- Shari -

After Peras essentially threw us out of his office all three of us find ourselves in the hallway.

That new guy Kaleb appears to be on a loss at what to do with us.

"Sigh." (Kaleb)

I hope this sigh was indicating that he's going to accept this situation.

He still stares at us, probably not too pleased with the situation.

"You see, I know you don't really want to do this introduction, but let's just get over this so we can proceed and then part ways." (Shari)

I might be speaking ill of myself to suggest that he should work to reduce contact with us as much as possible.

However, I want his cooperation, so if I provide a way out of this situation it might motivate him.

"Follow me." (Kaleb)

My plan to motivate him was apparently not too successful, as his voice indicates, while his steps show that he is indeed unwilling to be accompanied by us.

We head back down to the ground floor.

Through the striving people, I learn the reason for his apprehensive attitude.

There are on one side those people who just spare him pitying glances, while others are almost hostile for interacting with us.

Neither can be beneficial towards his social standing.

I don't speak up to not make it worse, while Liqu is simply uninterested in the stares and whispers.

However, as my head is uncovered right now, I notice she at least pays attention to the hostile people.

I am rather sure that she is ready to eradicate here anyone she deems to be a threat.

One more reason not to escalate this.

We leave them behind and enter something like a conference room.

There are even some books around, but as far I can see only such with a military content.

Tactics, strategies, maps, and so on.

Kaleb sits down at a rather large table, massages his temples, and signals for us to take a seat on the other side.

Liqu still doesn't get it, so that I have to guide her to a seat next to mine.

I guess Kaleb will have to clean them later.

"So. I was told to instruct you about your roles." (Kaleb)

"Yes. We, like one might guess, don't have too much experience regarding leading people. Or being in the military, in the first place." (Shari)

I try to sound serious, without letting chime through how ridiculous I find this whole idea.

"Right. Would've been asking too much. Do you have any idea about the role of a second-rank officer?" (Kaleb)

"Not the slightest!" (Liqu)

I jab Liqu in the side for saying something unnecessary, only to earn a confused stare.

Physical correction of behavior is only effective if the other party is receptive to it.

Before the person on our opposite starts to think too low of us, I try to add something.

"We were already told that it's an upper rank, which includes commanding soldiers. Also that we have to perform tasks with them." (Shari)

"Alright, still rather basic, but fine. The second rank is the third highest in the count's forces, with Captain Peras at the top. The army is divided into small units of four to six men, led by a second-rank officer who again forms with other such groups a troop that gets their tasks distributed from a first-rank, which would be me in this case. While we pose rather a private force than an official army, Lord Kahan has special permission to raise troops on a greater scale that would normally be customary among nobles." (Kaleb)

So at least he knows important enough people to be granted special benefits.

"Special means more, right? Why does he get more?" (Liqu)

Like a pupil asking a question, Liqu raises her arm, a little too high, up in the air.

"Are you aware of the nature realm our fief extends on?" (Kaleb)

"We are here between the capital and Ekoras." (Shari)

"Yes, the estate lies halfway between those places. Also, several settlements along this passage are under Count Kahan's control. This means we're responsible for the safety of the route to the capital as well as all the land north of Ekoras." (Kaleb)

"I don't understand this." (Liqu)

Another jab of mine.

Still without any effect on her malleable body.

"Why do you keep hitting me?" (Liqu)

"Because you're making us look stupid when you speak as if you're ignorant!" (Shari)

"But if I don't understand? How else shall I learn?!" (Liqu)

"Ask me! Later!" (Shari)

It's not like I don't have questions of my own, but the more she asks obvious stuff, the less I can inquire about important matters before his patience is gone.

We aren't his friends and cannot expect any lenience.

Yet I don't think my whispering helped in any way to conceal our argument.

"Ahem, I was getting to the part which should help you understand the situation. The fief is rather large. It extends to the great lakes in the east and the western forests, but most importantly it runs to the south until it almost borders Ekoras. While there are just occasionally settlements in the south, it has a reason that the lord owns these empty lands as well. He is the warden of Ekoras' north." (Kaleb)

Fancy title, but not saying too much.

"Could you explain this?" (Shari)

"It's like this, Ekoras, next to its function as a provider of goods related to the Evergrove, is essentially a breaker against the monsters inside this forest. Without this city, the lands in its north would regularly get harassed by all kinds of creatures. Most of them get slain at the town's walls. However, at times beasts manage to sneak past it and threaten the roads or invade the fields in the north, where they might inflict severe damage. To prevent this is the count's role and for this, he needs soldiers to protect the trade as well as the few settlements he holds." (Kaleb)

"Isn't he like this on the losing side of the deal? He owns mostly uncultivated land and needs to pay the soldiers on his own." (Shari)

"The lord naturally properly collects tolls from the merchants who travel on his roads. Also, the role of the warden is an honorable one. He has the king's trust to secure these lands. Otherwise, it would impact the entirety of the southern realm." (Kaleb)

There is quite some wealth in these lands, despite being as dangerous as they are.

I understand that one wouldn't want to give up on this.

But I ask myself how far this influence on the royal family goes.

This might become very important for me.

Kings can decide things.

Like taking me from the "free to hunt" list.

I don't doubt the count that much, but it's obvious that he has limits.

His influence is mostly tied to the realm he governs, which may develop poorly for me if I ever leave it.

"So we shall hunt monsters to keep the road safe." (Shari)

"This sounds easy! And I can even hunt, great!" (Liqu)

I should have told her not to say something like this to others, ever.

The reputation of a predatory monster is not the most positive one.

"Uh, your duties may also concern bandits, which are not a rare sight around Ekoras." (Kaleb)

Great, he surely imagines right now how Liqu would take care of them.

Hell, I still have most vivid images of this imprinted into my core!

Those are of rather disturbing content.

"Alright, we'll try to do this properly." (Shari)

He doesn't look too convinced.

Should I assure him that we won't eat our subordinates?

"We should continue with the basics about unit structure. Like I mentioned before, aside from the main force, the typical operational unit has a commanding officer and four subordinates, one of them of higher rank to replace him in case of an emergency or for managing more mundane tasks." (Kaleb)

"Aren't three officers in one group of eight far too many?" (Shari)

"As mentioned before, only you two are in charge. There have to be at least three soldiers to be assigned to each of you in case it becomes necessary to separate. That's the smallest number possible. With less, the unit wouldn't be deemed operational. Naturally, Jaren and Vela would then act as second-in-commands." (Kaleb)

I guess Peras didn't want to leave more soldiers than necessary in our care and did what he could to reduce the group's size.

Also, it would be a problem to on the fly create a new group.

It's at least less of a hassle.

However, it strikes me odd how this military is structured.

"Why this strong focus on small units? Isn't it more important how the army performs as a whole?" (Shari)

For example, to quell a rebellion or fight any greater force it is normal to train soldiers to fight as one with strictly maintained discipline.

But these small groups, with few people, are centered around teamwork and individualism, better suited for fights of small scale.

"The smaller units are based on adventurer groups. While a larger troop is certainly more powerful, the terrain we operate on isn't supporting large movements for such. Instead, it is custom here to train the soldiers in a way that they can fight to the best of their abilities against the threats they have to face, which mostly consists of monsters. With that in mind, those who are not guarding the facilities are paired up with roles to complement one another. So a number of teams of soldiers can freely be sent where they're needed." (Kaleb)

This means the entire army is designed for monster subjugation.

Why do I suddenly feel uncomfortable?

"You said everyone fulfills a role. Is this related to these symbols on our sheet?" (Shari)

"Precisely. They describe the soldier's equipment. A shield means guardian. Those take defensive measures to protect the rear. They don't need to kill the fiends they are up to, but only have to survive the onslaught and are the most common. Then we have rangers, pictured with a bow. They often also act as scouts, depicted with an eye as their symbol." (Kaleb)

So Elin really is a scout.

Good to know and it suits her well.

"And this sword symbol? Isn't this similar to the shield?" (Shari)

At least, I suppose so if both describe close-combat fighters.

"The sword is referring to an offensive fighter. They usually are equipped with two-handed weapons, which are needed for larger creatures." (Kaleb)

I see that the teams are at least composed in a way that they can put up a fight.

This makes me worried, regarding certain people I have now to work with.

"Could you tell us more about the people in our squad?" (Shari)

I hand him the list at this.

"Hmm. Mostly recruits. But Jaren and even Vela!" (Kaleb)

"What is with them?" (Shari)

"These two are both very skilled. I don't think you have to worry about Jaren. He can be counted on to follow his orders, if he can accept the one giving them." (Kaleb)

I can hear you, my friend.

"And this Vela?" (Shari)

"Vela is smart. More than it's good for her. She was just promoted recently and that at a considerable young age. However, she also has issues with authorities and a short temper." (Kaleb)

I get the feeling that Peras was out to make things difficult for me when he assembled this group.

"This sounds like it might become complicated." (Shari)

"That's for sure. Since the moment you arrived here most of the soldiers are equally unsettled about your presence." (Kaleb)

"So we shall get along with people who obviously despise us?" (Shari)

"You don’t have to get along, you just have to fulfill your tasks!" (Kaleb)

"Okay, so we shall "fulfill our tasks" together with people who want to kill us?" (Shari)

"That's not said, yet. However, you should think about how you secure your authority. I expect at least Vela to challenge you. Jaren might follow if he's concerned enough about your actions." (Kaleb)

"This means in the worst case our second in commands will lead our own men against us." (Shari)

"They cannot act against you without a reason. So don't give them one." (Kaleb)

Ah, this is it! It's a farce!

These soldiers aren't our men, but our watchdogs.

We are formally in charge, but have to behave, or else they will become hostile and relay that we are evil fiends and have to be subjugated.

I wouldn't wonder if they even got inofficially told just that.

This means I need to curry favor with them or I'm in a tight spot.

And Liqu as well.

Much depends on the impression we both make on them.

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.

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I'm so done!