Chapter 61
Within the Tenth Knight Order are two companies with considerable autonomy: Granz's company and Lapiria's company.
These two units are called companies when either one leads several units from the Tenth Knight Order's ten units—in other words, in situations like this mock battle.
Both companies are also dispatched independently to handle matters that aren't serious enough to warrant Rays-sama taking the field.
Rays-sama's "my unit" referred to this company.
It was a generous offer, but surely these companies worked only because they were led by Granz-sama and Lapiria-sama.
In other words, this was possible because the unit commanders and soldiers trusted me enough to put me in command in Rays-sama's place.
"To put it bluntly, don't the unit commanders lack that degree of trust in me?"
I said frankly.
"Is that so?" Rays-sama asked with an unruffled expression.
"That's what I thought," I continued, but Rays-sama looked at Granz-sama and Lapiria-sama and asked, "What do you think?"
"Indeed. I find it interesting. Leaving aside his willingness to risk his life, he showed exceptional insight at Ellen, and at Haksha he achieved results through bold decisions and stratagems. In this exercise, he deftly maneuvered multiple units without a hitch—in fact, so skillfully that he deserves high praise. I don't think he is lacking in any way," Granz-sama said, lavishing me with praise.
"Well, he's nowhere near as good as Rays-sama, Granz-sama, or me, but he may be better than an ordinary unit commander. Don't let it go to your head," Lapiria-sama said.
"But..." While I remained confused, Rays-sama added one more thing.
"In any case, you should ask the commanders of the units you want to include in your company whether they would join you. Naturally, anyone but the Bekrad, Haas, Saag, and Juno units."
A company consists of two fixed units and adds reinforcements as needed. Bekrad's and Haas's units permanently belong to Granz's company, while Saag's and Juno's belong to Lapiria's.
If I were to create Roa Company, I would have to choose two units from the six remaining ones. In fact, the commanders I would approach were practically decided already. Rays-sama knew that, too, which was why he told me to ask them.
Could it be that he had assigned Ryuzel and Frein to me with my company in mind as well? Just how far ahead does this man see when he speaks?
Today, for the first time, I felt that I had truly experienced the extent of Rays-sama's greatness.
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"Roa Company? Oh, sure."
"Me, too."
After taking my leave of Rays-sama's tent, I returned to the place where we'd been drinking moments before. I told Ryuzel and Frein about the company, then asked for their cooperation.
Their answer was so casual that I was a little taken aback.
"Are you really okay with this? It's Roa Company, you know? I hate to say it myself, but I think it's a unit with nothing but cause for concern."
"I don't mind. Ever since Ryuzel and I were sent over here, I had a feeling something like this might happen," Frein replied while gnawing on a piece of meat.
"Units assigned to companies are generally fixed, and they hardly ever change. I've always been a little envious of companies," Ryuzel said.
"Rays-sama told me to bring you two along if you had no objections..."
"I see. Then shall we go?"
"Are you really okay with this? It's Roa Company, you know?" I pressed them, and Ryuzel and Frein exchanged glances. Then they turned to me and flashed broad grins.
"Roa Company isn't bad. Besides, it comes with that Azure Bow, Wickhart, as a bonus. If we support you, I think it'll be a pretty strong company," they said, and I nearly cried to myself.
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So we were back at Rays-sama's tent once more.
"I understand your decision. Then I hereby approve the formation of Roa Company."
"Thank you," we all said, bowing our heads.
After that, Ryuzel raised his hand and asked, "May I ask something?"
"What is it?"
"I have no objection to being assigned to Roa Company, but ours is the only cavalry unit in the Tenth Knight Order. How will advance missions and the like be handled from now on?"
"Ah, that's actually one of the reasons I called you both. I'm thinking of increasing the number of cavalry units."
"More cavalry?"
"That's right. The Tenth Knight Order has always been hampered by its shortage of cavalry, so I think this is a good opportunity."
According to Rays-sama's explanation, the Tenth Knight Order had so little cavalry because it was the newest of the knight orders.
The Tenth Knight Order had effectively been created as Rays-sama's own knight order, so it had fallen behind in training cavalry. Now that basic training was largely complete, he had been considering increasing the number of cavalry, but the current balance of cavalry and infantry had already proven strong enough, so he had put it off.
"But there may be situations, like Haksha, where greater mobility is needed. With only Ryuzel's unit as cavalry, we'd be hard-pressed. That's why, Frein."
"Yes."
"How about converting Frein's unit into a cavalry unit as well?"
"Our unit? Yes! Absolutely!" Frein jumped at the offer without a moment's hesitation. He does love horses, after all.
"Good. Then we'll convert Frein's unit and one other unit into cavalry units," Rays-sama said, looking pleased.
"Does that mean Roa Company will consist entirely of cavalry units?"
"Yes. Is there a problem? If anything, I think it suits your way of fighting."
"No, it just feels like a huge responsibility..."
"It doesn't just feel that way; it is a huge responsibility. You and your Roa Company will be expected to make full use of your mobility. I'm counting on you!"
Rays-sama strengthened his voice for his final words, as if putting his spirit into them, and Ryuzel and Frein answered with a forceful, "Yes, sir!"
And so, my unit—the Roa Company—was born.