Chương 35: Recruiters

I was in trouble, right? Of course I was in trouble. Why wouldn't I be in trouble? Had they figured out what had happened between Scar and I? Or did they think I killed Ticks? I stepped to the back of the tent to let the other sergeants and lieutenants out, then walked over to the table—only to realize that Finger, Galliard, and Aldhelm had returned to Galliard's desk, so I followed them over hesitantly. This time, I knew better than to ask any questions. They'd tell me what was wrong.

For a few seconds, no one spoke, and I almost opened my mouth against my better judgement, but finally, Galliard said, "Lieutenant Finger and Sir Aldhelm informed me of your bravery yesterday."

"Y—yes. I'm sorry, I was just doing my best. I didn't mean to step on anyone's toes." Still, I couldn't deny that a swell of relief surged through me. Were they going to officially make me a sergeant?

"I wasn't trying to be pushy, but I saw an opportunity, and—""And you took it, which is commendable," Galliard replied.

"There is no need for an apology. Though I ask that you take a little more courage and be more assertive when not in battle—like right now. There's no need to become a stammering fool." I cleared my throat and almost apologized again, but instead, I just said, "Understood."

"A few days ago, after your last stat assessment, your old sergeant mentioned that you had expressed interest in joining the SAP," Finger told me. My eyes widened.

"When my messengers returned," Sir Aldhelm added, "they informed me that a few sappers were in the area—and a senior member, with the authority to recruit members. He will visit our camp later this evening to meet you."

"He heard about me?" I asked.

"My messengers told him about you," Aldhelm said.

"Unbidden, of course, but your actions yesterday impressed them greatly as well, and they assumed they had my approval. Which they did."

"You're not mad at them?"

"I agree with them, and I will recommend you as a candidate when the recruiter arrives. It is the responsibility of thegns to recommend members to the SAP, of course."

"Does that mean, if I accept the offer, I'm in?" I asked.

"It is slightly more complicated than that," Galliard said.

"And considering how little time is left in this recruiting window, it will be especially difficult for you. But it's a chance, and it would be a shame if we didn't let you have it." I didn't understand what he meant by that, but I didn't pester him. For now, I was elated, and I had more pressing questions.

"What will happen to the squad I was in?"

"Romance will be promoted to sergeant," Finger said.

"And he'll receive four new replacements when we get reinforcements. You will remain a man-at-arms for a little while longer, but that's no matter. The rank displayed on your slate doesn't affect your strength in the slightest." I nodded.

"Speaking of which… is there any chance I could take a look at the slate?" The three men behind the desk glanced at each other, and Galliard said, "I think he's earned it." They handed me the reading slate and I took it. Not much had changed, but my Presence had increased to four, and was likely a very high four (close to ticking over into five). As well, my Vitality had increased to three. I had no new Skills, though. After I returned the slate, they dismissed me.

I was to continue with my daily tasks until the sappers arrived. I found Elf and Romance outside Slowbend, helping carry logs, and I joined them. We were building a palisade around it and turning it into a properly defensible bastion, so that when the orcs did come back, we'd stand a better chance of repelling them.

"What kept you?" Elf asked. I told them what the higher-ups had offered me.

"You'll take it, I assume?" Romance asked.

"It's an opportunity of a lifetime." I set down the log I was carrying, letting the tip brush the ground.

"I…was considering." The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Only considering? Come on, kid, you don't have to be diplomatic."

"Alright, I was more than considering."

"Better question is, why would you stay here with us?" Elf asked. I rose up on my tip-toes and looked around the worksite as best I could.

"If things are heating up on the front, you're going to need all the help you can get. It feels wrong to abandon you guys at a time like this."

"And it feels wrong for us to keep you here," Romance said.

"Perhaps we all owe our lives to you, but…" He shook his head.

"Call me crazy, something tells me I need to start working a little harder. We could be so much more. I think we've got an example from you, but you need to move up if you're going to inspire the men properly." I snorted.

"Maybe it's a bad idea to go hunting in the Bane-lands, though, considering what just happened."

"Maybe," said Elf.

"Point is, Levi, you can't stay here with us. You've gotta take the chance when you get it. We'll still be here, and we'll be damned if we don't try to survive. And when you're a proper sapper, you can come back and lend us a hand."

"Besides, you want to talk about the good of Gate?" Elf asked.

"You'll do far more good if you can become a sapper and fight somewhere important."

"Thanks, guys." I nodded.

"When the recruiter comes, I'll make sure he's impressed." ~ ~ ~ It was mid-afternoon when a pair of Dupes I didn't recognize marched up the side of the hill where Romance, Elf, and I were training. We'd finished our tasks, and now, we were sparring. There was something odd about 'not recognizing' a Dupe, considering we all shared similar faces, but there were slight differences. For example, my chin had gotten slightly pointier than the rest of the battalion.

Some of us had more prominent cheekbones or larger foreheads. And not all of us were the same age, of course. Both of these Dupes looked like they were in their mid-thirties, and they wore heavy armour, but they carried it without breaking a sweat. If I had to guess, they were Titanium-tier or higher. They carried shields on their backs and wore their preferred weapons at their hips—for one, it was a short sword, and for the other, it was a single-headed axe.

Plus, amongst the orange markings on their armour, there was a touch of sand blue mixed in, indicating that they were sappers.

"Levi? Is there a Levi here?" said the sapper with a sword.

"Your lieutenant told us you'd be out here."

"Over here!" Romance called, then motioned toward me.

"This is Levi." I stepped forward and bowed my head to them.

"Good afternoon." The sappers each raised a hand, giving a common greeting, then glanced at each other.

"Training on your own volition? That's rare in a fringe battalion like this." That made me wince, but I didn't say anything. It wasn't a wince at them or myself, but just at the army's standards. But then again, I didn't really know any better. Maybe that was how armies back home worked, too. At least these guys saw that I was motivated enough, though.

"Regardless," the sapper with the axe said, "we're here to offer you a chance to join the SAP."

"What do I have to do?" I asked. Galliard and Aldhelm had implied there was something else I had to do.

"You'll travel with us to Castle Urcia," the first sapper said.

"That is our southern training ground. Now, admission into the training program isn't guaranteed—every two years, we get a new batch, and they begin training around this time of year. We have about three-hundred candidates and we can only take a hundred. So in late summer, they all come, get to know each other, work together and understand our expectations before the entrance examination begins."

"Entrance exam?" I asked. This was starting to sound depressingly like school. But at least this school felt like it had a little bit more of a purpose to it. The first sapper explained, "An important part of being a sapper is working with your squad to complete objectives. We don't want lone wolves. If you cannot work in a team, you won't complete the entrance examination. Which is why we give them three-or-so months to prepare and form their own squads."

"When you arrive, you'll have about two days before the examination," the second sapper said.

"It's not ideal and we wouldn't usually admit a candidate this late, but Sir Aldhelm vouches for your drive. You'll have to find and put together a squad, and you'll have to do well in the examination, but you'll have a chance." I nodded.

"I understand. What's the examination?"

"Leading your squad through our Labyrinth and tackling our combat simulation." Now, Labyrinths, I could handle. I beamed, then said, "I'm willing to give it a shot."

"Very well. We leave immediately. Gather your kit bag and your equipment. We will have your wage transferred, and any outstanding scrap allowance you've earned will be moved to Castle Urcia's blacksmiths. Meet us in front of the camp in ten minutes." I nodded, then raced back to the camp. After gathering my armour and my kit bag, I snatched up my spear and said my goodbyes to Elf and Romance, then to Maurifus. Hild and Fleda were watching, and I waved goodbye to them as well before continuing on my way.

Something told me this wouldn't be the last I saw of them, though. Sure enough, the two sappers were waiting for me at the front gate, and there were three horses with them.

"Have you ever ridden a horse before?" the sapper with the sword asked.

"I haven't," I replied, resisting the urge to add 'sir'.

"You'll learn today," he replied.

"I apologize in advance for the stiff muscles and chaffing, but you'll get used to it. This is Burr, and she'll be your mount for the next little while—on and off." He motioned to a mare with dark brown fur and white streaks. She was a little smaller than the others, but I was still pretty skinny and I didn't have as heavy armour as the rest of the sappers. The sapper continued, "We can't ride hard all the way to Castle Urcia, but this should speed things up. Let's get moving."