Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 94

Mock battles continue unabated.

Of course, using real swords and spears seriously would result in casualties.

To avoid accidental injuries, the spear tips are wrapped in cloth, and swords are not drawn.

Moreover, there is no use of crossbows or muskets.

Instead of the sound of weapons clashing, only the orders of Serjeant Major Helga and the other serjeants can be heard.

This training is different from that which grants individual soldiers combat ability.

Following orders, maintaining formations, or merging and dispersing with other groups measured in dozens, continues without pause.

To me, Martina, this is a bizarre sight.

Such training was never conducted in the Boseul territory.

—

A strange shriek resounds.

It’s not a “Kiieee”.

That’s why Lord Faust doesn’t take you to the battlefield.

I’d like to say that the shrieking assistant priest is clearly a nuisance—

However, she does not hinder the troop movements and follows the serjeant’s orders properly.

She is not lacking as a soldier.

That makes it all the more infuriating.

—

“What have you been pondering over?”

Silence.

Lord Faust watches the mock battle, deeply engrossed in his thoughts.

Ever since he muttered the word “battle line,” he has been contemplating something.

“It’s nothing relevant.”

“Please, share it. Even if you conclude it yourself, it’s better to have someone to listen.”

Lord Faust frowns slightly and begins to speak sporadically.

“It really is irrelevant. I was thinking about various formations distant from the reality of the resource and manpower-poor Polydoro territory.”

“And what might that be?”

“Last night at dinner, we discussed the future of warfare brought about by firearms. Truly, it has nothing to do with Polydoro territory, and I’m not confident as my knowledge is shallow…”

He rubs his temple with his thick index finger.

Lord Faust poses a question.

“In using firearms, what do you think is the most effective formation, Martina?”

“Well…”

Several ideas come to mind, but my wisdom falls short.

Instead of pondering, I reply directly.

“It depends on the development of firearms, so I can’t say for sure—but primarily, wouldn’t it be the musketeers who wield muskets?”

I counter-ask.

Formations are indeed important, but Lord Faust seems slightly off the mark.

If we’re talking about the future of battlefields, there’s something more revolutionary to consider.

Lord Faust, still watching the mock battle, furrows his brow curiously.

“And that would be?”

“It seems to me you have it backward. The game changer on battlefields isn’t so much the muskets, but something bigger. Ah, what should I call it?”

“Cannons?”

Exactly.

That should be the term.

“Exactly, Lord Faust. If it’s about conducting one-sided slaughter, then cannons, not muskets, would be best. Considering the strongest tactics currently in the Holy Gusten Empire, it would still be the heavy cavalry charges. But adding a cannon strike would tear the enemy to pieces, wouldn’t it?”

This is a blunt and cruel conclusion, but it should be basic.

A 9-year-old like me can come up with this, so the Cologne Sect must be considering it as well.

“I would like to know about the Cologne Sect’s firearms development.”

“I cannot know that. I am a lordly knight and a believer in the Cologne Sect, but that’s all. The only ones who might know are Queen Liesenlotte, First Princess Anastasia, Duchess Astarte, and the high priests of the Great Church. It would be presumptuous for me to inquire.”

Understandable.

Such military information would clearly be confidential.

So, employing my nine-year-old intellect to the fullest, I venture some guesses.

“In bringing cannons to the battlefield, what is shot is crucial.”

“Isn’t it iron balls?”

“No, I was thinking more of packing a large quantity of musket bullets into some container that could scatter them in mid-air, allowing for area suppression on the battlefield. Of course, this would bring issues like reduced range.”

“Ah,” Lord Faust nods.

He isn’t slow-witted, so he should understand with just a word.

After all, this is the ideal scene for Lord Faust on the battlefield.

The development of anti-personnel shells would enable one-sided mass murder.

“I understand what you’re saying. It reminds me—no, it gives me an idea. But sorry, I hadn’t thought it was possible.”

“I can’t assert it either since I don’t know the developmental status. But at least, if it’s the Cologne Sect, they might have already thought of it and are advancing their development.”

The more the enemy is killed, the more our own are saved, as those gunpowder maniacs believe.

They must be progressing

 in their development.

“The advent of cannons could indeed transform the battlefield. A specialized artillery branch seems likely.”

“You are absolutely right, Martina. I have nothing more to say.”

Having said that, Lord Faust falls silent again.

His gaze remains fixed on the mock battle.

No, silence is troublesome here.

I wish he wouldn’t conclude his thoughts by himself.

—

“I wish to hear what you are thinking, Lord Faust.”

“What I was considering wasn’t about the emergence of artillery troops. Honestly, when compared to Martina’s wisdom, I feel embarrassed to even speak of it.”

“No, please, share your thoughts.”

Why is he, faced with a nine-year-old, feeling so deeply embarrassed?

With cheeks slightly reddened, I urge Lord Faust to continue.

“I was only thinking about the evolution of muskets and the strengthening of musketeers.”

“And that means?”

“Should I say line infantry? Due to the development of firearms—well, it’s not exactly progress from the Tercio we discussed recently. What I mean is—”

Lord Faust rotates his index finger, which had been touching his temple.

“For instance, arranging the musketeers in three rows for continuous volley fire. After the front line fires, they rotate to the back to reload their muskets—”

“Would you say it’s similar to volley fire?”

I simplify Lord Faust’s somewhat ambiguous, perhaps specific words into a single term.

“Martina, you really are clever.”

He compliments me with a single sentence, then falls silent again, his face still flushed.

“No, please, keep talking!”

“Is it necessary?”

“Why are you sulking? Please, stop it!!”

It’s not like Lord Faust said anything wrong in his statements.

That’s why I want him to stop being silent.

It was somewhat unpleasant.

It reminded me of my mother, Caroline, who always seemed troubled by my questions.

She too often struggled to answer, consulting with serjeants and clergy to scrape together responses, attempting to provide whatever was necessary.

The things a knight needs—manners, culture, the art of managing people’s hearts—those were well and good.

But military strategy, history, much wisdom…

Perhaps I demanded more than what the granddaughter of a feudal lord of a territory with less than a thousand subjects could learn.

That’s why mother was always troubled.

Caroline, who had no rights to inherit the Boseul territory and was merely a spare, always had that troubled look.

Back then, I never considered my mother’s feelings and acted foolishly.

—

“What’s wrong, Martina?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s continue our conversation.”

I taste the bitterness in my mouth, embarrassed that Lord Faust noticed my pained expression.

It’s irreparable now.

—

“Anyway, that’s what I was thinking about. If I think about it, dense formations would just get blasted by artillery. I think line infantry are strong, but—it’s impossible in Polydoro territory anyway, so it’s meaningless.”

“You were talking about the operation of muskets with Lady Sabine too, right?”

“Hmm? Ah, I suppose I did get quite a few questions about firearms operation when I visited Virendorf. Yes, I did indeed talk about it.”

Lady Sabine, the mad captain of the Second Princess’s royal guard, deemed Lord Faust’s proposal effective.

And truly, it is effective.

He didn’t say anything wrong.

With military training and formations, making the musketeers’ reloading and movements more precise and efficient, volley fire can be very powerful.

It’s the perfection of a horizontal formation that continuously spews firepower.

“Lord Faust, may I draft a letter to Duchess Astarte about this matter?”

“What purpose would that serve?”

“I believe that a powerful and wealthy lord like Duchess Astarte, with a strong standing army, would find this effective.”

Indeed, the army led by Lord Faust is of no use to anyone, but that doesn’t mean it is useless to others.

In any case, a report should have been made.

Well, Princess Anastasia and Duchess Astarte might have already come up with something.

I must do my job as a spy.

—

“Well, that’s fine. Anyway, I’ve thought about it, but I just don’t understand. It lies in the fact that I can’t know about the Cologne Sect’s firearms development, which Martina mentioned first.”

“If you could know?”

“I might be able to come up with some ideas. But after all, it’s a story irrelevant to the Polydoro domain, which doesn’t have the money to introduce firearms.”

—

I wonder a bit.

Duchess Astarte, with her perverted curiosity, made me a spy to find out what Lord Faust is doing.

Is it slightly different?

Isn’t the Duchess directly asking, but trying to squeeze ideas out of Lord Faust by putting me as a cushion?

I think about such things.

Crazy Sabine seemed to have heard it directly—why not just ask?

Well, the perverse desire to know everything about Lord Faust and the occasional brilliant ideas worth borrowing.

Both might be true.

—

“For now, why don’t I just ask Duchess Astarte as a last resort? If I report that we can provide ideas, maybe they will disclose information too.”

“Well, Martina, just handle it as you see fit.”

—

Lord Faust seems unenthusiastic.

Sighing at his attitude, I ask.

“Lord Faust, aren’t you considering working on enhancing Anhalt’s military as a comrade-in-arms?”

“I am thinking about it. I was the one who said that a nomadic cavalry nation would come within seven years, and I would cooperate if I could build effective measures. But well…”

—

Lord Faust took his index finger from his temple and dropped his arm lazily.

The mock battle is nearing its end.

His gaze, losing interest, shifted to my face.

—

“I am merely a superhuman of war after all. Strategy should be left to Princess Anastasia, tactics to Duchess Astarte. I am not in a position to be known for such abilities. If I could think of something, those two have thought about it too. Martina, just like you showed a different perspective from my own thoughts.”

—

Am I considered a superhuman like those two?

Yet I am still a nine-year-old child.

—

“I warned about the threat that would eventually come to the Holy Gusten Empire. But that’s as far as it goes. The rest is up to them. I know I am inferior to them. Although I have some wisdom, I know my limits as a minor lord. All I can do is desperately maneuver at the Anhalt Royal Castle and vow the taboo Gesh.”

“You trust Princess Anastasia and Duchess Astarte, don’t you?”

“They are my comrades.”

—

Lord Faust’s mouth relaxed into a smile.

“Well, Princess Anastasia is always suspected of consuming human flesh, the snake-eyed princess, and Duchess Astarte loves to fondle my buttocks, but they are both good people.”

“You’ve just torn them apart, but I won’t deny Lord Faust’s circle of friends.”

—

The patronage of those two is why Lord Faust can somehow manage in noble society.

Likewise, if I am not favored by those two, I may never become a court official in the capital.

—

“Anyway, if my wisdom might be of some use, I should do it. I’ll try to put together various writings. It will be miscellaneous, but Martina, could you supplement it and send a letter to Duchess Astarte?”

“Understood.”

—

My mission as a spy is fulfilled, and I gain official recognition from Lord Faust.

It’s not a bad day’s work.

However, I wanted to know about the Cologne Sect’s firearms development.

—

“KIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIE”

I would love to hear what that dangerous person emitting the strange cries is seeing.

But that cleric won’t know, and the Cologne Sect won’t spill.

Unless I meet the Empress or the Pope and they disclose military secrets, the latest information will not be available.

Neither Lord Faust nor I will ever have such an opportunity, no matter what.

While thinking such thoughts, I laughed at us two, merely a minor lord and a nine-year-old knight-in-training.