Chapter 299 The Crossroads of Choice (1)
The first day.
People flocked to the designated place.
All the complicated ceremonies were omitted and Chris told them the schedule ahead.
“Congratulations on becoming Roman Dmitri’s enlisted soldier. From now on, you will record that you have officially become enlisted soldiers through a simple procedure. We will proceed in order from the order in which names were called, so I hope that you will faithfully participate in the series of processes.”
Scott’s turn was the 98th.
In the barracks to block the sun, the procedure Chris said was carried out, and Scott’s name was quickly called in a situation where 10 people were in progress.
Upon entering the barracks, I saw a space divided into individual rooms.
It seemed that the enlisted men were separated for security reasons, so for some reason Scott felt nervous.
small space.
The man with an ordinary impression, who was sitting on the table and checking documents, glanced up at Scott.
“Sit.”
“… thank you.”
“You don’t have to be so nervous. It is a simple process of verifying information, so please answer honestly. First of all, I am 38 years old this year. You’re Mr. ‘Scott’ from Umberto Kingdom, right?”
“you’re right.”
“As you know, Roman Dmitri’s enlisted man is a very special position. Unlike regular soldiers, a monthly salary of 30 silver will be paid, and in special situations such as war, additional life allowances will be paid. And do you have a family?”
A question that popped up.
Scott swallowed dryly.
Umberto was from the kingdom, but his family was in the Cronus Empire, and the man’s question seemed to ask about his connection to Cronus.
He seemed agitated for a moment.
I hesitated a little because I didn’t know how to answer, but I said it honestly, thinking that pointless lies could ruin the situation.
“… there is.”
“What about the members of your family and where you live?”
“I have a wife and one girl and I live in the Kronos Empire.”
“It is the same as what we found out. The reason for asking this information is no other than that if Mr. Scott dies while carrying out a mission for Dmitri, we will personally visit his wife and pay her compensation. Do you agree on this?”
“yes?”
I was puzzled.
The fact that I had already grasped the information gave me goosebumps, and I did not know that the company’s question would lead directly to the reward.
As the saying goes, thieves numb my feet.
Scott asked in a trembling voice.
“… Doesn’t the fact that you have a family in the Kronos Empire matter a lot?”
tall.
The man’s actions stopped.
The man looked at Scott with a smile.
“yes. As long as Mr. Scott doesn’t make a problem himself, nothing else matters at all.”
* * *
The first turn is over.
As he moved to the next location, Scott showed a complex expression.
‘… Does it mean that you will leave the past and accept me as a member of Dmitri, as long as you don’t create problems yourself?’
at that point.
My heart sank.
It seemed that the identity of the spy had been discovered, but Roman Dmitri and his people made no particular issue.
From what I heard, the system related to ‘compensation money’ has been clearly established since the introduction of the national merit system.
The fact that he, as a spy, had entered the target, Scott could not accept with pleasure.
for now.
complied with the procedure.
The next place we arrived at was a blacksmith’s shop, where rugged men radiated hot heat.
“Come here.”
It was a blacksmith.
Growing a wild beard and wearing an apron for safety, he twitched his angry muscles and examined Scott’s physical condition.
“I heard that you are a war mercenary, but you are definitely in good shape. The problem is that the length of both legs is not right, so it is slightly twisted, and the thick handle is a bit difficult because the fingers are short. If this wasn’t a custom-made weapon, it would have been difficult to use?”
“… It is, but why are you asking that?”
“The reason is obvious, isn’t it? It is to produce customized armaments for Master Roman’s enlisted soldiers.”
custom armament.
eyes widened
It is not special to produce armaments that fit the body, but the problem is that a huge amount of money is spent customizing all soldiers.
In the first place, custom-made armament is a symbol of wealth that only the ‘knight’ can choose.
I never expected to receive such luxurious treatment from the beginning.
Scott asked.
“Could it be that all the enlisted men are custom-made? If it did, it wouldn’t be too expensive.”
“It will cost a lot. No matter how much Dmitry is called the ‘holy place of blacksmiths’, it is certain that customizing all the soldiers is a daunting task. So, ordinary soldiers adapt their bodies to ready-made items, but Master Roman’s soldiers are different.”
while talking
The blacksmith meticulously recorded Scott’s body size.
“Here in Dmitri, Master Roman’s direct troops are very special. If danger befalls Dmitry. Master Roman always fights them on the front lines, including his direct troops. That’s why we hope to be of some help to those who follow Master Roman like you. I can’t live my whole life holding a hammer and leave my back on the battlefield, but wouldn’t it be possible to increase the odds of survival if I at least made a perfectly customized armament?”
a calm voice.
showed sincerity.
Dmitri’s people, including the blacksmith, lived every day expressing their gratitude towards Roman Dmitri.
Roman Dmitry.
He was Dmitri’s savior.
The development of iron mining led to the revival of Dmitri, and he raised people’s pride by directly solving the problems facing Dmitri.
Of course, there were not only positive things.
A surprise attack by the Kronos Empire. Some of the bereaved families who lost their loved ones that day showed resentment toward Roman Dmitri.
If he knew how to compromise properly, he spat out consequential criticism, saying that he would not have lost his family to the attack of the Cronus Empire.
however.
They quickly got their emotions together.
When they heard the news of victory that Roman Dmitri had attacked the Kronos Empire and avenged it dozens of times, and when he returned to Dmitri and treated the fallen, the people of Dmitri were convinced that Roman Dmitri was someone they sincerely respected and followed.
From then on, Dmitry built a solid fortress internally.
For the sake of Roman Dmitri, people appeared one after another who said they would grab rice straw and jump into the fire pit right away.
blacksmith.
He was one of them.
He lost his family and was grieved, but the fact that he died for Dmitri was a source of pride in his heart.
showed sincerity.
man in front of you.
I saw it for the first time.
He didn’t know anything about Scott, but the single fact that he followed Roman Dmitri directly was enough reason to show his sincerity.
That was Dmitri’s public sentiment.
As Scott, who was experiencing Dmitri for the first time, he could not readily accept that feeling.
said the blacksmith.
“Trust me. If you wait a little bit, I will give you the best armament for you.”
* * *
A series of surprises.
Hwaryongjeomjeong (畫龍點睛) was a lodging.
After completing all the procedures, Scott looked at the scene in front of him with a stunned face.
“… Is this your lodging?”
“yes. All of Dmitri’s enlisted men use private rooms and guarantee their own lives. If the family settles in Dmitry, we can arrange a separate place for them to stay together.”
My eyes trembled.
surprised.
The neatly organized space in the spacious square was more than anything I could have imagined.
I heard rumors about Dmitri.
I knew that people who devoted themselves to Dmitri would be treated reliably, but I didn’t know that they would arrange everything from compensation and customized armament to basic living conditions.
Scott was unwittingly drawn to the bed.
It was not a bed in a shabby, dusty inn room, but a bed wide enough for a man with a sturdy build like himself to lie on.
It was fluffy.
It was comfortable and warm.
“… honey.”
Tears flowed.
if.
If his wife and children were in Dmitry, what happy smiles he would have seen lying on the bed together.
I closed my eyes for a moment.
It was dangerous.
Families in Kronos were unaware that they had been held ‘hostage’.
Scott is not yet an important enough person to be classified as such, and if he betrays Kronos, then Cronus will harm his family without hesitation.
For the sake of his family, he had to fulfill his role as a spy.
Dmitri made him dream of a future, but Scott didn’t have a future without a family.
endured
I pressed down hard.
It’s only been a day, but I can’t shake it already.
I thought it wouldn’t be too late to at least judge after finishing all the training.
that day.
Scott couldn’t go to bed until late at night.
And like Scott, most of the as-yet-unidentified spies have spent the same night.
* * *
The first drills were called.
said Roman Dmitry.
“I will conduct basic adaptation training for about 10 days from now. There is no downfall. Regardless of the means and methods, everyone will complete this training from start to finish.”
then.
I didn’t know what it meant.
I said it was basic adaptation training, but the first training that Roman Dmitri conducted was a march carrying a 40kg military gear.
Marching is a very basic training.
Had it been done within common sense, Scott would not have been taken aback, but the problem was the terrain on which he was marching and the speed of those who were outpacing him.
only 30 minutes.
It wasn’t long before Scott felt his eyes tighten.
“Whoop whoop whoop.”
‘This crazy.’
this training.
It was a mountain march.
It was a march to move on terrain that seemed to have to be climbed because it was not steep, and those who knew how to use mana were strictly forbidden to use mana.
He trained only with his physical abilities.
Still, at first, he was a mercenary who had experienced pre-natal battles, so he wondered if he was following him well.
“Hee hee hee hee.”
It was fast.
If you slow down for a moment, you move so fast that people far away.
every time.
Chris shouted.
“Hurry up and catch up! This is a battlefield! If the enemy catches up behind you or if you catch up with the enemy. Are you going to move at such a slow pace just because you lack stamina just because you are wearing a 40kg military uniform? Physical strength is directly related to life. If you hit your physical limits and think it’s impossible, just bubble up and collapse. We will take care of you and lead you.”
It was a thunderous voice.
Scott came to his senses and tenaciously followed.
the problem is.
It was the appearance of the seniors.
All recruits, including Scott, looked like they were going to die, but the seniors walked with relaxed faces as if they were out for a walk.
It wasn’t difficult at all.
However, as they experienced numerous trainings, this level of marching fell to a level of difficulty equivalent to ‘basic training’.
I was astonished.
While dealing with the seniors in the enlisted test, I knew that they were formidable, but I couldn’t help but be more surprised at how they were training together.
Their strength wasn’t just made.
It showed the tough power that people witnessed because it was able to handle this kind of training casually.
gasped for breath.
suddenly.
I wondered.
Usually, general commanders do not train with soldiers, but Roman Dmitry was at the forefront of the soldiers.
timely.
I asked about it to a senior named ‘Hunt’ who was walking at the same speed.
Hunt laughed.
“Under normal circumstances, the beings called commanders would just scream. But Dmitri is different. Since we always have to follow the master on the front line and carry out the mission, the master shows us what his tempo is like. Do you know what I mean? If we can’t even match this speed, we’re not even qualified to follow our lord on the battlefield.”
Only then did I know
This situation you are experiencing right now.
The truth about Dmitri, who has won countless battles that shocked the continent.
“Do your best. Training starts from now.”
Moment.
I got goosebumps.
It was Scott who thought that he might fall behind like this before he could even carry out his mission as a spy.
