Here is a new chapter. Enjoy.

"Hmmm…We gathered more troops than expected huh?" (Almis)

I'm looking at the troops that responded to our recruitment.

We're in the middle of examinations. We gathered 700 people for just 530 slots.

I'm honestly surprised.

I thought they'd be put off by war since they've been subjected to it for how many years by King Ferrum.

It appears that thought is wrong.

There seems to be certain patterns prevalent here.

First, those men subjected to long conscriptions and made to become completely accustomed to army life. Then their lord, King Ferrum dies. They are told to come back to their homes only to find out their fields have already been seized by someone else. As they rush to figure out what to do, this recruitment announcement falls into their laps.

Second, those who think "I really can't stand farming! If they'll pay me then I'll just go join the army!!"

Third, "I'll become successful and be distinguished!"

I honestly thought of slas.h.i.+ng the number of slots so this was unexpected, but if you think about it clearly then it might have become like this.

In the Adernia Peninsula, war is a familiar existence not unlike a storm.

It seems the compet.i.tion is also fierce in the exams.

People who originally came from the army wanted this.

They seem to be familiar with things like military formations so the successful should end up being selected purely by physical strength and age.

My planned composition for the Ars Army is a mixture of 500 hoplites, 200 bowmen, and 100 cavalry.

I've already secured the required cavalry, so the remaining would be the hoplites and the bowmen.

Having said that, I should leave the examinations to Bolus, Ron, and Gram.

"Hey, Leader. Do we have room to hire 800 soldiers? I heard King Ferrum had heavily taxed up until recently. Furthermore, we would not draft but hire, yes? Would our finances be fine?" (Ron)

"I'm hesitating to say we have leeway, but it's not like we're in distress tax-wise." (Almis)

"Why?" (Ron)

Well, it's bothering you, huh.

Then Tetra, please explain.

"Understood. Ron, do you know the reason why King Ferrum had a hard time??" (Tetra)

"Uhm, is it because the Ars Territory was poor? But that doesn't change with the leader, right? ….I don't understand." (Ron)

"First, subsidiary aid. There are lords in the Rosyth Kingdom that does not border any foreign country. They don't need to maintain soldiers. In exchange, they have a duty to pay the Rosyth Kingdom a certain amount of wheat. That wheat would be fairly divided to the clans with external borders. That's why they are not as distressed as King Ferrum." (Tetra) (TL Note: King Ferrum lost this privilege when he broke away, but Almis and co regained this as a restored border territory.)

"I see…But I still think 800 people be too much." (Ron)

Tetra then shows Ron some paper.

We've already adopted a system of ma.s.s producing paper. It's a system where not only widows, but also specialists and farmers who want extra income partic.i.p.ate.

"The second is this. Paper accounts for 60% of the Ars Territory's income. We sell them to Cretian merchants. We have them pay us with Cretian metalwork, Persis gla.s.sware, or oriental spices in corresponding value. We then sell these goods to Adernian merchants and the kingdom's various clans who we have pay in wheat or salt. With this system, our territory can pay for 800 men's wages." (Tetra)

"I see." (Ron)

Somehow, Ron has come to understand.

By the way, we certainly also have various clansmen of the De Morgal Kingdom as our clients. Although we couldn't identify them as such because they don't come in person.

Well, even if they're an enemy, they're a customer so long as they pay. Those high-cla.s.s goods won't become military power anyway so its fine to sell as many of them as possible.  It's something like s.n.a.t.c.h away and exhaust the other party's wheat by selling.

If I may also add one reason, unlike King Ferrum, we managed to get rid of embezzlement by the village chiefs. Although it's a little insignificant.

Well then, let's go to Roswald now that Ron seems to have understood. It's the real issue at hand for today.

"Roswald" (Almis)

"Yes, what is it?" (Roswald)

"Actually, the 100 horses and 50 battle slaves we ordered from Ains are scheduled to come today." (Almis)

As expected, even Ains had difficulty suddenly procuring that many horses. Although I'm surprised that he still managed to prepare them in such a short time.

"And?" (Roswald)

"I want to entrust to you the command of the cavalry. In other words, I want you to be in charge of the 50 battle slaves." (Almis)

"Why me? I think Bolus-san has more experience than me, right?" (Roswald)

I answer his question.

"First, Bolus has no experience commanding cavalry so the two of you are equal in that regard. Second, you are the most skillful horse rider, as far as I know. Furthermore, you and Lia close, am I right?"

Roswald blushes as I say so.

"That's why I think you'd be well-received by the Germanis slaves. Since it's become this way, it will be wonderful if the you and Lia got married too! Being able to speak a little Germanis is also a big point." (Almis)

I've returned the Divine Protection of Language after all. I'll have to rely on Lia and Roswald for communicating with them.

"I understand. I'll do my best!" (TL Note: Go get Lia, tiger!)

Roswald greatly nods in agreement.

A few hours after, Ains brought over the slaves and horses.

"Please confirm the goods. These are the 100 horses." (Ains)

"Thank you very much. Can I ask one question? How did you manage this in such a short time?" (Almis)

"I had 30 horse at inventory from the very beginning. Furthermore, other Cretian merchants had recently brought in some horses. I managed to get about 50 from them. I obtained the remaining 20 little by little buying from the small nomadic tribes within the Adernia Peninsula."

Oh, really?….That's unexpected.

Nevertheless…I see. It's natural that there would be people relying on nomadism as their livelihood, huh.

I need to make contact with them as soon as possible so we can try procuring some from them. If I got all my horses from Ains then my expenses would pile up.

"Then, these are the battle slaves. As much as possible, I chose the slaves with good quality." (Ains)

Ains tone has completely turned into sell-mode. Actually, it's probably that kind of sensation.

I look at the slaves before me.

The first thing that catches the eye is their height. They're quite taller than the average Adernian."

Although a lot of them are black or brown haired, there are some who are blond-haired and blue-eyed.

I face the slaves and say:

"I am Almis. I am your master. Best Regards." (Almis)

Lia translates it into Germanis.

A slave faces me and says something.

"For the meantime, we're hungry so please give us something to eat….is what he said." Lia looks up at me and translates with anxiety. She's probably wondering whether it's fine to translate what he just said.

I look at the slaves.

The slave who said that was a blond Germanis who's probably in the second half of his thirties. There are scars here and there in his muscular body. What stands out the most is the scar around his ears that extend up to around his cheek.

He grins as he looks at me.

That being said, it's not like every one of them has an arrogant att.i.tude like this slave.

Rather, a lot of them glare at the blond slave with a "what the h.e.l.l are you saying" expression.

"Tell them the following: Alright. We will prepare a meal for them. We will also specially heat up baths for you so clean yourselves." (Almis)

I tell Lia who translates to the slaves.

The blond slave widens his eyes.

After the meal, Roswald declares the following to the slaves who now had changed into tidy clothes.

"I am Roswald. I am entrusted by the lord to manage you lot. Your job is to fight as cavalry. Should you render meritorious service, we will emanc.i.p.ate you from slavery. We will also grant you allowance." (Roswald)

Roswald said that in Germanis even if stutteringly.

He spoke in Germanis even though he p.r.o.nounced ridiculously and had help from Lia. That shocked the Germanis slaves. Normally, there's no master who would bother to speak in the language of the slave after all.

"Is that true? Isn't there a lot of problems with emanc.i.p.ating slaves should they work properly? This is certainly a lie." The blond slave declares while laughing frivolously.

"What's your name?" Roswald asks even though slightly offended.

"Virgar, mein Herr (TL Note: He said master but he's trying to be sarcastic here so I wrote it in German) Asking the name of a thing is eccentric, yes?" (Virgar)

He again laughs frivolously.

"What can we do to make you believe?" (Roswald)

"Hmmm.. Let's see. Why don't you show us a real emanc.i.p.ated slave?" (Virgar)

"I'm one, you know." (Lia)

Virgar falls silent as he hears Lia's words. He had thought Lia was a slave translator.

Now that you mention it, for a slave, she's wearing clean clothes. She also doesn't have a choker. It's obvious that she's an emanc.i.p.ated slave.

Furthermore, she was emanc.i.p.ated mainly by Almus' meddling to support Roswald's romance and not just by meritorious service. But don't mind the small details.

"Then, have you decided to obey now?" (Roswald)

Virgar shakes his head to Roswald's question.

"I don't like obeying someone weaker than me, you see. So please forgive me, okay?" (Virgar)

"Then if we prove that I'm stronger than you, then you'll obey me?" (Roswald)

Virgar grins as he hears Roswald's words.

"Well, of course. Let's have a joust, mein Herr. But there's nothing in it for me if I win, right?….. So free me if I win. Naturally, you accept right? Don't tell me you're afraid you'll lose so you won't accept?" (Virgar)

"No, that's fine. If you win, you'll be freed. In exchange, submit if you lose." (Roswald)

With this, it's been decided to hold a joust.

"Hey, Ains-san. I've been thinking. Are the Germanis people nomads?" (Almis)

I ask as I gaze at the two, Roswald and Blondie, preparing for battle. If that were so, I feel Roswald might not have a chance to win.*(TL Note: MC likes to refer to Virgis as blondie)

"No, in the Germanis peoples, there are a lot who rely on agriculture and hunting as their livelihood. It's just that their territory borders the nomads' territory so a lot of them learn horse-riding techniques. Furthermore, although the Germanis area contains forests, they also have wide fields. They can bring up good horses." (Ains)

I see. In other words, they are not natural-born cavalrymen.

Then, with this even Roswald has a fair chance to win.

"What is this?"  (Virgis)

Virgis asks as he sees the stirrups installed in the horses.

Lia translates it without delay.

"It's an equipment called stirrup. You hang your feet there so you can maintain your balance much easier. It's not fair if only me gets to use one, right?" (Roswald)

Virgis laughs scornfully.

"Well thank you, mein Herr. But take it off for me. I can't use an equipment I'm not used to."

Lia translates it without delay.

Well, it's not a bad judgement. While it's true that you have more balance with the stirrup, it would be painful to look at when you screw up using equipment you're not used to.

The two mount their horses and get in position. Both are wearing armor. It's like a real battle.

However, it would be troublesome if someone dies so we have them use safer equipment – wooden poles with cloth wrapped several times on the tip. Well, someone could still die should they hit a bad spot.

The two horses start running when I clap as the starting command. The two poles intersect.

The battle is decided in one instant.

Roswald hits Virgis and makes him fall from his horse.

Well, you can say this is the natural outcome since Roswald used stirrups and can fight with a bear if given a spear.

Blondie looks up at Roswald with a vexed expression.

Roswald gets off from his horse and extends his hand to him.

"Here, get up." (Roswald)

"…….Thank you very much." (Virgis)

Blondie accepts Roswald's hand. Roswald asks Blondie with a proud expression.

"So, have you recognized me?"

"….I understand. I recognize you, master." (TL Note: He changes the way he says master.)

Blondie answers as his face warps in frustration.

For the meantime, the matter's resolved. Good. Good.

"By the way, stop it with the 'master.' Your master is that lord over there. I'm just….yes, I'm your captain.

"Understood, Captain. Please take care of me from now on."

Blondie lowers his head to Roswald.

"Then you'll be cleaning my house later." (Roswald)

"Huh? Ah, no. I'm a battle slave, sir…" (Virgis)

"Didn't you say you'll submit to me? Men keep their word, right?" (Roswald)

Virgis lets out a deep sigh.

Now, with this we've finally managed to complete our cavalry.

Authors Note:

Almis: "I won't be happy even if this guy calls me master."