Reset Life – Chapter 136

Chapter 136: Don’t You Think So? (4)

The infantry can be drawn from the nearest location, and a unit specializing in engineering…… Ah, there it is. There’s also a light cavalry unit, which is perfect, and the remaining units are……

“1024th Long-Range Mobile Strike Patrol Unit? What’s this?”

“Yes. It’s an infantry unit where all 1000 soldiers are equipped with automatic heavy crossbows. Their specialty is volley fire and immediate withdrawal. Their characteristic is a wide operational range.”

“What are they equipped with, you said?”

“Automatic heavy crossbows.”

I don’t know whether to be relieved that my ears are working fine or to be shocked by Sispa’s words.

Automatic heavy crossbow.

It’s a weapon that has been evaluated as the best and worst long-range military weapon since the founding of the Imperial Army.

It boasts an astonishing effective range of 400 meters and a deadly destructive power capable of piercing a 5-centimeter wooden board even from 300 meters away.

The time it takes for an ordinary heavy crossbow to wind the crank, load the arrow, and fire is 20 to 30 seconds. Two to three shots can be fired per minute, and in that time, light cavalry can break through 500 meters and destroy an archer unit.

The automatic heavy crossbow is a revolutionary weapon that complements this weakness by equipping it with a crank device and cartridges, allowing arrows to be fired simply by turning the crank.

However, the problem is its weight.

The automatic reloading mechanism, added to the already heavy crossbow, easily exceeded the limits of what could be used as a personal weapon.

Sarcastically, it has earned the reputation of being as good as a ballista on the wall, so it is not commonly used.

Moreover, there is no place that specializes in this.

“Quite a unique taste. You’re saying they can carry that and even patrol before a long-range mobile strike?”

“Approximately 800 soldiers directly engage in the attack, and the remaining 200 actively participate in resupply. Utilizing the advantage of the automatic heavy crossbow, which can fire 5 shots per minute, they unleash 4,000 arrows in one minute and withdraw. Rumor has it that no monster has survived their volley fire.”

I stroked my chin.

I needed soldiers who could deliver long-range strikes, and this unconventional group caught my eye. If they can move quickly while using automatic heavy crossbows, the effect would be significant.

Above all, since they specialize in mobile strikes, I believe they can ensure the success of the plan I have in mind.

Considering these thoughts alone, I should choose them without hesitation, but there’s a problem.

Sispa said with a slight frown.

“However, they are notorious for disobeying orders. It’s a chronic problem with special forces.”

That’s right. Even in the report I’m looking at, there are numerous records of them acting arbitrarily without authorization during operations, disobeying orders, and causing friction with other units.

In other words, the advantages are as great as the disadvantages.

Troubled by this fact, I looked at the unit commander’s record. As expected, his record is filled with a list of achievements that eloquently demonstrate his disregard for superiors.

However, it was clear that he couldn’t be disbanded because he gained popularity among his subordinates, was the leading expert in automatic heavy crossbow training, and achieved results beyond expectations when he put his mind to carrying out operations.

It’s like they tolerate him to some extent because of his achievements.

While I was contemplating flipping a coin to resolve my dilemma, someone knocked on the door.

“Risel, it’s me.”

“Ah, come in.”

Having just finished her lunch training, Levidian entered, wiping her sweat with a towel. And upon seeing Sispa sitting in front of me, she suddenly glared.

What a difficult personality.

“Who are you?”

“Ah, this is Sispa Grayman, the Chief Guard, who has been appointed as my adjutant. Grayman, introduce yourself. This is Ibi, my swordsmanship teacher.”

“Greetings. I am Sispa.”

“Ah, you’re the adjutant. Nice to meet you.”

Levidian smiled brightly, as if the expression from 5 seconds ago had vanished. She nodded briefly to Sispa and then spoke to me.

“Are you in a meeting? Then I’ll come back later.”

“No, it’s alright. What is it?”

“Aila asked to have tea time. It seems like she has something to talk about, in the reception room over there.”

“Ah, is that so? Alright. I’ll be there soon.”

“Okay. Excuse me.”

Levidian bowed slightly and left. It’s rare for Aila to call a meeting. I wonder what it’s about?

I decided to quickly finish organizing the troops while looking at the infantry documents. It would be better to finish it quickly in many ways.

As I flipped through a few more documents and found a suitable unit, Sispa spoke.

“Your Holiness, may I ask you something?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Is the person who just left part of Your Holiness’s troop organization?”

“Hm? Ah, that’s right. If we go into operational action, that’s how it will be. I’ll make a list and give it to you soon, so submit it to the headquarters.”

My friends would rather do nothing than listen to other people’s orders. For now, I have to use my authority to make them part of my troops.

“Understood. But……”

Sispa nodded briefly and then opened her mouth with a slightly cautious expression.

“How old is that person?”

“You’ll find out when the list goes up, but…… That’s right. She’s thirty this year.”

Wow, come to think of it, Levidian has turned thirty this year. I’m twenty.

Ugh, this suddenly feels like a big age gap.

Even though she still looks like she’s in her early twenties, to think that’s her actual age, it’s surprisingly new.

While I was newly surprised by the realization that she and I have a ten-year age difference, Sispa was already staring blankly at the door she had left through.

Huh?

“Your Holiness, could you arrange a meeting with Ibi-ssi in the near future?”

“It wouldn’t be difficult, but…… Why suddenly?”

“It’s already a famous rumor among the female soldiers, but…… There’s something I just want to ask……”

Sispa trailed off, and I frowned at the thought that maybe the rumor that she’s my lover is spreading. The timing is awkward, so I haven’t been able to announce it yet, but is it already among the female soldiers?

I pressed her with a deliberately heavy voice.

“What is it? Tell me.”

“Well, I want to know the secret to her youth. She looks so young even though she’s thirty, what method does she use……”

For a moment, I almost wilted like a salted cabbage.

Indeed, Levidian, you have a remarkable presence.

“Huh? It’s just my constitution.”

Levidian answered, munching on a cookie, to my casual question. I was speechless at her answer. Is it also your constitution that you look younger than when I first saw you? Not a disease?

Aila, clearly offended by Levidian’s nonchalant remark, grumbled.

“Hmph. Good for you. I have to worry about wrinkles every day as I get older. Tsk. The world is so unfair. Besides, Unni, you don’t gain weight even when you eat.”

“Aren’t you the same?”

“That’s because I manage myself thoroughly. I’m the leader of a secret organization, after all. Body management is a given.”

If anyone knows the connection between being the leader of a secret organization and mandatory body management, please let me know.

“I exercise every day too.”

“That’s not the point! How is it even possible for your skin to be so taut without a single wrinkle, to look pretty without makeup, and to maintain a body without any flab for 10 years since your early twenties?!”

“Is that so strange? My mother and grandmother were the same.”

“G-Genetics?! As expected, the world is unfair―!”

Aila bit her handkerchief with an expression as if she was about to cry, and I sighed and stroked her head.

“There, there. Calm down. Good girl.”

“Wuu. Daddy-! Unni is bullying me. Sob sob.”

“Don’t cry, Aila. You’re a strong girl.”

Levidian still tilted her head, wondering if she had said something wrong.

For her, maintaining the appearance of her early twenties is natural, but what she just said was a statement that would drive a nail into the hearts of countless women.

While I was comforting the whimpering Aila, I decided not to talk about the Herduke family tradition.

People in our family age relatively slower than others from their mid-twenties.

That’s why my father still looks young, and I will be the same in the future.

While I was thinking about what to say to Sispa so she wouldn’t be hurt, the whimpering Aila puffed out her cheeks and started stuffing herself with cookies and scones.

Hey, if you relieve stress by eating, you’ll gain more weight.

“Just you wait. I’m still growing. Hmph. I won’t lose.”

“Yes, yes. Eat a lot and grow up healthy. But why did you call us today?”

Right now, besides me and Aila, there’s Levidian, and Kun, who hasn’t been able to adapt to the atmosphere until now. It seems Aila deliberately gathered these people, but I don’t know what the main point is because of all the chatting.

Aila took a sip of her tea and said.

“You said you were going to Atzuma, right?”

“I won’t ask how you know.”

There’s probably a law somewhere that all the information in the world flows to Aila. Like gravity.

Aila pulled out a stack of papers from under the table.

“I’ve extracted everything about Atzuma from the data I’ve gathered. The tendencies of the leaders there, recent trends, the surrounding environment, etc…… It’s from a different perspective than military data, so it will be quite helpful.”

“I’ll gratefully accept it.”

While I was tearing off a part of the thick stack of papers and reading it, Lucy and Al arrived, and a little later, Namia and Joey arrived as well. Everyone except Aila and I had been having relatively leisurely days, so they looked quite healthy.

Joey cleared a sofa and plopped down on the spot, marking the end of everyone taking their seats. Aila put down her teacup and said.

“I’m glad to see everyone looking healthy. I’ve been working myself to death, but seeing everyone so healthy makes me feel a bit resentful for some reason, but let’s not dwell on that between friends. The reason I called this meeting today is none other than because Risel is going to war soon.”

“Really? When was it decided?”

“It was decided yesterday, Risel volunteered. The target is an area called Atzuma, about two weeks away from here on horseback. To be precise, after occupying that place, you’ll be defending against the 30,000 troops of the Western Army that will come pouring in, until after the harvest season, with only 5,000 troops.”

Aila. Even so, isn’t it a bit much to know the details of something that was decided yesterday? Should I admire your information gathering abilities, or should I lament the security awareness of the meeting participants?

Without paying any attention to my thoughts, Aila continued explaining the situation, then said to me.

“But Risel, do you have a plan you’re confident in?”

“Ah, of course I do.”

Currently, the Atzuma region is experiencing a drought, and as soon as this drought ends, heavy rain will pour. The two rivers flowing into the vicinity of Atzuma will overflow, and the area will quickly turn into a swamp.

Due to the flooding, Atzuma will be cut off from the path to Narvilt. Because the flooding is widespread, even if the Western Army takes a detour, it will take a considerable amount of time.

It took a whopping 5 months for the Western and Eastern Armies to each dispatch a legion to carry out restoration work and restore the area to its original state.

The drought continues until May, and it rains for half of June.

If we can hold out through guerrilla warfare until it rains, it’ll be smooth sailing from there.

Moreover, this heavy rain was caused by an unexpected weather anomaly, so there was no way to prepare for it.

Remembering this, I nodded firmly. And Aila, with an expression like a cat that has spotted its prey, made me flinch.

“Why?”

“No, if you’ve really prepared perfectly, I won’t say anything. Let’s see…… First, read this.”

She pulled out a blue-covered report-like document from the pile of papers she had collected on Atzuma. Weather forecast for the areas around Atzuma? Why this all of a sudden?

While realizing once again that a vast amount of technical terms are used for weather phenomena, even though I don’t know the terms used for weather phenomena, I finished reading the report, which concluded that the drought would continue even in mid-May.

I already know this, so why?

“Did you finish reading?”

“Yes.”

“Any thoughts?”

“What thoughts?”

I tilted my head. I know the contents of this report well. Moreover, I also know what will happen after this, which is not mentioned in the report.

Seeing my truly blank expression, Aila sighed deeply, then picked up the report and opened the last page.

“Look at this, this.”

“Yes. It says the drought will continue, right?”

And then heavy rain.

When I asked why, Aila scratched her head and slumped back on the sofa. What’s wrong with her? She crossed her arms and sighed as if talking to herself.

“Well, I guess the headquarters would have a weather forecaster too. They would have taken care of the drought preparations. Hmm. Did I just meddle for no reason?”

Ah! Drought preparations!

Joey, please, hit the back of my head with the side of your sword. Forget dying, I think that would wake me up.

Ugh! I’m such an idiot! I knew the drought would be resolved, and I stopped thinking!

I’m going to take 5,000 soldiers from 5 infantry units to a drought-stricken area, and I didn’t think about securing drinking water!

Aila looked at me with pitying eyes. Ugh. I have nothing to say.

“You realize it now?”

“Yes.”

“Any preparations?”

“None.”

This is a drought that has lasted for months. At first, we can use the river water, but eventually, even the river will dry up. No, even now, the river must have shrunk by half!

Considering the drinking water for 5,000 people and the animals that will come with them, it’s a dizzying amount.

Ugh! This means I have to rebuild the plan from scratch!

“Everyone saw that, right? This is how unreliable he usually is. I don’t know how they entrusted him with 5 infantry units. Don’t you all think so?”

I was looking down, so I couldn’t see what people were doing. But judging from the silence, they must be nodding or making affirmative expressions.

Aila let out a satisfied chuckle and said.

“So, I think we need to step up to help this unreliable friend. Those who agree, just breathe quietly, and those who don’t, do three moonsault jumps, then stand on your head and walk around the castle once.”

No one immediately got up to jump. Lucy made an exaggeratedly loud breathing sound, and with that, a unanimous decision was made.

“It’s decided! Risel, you understand?”

“Yes.”

I’m truly speechless. Sob sob.

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