The Imperial Knight Order. Viscountess Isabel Grace Sumner of the 6th Knight Order, at your service.
Lady Isabel was young and delicate, and her chestnut hair made her look even younger. She walked unsteadily as if the Plate Mail was too heavy, not at all resembling someone who would stand on a battlefield.
“Nice to meet you. I am Baron Mikael Sin of the White Lily Corps, a mercenary. I will be participating as part of the Training Corps this time.”
“Did I say that right? First impressions are important. Now that I’m a noble, I want to learn proper noble greetings, but a greeting is only meaningful if it comes from the heart.”
“Viscountess Isabel Sumner. The Training Corps is unnecessary. This is merely an exercise ordered by His Majesty the Emperor. If it were up to my 6th Knight Order alone, we would have defeated the Lizardmen… ”
“Am I the only one who thinks first impressions are important? I should change my initial impression from ‘a girl who needs protecting’ to ‘an insolent brat’.”
Lady Isabel’s father is a Count, from a family of warriors. All five hundred knights gathered here are from the Sumner Family. The 6th Knight Order has a total of fifteen hundred members, but is there a reason why only the Count’s family is participating in the exercise?
Being able to field five hundred is quite impressive for a Count, but why isn’t he here himself? Why not field the entire army? Is he being coy, or is he just shy?
Furthermore, if this “older sister” misunderstands and believes she can win against Lizardmen with just five hundred… I have to correct her, or at best, we’ll face annihilation, and at worst, total destruction.
The combat force consists of thirty heavy cavalry, fifty light cavalry, fifty dragoons, three hundred and fifty infantry, five healers using magic, and logistics. As a family unit, that’s a decent fighting force. It’s a perfectly adequate force in terms of numbers, but against Lizardmen…
I understand a bit about horse tactics from my previous life, but I wonder if they’ll listen. The biggest problem is improving the fighting capability of the dragoons and infantry.
As for roles, I’ll handle the cavalry, Priscilla and Alana will focus on improving their skills, and Sophia and Rufina will be in charge of magic. Orietta will make useful items, and Christine will handle logistics. Everyone has extensive mercenary experience, so they have more than enough knowledge to serve as instructors.
When I presented this to Lady Isabel, she summarily rejected it, saying, “We will do it ourselves.” I don’t like assertive women. Does she not realize that the angry look on her face is also cute? Then I was struck on the back of my head. “Why!” I wanted to shout.
“Leave those guys alone.”
Priscilla, couldn’t you have just said something instead of hitting me? Maybe I was grinning with my nose too high in the air. If we leave them alone, they’ll die, and this is an order from His Majesty the Emperor. I’m a Baron of the Empire, after all.
I spent a long time trying to persuade her, but in the end, she somewhat agreed when I mentioned His Majesty the Emperor’s orders. Of course, Priscilla left before ten minutes were up.
Well, there’s a month until the main event. The last week will be for rest and travel, so how much can we improve them in three weeks? Just thinking about it reminds me of Miss Melissa’s chest. What does that mean? Hidden strengths, wouldn’t that be nice!
“It has been decided that we will suppress the Lizardman settlement.”
In the darkness of the Imperial Capital, a group of people gathered.
“I told you this would happen eventually.”
One of the shadowy figures spoke.
“…”
A silent response.
“Our next and final collection should be the last. We should cut ties with the Lizardmen.”
“If we do it too soon, they’ll become suspicious.”
Everyone looked at one of the figures, as if waiting for their next words.
“Then we just need to buy time. There’s a man who claims to be operating a Training Corps, a former mercenary?”
“Baron Mikael Sin, sir.”
“We just need to buy time.”
“In that case, I have a good idea.”
I had no idea such things were being discussed in the darkness of the Imperial Capital.
Training Corps, Day One.
The result of telling Lady Isabel to do as she pleased… I just want to yell, “Damn it! You bastard!” I wish they could understand this overflowing anger. It’s like someone who claims to be good at soccer can only do two keep-ups.
These guys are going to die. Some were playing instead of training, sleeping, or drinking alcohol. Priscilla was among them, so I’ll pretend I didn’t see.
This isn’t a knight order for fighting, it feels more like an order for ceremonies. Their appearance is splendid, and I saw some magical equipment, but that’s beyond the problem of even being able to use it. Are they really the warrior Sumner Family?!
Today’s guard duty is Priscilla’s. She didn’t perform any sword duty due to drinking too much, but at least brush your teeth before coming! You reek of Reverse!
Training Corps, Day Two.
Based on yesterday’s reflection, I observed the infantry training, but everyone was just sparring half-heartedly, and very few were serious. Someone was drinking again, but I pretended not to notice.
Today’s guard duty is Christine. If it weren’t for the soundproof tent, the groans would have been audible to the entire 6th Legion. She was enthusiastically giving chest compressions all night.
Training Corps, Day Three.
Alcohol is prohibited. Despite some resistance through assault, I firmly prohibited it. And you, you drunkard! Work! I sparred with all three hundred and fifty infantrymen. Since it was difficult to do it alone, I had Alana and the drunkard participate in sparring. When I told them, “Don’t hold back. It’s okay to injure them,” they happily participated.
Today’s guard duty is Sophia. Injuries continued to occur, and although she was scheduled to use healing magic all night, she delegated work to other mages and went to the soundproof tent.
She returned after about two hours of healing work, but she seemed more energetic than when she arrived at the tent.
Training Corps, Day Four.
Due to the continuous injuries, we had a half-day off on the fourth day. Sophia and the five mages have been working hard with healing magic since last night. Mages have a limit to their Magic Power. This is also training to select which lives can be saved and which cannot on the battlefield.
Today’s guard duty is Alana. Since it was a holiday from the morning, I tried to ask her out on a date, but she said, “I’d feel bad for Sophia-nee-san,” and refused. Even at night, she said, “I’d feel bad for Sophia-nee-san who’s working.”
She must have a strong trauma regarding Sophia. However, mental refreshment is necessary. Today, I’ll just end it with sleeping next to her.
Training Corps, Day Five.
Those who recovered from injuries are made to get injured again. Dragoons were also forced to participate in sparring. Dragoons are mobile units that fight dismounted, like skirmishers, so it’s fine for them to spar.
Today’s guard duty is Rufina. You sleep, don’t bring out Rossa! Dealing with two of them is a lot of work. And if you’re going to bring them out, bring them with some meat on them from the start!
Training Corps, Day Six.
While continuing the sparring, heavy cavalry will focus on charges, and light cavalry will focus on bows and javelins. Even with ranged magic, the number of mages is limited, so cavalry charges are effective.
Today’s guard duty is Orietta. I thought she was making something useful, but she came up with, “It’s a new night-time tool~”
I wish she would make something more useful in battle. …But since she went to the trouble, I tried it.
Training Corps, Day Seven.
Today is a day off. Healing their bodies, tired from the daily training, is also an important job for a warrior. I also want to rest, but I have to discuss future matters with Viscountess Isabel Sumner.
“Viscountess Sumner, I have something I’d like to discuss. Would that be alright?”
I was dispirited that I had to have a serious conversation from the morning when I wanted to have a pleasant chat with a cute girl.
