After hearing Kaislan’s words, I found myself deep in thought.
It made sense—once I publicly show myself, I’d be dragged to the Military Command, and our clan would have to face the dangerous frontline without .
‘Should I just keep hiding down here underground?’
I would lose three comrades.
Having seen such records before, the very choice to separate from my comrades feels unbearably uneasy.
But...
“You must go, Captain.”
Kaislan spoke as if he could guess what I was worrying about.
“...Go?”
“Judging by the docunt, the mobilization order was issued not long ago. There’s still ti before the deadline, so it’s not a problem yet, but if you don’t comply even after the deadline, it could beco a major issue later.”
“For example?”
He looked at as if telling to na everything, then cautiously began.
“First, your reputation will be severely tarnished. No matter our internal situation, to outsiders, it would look like desertion. You’d seem like you ran away from the war out of fear.”
In short, the ‘giant’ Baron Bjorn Yandel’s na value would be dragged through the mud...
I wasn’t unaware of the value of reputation, having relied on it quite a lot since the old days.
But...
“That doesn’t matter at all. Next.”
Seeing answer imdiately without hesitation, Kaislan paused briefly, then chuckled.
“That’s an answer befitting a captain.”
“Anyway, next.”
“...Second is the damage to the clan itself. As I said before, it would be classified as desertion, so when the war ends, we’d all stand trial. We’d be severely punished. Desertion is treated as a very serious cri under military law.”
“What kind of severe punishnt exactly?”
“Death penalty. Military law aims foremost to set an example.”
This wasn’t sothing I could just brush off this ti.
Unless all these people planned to live hiding their identities forever under the sewers.
“If... Noirark wins? Then wouldn’t there be no punishnt for desertion?”
“That might be so, but...”
When I raised the hypothetical, Kaislan looked at firmly.
“The royal family will never be defeated.”
“How can you be so sure? Isn’t the very issuance of a mobilization order proof that the royal family is so desperate they need explorers’ help?”
“Well... they just called for help to reduce their losses. I don’t think they’re really desperate.”
He prefaced that it was just his opinion, but I couldn’t just ignore it.
This guy was a military man.
He’d know better than anyone about the royal family’s power.
“Is there a third thing?”
“The third is you, Captain.”
“...?”
“Yes. We probably won’t go as far as ‘death penalty,’ but in the worst case, your noble title could be revoked on the grounds of desertion.”
He gave such a serious look that I was curious.
“Revocation of title...”
Honestly, I don’t care much about ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) losing the title itself.
The real problem is the mbers.
If I still had my title, I could have done sothing to prevent the ‘death penalty.’
“I don’t know why you worry, but may I say one thing to you, Captain?”
I stopped worrying and nodded; Kaislan looked at with a soldier’s gaze.
“We didn’t choose to follow you to beco your lackeys.”
“......”
“We chose to walk the sa path as you.”
As soon as Kaislan finished, those around nodded in agreent.
“It’s refreshing to hear what I’ve wanted to say for a long ti.”
Alia even wore a satisfied expression like she’d just drunk a refreshing drink.
“You must go, Captain. The royal family will never lose. If you want to survive in this world, you must go now.”
With such blunt words, I had no choice but to nod in agreent.
“Alright. I’ll go. But there’s sothing I must do first.”
“What is it...?”
What else could it be?
If I go, I’ll have to part ways with you all, right?
“I will elect a vice-captain now.”
There must be soone to lead the group in the anti.
The vice-captain position has been vacant since our founding.
Not intentionally left empty, but although I wanted to fill it earlier...
‘Sohow it’s only now that we’re doing this.’
There were many reasons to delay the election.
At first, everyone found the position burdenso.
Even without a vice-captain, each took charge of a field and things ran smoothly. Plus, the mbers preferred a more horizontal atmosphere.
But now, things are different.
“Vice-captain... you an?”
“Yes.”
There’s a saying.
A flock of sheep led by a lion is stronger than a lion led by sheep.
Leadership is that important.
Therefore...
“Is there anyone who wants to run?”
I casually asked the mbers, but no one dared raise their hand.
Kaislan seed sowhat interested though...
‘Those two are surprising.’
Bersil Gowland and Jas Calla, forr vice-captains of dium-sized clans.
Both seemingly perfect for the role, but neither showed interest.
‘Maybe they know how hard the job is from experience?’
I can understand that.
Our clan is a bit different from others.
Being vice-captain doesn’t an enjoying power or perks—it clearly ans more duty.
‘Hmm... who would be suitable then?’
I started carefully observing the mbers around .
Who would be the best fit?
Still unknown, but one thing is certain.
The vice-captain is not a title I can just hand out.
If I gave the position to Auyen, would the others listen?
Only soone who can command authority within the clan by their own strength can take the role.
And in that sense...
land Kaislan.
He ets the minimum requirents.
Has experience leading groups, is a forr soldier with so charisma...
‘Above all, he’s skilled in strategy and tactics.’
His downside is lack of information and a strong personal belief that makes him inflexible.
Simply put, he’s poor at improvisation...
‘Alia Rainwails.’
Alia is quite the opposite.
Always thinking and judging rationally, experienced enough to be good at improvisation.
But she understands groups less than Kaislan.
She’s not without charisma, but prefers to work alone...
‘Since she’s a founding mber, if she takes the position, everyone would probably accept it.’
That’s a big advantage.
She’ll lead the clan separated from , and I think everyone would acknowledge her without complaint.
‘Bersil Gowland.’
...He’s also a decent candidate.
Joined soon after the Ice Rock expedition, so he’s been with the clan relatively long, and is a forr vice-captain.
‘Though he seems less charismatic than the other two...’
That’s probably because he’s been an ordinary mber, but he’d act differently as vice-captain.
‘Seems decent at strategy and tactics... He’s not too rigid or stubborn from what I’ve heard...’
Putting it all together, Bersil feels like a mix of Alia and Kaislan.
Kind of in the middle.
‘Anyway, no other candidates co to mind besides these three.’
After scanning all the remaining mbers, I narrowed the candidates to three.
Erwen and Misha are founding mbers but not the type to lead others.
“Hey... Vice-captain!! Can I... do it?!”
Ainar, of course.
“Stay quiet.”
“Why?! Didn’t you say if anyone wanted to, they should step up?!”
“...You’re excluded.”
“That’s unfair! Bjorn!! How can you treat so badly—”
“Fnelin, the captain is speaking. Be quiet.”
As soon as Alia sharply told him to shut up, Ainar instantly quieted down.
“......”
Sigh. Watching this, Alia does seem the most fit...
“Just to be clear, I’m not planning to do it.”
“...Huh?”
“Because it would never suit .”
Well, I think you’re the only one who believes that.
She tends to underestimate herself, like how Erwen and Misha never wear skirts or bright clothes.
She just thinks things don’t fit her.
Without even trying them on.
“But don’t worry. Whoever becos vice-captain, I’ll support you as I have supported you.”
Still, I can’t force soone who says that so firmly.
So I gave up on making Alia vice-captain cleanly.
“No one’s volunteering, so I’ll decide—”
“I! I said I would... Ah! Why am I being pinched?!”
Ainar tried to keep insisting, but Misha pinched his waist, ending the matter.
“No candidates, so I’ll decide. land Kaislan and Bersil Gowland. I think you two are fit for vice-captain.”
“If you trust , I won’t avoid the duties and weight.”
“ too... Soone has to do it eventually.”
Okay, with those two candidates set...
Only one step remained.
If one gave up, the other would take it, but since both showed willingness...
“Now we start voting. All mbers co to and whisper who you think fits better as vice-captain.”
“Whisper... you an?”
“Don’t worry! Secrets will be kept!”
“......”
Jas Calla looked a bit baffled but said nothing more.
And...
“Let’s begin!”
The barbarian-style secret vote began.
The first vote was for Erwen, whom I nominated.
“Alia Rainwails.”
...Huh?
Did I hear wrong?
“Just because. I think she’d do the best.”
“But you have to choose one of the two...”
“Then just count mine as abstention. I don’t care who it is.”
“Alright.”
So, one abstention (Alia) from the start.
“My vote goes to Ms. Gowland... She seems a bit kinder than Kaislan.”
Misha was second, voting for Bersil.
...Kindness and vice-captain don’t really seem related though.
‘...This isn’t an elentary school class president election.’
I wondered if this was a popularity contest, but the later votes were better.
“Bersil Gowland.”
Alia said just that and left.
“I want to vote for Ms. Gowland.”
Jas Calla, a forr vice-captain.
“If I must entrust my life to one, it would be Ms. Gowland.”
Sven Parav, with his exceptional survival sense.
“I’ll go with Bersil Gowland.”
Lilis Marone, without any special reason, also voted for Bersil, tallying five votes.
“I’ll vote for Kaislan! A knight is better than a mage!”
“Hey... everyone can hear that.”
Ainar, unaware of how secret votes work, gave one vote for Kaislan as well.
‘Well, the results are decided.’
Candidates didn’t vote, so the voting was basically over.
But I wanted to hear the opinions, so I summoned the last mber for a vote.
“Um, I...”
Auyen Lokrov, the pirate-turned-navigator.
Who would he pick?
“I think... it has to be Lady Rainz.”
A totally unexpected answer.
“Lady...?”
“Ah, no... I an Miss Rains. I just think she’s the best fit for vice-captain...”
Haha...
“Alright, go back.”
“Okay... sorry for the nonsense.”
“No, it’s your right to express your opinion.”
Anyway, with Auyen finishing voting and returning to his place, the vice-captain election ended.
“......”
“......”
Kaislan and Bersil looked tense.
Other mbers were also curiously awaiting the results.
“Don’t worry! Kaislan! Everyone must have voted for you! A knight’s better than a mage! You’ll be the one!”
“Haha, don’t flatter too much. Ms. Gowland is very competent too. We won’t know until the results are announced.”
Hmm... Suddenly, I don’t feel like announcing it.
Well, not that I’m going to back down though.
“I will announce the results. Bersil Gowland received five votes and will serve as the new vice-captain of the Anabada clan as of today.”
Upon announcing the winner, Kaislan looked both a little disappointed and relieved.
“With five votes, Gowland must have had three. That’s not a bad gap—”
“Emily Rains received two votes, and land Kaislan got one. That’s all.”
The results were as neatly arranged as Kaislan’s earlier expression.
Because of that, Kaislan reacted after a long pause.
“...Huh? What’s that supposed to an?”
“Exactly as it sounds.”
Shrugging nonchalantly, Kaislan shouted in disbelief.
“But Miss Rains didn’t even participate in the vice-captain race!”
True.
I even wondered if I should keep that secret to myself.
But that would taint the fairness of the sacred secret vote.
“Don’t worry. All votes cast for Rains were counted as abstentions.”
So keep your spirits up.
“Kaislan, second place is officially yours.”
User Comments
0 comments from readers