Chapter 33

"Jihiteberg territory, huh..."

In the brigade commander's office, Colonel Altsar was holding his head. His sleek black hair was a mess.

"The border area with Kionis is a dry grassland, with no cities or resources. We'll have supply issues."

"In that case, we should form a supply unit. We'll need to purchase wagons to make the brigade self-sufficient."

After all, the field artillery of the artillery unit will also be pulled by wagons, so we need a substantial number of them.

With wagons, we can transport the wounded and everyone's luggage, reducing fatigue. It can also serve as a new transfer destination for soldiers unsuited for combat.

The colonel raised his head and glared at me a little.

"Do you know how much it costs to buy and maintain draft horses and wagons? It would be a big mistake to think the budget will flow like water."

"That's a pretty good expression."

Medilen territory is by the sea, so water is abundant, and there's an identical idiom in Japanese. This kind of thing is a little bit of a treat for a reincarnated person.

However, as the colonel glared at me even more, I cleared my throat lightly.

"I hope you can handle that, Commander. Military power without economic power doesn't exist. It's foolish to wage war without money."

"You say that so easily."

The colonel sighed deeply, straightened his body, and leaned back in his chair.

"But your words are mostly correct. As someone not blessed with military talent, I at least need to try to provide economic support."

"Thank you."

There's nothing I can do about this.

The colonel opened a drawer with a cloudy look and took out a pen and paper.

"Then I'll start writing letters, meeting various people, and negotiating with different organizations. Don't get in my way. And show more respect."

"I respect you more than anyone else on this earth."

While brushing his bangs aside, the colonel looked at me suspiciously.

"Really?"

"Really."

I saluted sharply and then hurriedly left the brigade commander's office.

The Army General Headquarters is incredibly stingy, and the military budget alone isn't enough to pay the soldiers' salaries. Each division is backed by one of the Five Royal Families, and they use funds from there to make up for the shortfall.

The Sixth Special Brigade, however, is officially a free and independent unit, so no noble will pay for it.

Therefore, Colonel Altsar has to run around to secure the budget. She is the only noble officer in our brigade.

The brigade was founded solely due to the colonel's sense of mission, so we have no choice but to rely on her.

With the documents I received from the brigade commander's office in hand, I headed to Sergeant Hanna's quarters.

She seemed to be on a break in the NCO quarters, holding a book in one hand and playing a game similar to chess by herself. In my previous life, it would be like solving shogi problems.

"Oh, Counselor!"

I stopped her from standing up and saluting.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your break. It's my fault for barging in. Don't worry about it."

NCOs, who are middle managers, have many worries and hardly any places to rest except for the NCO quarters, which serve as both an office and a break room. They spend their days taking care of the soldiers and following the orders of the officers.

"Stalemate Five Kings, huh? That's surprising."

"S-S-Sorry! I was playing a game!"

"You can play games or take a nap during your break. But that's a tough one, isn't it?"

'Five Kings' is a Schwaidel Empire-style chess, using six major pieces representing the Five Royal Families and several minor pieces.

The fact that there are 'six' major pieces actually reflects a historical connection.

The Schwaidel Empire was once ruled by the 'Six Royal Families.'

Hanna, flustered, compared the board with me.

"N-No, the colonel taught me this when I had trouble making friends! But I'm not good at playing against others, so I've been doing stalemate Five Kings."

She must have really not wanted to be seen, as her face was red.

However, I was impressed.

"That's amazing. This is a 'Knight Level' problem set, right?"

The Knight Level is the highest amateur class, and it's a level that can be used in noble salons. I've heard that among commoners, only wealthy city merchants or clergy can reach this level.

Each royal family in the empire has a royal chess association, and if you are certified as a Five Kings player there, you can give guidance to the wealthy. It's one of the ways for commoners to enter the upper class.

I had actually considered this route before, but the problems were too difficult for me to solve. This world is tough on me.

"I struggle with 'Squire Level' problems. Sergeant Hayden is smart."

"No, I just like thinking by myself..."

I could understand her a little.

Hanna was born in a region with strong male dominance and had a physique that was too well-endowed. If she had been a boy, she would have been welcomed, but her physique, which surpassed ordinary men, was the beginning of her misfortune.

After her parents died from a popular disease, she was treated like a monster by the villagers and confined to a mill.

She, who had such a background, still lives in fear of invisible hostility and is not good at conflict.

It's a pitiful story. If she had been born in modern Japan, she could have been an excellent athlete.

That's what I thought.

But her strengths weren't just physical and athletic. She's also smart. Not the kind of quick wit, but the kind that can find the best move after careful consideration.

Her long solitude and the hostility of those around her had given her the wisdom of deep thought. ...Although it doesn't really show.

But being a master of stalemate shogi and an excellent soldier are different things. I opened a different problem set. It was the basic artillery textbook.

"Sergeant Hayden, can you make this move?"

I showed her a diagram of the enemy and friendly positions.

"You are the commander of an artillery company. During a battle, enemy cavalry launches a surprise attack from the flank. Our infantry is defending in a square formation but is at a disadvantage. If this continues, it will be dangerous. Where would you fire your artillery?"

Hanna stared at the textbook and thought silently for a few seconds.

Then she pointed to a spot without hesitation.

"Then... I would keep firing here continuously."

At that moment, I knew the problem I had been carrying had been solved.

"Correct."

The point Hanna indicated was more than a hundred meters away from the infantry line.

It was a place where there were no enemy cavalry yet.

But the enemy would definitely pass through here. Moreover, when they pass through, their horses will have already started a full sprint, making it impossible to turn back or change course.

If we rain shells on this spot, the enemy cavalry will suffer significant damage.

Even if the timing is a bit off, the dust and flying debris will obstruct the view, and the ground will be pitted. The formation will be disrupted. The formidable impact power of the cavalry cannot be exerted when the formation is broken.

Hanna continued.

"I probably won't hit them directly, right? But if I get too close to our side, it will interfere with the shooting."

"Yeah, that's right."

It's impossible to hit moving cavalry with direct artillery fire. The time it takes to aim the cannon makes it impossible to track moving targets.

So we predict the enemy's movement and 'place' the artillery fire at the most effective location.

In my previous life, if you played shooting games, you would naturally realize this, but in this world, only a few specialized hunters, like bird hunters, would know this.

Hanna had figured out the correct answer on her own without being taught by anyone.

"It seems Sergeant Hayden has a talent for artillery. I was having trouble because there are no NCOs in the newly formed artillery company. Would you consider transferring there?"

"E-Eh? Me!?"

"You lack a fighting spirit but are an excellent NCO. And for an artillery NCO, calm judgment is more important than a fighting spirit. Especially in our artillery company, Lieutenant Roz can't easily go into battle. The actual commander is the NCO."

Lieutenant Roz has a leg injury from a war wound and can no longer ride a horse or keep up with the march.

There are no other artillery officers, so we have to let an NCO take over as acting company commander.

However, Hanna was flustered.

"B-But I'm an NCO!?"

"Don't worry. On paper, the company commander is Lieutenant Roz Steyer. You will be the company NCO in charge of the artillery. That's all."

I said this and handed her the artillery textbook.

"Field artillery, along with military horses, is the most expensive equipment in our brigade. I was looking for someone I could entrust with the field artillery on the battlefield. I think you are the best fit, and I intend to recommend you to the brigade commander."

Hearing my words, Hanna's cheeks turned red.

"M-Me?"

"Yes. There's no one else. I'm counting on you."

I don't have the authority to make personnel decisions, and I'm not a person who can influence someone's life. So I'm just asking.

"Counselor, please don't bow to me! It's embarrassing!"

"I'm asking you as a comrade, not a superior. I'll bow. No, really, I'm counting on you."

If Hanna doesn't get motivated, no amount of orders will make her perform well.

Right, I'll praise her.

"People may have only evaluated Sergeant Hayden's physique, but I think your true strength lies in your endurance and intelligence. Oh, and your popularity. All of these are necessary to command the artillery."

"Praising me won't change anything!?"

No, I need to get her motivated.

"The artillery is the goddess of the battlefield, but our brigade lacks the goddess's blessing. If you learn artillery from Lieutenant Roz, you will definitely become an expert in artillery command. We need it by the next battle. Be our goddess."

"Goddess? Me!?"

"Yes."

"Goddess... of the counselor's..."

"Are you misunderstanding something?"

"S-Sorry!"

I'm worried about being treated as a sexual harasser.

Hanna, who was fidgeting with her large body at my pleading, eventually looked up and asked.

"Counselor, is this a 'request'?"

"Yeah, for now."

Once the order is issued, it will become an order, so I'm consulting with her before giving the order.

Hanna was still hesitant but whispered.

"Then, can I make a 'request' to the counselor?"

"Eh? Ah, yeah. Sure."

I'd be happy to treat her to a meal.

Hanna smiled.

"Then, can you call me 'Hanna' instead of 'Sergeant Hayden'?"

"Huh?"

"Ah, is that not okay!?"

"No..."

What kind of request is this?

Hanna continued.

"See, the brigade commander calls me 'Hanna,' and everyone in the brigade calls me 'Hanna-chan' or 'Hanna-san'!"

She's talking so fast.

Well... that's not a big deal. It shouldn't be a problem in terms of discipline.

"In public, you'll still be 'Sergeant Hayden,' okay?"

"Okay!"

Hanna's eyes sparkled, and she looked at me with expectation.

"Go ahead."

Now?

I cleared my throat and then awkwardly called her by her name.

"I'm counting on you, Hanna."

"Leave it to me!"

She saluted with such force that I could feel the air pressure.

What is this?