The day after thinking of new country names and king’s titles, we returned to Amagi Castle.
Today is the day to head to the former Solemn imperial capital, Deseo, along with Hilde and the Soldier’s Guild.
Regarding the Soldier’s Guild equipment, the Brigade Soldier’s Coat for Delfina, who was appointed Grand Soldier’s Master, and the Officer’s Soldier’s Coat for Tilia Serpens, a High Lamia appointed Associate Soldier’s Master, are complete. Additionally, the High Order and High Saber members who were dispatched to the Soldier’s Guild this time have all been granted the title of “Crimson Star Soldier” and become A-rank Soldiers, and have also received Officer’s Soldier’s Coats.
There are over 150 Normal Class members as well, but their Soldier’s Coats are not finished yet, so they will be active in their Order’s Coats and Saber’s Coats for the time being.
The same applies to the Common Soldiers planned to be hired locally; they will be provided with military equipment for the time being and will receive Soldier’s Coats after the dispatched Soldiers.
Incidentally, the Soldier’s Guild equipment, like usual, follows the pattern of Marina making minor adjustments to images taken from my engraving tool’s game, but since there are no complaints, it should be fine.
The equipment for the Knightly Guilds, the Order’s Guild and the Saber’s Guild, has already been updated. The Dragoner’s Guild is also changing its equipment in imitation of the Order’s Guild, though not entirely comprehensively.
However, the rebranding to the Dragoner’s Guild will also coincide with the formal introduction of new equipment, which presents a good opportunity.
The Beastar’s Guild, which integrates the Duchal Knights and the Beast Knights, will also see changes in equipment, as their current gear differs.
Considering the issue of Ee-quipping, the names will be as follows:
Order’s Guild
Order’s Coat
Emerald Order’s Coat
Arc Order’s Coat
Father’s Guild
Father’s Coat
Mystic Father’s Coat
Lunatic Father’s Coat
Dragoner’s Guild
Dragoner’s Coat
Knight Dragoner’s Coat
Crystal Dragoner’s Coat
Beastar’s Guild
Beastar’s Coat
Guardian Beastar’s Coat
Glorious Beastar’s Coat
Holiner’s Guild
Holiner’s Coat
Divine Holiner’s Coat
Sacred Holiner’s Coat
Soldier’s Guild
Soldier’s Coat
Officer’s Soldier’s Coat
Brigade Soldier’s Coat
The first coat for each guild is a symbolic coat worn by Common Registers, representing the essence of the guild.
The second coat is permitted for use by the Royal Guard, Guild Masters, and those who have received A-rank titles.
The third coat is exclusively for Grand Masters and those who have received D-rank titles, serving as the highest emblem of the Knightly Guilds.
For some reason, the designs for these coats were also sourced from my engraving tool and then modified by Marina, making me wonder if it’s truly alright.
Marina was practically falling over.
The Holiner’s Guild equipment has also been renamed according to Guild Rank revisions, with titles incorporated into their names.
It has been decided that the Saber’s Guild will be renamed the Father’s Guild after the Celestial Emperor’s Coronation Ceremony, and their titles and equipment names will be changed at that time.
The Platinum Order’s Coat, for the same reason, was recently renamed the Emerald Order’s Coat.
For weapons, the choice is either to continue using the existing ones or to slightly modify them and recreate them with Jade Silver or Blue-Gray Iron. For the Soldier’s Guild, as many members of the Solemn Army will be joining, iron will be the main material.
The dispatched Order and Saber members will receive weapons made of Jade Silver and Blue-Gray Iron. Delfina was bestowed a sword and shield made of Lapis Laz, while Tilia received an axe made of Blue-Gray Iron.
“Delfina, Tilia. I’m counting on you to assist Hilde.”
““Yes, Sir!””
Soldiers clad in Brigade Soldier’s Coats and Officer’s Soldier’s Coats saluted in unison.
The salute seems to be common across all countries, so no one felt out of place.
“Your Majesty, we will depart now.”
“Ah. I will inform you once the Soldier’s Guild headquarters is completed, but until then, everyone will be staying in Solemn. I know it will be difficult, but do your best not to overexert yourselves.”
“We express our gratitude for your consideration. All personnel, board!”
We have been lent five Multi-functional Beast Carriages for the Order’s Guild by Emperor Reinhardt, but since they are loans, they must be returned eventually.
Several are reportedly being manufactured for the Soldier’s Guild, but unfortunately, they were not completed in time.
This is understandable, as there seems to be a shortage of materials.
Since we will be accompanying them as guards, Hilde, Delfina, Tilia, and the Royal Soldiers will be riding in our Tenju Manufacturing Beast Carriage.
“A toast to the safety of Queen Hildegard, the success of our new comrades in the Soldier’s Guild, and the successful governance of Solemn! Salute!”
At the signal of Grand Order’s Master Tolman, the Orders and Sabers saluted in farewell, and the Soldiers responded from the decks and observation seats of the beast carriages.
With that signal, the beast carriages slowly began to move.
We can travel to Deseo by Traveling, and we have informed them of our arrival today.
There is a need to deliver the Orders and Sabers who are responsible for security in Deseo, but that is not a difficult task at all.
However, the handovers and reports are scheduled for tomorrow’s delivery.
Side: Delfina
After leaving Float, I used Traveling and arrived at Deseo, the former imperial capital of Solemn, where we soldiers are newly assigned.
I never expected to be appointed the first Grand Soldier’s Master, but since the other four Ancient Orders cannot be moved, I was surprised but had no choice but to accept.
However, it’s not all bad, as I was bestowed a sword and shield made of Lapis Laz, which were crafted by King Aiver.
Although I couldn’t bring my husband and daughter with me to my new assignment in Deseo, I can use Traveling to visit them on my days off. Also, once the headquarters is completed, we will be working in rotation, so I will do my best to endure for now.
“However, I don’t think I can get used to this environment…”
But as if to dampen my resolve, Tilia, a High Lamia appointed Associate Soldier’s Master, spoke up.
“I understand how you feel, but I wish you hadn’t said it out loud.”
“Even though I’ve seen it once, I had to come here again, so a complaint or two is understandable.”
That’s true, but still.
The citizens of Solemn cannot use Inn and magic tools are not generally available.
Therefore, even in the former imperial capital of Deseo, the street environment is not good, and there is excrement scattered even on the main roads.
This is an unimaginable sight in Amister or Torencia.
“The public order maintenance force is reportedly using temporary facilities, but it’s good that we brought our own, isn’t it?”
“And other magic tools. There are no bathrooms, let alone baths.”
Those dispatched to the Soldier’s Guild are also contemplating their future lives, with heavy hearts. Although all of them are High Class and are considered dispatches from the Orders and Sabers, most of them are couples, which is a small comfort, as the duration of their assignment is unpredictable.
In fact, we selected them carefully, and even those who are single are either already married or have children who are adults or nearly so, like myself and Tilia.
The children of nobles who will serve as civil officials are not so much, but in return, they get longer leave periods, allowing them to return home.
However, I will be the one providing transportation using Traveling.
“Nobles are purchasing magic tools, but they are apparently ridiculously expensive. Also, Solemn uses a different currency, so unifying the monetary system is not easy.”
“But we have to unify it, don’t we?”
“Yes. So, it will be quite coercive, but we will proceed with the currency exchange.
As Highness Manalease and Yamato-kun said, the currency circulating in Solemn is different from other countries.
Helios Orb uses El as its currency unit and uses seven types of coins.
However, Solemn’s currency unit is Dil, and it uses five types of plate currency: iron plates, copper plates, silver plates, gold plates, and platinum plates, instead of coins, according to reports.
It is said that ten of each can be exchanged for the next higher denomination plate, but the problem lies in the exchange rate.
If the exchange is at exorbitant rates, while nobles might manage, commoners would not be able to make a living. Therefore, the exchange rate is determined by Emperor Reinhardt and Empress Hildegard, who are agonizing over it, based on reports from the public order maintenance force.
It seems that due to the limited number of plate currencies, it was used at a value of approximately 1 Dil = 10 El.
It is impossible to simply exchange them at that rate without causing problems, so it has been decided to exchange them at a rate of 1 Dil = 5 El, and the Trader’s Guild will implement this once they establish their temporary headquarters.
“Does that mean we have to take Trader’s Guild staff and visit other towns and villages as well?”
“That’s how it will be, and it will be our duty. Before that, we have to integrate the soldiers into the Soldier’s Guild, and each guild must establish a temporary headquarters, so the implementation will be quite some time away.”
Not only the Trader’s Guild, but also the Crafter’s Guild and the Healer’s Guild are necessary to improve the quality of life.
The Hunter’s Guild is even more important, as we need to issue requests for monster subjugation in the surrounding areas and for labyrinth surveys. We also need them to accept escort requests when Crafters and Traders are on the move.
The Soldier’s Guild currently only has 239 members, so we can’t possibly handle all of that.
“I wish we had a few more people.”
“Indeed. However, our mission is to protect Empress Hildegard and maintain public order in Deseo. The Orders must prepare not only for the reconstruction of Valentia and Libertà but also for Retisencia. The Sabers must also prioritize reconstruction, so we cannot spare any more personnel.”
“That’s true.”
As the soldiers were pondering, the reason for sending only 239 dispatched soldiers was that it was difficult to spare more personnel.
The public order maintenance force that was dispatched to Deseo in our place will return to their home country tomorrow and will resume their original duties after a short break. Preparations for the establishment of the Federation Heavenly Empire, reconstruction, and vigilance against Retisencia, the only remaining enemy country on the Philia Continent, cannot be neglected. Therefore, there is nothing that can be done about this.
“In about two weeks, the snow will melt completely, won’t it? I heard they say Retisencia will attack Amister then, but what is the actual situation?”
“It’s impossible. Apparently, they’ve gathered a decent number of soldiers, but I heard they don’t have enough food.”
I have also heard about that.
Therefore, it is said that exploitation of the weaker individuals within Retisencia is increasing, and some villages are already on the verge of collapse.
Even the army is reportedly not being provided with proper meals, so it is difficult to determine whether they will be annihilated by attacking Amister first, or whether the Imperial Royal Family will be overthrown by a rebellion. Emperor Reinhardt himself is said to be troubled by this situation.
However, if Retisencia were to be annexed now, the already insufficient manpower would be further strained.
Therefore, from Emperor Reinhardt’s perspective, even if Retisencia were to attack, he would not consider intervening with the Imperial Royal Family until their own situation stabilizes.
What is frightening is the possibility that the populace might overthrow the Imperial Royal Family.
If they fall into a state of anarchy without a ruler and thus civil war breaks out among the nobles vying for sovereignty, we can leave them to their own devices. However, if they seek protection from Amister, we cannot simply refuse them.
Furthermore, Amister has declared a severance of diplomatic relations and sealed its borders, so we cannot easily offer support.
Doing so would embolden the foolish Imperial Royal Family, and any support would be diverted to their campaign against Amister, making it meaningless for Amister.
The only remaining option for support is from Libertà, but they have also suffered significant damage from Solemn, so their own reconstruction takes priority over supporting Retisencia.
“Even so, if we were to provide support, it would only be from Libertà. We have requested High Order and High Hunter to escort traders, but it’s impossible to visit every village, and reports indicate that many have already fled to Libertà.”
Although this information from Highness Manalease was new to me, there is indeed no other way.
However, not only traders but also hunters would have no reason to go to Retisencia unless they had business there, so the rewards have become quite high.
“It is natural for people to flee from Retisencia, but are there no problems occurring?”
“There are nothing but problems. It is reported that a considerable number have resorted to becoming thieves, and nearly 500 have already been apprehended.”
I hadn’t anticipated that so many would have already been apprehended.
However, according to Highness Manalease, these are individuals who attacked traders from Libertà. Therefore, the actual number is likely more than double that.
The people of Retisencia look down on other nations, yet they depend on them. However, this does not mean we can abandon them.
“I understand how you feel. However, if we interfere now, Delfina, you will no longer be able to remain uninvolved?”
I wondered why, but it is true that the Soldier’s Guild planned to incorporate the Retisencian army as well.
On top of the existing difficulties in integrating the Solemn Army, adding the Retisencian Army would place an extraordinary burden not only on me but on all the High Soldiers present.
“…Since it is their own country’s affairs, the internal situation of Retisencia should be something the Emperor resolves himself.”
“Or rather, that’s how it should be, isn’t it?”
Please forgive me for that self-serving remark.
