Chapter 60
The 1st Division of the Tuscan Empire was training to death again today.
Leo, just a corporal in the empire, couldn't resist the flow and could only roll with it.
"99! 100! Argh!"
The training he was doing now was simply thrusting a spear while maintaining the correct posture.
However, repeating the action of thrusting a pike over 6 meters long more than a hundred times without any error made his arms and legs ache.
The only thought in Leo's mind was that he didn't need anything else, he just wished he could eat and rest a bit...
'Even if it's food, will they just give us rotten pickled herring again?'
The high-ranking people don't even roll around like dogs after being dragged in as soldiers, but he's been rolling for 3 years after being dragged into the army for the sin of being born lowly.
Even the food that comes out is pickled herring mixed with rotten stuff and brick-like hardtack.
He really felt like dying.
As Leo was thinking he wanted to die, the platoon leader declared loudly:
"Good, training's over! It's time to go eat, gather in four columns!"
Even though the meal portions were already poor and they had trained to the point of death, it's normal for everyone's eyes to roll at just the mention of food.
But no one expected to eat half-rotten pickled herring with only the moldy parts scraped off with a spoon on brick-like hardtack.
So the soldiers moved sluggishly even after hearing the order to assemble for meals.
The platoon leader was very irritated that his subordinates weren't following his orders well, but he didn't beat up one guy to give proper education or raise his voice.
Because he felt the same way.
"Instead of the Pereira Trading Company that's been giving us rotten food until now, another trading company has been selected as the military supplier. And I hear the newly arrived logistics staff officer put in a lot of effort, so edible food should come out."
At the words that rotten food wouldn't come out, the footsteps of soldiers including Leo lightened.
Even if it's just army food, at least now edible food would come out.
"Platoon, forward!"
While going to the dining hall, soldiers belonging to Leo's squad joked:
"Corporal Leo, we'll finally eat something proper."
"Since our platoon leader isn't the type to lie, something edible should come out."
If you randomly pick 10 platoon leaders, 8 would be noble young masters, and 2 would be monsters who achieved success from the bottom ranks as ordinary soldiers while receiving multiple medals.
They're quite high-ranking people who don't lie to lowly soldiers, and are people steeped in class consciousness whether good or bad.
'So they don't lie well.'
"I'm a bit excited. Probably some better stuff will come out than from those Pereira bastards, right?"
"It's still military supplies, what can you expect?"
"From what I hear, the new logistics staff officer who came to the division is only 21 years old. And they say his name has spread widely among the noble gentlemen."
A 21-year-old major, it's a rank that doesn't make sense even to Leo, an ordinary soldier.
Without achieving special merits or having deep connections with the Emperor, you definitely couldn't rise to that level at that age.
'Could he be the Emperor's concubine's child?'
"According to Sergeant Kaife who works in the division's personnel department, his work handling is no joke. If such a capable person has put his hand to meals, won't the situation improve a bit?"
Leo hoped so too.
Because if even the food is hopeless when military life is already shitty, you really want to die.
"I hope so, but now nothing else matters. I just hope that rotten salted herring and brick hardtack don't come out."
"That's true."
**
As soon as Leo and the other soldiers entered the dining hall, they smelled delicious aromas instead of foul odors.
The dining hall was packed with other soldiers, so they couldn't see what food was being served.
But judging by the saliva forming in their mouths, surely edible, no, delicious meals must be prepared.
"Corporal Leo, don't you think we can really have some expectations now?"
"It's still too early. Haven't we been fooled once or twice like this until breaking sergeant?"
Although he was being sarcastic, a smile was on Leo's face too.
Because the only joy in this damn army where eating is the only pleasure, the only reward of military life was about to be fulfilled.
After waiting about 20 minutes, it was Leo's turn to receive his meal.
As he took out his tray, various foods were placed on it.
Slightly soft rye bread, ribollita with a bit of meat, salted herring, a little cheese.
It's a meal incomparable to the rotten salted herring and hardtack they've been eating until now.
No, even when military suppliers provided decent food, such meals only came out on special occasions like holidays.
"Is it the division commander's birthday today?"
The non-commissioned officer in charge of serving sighed and answered:
"The newly arrived logistics staff officer beat up the military suppliers. They say there's money left even after making this by completely eliminating what those bastards have been eating up until now. Hurry up and get your food and eat, others are waiting."
Leo's eyes reddened.
Although military life was really unspeakably shitty, the fact that at least they could eat well from now on.
He was moved by the thought that the sorrow from hunger would fly away.
Still, being a corporal in name, he didn't cry...
But the private nobodies next to him were already soaking their bread with tears.
"Deus, thank you."
"Such a feast was hard to eat even when I was at home."
Leo sat down with his squad members and began eating after receiving his meal.
Usually, they would have forcibly shoved food into their mouths while complaining a bowlful about how bad it tasted, but faced with a truly delicious meal, no words came out.
Because they wanted to focus on the taste.
It was delicious to dip the soft rye bread in the well-salted ribollita.
Eating the salted herring provided for protein supplementation with rye bread, the salty taste and nutty flavor of rye blended together, making the bread go down instantly.
Eating the salty and savory cheese too made them feel like they had the strength to live.
They even thought that enduring 3 years of dog-like military life might be worth it.
The soldiers didn't leave a single drop of soup, exaggerating a bit.
"If you're done eating, let's get up."
"Yes, corporal."
"Hah, I wish it was just like this every day, no more, no less. I didn't know eating like this could make me so happy."
Corporal Leo even thought that if they just gave food like this every day, he could endure even harder training than usual.
Of course, training being hard is hard, and food being delicious is delicious, they're separate matters.
He didn't say those words out loud after rational judgment.
"Alright, I'll buy a drink on this weekend's outing!"
As they were about to leave after finishing their meal, there was a long line at the dining hall exit.
"What the hell is this line for?"
Although curious, he stood in line following others.
Seeing everyone else lining up, there must be some reason.
Near the exit, a soldier was shouting loudly:
"Stand in line properly! If you don't want to die! One per person, so don't think about getting more! If you try to get two and get caught, I'll kill you!"
Whatever they're giving out, it must be something incredibly delicious.
Otherwise, there's no way they'd shout things like one per person.
"Corporal Leo, are we being dragged to the battlefield tomorrow? There's no way they'd keep giving out like this just because one logistics staff officer changed, right?"
"Shut your mouth. Don't make me anxious."
It wasn't unconvincing nonsense.
Although Corporal Leo himself had no combat experience, non-commissioned officers often jokingly said things like this:
'If they suddenly start giving good food, assume you'll be dragged to war the next day or next week.'
They say it like a joke, but it's not a joke but the truth.
"Next! What are you doing next?!"
Corporal Leo turned towards the direction of the voice upon hearing those words.
Sergeant rank insignia, strictly speaking, the highest rank that an ordinary soldier like him, who is a serf, can theoretically rise to.
"Ack, sorry!"
"Take a donut! One per person, and the newly arrived logistics staff officer arranged for them to be distributed once a week! Eat with gratitude!"
Hearing those words, Leo immediately put the donut in his mouth.
It's just bread fried in oil covered with sugar, but...
To buy this in the city, you'd have to pay enough money to buy three meals at a cheap inn.
To eat such a precious thing in the army.
For the army, for those damn high-ranking people to give such precious food...
He felt like his deathly hard work was being recognized.
Maybe that's why while he felt so happy with the sweet taste in his mouth, tears flowed from his eyes naturally.
If Leo, a corporal, was crying to this extent, other soldiers were also bawling with similar thoughts.
"The newly arrived logistics staff officer really recognizes the blood, sweat, and tears of lowly ones like us."
A donut that deeply touched the hearts of those who were only disrespected for being soldiers.
And this naturally became one of the driving forces that could make soldiers endure for a week.
'If I endure for a week, I can eat a donut!'
The morale of the 1st Division rose to the point of piercing the sky.
**
I tried giving them good food and sweets because that's the best for raising soldiers' morale.
The effect was much more tremendous than expected.
"The soldiers are participating in training so enthusiastically that even junior officers are having a hard time. This is unimaginable in the Korean army."
Still, as someone with terrible memories of rolling around as a soldier, it feels good to see soldiers happy with just one donut and improved meals.
While walking, I made eye contact with a soldier.
"Salute! Corporal Leo!!!"
Other officers don't usually accept salutes from commoners well, but I accept them all as much as possible.
Because soldiers have the right to receive minimum respect just for being soldiers.
"Salute. Well, is military life bearable?"
"Yes, it is! Thanks to Staff Officer Medici taking care of our meals, all the members of our squad are grateful every day."
If an ordinary soldier speaks like this, won't my reputation rise too much?
Then the Emperor might dislike it a bit.
"You're thanking the wrong person, corporal. It was His Majesty the Emperor who ordered to treat you this well, I'm merely a tool of his."
Right now, I'm probably achieving results beyond what the Emperor requested of me, anyone can see that.
But when given discretion, it's always good to achieve maximum results.
Why? Because that's how you get promoted and receive more bonuses.
"A corporal wouldn't praise the watering can after watering crops. Similarly, I'm just a tool in His Majesty's hands. All the merit and effort is His Majesty's. I heard there's a false rumor going around among soldiers that I achieved merit, I'd like that corrected."
In a class society like our empire, even second lieutenants try not to make eye contact with soldiers.
Since I don't have such perceptions, I can have respectful conversations even with soldiers.
This became a big advantage even if I'm not a soldier.
'Everyone evaluates me highly.'
"I express gratitude for the corporal's effort, loyalty, and duty, salute."
After this short conversation, soldiers in the 1st Division voluntarily shouted "Long live His Majesty the Emperor" quite often.
The division commander must be very pleased.