Free Web NovelChapter 404: Chapter 401: Panic and Unity
Thankfully, the incessant squabbling in the National Assembly did not stop the nation’s Rebel Army from gathering at the Royal Capital to defend the country’s most important city. Self-funded armies from different regions converged at the semi-permanent camp on the outskirts, the Villar Training Ground, and other garrisons to be reorganized and receive supplies.
Unlike the armies of the past, this time the main force, from the commanders down to the rank-and-file soldiers, was comprised of farmers, small artisans, and the like. They had voluntarily joined to defend the nation and the great revolution. Major cities also spontaneously donated supplies, easing the logistical burden on the newly assembled troops.
Furthermore, for the first time, Casters had joined the army of Valois.
...
Their lips parted. Paulina looked at Pascal with concern. "Are you really going to the battlefield?"
"Honestly, I’m tired of everything here... except you, of course." Pascal ran a hand through his hair, unsure how to organize his thoughts.
"The Mountain Faction... I still prefer to call it a club. My role in it isn’t significant anymore. In any case, Maxim isn’t short on silver-tongued speakers, and neither are our enemies in the assembly hall."
"The bickering won’t stop even as the Empire Army closes in. I think I need to find another way to save our old ideals. I’m sorry, Paulina, I..."
Paulina said no more. "Be careful. The Empire Army has Military Mages, too." With that, she placed a tricorn hat on Pascal’s head, which bore a tricolor cockade.
Pascal embraced her again. "You too. Don’t go into unfamiliar neighborhoods for a while."
The entire city descended into a new round of chaos. The Tower of Stars closed its entrance once again, and the Magic Guild temporarily shut down its Valois headquarters after a wave of withdrawals.
Recently, the National Guard had expanded significantly and was about to march out to engage the vanguard of the Empire Army. Meanwhile, a new rumor began to spread through the city:
Once the Guard left Valuva, the situation in the city would spiral out of control. Everyone who opposed the great revolution, colluded with foreign powers and Exiles, and all the bandits who wanted to loot amidst the chaos would emerge to wreak havoc.
Under the panic fueled by these rumors, the trials of the King’s remnants and other suspicious individuals went off the rails. To some extent, what the Royalist Faction had feared was already happening: armed commoners began kicking down the doors of suspected individuals, dragging out potential enemies for public trials that bypassed the law, based only on patriotism and a self-proclaimed moral standard.
Furthermore, some of the Nobility who had been implicated in the King’s escape attempt and were already imprisoned were released—not to be pardoned, but to face provisional tribunals run by commoners. Most people didn’t understand the esoteric articles of law. As soon as the onlookers deemed the evidence credible, the unlucky soul on trial would be pushed onto the Gallows amidst cheers.
These shocking instruments of execution had been widely erected on the streets of Valuva and in the villages of its outskirts. Their blades were raised and dropped, one after another.
Even Maxim was powerless to stop it. He had already refused the position of president of the provisional tribunals, stating, "Since most of the accused are my political enemies, it would be unfair for me to take part in the verdict."
However, the suspects did not receive justice in the legal sense, but rather a verdict delivered by a populace ruled by anger and fear. Moreover, most members of the Mountain Faction condoned or even supported these spontaneous, rapid trials and executions, seeing them as the great revolution extending into the judicial domain.
In short, Pascal was disappointed. He no longer wanted to play the role of "Thor." Out of sight, out of mind.
"Senior, it’s time to go." Paul, who had come from Jasikone, stopped on horseback at the couple’s doorway. He was leading another horse for Pascal to ride.
"Take care." After the two parted ways, Paul and Pascal rode one after the other toward the Villar Training Ground to report for duty. Pascal was a little bummed out because Paul had smoothly passed the Basic Level Mage assessment after finishing his studies, while Philippe Egalite, surprisingly, had not passed in his first year.
The main camp was now a sea of people, and chaos was inevitable. The members were largely a rabble. Without exception, the veterans of the old National Guard were made the backbone of the new force, each leading three to five new recruits to quickly familiarize them with military systems and procedures.
Some were still reporting for duty and waiting to be assigned to combat training, while others had already begun drilling. It was said that at least three more legions from other major regions were camped outside.
Paul and Pascal had brought their own horses, an expense that an ordinary commoner could hardly afford. Everyone stared at them, making the two Mages a bit uncomfortable.
They dismounted and led their horses toward the registration at the camp entrance.
The registration was simple: name, gender, age, and home address—to ensure that good news, or heavy news, could be delivered to their families.
"Jasikone? Then you should go report to the Rebel Army from there, west of the city..."
Paul insisted on staying with his senior. "No need. I’ve spent more time here than I have in my hometown. It’s just that my whole big family is there." Pascal recalled that Paul came from a down-on-its-luck noble family with a horde of siblings. In Paul’s own words, no matter how much money his old man made arguing cases for others, it would all be devoured by a bottomless pit of mouths.
After the first registration and a physical check to ensure they were able-bodied, they moved on to unit assignment. An officer asked if they had ever served in the army or received military education. When they said no to both, he asked what they did for a living.
The two of them hesitated for a moment. Kano had strictly ordered them not to reveal their Casting Ability before battle. "From what I know, those blockhead generals plan to group all the Casters together. The Empire has ways to temporarily nullify Magic now. Are you gathering together just to make it easier for a cannonball to take you all out at once?"
Just then, an officer Pascal recognized appeared and saved them. They had been colleagues at Valuva High Master when Pascal was substituting for Rorschach, and Druao was an instructor there.
At this critical juncture, members of the former Artillery Academy had become a core force. The artillery units they organized were the asset most valued by the National Assembly. Druao’s status in the army had risen with the tide, and he had become a colonel in the expanded Guard.
He recognized Pascal while on inspection, bypassed the assigning officer, and took the two of them away directly. "You brought horses?"
"Yes."
"Come straight to my battalion." Druao said as he led them inside, shouting to the officer in charge of the second registration, "Put it down! Two good hands who can read and do sums have joined the Second Artillery Battalion of Druao’s Valuva First Legion."
The artillery officer, with a pipe clenched in his teeth, gave the two no chance to speak. "As long as you know what a parabola is, there’s no reason you can’t learn to fire a cannon. Mils... hmm, we divide a circle into 6400 equal parts..."
Druao abandoned his inspection and gave the bewildered pair their pre-duty training right on the way. He finished just as they arrived at the artillery camp. "Got it?"
"Uh... maybe."
"Don’t worry, you’ll get it once you get your hands on one. To put it simply, a gunner’s job is to get the cannon into a nice position, and then with a ’BANG,’ make the enemy suffer and yourself feel good." Druao made a vulgar gesture, causing the others in the camp to roar with laughter.
The other soldiers were not surprised to see their commander directly poaching recruits. The entire army was undergoing a frantic expansion, and this was how most people had joined.
Finally, Druao lowered his voice. "I don’t know why you’re hiding your identities, but promise me, when the time comes to act, you won’t hold back, okay?"
