Chapter 149

A month has passed since I had the bailiffs who were plotting rebellion executed.

During this time, I ordered the professors of the engineering department at the Academy to create a small cannon made of iron, along with the necessary gunpowder cartridges for a single shot, bayonets that could be fitted onto the barrels, and mobile carts specifically designed for the cannons.

In particular, I commanded them to use death-row inmates and other serious criminals as test subjects for cannon firing experiments, using sentence reduction as bait.

This was because cannons of this era often exploded and killed people before they were perfectly completed.

While it is unfortunate when someone dies, it is better for a criminal to die than a skilled technician.

Additionally, I successfully deployed the administrative personnel sent by Sub-Noble Laurent, who remained in Nante with my father, throughout Architel to fill administrative gaps.

Irina and Ela came with Victoria a week ago, but…

From early morning until late at night, I was so busy handling a massive amount of work that I barely had time to show my face to my family.

Still, I felt a sense of reward for all the hard work, as the nobles, citizens, and serfs in the Architel region fully support me now.

If I can just hold on until next month… I too will be able to enjoy a luxurious life as a modern employee, or rather, like these nobles of the era, arriving at work at 1 p.m. and leaving at 6 p.m.

Just as I was lost in such thoughts, Balt, who was in front of me, spoke up with a concerned voice.

“Your Excellency, Your Excellency… You’ve been working late into the night lately, and it seems your health isn’t good. If you’re feeling unwell, leave urgent tasks to Alps and take a rest.”

“Usually, when you tell me to rest while you take my duties, wouldn’t it mean that you’ll be taking over all my work, Balt?”

At my words, Balt chuckled softly.

“I hardly handle administrative duties. So even after becoming a noble, I’ve left all supply and administrative work to the inspectors and commanders. If I were to handle the Count’s work, who knows what disasters might occur…”

“That’s exactly why I keep you by my side. You can’t act as a deputy for administration or governance like Count Frost or Count Beerman.”

“Lately, I’m worried that this young Colonel Frost might overtake me. Though I don’t worry about Count Beerman or Count Frost…”

Colonel Frost did play a significant role in this battle, but his achievements and experience are still quite low for a colonel.

So unless a considerable miracle happens, there won’t be any reason for Balt to worry for at least another ten years.

From his talk about Count Beerman and Count Frost, it seems he is also worried that if I soon become a duke, their titles would naturally rise as well…

“That’s not going to happen. I have no intention of becoming a duke yet. And today, I’m just going to read the report you wrote, as you suggested.”

Hearing that, Balt smiled and handed over his report, saying, “This is the report regarding the plan to create a militia from the former subjects as you ordered, Your Excellency. Please take a look.”

“So you’d train the serfs for about 2-3 weeks during the farming off-season while paying them a decent wage? Until now, you would have been training them to follow commands like soldiers… They’ll be learning basic physical training and military skills, not combat training.”

As someone born in Korea who knows well the pains of conscription, I was reluctant to train the serfs.

However, considering the situation where Emperor Franche and the warlords of Romania might invade at any moment…

To put it frankly, we might need to conduct total war, utilizing our abundant food supply and population.

And when total war commences, to increase their survival rates, at least minimal training and adaptation to military life are necessary.

Ironically, to enhance their physical abilities and their quick response to commands, the best approach is… guerrilla and combat skills training.

This is because, while pushing their limits with grueling physical training, skipping the final command surprisingly helps them develop concentration skills in critical situations.

Especially in near-exhaustion scenarios, when twisting their bodies becomes strenuous, keeping that up requires…

Understanding this to some extent, Balt gave me a wry smile.

“Even if it’s a militia, while they are in training, they are just like our soldiers. So, we decided to provide good meals for those who are weak from having only eaten gruel. Please check the rest in the report.”

**

I, Kevin, a serf in the Architel region, am currently going through the hardest time of my life.

In the past, when I said it was tough, it was because I was starving due to lack of food or suffering from the bailiffs’ oppression and various strange taxes… but now it’s…

“Attention everyone!!”

At those words, I and the others snapped to attention and focused on the soldier in red clothes.

However, the instructor in front of me wore an evil smile and yelled,

“What did I say? Didn’t I order you to respond with fervor to the instructor’s commands! Or do you want to train hotly with me until tonight!!”

… Yesterday afternoon, I arrived at the training ground and nearly died after doing the guerrilla workout personally created by Count Croilet for over an hour…

If we continue that from early morning until night, we’ll be heading straight to Deus.

“No!!!”

“Didn’t I say yesterday? I ordered you to unify all responses with fervor. From now on, all responses shall be fervent!”

“Fervent!!”

“Good! Now, prepare for Exercise 1!”

“Prepare 1!!”

At that, I and Mr. Blanc next to me extended our arms forward and slightly pushed our hips back to take the stance for Exercise 1.

“Exercise 1, perform 10 times! How many times?”

“10 times!!”

Just as we were about to start the movements, the instructor shouted loudly again.

“20 times!”

“20 times!!!”

“Good! This time, perform 6 times without the final command! Start!!”

“Fervent!!”

Following that command, the villagers who came to train with me began to perform Exercise 1 fervently.

One, two, three… after perfectly executing the five repetitions, we finally reached the long-awaited sixth.

And I safely completed the sixth movement, landing on the ground without shouting the command.

However, a sound came to my ears that should not have been heard.

“Six!”

As soon as those words reached me, the instructor flashed another wicked smile.

Seeing that smile reminded me of the horrific repetition of movements I experienced yesterday.

Though it felt like I was heading toward Deus, miraculously, no one got hurt or died during those horrific memories…

“Didn’t I say not to shout the last command!! Why can’t you do such a simple thing? This time, do it 15 times!”

“15 times!”

“Let’s do 13 times!”

“Fervent!!”

After that, I moved in sync with Exercise 1 all the way through to Exercise 7… no, I couldn’t even count how many exercises there were.

And of course, during that time, I and the other villagers kept looking for the one who kept shouting the last command… but we never found them.

Just when I was overwhelmed with extreme fatigue, the instructor looked at us and smiled slyly, saying,

“From now on, I will show a new exercise demonstration! I will show it 2 times, so watch closely and follow along.”

“Fervent!!”

As soon as those words ended, the instructor lay down on the ground and bent his legs right at a perfect angle with his waist.

Though it looked funny like a hoe, the instructor didn’t care and stretched his arms out like a stick, raising his neck from the ground.

In that position, he slightly moved his legs left and right while issuing counts.

“One, two, one! One, two, two! One, two, three! One, two, four!”

He turned his legs to the left at “one,” moved his legs to the right at “two,” and when counting, his legs stopped right in the middle.

While other exercises required bearing the pain and moving the body while standing or sitting, this movement was a bit easier since one only had to move their legs while lying on the ground, right?

The instructor stood up again and faced us, saying,

“Everyone, lie back! After lying back, follow the movements I just demonstrated!”

“Lie back! Fervent!!”

With that command, I somewhat expectedly lay back and took the same position as the instructor.

“Guerrilla Exercise #8, full body twist! 20 times! The last command will be omitted!”

“Fervent!!”

And I twisted my legs left and right according to the instructor’s count.

At first, it seemed like an easy movement, but actually lifting and moving my legs caused my back and waist to be pulled intensely.

After doing the 20 movements while already being tired, I felt an excruciating pain that felt like it was tearing from my calves to my waist.

I just want to stop… After this exercise, I want to eat black bread and herring and rest…

Just as that thought crossed my mind, a powerful voice I recognized came from my side.

“20!!!”

As if waiting for that moment, the instructor looked at us, on the verge of collapse, and said,

“Is it that hard not to shout the last command!”

“Fervent!!”

“Good! Then I will teach you how to perform exercises without adding the last command! Do it 30 times!!”

“30 times!! Fervent!!!”

And we then twisted our bodies a whopping 50 more times before we could finally relax.

After that, we ate black bread, herring, and a bit of meat, and then did spear training.

After training, we split into teams and held mock battles using long spears that had cotton instead of blades.

At first, I didn’t want to do anything before the mock battle began…

But, having been told that if we lost in the mock battle, the instructor would point to a big log and say we would turn it for the night if we didn’t win…

We had to fervently go through the mock battles with the villagers from the neighboring town.

**

“Count Your Excellency, and this is the result! Look.”

“All trained serfs have learned the basics of establishing defenses and marching within 2 weeks, and they can somewhat form lines? Impressive, the effect is good. But I hope my training will remain a useless training as much as possible.”

Having received Balt’s report, I was about to return to my room to rest when suddenly Alps opened the door and entered with a triumphant expression.

“Your Excellency! Thanks to our victory in this war and the acquisition of a large territory, His Majesty Emperor Elaline has granted you the title of Duke! Please prepare to go immediately to Elysium, where the Emperor is staying.”