Reset Life – Chapter 137

Chapter 137: You Know I Love You, Right? (1)

Imperial Calendar Year 376, April 22nd.

Those who realize their own powerlessness should take it as an opportunity to train.

Those who realize the powerlessness of others should take it as an opportunity to torment them.

Personally, I think it’s a maxim that mocks the cowardice that exists within people, but like all other maxims, it’s also one that is firmly rooted in reality.

“Khaa! The ‘water’ tastes good―! The water going down my ‘parched’ throat is so refreshing! It’s a good thing I was born in a land with ‘abundant drinking water’. Umhahahaha!”

Alright, fine. Just until today. Tomorrow is the 10th day. The moment the date goes into double digits, I’ll break you into double digits. Grr!

Recently, Lucy has become an admirer of nature. In particular, he’s been showing a fervent affection for the water that makes up a significant portion of living organisms.

I admit that I haven’t had a chance to tease him until now.

I also admit that I’ve made it a kind of hobby to team up with Al, Levidian, and Aila to crush Lucy.

I admit it all, so please, just be quiet. I’m asking you to please not make a fuss right next to the tent where we’re having a meeting!

I sighed and muttered under my breath.

“Lucy, we’re in the middle of a meeting. If you don’t shut your mouth soon, I’m going to write a letter to Grandma.”

Adding that there’s a lonely and healthy man here, so please introduce him to a good match.

As if he had been listening to my reaction, a hiccup was heard from outside, and it seemed like the water admirer wouldn’t be heard anymore.

“Now, let’s continue the meeting, Grayman Chief.”

“Yes. We sent a surrender recommendation to the Mayor of Atzuma earlier. According to the scouts, the white flag hasn’t been raised yet, and there’s no sign of resistance.”

Three days ago, after arriving on horseback at the gathering point of the five Cheonbyeongdae, I received command from the five Cheonbyeongjang. Immediately after, I advanced towards Atzuma, leading a force of 5,000 troops.

During that time, we sent a surrender recommendation to Atzuma and steadily advanced, but currently, we’ve halted our march for a while.

The Cheonbyeongjang each reacted differently, but overall, there was a hint of dissatisfaction with why we were being so cautious.

The one who bluntly expressed this dissatisfaction was the First Sword of the 1024th Cheonbyeongdae, Dregorn Martin.

“Sudo-nim, this doesn’t seem like the place to be sitting around.”

The short, black-haired man, sitting with his arms crossed in a defiant posture, didn’t hide the sneer on his face. He probably sees me as a fool who’s too timid and avoids fighting.

To be honest, I can’t help but accept such an evaluation.

This place is about 5 days away from Atzuma. It’s not unreasonable to say that this is the point where the significance of deliberately designating the meeting point of the five Cheonbyeongdae near Atzuma fades.

Hickson Toledo, the First Sword of the 1144th Cheonbyeongdae, which operates the cavalry, glared at First Sword Martin.

“Aren’t you being disrespectful, First Sword Martin?”

“But isn’t it true? It’s a waste to stop and check if a surrender recommendation has arrived when we’re still 5 days away. It’s an obvious waste to anyone.”

“You don’t have the right to interpret your superior’s intentions.”

“First Sword Toledo, are you saying I shouldn’t even voice my opinion in a meeting?”

“Your statement isn’t an opinion, it’s nitpicking. It has no direction.”

“Ha! Opinion? I’m already giving my opinion! Let’s not dilly-dally here and just advance and take over a city! Let’s advance!”

Thud!

The First Sword, a notorious troublemaker even within the Eastern Army, slammed his hand on the table and glared at me and First Sword Toledo.

Then, Doreneu Exofi, the First Sword of the 1087th Cheonbyeongdae, who was between them, spoke to me.

“Sudo-nim, although First Sword Martin’s words are disrespectful, I think he’s right. This place where we are currently stationed has no value as a strategic point.”

At the words of the female First Sword with a long scar on her face, I looked at the remaining two Cheonbyeongjang and asked.

“First Sword Luxilen, First Sword Aranas, what are your opinions?”

Hanos Luxilen, the commander of the 1104th Cheonbyeongdae, which has a skilled engineering corps, and Binaris Aranas, the commander of the 1099th Cheonbyeongdae, which is composed of physically strong infantry, nodded slightly.

As First Sword Exofi said, the place we’re currently staying at has a value close to 0 if we were to measure its strategic importance. It’s only significant in that it’s a grassland where 5,000 people can stay.

Moreover, these five Cheonbyeongjang are itching to fight. First Sword Toledo at least tries to follow my will because I’m his superior, but the other four are clearly showing their displeasure with me.

Father, this is why I said I wanted to decline a high rank at my age. Look at how these people don’t listen. Which army commander has to be questioned about their qualifications and abilities by their subordinates?

It was a mistake to choose the rest, except for First Sword Toledo, as the younger ones because I thought they would be easier to communicate with.

If they reached the rank of First Sword at a young age, they must be skilled, but I forgot how strong their pride would be.

I crossed my arms and looked at the five First Swords.

“There’s something I haven’t told you yet. Before that, I want to ask you something. Have you felt anything during the day you’ve been stationed here?”

“That this is not a place to sit around. Hmph.”

At First Sword Martin’s sneer, the others didn’t say anything different. They probably agree.

“Is that really all?”

I asked in a quiet, pressing tone. Only then did the First Swords seem to ponder my words, looking at each other or lost in thought.

I called out to the female First Sword who was lost in thought, twisting her long blonde hair.

“First Sword Aranas.”

“Yes? Ah, yes, Sudo-nim. I haven’t felt anything in particular.”

“First Sword Exofi.”

“I’m thinking, but nothing yet.”

“How about First Sword Luxilen?”

“I don’t know anything other than the fact that it’s easy for 5,000 people to camp here.”

“First Sword Toledo.”

“I don’t know.”

Only First Sword Toledo, who was slightly older, gave a polite answer.

In the end, everyone said they didn’t know, and I decided not to criticize their shortcomings.

“Well, you were all called from places far away from here. Let me explain. Since late winter, the Atzuma region hasn’t had a single drop of rain or snow. Also, the Norama region, the water source of the Atzuma region, is suffering from a drought. Do you understand what this means?”

“There’s no water?”

“Correct, First Sword Toledo. There’s a large river right next to Atzuma City, but the water level there has dropped by more than half, and its condition is not very clean. There’s not enough drinking water for 5,000 people and hundreds of horses. The reason we’re stopped here is because the people of my direct unit have gone into the forest ahead to search for a water source. First Sword Martin.”

“Yes, Sudo-nim.”

First Sword Martin, who had a sullen expression on his face, responded curtly. I asked him.

“Your choice of words is not appropriate for military terminology, but the meaning is correct. First Sword Exofi’s words are also correct. This is not a strategic point, and it’s not a place to stay. But why are we staying here? Did no one properly examine that? Even if you just looked at how dry the land is around here.”

All five commanders closed their mouths. First Sword Martin pouted his lips, looking displeased, but didn’t say anything in particular.

When I ordered them to stop here and set up a temporary camp, they should have checked the surrounding natural environment in advance.

At the very least, I shouldn’t have to teach them this myself.

Nevertheless, they didn’t notice.

This is the result of them looking askance at their superior, dissatisfied with him, while considering themselves proper soldiers.

“First Sword Luxilen, should we advance towards Atzuma City now?”

“If we’re going to advance…… we should do it after securing a stable water supply line.”

“First Sword Aranas, any objections?”

“None.”

Except for First Sword Martin, the others all bowed their heads. First Sword Martin turned his head away, looking displeased. I spoke in an indifferent tone.

“The main force will stay here for two more days. First Sword Luxilen.”

“Yes.”

“Make water bottles for two days, as many as possible.”

“Yes, Sudo-nim.”

“The meeting is adjourned. Dismissed.”

The Cheonbyeongjang stood up and saluted, and I also saluted briefly in a simplified manner before leaving the tent.

As I frowned for a moment at the intense sunlight, Sispa quietly spoke to me.

“Please don’t be too offended, Sudo-nim. They are all skilled soldiers, and they haven’t experienced enough of the hierarchical society to accept someone younger than them as their superior. Only First Sword Toledo accepted it well.”

“Grayman Chief, I’m fine. They all acted as they should. I should have considered this when I appointed them. Especially First Sword Martin’s behavior.”

“He’s more rude than the rumors.”

“Using him well is also a commander’s capability. Don’t report this to the headquarters separately.”

“Yes, Sudo-nim.”

I waved my hand to signal her not to follow me any further. She saluted respectfully and headed towards her tent, and I headed towards the nearby dried-up stream.

“Hey, is the meeting over? Look here. This stream is also……”

“Completely dried up. Lucy, this is the 9th day.”

Lucy, who was sitting on a rock smoking a cigarette, flinched and grumbled.

“No fun. Tsk. But your subordinates were also a sight to behold.”

“It can’t be helped. Except for one, they’re all under thirty.”

“Can you become a First Sword before you’re even thirty?”

“It’s possible if you go from military school to the officer academy and then go through the officer training course. It would require a lot of personal effort, but they’re all Cheonbyeongjang. They could be promoted to General by the time they’re in their 40s. The reason they were placed as Cheonbyeongjang is to learn the necessary virtues of a commander.”

“For example, like how to take orders from a superior who’s two ranks above you and younger?”

“Exactly.”

The Cheonbyeongjang are in a slightly detached position in the military.

The ranks they can hold range from Senior First Lieutenant to Sudo, six ranks in total, and each operates as an independent group.

It’s a position where they can lead a small group and experience some of the things that Division Commanders or Legion Commanders might experience, and by the time they understand the weight of being in charge, they can become Division Commanders or Legion Commanders.

The fact that they are neglecting their duties because they dislike their superior, like now, means they still have a long way to go.

Lucy exhaled a long puff of smoke and said.

“But why did you specifically request 5 Cheonbyeongdae? With your skills and influence, you could have requested 1 Legion or 2 Divisions, right?”

“Divisions and Legions are too comfortable.”

“Huh?”

“The high-ranking officers of Divisions and Legions, as you said, are used to taking and carrying out orders from superiors who are younger than them. There are plenty of grandfathers who have served for over 30 years. Those people don’t care who the commanding officer is. They only care about the orders. Do you think there would be a power struggle with those people?”

It had to be the Cheonbyeongdae. I have to win their hearts and be able to control them skillfully. Even before the reset, I never reached the position of supreme commander.

“If I can make the Cheonbyeongjang follow me from the heart, I might be able to move a Legion next time. Besides, I’m not used to managing a large number of people yet. To become a Legion Commander later, I need to experience a lot of people with unpredictable personalities.”

“Legion Commander? Are you thinking of becoming a General?”

“I have to, otherwise Artshever won’t show himself before me.”

Make achievements, control people, get promoted at super speed, and establish a position. I decided to leave the war to my father and brother, and also leave the aftermath and awards to them, but I have to deal with Artshever.

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