Chapter 14 : Something Worth Fighting For

“Attention men. I will be your new commander for the following few weeks. I am Jerry and I have come from the Royal Palace from another world. In this world, I have commanded men before. But, I will be assigning leaders to each type of unit.” Jerry said.

The men looked amongst each other with confused looks and whispers could be heard among the men.

“Is he really our commander?”

“Leaders? Can’t he just tell us the order himself?”

Jerry cleared his throat.

“What I mean by leaders is that these will be the ones making split second decisions, and be the role model of each unit. They make my lives easier as they will be your representative and your trainer. So, let’s introduce your representatives”

Jerry then gestured to Scharla.

“For the mages, we have Scharla Jakel. She is from the Dark Elf Forest and is proficient at magic.”

Scharla stepped onto the stage and faced towards the men.

“Hello, my name is Scharla. I’m 233 years old and come from Halef Forest. Nice to meet you all.” She said in a seductive manner whilst striking a subtle pose towards the men.

Jerry looked around the men to find many soldiers looking red as if their hearts have been stolen.

Scharla quickly stepped off the stage allowing Jerry to take the stage.

“Next on the list, we have Janice Kalet for the archers” Jerry said as he waved a hand towards Janice.

Janice timidly walked onto stage before facing the men with her hands clasped together.

“M-My name is Janice Kalet. I-I come from the E-Elven Nation. Nice to meet you all!” She said as she took a bow.

Jerry could hear the men giggling like little girls as their hearts warmed.

Janice quickly stepped down the stage and seemed very embarrassed, leaving Jerry on the stage.

“Next in line is Elizabeth Gray for the infantry!”

Elizabeth stepped on the stage very professionally before looking at the men.

“My name is Elizabeth Gray from the Imperial Nation. I hope we can get along and defeat the Demon Lord” She said stoically.

The men looked confused and unimpressed. Since Infantry was the bulk of the army, Jerry needed to do something to keep the Infantry in line and active.

Jerry edged towards her ear and whispered some words.

“Remember, Larmen is watching. Don’t you want to impress him?”

Elizabeth quickly blushed and turned away embarrassed.

“I-It’s not like that!” She said in a very cute manor

The men were mesmerized by the face Elizabeth was making. To them, they would die happily to protect that face.

Elizabeth quickly and embarrassedly stepped off stage, leaving a Jerry with a sadistic smile on stage.

Jerry quickly calmed down and began to introduce Larmen.

“Lastly, for the cavalry. Sorry, but you guys don’t get a girl like the rest of the army”

“Why are they even here!” could be heard shouted from the cavalry group.

“Instead, you get Larmen, a heroic figure with honor.” Jerry said as he gestured to Larmen who stepped on stage with so much pride and honor, you can feel it emitting from him.

“Nice to meet you everyone! I am Larmen, the hero summoned from another world like Jerry! I hope you all treat me well!” Larmen said.

The cavalry division could be seen going into a attention stance before screaming “Yes Sir!”.

Jerry smiled a bit before quickly suppressing it.

‘All according to plan’ he thought.

Larmen stepped off stage, leaving Jerry on stage.

“Now that you all are introduced to your representatives, I have a few words of my own.” Jerry said.

“Men, we will hold this line for twenty days. When those twenty days have elapsed, reinforcements, new equipment, and supplies will have arrived.” Jerry said.

Jerry could hear the men cheer as they hear the good news.

“You all will receive medals to signify that you have been here since the start and will act as role models for the new arrivals. But, we will soon have to strike the Demon Lord directly” Jerry said.

The men then went silent

“We have been blessed with 4 heroes from different nations holding on barely and need these guys. We have to use this opportunity and strike at the heart of the Demon Lord and finally end this war, and go home. We must hold on for if we fail, the rest of the world will collapse.”

The men seemed confident with solemn faces looking at Jerry.

“We will finish this finish what they started and strike fear into the hearts of our enemy!” Jerry screamed

The men cheered back.

“We will protect the people of the Empire and slay all those that dare to oppose them!”

The men cheered more audibly now.

“Now, tell me that you are ready to fight for the next 3 months and end this war”

The men then cheered significantly more loudly. Jerry waited for the cheering to end before he could close his speech.

“I won’t lie, the next few months will be the hardest you’ve ever fought. After this, you can retire, continue fighting for the people, or even open a business if you so desired, but for now, I need everyone working as hard as they can. Protect yourselves, but more importantly, protect your brothers-in-arms. Dismissed” Jerry said as he went into attention.

“Yes Sir!” The men said before they started to disperse.

Reeves went towards Jerry who was still on the stage but at ease.

“Good speech” Reeves said.

“Please, I made all of that on the spot. I’m sure you could’ve made a better one” Jerry said.

“Well, either way it got the men riled up. It doesn’t matter. But now, I take my leave. Be safe.” Reeves said as he left.

‘Bastard’ Jerry thought.

Jerry looked to the party to see that they’re off in their conversation so he decided to leave them alone and go to the command tent.

As he entered, Falk was waiting for him.

“Nice speech” He said.

“Can it. It was bad” Jerry said.

“As you wish”

“Tell me what the men used as formations and bring me the world map”

Falk quickly sprung into action, brining out what seemed to be chess pieces and a large scroll. He laid the map out before placing the pieces on the table.

“What would you like to see first? The map or the formations” Falk asked.

“Your choice” Jerry responded.

“Alright, formations first then.”

Falk quickly placed what seemed to be horse pieces in front, and shield pieces behind them, then bow pieces, then wand pieces behind one another.

“This is the most common formation. He would have the cavalry and infantry charge towards the enemy while the archers and mages provide support.” Falk said.

Jerry looked at the pieces with a cold stare before faking a puke.

“A-Are you okay Commander?” Falk said

“No, these formations are so hor-” Jerry cut himself off before faking a gag

“I’ll get a mage here right away!”

“No wait! It’s a joke!”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Falk. I’m fine I was playing around”

“I-I see”

“Anyway, it’s a horrible formation. We need to innovate and redesign”

“How?”

“We will have Cavalry at the side, Infantry in the front, and 50% of Mages and Archers in the infantry line shooting directly at the enemy while the other 50% provide support by indirect fire. The Cavalry will pick off anyone that separates from the main group and not fight directly by running into the main army. When the enemy draws close to the infantry, they will fire one last shot before falling back a little towards their division and provide Indirect Fire until a signal is given and they start splitting and moving to the sides and firing directly into the enemy sides. Sound good?”

“Sounds better than running into them” Falk said.

“Great. Now the map”

“Yes”

Falk quickly removed the pieces from the table and rolled open the large scroll.

It showed a large island with the four edges having the names of the Empire, Imperial Nation, Elven Kingdom, and the Dark Elf Forest. In the center, it was labeled Demon King’s Land.

“This is it. To the left of us, We have the Imperial Nation, and to the right, the Elven Kingdom and across us is the Dark Elf Forest. Any questions” Falk said.

“I see. Where are their capitals?”

“Their capitals are usually at the edge of their nation, towards the center near the sea.”

“Okay, thanks for the info. Where are we now?”

“We’re right in the center of the Empire, closest to the Demon Lord’s Land.”

“Okay, that’s it then. What about a more local map?”

“Okay then”

Falk then went and brought a more local map with a more detailed landscape.

“Okay, so it’s just flatland for days?”

“Not really, theres this large hill here on the way to the Demon Lord”

“Oh, how convenient. We’ll use this eventually. I think. Just tell me as the march happens any place with large height advantages or concealment chances. I don’t feel like memorizing this.”

“Y-Yes Sir”

“You only need to memorize the first few and them memorize them as we continue. Take a few breaks in-between mkay? Don’t overwork yourself.”

“Thank you for your concern”

“Now, is there a place where I sleep or do I just…”

“Ah, yes. Let me show you to our quarters”

“Our?”

“Ah yes. The intelligence officer and commander sleep in the same tent for being vital parts. It’s just outside, to the left, first tent. Follow me” Falk said.

As they left, the party could be seen waiting for Jerry.

“So, where do we sleep, Commander?” Scharla said sarcastically.

“Uhh, Falk?” jerry asked, looking towards Falk

“Soldiers are to sleep in the barrack tents.” Falk said.

“Well, you heard the man, in a barrack tent” Jerry said.

“Are you insane? You dare put us in the same category as grunts?” Scharla said.

Jerry sighed.

“Fine, I’ll find you a tent. Wait in the command tent. Falk, change of plans. How much stuff did you bring?”

“Nothing too much. Just some books and such”

“Good, pack it. We’re gonna sleep in the Command Tent”

“What? Why?”

“Cause of Dipshit over here. Now, pack your things”

Falk sighed and looked at Scharla who only provided a grin and shrugged acting innocent before Falk went inside the living quarters and packed his things.

“S-Sorry for the trouble!” Janice said.

“Hmph, like the coward you are” Elizabeth said.

“Sorry man” Larmen said.

“Can it. Enjoy your haram or something. Leave me out of it.” Jerry whispered to Larmen.

Falk soon left with a backpack and went into the command tent quietly.

“Now, enjoy your living space. Push the two beds or however many are in there together, and keep the noise down.” Jerry said, barely keeping the hostility in him out before turning and entering the command tent.

“How do you deal with that?” Falk asked as he was unpacking.

“I’m sorry?” Jerry asked.

“That. The way you’re treated, I would’ve left by then.”

“Oh, I don’t”

“What?”

“I don’t. I just go with the flow man. Why go through trouble when you can just shut up and follow? Besides, what else is there to do?”

“Maybe, leave them?”

“Ah, then who will lead the army?”

“Larmen? Reeves?”

“But what if they fail?”

“T-Then…”

“See, I like to see things through. In my old world, I was a mercenary. I worked for money, and did the job properly. I soon learned that if I wanted a job done properly, I had to do it myself. My co-workers kept screwing up the jobs I gave them” Jerry said.

“I-I see” Falk

“Besides, when I’m done, I get paid with the good cash” Jerry said before letting out a small chuckle.

“Is that what you’re in it for? Money?” Falk asked.

“And the freedom of wandering. I do plan on leaving. Question is when. When I do, I want to be able to wander around the world, without the threat of a Demon Lord breathing down my neck. Selfish ain’t it?”

“Yea, but it makes sense. I understand where you’re coming from”

Jerry looked around the room, looking for something they both could sleep on.

“So, what do you plan on doing after this war” Jerry asked.

“Oh, I plan on maybe rising the ranks of the Empire and become a Royal Spymaster or something like that.” Falk responded.

“Oh? Big ambitions I see”

“Yea, it’s childish ain’t it?”

“No, it’s a nice goal. I could help you teach you how to spy if you’d like. It’s not a clean job, just a warning.”

“No thanks. I’d like to learn it myself”

“Alright”

Jerry figured out how Falk was going to sleep. He went over to the command table, and took the maps, pieces, and loose documents off the table, and put them on another table that was filled with them.

“Alright, heres where you sleep” Jerry said.

“What about you?” Falk asked.

“Don’t ask questions. I’ll figure it out.”

“R-Right”

“It’s getting late. Go to sleep first.”

“Okay, then. Promise me you’ll get some sleep?”

“What are you? A child? Go to sleep” Jerry said before he took his backpack and went outside, towards the forest. A nice and quiet area. He planned to take inventory of what he had outside of open view and where people won’t ask him questions.