Chapter 43

Chapter 43

#43. Return of the Soldiers from the Northern Region (1)

“Mary!”

Seeing Mary, I couldn’t help but flash a big smile in delight.

“Do come in!”

“…I heard you were looking for me.”

“That’s right! No matter how busy or preoccupied with personal matters, you should still show up at our company’s grand opening!”

“I apologize. Personal business made me late.”

“It’s fine. You’re here now, and that’s what matters.”

“So, what’s the business item? Come to think of it, didn’t you say there would be a product to showcase alongside the opening ceremony?”

Mary’s eyes sparkled with interest at the words I had just muttered.

So, I decided to explain the product to Mary first—something I hadn’t managed to introduce to the Duke earlier.

“Of course…”

Right then…

“They’re coming! The expeditionary force is returning!”

Herald riders, holding blue flags, galloped around High City shouting the news.

“The Northern Ice Wall Sun and Frost Shield Legion will arrive within three days!”

Upon hearing this, Mary said with a gleam of joy in her eyes,

“You picked the perfect day for the opening. If it had been even slightly later, it might have ended up being as dull as a birthday party.”

And yes, I also knew that the Frost Shield Expeditionary Force and the Barbarian Orc-hunting teams had successfully completed their missions and were on their way back.

In High City, hardly anyone was unaware of this fact, since heralds usually send carrier pigeons ahead to announce such news.

We all anticipated their arrival around this time anyway.

“With this, the unveiling of our first business item will have to be postponed again.”

And as this prediction came true, everyone in High City sprang into action.

Heroes were returning. Even if modestly, we had to give them a proper welcome.

I had to lend a hand too.

* * *

The northern lands are still heavily plagued by remnants of the barbarian hordes.

While the sudden mutant monsters from the Magic Realm are somehow kept under control by imperial adventurers and local northern adventurers thanks to capitalist buffs, other areas aren’t so fortunate.

There’s the Druid Barbarian tribe of Mount Manus, who act no differently than monsters despite wearing human skin.

Then there are the relentless invasions from the Orcs of the Frozen North, where ice never melts.

These two groups constantly threaten the peace of the north, gnawing away at its potential and growth.

Therefore, every three years, large-scale expeditions are carried out—a matter of destiny for the northerners.

If they don’t do this, before long, those barbarians will start eyeing the Great Wall.

The monsters scattered throughout the north are already dangerous enough; if these guys manage to cross the Great Wall too, it’ll be pure chaos.

It’s almost like pruning.

The people of the north call this expedition the Polar Expedition or Preventive War.

“Just a little more effort! A bit further and we’ll reach High City! There’s a grand feast waiting for us in High City!”

Knight Theo of the Frost Shield Legion shouted loudly, encouraging his soldiers.

But truthfully, this shout was directed at himself—an exclamation to shake off the lingering shadow of water demons.

He’d been yelling this whenever he got a chance, whether it was this morning, maybe last night, or perhaps even the morning before.

His voice was already slightly hoarse.

“Everyone has truly worked hard! Your sacrifices and dedication won’t be forgotten by our noble Duke and our ancestors!”

In the distance, the long-missed silhouette of High City could faintly be seen. Beneath it stretched the endless Great Northern Wall, a fence for the people of the north.

Up ahead, messengers sent from High City were already guiding them.

“The blood, sweat, and tears we’ve shed during this expedition are what saved our families from having to endure the same!”

Seeing this, Knight Theo felt a renewed surge of strength and shouted loudly.

Though his right arm was absent, leaving only an empty sleeve flapping in the wind, he paid it no mind.

“Lenslet! Rune Lenslet!”

“Rune Lenslet! Lenslet!”

“Rune Lenslet! Let’s go!”

Inspired by his cries, the soldiers picked up their pace in their march.

“Hmm…”

Meanwhile, the tension began to slowly ease.

Knight Theo, who turned eighteen this year, was a very young knight by world standards—having been an adult for only two years.

What’s more, he had barely received his knighthood just before embarking on this expedition.

‘It feels like a dream to return like this alive.’

This was Theo’s first polar expedition.

Although he had previously faced monsters and barbarians defending the Great Northern Wall, venturing beyond the sturdy fortifications deep into enemy territory was entirely new to him.

‘Will the next polar expedition be in three years?’

Despite the hardships and suffering of his first expedition, Theo would volunteer without hesitation if asked to join again in three years.

It was a terrifying yet honorable duty that someone had to perform, and he believed it was necessary to honor the blood of fallen comrades who had gone before.

‘But I doubt I’ll be part of the next expedition.’

He glanced at his still-unaccustomed loose right sleeve with a wry expression.

During this expedition, he lost one arm.

It still didn’t feel real. Even now, it seemed like his right arm would spring to life at any moment to grip a sword.

‘The others must feel the same.’

His gaze swept over the returning army.

In the middle of the procession were carriages carrying wounded soldiers.

Though Theo had lost only one arm and both legs were intact, allowing him to walk and manage the troops, the carriages were filled with soldiers who had lost limbs or suffered grievous wounds rendering them immobile.

“Knight Theo, you’ve worked hard.”

At that moment, a soldier in one of the carriages caught Theo’s eye and greeted him first.

“Hey, Bill. You’ve truly endured a lot. After the celebration in High City, you’ll head back to your hometown, right?”

Bill, a veteran soldier Theo had grown familiar with during the expedition, replied.

“Yeah, I guess so. With this body, I can’t serve as a soldier anymore. Though… I’m not sure if my hometown will welcome me back. I became a soldier because there wasn’t enough food, and now… how am I supposed to live like this?”

Looking at Bill’s legs, there was nothing left.

His left leg was missing below the calf due to frostbite, and his right leg was amputated below the thigh after an orc spear inflicted a wound that worsened into infection.

“Be grateful you survived.”

Seeing Bill, Theo responded with a bittersweet tone.

Indeed, Bill’s survival was nothing short of miraculous.

Typically, someone with injuries like Bill’s would die 99% of the time—due to excessive bleeding, infection, or frostbite.

However, with the blessing of his ancestors, this bearded twenty-eight-year-old bachelor-soldier survived.

Perhaps among the wounded of the expeditionary force, Bill’s case was unique.

“Yes… sigh… Sometimes, death would’ve been better…”

To this consolation from Theo, Bill sighed deeply and mumbled.

“What did you say?”

“No, nothing. Hahaha…”

Had Theo’s limbs been intact, Bill would have likely unleashed a torrent of curses upon hearing Theo’s “Be grateful you survived.”

He might have even thought that getting executed for insulting his superior or insubordination wouldn’t be so bad.

“Yes, you’re right, Knight. Meeting our ancestors can wait, right? Hahahaha!”

“…”

Bill tried to laugh it off, but Theo understood his feelings.

Even losing just one arm affected him this way—how disheartening must it be for Bill, who lost both legs?

“I’m sorry.”

“What? What’s suddenly?”

“No, nothing.”

The future for this soldier was clear.

The modest monthly rations and stipend provided by High City would fall far short.

His hometown, already struggling with food shortages, would gradually see him as a burden.

Eventually, he’d leave home and resort to begging to survive.

When winter came, he’d shiver in the streets, dying amidst hunger, resentment, and regret.

“At least your craftsmanship is good, isn’t it? You’re skilled at carving and drawing. I still keep the portrait you drew of me.”

“That’s true.”

On second thought, things might not be entirely hopeless.

Soldier Bill was quite talented with his hands—he excelled at drawing and woodcraft.

He might be able to scrape by selling his artwork or crafts on the street.

“So, what will you do, Knight?”

“…?!”

Caught off guard by Bill’s question, Theo stared blankly at his wind-fluttering right sleeve.

“Me? Well…”

Thinking about it, Theo realized he was in no position to worry about Bill.

‘How foolish. Who’s worrying about whom? I’m in the same boat without a place to go.’

Though Theo had aristocratic blood, he only inherited half of it—he was the son of a concubine.

Still, his talents were recognized, allowing him to train as a knight, which led to his current status.

But that was all.

‘Damn it! Why did I lose my right arm?!’

He was right-handed.

Certainly, retraining to wield a sword with his left hand would allow him to continue fighting, albeit as a one-armed warrior.

However, they wouldn’t include him in perilous expeditions anymore—or any significant missions reserved solely for knights.

“At best, I’ll end up training soldiers in the rear or become an adventurer.”

Stuck between being a knight and a soldier—his future was pretty much capped at that level.

“Thinking about it, I’m equally at a loss. My swordsmanship isn’t exceptional enough to become a one-armed swordsman. Hahahaha!”

With an awkward smile, Theo let out a defeated laugh.

“At least you’re eloquent and write well, don’t you? And you’re good with numbers too.”

“That’s something anyone can learn with a little practice.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, if I had any talent for that stuff, I’d have become a bureaucrat or merchant long ago.”

“Then why not try becoming a bureaucrat or merchant now?”

“Nah. Bureaucrats and merchants need to read a lot more books and handle complex calculations. I don’t dare think I can measure up.”

Saying this, Theo fell into deep contemplation about his uncertain future.

‘What will I really do to make a living? Returning to my family will only result in being treated like a burden. Even if I become an adventurer, can I truly earn enough to eat with just one arm?’

Until now, these worries were set aside because survival was the primary goal. But now, with the tension easing, they loomed dauntingly.

“What’s so amusing conversation going on here?”

Just then…

A heavy voice reached Theo and Bill.

‘Could it be?!’

“?!”

Startled by the sound, both the knight and the soldier quickly turned around.

“Commander!”

“To the Northern Ice Wall!”

It was none other than Sun from the Northern Ice Wall, who had been overseeing the soldiers at the very rear of the procession.

Standing over two meters tall, his physique reminiscent of a polar bear easily matched that of a formidable orc assault commander.

The kite shield strapped to his back, made from solid cold iron, glowed blue and was nearly one and a half times his size.

Its chill and imposing stature caused icy gusts each time he moved, creating a frigid air pressure.

“…”

Sun silently surveyed his wounded subordinates with solemn reverence.

He looked wordlessly at the young knight who had lost an arm and the soldier whose future seemed bleak after losing both legs.

“Um… Knight Theo, you’ve worked hard.”

After a dozen seconds of silence, Sun finally spoke again.

“Yes, yes!”

Moved by the high-ranking knight calling him by name, Theo felt deeply touched.

“And Senior Soldier Bill, you’ve truly endured much. I remember your landscape painting of High City—it pleased my wife greatly.”

Next, Sun remembered and called out Bill’s name.

“My, if Her Ladyship liked it, it’s an honor!”

Bill, too, wore an expression of deep emotion.

“Bjordan, you’ve worked hard. Was it your left or right foot you lost this time?”

“Hahaha! It’s my left. And I only lost two toes to frostbite—the rest of my foot is fine!”

And this was just the beginning.

“Soldier Baron, how are you doing? Are you feeling better?”

“Yes! Thanks to the medicine from Commander Sun, my wound hasn’t worsened!”

Until the very end, the Northern Ice Wall continued to carefully check on each injured soldier, calling them by name one by one.