Sorry, I wanted to release both this and the next chapter together, but life gets in the way. Next chapter won’t come until next Sat.u.r.day or something.
Also this chapter t.i.tle has the word Kiseki in it, and therefore makes me want to play Trails in the Sky. RIP me until the Steam sale or even afterward. Anyway, enjoy.
The Path of a HeroIt hasn’t even been ten years since the country I live in, Tasmeria, was at war with its neighbor, Towair.
Towair is northwest of Tasmeria, with land that’s hardly suitable for harvesting crops; having said that, without notable minerals either, it was a poverty-stricken country.
The reason is obvious.
Coveting the fertile soil of this country, Towair invaded.
A sudden a.s.sault without a declaration of war.
Naturally, unable to cope properly, Tasmeria had several regions overrun.
After that, the National Army was deployed since every private army of the fief lord had been crushed; the House of the Earl of Season was completely occupied by the enemy.
In the adjacent territory, the House of the Earl of Monroe was flanked from two directions, both in the north and west; at that time, we were left under unfavorable circ.u.mstances.
The order to recapture the former territory of Season was given to Father’s regiment.
As the commander of the Army’s first regiment, Father headed towards the front, leading a single corps.
Regarding why Father, the heir to a Marquessate House, was a.s.signed to the site of a b.l.o.o.d.y battle, the answer was in Father’s affiliation.
Normally, sons of aristocrats attach themselves to the Chivalric Order in order to act as defense for the Royal Capital and the royal family.
That said, it is the second and third sons that pursue military exploits; it’s nearly impossible for the eldest son to serve.
Although it’s like that, Father joined the Army instead of the Order, with the only reason given being the fact that aristocracy was painfully stuffy.
Furthermore, in spite of being the heir, he joined.
The Army has an open door policy, and is therefore chiefly composed of commoners.
Its princ.i.p.al function is defending the border and maintaining domestic security.
The relationship between the Army and the Order is like oil and water; the Order condescends to the Army as “those guys are all brawn and no brains,” while the Army condescends to the Order as “rich brats who know nothing about a real fight.”
… During that kind of situation, Father neatly arrived at the thought of enlisting in the Army despite being a n.o.ble, moreover the heir of a Marquessate House.
In reality, I hear from rumors that, initially, his enlisting was severe.
Within the Army, there was a sort of resistance to aristocrats enlisting, and there was strong opposition from the Marquessate House, too.
Particularly in the Marquessate House, there was even an uproar about disinheritance.
Nonetheless, it seems to have been said that Father steadily built up his status in the army according to his natural talent, but…
The National Army, regardless of social status, has its doors wide-open.
It has no regard for any rank; conversely speaking, in the military, it’s a complete meritocracy.
For that reason, before Father’s achievements, resistance didn’t last long.