NOVEL WEB Chapter 497
Chapter 497: I’ll Do My Best (2)
“Attention.”
With Ghislaine’s single command, all squad members lined up to the sides.
Ghislaine glanced around with a slightly displeased expression.
“This ‘Squad Leader’ is very disappointed in all of you today.”
“…….”
Everyone fell silent. The ‘Dugly Squad Leader’ had become quite notorious for his temper. Objections or retorts were absolutely not tolerated.
Ghislaine continued, gazing at Victor, who had been a nuisance to him.
“Victor.”
“……Yes.”
“Why is the barracks so dirty?”
“Well… the training has been too tough, so we couldn’t clean it in time…”
“This Squad Leader doesn’t like excuses. Everyone, get down. Execute.”
“Execute!”
The soldiers of the ‘Dugly Squad’ quickly dropped to the ground. A moment’s delay could lead to legal beatings from that ‘devil.’
Ghislaine walked among them as he spoke.
“If the barracks are not clean, it can lead to various diseases. If you’re dirty alone, that’s fine, but if you transmit disease to your comrades, that ultimately lowers the combat effectiveness of the squad. How many times have I said this?”
“…….”
“Answer me.”
“Yes! That’s right!”
The soldiers replied loudly to Ghislaine’s scolding. Meanwhile, Victor, still lying down, ground his teeth.
“Damn it, why does he keep going on about combat effectiveness? Does he think he’s Count Penris or something? Damn bastard.”
It was a well-known tale that Count Penris had turned the territory upside down to raise the soldiers’ combat effectiveness.
In Victor’s eyes, Ghislaine was merely imitating that Count out of admiration.
“Ack, if only I hadn’t lost my position.”
Victor felt resentful. Ghislaine’s skills were simply too outstanding. He was indeed a former member of the Raybold Army that had conquered the East with the Penris Army by defeating the barbarians.
No matter how hard he tried, Victor couldn’t catch up. Thus, the higher-ups had given Ghislaine the position of Squad Leader.
“Just get out of here already. That way, I can regain my place as Squad Leader.”
Rumor had it that once the negotiations with the Duke’s faction were over, Ghislaine would get promoted to a training instructor or even a higher position.
Victor sincerely hoped Dugly would get promoted.
Initially, everyone hadn’t minded when Dugly took the Squad Leader position.
After all, they were veterans, so they thought it would be enough to show some basic courtesy.
However, that was their misconception.
“That guy is a devil.”
Others felt the same way.
Ghislaine kept going on about combat effectiveness, making it incredibly difficult to endure.
Especially those with lacking skills had to forego their breaks and continue training.
“A drop of sweat shed during training is a drop of blood in real battle! The more you sweat, the less you bleed!”
He shouted such things while tyrannically pushing the squad members.
Those above saw this and granted Dugly more power, attributing it to increased combat effectiveness and established order.
Originally known as the 5th squad, their name became even more famous as the ‘Dugly Squad.’
Then Dugly went on a rampage.
“Roll forward.”
“Roll backward.”
“Roll to the side.”
If they were to roll, they had to really roll. Some couldn’t handle it and burst out.
“This bastard! Are you serious?”
Thud!
Those who charged at Dugly fell in one hit. Victor had tried charging a few times, and sometimes everyone had charged together, but the result was always the same.
Dugly was just too good at fighting.
From then on, the squad members became exceedingly polite toward Dugly.
Ghislaine looked on at such squad members with satisfaction.
“I like this situation a lot.”
Trying to avoid causing trouble was frustrating, but with my strong authority, it was enjoyable to push them rightfully.
The higher-ups turned a blind eye to moderate adjustments. They preferred seeing him press down like a devil during training.
Regardless, the ‘Dugly Squad’ was improving steadily.
Thinking that they had done enough drills, Ghislaine opened his mouth.
“Wake up.”
“Wake up!”
“From now on, to maintain combat effectiveness, the barracks must always be kept clean. Do you understand?”
“Yes! Understood!”
“Next, I will check individual equipment.”
Rustle.
Everyone laid out their gear before them. As Ghislaine scanned around, he picked up Victor’s spear and examined it closely.
“This Squad Leader is disappointed once again.”
“…….”
“Do you think you can maintain combat effectiveness with such a weapon?”
Victor wandered off to a corner and lay down. He was too exhausted from the training to maintain his spear properly after it ended.
If he got cheeky, he would get punished, so it was better to accept his fate.
Seeing this, Ghislaine clicked his tongue. If only he had been a little more defiant, he could have let off some steam today.
While he was a man who didn’t forget his grudges, he wasn’t checking with special focus due to previous grievances.
“Victor will take care of all the laundry for the squad today due to personal neglect. Understood?”
“……Yes.”
“Make sure to clean it up properly to maintain combat effectiveness.”
After giving the directive, Ghislaine spoke to the squad members.
“As you know, there will be tactical training evaluations for the company soon. I’m sure you all understand that the company that gets first place will lead the formation during the army parade.”
The negotiations with the Duke’s faction were currently the most critical matter for the Kingdom Army. Thus, it was natural to prioritize outstanding soldiers at the forefront.
Of course, the soldiers hated being put at the front. The higher-ups were aware of this, so they promised significant rewards for the tactical training.
Thanks to that, a considerable number of soldiers became enthusiastic. Ghislaine had no intention of missing out on first place.
“I’ve heard that our squad has been last during every tactical evaluation. But that’s only when I wasn’t around.”
“…….”
The squad members stared at Ghislaine. They were curious about what a mere squad leader would say next.
Ghislaine continued with a pompous expression.
“This Squad Leader hates losing. Therefore, our squad will absolutely take first place. If we lose to other squads, I will live, and you will die. Understand?”
A company commander shouldn’t say something like that. No matter how well a squad performed, how could they ensure the company’s victory?
The squad members didn’t know how to react and stayed silent.
“…….”
“Answer me.”
“Yes…!”
“Get down.”
The squad members made sorrowful faces and immediately dropped to the ground.
If their responses were delayed, they’d quickly face punishment. The Dugly Squad Leader wanted his squad members to respond immediately to his commands. That was how their combat effectiveness was supposedly maximized?
It was almost an obsessive level. Rumor had it that he was so engrossed in mimicking Count Penris that he had completely lost it.
Ghislaine clenched his fist and shouted again.
“We will surely win! I only want victory! Do you understand!”
“Understood!”
With their robust response, Ghislaine smiled and nodded.
The more they stood at the front during the formation, the more advantageous it was for him, as it made it easier to check and seize items.
He absolutely couldn’t miss that opportunity.
But that wasn’t the only reason.
“I must win with my presence.”
This was a matter of pride. No matter how much acting he was doing, losing in battle was not permissible. It was like a deeply ingrained instinct.
“Alright, then let’s train with vigor today!”
“Yes!”
Under Ghislaine’s leadership, the ‘Dugly Squad’ threw themselves into training until they were out of breath.
Resting could only be done with Ghislaine’s approval. Everyone’s mind was filled with the thought that they might actually die.
“But why aren’t we dead?”
“Shouldn’t we have collapsed by now?”
“Why… does it keep getting more bearable?”
They felt like they were about to die, yet they weren’t. Instead, they were becoming increasingly accustomed to the training.
Ghislaine was carefully observing each squad member’s body, skillfully alternating between breaks and training in optimal intervals.
Others failed to notice this and only thought he was pushing them around recklessly.
After they devoted themselves to training for some time, the day of the company tactical evaluation arrived.
The long-time last place commander of the 3rd Infantry Division shouted with a voice filled with frustration.
“This time, we will definitely take first place! …Well, at least we must make it to the middle! If we don’t even make it to the middle, I’ll push you all until you die, make that clear!”
The tactical training didn’t just depend on how well the soldiers performed. The commander also had to strategize and effectively lead the soldiers.
However, in a situation where his current position felt precarious, the commander could not accept sole responsibility.
“This time, we will be on the offense! We must break through somehow!”
The tactical training was divided between the defense and the offense, where the goal was to capture or hold a position.
The selected position was a low hill, so climbing it wasn’t difficult. The fighting was the real issue.
It was a training exercise meant to showcase how well one could manage troop movements, emphasizing the commander’s abilities more than the soldiers’ raw combat power.
The 3rd Infantry Division Commander wished sincerely that they would win just once. As long as they didn’t finish last.
“Fight like you’re prepared to die!”
The opponent was the 5th Infantry Division. Both sides organized themselves neatly and moved toward each other in an orderly fashion.
While watching the battlefield unfold, the commander shouted.
“Charge!”
“Waahh!”
All the members of the 3rd Infantry Division charged forward. As they ran, they thought.
“Isn’t this just the same as last time?”
“Why is it always just charge?”
“Ah, looks like we have a charge fanatic.”
Indeed, the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division had a romantic notion about charging. The commander’s position didn’t really suit someone who thought only about charging.
“Ultimately, it’s the stronger infantry that wins!”
It’s easy to say, but reality is different. Charging is a cavalry tactic—not something you’d rely on infantry to execute well.
The 5th Infantry Division commander just smirked.
“Ugh, that guy is always the same.”
His deputy chuckled along.
“There’s a rumor that if the 3rd Infantry Division Commander comes in last again, he’ll be dismissed.”
“He should be. Honestly, if someone like that stays in position, soldiers are just going to keep dying. He got into that position due to noble connections, to be honest.”
It was a laughable situation for the 5th Infantry Division Commander. The 3rd Infantry Division commander hadn’t properly studied military science.
He was someone whose merchant parents bribed a noble to get the commander’s position.
“Thank goodness it’s rare for a single division to participate in a war.”
If that guy became a division commander, all the troops beneath him would perish from just charging.
“Alright, raise shields! This time, it should be easy!”
The 5th Infantry Division lifted their wooden shields. Their weapons, though made from straw, were solid enough to pack a punch against the enemy.
Soon, the two sides clashed.
Bang!
“Push!”
“Block!”
Both sides gritted their teeth and swung their straw clubs.
However, the 5th Infantry Division, who held their shields firmly and formed solid ranks, had the advantage over the 3rd Infantry Division, who foolishly charged in.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Ouch, ouch, ouch!”
The members of the 3rd Infantry Division, who had charged aimlessly, couldn’t even break through a single line and were hit hard.
As enemy soldiers began to fall one by one, the 5th Infantry Division Commander laughed loudly.
“Ha ha ha! Hey, you fools! Just charging won’t get you anywhere!”
What could mere infantry achieve by barreling in to break through a shield wall? It was futile unless they were extraordinarily strong.
Watching his soldiers fall helplessly, the 3rd Infantry Division Commander shouted in frustration.
“Why are our soldiers so weak! We trained so hard!”
“…….”
The deputy standing beside him fell silent.
This wasn’t a problem with the training, but rather with the tactics. Charging aimlessly wouldn’t lead to victory.
Of course, the 3rd Infantry Division Commander had put effort into arranging formations favorable for charging. Yet, that was the extent of his abilities.
But one fact, known to no one, including the commanders on both sides, was that there was someone here who truly loved and excelled at charging.
Ghislaine gestured to his squad members.
“Hey, everyone ready?”
“Yes! Ready!”
The Dugly Squad was in the middle row and hadn’t yet engaged with the enemy.
As they saved up their strength, the front row began to crumble.
Ghislaine grinned as he spoke to his squad members.
“No matter how well they hold, if they keep enduring, they will inevitably tire. When I give the signal, don’t look to the side; just follow me. I’ll take the lead. Understood?”
“Yes! Understood!”
Ghislaine tightly grasped the straw club and focused ahead. He had no intention of using mana. That would make it less fun.
Instead, he planned to match his strength with the soldiers’ level.
As Ghislaine kept a hawk’s eye on the battlefield, the moment the front line collapsed, he shouted.
“Now!”
Swoosh!
Ghislaine darted out and swung hard at the head of the nearest enemy soldier.
The soldier couldn’t even catch his breath before the sudden attack and was utterly unprepared.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
The soldier stumbled as he bowed his head. Seizing the moment, Ghislaine kicked him in the stomach, toppling him over.
Then he stepped on the fallen soldier to attack the one behind.
“Waahh!”
Dugly Squad members shouted as they surged into the opening. The opposing soldiers naturally tried to block, but it wasn’t easy.
“What, what’s going on!”
“Why is this kid so strong!”
“Block! Block them!”
The Dugly Squad had changed from before. After their hellish training, each soldier was now significantly stronger.
They pierced through the enemy ranks like sharp points, wildly swinging their clubs as they advanced.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Ahhh! What the hell!”
The opposing soldiers were flustered. Clubs were flying at tremendous speed without pause.
Ghislaine’s performance was particularly overwhelming. He didn’t even use any fancy sword techniques. He simply swung the straw club with basic military techniques.
Nonetheless, enemy soldiers fell over as if they had been struck with heavy blows.
“Wowww!”
Other members fighting alongside cheered. Finally, a gap had appeared in the solid enemy formation.
What happens when a gap opens? Like water being sucked down a drain, everyone naturally funneled toward it.
“Yay! Let’s follow the Dugly Squad!”
With someone’s shout, everyone dove into the hole. It was the only way forward.
As this happened, the gap in the enemy formation widened even more.
Seeing this sight, the 5th Infantry Division Commander was taken aback, leaping to his feet.
“What! What’s happening! How did this happen!”
A straight path was forming. With others all squeezing in, the ranks on the sides began to crumble as well.
The 3rd Infantry Division Commander also sprang to his feet, shouting loudly.
“Well done! Keep it up! Push forward! Look, look! You can do it! You can win!”
An unbelievable event was taking place. For the first time in his life, the infantry charge was succeeding.
The battlefield heated up in an instant. Everyone was caught up in excitement, swinging their clubs without pause.
A certain someone who had come worried about the tactical training news watched with trembling shock.
“Why! Why are they fighting so hard!”
It was none other than Baron Share, who had come as an observer. He watched with a pale face, his feet tapping anxiously.
“Why are you making a name for yourself here!”
He felt like going insane. Despite hiding his identity, he was thriving as a squad leader and rampaging around.
As the rumors suggested, he truly was a man mad about fighting.