Becoming a Swordmaster by Reading Chapter 20

However, an opportunity did not always come in an honest form.

***

While Roden was living a regulated life to increase his aura absorption rate.

At the 3rd Corps Transport Battalion, the regular battalion meeting held every three days was in full swing.

At this meeting, which only officers of Deputy Company Commander rank and above could attend, Infantry Company Commander Havier opened his mouth.

“This mission, must we really carry it out?”

At Havier's question, everyone present chose silence.

“…….”

“…….”

However, the reasons for their silence differed.

Some were silent in agreement with Havier's thoughts, while others were silent in surprise that Havier had asked such a question so openly.

The one who broke this silence was the Transport Battalion Commander, Adriel.

“What is the intent of your question, Infantry Company Commander?”

Even after receiving Adriel's question, which was sharper than usual, Havier answered calmly.

“Because it's a mission I just can't understand. Wouldn't it be better for the main battalion, which has more leeway compared to the vanguard battalion, to handle this mission instead?”

“Normally, that would be the case. But contrary to your thoughts, the main battalion has no leeway either. Because the Imperial Army is launching an all-out offensive as if they're determined to seize the Aikor Plains this time.”

“In that case, we shouldn't carry out this mission either. As you know, our transport battalion's combat strength is much inferior to the Imperial Army's. Yet you want us to disrupt the Imperial Army's rear. Is that even possible?”

That was right.

A mission proposal had recently arrived at the transport battalion.

It was to disrupt the rear of the Imperial Army, which was launching an all-out offensive on the Aikor Plains.

The transport battalion certainly had no choice but to be bewildered.

Although they had been training hard in preparation for any contingency, the transport battalion's combat strength was significantly lower than that of the vanguard or main battalions.

It was unavoidable, as the transport battalion's main duty was supply.

Moreover, to disrupt the rear, the transport battalion had to move a very long distance without being detected by the Imperial Army.

If they were caught by the Imperial Army during the mission, not only would they be intercepted, but the objective of disrupting the rear would also not be achieved.

Yet, they were suddenly being told to carry out such a high-difficulty mission without a single practice run.

In reality, it was a mission that was impossible to succeed at.

“If you had told us to join the vanguard or main battalion and fight alongside them, I would have at least understood that the situation was very serious. But a rear disruption mission. It is too reckless.”

At Havier's words, everyone present quietly nodded their heads.

Everyone was having similar thoughts.

But Adriel shook his head at Havier's words.

Then he revealed the decisive reason why this mission had to be carried out.

“It is an order from the Corps Commander.”

An order, he said.

It was checkmate.

There was nothing more to be said.

In a wartime situation, insubordination was a more serious crime than serial murder.

Moreover, the person who had issued the order was the Corps Commander.

The Corps Commander, of all people.

For that reason, even Havier, who had seemed determined not to carry out this mission, had no choice but to take a step back.

“…Is that true?”

“Yes. I don't want to believe it either, but it's true. So we must find a way. A way to carry out this mission no matter what.”

Silence once again fell upon the meeting barracks.

Everyone couldn't help but be lost in thought.

Because as Havier had said, this mission was too reckless.

Yet, they were in a situation where they absolutely had to succeed in the mission.

Everyone's head was a mess due to the contradictory situation.

As if reading their thoughts, Adriel comforted the people present.

“I too feel that this situation is unreasonable. I even protested it directly.”

This was also why Adriel had shown a sharp reaction when he first received Havier's question earlier.

Because Adriel himself was not pleased with this situation.

“But despite the protest, the order was not rescinded. So we must find a way to carry out this mission wisely. Because no matter what anyone says, we are soldiers. So I hope you will all speak up if you have any good ideas.”

This was precisely the strength Adriel possessed as a Battalion Commander.

Knowing how to embrace the hearts of his subordinates rather than unconditionally and rigidly enforcing the chain of command.

And so, with their hearts a little more at ease, ideas for carrying out this mission began to flow one by one from the mouths of the transport battalion's key officers.

“The key to this mission is to catch the Imperial Army off guard. So, trusting the vanguard and main battalions, even if it takes a long time, taking the mountain path is….”

“I am against taking the mountain path. The very fact that this order was given means that the vanguard and main battalions are in a situation where they cannot hold out for long. Therefore, we should enter the Imperial Army's camp with swiftness and determination….”

“Both opinions have a point. However, I feel they are too extreme. Why don't we instead try to think of a way that is secretive enough to catch the Imperial Army off guard, yet allows us to increase our speed….”

With opinions largely divided into two, the meeting quickly heated up.

A suggestion to mediate between the two opinions came up in the middle, but it did not receive much support.

They had failed to present a concrete method to enter the Imperial Army's camp both secretly and quickly.

In the end, the two opinions were bound to be in sharp conflict.

It was then.

“How about we decide on this first?”

The Deputy Battalion Commander, Lucas Mendoza, who had been watching the situation closely in silence, opened his mouth.

Naturally, everyone's attention was focused on him, and Lucas's words continued.

“Before we talk about how to carry out the mission, let's first decide who should participate in this mission.”

It was certainly an important issue.

A mission where the probability of failure was higher than the probability of success, no matter how the military strategy was planned.

It was difficult to readily decide who to send on this mission.

This was even more so because it was practically no different from pushing them into the jaws of death.

“Who should we send….”

“I don't think our company will be of any help….”

“This is a bit awkward….”

As Lucas watched the company commanders and deputy company commanders hesitate, his eyes gleamed sharply.

“One thing I want to make clear is that one platoon from each company must participate in this mission.”

It was the fairest proposal.

At the same time, it was also the most rational choice for the sake of the mission's completeness.

Because there would be stability only when infantry, archers, and light cavalry formed a single unit.

And because the transport units had been organized this way as well.

But Lucas's words did not end there.

Suddenly, Lucas's gaze turned to Havier.

“And personally, I would very much like the 3rd Infantry Platoon from the Infantry Company to participate in this mission.”

Havier opened his mouth to refute Lucas's words, but then closed it again.

***

Late in the evening.

As soon as the battalion meeting was over, Havier convened a company meeting.

“…So that's what happened.”

In the heavy atmosphere, Havier's long explanation came to an end.

At the same time, a suffocating silence ensued in the meeting barracks.

It couldn't be helped.

No matter how much you disliked someone.

Even if you thought that person's existence was completely meaningless and useless.

There was no one who would simply enjoy seeing someone else being driven to their death.

Moreover, it was not one person being driven to their death.

It was about thirty personnel who had lived and worked together for several months.

So, everyone was so shocked by the current situation that they could only remain silent.

But the party in question, who was being driven to his death and was the leader of that group, accepted the situation more calmly than expected.

“So that’s how it is.”

The person who answered this was none other than Roden.

In the end, that's what had happened.

Of the three platoons, the 3rd Infantry Platoon was to participate in this mission.

It was cold, but unavoidable.

If one unit had to be sacrificed, it was right for the 3rd Corps' biggest headache, the 3rd Infantry Platoon, to be the one sacrificed.

Because that was the rational choice.

The reason Roden was calm after hearing Havier's story was also because of this.

When Havier hadn't even finished half of his explanation, Roden, whose brain processed things several times faster than others, immediately realized.

That the 3rd Infantry Platoon would be included in this mission.

Of course, Roden himself was not pleased with the current situation.

The probability of survival in this mission was far too low.

For Roden, whose goal was essentially survival, it was a situation that couldn't help but make him angry.

But rather than getting angry, Roden calmly organized his thoughts.

Because getting angry would not increase his chances of survival.

As Roden showed a calm reaction, everyone present was surprised.

Because in a situation like this, it would have been normal for the usual Ernst to fly into a rage.

But Roden did not, and the one most surprised by this reaction was, naturally, Havier.

When he had convened the company meeting, he had predicted various reactions from Roden, but he had not expected him to be so calm.

‘Actually, even if he had flown into a rage, I would have had nothing to say this time. After all, I too accepted the Deputy Battalion Commander's opinion.’

But to be calm instead.

For that reason, Havier had no choice but to ask.

“…Are you okay?”

“Pardon? Ah.”

Only then did Roden realize that he had failed to act like Ernst.

It was a mistake he would not have normally made.

The moment Havier brought up the story, he would have flared up in anger and shouted that this decision was unfair.

But Roden was also too preoccupied with thinking about how he could survive this mission.

Meaning, he had no time to think about anything else.

‘It’s no use making a scene now. It will only make things more suspicious.’

Thinking this, Roden showed a bitter smile.

And he said.

“Actually, I had been thinking that something like this would happen someday. In the first place, the reason my family placed me here must be for this.”

A voice filled with sadness and loneliness.

Havier, completely fooled by that voice, thought.

‘He had just… given up on everything.’

As expected.

Roden let out a long sigh, huu, as if to drive the nail into the coffin of Havier's thoughts.

Then, a look of pity also appeared on the faces of the other platoon leaders and deputy platoon leaders present.

They were sympathizing with Roden.

In this atmosphere, Roden continued to speak.

“This might be my last battle. So, that's why I'm saying, would it be alright if I were to set up the military strategy for this mission?”

In fact, Roden had already thought of a way to survive this mission.

It was only natural, as Roden's genius brain had been so focused on figuring this out that he had even forgotten to act.

And so, Havier, who had heard Roden's words, nodded his head.

And what followed was,

“Speak. I will accommodate your opinion as much as possible. As it happens, I am the one who has been put in command of this mission.”

It was an answer that even Roden, who had predicted that the 3rd Infantry Platoon would be dispatched and had instantly devised a survival plan, had not expected.