WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: Abood

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Friedrich's Battlefield

Chapter 44: New Recruit (3)

“That’s enough. It is Yurika’s win.”

As Yarg made the declaration, cheers erupted for the thoroughly entertaining spar. Yurika, of course, received praise for her flawless victory, while the recruit who'd fought valiantly also earned scattered words of encouragement.

Even Friedrich had to admit Gunther had performed better than expected. At the very least, he wasn't just brawn without skill, he seemed reliable enough as a combatant.

But a loss was still a loss. Gunther, who had underestimated Yurika, now had to confront his own miscalculation.

"That's our Yurika for you. Another brilliant performance today."

"Fufufu~ Thank you, Friedrich! I love you~"

Beaming with joy, Yurika approached and took her place beside Friedrich. With her at his side, Friedrich then turned his attention to Gunther.

"You put up quite a fight yourself. That was impressive. Having you on the front lines would be a tremendous asset... Let me ask again. What's your name?"

"...Gunther."

Meeting Friedrich's smile, Gunther answered plainly, resigned.

"Pleasure to meet you, Recruit Gunther. Now, I trust you understand why Yurika holds her position—based on skill alone. Isn't that right?"

Gunther nodded reluctantly at Friedrich's question, his face twisted in frustration.

"Good, so we've cleared up one misunderstanding. Now let's address the other, your belief that I'm unworthy to be Count Hosenfeld's adopted heir. Tell me, what exactly would make me worthy in your eyes? If I were more obviously muscular and heroic-looking, would that be enough? Then what about you? A man of your size is rare even across the entire continent. Do you think you would be fit to be his heir? Could you trade places with me? Could you confidently say you'd earn his recognition?"

Kneeling to meet Gunther at eye level, Friedrich pressed on with his questions. Gunther froze and was at a loss for words, his earlier bravado nowhere to be seen.

"More fundamentally, what do you think are the necessary qualities to succeed a hero? Standing on the front lines as a knight or soldier, cutting down enemies one by one? Slaying ten men? Twenty? Would that make someone worthy of being the kingdom's hero? What do you think?"

"...No."

"Exactly. Do you know why His Lordship is called a hero? Because as a commander, he leads armies to victory. He has led them to victory. So what his successor needs isn’t just strength, but the capability to command. And above all else, the resolve to bear that responsibility."

Friedrich spoke relentlessly. Gunther listened in a daze, half-stunned.

"Recruit Gunther. Can you lead?"

The question left Gunther speechless.

"Not just a handful of men, and not even a dozen. If you were ordered to command a hundred, a thousand, and lead them into battle right now, could you do it? Could you maneuver forces of that scale effectively? And of course, defeat isn’t an option. Lose, and the knights and soldiers under you die. Everyone here dies. If the enemy breaches our defenses, the kingdom’s lands will be ravaged. Civilians will die. Women. Children. Do you have family?"

"...Yeah. A wife I just married. And a kid on the way."

"Then your wife and child might die too. Your wife could be violated by enemy soldiers. Your child tortured for sport before both are cut apart. And all of it would be your fault for losing. Countless wives, husbands, children, parents, friends—all dead. You’d bear the weight of every single one. For the rest of your life, people would point at you: ‘Because of him, so many died.’ For generations, they’d say: ‘Gunther the commander failed, and so thousands perished.’"

No matter how brave he might be, Gunther was ultimately just a former mercenary and a single soldier. Faced with the unimaginable scale of responsibility Friedrich described, his face grew pale.

"If you can’t command without flinching, you’ll never be a general. If you can’t seize victory without hesitation, you’re unworthy to succeed a hero. So tell me, can you confidently say you could do it? That you could lead and win?"

"No, I… I can’t—"

"Look at me."

Friedrich’s voice was icy, yet his smile remained as Gunther’s gaze wavered. Compelled by that tone, Gunther forced himself to meet Friedrich’s eyes only to freeze like a frog pinned under a serpent’s stare.

"I can do it. If ordered this very moment to lead the entire Ferdinand Regiment into battle, I wouldn’t hesitate. When I was still a commoner raised in an orphanage, I led untrained villagers to repel a bandit horde. In the last battle on the Northern Plains, I commanded a hundred men to victory against three hundred. If told to lead a thousand next time, I’d do it. I’m prepared to do so at any time. And if it ensures victory, I’ll use every means at my disposal."

...And I will bear every sacrifice. Accept every inevitable death among my comrades.

Those final words, Friedrich kept to himself.

"His Lordship recognized this resolve in me. That is why I was chosen as his heir. If you ever develop the same resolve—if you ever reach the point where you can proudly claim it, then I’ll hear you out again when you say I’m unworthy. How does that sound?"

"...Y-yes, sir."

Gunther’s voice trembled as he answered.

Satisfied, Friedrich smiled wider. He knew full well Gunther would never dare bring this up again.

"I’m glad we understand each other, Recruit Gunther. Let’s work well together from now on."

He roughly ruffled Gunther’s hair like an older brother might. Gunther flinched at the touch, and Friedrich, watching his reaction from the corner of his eye, stood and stepped away. Yurika immediately closed the distance to his side, having kept back during the conversation.

As Gunther remained seated in stunned silence, Oliver finally approached him.

"Getting initiated by those two right off the bat must've been rough. But honestly, you brought this on yourself."

"Y-yes... Just what is he, anyway?"

With Oliver's help, Gunther got to his feet, his expression uneasy—the face of a man who'd encountered something beyond comprehension and come away shaken.

"Friedrich's in a league of his own. He's neither exceptionally skilled nor imposing, but his intelligence is startling, and his nerve in critical moments borders on unnatural. And ever since the last battle... there's something terrifying about him now. That calm face of his occasionally shows glimpses of that look."

Oliver touched the scar on his cheek out of habit as he spoke.

"I get why you'd find him unsettling. But think about it, having someone that extraordinary eventually succeed Count Hosenfeld and lead us against the enemy... Doesn't that sound reassuring?"

"...Yes."

Those fathomless eyes. The confidence and resolve saturating every word. If that were turned against their enemies alongside them, it would be a comfort. Nodding to himself, Gunther realized something.

Even watching Friedrich's retreating back now, he no longer saw weakness.

・・・・・・

"Friedrich, you were so cool just now~! Listening from the side gave me chills~"

Yurika draped herself over his shoulder as she spoke, to which Friedrich responded with a wry smile.

"Well, I have gone through my share of experiences and made my resolve. If I put my mind to it, I can show a bit of intimidation too."

As they exchanged these words, Friedrich and the others made their way to where Matthias, the regimental commander, stood. Coming to a stop before him, Friedrich offered a light salute and spoke.

"My apologies for the disturbance, my lord."

"Think nothing of it. In the end, it served its purpose. Those recruits won't be underestimating you now."

"Masterfully handled, young master,"

Gregor added.

Unlike before the spar began, Matthias now wore a satisfied expression, while Gregor seemed genuinely impressed. Both had likely anticipated Yurika's victory, but Friedrich's ability to completely overwhelm Gunther with words alone appeared to have caught them off guard.

"That hulking recruit, was he the one Oliver chose to replenish his squad?"

"So it seems."

"Then you should keep an eye on him as well. He's still rough around the edges, but with polish, he could become a formidable knight. Perhaps even someone who'll stand beside Oliver as one of your key retainers in the future."

"...Understood, my lord."

Friedrich glanced back at Gunther, who now stood beside Oliver, and nodded in acknowledgment.

Footnotes:

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