The day before the exam.
Baron Romero was sipping tea in a small teacup that did not fit his size, and reading the report received from Captain Jonathan.
Captain Jonathan said "All preparations for the test are complete. We are only going to support a minimal number of private troops, and Master Roman is taking care of the overall progress of the test."
"Is that time already?"
Yes. The number of visitors has increased dramatically in the early morning, and all of the people are willing to volunteer for to become private soldiers."
Baron Romero remembered the moment he first heard the plan.
Even at that time, the thought of nurturing private soldiers took precedence over the possibility of a plan.
'Roman told me, he wanted to nurture private soldiers for himself, not for the Dmitry family. That's not allowed in the aristocratic world. When the problem of succession is not resolved, giving personal power to a son is a choice that can have irreversible consequences.'
But.
Baron Romero readily agreed.
In most of the people opinions second son should be the heir rather than the eldest son of Dmitry, and even though it was not a small expense to pay 8 silver to 30 soldiers a month, he did not even ask Roman's purpose for recurting private soldiers.
Actually.
Roman's recent actions was incomprehensible for him .
When he was told that Roman was going to Barco's social party after breaking up with the Lawrence family, he thought that Roman was trying to use his connections to collaborate with Barco. future succession plan. To push out the second son and seize power, Barco's support was a very attractive card.
However, the results were different.
In front of the aristocrats around the northeast, Roman blew Anthony Barco knight's cheek.
Anthony Barco was a narrow-minded man, so he was sure that Anthony Barco would have a grudge against Roman for humiliating him. It will not pose a direct threat.
It means that Dmitry's background is strong, but for Anthony Barco, he had enough way for him to get revenge on Roman.
For example.
He may also intervene in the succession by scheme against Roman.
If he takes the side of the second son rather than Roman, than it may disqualified Roma from succeeding due to internal and external support.
So that why.
Baron Romero granted Roman's request.
Roman Dmitry, who has cleared away his reputation as Dmitry's idiot which was there for decades, he began to live a normal life starting with the Blood Fang incident.
Baron Romero watched all the changes in Roman.
He know the gap is too big to follow the second son in the succession of heir, but he still wanted Roman to do everything he wanted to do.
He couldn't help but cheer from his bottom of heart.
His second son is living an elite life, and his talent is recognized in the capital.
Baron Romero said "So, how many applicants are there? 50 people? 100 people? Considering Roman's reputation, it would be a good thing if there were more than 50 people. Being a private soldier, not of the family, would not be very pleasant for people."
That's right.
private soldiers.
As the word private implies, roles primarily used for personal affairs were not favored by people.
It is different from the privates soldiers of noble families.
Still, soldiers raised under the title of protecting a family are preferred as stable jobs, but individual soldiers are easily abandoned depending on the circumstances.
50 at best.
It was Baron Romero's prediction.
To the extent that testing was virtually unnecessary, he thought that not many people would want to private soldiers of Roman.
By the way.
Jonathan shook his head and said.
"As soon as the guards determined the purpose of the entry, they said that more than two hundred people had already visited Dmitry for the enlistment exam. Besides, it's not yet test day. With the current progress, we estimate that at least five hundred people will be tested on the same day."
five hundred people.
Baron Romero, who was about to take a sip of tea, was frozen by the sudden information.
" So much?"
[ It was Baron Romero who still felt that he was underestimating Roman.
Dmitry's inn was truly crowded with people.
Inside the inn bustling with people, Lucas sat at the bar and drank a beer. ]
"Gulp."
At the characteristic stoutness of Dmitry's dark beer, Lucas frowned and carefully examined the surroundings.
'It's been a while since when last show people flocked like these.' There will be more applicants than expected. The problem is that beyond the simple fact that there are a lot of applicants, the level of people who apply for enlisted soldiers is higher than expected.
[ This enlisted recruitment.
Recruitment of private soldiers.
Eight silver per month is a decent enough reward, but veterans like himself had no reason to do it.
Still, the reason Lucas applied was out of curiosity about Roman Dmitry.
He wanted to see for himself how much the person called Dmitry's nerd had changed, and whether he really valued people, as the rumors say. ]
[ Lucas was a special case.
He thought that most ordinary people would apply, but more talented people appeared that he didn't expect. ]
'Three men talking loudly at the table in the corner. Judging by the same-colored IDs hanging from their waists, they are most likely C-class mercenaries. And the guys drinking side by side at the bar. They don't look like mercenaries, but they are well-versed in fighting just by looking at their physique and posture.'
It was the one of the many inns in Dmitry.
However, even in this small space, five or six decent applicants could be seen, the level of applicants far exceeded his expectations.
Lucas had a question.
Why?
He didn't think it was just because of the rumors.
It is great enough that Roman changes the lives of the Clark family, and that Kevin is valued enough to punish the knights of the Barco family.
But in the end, the most important value is money.
Eight silvers a month was a price that only ignorant people would pay for private soldiers, and it was an offer that people like him wouldn't be interested in.
Gulp gulp.
He even his drank alcohol.
And when he was about to get up from his seat, he heard a voice that caught his nerves.
"Henderson. Why are you here who wanted to become a member of the Lawrence family?"
A conversation between two men.
Lucas sat back down and listened carefully.
The situation was like this.
A man named Henderson.
He was from Lawrence.
In preparation for the war against the Barco family, Lawrence conscripted the permanent residents of Lawrence.
As a result, most of the strong men responded to conscription.
Henderson, of course, was going to fight for Lawrence not too long ago, but an incident changed his mind completely.
Henderson said.
"As you know, I was going to join the conscription even though I wasn't eligible. If Lawrence, my hometown, was destroyed, my life would have no meaning anyway. But when I saw Roman Dmitry subjugating Blood Fang in Lawrence, I changed my mind. I knew that than he was the real leader."( Translater note here real leader mean he knew than that Roman is Main character :) :). )
that day.
Henderson was one of those in the square who had witnessed the subjugating of Blood Fang.
It was like a new world for him.
A master from a noble family, who must have been raised with dignity since childhood, appeared covered in blood in front of the common people.
Roman grabbed Ben Miles hair with one hand and dragged him along.
Knowing how dangerous he was, people like Henderson held their breath in a flash.
And.
Roman executed Ben Miles.
Those who were not present did not believe the events of that day, but Henderson could not forget that moment when.
Roman said "Blood Fang extended his demonic hand to Dmitry. He plunged Dmitry's territories into a pit with his filthy craftsmanship, and even showed an intention to kill me who interfered with it. Blood Fang's sin is clear. Therefore, in front of you, I will uproot the root of evil."
In order to punish the Blood Fang who touched Dmitry's people, he even came to Lawrence and took the sword.
blood splashed
Ben Miles' head flew away.
The children screamed and closed their eyes, but Henderson clearly witnessed the splash of blood.
'Alas.'
There was a shudder.
He looked at Roman!
A leader who raises his sword for his people!
There was such a person in the world!
Henderson, who was talking about that moment with a hot face, explained why he wanted to become Roman's private soldier.
"People doubt and deny what happened in Lawrence. I don't think Roman Dmitry would ever be able to do that. But I saw it and felt it. Roman Dmitry is not a weak human being as rumored in the world, but a leader who can fight for his people. And this enlistment recruitment is a great opportunity to become Roman Dmitry's man. I want to pass the exam, get Dmitry's permanent residence, and live as a Roman Dmitry man.
Roman reputation was fallen to the floor.
On top of that, new stories piled up one after another.
Subdue Blood Fang.
Clark family.
Kevin's case.
The reason people flocked to see Roman's was not because of a single event, but because of a synergy from multiple events.
people thought
if it's Roman
Wouldn't it be worthy of allegiance, and to become a private soldiers?
He treats people with respect in return for their loyalty, and does not hesitate to draw a sword, even when fighting evil hordes such as Blood Fang.
He couldn't help but support. Even those who thought they were worth more than 8 silver, their blood boiled in their hearts as they listened to Roman's story.
This private uprising was no accident.
People have eyes and ears.
So that why.
Slowly, the true face of Roman was revealed on the surface.
* * *
On the day of the test, it was bright.
In the exam hall crowded with people, Lucas was still immersed in his own world.
'If everything I heard was true. What kind of choice do I have to make then?'
This was the place, were he and others who are dubious and have expressed their intention to support will soon face the truth of Roman.
That was the moment of choice.
He thought was he serious about taking the exam?
Or, he will fall out after watching the seasoning in moderation?
Lucas, who spent his whole life at the forefront and earned a B-grade mercenary trophy, was seriously contemplating whether it was worth investing his life in, even at the price of 8 silver.
It's a condition he wouldn't normally look at.
However, the sense of Lucas, the sense that made him a B-class mercenary, led him to these testing ground.
The exam hall was noisy.
At least five hundred people where present.
Since there was no one to sanction, so many people were making noise as if they were on the floor of the market.
"Ah ha ha ha ha ha."
"Did that really happen?"
"After the test, let's go get a beer!"
That was then.
No one tells them to stop
No one shuts people's mouths.
Suddenly the commotion subsided.
People's eyes naturally turned to the noise that disappeared from one side as if the ground was being turned off.
Lucas was no different.
It is also the moment he shift his gaze.
" !"
Hw was out of breath, his hair stood up
The front line where fighting for their lives.
As the extreme tension that could only be felt there was revived, Lucas unconsciously lowered his head.
It seemed like it had to be.
one man.
of his appearance, of his gait.
Lucas, like everyone else, bowed his head to greet him.
'The rumors were true.'
Roman Dmitry.
He appeared through the crowd.