you a part of Forr Supre Army General Georg’s authority to you .
Until the ti cos for the Elfrieden Defense Force’s reorganization, please adeptly unite the Kingdom Army .
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」(Souma)「Yes, Your Majesty .
These old bones will certainly strive to et Your Majesty’s expectations .
」(Glaive) In front of , who stood out from the throne and granted an award with a pompous tone, was Hal’s father, Glaive, prostrating himself .
Since it’s not being deliberately broadcasted, I actually disliked this formal ambience .
However, since the State Secretary was recording my each and every word and action, I needed to act “Kingly” like this .
So that the people in the future wouldn’t belittle when they read the historical records, that was what my retainer, Marcus, had been telling repeatedly .
Honestly, I don’t really care about the posthumous evaluation .
◇ ◇ ◇ In the battle with the Amidonia Dukedom, Elfrieden Kingdom didn’t obtain any territory, but the Kingdom succeed in obtaining a large sum of indemnity money .
Furthermore, the Kingdom collected ransom money from Zem for the captured rcenaries, and seized the territory and the assets from the dishonest nobles .
The dissolution of the Carmine Duchy and Vargas Duchy had also been decided upon .
Compared with the profits from the war, the reward received by the soldiers was considerably small .
It was because most of the mobilized soldiers in the war ca from the KIngdom Army and the Air Force .
Since they had been incriminated with allegations of rebellion, this war was a battle for them to clear this incrimination, so there was no talk about any other rewards .
Also, the Nobles’ Army attached to the Royal Army, that was just waiting on the sideline during the Three Dukes campaign, and were mostly abstained from fighting in the war against Amidonia, so they also didn’t receive any rewards .
They had missed the chance to get in on this sweet tale, but this is reaping what they sow .
So the ones who needed to be rewarded were only the Royal Army’s Kings Guard and the Navy .
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The Nobles, who were of Knight peer or higher, that had joined both of the armies were bestowed with territories, but these territories ca from the dishonest nobles or were created from the dissolution of the Carmine Duchy and the Vargas Duchy, so it was a good contrivance .
Nobles lower than Knight peerage would receive a monetary bonus .
Then for today, those who had accomplished an outstanding achievent would be rewarded personally by .
The contents for those rewards were typically peerage or territory, but if they desired sothing other than these, then they could ntion this directly to the King .
If the King could accomplish it and appropriate with rit that they had obtained, then the King might grant it .
They even could ask for money or rare items possessed by the Royal Family .
In the past, by using this arrangent, a knight requested the hand of the Princess he loved, or a person would make a direct appeal to expose a vice noble .
Since this was a situation where any kind of request might co out, it was decided to not to make any broadcast using the Royal Voice Broadcast Orb .
[6] Then, these were the people who will receive the comndations this ti .
The one who switched sides from the Kingdom Army and led it in the war against Amidonia, Glaive Magna .
The Lord of Altomura who had delayed the Amidonian Army, Wyst Garrow .
Similarly, the Commander of the Marine who delayed the Amidonian Army in the Goldoa[7] Valley, Juna Doma .
Lastly, the one who led the reinforcents to the battle at Randell’s outskirt, the Chief of the Dark Elves of the God-Protected Forest, Wodan Utgard[8] (Aisha’s father) .
Actually, the one with the most ritorious deeds should be the Navy Admiral, Excel Walter, but at the present situation, she had “already used up” that rit, so she won’t received anymore rewards .
Moreover, before giving the rewards for the aforentioned five people, Aisha, who had been protecting as an “uninvited bodyguard” until now, was bestowed with the newly created position of 『Da of the East Wind (東風Kochi)』[9] .
The difference between this position and the previous one was that previously, she was treated just as a rcenary that was employed out of my own pocket money, but from now, on she would be treated like a Knight that will receive wages from the country .
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By the way, the origin of this 『Da of the East Wind (東風 Kochi)』 was from imitating the nickna of Xu Chu, the leader of Cao Cao’s elite bodyguards[10], which is 『Foolish Tiger (虎痴 Kochi)』[11] .
Since the origin of this na was because he was 『a fool who was as strong as a tiger』, I change the letters into 「East Wind (東風 Kochi)」 .
The aning was that, when I called “East Wind” (東風 Kochi)…… She would co this way (こちKochi) .
[12] When I congratulated Aisha, who had been appointed as Da of the East Wind, by granting her with an 【Impregnable Gauntlet】(A gauntlet that had been enchanted with physical and magical damage resistance effects, from the castle’s treasure warehouse .
Although, originally it was going to be a shield that suited her position’s image, however, since Aisha uses a Great Sword, it was replaced with this gauntlet), she held it tightly to her chest while speaking in tears and fumbling her words, 『Hiks…… Your Majesty…… for …… . t-thank you very mach!
So that I can keep protecting Your Majesty’s safety, please put beside Your Magestiiiii……!
』 No, I know that she is happy…… But isn’t that too… you know, over…?
After seeing her behave like this, the other people in the room made wry smiles .
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「Wyst . We are grateful for the great deeds you have done in your duty to induce Amidonia .
As the Lord of Altomura, from hereafter, be diligent to keep the peace of the realm .
」(Souma)「Yes Your Majesty .
I am still lacking, but I will strive to serve the duties I receive .
」(Wyst) I finished bestowing the rewards for Wyst, who ca after Glaive .
Wyst will receive the southern territory from the forr Carmine Duchy .
Since his original territory was already a very fertile agricultural region, combined with the new territory, he suddenly sprung up into a very influential noble .
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n the last war, he had to endure the disgrace of playing as a small fry in front of Gaius and Julius .
I must reward this deed .
Then, the next person would be the one who dispatched the dark elves reinforcent to the battle at Randell’s outskirt, Aisha’s father, Wodan Utgard .
This reinforcent was not sothing that was even predicted by Hakuya or .
I knew the battle prowess that the dark elves had, but they should have been busy with the reconstruction from the landslide, and in the first place, they didn’t have any desire to ddle with events that happened outside of their forest, so I thought that it would be futile to request for their cooperation .
However, contradicting our predictions, Wodan-san’s group arrived at the battlefield as reinforcents for our side .
I had heard from Hal, that the dishonest nobles took out the cannon without permission and wantonly fired it, so this reinforcent was really an fortunate miscalculation .
I t halfway with Wodan and shook hands with him to show him my gratitude .
「I am very grateful .
Even while being in a dire tis yourself, you had admirably co as reinforcents for us .
」(Souma)「How could it be .
We, the Dark Elves tribe, couldn’t just not repay our debt of favor .
During those tis of calamity, when Your Majesty had personally led the relief party, we had been reminded of the connection we had with the outside world .
」(Wodan)「It is such joyful news .
It is as if I once again felt the origin of this country’s founding day when various races united their hands together .
If you have sothing that you desire, by all ans, please tell .
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」(Souma)
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