Hmph. Since we’ve decided to attack Stanki, it’s time to muster troops and commanders.
Personnel deployment is crucial—we need forces that can crush the enemy swiftly while leaving capable generals to defend the city.
That leaves the matter of troops.
If we had an elite unit, we could reduce the number of soldiers sent to battle. Manpower is still vital for Baha Balm right now.
Though I doubted Chining could forge an elite force in just half a year, I still planned to ask. Who knows? Maybe there’d be a surprise.
No time to waste. I immediately had Morana summon Chining.
Less than a quarter-hour after Morana’s notice, a knock sounded at my door.
*So fast...*
“Chining?”
“At your service, Strategist.”
“Come in. This frail body of mine can’t manage the door—it’s unlocked.”
“I’ll enter, then.”
Chining wore his usual deep crimson combat attire, but the aura of battle around him had sharpened considerably.
Half a year of major campaigns had honed him. He’d always been a seasoned warrior, but now that commanding presence was unmistakable.
“Hmph. I called you to ask... how’s that elite unit coming along?”
“I regret to disappoint you, Strategist. That unit still needs a full year—and real battlefield experience to temper them.”
“I see... Then we’ll need to send more troops this time.”
I didn’t blame him. Building an elite force was never easy. A year and a half would’ve been miraculous.
“But if the Strategist requires elites... Baha Balm *does* have one unit...”
“Huh?”
I’d never heard of this!
Baha Balm had an elite force—and I didn’t know?!
*Wow. Alto kept this hidden deep...*
“No, no—not from before. It’s... something Barzak recently trained.”
Chining’s expression twisted with conflicted emotions as he spoke.
*How?! An elite unit in mere months?!*
*This isn’t cabbage you grow in a garden!*
I nearly dropped my teacup in shock, spilling tea all over myself.
“Young master, please mind your dignity.”
Morana carefully dabbed the tea stain from my robes.
“Hmph. Got carried away. Got carried away.”
Once I’d calmed down, I pressed Chining again.
“Are you certain...?”
“Absolutely. Though I confess—I’m rather conflicted myself.”
He spoke truth. After training his own troops for so long, to see Barzak achieve this in half a year...
As a fellow commander, no wonder his heart was tangled.
“Chining, trouble you to bring Barzak here.”
“Understood. I’ll fetch him at once.”
Before long, Chining dragged a tipsy Barzak from the barracks.
“Strategist! What’s up?” Barzak slung his arm around my shoulders moments after stumbling in.
*Hmph. Should I praise his... boldness?*
Chining stood nearby, already massaging his temples in exasperation.
“Barzak, release him. The Strategist is frail.”
“Whoa! Sorry, sorry!”
“It’s... fine.”
*(Though I nearly came apart at the seams just now. But really—I’m perfectly alright. Definitely not forcing it.)*
“Hmph. Straight to the point: you truly forged an elite cavalry?”
“Oh yeah! Pretty impressive, huh?”
“...”
*Impressive. Ridiculously impressive.*
*I’d believe Mentu pulled this off—but you? You don’t exactly scream ‘master trainer’...*
“Hmph. Forget the headache. What did you name this elite unit?”
*Names are essential! Bonus points if it’s gloriously extra!*
My inner otaku was screaming with joy.
“Hmm? Oh right—it already had a name...”
*Already had one?*
“Yeah! The Wildfield Cavalry!”
“...”
I was speechless. My mind went blank.
*Wildfield Cavalry?!*
*Are you joking?!*
This was one of the legendary Four Great Cavalries—renowned throughout history and still unmatched today.
The Blackiron Cavalry. The Northern Wolf Cavalry. The Eastern Roaming Cavalry. And now, Barzak’s Wildfield Cavalry.
No one agreed on their exact ranking, but one truth stood firm:
No cavalry force in history had ever defeated these four.
The Blackiron Cavalry guarded the western frontier against border raiders.
The Northern Wolf Cavalry thrived in the brutal frozen wastes.
The Eastern Roaming Cavalry was Bas’s pride of the east.
And the Wildfield Cavalry...
Once, they were the Uler Empire’s shadow force—tasked with eradicating every bandit within its borders.
And they succeeded. Under their hooves, banditry vanished from the empire.
But decades ago, they disbanded. Became legend. Only three of the Four Great Cavalries remained.
Yet Barzak just told me... *we* hold the Wildfield Cavalry?!
*Hmph. My brain’s overheating.*
“Barzak. Explain clearly. How did you create this?”
“Ahaha! Simple! Our old crew had dozens of veterans who served in the original Wildfield Cavalry. When I mentioned building an elite unit, they roared to life—said they’d rebuild the Wildfield Cavalry for me!”
“...”
My eye twitched. *Barzak, your luck stat must be off the charts!*
“Horses... how many horses did you use?!”
I suddenly remembered our most critical resource.
“Oh, about two thousand. For the two thousand Wildfield riders.”
*Virtually our entire stock...*
We’d be horseless for months.
This bittersweet ache—was this what victory felt like?
Hmph. Whatever.
With this cavalry...
Let’s crush Stanki.
