Chapter 76: Southern Training Camp (2)

The next day.

Roman was admitted to the Southern Training Camp as scheduled.

This was a basic course required before being deployed to the battlefield, and several nobles, including Roman, arrived with their personal troops.

The expressions of the nobles were uniformly poor.

Not a single one of them had volunteered to join.

If their loyalty to the country was so great, they would have gone to the Western Front, where help was truly needed, rather than using a loophole to go to the Southern Front.

As the admission ceremony began,

A man who appeared to be the commander stepped forward.

"I am Count Vale Frank, the commander of the Southern Training Camp. As you all know, the Southern Training Camp is where soldiers bound for the Southern Front receive basic military training. You will undergo three weeks of training here and then be assigned to a reserve unit to complete the remainder of your service."

Basic training and assignment to a reserve unit.

The process is the same for both the Western and Southern Fronts.

However,

While soldiers assigned to the Southern Front rarely see combat after joining the reserve unit, those on the Western Front are frequently involved in battles, rendering their reserve status meaningless.

This led to a saying among the soldiers:

Soldiers assigned to the South return home plump, while those sent to the West rarely return unscathed.

Two extremes.

The atmosphere of the admission ceremony made this clear.

Instead of the solemnity of the battlefield, the nobles yawned, finding Count Vale's speech boring.

"There is something you must keep in mind while staying at the Southern Training Camp. Regardless of your status before joining, here you are just soldiers fulfilling your military duty. If anyone violates the camp's rules and acts without authorization, they will be sent to the Western Front as punishment."

What a funny thing to say.

The punishment being assignment to the Western Front.

The absurd part was that this threat worked.

From the Southern Front to the Western Front.

For ordinary nobles, it was an unthinkable fate, and thus they showed a bit more focus during the ceremony.

The speech was brief.

After finishing his words, Count Vale dismissed the soldiers.

"Unpack your belongings in your assigned quarters. I will inform you of the training schedule later this evening."

Admission.

From now on, they belonged to the Southern Training Camp.

Roman was about to move to his quarters like the others when a soldier approached and quietly spoke to him.

"The commander wants to see you separately."

Count Vale.

The feeling that their eyes met during the speech was not just Roman's imagination.

* * *

Upon entering the command room,

The first thing to greet Roman was Count Vale's bright smile, which was not seen during the admission ceremony.

"Welcome! Was the journey to the South difficult?"

"No, it was fine."

"Sit down, please."

Creak.

Count Vale pulled out a chair himself.

His kindness was almost awkward.

Although Roman had never met Count Vale before, the count acted as if they were old acquaintances.

"Do you know how excited I was to hear that you were assigned to the Southern Front? Roman Dmitri, the youngest ranker of Cairo Kingdom! Wow. I was thrilled to hear that a hidden dragon had emerged from Dmitri. Oops, is coffee okay?"

"Yes."

Count Vale whistled a tune while making coffee.

This was usually a task for a soldier.

Nevertheless, he moved to make a cup of coffee for both himself and Roman.

The command room soon filled with the sweet aroma of coffee.

He took a sip and, with a gentle smile, placed a cup of coffee in front of Roman.

Thud.

"Drink while you listen. The reason I called you here is to ask about one fact. According to rumors, Viscount Benedict used his influence to have you assigned to the Southern Front. Is this true?"

Unilateral kindness always has a purpose.

Count Vale calmly drank his coffee, but his eyes burned with desire as he looked at Roman.

Although he didn't know the intent behind the question,

Roman, who sought neutrality, had no reason to hide the truth.

"Yes. I didn't ask for it, but I heard that Viscount Benedict did it for me."

"Is that so?"

Count Vale's expression brightened.

In fact, he had already confirmed the truth to some extent.

Still, he wanted to verify it directly from Roman, and when he received the answer he wanted, he couldn't hide his joy.

"That's right. I'll get straight to the point. I want to make a good impression on Viscount Benedict. The Southern Training Camp isn't a bad place, but it can't compare to the luxurious life in the central government. Therefore, I will do my best to ensure that you, whom Viscount Benedict cherishes, have a comfortable stay here. I don't expect much in return. Just one thing. When you meet Viscount Benedict later, tell him that Count Vale Frank of the Southern Training Camp provided you with special treatment. That's all I ask."

It was a rather blatant statement.

Vale Frank.

Like Dmitri, he was from the frontier and harbored the grand dream of entering the central government.

However,

No matter how hard he tried, there was no way to achieve it.

The Southern Training Camp received requests from many noble families, but Viscount Benedict was not someone he could influence in such a way.

The core of the central government.

It was a realm Count Vale could not dare to challenge, and to create a connection with the central government, he needed a cheat key.

Exactly.

Roman Dmitri was that cheat key.

'Viscount Benedict is investing a lot in Roman Dmitri. If Roman ever swears loyalty to Viscount Benedict, he could lead me to the central government. This is an opportunity. A rare chance to enter the central government.'

He had no intention of hiding his purpose.

This was a deal.

In exchange for a comfortable life at the Southern Training Camp, he only needed to say one thing.

The Southern Front.

It was a place where even the commander was corrupt.

Despite openly requesting bribes, Count Vale's face showed no hint of shame.

'Interesting.'

He smiled.

Viscount Benedict and Count Vale.

They were not people he would spend his life with.

But at least for now, while accepting their kindness, there was no reason to refuse what they offered.

Roman said,

"I understand. I will not forget your kindness, my lord."

Just that much.

Roman maintained his boundaries while accepting the other's kindness.

* * *

Roman, leaving the command room,

Was about to return to his quarters when he met a familiar face on the way.

"There you are!"

It was Henry Albert.

The person who caused a commotion at the inn.

Unlike when he fled in a hurry, Henry Albert now spoke with a confident expression.

"I've been thinking. No matter how I think about it, I don't feel I did anything wrong to you. Frankly, Dmitri is just a minor baron's family. As the second son of the Albert family, is it reasonable for me to be attacked for wanting to use the inn?"

Last night,

Henry couldn't sleep.

He was too angry.

Born into a family that treated him like a precious gem, he couldn't accept being humiliated by someone from a mere baron's family.

The fact that Roman was the youngest ranker was not important.

He had heard that the Dmitri family was of common origin and had a lowly background, unlike himself, who was a true noble.

His stomach boiled all night.

He waited for the next day.

Once admitted to the Southern Training Camp, he thought Roman wouldn't dare to treat him casually.

In response to Roman's indifferent reaction,

Henry pressed forward, flaring up.

"You picked the wrong person to mess with. Do you know where my mother comes from? The Frank family. Now, do you realize what mistake you made? Yes, the commander of the Southern Training Camp, Count Vale Frank, is my uncle! So, apologize now. If you admit your mistake in front of my soldiers, I'll make sure not to tell my uncle about this."

The background he believed in.

It was Count Vale.

No matter how young a ranker Roman Dmitri was, once admitted to the Southern Training Camp, he couldn't ignore the commander.

Henry Albert was confident.

This time,

He was certain of his victory.

However,

"So what?"

"…What?"

"What are you going to do just because your uncle is the commander of the Southern Training Camp?"

"Are you, are you not getting the situation? At the admission ceremony, my uncle clearly said that anyone who violates the rules will be sent to the Western Front. That rule isn't just about military duty. It includes anyone who goes against my uncle, like you!"

He was taken aback.

To be so confident even after knowing his uncle's identity.

A cold sweat trickled down his back.

Thinking that Roman might draw his sword again, he slowly backed away.

"Do you not know what will happen if you're sent to the Western Front? Even if you're a three-star Aura Knight, you'll die in an instant. Stay here and wait. I'll bring my uncle, and we'll see if you're still so confident then."

One step forward, one step back.

At that moment,

Henry Albert firmly believed that his uncle would solve all the problems.

* * *

"Uncle!"

At Henry's appearance,

Count Vale smiled broadly.

"Oh, my nephew is here?"

Henry Albert.

To the general public, he might be a despicable person, but to Count Vale, he was a beloved nephew.

Especially, he resembled his mother, Count Vale's younger sister.

His brown hair and mischievous appearance made Count Vale's eyes brim with affection.

"But why does my nephew look so upset?"

Noticing Henry's expression,

Count Vale asked.

Henry, seizing the opportunity, poured out his grievances.

"Uncle, what would you do if I was threatened by someone from a mere baron's family?"

"What?! Who threatened you?"

Thud.

Count Vale sprang from his seat.

The thought of someone threatening his beloved nephew.

He didn't need to hear more.

With a flushed face, he grabbed the sword hanging on the wall and urged Henry.

"Lead me to that scoundrel right now. How dare he touch my nephew in the Southern Training Camp. I'll crush him for sure."

"Really?!"

Henry's expression brightened.

If his uncle took action,

This was a done deal.

Once admitted to the Southern Training Camp, the commander's authority was absolute.

He hurried his steps.

Thinking that Roman might run away,

Henry arrived at Roman's location before Count Vale.

"That's him."

He pointed at the other person.

Roman Dmitri.

The other person, foolishly, did not run away.

Seeing him waiting as told, Henry's face showed a smug smile.

Count Vale, arriving late,

His expression hardened.

He closed his eyes and then opened them,

Looking back and forth between Henry and Roman.

He wanted to deny that the scoundrel was Roman, but there was no one else at the location.

And,

Henry's expression, as if begging to be punished.

Count Vale felt a sudden dizziness.

'This crazy kid is blocking my path.'

His judgment was quick.

Before Henry could speak,

Count Vale's large palm slapped Henry's cheek.

Smack!

A crisp sound.

Henry's confident face turned sharply.