Chapter 497
I'll Do My Best. (2)
"Attention."
At Ghislain's single command, all the squad members lined up on either side.
With a slightly displeased expression, Ghislain looked around at them and spoke.
"This squad leader is extremely disappointed in you all today."
"……."
Everyone remained silent. Squad Leader Duggly had become infamous for his nasty temper. He never tolerated objections or rebuttals.
Ghislain then turned to Viktor, who had been a constant source of trouble for him.
"Viktor."
"……Yes."
"Why is the barracks in such a filthy state?"
"Well… the training was too exhausting… so we couldn't clean it in time…."
"This squad leader does not like excuses. Everyone, get down. Now."
"Now!"
The soldiers of Duggly Squad instantly dropped to the ground. Anyone even slightly slow would be legally beaten by that devil.
Walking back and forth among them, Ghislain spoke.
"If the barracks are unclean, various diseases can spread. I don't care if you get sick alone. But if you pass it on to your comrades, it will ultimately reduce the combat effectiveness of the entire squad. How many times have I told you this?"
"……."
"Answer me."
"Yes, sir! Understood!"
The soldiers roared in response to Ghislain's scolding, while Viktor ground his teeth against the dirt.
'Damn it, all he ever talks about is combat effectiveness, combat effectiveness. Does he think he's the Count of Fenris or something? That bastard.'
It was a well-known tale that the Count of Fenris had completely overhauled his domain to maximize the combat prowess of his soldiers.
To Viktor, this guy was nothing more than a cheap imitation, blindly following in the Count’s footsteps.
'Damn it, if only I hadn't lost my position….'
Viktor seethed with frustration. The bastard's skills were simply too exceptional. It was no wonder he had fought alongside the Fenris forces, crushing the savages and conquering the east as part of Raypold’s army.
No matter how hard Viktor tried, he couldn't catch up. So, the higher-ups had simply handed over the squad leader position to that guy.
'Just hurry up and get reassigned somewhere else. Then I can take back my squad leader post.'
Rumors had it that once negotiations with the ducal family were over, Duggly would either become a training instructor or move to an even higher position.
Viktor desperately wished for Duggly’s promotion.
At first, when Duggly had taken the squad leader position, no one really minded.
After all, they were still the senior soldiers they figured that as long as they showed him the proper respect, everything would be fine.
But that was their mistake.
'That bastard is a devil.'
And it wasn’t just Viktor who thought so. Every soldier in the squad felt the same way.
All Duggly ever talked about was combat effectiveness, and he pushed them to their absolute limits. It was unbearable.
Those with weaker skills had to sacrifice their break time to continue training.
"Every drop of sweat you shed in training is one less drop of blood you'll lose in battle! The more you sweat, the less you'll bleed!"
He would shout things like that while working them to the bone, mercilessly.
Seeing this, the higher-ups granted Duggly even more authority, praising him for increasing combat efficiency and instilling discipline.
The original 5th Squad became better known as Duggly Squad.
And with that, Duggly became even more extreme.
"Roll forward."
"Roll backward."
"Roll to the side."
If he said roll, they had to roll. And they did over and over again. Some eventually snapped.
"You bastard! Enough of this sh—!"
Smack!
Anyone who tried to fight Duggly was taken down in a single blow. Viktor had tried multiple times, even rallying others to gang up on him, but the results were always the same.
Squad Leader Duggly was simply too strong.
After that, the squad members became unfailingly respectful toward him.
Ghislain looked at his squad with satisfaction.
'This is exactly the kind of situation I like.'
He had been holding back, trying to avoid causing trouble. But now, with his newfound authority, he could push them legally and it was glorious.
Even the officers turned a blind eye to minor disciplinary actions. If he drove the soldiers like a demon during training, the commanders were all the more pleased.
And in the end, Duggly Squad was growing stronger by the day.
Ghislain decided that the punishment had gone on long enough and spoke.
"On your feet."
"On your feet!"
"From now on, for the sake of maintaining combat readiness, the barracks will always be kept clean. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Next, we will inspect personal equipment."
Clatter.
Everyone laid out their gear in front of them.
Scanning through, Ghislain picked up Viktor’s spear and examined it carefully. Then, he spoke.
"This squad leader is disappointed once again."
"……."
"Do you think you can maintain combat effectiveness with a weapon like this?"
---
Viktor crawled over to a corner and lay down. The training had been so grueling that he hadn’t even managed to properly maintain his spear afterward.
If he tried to protest, he’d just get beaten again, so it was better to accept his punishment voluntarily.
Ghislain clicked his tongue as he watched. If Viktor had resisted just a bit more, he could have loosened up his hands today as well.
He was a man who never forgot grudges, but that didn’t mean he was giving Viktor extra scrutiny because of some lingering resentment from the past. Definitely not.
“Viktor, for neglecting your personal maintenance, you will be responsible for washing all the squad members’ laundry today. Understood?”
“...Yes, sir.”
“Make sure to clean them properly to maintain combat readiness.”
After issuing his orders, Ghislain turned back to address the squad members.
“As you all know, the company’s tactical training evaluation is coming up soon. And you’re also aware that the company that places first will be positioned at the very front during the legion’s formation.”
Negotiations with the ducal family were currently the most critical matter for the royal army. As such, the strongest soldiers were expected to be at the forefront.
Of course, the soldiers hated being placed at the front. The high-ranking officers were well aware of this, so they had attached a hefty reward to this evaluation.
As a result, many soldiers were now highly motivated. Ghislain, too, had no intention of settling for anything less than first place.
“I hear that our company has always placed dead last in every tactical evaluation. But that was before I got here.”
“......”
All the squad members turned their eyes to Ghislain. Just what nonsense was a mere squad leader about to spew?
Ghislain continued speaking with an utterly arrogant expression.
“This squad leader absolutely hates losing. So from now on, our company is taking first place, no exceptions. If we lose to another company, I live, and you all die. Got it?”
A squad leader was saying something that only a company commander should be saying. No matter how well a single squad performed, how did that translate to the entire company winning?
The squad members were at a loss for how to respond, so they simply kept their mouths shut.
“......”
“Answer me.”
“Y-Yes, sir...!”
“Get down.”
The squad members immediately dropped to the ground, their faces twisted in despair.
Even a slight delay in responding resulted in immediate punishment. Squad Leader Duggly demanded instant reactions from his squad members. Only then, he claimed, could they demonstrate proper combat effectiveness.
It was practically an obsession. Rumor had it that he had completely lost his mind trying to imitate Count Fenris.
Ghislain clenched his fist and shouted once more.
“We will win, no matter what! I desire only victory! Do you understand?!”
“Yes, sir!”
The thunderous response made Ghislain smile in satisfaction and nod.
Being positioned at the front during formation was advantageous for him. It made checking and looting supplies much easier.
He absolutely could not miss this opportunity.
But that wasn’t the only reason.
‘If I’m here, then winning is the only option.’
This was a matter of pride. Even if he was acting, he couldn’t tolerate losing a battle. That was a fundamental instinct ingrained into his very being.
“All right! Then let’s throw ourselves into training today as well!”
“Yes, sir!”
Under Ghislain’s command, the Duggly Squad trained so intensely that the taste of iron filled their mouths.
They couldn’t even rest unless Ghislain allowed it. Every one of them had the same thought running through their minds:
‘We’re going to die at this rate.’
‘We should’ve collapsed already, shouldn’t we?’
‘Wait... why does this feel more manageable?’
They felt like they were dying, but they didn’t actually collapse. Instead, they found themselves adjusting to the brutal training.
Ghislain was carefully observing each of his squad members, meticulously alternating between rest and training at the optimal intervals.
The others failed to notice this. To them, it simply felt like relentless, indiscriminate drilling.
And then, after all their hard work, the day of the company’s tactical evaluation finally arrived.
The commander of the 3rd Infantry Company, which had always been dead last in the 2nd Legion, shouted in frustration.
“This time, we must place first! ...Or at least somewhere in the middle! If we don’t, I’ll work you all to death, so keep that in mind!”
Tactical training wasn’t just about individual soldiers performing well. The commander had to devise a solid strategy and effectively lead their troops.
But in a situation where his very position was at risk, the company commander couldn’t afford to take sole responsibility.
“This time, we’re on the offensive! All we need to do is break through, no matter what!”
The tactical exercise was structured so that one side defended a strategic hill while the other attempted to seize it.
The designated hill wasn’t particularly high, making it easy to climb. The challenge was in the fighting.
Since the training evaluated how well troops were managed, the commander’s tactical acumen mattered more than the soldiers’ raw combat skills.
The 3rd Infantry Company commander prayed desperately.
Just this once... please let us win. As long as we’re not last...
“Fight as if your lives depend on it!”
---
The opponent was the 5th Infantry Company. Both sides lined up in an orderly fashion and advanced toward each other.
The company commander, who had been quietly observing the battlefield, shouted.
“Charge!”
“Waaaah!”
The soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Company all rushed forward. As they ran, a single thought crossed their minds.
‘Isn’t this exactly the same as last time?’
‘Why is it always just charging?’
‘Ah, that bastard’s obsessed with charging.’
Indeed, the commander of the 3rd Infantry Company was a man with a romanticized view of charging. A company commander’s position did not suit someone who thought of nothing but charging.
“In the end, infantry battles are won by the stronger side!”
Easier said than done, but reality was different. Charging was originally a cavalry tactic. It was hardly an infantry specialty.
The commander of the 5th Infantry Company sneered.
“Hah, that idiot is doing the same thing again.”
His adjutant standing beside him chuckled as well.
“There are rumors that the 3rd Infantry Company’s commander will be dismissed if he comes in last again this time.”
“He should be. Honestly, if a guy like that stays in position, only his soldiers will keep dying. He got that seat because of some noble backing, didn’t he?”
The commander of the 5th Infantry Company had every reason to mock him. The commander of the 3rd Infantry Company hadn’t even properly studied military tactics.
His merchant parents had bribed a noble to secure his position as a company commander.
“At least it’s a relief that it’s rare for a single company to participate in a war.”
If that guy ever became a corps commander, all his troops would perish charging mindlessly.
“Alright, shields up! This will be an easy one!”
The soldiers of the 5th Infantry Company raised their wooden shields. Their weapons were merely straw clubs, but they were solid enough to inflict pain.
Soon, both sides clashed.
Boom!
“Push forward!”
“Hold the line!”
Both sides clenched their teeth, swinging their straw clubs.
However, compared to the 3rd Infantry Company, which charged in recklessly, the 5th Infantry Company, which held their shields up and maintained a solid formation, had the advantage.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
“Ow, ow, ow!”
The 3rd Infantry Company soldiers, who had blindly rushed forward, failed to break through even a single rank and were being beaten down.
As the opposing soldiers began to collapse one by one, the 5th Infantry Company’s commander burst into laughter.
“Puhahahaha! You idiots! Do you think charging blindly will work?”
How could foot soldiers, not even cavalry, expect to break through a wall of shields just by charging? Unless they were overwhelmingly strong, it was impossible.
Watching his soldiers fall so easily, the 3rd Infantry Company’s commander shouted in frustration.
“Why are my soldiers so weak?! We trained so hard!”
“……”
His adjutant remained silent.
It wasn’t a matter of training but of tactics. Charging blindly wasn’t a guaranteed path to victory.
Of course, the commander of the 3rd Infantry Company had at least attempted to form a charge-friendly formation. But that was the limit of his ability.
However, there was one fact that neither of the commanders nor anyone else knew.
There was someone here who really loved charging and was exceptionally good at it.
Ghislain gestured to his squad members.
“Hey, you all, ready?”
“Yes! Ready!”
Duggly’s squad was positioned in the middle ranks, meaning they had yet to engage the enemy.
They were conserving their strength while the front lines were beginning to crumble.
Ghislain grinned and spoke to his squad members.
“No matter how well they hold, eventually, they’ll get tired. When I give the signal, don’t look to the sides just follow me. I’ll take the lead. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
Ghislain gripped his straw club tightly and locked eyes on the enemy. He had no intention of using mana. That would ruin the fun.
Instead, he planned to hold back his strength and fight on the level of an average soldier.
Keeping a hawk’s eye on the battlefield, Ghislain shouted the moment the soldiers in the front ranks collapsed.
“Now!”
Whoosh!
Ghislain dashed forward and struck the leading enemy soldier’s head.
The soldier, caught completely off guard, had no time to react to the sudden attack.
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
The soldier staggered forward, his head bowing. Ghislain took the opening and kicked him in the stomach, sending him tumbling to the ground.
Then, stepping over the fallen soldier, he attacked the one behind him.
“Waaaah!”
Duggly’s squad members roared as they surged forward. The enemy soldiers tried to block them, but it wasn’t easy.
“What the—?!”
“Why are these guys so strong?!”
“Hold the line! Hold it!”
Duggly’s squad had changed. After undergoing hellish training, each and every soldier had become incredibly strong.
Like a spear piercing through, they tore into the enemy’s formation, swinging their clubs wildly as they advanced.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
“Argh! What the hell are these guys?!”
The enemy soldiers panicked. Clubs were raining down on them at an overwhelming speed, without pause.
Ghislain’s performance was especially overwhelming. He didn’t use any special swordsmanship. He simply wielded his straw club using the basic military techniques.
And yet, the soldiers he struck fell like dominoes.
“Uwooooooh!”
The other squads fighting alongside them cheered. The enemy formation finally had a gap.
And what happens when a gap appears? Like water rushing into an opening, everyone naturally flowed toward it.
“Hell yeah! Follow Duggly’s squad!”
At someone’s shout, soldiers swarmed into the breach. There was no other answer.
As more soldiers flooded in, the gap in the enemy formation widened even further.
The 5th Infantry Company’s commander shot up from his seat in shock.
“What?! What the hell is happening?!”
A straight path was being carved through his ranks. And now, with others following in, even the formation along the sides was beginning to collapse.
The 3rd Infantry Company’s commander also sprang to his feet and shouted.
“Well done! Keep going! Keep pushing! Look at that! It’s working! It’s actually working!”
An unbelievable sight was unfolding. For the first time in his life, an infantry charge was succeeding.
The battlefield instantly heated up. Everyone, caught in the frenzy, focused solely on swinging their clubs.
Meanwhile, someone who had come out of concern upon hearing about the company’s tactical evaluation stood frozen, trembling as they watched the scene unfold.
‘Why?! Why are they fighting so hard?!’
It was Baron Shear, who had come as an observer. He stomped his feet, his face pale.
‘Why the hell is he making a name for himself here?!’
It was maddening. He was supposed to be hiding his identity, yet he was charging in as a squad leader.
As the rumors said he really was a maniac when it came to fighting.