Chapter 143: I will carry out the order! (2)
Dregorn had a bewildered expression, unsure of what was happening. He seemed unable to believe that the leader of an assassin group was greeting him while Sword King Levidian was stepping on his chest.
Well, it’s none of my business.
“I have no intention of correcting your thoughts. You’ll understand what kind of people soldiers are when you get older. What if you don’t know until you die? Then you probably won’t be able to escape from being the First Sword. If you realize it quickly, becoming a general wouldn’t be a problem. Ah, this isn’t a very important issue either. The point is, I don’t want your reckless thoughts to ruin my work.”
“W-What work? While making me do this worthless task!”
“The basic attitude of a subordinate is to do as they are told. What was your rank when you graduated from the military academy? You must have had a pretty high score to become a First Sword at your age, but you weren’t the top, were you? I can clearly see that you were deducted points because of problems with your ideology.”
My criticism made Dregorn’s face flush red, and Sispa helped me out from behind.
“Sir Sudo, First Sword Martin-nim was actually deducted 10 points for ideological issues when he graduated from the military academy, dropping him from 3rd to 10th place. 281st class, we were in the same class.”
“Tsk tsk. They say there’s no cure for a fool. Well, that’s why he would dare dream of insubordination. Hey, Dregorn, be honest. Besides the trivial reason you mentioned, isn’t it also because you’re young and the Duke’s son, so you’re two ranks higher than you should be, acting like a commander? It’s okay. Be honest. Everyone knows that’s what the senior First Swords here think.”
Dregorn didn’t say anything, and neither did the First Swords behind him. I knew it, but it’s a little bitter to see them not deny it.
I put on a natural smile to hide my bitterness and said,
“People usually say this: Let’s take off our rank badges and fight.”
“What?”
“Let’s take off our rank badges and fight. Not as Sudo and First Sword, but as Arisein and Dregorn. Man to man.”
“What are you thinking of betting?”
“Levidian, please move your leg.”
I can’t maintain this uncomfortable position if we’re going to have a one-on-one fight.
He grumbled but straightened up and sat down. He rubbed his arms and shoulders and then spoke to me.
“What are you up to?”
“I hate troublesome things.”
“What?”
“Most people who know me know this, but I hate troublesome procedures and formalities. They’re inefficient. Just think that I like simple, productive, and efficient things. They say there’s plenty of time in the world, but I can confidently say that few people use their time as efficiently as I do. I think it’s more efficient to just shut up and work while you’re wasting time on a pointless strike here. But since you’re not the kind of person who listens to orders, let’s take off our rank badges and fight.”
He had an expression that didn’t seem very interested, but I can read him that much.
No, anyone who has played with a cat would know. A cat pretends to be uninterested in a moving object, rolling only its eyes, and then suddenly pounces. Dregorn is like that right now.
Finally, he asked bluntly,
“What are the conditions?”
“We’ll bet the rank badges we take off.”
“What?”
“If you win, you take command. I’ll write you a letter of recommendation to the headquarters. No, it’ll be solved with a simple letter to my father. And I’ll take all responsibility for any incidents that occur after the transfer of command.”
It’s a radical condition.
Command authority comes with responsibility and duty, and I’m offering to exempt him from that as well.
In other words, I’m saying that I’ll clean up any mess he makes and handle it myself.
He looked like a cat with its head turned away, only its ears perked up, showing curiosity. But he was a human with intelligence, so he could think of the opposite case.
“What if you win?”
“It’s simple. Do as I say, shut up. I don’t care if you grumble inside or plan assassinations. Outwardly, follow my orders as a loyal soldier.”
In other words, it’s a corrective order to continue doing what he’s been doing, but just change his attitude.
Dregorn seemed to think for a moment, but he soon realized that there were no traps in the conditions themselves and the benefits he would gain if he won.
Ah, I hate creating such an unprecedented superior-subordinate relationship in a place like this. Above all, it’s inefficient to be making bets with a subordinate.
“What’s the bet?”
“Let’s take the core of your complaint. You said you didn’t need to do what I said I had to do. Right?”
“Yes. What’s the use of doing this useless construction work?”
“That’s what you think. So shut up and finish the construction first. If it turns out that this is really useless, I’ll admit defeat.”
“Wait. How do you prove that?”
Dregorn, who was about to make a face that said it was definitely useless, changed his expression. He’s thinking that there must be a trap, or an important meaning, since I’m acting so confidently.
I leaned closer to him and spoke quietly,
“This is a facility in preparation for when it rains. The structure currently being built on the outskirts of Atzuma City is a barrier to prevent the river from flooding. The long line isn’t just to stop a large number of troops.”
“F-Flooding?”
“Yes. It will rain enough to overflow the river. The construction we’re doing now is in preparation for the procurement of lumber and the flooding of the conduit. The Western Army will rush in as soon as the drought is resolved. They’ll probably try to take Atzuma City while it’s raining. This is a facility to prevent that.”
Dregorn had a dumbfounded expression. He looked like he thought only a fool would believe that it would rain enough to flood the river when the land was so dry that dust was flying around. However, he noticed the ambiguity of my words.
“When will it rain?”
Hmm. So his intelligence isn’t at the level of a cat after all. He has a proper human brain.
Thanks to the top-secret document I received recently, I was able to confirm the date that I had been half-doubting.
“June 8th.”
“What?”
“It will rain on June 8th.”
“What crazy nonsense……”
He was about to scoff but then made a strange expression.
To him, my words are nothing more than the ravings of a madman. Nevertheless, he must be feeling something strange about the fact that I’m offering this bet.
No one offers a bet that puts them at a disadvantage.
They offer it because they hold the possibility of a reversal, even if it seems unfavorable.
But what if I bet on the weather, and on the condition that there will be a torrential downpour that will flood the river during a drought?
He’ll rack his brains trying to figure out what kind of trick I’m trying to pull, but it’ll be hard for him to predict that I know the future.
A person with enough imagination to think that a person died and came back to life with their memories…… would that be Aila?
Anyone would guarantee that Dregorn would win, no matter how they looked at it. He thought about it several times and then grinned.
“I know what trick you’re trying to pull. You’re thinking of using the priest and the mage there, right?”
Hey, that’s not it.
“Are you stupid? Like Saint Anslan Heinz and Magnolia Beming? Are you serious? Can’t you see that we’re suffering from a water shortage? We would have done it already if we could.”
He flinched at the names of the world-renowned priest and archmage. Sometimes there are fools who think that magic or divine power like history will exert transcendental power.
And he takes the current drought for granted? Why can’t he match the two? He doesn’t even think about the opponent’s moves. You can’t play chess, can you?
“So, what are you going to do? I don’t have time. Make a decision quickly.”
He looked around at my friends. Then he smiled like a leopard and said,
“Okay. If it’s natural rain.”
“Ha, how can you prove that?”
“What?”
“Since you’ve already anticipated the history, if you don’t accept it, that’s it, right? You can just insist on it no matter what. It’s a meaningless bet. So, how do you prove natural rainfall?”
He’s probably trying to figure out how to ‘not lose’ the bet no matter what.
If he wins, that’s good, and if the bet is void, that’s enough. He’s already got plenty of rewards coming his way, but he doesn’t want to lose even a little.
Did he think I wouldn’t see through that?
I scoffed at him and then turned my head to call Namias.
“Namias-ssi, come here for a moment.”
“Yes.”
“Let me introduce you. This is High Priest Benamijan-nim of the Lynin Temple.”
“May the blessings of the light always be with you. Ru Ikellainin.”
Namias nodded slightly, and Dregorn nodded back with a bewildered expression.
After the greetings were over, I said,
“I have a personal relationship with her, but she’s a priest. Especially a priest of Lynin, she can’t lie. Right, Namias-ssi?”
“That is the will of the light.”
“She will be the notary. You know the common sense that someone who rises to the position of High Priest at a young age must have received a great blessing, right? She will determine whether the rain that falls on June 8th is natural. Is that okay?”
“Does she really not lie?”
“Doubt the person you should doubt.”
He wouldn’t doubt that Namias is a priest after seeing the purification ability she’s shown so far, would he? Dregorn seems to be uncomfortable with my attitude of trying to drag him into a bet that’s advantageous to me.
I sighed deeply as I looked at him hesitating. Then I got up from my seat and dusted off my pants.
“Forget it. Ugh. He must have no brains. Well, I never expected you to complete the tasks I assigned to your unit without complaints. I don’t want to command problem children like you either. Chief Grayman!”
“Yes? Ah, yes, Sir Sudo.”
“Inform the headquarters. The 1024th Long-Range Mobile Strike Patrol Unit is relieved from the command of Herduke Sudo as of May 28th, 376. The full command authority of the Cheonbyeongdae is returned to First Sword Dregorn Martin-nim, the 1024th Cheonbyeongjang, and the deployment is left to the headquarters. And ask them to send another unit that specializes in long-range attacks. First Sword Martin-nim, you may return. Organize the Cheonbyeongdae and leave within two days.”
I turned around with a cold attitude. And I counted the numbers in my head. If Dregorn is the kind of person I think he is…… one, two, three.
“Wait! I’ll accept the bet!”
“Huh? A-Are you serious?”
I put on a slightly surprised expression, as if I couldn’t believe it. Dregorn nodded confidently and affirmed his declaration with a confident attitude.
“Yes. I’ll accept it. I’ll do it!”
Alright, it’s a deal!
I cheered inwardly, keeping a straight face on the outside. Then I nodded briefly, pretending to be nervous.
“Alright. Then……”
“Wait! We have to put it in writing! We need witnesses!”
“Good. Chief Grayman, write down what I’m about to say. The other First Swords will be witnesses from now on.”
I deliberately put on a reluctant tone at first.
This will make Dregorn think he knows why he was offered a bet he can’t lose.
I laughed inwardly and had Sispa write down the details of the bet.
Everything went according to plan.
I deliberately offer a bet that I can’t lose.
The conditions are so good that it’s suspicious.
Naturally, people are wary of favors offered without any strings attached.
I try hard to tempt him to participate in the bet by offering various enticements. I set the conditions, provide an impeccable notary, and the more I do, the more I show all the favors that would make him think it’s a trap.
Most people would realize at this point that they should never make this bet. Dregorn must have also made up his mind not to take the bet.
He must have racked his brains trying to find the trap I had set while dragging out the bet.
That’s where I turn my back.
I turn my back very refreshingly and order him to leave this place. It’s a natural judgment that I’m sending him away since he has no intention of taking the bet or listening to orders.
Those who think they’re smart will think they’ve figured out my original purpose at this point.
That my original purpose was to drive him away.
Dregorn must have thought so too.
The proof is that he abruptly accepted the bet right before my order was finalized as soon as I gave it.
Because he thought he had figured out that there were no traps in the bet.
And people are very enthusiastic about getting involved in things that benefit them.
He probably thought, “Great!” when he saw me turning around without even mentioning documenting it.
That’s why he’ll definitely miss the clause I’m adding for sure.
“The rain that falls on June 8th will cause the river to overflow……”
He’s still not saying anything. He must think I’ve fallen into my own trap, dug my own grave.
But what can I do?
It’s certain that it will rain on June 8th! Hahaha!
Dregorn, I know you’re a smart talent recognized enough to become a First Sword, even if your ideology is strange.
But you’ve chosen the wrong opponent this time.
If you’re feeling wronged, die and come back to life.
Then you might win.
I called out all the details and showed him the document Sispa had made, making sure he checked it. Then, when he nodded, I gave it back to Sispa.
“Make two copies. One for me, one for First Sword Martin-nim, and the original for High Priest Benamijan-nim. This establishes the bet. First Sword Martin-nim, do you agree?”
“Ah, I agree! Of course!”
He nodded confidently. And then I bloomed a bright smile on my face, which I had been holding back until then. Dregorn’s confident face hardened again.
It’s as if we’ve switched expressions.
“This establishes it.”
I said in a voice full of joy. His eyes wavered for a moment, but I decided not to tease him any further.
“Then First Sword Martin-nim, make sure you finish the construction properly.”
With this, I really turned my back.
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