The Advantage of Having Appointment Authority

While shaken by the Secretary of Military Affairs's betrayal, the soldiers began to accept that once they protected the Royal Capital until the Alsarm Army arrived, they would be safe for the time being.

Once they joined with the Alsarm Army, even against the Secretary of Military Affairs and the troops who betrayed them, our side would be overwhelmingly stronger.

Security is maintained through strength, after all.

"I'm sorry, but your scope of work and burden will increase beyond what it has been. We intend to raise your salaries accordingly. For the Kingdom's sake, please hang in there now."

With those words as a conclusion, the soldiers were dismissed.

Many of the soldiers were young.

Here and there, I could see those who perked up at hearing their pay would increase.

Princess Tianis looked puzzled at this sight.

"I said we'd raise salaries because I was told to, but can you really understand their feelings so well? To be honest, I expected deserters."

"Nothing kills motivation like simply having more work piled on. They already have plenty of reasons to worry, so you need to deliver good news alongside the bad. Also, the Alsarm Army's reputation and people's strong desire to protect their own city helped."

"I'd never thought about that. You're right, they're people too. They're not some automatic defense force."

I replied to Princess Tianis's words.

The city they were attached to. Friends, lovers, parents, children. Many became soldiers to protect such people.

I thought rewarding them was part of a ruler's job.

"You there. Mani, was it? You, stay behind for a moment."

"Y-yes. Understood."

Princess Tianis stopped Mani, who had been speaking up.

The other soldiers laughed and jeered at her, but she shouted back at them.

It seemed she was on good terms with the other soldiers.

"What do you need from me, Your Royal Highness Princess Tianis? Are you perhaps going to punish me for earlier?"

"Don't be so nervous. I'm not trying to punish you."

Her expression was tense.

After all, she had directly voiced her opinion to royalty.

It wasn't exactly praiseworthy behavior.

"What is your unit and rank?"

"I am a decurion in the City Defense Force."

"A decurion at your age. You must be capable."

"N-no, not at all."

She was being modest, but it was impressive.

At her young age, she commanded ten subordinates.

She might have better management abilities than Yohane.

"I think it's wonderful. You wouldn't be in that position without results. Under normal circumstances, you'd eventually become a centurion, wouldn't you?"

"Someone like me in such a position…! I'm not of noble birth, and I'm satisfied with my current rank."

Mani was blushing a little from the praise.

"Does nobility have something to do with rank?"

"Unfortunately, yes. Centurion and above are usually held by nobles. Some families secure positions based solely on lineage. That's why factions form easily. The chiliarch, who is also a general, is sometimes held by high nobles or royalty, but… the current Kingdom can't follow that convention."

"Ah, so that's why the Secretary of Military Affairs's faction all left together. If the boss disappears, the whole faction weakens, so they might as well follow him."

"I think so. I wish they wouldn't treat important positions in the Kingdom's military as if they were personal property."

Chancellor Anatia explained various things to me.

I had thought the military was a meritocracy, so this was somewhat of a shock.

If positions were determined by family background alone, was such a military really strong?

Emperor Kelves's army had been different.

It was completely merit-based, and I had witnessed those who failed to produce results being mercilessly stripped of their positions. Their loyalty was high, and they maintained their momentum even when at a disadvantage.

That was precisely why he had pacified all the rebellious elements and established his absolute position.

Was it overthinking to believe an army where positions could be obtained without effort couldn't be a match for them?

"But things will be different from now on. The Secretary of Military Affairs taking his entire faction was truly painful for the Kingdom, a huge blow. But it has opened a large hole in convention. From now on, it will be an era where you earn your position through ability."

"I see."

If I recalled correctly, opposition in the parliament had also decreased significantly.

So while they had weakened as a group, in terms of unifying their will, things had actually improved.

A difficult matter.

Bigger is generally better.

However, if internal opinions diverged to the point of paralysis, it would only lead to decline.

That balance was what made it difficult.

Yohane renewed his determination to continue with his small elite team for a while longer.

"Mani. Do you know who holds the highest rank among the Kingdom's military currently in the Royal Capital?"

"Currently? The Secretary of Military Affairs, who was Marshal, is gone, and His Highness the Prince who was chiliarch has passed away as well. Most of the centurions have… well…"

"Followed the Secretary of Military Affairs. In other words, the Kingdom's military currently has soldiers but no one to command them. Is that correct?"

"Yes. There are some remaining centurions, but when the time comes, we're uncertain whose orders to follow. The gaps in border security were caused by that too. If the chain of command had been intact, we could have sent reinforcements immediately."

"For now, we're sending people for appearances' sake, but at this rate, it's only a matter of time before the military becomes dysfunctional."

"Yes. I would like Your Royal Highness to appoint replacements as soon as possible."

"I see. I understand well. By the way, Mani. Have you ever wanted to become a general?"

"Of course I have. Dreaming is free, after all."

"Then I bestow upon you the position of chiliarch. Congratulations. You're a general starting today."

"Huh?"

Mani let out a silly sound in utter surprise.