Chapter 96. Year Three

In the game, the start of the third year was an important checkpoint.

This was generally because, from this point on, mid-game events would have a chance of occurring.

Naturally, that probability increased with higher difficulty levels.

On top of that, a massive modifier was also added to that probability depending on how much the faction had developed.

This playthrough was a case of rather successful development, even among my many playthroughs.

The probability of a mid-game crisis occurring would have also risen to a significant level.

Of course, I wondered if there was much meaning in calculating that, given that several mid-game events had already occurred due to the Inferno difficulty adjustment.

In any case, I thought it would be a good option to check the status of the faction I had built up at this point.

I planned to look back on three main categories.

The first is military power.

Warlord Conquest is a strategy game.

Military power is directly linked to the victory or defeat of the game.

Interestingly, the gist of this game, if I had to say, is survival.

It's a part where the well-known evolutionary adage, ‘the one who survives is the strong one,’ applies.

The primary goal of this game is the survival of the main hero and the faction that hero leads.

The various crisis events that pop up through a probability lottery are the main culprits that interfere with that survival.

Continuous clashes with surrounding factions.

Invasions by the final boss-level factions of each scenario.

Innumerable accidents and disasters, and a series of wars forming a multi-front line.

The ending, up until World Scenario 3.0, is to survive all those crises and sprout the seeds of civilization once again in a world devastated by the ravages of war.

To survive in such a war-torn world, one naturally needs the strength to fight back.

In that sense, I believe my forces have grown enough to withstand most mid-game crises, assuming the Empire's support is guaranteed.

The backbone of this force is my private army.

The private army group is called the Wolfskrig Viscount's Army.

Of course, Imperial troops dispatched from the central government are also stationed in the city, but it's difficult for them to beat the Viscount's army in terms of both numbers and individual combat power.

This is because, like its predecessor, the Ash Mercenary Band, each and every member of the Viscount's army has been trained as an elite soldier.

Basically, to join the Viscount's army, one must have a military background, mercenary experience, or an equivalent specialty.

Furthermore, once they join, they are mercilessly put through the wringer by the soldiers who have been serving before them.

It's not an absurdity.

This is because being put through the wringer is not about beatings or assault.

It is purely training.

“Disperse! Prepare for individual combat-”

“Individual combat!”

[The Rifle Squad deploys [Dispersed Formation].]

“Shields- up! Advance!”

“Advance!”

[The Spearman Squad deploys [Shield Wall: Advance].]

“U-turn flank! Disperse!”

“Disperse!”

[The Cavalry deploys [Flanking Maneuver: Disperse and U-Turn].]

In the training ground attached to the barracks, shouts and screams echo every day.

From specialized training, weekly sparring, squad-level, platoon-level, and company-level tactical training, to individual training that continues into the night.

It is often said that a strong army moves like an organism.

Personally, I think that conditioned reflex-like mission execution is the core of it.

A short command shouted by the platoon leader.

The flutter of the flag held by the standard-bearer.

The sound of a bugle from beyond the line of sight, and so on.

Only when the army can immediately perform predetermined actions with just these simple commands does it truly become an organism.

It is not an easy task.

No, it is a very difficult task.

The battlefield is a hell where arrows fly before your eyes and the corpses of comrades roll at your feet.

There's a reason why just maintaining one's sanity is considered a veteran's trait.

This is why even experienced new recruits must be constantly trained.

Since it's not just the new recruits but also the senior soldiers who are put through the wringer, it could be called a kind of culture at this point.

The reputation of being an army led by a hero of the civil war and the track record of consecutive victories so far must have contributed to creating this culture.

Constant training.

High-quality equipment produced locally.

The elite force armed with these two things is the Wolfskrig Viscount's Army.

Their number reaches four thousand.

It is a brigade-level force.

In terms of numbers alone, it is already a figure that rivals a decent high-ranking noble.

Let's recall that Viscount Pewin, who can be said to be the oldest and most powerful of the viscount families, mobilized about four hundred men during the vampire subjugation war.

Even with all of the Pewin Viscounty's private soldiers combined, it's just over three thousand.

Perhaps someone of Archduke Gabir's stature would be a match for me?

I know his private army is a little less than ten thousand.

It's unlikely we'll fight, but I don't think I would lose either.

This is because, in addition to my four thousand elite troops, I also have ‘special forces.’

The second thing to look at is the special forces.

Warlord Conquest is a fantasy world.

You have to compete with other races like orcs, elves, and dwarves, who far surpass humans in physical ability and technology.

Therefore, when playing as the human race, you must cultivate special forces.

The biggest gain would be the paladins and priests.

They were the support personnel from the church who had been deployed for the territory purification work over the past six months.

They were people sent by Archbishop Walter, who used to chug wine worth dozens of florins from the bottle, and they were originally supposed to return to their respective churches after the promised six months.

Nearly half of them wanted to remain in the territory.

It was because of Alina.

Her potential had finally shone through.

As I had confirmed on the way to Gunterburk before, Alina is armed with all sorts of cheat-like religious traits.

In her hands, even ordinary miracles exhibit effects that far surpass their original rank.

She also masters miracles that take years to learn in a matter of weeks, with explanations like, ‘I opened my eyes and grace descended upon me.’

It is a sight that devout priests and paladins cannot help but think she was ‘chosen by God.’

Almost everyone was impressed, and nearly two hundred priests and about fifty paladins decided to stay for good.

Considering that each proper paladin demonstrates strength equivalent to or greater than a squad of soldiers, it means we have obtained a truly powerful force.

They even wrote letters of recommendation to the Luark Church's main assembly and endorsed Alina as the Bishop.

She had suddenly been seated in the position of Bishop, which requires the recommendation of more than one hundred paladins and priests.

‘Master, I swear to my god, I have never seen such a thing. Neither a bishop's position being obtained so easily, nor a woman with such clumsy hands.’

“Swear to your god?”

‘Huh?’

Even the Outer God of the church, who had destroyed numerous worlds, had never seen anything like this.

Of course, looking only at the results, it wasn't really obtained easily.

It was possible because my status as a war hero and a rapidly rising new noble was that high.

On top of that, Alina herself has the status of being Viscount Pewin's granddaughter, who has powerful connections in the church.

If either one of them had been lacking, the church, coveting her abilities, would have transferred her elsewhere.

Just like how she was assigned to Burken Fortress during her days as a novice priestess.

For reference, another special force is being trained at this very Burken Fortress.

A knight order.

I created a knight order with Olif as the commander.

The main body was stationed in his territory, Burken Fortress.

This is because Burken Fortress is a strategic key point connecting the Empire and Wolfskrig.

Although it belongs to the Empire, there is no such thing as an eternal ally.

It also serves to slightly disperse the political attention that has been excessively focused on me lately.

In addition to that, the Magic Towers are also candidates for special forces.

The Blue Magic Tower, one of the Four Great Magic Towers and one with deep ties to Olif's family, sent a letter a while ago.

It was a request to establish a branch in Wolfskrig.

The Black Magic Tower, another of the Four Great Magic Towers, sent a similar request around the same time.

It seems they took note of the large number of mages from the School of Earth among the Viscount's army.

They also seem to have seen the daily development of Wolfskrig's steel industry as an opportunity.

If the Black Magic Tower comes, it will be easier to accelerate the development of the [Consecrated Cannon] technology.

It seems William also has some leeway now that the explosive charge production line is running stably.

Anyway, what supports such an army is money and supplies.

More fundamentally, it could be said to be the territory that produces that money and supplies.

This is the third item to review.

And it's also the part I've been paying the most attention to for the past six months.

***

I owed Viscount Pewin a lot in many ways.

Starting with signing the first formal employment contract during my mercenary days, he had spared no support several times until I reached this position.

Of course, to him, a doting grandfather, I would be a benefactor who saved Alina from the hands of a necromancer, creating an unpayable debt of gratitude in his heart.

His subtle, joking mentions of marriage would be for that reason as well.

In any case, the communication crystal sphere he gifted me is still being used frugally once or twice a day these days.

Today's conversation partner is the Archduke.

Archduke Gabir Maraz.

In principle, the Empire is a feudal system, so the oath of allegiance is only to the Emperor, but as the commander-in-chief of the southern army, he is, in a sense, my direct superior.

Therefore, we tend to communicate regularly about once every fortnight.

Today, I delivered some rather special news.

“…Is that true?”

A sense of surprise was conveyed from beyond the crystal sphere.

Even his characteristic firm voice, befitting his moniker of the Frost-Eyed Judge, could not hide the emotion.

“Crushing iron ore using a water wheel. Right, and you plan to use it for blacksmithies and sawmills afterward?”

“That is correct.”

“Interesting. Truly interesting.”

The stamp mill using the water wheel was completed.

The most time-consuming process of crushing and sorting the ore has been semi-automated.

The production of steel has exactly doubled.

Additionally, we have begun to build a few more water wheels on the Mainwolf River, which runs through the city adjacent to the blacksmith district.

The power obtained from here will be used to stoke the bellows.

The air supply for the furnace, which had passed from human hands to feet, and from manpower to beastpower, is being replaced by hydraulic power.

“How did you come up with such an idea?”

“There is nothing special about it. There are already many water mills in flour mills, so why shouldn't they be able to crush ore?”

“That's true. I must be going now. Give me a tour next time I visit.”

“Understood.”

The communication was cut off.

I leaned back in my chair and relaxed.

I spent a moment rubbing my throbbing temples.

Contrary to the Archduke's surprised remark, refining using hydraulic power is a method already used in the Empire.

The large-scale blacksmithies of the Imperial army have already begun to use hydraulic power, and even primitive steam engines using magic stones as prototypes.

That is why the Imperial army can supply metal armor and equipment to its hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

It's just that it's kept as secret as their gunpowder technology, like the Hellfire Rocket, so it's not known to the outside at all.

‘Master, is it alright to tell him so openly?’

It's not strange for Kkumteuli, who knows the whole story, to express concern.

He's right.

Reporting this to Archduke Gabir, a loyalist of the Emperor, certainly had its risks.

A war hero who is simply good at fighting.

A rising new noble who shows near-miraculous innovation not only in war but also in domestic affairs.

It was as clear as day that the latter of the two would attract the attention of the higher-ups.

It might even instill curiosity, and perhaps even vigilance, in the Emperor who is already watching me.

“But how can I hide that? Such a large-scale construction. It's better to speak first than to be suspected.”

‘Couldn't you hide it completely? Like the explosive charge technology.’

“That's a technology. This is a facility. I'm going to build a large-scale casting complex in the city too. And our city still lacks people.”

‘Are you saying you're going to spread the rumors even more on purpose?’

“That's right.”

Although it hasn't been revealed on the surface, the Karlos family, which is as good as the imperial family, has been accumulating power for a long time.

The Imperial army, a centralized standing army system.

Gunpowder and steam engine technology, developed after being passed down from the dwarves.

And even the Imperial Secret Knight Order, a group of superhumans created by the current Emperor, Luky Karlos.

While the lower nobles were busy fighting over land in territorial wars, and the higher nobles were divided into factions over whether the Magic Tower or the Church came first and fought over interests, they had in fact completed all preparations to seize control of the Empire.

This is why the Empire, having successfully overcome the civil war, displays powerful potential in the mid-to-late game.

The crises that will unfold from now on are difficult even for such an Empire to withstand.

For a mere local lord like me to do as much as them, I must be unrivaled in every aspect.

I must spread the fame not just of Viscount Ash as an individual, but of this city itself.

Wolfskrig is in a situation where it needs every single human resource it can get.

Of course, it will be unavoidable to attract the attention of those around me and be kept in check to that extent.

That is a matter of course.

Rather, if it weren't so, it would be proof that I am going down the wrong path.

“Fortunately, it's been fine so far. I can't say it's been smooth, but looking at the results, it's more than I initially thought.”

‘I’ll help diligently. If you do well, master, we’ll start the sugarcane farming we promised last time, and then I’ll be able to eat more sugar-coated snacks.’

“……”

‘Why the long face? Isn't this all for a living?’

“…Let’s not talk about it.”

There is a saying that life is a series of ups and downs.

Personally, I believe that every crisis is an opportunity.

However, in that another crisis comes after seizing an opportunity, the wisdom of our ancestors seems to be correct.

It was exactly one month after the mining system was established.

“My Lord Viscount, a missing person has occurred in the 4th tunnel.”

An accident had occurred.