Previously
Priest Ronda encourages Henrietta to adapt slowly and use her head rather than just her strength. Meanwhile, Kalinin is bored by his routine until Billy brings him a massive supply request from Henrietta for over a hundred books on physical training.
Henrietta had been frequenting the infirmary lately. Not because she was particularly unwell, but because she was playing hooky, just like any other soldier.
When malingering, a plausible diagnosis like malnutrition worked wonders. Moreover, a malnourished Private Matyas could legitimately receive and eat nutritional supplements prescribed by the doctor.
Today’s supplement prescribed by Amelia was chocolate filled with blueberry syrup.
In other words, it was just chocolate.
For the record, it was about three times more expensive than Ruljo Candy and tasted three times better.
Besides, blueberries were good for eye health, and chocolate was the best for boosting morale.
Henrietta had no particular complaints about this prescription. However, a greedy private could not be satisfied with delicious chocolate alone.
“Amelia. Don’t you have real supplements instead of chocolate? I used to see the knights in my uncle’s house take supplements to build muscle.”
“The ones made by the Order of the God of Wheat Ears? Those have side effects.”
“What kind of side effects?”
“Decreased sexual function.”
“Doesn’t matter to me.”
“They’re expensive.”
Ah. That was a bit of a problem.
“Then what about medicine for muscle soreness? After training, it hurts so much the next day that I can barely move.”
“Very expensive.”
“Medicine that helps you wake up right away in the morning?”
“Extremely, insanely expensive.”
No matter which medicine she asked about, the answer was practically identical. Given that most medicines circulating on the market were specialty goods from the religious orders, it was only natural. Completely deflated, Henrietta tucked the remaining half of her chocolate close to her chest.
“Money is a problem everywhere, isn’t it…?”
“That’s true for everyone except the Division Commander. But no matter how wealthy he is, if I were to request supplements for the soldiers as supplies, he’d fire me on the spot.”
“I didn’t take him for such a cheapskate.”
“Not him, Lady Kayla.”
Having finished organizing the medical supplies, Amelia stood up and dusted off her palms. Her pockets were bulging with keys to the supply crates.
From visiting the infirmary so often, Henrietta had learned that high-proof liquor was among those supplies, but she feigned ignorance. Seeing padlocks heavier than stones dangling from them made it obvious they were high-security items.
“Lady Kayla?”
“She’s the one who runs the territory while the Division Commander is cooped up here. She’s his older sister, too. I was hired by her. She holds the power of life and death over my paycheck.”
“She’s the cheap one?”
“To the bone.”
Amelia mimed slitting her throat with the edge of her hand.
“And the Division Commander wouldn’t like it either. Who trains soldiers while feeding them supplements? It’s a waste of money.”
“Right. I suppose so.”
Henrietta mumbled dejectedly.
“Then are books a sort of expensive supplement too?”
The price of books was formidable indeed. Barely a decade had passed since the new technology called printing was developed. Books remained luxury items.
“They are. Books are one thing, but the incidental costs of storing them are even higher.”
“Hmm. It’d be great to take this opportunity to teach the soldiers to read, though.”
“The military isn’t an academy, you know?”
Still, isn't that better than a supplement that disappears once you swallow it? As Henrietta pondered, a voice calling her caught her ear.
“Hey. Private Matyas. What are you doing here?”
Henrietta snapped to her feet by reflex and saluted.
“Sir! Private Matyas!”
“Damn it! You scared me!”
Seeing his reaction, however, she felt the salute had been a waste.
“Ah. Was it you, Captain?”
“What’s with that lukewarm reaction? Well, well, look at that posture unraveling. Slack, aren’t we?”
Henrietta could say with absolute certainty that Billy was the slackest soldier she had ever seen. And she had the presence of mind not to point that out.
“I’m not slacking. Er, I’m still a patient, so I came to the infirmary. I wasn’t loafing around.”
“Did I say you were? Whatever. Just go see the Division Commander already. He’s looking for you.”
Billy waved his hand dismissively, looking a bit different from usual. He seemed thoroughly irritated about something.
Just yesterday evening, he’d been floating on cloud nine. Grinning from ear to ear about finally buying a house, wasn't he? He’d even accepted her petition on the spot.
“Why are you so furious, Captain?”
“Hah…! Well, you see.”
Billy flopped into a seat, as if he’d been waiting for someone to ask.
“I bought a house. Scraped together every single coin over three whole years. Yeah, got myself a two-bedroom with a living room. Yesterday, after signing the contract and walking back to the quarters, my whole past flashed before my eyes—I nearly cried.”
“I think I know how you must have felt. I’m truly envious, Captain.”
For once, Henrietta sympathized wholeheartedly. An urge to make captain as quickly as possible welled up inside her.
“Have you moved your things from the quarters yet? When are you moving in?”
“I was planning to do it today. Put in my leave in advance, hired a wagon, and went over to the new place, but…”
“And then?”
Amelia, who had cut in out of nowhere, asked. Billy huffed in response.
“The Division Commander sent a gift.”
“Oh? What was it?”
“A chandelier! More expensive than my house!”
Henrietta and Amelia exchanged glances and shrugged. Neither had any idea what the problem was.
“Isn’t it a good thing if he buys you something expensive?”
“It doesn’t suit the house, that’s why! And his intention is so petty! He’s doing it on purpose!”
“Umm… Is that so?”
“He’s been like this since we were kids. Ever since we were little! The day I got my very first pony as a gift, he rode up on a white stallion, looked down at me, and said I shouldn’t ride an underdeveloped runt—then dumped the white stallion on me and left! Do you know how pathetic my pony looked? I’d even named him! Invincible! Do you know what that guy does now? He pulls my family’s luggage cart! His name is Invincible!”
Talking behind the Division Commander’s back seemed to stoke the fire, and Billy’s voice grew louder. He went from sitting to pacing on his feet.
“When I took first place in the swordsmanship exam at the academy, I’d scraped together my savings again to treat my classmates to a grand feast! But he barged in out of nowhere and rented out the entire restaurant! I’m a commoner, you know? Most of the classmates I hung out with were commoners too! Well, there was one baron’s son, but anyway! When a duke’s son invades a gathering like that, what do you think happens to the mood? Even with delicacies laid out before us, do you think it went down our throats? And do you know what’s even more infuriating? Tucked in his back pocket was a report card showing he’d taken first place in the entire school!”
“Uh, well.”
“Every single time I’m in a good mood, he pops up from nowhere and ruins it! Every! Single! Time! This sense of deprivation! I can’t even enjoy anything purely! Because I always feel like he’s about to appear out of thin air! And do you know what’s most infuriating? You can see that he enjoys it! That pervert!”
Pretty sure he enjoys it because of reactions like that…
Thinking this, Henrietta nibbled on the crackers Amelia had set out. If you receive a chandelier more expensive than your house, isn't that great? You could sell it for cash, or barter it for suitable lighting and household goods.
“Regardless, that just means he’s generous with his money. So he could easily buy my books too; I don’t understand why he’s being so stingy.”
“…Hey, Private, you really are something else…”
At her remark, which lacked an earthworm’s tear of empathy, not only Billy but Amelia wore an exasperated look.
“What’s wrong?”
“Don’t you have a heart? Hearing such a heartbreaking story, you don’t feel anything?”
“I’m thinking it’d be great to sell the chandelier and buy books.”
“Private Matyas really has a singular sense of purpose, doesn’t she?”
Amelia shook her head and patted Billy’s shoulder as if to encourage him. Utterly drained, Billy collapsed back into his chair.
The unhinged private was casually picking up cracker crumbs with an expression that asked what the big deal was.
Yet looking at the unhinged Henrietta, a thought crossed Billy’s mind.
‘Should I let this loose on him?’
His mind made up, Billy grinned.
“Private Matyas. Want me to tell you something good?”
The Division Commander, who could effortlessly get whatever he wanted and excelled at everything, had exactly one thing he couldn't handle. Billy knew the weakness, but the problem had always been getting the Commander to take the bait.
Still, with someone like Private Matyas, who lived as if there were no tomorrow, anything was possible.
It was about time the Division Commander tasted some irritation of his own.