Chapter 37

When Rodella returned to the knights, the first thing she did was investigate what the members of the order wanted most.

“Huh? What we want?”

It was common belief that the more individuality existed within a unit—especially a military one—the harder it was to manage.

But based on Latine’s experience leading mercenaries and knights during the monster wars, he found otherwise.

Soldiers had to sacrifice much and conform to the organization, but their dreams—those, they could not lose.

Only by having a purpose, a goal to chase, could they muster the will to survive.

Of course, too strong a will could lead to disorder, so moderation was necessary. Still, this was Latine’s method:

Acknowledge each individual in the unit, as long as it didn’t harm the group.

It was a management style that demanded significant mental effort, but he never shied away from the workload.

“Aren’t you expecting a baby this month? Planning to make your marriage miserable? Why are you accepting missions?”

Thanks to personal interviews, he was already aware of each knight’s circumstances, and because he offered consideration first, morale stayed high.

Not only that—he knew each one’s personality, strengths, and weaknesses, which was why casualties among the troops under his command during wartime were so rare it could be called a miracle.

As a result, the wishlist from the Azure Knights—whose individuality had not been stifled—was very diverse.

“I just want a bigger liquor storage room.”

The most common request? That the liquor storage be filled to the brim.

Then:

“Um, I kind of enjoy playing with spinning wheels. Is that okay?”

“Do instruments count?”

Some had niche hobbies.

“We get hurt a lot, don’t we? I’d really like a personal protective artifact. I know it’s expensive though…”

Some wanted practical gear.

“That’s fine. This is just a survey for now.”

Rodella carefully recorded all their wishes.

Soon after, she summoned the knights to the training ground and revealed the compiled list.

“There’s more variety than I expected.”

“Hey, that one’s Lanark’s!”

Though the list was anonymous, they knew each other well enough to guess whose was whose just from the items.

“Quiet.”

As the room threatened to erupt into noise, Aivert calmed them down, and Latine sat down in one corner of the grounds with a soft thump.

He waved off the knights who tried to salute him, instead gesturing toward Rodella.

Focus on her.

“This list is made up of all the things you told me you wanted over the past few days.”

Rodella tapped a large sheet of paper, then pulled out another.

Latine’s expression grew grim as he looked at the next one.

No surprise there.

[120,427,324G]

“This is the amount of damage you all caused in the first half of the year.”

It was also the amount of money that had once been his.

That wasn’t even the full figure.

“Gasp.”

The knights were horrified.

“I caused that much damage?”

“She said all together, didn’t she?”

“Still, we did that much?!”

Even among nobles, few ever saw that kind of money. The knights looked dazed.

Rodella watched their reactions before speaking again.

“With this much money…”

She pointed to their wishlist.

“We could buy all of it—top quality—and still have plenty left over.”

The knights turned to each other.

She was right.

It wouldn’t take hundreds of millions to fill a liquor room or buy a loom or a few gadgets, right?

Rodella, watching their dawning realization, continued.

“So, after discussing it with the Vice Commander and the Commander yesterday, we’ve decided to implement a ‘special measure.’”

The knights instantly quieted.

Special measure? Like… make us pay for damages?

That would be the worst-case scenario, but it was also the most realistic one.

“We’ll start tracking and recording each knight’s deployment count, mission type, amount of damage caused, and success rate.”

In short, they were going to start keeping tabs on how much destruction each knight caused.

Faces paled.

“Are we actually going to have to pay this back?”

“They’ve really been letting us off easy…”

Many glanced nervously at Latine.

The newer knights might not know, but the veterans did.

That massive compensation hadn’t come from the Imperial Treasury.

Most of it came from Commander Latine’s own fortune.

He never said it, but they’d figured it out over time.

“From these records, we’ll rank everyone.”

The top scorer? Not the lowest?

Then Rodella dropped the real bomb.

“We’ll give 5% of the reduced damage amount—compared to last year—to whoever ranks first.”

“…What?”

5% of that much money?

The knights gawked.

“Then 4%, 3%, 2%, and 1% to those who rank second through fifth. And another 1% to anyone who significantly reduced damage. Everyone who reduced damage, even a little, will get the item they wished for.”

Rodella’s gaze was firm as she added:

“But if you reduce damage by getting seriously injured or failing to save someone, your score will drop significantly.”

In other words: train hard, cut damage—but not recklessly.

“Are you really… going to give us that?”

One of the knights asked, swallowing hard.

Rodella nodded.

“Both the Commander and Vice Commander approved it.”

She emphasized again, and murmurs spread.

Latine and Aivert—whose eyes met with the knights’—both nodded in agreement.

Then someone muttered: “Well, the Vice Commander’s probably responsible for the most damage, so won’t he be first place just by reducing a bit?”

“Yeah. Give him first place and—wait, are they going to leave him out?”

Good instincts.

Rodella was ready.

“Oh, the Vice Commander is excluded.”

The knights blinked.

Aivert, too, looked surprised.

“I never said that.”

But Rodella simply smiled sweetly at him.

“You’re rich.”

Her unspoken message was clear: You’re not going to milk the Commander’s wallet, are you?

Whether he found it absurd or not, the knights cheered.

“Wooooaaah!”

Well, morale certainly improved.

Aivert raised a brow, then laughed at the confident look she gave him.

“You’ll cooperate, right?”

Rodella’s question was quiet, just for him.

She made her move first with the crowd, and then asked for his help?

Aivert chuckled.

What if I said no just because I’m not getting anything?

He wanted to ask that.

But of course, he didn’t mean it.

And perhaps—Rodella already knew that better than he did.

Maybe she knew.

That he couldn’t just go around smashing things like he used to, now that she was here.

Or maybe…

Like she always did—

She trusted him.

Suddenly, Aivert felt a twist in his gut.

Then I guess I’ll be the guy who makes you hesitate a little.

Let me be someone you know can be dangerous.

“Then instead, give me something else.”

Was that why the words slipped out unfiltered?

“Something else?”

Rodella tilted her head, and the room fell silent.

Latine, too, looked over, wondering if his wallet was about to suffer.

But what Aivert wanted wasn’t in Latine’s wallet.

“Vacation.”

It was unexpected—but not impossible.

Rodella nodded.

“If the Commander approves, then—”

She didn’t even get to finish.

“With you.”

Aivert finished.

Rodella’s eyes went wide.

“Wooooaaaah!”

“Date!”

The knights cheered wildly as Rodella stood there, truly surprised.

A smirk tugged at Aivert’s lips.

Go on a vacation with me like lovers do.

Give me a vacation. Give me your time.  

Give me you.