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“Come in.”

Kiaran’s office.

Edmund entered, glancing at Kiaran as he spoke.

“Commander, Captain Vincent is here.”

“Vincent? What brings Vincent here all of a sudden?”

“Didn’t you ask me to look into a soldier named Damian last time? I tasked Captain Vincent with that job.”

“…So you passed it off to him?”

“Passed it off? I assigned it to the most suitable person, if you please.”

Edmund couldn’t hide his incredulous expression.

And then…

“Besides, Captain Vincent mentioned he had something to discuss with you directly, so he came in person.”

“…Even so, I am the Corps Commander. Shouldn’t he at least schedule an appointment first?”

“I manage all of your schedules, Commander. And you’re taking a break right now, aren’t you?”

“…Let him in.”

There was no beating this snake of a man with words.

Suppressing the sigh rising from deep within, Kiaran muttered quietly.

Soon, Vincent entered the office.

“Glory to the Kingdom!”

“Yeah, yeah. So, what’s brought you all the way here? Your unit must be pretty free, huh?”

At Kiaran’s question, Vincent smiled faintly.

“We’re quite busy. The training schedules for the soldiers are tight, and we’re working hard to carry out your directives.”

“You seem pretty relaxed for someone doing their best… Anyway, have a seat.”

Vincent took the offered seat, and Kiaran continued.

“If you’ve got something to say, spill it.”

“I’ll start with what you asked about Sergeant Damian.”

Vincent then detailed Damian’s current situation in the Makstri unit.

The first month of his assignment, Damian had recaptured the gold mine base just three days before it was completely lost to the Iren Kingdom.

And then, he immediately abandoned the base and returned to the unit.

Kiaran frowned as she listened.

“What’s that supposed to mean? He recaptured the base only to abandon it?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Why?”

At that question, Vincent’s face brightened slightly.

Kiaran was notorious in the military for her wild temperament, but her subordinates respected her for exactly this reason.

Vincent relayed what he had been told.

And as Kiaran listened to Vincent’s report…

“Hahaha… That guy’s nuts, isn’t he?”

Unable to hold the base or train there, Damian had chosen to abandon it.

While it could be seen as abandoning the recaptured base based on a sergeant’s personal judgment…

“It’s a valid decision. Better to train properly and take it for good than to fight half-assed.”

“Yes, exactly.”

Kiaran assessed the situation with cold logic.

She didn’t care for excuses or formalities.

All that mattered was finding the solution closest to her goal.

“But isn’t Makstri a den of criminals? How can you possibly train those convicts?”

“Ordinarily, it would be deemed impossible. There was an attempt to train them in the past, but it only led to backlash and conflicts with the regular army.”

Kiaran’s eyes sparkled at Vincent’s words.

“And yet, that sergeant is managing it? On his own?”

“…Yes, judging by the current situation, that seems accurate.”

“Hahaha, I guess your instincts haven’t dulled. I thought you were losing your touch as you got older.”

“…I’m only 36, ma’am.”

“Haha, just a figure of speech.”

Kiaran waved her hand dismissively, but her eyes flashed sharply as she thought of Damian.

She was curious to see what Damian would show next.

“And you mentioned you had something else to tell me?”

“Yes, it’s about a letter we received from Sergeant Damian.”

“A letter?”

“Yes. It contains a proposal addressed to you, Commander.”

Kiaran’s expression twisted slightly.

“A mere sergeant had the nerve to send me a proposal?”

“Well… it’s not something we can handle ourselves. It’s far beyond the ordinary.”

“…?”

What kind of proposal could make Vincent back off like this?

Kiaran glanced at Edmund, but he shook his head, equally clueless.

Kiaran turned back to Vincent.

“All right, let’s hear it. What’s this proposal?”

“Well…”

As Vincent explained, Kiaran’s expression grew increasingly cold.

* * *

“Stop!”

A visitor had arrived at the Makstri unit.

The soldier standing guard at the unit’s entrance eyed the woman arriving with a carriage.

“What’s your business here? This isn’t a place where just anyone can enter.”

He gave her a once-over, unable to hide his curiosity.

But then…

Smack!

“You crazy bastard, can’t you keep your eyes to yourself?”

“S-Squad Leader!”

“You idiot. She’s the commander’s guest. Do you need another beating like the good old days to remember your manners?”

“I’m sorry!”

The soldier immediately knelt and prostrated himself.

Since Damian’s arrival, there had been significant changes among the prisoners in the unit.

Many were making efforts to repent and change, reflecting on their past misdeeds.

Of course, there were still some, like this one, who hadn’t quite managed to break their bad habits.

The first squad leader shot a glare at the guard before turning his attention back to the woman.

“Apologies for the disgraceful scene. This way, please. The captain is expecting you.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Following the squad leader, the woman walked inside, drawing the attention of the soldiers who were resting.

But unlike before, no one dared to make any inappropriate gestures.

They were just intrigued, seeing a woman in such a grim and desolate place.

“Commander Damian, you have a visitor!”

“Ah, you’re here!”

Damian, stepping out of his barracks, greeted the woman standing in front of him with excitement.

It was Diel, the person Damian had been eagerly waiting for.

“…What on earth is going on? And having me come all the way here is really too much, don’t you think?”

“Haha, I apologize. But you were the only one I could trust, Diel.”

“Haa…”

Makstri was located on the complete opposite side from where Diel had been—Erkal was on the western edge, and Makstri was on the eastern end.

Her arrival meant she had set out immediately after receiving Damian’s letter.

Despite her terse words, Diel smiled brightly at Damian.

“I’m just glad to see you’re healthy. I was really worried when I heard you’d been sent to Makstri.”

“Well, if nothing else, I’m built tough.”

Damian laughed.

Diel glanced around and spoke softly.

“Still… this place feels different from what I expected.”

“How so?”

“I mean, when I think of Makstri, I think… criminals…”

Diel lowered her voice cautiously, and Damian nodded.

“Yes, it’s a place filled with irredeemable scum.”

“D-Damian!”

Diel was startled by Damian’s blunt words.

“What kind of atmosphere were you expecting?”

“Well, I thought… it would feel rougher, I guess?”

“It’s because they know they’ll die otherwise.”

“…What?”

Diel blinked in confusion.

Damian gestured toward the barracks.

“Let’s talk inside. We have a lot to discuss.”

“All right.”

Damian led Diel into the barracks.

After offering her a cool drink, Damian sat down. After taking a sip, Diel continued.

“I’ve confirmed all the items you requested. But some of them are on the restricted list. These items could harm the kingdom’s citizens if they end up in the wrong hands.”

“Ah, I see. I didn’t realize that.”

“But I managed to bring some of the items right away, and others, with the kingdom’s approval, can be procured. However, items waiting for approval may take a little longer.”

Diel pointed to the cart loaded with supplies that had been brought into the camp.

Damian grinned at the sight of the stacked goods.

“Always reliable, aren’t you?”

He gave her a thumbs-up.

But then Diel asked.

“But what are you planning to do with all of this? Are you going to war or something?”

“Yes, exactly.”

“…What?”

“I’m preparing for war.”

Diel was visibly shocked by Damian’s response.

Though this was a conflict zone, she hadn’t expected him to be planning a war.

“Is it a war that you’re fighting on your own?”

“Yes, in a way. I’m the commander, after all.”

“….”

Diel’s expression turned to one of disbelief.

This was a man who hadn’t even been enlisted for two years.

And yet he was talking about being a commander?

Seeing her bewilderment, Damian explained.

“You know what Makstri is like.”

“…I know it’s a conflict zone. But the kingdom isn’t actively trying to take control of this place.”

Damian smirked.

As expected of Diel.

She understood Makstri and the kingdom’s stance perfectly.

“That’s right. The kingdom isn’t interested in spending significant resources to secure the gold mine here. It’s been a prolonged conflict, and the returns aren’t worth the investment.”

Furthermore, the drawn-out fight was simply a means of controlling the prisoners involved.

Diel asked, puzzled.

“Then why…?”

“But I have my reasons for needing to end this war.”

From Kiaran’s perspective, who had sent him here, this was just a small game.

If Damian succeeded, he would prove his worth. If he failed, nothing of value would be lost.

So he had to succeed.

It wasn’t just about passing her test; it was a challenge Damian had set for himself.

‘If I can’t manage this… all my future plans will be meaningless.’

What was the point of grand plans without the ability to execute them?

The battle in Makstri was as much a test for Damian himself as it was for anyone else.

Seeing the intense resolve in Damian’s eyes, Diel watched him in silence.

And then, finally…

“I’ll do everything I can to help.”

“Thank you, that’s reassuring.”

At Damian’s words, Diel pulled out some documents from her bag.

“While I’m here, let me brief you on what’s been happening in Erkal. Quite a lot has happened since you left.”

“All right.”

As Diel began her report, Damian and she delved into work-related discussions for quite some time.

* * *

Another month passed.

Now, only one month remained before the gold mine’s ownership would be fully transferred to the Iren Kingdom.

Within that time, they would have to face another battle against the enemy.

And now, the soldiers of the Makstri unit looked vastly different from a month ago.

“Run! Faster!”

“Aaaahhhh!”

“Haaaargh!”

Around fifty soldiers at the front raised their shields high, charging at the enemy and crashing into them with force.

Bam!

With a thunderous noise, the group on the opposing side staggered.

The Makstri unit’s charge was more intense than expected. However…

“How dare these criminals!”

“Haargh!”

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

Under the intense assault on their shields, the Makstri soldier holding the shield began to shrink back.

The group that the Makstri unit was currently facing off against?

None other than the regular army stationed on the outskirts.

Seorael watched the ongoing training with disbelief.

“…Ha ha ha ha ha.”

He let out a bewildered laugh.

Two months—no, three months.

In that short span, these once-criminals had been trained to the point where they could push back segments of the regular army.

Seorael turned to Damian and asked.

“Are you a mage or something? What kind of magic did you use?”

Damian responded with a faint smile.

A month ago, Damian had received the response to the proposal he’d submitted to the Corps Commander through Captain Vincent.

And that response had led to the transformation they were witnessing now.

“It’s all about motivation.”

Damian quietly recalled the Corps Commander’s reply.