NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 9
Exiting the barrack and heading upstairs to the first floor, I found the corridor was extremely crowded. The shouts of people and soldiers in combat gear running around filled the air.
My nerves were on edge.
It was a familiar yet never-to-be-tolerated sensation.
This was real.
Instinctively, I returned to my room. Just after leaving the infirmary, I went looking for Bella Meyer, so I was still in my daily clothes.
Quickly changing into combat gear and putting on a black coat, I didn’t forget to strap a pistol to my waist.
Stepping out of the barracks, I saw that the troops had already been divided by platoons and were standing in formation on the parade ground.
After quickly locating Captain Arrendt’s position, I joined the ranks of the second platoon. Upon seeing me, Sergeant Blue Lumia and Bella waved.
“Over here, Captain!”
“What’s the matter?”
“Bandit groups.”
Hearing this, I couldn’t help but slap my forehead. This was always how things were near the Okhraine Duchy.
Positioned perfectly at the heart of the continent, the Okhraine Duchy bordered six nations. Besides the Free Democratic State inspired by the Allied Federation and the Soviev Empire modeled after Russia, there was also the Rhinehardt Empire and the Walter Tri-Countries within its territory.
The fact that it bordered so many nations meant that its border areas were inevitably chaotic.
With vast farmland and plains as its main terrain, it was an ideal location for bandits or marauders from each country to operate.
Of course, it wasn’t just the Okhraine Duchy. The similarly situated Walter Tri-Countries were no different.
When I played as the Walter Tri-Countries, I frequently encountered bandits crossing the borders almost every day.
Given how the soldiers moved briskly without showing any signs of panic, it seemed like a rather common occurrence.
“But what about the other two members? Won’t they be joining us?”
“Sergeant Claude is currently on leave in the city and will join us later with the other dispatched troops.”
Sergeant Blue Lumia answered my question. Her silver hair, tied neatly under her black combat coat, caught my eye.
“…Hmm.”
“There’s nothing we can do. Roxanna is simply considered absent from our unit.”
Frankly, I couldn’t say anything in front of the battalion commander after fainting right in front of them.
Just look now.
The gazes of the mado soldiers surrounding us were quite cold.
If not for the rumors spreading, those who didn’t believe the rumors would have already written us off completely.
‘I’d have thought the same.’
I had shattered a perfectly good barracks wall with a poorly cast spell, fainted in the battalion commander’s office, and slept for two days straight after being called in. There was no arguing against that.
‘Goddamn it.’
“By the way, Captain, are you feeling okay?”
“I’m fine. The medical report stated that it wasn’t too dangerous.”
“Hmm, you look fine too. You even joked around.”
That was when Bella chimed in.
“Captain Enok.”
Captain Arrendt approached while checking the personnel. “For the glory of the homeland.” As soon as our eyes met, he saluted briefly, which I returned in kind.
“How are you feeling?”
Naturally, the first greeting involved asking about one’s well-being.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“That’s good to hear… I was surprised when I heard you fainted, Captain.”
“I apologize.”
“You need to take care of yourself. They said it was a stress shock due to overwork. It seems you haven’t been sleeping well lately, but it wasn’t just a phase; it was real.”
I felt it deeply. I couldn’t take penalties lightly.
Fainting like that on the battlefield would be meaningless.
Even if it was because of accumulated stress, it also meant that it could happen at any time once a certain threshold is crossed.
Although I had only been in this body for slightly more than a week.
From now on, I felt the need to manage myself much more rigorously.
“Anyway, your platoon won’t be assigned any special missions. We’ll be going out together, but we’ll try to accommodate you as much as possible.”
“There’s no need for that.”
“Don’t refuse.”
At first, I thought he was deliberately making things difficult for me, but his gaze suggested otherwise.
He truly cared about his subordinate officers.
“I know you’re working hard, so there’s no need to prove it. After all, we don’t have much time.”
I didn’t respond. It wasn’t something worth complaining about.
The members of my platoon were acting strangely, and their captain had just recovered from a faint.
Moreover, they weren’t even regular members; they were new recruits like me, having served for only a week.
Captain Arrendt couldn’t risk sending unproven troops to the front line.
If anything went wrong, it would all fall on Captain Arrendt’s shoulders.
‘I understand.’
From a general perspective, Captain Arrendt’s words made perfect sense.
Furthermore, I didn’t even know how the mado soldiers fought in reality.
In the game, I could only observe from above, so I wanted to see how they fought in real life.
‘Actually, that’s a good thing.’
I nodded lightly and accepted Captain Arrendt’s instructions. After all, I didn’t have the status or ability to protest.
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Not at all. I should be grateful that you’re worried about me.”
“We’ll just be dealing with bandits near the border. Once the operation is over, let’s have a drink together. Have you visited the unit bar yet?”
“No.”
As I nodded, Captain Arrendt flashed a smile and showed his white teeth.
“I’ll buy. Let’s hang out sometime. All the other captains are nice too. I’m sure we’ll get along quickly.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Captain Arrendt patted my shoulder and then disappeared to check on another platoon.
Once the roll call for each platoon was complete, Lieutenant Colonel Lockhart appeared in front of the formation, fully armed.
“Soldiers, once again, bandit groups from beyond the Soviev Empire are invading our borders!”
This time, it’s the Soviev Empire.
A nation inspired by Russia, the Soviev Empire boasted vast territories and harsh environments.
Vast territories and harsh environments.
With such large expanses, central government control often failed to reach local areas, and with such harsh conditions, food shortages were constant.
Perfect conditions for bandits to thrive.
Especially with the vast farmlands of the Okhraine Duchy, the bandits periodically raided the area, making it an easy target.
The battalion commander continued his speech with forceful voice.
“They are infiltrating through organized night operations, breaking through the border patrol, and are currently besieging ‘Belgorod Fortress’ in the northeastern direction!”
“Our mission is to eliminate the bandits surrounding the fortress and rescue Belgorod Fortress!”
“As always, we’ll bombard them with magic until they turn into ashes! Got it?!”
“Yes, sir!!”
The gathered troops shouted in unison. Despite the urgency of the situation, their morale was sky-high.
They knew that even though the bandits operated in an organized manner, they were far inferior to regular forces.
In Hearts of General, mado soldiers are treated as strategic units.
Ignoring external factors like support and terrain, a single mado battalion is comparable to an infantry regiment.
They are elite forces with formidable firepower. They are overkill for bandits.
“Then, all units, prepare for departure!!”
At the battalion commander’s order, the troops quickly boarded the carriages waiting in formation.
“Let’s go, Captain.”
One week since possessing Enok Revendale from Hearts of General.
Despite not even knowing how to properly use a Fireball, I was heading to the battlefield.
*
“The outer watchtower of the fortress has been captured. Here are the supplies we acquired.”
A skinny man emptied a pile of guns he was carrying onto the floor. Judging by their condition and quantity, they looked to be in excellent shape.
A man sitting on a chair in one corner of the tent stood up and walked over, attracted by the gleaming weapons.
“…Is this what you want?”
His thick voice, as if he had smoked dozens of cigarettes, matched his intimidating face.
Tarutul, the leader from the west.
He was the boss of the bandit group currently attacking the fortress across the border of the Okhraine Duchy.
Tarutul picked up a gun and inspected it before handing it to a man standing silently in a corner.
“…We don’t lack weapons either. This is enough.”
“Exactly the right amount.”
The man nodded and took the rifle.
There was no doubt it was a Summfield Rifle, stamped with the seal indicating it was officially produced by the Breton Union Kingdom.
Even though the duchy, which claimed to be neutral or pro-empire, had imported official Western military equipment, it was not welcome news from the Soviev Empire’s perspective.
“They’re trying to play both sides, giving us these new weapons at the forefront.”
Even though it was just a casual remark, Tarutul felt overwhelmed.
Even though he was the leader of a criminal organization prone to lawlessness, the man in front of him was someone he couldn’t easily oppose.
The man was an inspector sent by the Special Agency known as the Information Bureau.
Known as the Empire’s Guillotine for its ruthless reputation, the agency was practically directly under the emperor’s command.
No matter who Tarutul was, he couldn’t afford to provoke such a person.
No—not just provoke… He was so scared he nearly wet himself upon meeting him.
Even though Tarutul was adept at killing and looting, the ‘dangerous’ aura he exuded was untouchable.
Such a man.
“Comrade Tarutul.”
“Why?”
“How long do you think it will take to capture the fortress?”
“Hmm… Their resistance is stronger than expected. They should just surrender quietly. What are they doing guarding a remote fortress anyway?”
“So, how long do you think it will take?”
The man cut off Tarutul’s grumbling. Despite his imposing figure, Tarutul replied in a subdued voice.
“…Give us one more day.”
“Good, one day. From now on, I won’t visit anymore. But remember, we won’t just leave you alone.”
A threatening warning.
Tarutul nodded vigorously, proving his loyalty.
“Of course! How could you not know? Don’t worry, comrade!”
“Still, you were a notorious ‘warrior.’ We trusted you with this task. You mustn’t fail.”
Originally, as a leader, showing such a submissive side wouldn’t have been appropriate, but he no longer cared about the subordinates’ gazes.
When his life was on the line, nothing else mattered.
“I’ll head back now. I hope to see you back home tomorrow.”
“Th-thank you! I’ll definitely complete the assignment!”
“I believe you.”
As the man raised his finger, the weapons on the floor levitated.
The man left the tent, and the five companions waiting in the darkness bowed their heads simultaneously.
Mado soldiers directly trained by the Empire.
Though they were barely at the first army level, they were still far too valuable to be lent to aimless bandits.
“Have all the orders been received?”
“Yes, comrade inspector.”
“For now, focus solely on securing the ‘relics’ stored in the fortress.”
“Understood.”
The man leading the group responded eagerly.
Although reluctantly, they had to use the bandit group for diplomatic reasons. Ultimately, as long as the outcome was good, it shouldn’t matter.
“Wish you luck.”
A high-ranking inspector of the Information Bureau, acting on the emperor’s orders.
Yegor Ivanov said.