WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Asakusa

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◈ Veteran of the Northern Front ◈

Chapter 4: Quartermaster Mac

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The next morning,

I gathered the squad to tell them about the schedule going forward.

“From now on, we'll train whenever we have spare time.”

“Training... sir?”

“That’s right.”

Normally, penal soldiers received no real training aside from large-scale drills held once or twice a year.

This was a measure directly ordered by headquarters, and I could understand why they had made that decision.

They were only meant to serve as meat shields. If they were trained up for no reason and started a coup, it would be a headache.

But I had no intention of letting that continue.

I might be able to handle small skirmishes somehow, but with their current abilities, they were bound to die in droves the moment a proper battle broke out.

‘Like it or not, they’re the soldiers I’ve been put in charge of. I can’t let them die meaningless deaths.’

I intended to make something of them, one way or another.

‘At the very least, I need to raise them to the point where each of them can face one barbarian alone.’

It would not be easy, considering even most regular soldiers could not face a barbarian alone.

Grin-

“You can all look forward to it.”

It did not really matter.

If it was impossible, then we would make it possible.

Wasn’t that one of the lessons I had learned in the military?

‘I’ll show them what a blood-splattering P.T. session is.’

The squad looked at me with bright, innocent eyes, unaware of anything.

I was looking forward to seeing their expressions tomorrow.

There was a saying called lamenting the flesh of one’s thighs.

It came from a story in Romance of the Three Kingdoms where Liu Bei looked at his plump thighs and sighed in regret. The reason I was bringing this up now was simple.

“Pant... pant...”

“Stop whining and get into the next position.”

“Ubel, just... just a moment to rest...”

“I think I’m dying.”

Rather than getting fat, they had grown thinner, yet they were still lamenting their lot. I let out a deep sigh at the sight of their haggard faces.

“Whew. All right, ten minutes of rest.”

“Haaah...”

“I’m alive...”

I had expected as much, but seeing them sprawled flat on their backs told me we still had a long way to go.

‘They’re collapsing from what is basically warm-up calisthenics.’

I wondered how they would endure actual training.

‘This won’t do.’

Their basic stamina was a problem, but more than that, every one of them looked frail.

It was no surprise.

Penal soldiers did not even eat three meals a day. They got two meals, and even then, all they had was lukewarm soup and a rock-hard loaf of bread.

How could they possibly have any strength?

‘I need to get us more rations somehow.’

Realistically, it was impossible.

Who would listen if a mere penal squad commander asked for increased rations?

I would be lucky if they did not beat me up for my nerve.

‘Asking officially for more rations is out of the question.’

Then that left only one method.

“Max, do you know anything about the supply officer?”

Max, still panting heavily, looked at me in confusion.

“Pant... pant... You mean Supply Officer Mac?”

“Yeah. Rumors, anything. Just tell me whatever you know.”

“I don’t know the details, but I know as much as anyone else.”

According to Max, the supply officer’s name was Mac.

Of common birth, Mac had begun as an ordinary soldier and risen to the position of supply officer.

“Mac’s language can be rough, but Mac is a good person. Among the officers, Mac is the only one besides Lord Berun who treats us like people.”

“Really?”

I organized the information in my head.

‘A commoner who doesn’t discriminate against penal soldiers...’

Mac fit my requirements perfectly.

“Good. I have somewhere to go, so wrap things up after today’s training.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to the supply unit for a moment.”

Unlike ordinary penal soldiers, who could not leave their quarters without a specific order or assignment, squad commanders could move freely around the unit.

“What? Why the supply unit...?”

“There’s something I need to do. Just get some rest.”

Leaving the squad behind as they tilted their heads in confusion, I headed for the supply unit.

At present, our unit consisted of regular soldiers and penal soldiers under Centurion Berun, supported by the supply unit.

To put the hierarchy simply, Centurion Berun stood at the top, with the supply officer and regular soldier squad commanders beneath Berun.

The supply officer might technically be under Berun, making the position seem unimportant, but that was a huge misunderstanding.

The heart of war had always been supply. Who could take lightly the person managing a unit’s goods in the harsh north?

In terms of actual influence, the supply officer stood above Berun.

‘That doesn’t mean the supply officer will try to walk all over Berun, though.’

In terms of my previous life, the supply officer was like a company sergeant major, while Berun was a company commander. It was the sort of relationship where each had no choice but to acknowledge and respect the other.

Now, back to the point.

Why was I seeking out the supply officer?

To build a relationship with Mac and earn Mac’s favor.

If I became friendly with the supply officer, Mac could help with the rations that were causing me trouble right now, as well as many other supply-related matters.

Of course, becoming close enough for Mac to secretly look after us would not be easy.

But I had a special weapon to lure Mac in.

‘There it is.’

I had visited on my first day, so finding the supply unit was not difficult.

The moment I stepped into the supply unit’s camp, I saw soldiers busily carrying goods while a middle-aged person barked orders at them.

“Hey, you bastard! I told you to inspect goods as soon as they’re delivered... Hm? Who are you?”

“Sir! I’m Ubel, commander of a penal squad.”

I deliberately left out my surname. I did not want to make it seem like I was emphasizing my noble status.

Apparently, the supply officer had already heard my name.

Mac nodded.

“So you’re the noble-born one who arrived recently. What brings you here? You should be in your adjustment period, so you don’t have any duties yet.”

“I came because I wanted to familiarize myself with the unit’s terrain and duties as soon as possible.”

“If you want to understand your duties, why not visit the men standing guard? Why come here?”

“Isn’t the supply unit the heart of the unit? Since it handles the most important duties, I thought it was necessary to learn about it.”

I answered in a confident voice without changing my expression, and Mac burst out laughing.

“What? Hahahaha! So you know a thing or two. It’s been a long time since we got a decent one. I’m Supply Captain Mac. So, what do you think after seeing our work firsthand? Surprised that it’s less impressive than you expected?”

“How could I be? I was impressed instead.”

That was the truth.

Looking at the soldiers moving the supplies piled around us, sorting them skillfully according to their use and destination, it was clear that the supply unit was operating systematically.

‘Mac seems at least competent as a supply officer.’

Back when I was a newbie, how many times had I suffered in the game after appointing some useless bastard as supply officer?

Compared to those damned fools, Mac was extremely capable.

Mac looked at me in surprise.

“Oh? Did you figure out why the soldiers are dividing the supplies like that?”

“So they can be taken out efficiently later without inconvenience, by sorting them according to their use?”

“You’re only the second person to properly understand what the supply unit does. Everyone else just says something stupid like, ‘Why not throw it all into storage and find it when you need it?’ How did you notice?”

“...I heard a few things while visiting merchant companies as a child.”

After making up an excuse, I hurriedly changed the subject.

“But if I’m the second, who was the first?”

“Centurion Berun.”

“Ah...”

Well, someone at the level of a centurion would have that much basic awareness.

Mac seemed to have taken a liking to me, clicking their tongue regretfully.

“Tsk. Someone like you should have joined the supply unit.”

“Hahaha...”

“What a shame. A real shame.”

Penal soldiers could not join the supply unit, which was why Mac was lamenting it.

“I feel the same way.”

“Why? Are you interested in supply work?”

“I’ve always been interested in commerce. I thought I would like to learn work in this field someday.”

“You’re interested in commerce? Are you thinking of becoming a merchant after you get out?”

‘Now.’

I put every effort into acting out a bitter expression.

“Ah... yes, it’s not something I have no interest in. But my current circumstances are what they are. Even when I see an opportunity to make money, there’s nothing I can do.”

“An opportunity to make money?”

Mac asked as though they did not understand.

It was time to sell Mac my pitch.

“Back when I was outside, I gathered and analyzed various materials related to merchant companies and made investment plans. My family responded positively as well, but with things turning out this way, it all fell through.”

“That’s a shame. But what kind of plan was it that...?”

Mac tried to appear calm, but could not fool me.

Investment plan.

Opportunity to make money.

A positive response from a noble family.

Those stimulating words had already hooked Mac halfway.

‘This is going smoothly.’

The way to gain someone’s favor was simple.

Give them what they needed.

Mac was a commoner, so further promotion would be difficult. Judging by the soldiers’ trust in Mac, they were flexible enough, but not the kind of person who would commit evil deeds like stealing supplies.

Then what did Mac need now?

The answer was money.

Further promotion was impossible, and Mac did not take bribes because they wanted to uphold their principles.

With only a few years left until retirement, Mac would need funds to live comfortably in old age.

I planned to earn Mac’s favor by guaranteeing a financial gain.

Was that not the typical method of a con artist?

What an unfair thing to say.

I had nothing to be ashamed of.

Because I was not planning to deceive Mac.

I really was going to tell Mac how to make money.

In Song of the Empire, there was a system that allowed players to earn money through commerce. Veteran players used it early in the game to duplicate their money.

They analyzed the flow of commerce within the game and invested along fixed routes to build up initial capital.

‘And I’m confident when it comes to duplicating money.’

I had done it hundreds of times in the game, so it was not particularly difficult.

It was like knowing in advance which coin would skyrocket in the future.

Of course, Mac was not an idiot. Mac would not believe me from the start.

But what if things truly happened as I said they would?

Mac would definitely think:

‘If only I had listened back then, I could have made money.’

I only needed to wait for the right time, give Mac information, and gain favors in return.

A truly perfect plan.

With a sly smile to myself, I asked quietly.

“Would you be interested?”

“Ahem! It’s not that I’m interested. I’m just curious...”

“Haha. If the supply officer is curious, then of course I should tell you. The truth is, I...”

I dressed up the information I knew in a convincing manner and told Mac everything.

Mac listened blankly to every word.

Then, a few days later,

“Ubel! Ubel, where are you?!”

Mac came to the barracks looking as though possessed.

Mac rushed into the squad barracks and called for me.

“Ubel, are you here?!”

“Yes, I’m here.”

“It really happened just as you said! I asked a merchant who came to the unit yesterday, and they said medicine made from evening primrose is selling like mad. The price of evening primrose has already risen more than tenfold because of it!”

Evening primrose was originally known as an ornamental plant, but when boiled with other medicinal herbs, it produced a remedy that reduced fever and promoted recovery.

I already knew its effects would become known around this time, so I replied calmly.

“Just as I expected.”

“How did you predict this?”

“A herbalist who lived near my family’s estate once told me about it. It was unknown at the time, but no secret stays hidden forever. I thought that once its effects became known, the price would rise greatly.”

I gave a plausible explanation to convince Mac.

“Ha! If only I had believed you...”

“There’s no need to regret it.”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“Why not invest even now? There are still plenty of opportunities left.”

“!!!!!!”

Mac’s eyes widened as the meaning of my words sank in. Then Mac let out a hearty laugh.

“Hahaha! You’re right. With you at my side, I was worrying over nothing. Is there anything you need help with? Just say the word. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll do anything for you.”

I had a mountain of requests, but I pretended to hesitate for the sake of appearances.

“How could I ask for compensation? I’m satisfied just to be of some help to you, Supply Officer.”

“Even so, accepting your advice without giving you anything in return is... Hm?”

At that moment, Mac noticed the squad members groaning around the barracks and frowned.

“What’s wrong with them? They look like sickly chickens.”

It was because of the harsh training, but there was no need to tell Mac that honestly.

“Well... I’ve been doing some light physical training recently, but perhaps because their rations are insufficient, they can’t properly keep up.”

“Tsk, tsk. Can soldiers meant to protect the Empire’s territory afford to be so weak? I’ll tell the supply soldiers to make sure your rations are generous.”

“Oh, you really don’t have to...”

“What? It would weigh on my conscience otherwise, so don’t refuse.”

“If you insist.”

Mac did not stop there.

“Come to think of it, a large amount of meat intended for the commanders was delivered this time, so there should be some left over. I’ll send that too, so share it with your squad.”

Meat was such a precious food that even regular soldiers only ate it once a week, if that. For penal soldiers, it was nothing more than a fantasy.

‘They say we cannot even see it except on special occasions, and Mac is giving us some?’

It felt as though a halo was shining behind Mac.

Supply Officer Mac knew how to repay a favor.

Thanks to Mac, I would not need to worry about the squad’s meals from now on.

Footnotes:

P.T. is Korean military slang for physical training. The original jokes that its letters can also mean “blood-splattering training.”

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