Chapter 61

After having a soup with some dried meat for breakfast, I stood up to head to the barracks in time for the assembly.

As soon as I stood up, my wife began stacking the dishes to clean them.

Seeing my beloved wife organizing the dishes, I smiled and said,

“Then, I’ll be off, Maria.”

Just as I was about to step out of the house, Maria, as always, came to the door to see me off.

“Darling, what time will your shift end today? I’ll prepare dinner according to your return time.”

“…I think I’ll be home around dusk like usual. There won’t be any guard or training today.”

Upon hearing that, Maria replied with a bright smile,

“Really? Then let’s have dinner together. I’ll make something delicious. Do you like rye bread and dried fish?”

“I don’t mind as long as it’s not hardtack. Actually, will hardtack taste good if I eat it with Maria?”

Upon hearing the word hardtack, Maria seemed to recall the terrible time she had breaking the extremely hard bread and answered sternly.

“I don’t want any bread that needs to be broken with a hammer. It’s just cheap and not tasty. Let’s just eat rye bread together.”

“Okay. Then I’m off.”

As I opened the door to leave, Maria hugged me gently from behind like always and said,

“Take care, darling. Don’t get hurt today.”

“I won’t get hurt. Even if I look like this at home, I’m called the invincible Mark in the barracks! I mean it!”

“Sure, sure. You’re always right. So come back without getting hurt.”

“Got it. Now I’m really going.”

Having spent a bit of extra time fooling around with my wife after breakfast, I ran toward the barracks with all my might to avoid being late.

Back in the days when I lived alone, it was really annoying to have to run to work even though I wasn’t late to wake up…

But if it meant I could spend even a little more time with my beloved wife in the morning, I’d gladly run to avoid being late…

That thought brought me joy.

**

Thus, as a result of running without rest to the barracks, I was fortunately able to arrive on time.

“Haah, haah… Corporal Mark reporting for duty.”

Seeing me exhausted, the squad leader smiled and said,

“Did you run because you were busy having lovey-dovey time with your wife again? I’m envious. I should get married too. Damn, I’m afraid I’ll end up single like Captain Johann at over 30.”

“Don’t say such terrible things. We’re not mercenaries, and it’s not like Lieutenant Frost can’t get married until he’s 30… Isn’t he only 24?”

“That’s just how it is. If I can’t get married by then, I’ll have to ask my father, Lord Frost, to arrange it for me… But there’s no woman from the matchmakers that’s as pretty and kind as your wife.”

The squad leader said that with a rather dumbfounded expression, likely because it sounded ridiculous that I treasured my wife so much. The eyes he had now honestly seemed to say, “I’m jealous.”

So I decided to tease this single squad leader a bit more and correct one of his misconceptions.

“Lieutenant, my wife Maria is also a great cook.”

Whether that struck a nerve, the squad leader looked at me, who had married before him, with a tinge of envy and said,

“Today’s spear training was supposed to be led by Corporal Luca, but since he has to go meet the captain today… you’ll take over.”

“You mean that annoying, bothersome task? It’s not even my turn!”

“Or will you just do the digging duties ordered by the captain? I hear Sergeant Hurtman is personally teaching you how to dig since he considers you his future subordinate…”

Even though spear training consists of the same stance, thrusting and withdrawing the spear countless times in a monotonous cycle…

It’s still better than digging with Sergeant Hurtman, who’ll make you continue digging until he’s satisfied with the angle, even calling for mercenary corporals resting in the corner to pitch in…

It’s no wonder Sergeant Short of the scouting party seriously considered taking Sergeant Hurtman with him to the reconnaissance unit.

To prevent a catastrophe where I end up working with him, I smiled and said,

“Is there any doubt? I love training!”

“What a pity! It was a good opportunity for promotion! Go for it!”

Spear training is far less tedious than the extensive work the impressive squad leader might demand, so I quickly made my escape.

During my escape, I heard the squad leader mutter, “It’s sad that I can’t even get married, but here I am showcasing my newlywed life in front of him…” so I think I made the right choice.

**

After finishing spear training, unsurprisingly, hardtack and salted fish were served for our meal again.

“Why hardtack again? Didn’t we have hardtack three days ago?”

“Recently, we have an excess of hardtack. The Excellency ordered us to eat it… Can you imagine hardtack even being served at the company commander’s meal?”

“Eh? Really?”

Then, the cheeky Private Gelly, despite his low rank, was playfully challenged by Private Shark, who pointed out the word “eh.”

“I’m not complaining about eating hardtack! Please understand, Private Shark.”

“You have to admit hardtack is at least acceptable. Did you bring the hammer?”

“Yes, it’s here. And I brought some milk too.”

If you mix some crushed hardtack with salted fish and milk, at least it becomes somewhat edible…

“Good job, Private.”

“Thank you.”

Thus, we started splitting the hardtack with our hammers while seated in small groups.

Next, we placed a large iron bucket over the campfire and added milk, salted fish, and crushed hardtack to make a porridge.

No matter when you see hardtack porridge, it truly looks like something humans could not eat.

The color looks like pale muddy water mixed together with milk, hardtack, and salted fish, and the taste…

“Ugh, it’s terribly salty… How are we supposed to eat this…”

“Why would the Excellency make such a terrible dish…”

“Ah, it’s all because it’s military food.”

At the time we were swallowing down that horrible sludge, our company messenger, Private Sands, approached me.

Whenever that guy comes, it’s never good news…

“Hey, why are you here?”

“This afternoon’s training has been canceled. Instead, the Excellency has summoned the entire army.”

“The entire army? Are we heading out to fight right away?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll take my leave now.”

**

Instead of the afternoon training, we all assembled under the walls as per the Excellency’s orders.

As a corporal and deputy squad leader, I stood next to the squad leader, and with nothing else to do, we began to chat.

“Squad leader, why are we gathered here?”

“I don’t know, and the company commander doesn’t know either.”

If the company commander doesn’t know, it must be an incredibly important matter… What disaster will strike this time?

“The last time we were summoned for something the company commander didn’t understand, two other company leaders got executed for weapons embezzlement, didn’t they?”

“Who will lose their head this time… I hope it’s not our company commander.”

After some idle chatter, the sound of a trumpet heralding the noble march of the Baron rang out from atop the walls.

A little while later, Baron appeared, standing on the castle rampart, and calmly spoke.

“Before I start my speech, I have one question. Proud soldiers of Croilet, what do you fight for? Anyone can answer.”

Of course, none of us soldiers could dare to respond to the question from the exalted Baron, so no one spoke.

We merely stood in silence, waiting for someone else to speak.

Then, the Baron, sounding annoyed, said,

“Well, is there Corporal Mark, who played a key role in my first war! Why do you fight?”

At that moment, I felt both grateful for the Baron recalling a mere soldier like me and resentful as to why it had to be me.

However, I am a soldier; a soldier must always do as the company commander says… or else.

So I answered loudly.

“Your Excellency! I fight for you, who has given me a proper career and respect, and for my wife, Maria!”

If my answer pleased him, the Baron smiled and asked,

“Do you have no regrets?”

“None! If I hadn’t followed you, I would still be doing menial tasks and living off scraps, using cheap courtesans occasionally! So the best choice in my life was becoming a soldier in your army!”

Everything I just said was the truth.

Although I complain about the taste of hardtack, before joining the military, I could only eat a thin porridge made with a tiny bit of low-quality wheat grain.

That life wouldn’t have changed until my death, and I wouldn’t have even thought of sketching out a “future” for myself.

I would have remained solitary and weary until I eventually perished.

The Baron seemed really satisfied with my answer, raising his right hand tightly and shouted.

“As Corporal Mark said, I will do my utmost so that joining my army will be the best choice of your lives! As long as my house exists, I swear to keep this promise.”

After pausing briefly, the Baron took a deep breath and continued with a humorous tone.

“Before that, as you all would have heard at the tavern, I dealt with Count Nante, who laid hands on my beloved maid, Ela. I assume no one is unaware, and if you are, I’ll have your squad fed hardtack for a month.”

Such a cruel statement was made, but no one, unless they were a monk, could have missed hearing that story at the tavern…

So, we all found it somewhat funny and laughed at the Baron’s awkward joke.

After sharing a moment of laughter, the Baron drew his sword and continued speaking.

“Yes, my noble lord Count Nante treated me, and by extension you all, like dirt. Though we had an obligation to feed that piglet due to our lord and vassal relationship… that guy has crossed the line. Last war, it was said he even raped a maiden from our side… So, let me ask, married Mark, if your wife is beautiful, wouldn’t that boar come to take her?”

…Even a count would be crossing the line there.

No matter if my limbs were severed, I would prevent such things from happening.

“If he tries that, I’ll tear his arms and legs apart. How can such a wretch be my lord?”

Hearing my words of rage, the Baron merely nodded.

“This is why I can’t tolerate his atrocities. I ask you again, should we allow a pig who plunders wealth earned with soldiers’ blood and, while seeking glory on the forefront, flees in fear, and even lusts after your wives, daughters, sisters, and female relatives? Is this the proud visage of your lord?”

In unison, I and my fellow soldiers answered together.

“We must kill him! Please kill him!!”

The Baron, hearing this, raised the sword he had drawn high into the sky and declared.

“I will march in two months to slay the pig who has forsaken honor for the sake of women. This battle is not for me! This battle is purely for your families, your most precious ones! And I swear, unlike that pig, I will repay your blood, sweat, and contributions to the utmost!”

…..Indeed, this was war.

However, as the Baron said, I will throw my life into battle to protect Maria.

And then I shall return to her arms once more.

---