Twilight Alchemist 59

 Test

59. Defense Capability, Is A Necessary Topic, Isn't It?

That day, Kyle's office had turned into a battlefield.

Flying over to help Kyle, the room was buried in documents.

"What's all this?"

"Craft-oniisama! Please help us!"

"Yeah. But first, explain."

"Well, you see..."

Due to the Cockatrice attack, Kyle had to establish his army earlier than planned and immediately put out a recruitment call. However, they received nearly 2,000 applications for the 300 available positions.

That's a sizable chunk of the settlers.

"I suppose it's a sign of Kyle's popularity, but should we increase the quota?"

"No, it would strain the budget too much."

"True. Soldiers are quite the money sink."

Maintaining soldiers requires providing for their basic needs, equipping them, and paying salaries. When factoring in training and such, the budget for each soldier is significant.

We can't just casually increase the number of soldiers.

"So, we have no idea how to screen them..."

Alphard, who had been working on paperwork with Kyle, raised his head.

"I'm slated to be in charge of the army, but I've never selected anyone outside of noble or knightly families. It's quite challenging. Craft, do you have any good ideas?"

"Ah, Alphard, you were a holy knight."

Recruiting for an elite army versus regular soldiers would be different.

I grabbed a stack of documents in front of Alfard.

Occupations listed were farmers, lumberjacks, hunters, and adventurers.

"Hmm? Adventurers too?"

"Yeah, quite a few. Maybe they want citizenship."

"Isn't it easy to get citizenship in Golden Dawn?"

To gain citizenship, one must be born in the town or pay a fee. However, gaining citizenship in Golden Dawn, a pioneer village, is relatively easy. Basically, by owning a house, having a steady job, or buying a house.

Moreover, for prospective settlers, rooms are also available for rent, making it truly easy to obtain citizenship.

"We haven't treated adventurers as regular employees so far. Welcoming an increase in adventurers would be nice."

Indeed, some adventurers are wanderers who change bases frequently. It might be difficult to establish them as regular employees.

But I couldn't imagine adventurers becoming soldiers just for citizenship.

"As a former adventurer, I believe the majority of those who applied are hoping to change professions to protect Golden Dawn, a place they've come to cherish. Normally, adventurers who can live freely wouldn't abandon that."

It would make sense if they were low-ranked adventurers who couldn't make a living solely through adventuring, but from the applications, it seems there are quite a few of relatively high rank.

"First, let's separate out the adventurers. Then, we'll look for candidates with some combat experience."

"Understood."

"Thank you, Craft-oniisama."

As I checked the documents to weed out adventurers, I stumbled upon someone remarkable.

I placed two sets of documents in front of Alphard.

"These two are definite."

"Who are they?"

"Degaard Bismack and Taigal Gaidar. Both are C-ranked adventurers with experience as mercenaries. They were in command during the Cockatrice defense."

"Ah, those two. One's a beastman, right?"

"Is there a problem?"

"No... there isn't."

Alphard momentarily faltered, perhaps because of his thoughts on including beastmen in the army. However, it had been decided by Kyle's policy not to discriminate against beastmen or demi-humans.

"I think Degaard would make a suitable deputy for Alphard."

"Indeed. That's not a bad idea."

"We should recruit all adventurers ranked D or higher. For those below, we'll cross-reference with investigation reports."

"Got it."

Since they're recruited into the army, investigations regarding their ideology, family relations, and political beliefs are necessary, but with over 2,000 applicants, it's impossible to handle them all at once.

They'll narrow it down first and then conduct thorough investigations later.

The civilian officials dispatched from the Academy, with the teachers, were thus destined to have busy days ahead.

Yeah. I'll send some potions later.

After a month of selection, the efforts paid off, and Kyle's direct army was established.

300 might sound few, but some minor nobles only have around 10 soldiers, so 300 is quite a large number.

In the event of war and a royal decree to conscript, they would have to draft farmers, but Kyle preferred to increase professional soldiers instead.

The danger of this borderland played a part as well.

With the town's population expanding, and for the sake of maintaining order, this number became necessary.

Furthermore, the soldiers were divided into three groups: active duty, standby (training), and rest, so only 100 soldiers were active during peacetime.

Kyle was the overall commander, Alphard the de facto general, Degaard the assistant, and Taigal the frontline.

Kyle overlooked the training ground from his mansion. Watching the Spartan training by Taigal, he sighed with relief.

"Finally, things are coming together."

"Yeah. It's been tough."

"But now, since we don't need to hire adventurers for town security anymore, we can make progress in clearing out the surrounding monsters."

"Indeed. The city walls will be completed soon."

Once the city walls were fully constructed, the defense capability would increase, reducing the need for hired adventurers.

"Yes. Everyone is working really hard."

"I can't fall behind either."

"Rather, Craft-oniisama, please rest."

"Ah, understood, understood. But don't overwork yourself either."

"Persia won't let me overwork, so don't worry."

"I see."

As Kyle and I laughed together, Persia watched us with a furrowed brow.

◆

The second city wall, which had been unfinished, was completed.

Now, all buildings are protected by reinforced alchemical stone walls.

Seeing Leafan, Kyle, Persia, and me inspecting the area together.

"The north gate faces the river, so it's closed for now. The west, east, and south gates are scheduled to remain open until nightfall."

"Right. And outside the north gate, we're considering creating a small area directly adjacent to the river?"

"Yes. We're currently verifying with the Construction Guild whether we can build a bridge over this great river. If we can build the bridge, it'll become a gate leading to it; if not, we'll construct a harbor."

"Just as reported. Everyone is really giving their all."

"Yes! I'll make sure to convey that to everyone!"

"Thank you. And what's the status of the third city wall?"

"We're currently laying the foundation. The third city wall is on a different scale."

"Indeed."

Even the current second city wall is on par with the capital's size, but the third city wall will be several times larger. It could easily accommodate three capitals. Normally, construction of this scale would take decades, but with the technique of reinforced alchemical stone, it'll be completed in a relatively short time.

Kyle inspected the completed city wall and gate with satisfaction.

Then, a red bipedal lizard rushed over. It was Alfard's Red Flame.

"Kyle-sama!"

"Alphard, what's wrong?"

"A letter. A letter has arrived!"

It was evident from Alphard's urgency that it wasn't an ordinary letter.

"Let's return to the office. Craft, please come along."

"Understood."

We hurried back to Kyle's office.

As Kyle sat at his desk, a steward dispatched by the border count, with great deference, handed over the letter.

Kyle's eyes widened at the seal on the letter.

"This... is the royal seal."

"What? Isn't it from the border viscount?"

"No, it's a letter from the capital."

Kyle opened the letter with slight trembling and read through it multiple times.

"What did it say?"

Folding the letter neatly and placing it on the desk, Kyle looked up.

"A delegation from the capital will be dispatched."