Becoming a Swordmaster by Reading Chapter 21

“Company Commander! You can't!”

“What is the meaning of this?”

As soon as Havier finished speaking, the 1st and 2nd Infantry Platoon Leaders raised their voices.

Although they didn't speak, the other deputy platoon leaders were the same.

They looked greatly surprised by the current situation.

For Roden, it was a situation that couldn't help but be a little bitter.

Because when the story of his being dispatched for this mission came out, not a single person had opened their mouth.

However, Roden also wasn't unable to understand the current situation.

From the start, Roden and Havier's statuses were different.

Havier was an indispensable talent for the transport battalion, whereas Roden was not.

Above all, Havier was a person trusted by his superiors, supported by his comrades, and believed in and followed by his subordinates.

So, there was no choice but for a different reaction to come out than for Roden.

But on the other hand, it was for that reason that he couldn't understand why Havier had been dispatched for this mission.

Honestly, it seemed better to make the Archery Company Commander or the Light Cavalry Company Commander the commander of this mission rather than Havier.

‘Honestly, those two are individuals with clear shortcomings compared to Havier.’

Yet, Havier had been dispatched.

For Roden, he couldn't understand the current situation at all.

This was even more so because he happened to know from hearsay that Adriel and Havier had a close personal friendship.

“I will go and speak to the Battalion Commander. About why the Company Commander should not be included in this mission.”

It was when the 2nd Infantry Platoon Leader finally brought this up.

Swish.

Havier raised one hand to stop the 2nd Infantry Platoon Leader.

Then, he explained why he had taken command of this mission.

“There’s no need for that. I volunteered for it.”

Everyone couldn't help but be surprised by Havier's words.

Because they couldn't dare to imagine that he would have willingly jumped into this mission, which was no different from a deathtrap.

But the Deputy Company Commander, Jamie, who had gone into the battalion meeting with him, showed a bitter smile and affirmed that what he had just said was true.

“Why….”

As the 1st Infantry Platoon Leader muttered in disbelief, Havier smiled brightly and explained the reason.

“I couldn't help it. My resolve is not strong enough to sleep with my legs stretched out after sending my subordinates on such a dangerous mission.”

Then, Jamie couldn't hold back and took Havier's words.

“I tried to stop him, and the Battalion Commander tried to stop him, but it was no use. He was making a fuss that he would take command of this mission even if he died.”

“Then you should have said you would withdraw from this mission.”

“I was really thinking of doing that, but I held it in. Because I couldn't just leave a person who can't even remember where he put a single spoon without me.”

“Thanks to you, I won't have to eat with my hands in this mission either.”

Havier threw a light joke.

But the atmosphere didn't lighten up as easily as he had thought.

How much the subordinates respected Havier.

And at the same time, how low the probability of survival in this mission was.

It was a part that showed it all.

When the situation didn't get sorted out as he thought, Havier scratched his head awkwardly and looked at Jamie.

With a look in his eyes that said, do something.

However,

‘Will that work?’

Jamie just looked at Havier with such a look in his eyes.

In the end, Havier gave up on lightening the mood.

“Tsk. Anyway, that's what happened. But don't you all worry too much. The probability of success is just a bit low, I'm not really planning on dying.”

After saying this, Havier turned his gaze to Roden and asked.

“So, that's why I'm asking, what was the military strategy the 3rd Platoon Leader was trying to propose earlier?”

Naturally, everyone's gaze turned to Roden.

But no one had any expectations.

Although he had proposed a brilliant military strategy last time and led the supply mission to success,

it was only natural that no one thought this was Roden's true skill.

In fact, some people seemed to think that asking Roden such a thing was a waste of time.

That was the look on their faces.

Roden opened his mouth, unfazed by this atmosphere.

“First, before I answer the Company Commander's question, there is one thing I am curious about.”

“What is it?”

“Between using the mountain path to catch the Imperial Army off guard, even if it's slow, and hitting the Imperial Army's rear with swiftness and determination, even if you get caught, which military strategy received more support?”

Havier's eyes widened upon receiving Roden's question.

He couldn't help it.

Havier had not yet explained what kind of military strategies were discussed at the battalion meeting.

Yet, Roden had accurately pointed out the two military strategies that had been discussed at the battalion meeting, so he couldn't help but be surprised.

Jamie also looked surprised by Roden's question.

“…How did you know?”

“Because at this point, it's practically impossible to create a mission that guarantees both speed and secrecy. Was there such a military strategy by any chance?”

“No. There wasn't.”

“Then which one was given more priority?”

“Speed. It was the speed side. In the end, they thought that if our forces were defeated because we couldn't carry out the mission on time, it would be meaningless.”

In other words, it meant that they would achieve the goal of disrupting the rear somehow, even if it was somewhat dangerous.

It was a part that allowed one to confirm the military discipline of the Allied Forces once again.

If the military discipline had not been very good, they might have prayed for the situation to end well while spending time on taking the mountain path under the pretense of carrying out the mission.

‘But since they didn't choose this method, it seems it will be difficult to survive easily.’

In fact, Roden had secretly hoped they would use the mountain path.

This was because, even if the mission failed, the possibility of survival would have greatly increased.

It was only natural, as they could have just taken the mountain path without getting caught by the Imperial Army until the situation ended.

For that reason, the direction of the military strategy would have been sufficient if it was in a way that just showed that they had done their best to carry out the mission.

But since they had chosen speed, Roden's expression couldn't help but darken.

‘In that case, I'll have to use that method after all.’

As Roden was organizing his thoughts, Havier urged him.

“Good. Then shall we finally hear your military strategy?”

“Yes. I will tell you now.”

And so, the military strategy that Roden had thought of began to be explained from his mouth.

At the same time, the expressions of everyone present were colored with astonishment.

***

It was while Roden had been explaining his military strategy for a long time.

At Rodones Castle, where the command of the 3rd Corps was located, two people were having a conversation.

A man in an elegantly decorated office, with his eyes closed, opened his mouth while tapping the desk, tok tok.

“It seems our forces will soon drive out the Imperial Army from the Aikor Plains in a big way. It seems your military strategy has worked.”

A low voice with a sense of resonance.

The voice made one feel at once that the man was no ordinary person.

The weight of the man, like a well-honed sword, was that extraordinary.

If it were an ordinary person, they would have knelt down without knowing why the moment the man opened his mouth.

But should it be called a relief?

The person facing the man was also no ordinary person.

“I was lucky.”

Although he received the man's words softly, a sharpness could be felt somehow.

It was so sharp that it felt as if one could get a stab wound just by having a conversation.

The 3rd Corps Commander, Alexis Beutel, slowly opened his closed eyes.

Then he looked up at the 3rd Corps' Staff Officer, Michael Glockner, who was smiling gently.

“When they said they were sending you as the staff officer instead of your father, I was half in doubt. Whether you were a person suited for this position.”

“Were you?”

“Yes. But now I must admit it. Thanks to you, we will soon win the most important battle.”

Alexis, along with his father, was praised as one of the most powerful men in the Allied Forces.

Even including the Imperial Army, Alexis's military might could easily be counted on one hand.

But even after hearing such praise from Alexis, Michael's expression was calm.

His expression was so calm that it seemed as if he hadn't heard the praise at all.

After checking Michael's expression, Alexis made a genuinely regretful face.

“It's a shame. It would have been nice if my eldest son was half like you.”

“I heard that the Corps Commander's son is also an excellent person. And very strong.”

“He's just a colt-like fellow with only strength. He still has many shortcomings to be of the Beutel bloodline.”

Alexis's expression as he spoke ill of his son became much softer than before.

It was a part that showed how much Alexis loved his son.

On the other hand, Michael's face, looking at this change of expression, turned much colder.

“…….”

Without noticing this change, Alexis continued to speak.

“Sometimes I envy your father. Because the blessing of children your father has is not something that can be caught up to by training hard day and night.”

“…Indeed, my father has many children.”

“If I had only two children, I would have been a little stricter with my son, but I couldn't.”

The Beutel family, a prestigious swordsmanship family in the Vaskar Kingdom, had few children from generation to generation.

So, Alexis also had no siblings.

It was for this reason that he didn't know how painful it was for a prestigious family to have many siblings.

“…….”

To talk so carelessly without knowing anything.

Michael no longer wanted to have a conversation with Alexis about this.

And so, he chose silence, and fortunately, Alexis also seemed to have realized that his words had become unnecessarily long and returned to the main topic.

“Anyway, you've worked hard on this matter. You may return for today.”

“Yes. I will take my leave.”

It was when Michael turned to leave the office.

Alexis, who had remembered something late, opened his mouth.

“Ah. I had one question but I forgot.”

Michael turned back and asked Alexis.

“A question?”

“Yes. About the transport battalion. Why did you order the transport battalion to disrupt the Imperial Army's rear? The Aikor Plains will soon fall into our hands even without disrupting the rear.”

It was certainly an order that was a little difficult for Alexis to understand.

But the reason he had approved this order was none other than.

Because even if some of the personnel of the 3rd Corps Transport Battalion died, it would have no major effect on the war situation at all.

Above all, Alexis trusted Michael, who always set up missions flawlessly.

However, apart from this fact, he was curious.

Why Michael had issued such an order.

And even though the transport battalion commander had protested, why he had pushed through with this order.

Michael explained with a gentle smile on his lips.

“It is a preparation for the case where things do not go according to plan. If the transport battalion succeeds in disrupting the Imperial Army's rear, we will be able to occupy the Aikor Plains more easily.”

“Hmm.”

To be honest, it was not as refreshing an answer as he had expected.

But Alexis thought for a moment and decided not to delve any further.

“Well, I suppose you could think of it that way. I understand. You may leave.”

Because what was more important was the fact that the Aikor Plains would soon fall into their hands.

And so, Michael was able to leave the office without Alexis's interference this time.

And,

Click.

With the sound of the door closing, Michael added a word in his mind.

‘And while I'm at it, I'll also take care of one bug that absolutely needs to be dealt with there.’