Hmm, we got more soldiers than I expected.
　I look at the men who have responded to my call for help.

　We're currently in the middle of a test.
　Seven hundred men have gathered for a quota of five hundred and thirty.

　To be honest, I'm surprised.
　I thought they were tired of war because they had been fighting under King Ferrum for so many years.
　Apparently not.

　After being drafted into the military for so long, I had gotten so used to the military environment that my master, King Ferrum, died.
　I was told to go home, and when I returned, I found that my farm had been taken away from me.

　I was thinking about what to do, and this application....
　This seems to be the pattern in many cases.

　The second one is pure and simple: "I don't want to be a farmer, I'll go into the military if I can get paid!
　Third, I'm going to get ahead and be great!

　That's how I feel.

　It's surprising because I honestly thought it was going to be a capacity crunch, but come to think of it, this is probably what it's all about.
　War is about as close to us as storms are to the Adelian peninsula.

　The test seems to be quite competitive, too.
　That's because those who were originally in the army are volunteering for it.

　They seem to know the formation and so on, so it's purely a selection based on physical strength and age.

　The formation of the As Army I'm planning is five hundred heavy infantry, two hundred archers and one hundred cavalry.
　I already have a guess at securing the cavalry, so what I want is heavy infantry and archers.

　However, we can leave the testing to Boros, Ron and Gram.

　''Hey, Leader. Can we afford to hire eight hundred soldiers?　I'm told King Ferrum finally had to pay heavy taxes.　And you're not drafting, you're hiring. Are you okay with the finances and all that?
　It's not exactly affordability, but it's not a tax policy hardship, is it?
　Why?

　Well, I'm curious, aren't I?
　Okay, Tetra. You tell me what's going on.

　I'm on it. Ron, do you know why King Ferm had a hard time?
　'Well is it because the As territory was poor?　But that doesn't make you any different than a leader, does it?　...I don't know.
　One thing to start with. Subsidies. There are some lords in King Losey's country that don't have access to foreign lands. They don't have to feed their soldiers. They are obliged to pay King Losey's country a certain amount of wheat in return for it. The wheat would be distributed fairly among the great families on the border. So they don't suffer as much as King Ferm.
　'I see but I'm sure the eight hundred people would still suffer.

　Tetra shows Ron the paper.
　The paper is already in mass production.

　It's a mass production system that involves not only widows, but also dedicated personnel and farmers who want a little money.

　''The second is this. Sixty percent of the As territory's income is paper. This paper is sold to Cilicia merchants. The Cilician merchants will pay me for the paper, the goldsmiths of Cilicia, the glassware of Persis, and the spices of the East. This is sold to the great families of King Rosais' country and to the Adelian merchants. The price is wheat or salt. Thus my realm earns the wages of eight hundred men.
　I see...

　Apparently, Ron was convinced.
　By the way, many of his customers are definitely the powerful families of King Domorgal's country.
　It wasn't him, and he didn't claim to be from King Domorgal's country, but....

　Well, if you're willing to pay even your enemies, you're a customer. It doesn't matter how much you sell, because luxury goods are not a military force in any way. I mean, I'm willing to sell them and take all their wheat from them.

　Incidentally, I would like to add that the embezzlement by the village chief also stopped.
　This is a very small amount of money, but........

　Well, now that Ron's convinced, let's go to Rosward's.
　Let's get down to business for today.






　"Roseward.
　What is it?
　"As a matter of fact, Mr. Ains is due to send us a hundred horses and fifty battle slaves today.

　Even Ains-san, as expected, seems to find it difficult to prepare three hundred horses.
　But I'm amazed that you were able to get 100 horses ready in such a short period of time.

　"So what?
　'I want you to command the cavalry. I mean, fifty combat slaves, and I want you to take care of them.
　Why me?　Aren't Mr. Boros and others more experienced than you?

　I answer Rosward's question.
　'First of all, Boros has never commanded a cavalryman before. So you and I have the same start. And you're the best rider I know who can ride a horse. And you're good friends with Leah, right?

　Rosward blushed as I said this.
　So I thought it would be a good idea for the Germanic slaves. I would be even happier if you would marry me. Also, the fact that you can speak Germanic languages is a big plus.

　I've returned the blessing of language.
　Communication relies on Leah and Roseword.

　'I understand. I'll do my best!
　Rosward nodded widely.




　It was only a few hours later that Mr. Ains brought his horse and slave to him.
　'Please be sure. 'Horses, a hundred, sir.'
　Thank you. Can I ask you one question?　How did you do it in such a short time?
　'We originally had a stock of thirty horses. And another Cilician merchant had brought in horses, so we had fifty from there. The other 20 horses were purchased a little at a time from the nomadic sub-national groups within the Adelian peninsula.

　
　But still........well, of course there are those whose main source of income is nomadicism, right?

　Let's get in touch with them as soon as possible and try to get some supplies from there.
　If we keep buying from Mr. Ains, it will cost us a lot of money.

　These are our combat slaves. I've selected the best quality products I can find.
　That kind of tone from Ains was completely like selling things.
　In fact, I guess that's how it feels.

　I look at the slave in front of me.
　The first thing I notice is their height. Quite a bit larger than the average Adelnian.
　Black hair and chestnut hair make up the majority of them, but some of them have blonde hair and blue eyes.

　"I am Almus. I'm your master. Nice to meet you.
　I said it to the slave and Leah translated it into Germanic.
　The slave says something to me.

　'At any rate, I'm hungry, give me some food I say...'
　Leah looked up at me with an anxious face and said.
　

　I look at the slaves.
　The one who said he was hungry was a blond Germanic man about the age of his late thirties.
　He has a muscular body with scars in places.

　The most noticeable is a scar that stretches straight from his ear to his chin.

　He looks at me and smirks.
　However, not all of them are as irreverent as this guy.

　Rather, many of the Germanic slaves are staring at the blonde man with an expression like what the hell is he talking about?

　'Good. Prepare him some food. And while you're at it, tell him I'm going to boil a special bath for you, so get cleaned up.......
　I told Leah, and she told her slave about it.
　The blonde man's eyes widened.




　Rosward said to the slaves, who had finished eating and changed into their small, clean clothes.

　'I am Rosward. My lord has entrusted me with the management of you guys. Your job is to fight as cavalrymen. If you do well, I will free you from slavery. I'll even give you an allowance.

　Rosward said this in Germanis, despite the pecking and pecking.
　His pronunciation was also funny, and he spoke to me in Germanis, albeit with Leah's help.

　That came as a shock to the Germanisians.
　This is because usually no master would be able to match a slave's language.

　'Is it true - isn't it a common complaint that if you work properly you will be freed from slavery? It's definitely not true!
　The blond man says with a hefty laugh.
　Rosward is a little miffed, but asks.

　'What's your name?'
　This is Virgal. My dear Goshujin. Asking the thing's name is an intoxicating experience.

　He chuckles again.

　'How can I believe you?'
　'Hmmm, yeah. We'll have to see who's actually been freed...
　It's me.

　Leah interrupts Wilgal's words.
　'I've been released,'

　Hearing those words, Virgal couldn't help but shush.
　He thought Leah was a slave for an interpreter.

　If you ask me, she's wearing clean clothes for a slave, and she doesn't have a collar on her.
　It's clear that she is a freed slave.

　The main reason why Leah was freed was not for merit, but mainly because of Almus' meddling for the purpose of supporting Rosward's love life, but don't worry about the details.


　'So, are you ready to comply?
　Virgal shook his head at Rosward's words.

　'I don't like following someone weaker than me, you know. So I'm sorry.
　"So if I prove I'm stronger than you, you'll follow me?

　When Rosward says this, Virgal grins.
　'Of course. Let's have a game of horseplay, Goshujin-sama. Of course you'll accept, won't you?　Don't tell me it's because you're afraid of losing?
　Yeah, I'm good. Good. If you win, I'll let you go. If you lose, I'll let you go.

　Thus, the game on horseback was to take place.





　"Hey, Mr. Ains. I was just wondering, are the Germanic peoples nomadic?
　I listen as I look at Rosward and Gold as they begin to prepare for a duel.
　If that's the case, I have a feeling Rosward doesn't stand a chance.

　'No, many of the Germanis themselves make their living by farming and hunting. But their area of life is in contact with the realm of nomadic tribes, so they often learn horsemanship skills. In the Germanic region, there are forests, but there are also wide open plains, where good horses grow. Good horses grow here.
　I see.
　So you're not a genuine cavalryman.

　Then Rosward has a good chance of winning.

　"What's this?
　Virgal looked at the stirrups attached to the horse and said something.
　It was quickly translated by Leah.

　'It's a tool called stirrups, and by hanging your foot on it, it makes it easier for you to be stable on your horse. It's not fair that I use them and you don't, is it?
　When Rosward said this, Villegal snickered.

　'Well, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Gojuzin. But I'm going to have to take it off. I'm not going to use a tool I'm not familiar with.
　Leah quickly translates for me.

　Well, it's not a bad decision. It's true that the stirrups are more stable, but if you fail to use an unfamiliar aid, you're not going to be able to see it.

　Both of them straddle their horses and are ready to go.
　They are both wearing armor. It's a real battle format.

　But since we don't want you to die, we'll have you both use a safety weapon with layers of cloth wrapped around the end of a wooden stick.
　Well, even this will kill you if you hit the wrong spot.

　Then let's check the rules. First of all, no head shots. Other than that, you may hit anything you like. The man who surrenders or loses his horse loses. Now let's begin!

　I clapped my hands and gave the command, and the two horses started to run.
　The two sticks crossed.

　The game was won in an instant.
　Rosward popped the gold off the top of his horse.

　Well, Rosward is a man who can battle a bear if he has a spear, and if he has stirrups, it's a natural result.
　The golden color looked up at Rosward with a frustrated look on his face.

　Rosward dismounted from his horse and held out his hand to gold.
　'Come on, get up.'
　Thank you very much.

　Golden got up with Rosward's help.
　Roseward says to Goldy with a look of pride on his face.

　'So, do you recognize me?'
　"Okay, I understand. I'll admit it. Master.

　Golden said, his face contorted in frustration.
　It seems to have been resolved for now. Good, good.

　'By the way, don't be that master. Your master is your lord. As for me ... well, you can be the captain.
　Okay, sir. Captain. I look forward to working with you.

　Gold bowed to Rosward.

　'Clean my house later.
　'What?　No, I'm a warrior....
　I said I'd obey. A man never talks twice, does he?

　Gold sighed deeply at Roseward's words.

　Well, now that the cavalry is all here, it's all ready to go.