Another World Story

Day Forty-Four: Work (3)

The day after

I went to back to the 4th legion's barracks as the Minister ordered.

I thought I'll be killed by the soldiers and knights here, but they all greeted me with smiles on their faces.

No-Sh*t. They're all smiling.

"Good Morning, Sir!" they greeted. Smiles and salutes pour on me.

"How are you, Sir?" a knight ask as I passed by him. He wore a bright smile.

"Did you sleep well? Sir?" a soldier ask.

"Good morning, Sir! May it be meaningful day again today!"

"Staff officer, Sir! May the Gods bless us with strength!"

I'm scared. I'm really scared right now...

Why are they smiling while saying those words? I feel like they aren't saying those to me but to them instead.

Panicking inside my head. I hastened my phase towards the Minister's office.

*Knock* *Knock*

I knocked at the metal door.

"Come in" came the minister voice.

I entered slowly as I peeked throught the opened door, carefully, I entered.

"What are you doing?" the minister ask.

I looked towards him and saw the confused face he has.

The minister of yesterday was no longer there.

"I thought that you need silence, Sir" I answered shamelessly.

"...Why would I need that?" he asked as he furrowed his brows.

I was about to answer him, but it seems he remembered yesterday's event.

"Ah. That" He said "Don't mind yesterday's event. We were just too shocked about it"

I couldn't not mind it... Especially if those soldiers and knights continue to smile at me like that.

"I heard, about that 'Symbol' from the I count" I said.

Hearing my words, the minister froze up.

"W-what did Rudolf said?" he asked. Stuttering.

"The Count said, that it's already the past. He have already forgiven you, Sir Harold"

"He...did, huh?" was all he could say as he stayed silent.

Yesterday. After I return back to the Count's manor, I asked him about the 'Symbol' that the minister was so serious about.

The Count told me about the war, 2 years ago. Against the 3 Kingdoms that reside on the western side of the Kingdom.

"A war, to defend the territory" is what he said.

Many have lost their lives at that battle. 1v3 a battle against the odds. The Count's son volunteered as the commander of the 6th Legion, along with the other commanders of the 12 legions.

5 out of 12 participated in the war. The rest were stationed on the borders to defend for the possible attacks.

The kingdom was at a disadvantage, nevertheless the 5 legions defended the western border with their lives.

Months past as the war continues. Supplies were used. Lives were spent. Each passing day, tens and hundreds of men died on the battlefield.

3 Kingdoms united, numbering in hundreds of thousands VS. 5 legions composed of 25 thousand strong.

By number they are greatly outnumbered. By skills they rivaled each other. By perseverance, the Kingdom won.

But they weren't able to win the battle.

Half of the western region was captured. Countless lives were spent. Civilians were turned to slaves. Women were r***d. The men were killed. The young were sold to the s*****y.

The western people had lost all hope.

The Kingdom left them to fend for themselves.

But still sheltered those who were able to escape the grasp of the invaders.

The lost of western region was definitely a huge blow to the Kingdom.

And it was all due to the supplies.

Lack of supplies was the number one thing that the defenders lacked. They were immediately mobilized and weren't able to gather enough resources for 25 thousand men.

Still. They marched, hoping for their needed supplies to arrived.

Days, weeks and months passed. But the supplies didn't arrived.

The soldiers began to weaken due to lack of food. Their morale began to fade. And their determination began to waver.

The 3 united kingdoms immediately pounced on the weakened defenders.

Defeat after defeat came. Every fortress destroyed. Every fields burned and commanders of each Legion, sacrificed themselves to save their subordinates lives.

5 strong commanders along with the few hundreds who stayed VS. The unstoppable onslaught of hundred thousand invaders.

The 5th Legion who were assigned the task of delivering the supplies, finally heard the news.

The 5 legions were defeated. Half of the west was captured.

And the supplies that they were supposed to deliver, stacked in a giant storage room.

Many criticized the 5th legion. Amongst them were the family of the soldiers and knights who lost their lives protecting the border.

The higher-ups such as the Prime Minister and the King himself, didn't condemned them, as the lost of their honorable heroes, the soldiers and knights who risk their lives, didn't only lay on the error of the supplies. But also on their judgement.

The King took all responsibility and compensated the families that were left behind. Of coarse, many complained demanded their love one's return.

But the dead can't be revived.

The opportunistic nobles took advantage of this uproar and caused a riot to occur, saying that the King should back down from his throne. The King didn't listen, he quieted down and lay low inside the Royal palace.

The time passed and the calm returned. The king didn't show up again in public. Except for the time when Count Rudolf was in-grief.

He visited him, and sent him on a mission, to visit the other continents, to the other Kingdoms or Empires that could help them.

They were successful, but it would take at the earliest 5 years before they could take action.

-----

That was what the Count told me yesterday.

He was in so much raged and despair that his reasonings werent working. Only a year after his son's death was he able to calmed down.

The King visited him and took responsibility for the Count's son and the other's death.

The Count, immediately forgave the King, as he can't let his emotions affect the pillars of the Kingdom.

"I'm one of the pillars that supports this Kingdom, and I must stay firm for the Kingdom to stay strong" is what he said.

Minister Harold, didn't visited the Count, as he was so ashamed and guilty to even show himself to the count. But he always felt sorry and guilty for not being able to apologized.

Is what the king told the Count.

I told all of this to the Minister of Defense. Duke Harold Von Memphis Retadane.

*Drip* *Drop*

Tears fell from his eyes.

I didn't know which part he cried at. Must be about the Count's forgiveness.

"...I should apologized to him in person" he said as he stood up.

His face desperate. It seems that the 2 years he spent was not an easy one... This might also be one of the reasons why Ramon couldn't attend the Academy.

His father's infamy. His elder brother is a Knight already, his elder sisters are the same. Only he and his younger sister wasn't able to be knights.

'This family of duke has it hard...' I thought.

But I won't let him apologized that easily. It's not I have a grudge or angry or something.

It just doesn't feel right to apologized in this way.

"The Count is currently out of the manor" I said as I blocked his path.

"Then I should find him" he said.

"Minister" I called.

"Do you think, your apology would mean something if you apologized now?" I asked him.

The Minister froze and halt his steps.

"...What do you mean?" he asked. His face showed anger

"You haven't fulfilled your oath to your 'Symbol' yet" I said.

"It has no meaning any longer. You burned them, remember?"

Well, yeah... But.

"Does a symbol really have to be tangible?" I asked.

"Does getting revenge for your honorable comrades needs to be a mountain of garbage? Are you mocking their sacrifices?" I scoffed.

"...Watch your mouth, Boy" he said.

"Minister. Does an apology without weight, has any meaning?"

"..."

He didn't answered.

"So you want to apologize to the Count, because he finally forgave you? And hide in your nest when he couldn't?" I mocked him.

I don't feel like stopping.

Whenever I see someone in this state, I just couldn't leave them alone.

'The I can't leave the Victim alone syndrome' did I really catched that from Alex?

"Answer me, Minister-No. Duke Harold Von Memphis Retadane. Why apologized now?"

"... You've crossed the line, Boy" he said.

I stared at Duke Harold.

He has a complicated expression. A mixture of regret and frustration.

"But, what you've said were true" he said "I should've apologized earlier... Much, much earlier. I shouldn't have taken those pile of rotten garbage as the symbol of my vengeance"

I nod my head.

"To begin with, the one's at fault weren't the King, the soldiers, the knights, you or anyone else in this Kingdom. But, those bastards who invaded this Kingdom" I told him.

"Before you apologize, you should create a mountain of corpses from those 3 United Kingdoms people. Just like how they did this country wrong, you should do the same" I added.

"...Create a mountain of corpses from their people" the duke muttered.

"An eye for an eye, and a tooth for tooth, Duke Harold. That's how you should apologized to the warriors who fought bravely through the end"

"An eye for eye, and a tooth for a tooth. Huh?" he said.

"But return it to them, with interest. So that they could not attack once again"

"The problem is man-power..."

"That could solved by information. Know thy self and know thy enemy and you won't have to fear the result of a thousand battle"

"I should get moving then" he said as he went outside the office.

Though I say all that. We are still at a disadvantage...

-----

The Minister, gathered all his personnel, his commanders and staff officers for a meeting.

Of coarse I'm included.

"Minister, why the sudden meeting?" a general asked.

"Are we to talk about the events that transpired yesterday?" another chimed in and all the gazes pour on me.

I didn't move and received their gazes.

"It is connected to that" the Minister finally spoke, from his seat.

"Can you gather all the light-footed and most covert troops we have? Of coarse only those who are on the ranks of elites" the minister added.

"Are we preparing for reconnaissance, My Lord?" A knight asked.

'As expected of veterans' I thought.

The minister nodded.

"Yes, prepare those who are trust worthy and can be use as a spy" he said.

"I will immediately order for it" the knight saluted before leaving the room.

"Then, the rest of you prepare supplies and arms, as covertly as possible. We don't want any bugs flying around our base afterall" the minister ordered.

"Gather again tomorrow, at 9:00am. I'll tell you then, what my objective is. Dismissed"

the commanders, generals, captains and other leaders left the room. Only I and the Minister were left

"I...was hasty aren't I?" the minister muttered.

Welp, he truly was.

If he started buying stocks of food and arms, even covert or with the pretense of emergency, people would still be wary of it.

And if the people buzzed around, spreading rumors. It would be bad for the 5th. It might result in a misunderstanding, that they preparing for a coop. Especially if they do it secretively.

"I don't think it should be hidden" I said.

"...What is?"

"The gathering of supplies, just ask the King for permission to acquire them. The reconnaissance troops are the ones that should be hidden no matter what"

"I know what you want to say. But will the King even give permission to me? A failed subject of his?" the minister answered, his face decorated by anxiety.

Now, where did that dignified, muscle man with brain go to? It was only for a day, but his changes is too absurd.

"Try it first" I said "Well then, I'll see you around. Sir Minister"

I bowed my head lightly, then left the room.

If a war breakout this early. Then this Kingdom would have no choice but to send the heroes to the frontlines.

I'll be able to observe them in that case. The only problem is my disguise. I'll worry about that later. For now, let's see how things go.